2 Apr 2018, 23:21
Compartment #13
She had endured the lectures before, countless times. How this or that did not align with the teachings in the Bible, but never had there been such detail, and such determination on her mother's part that Thora should pay attention. She was a witch now, after all, something of the devil, but oddly enough, she couldn't quite make herself believe that her magical abilities were evil.
Of course, now she was also getting told off about buying a magical owl without asking for permission, but, as she'd argued a hundred times already, the owl had been a belated birthday present to herself, and her mother had said she could buy whatever she liked with that birthday money.
Besides, the shop-lady had explained how to care for the owl, and he wasn't going to require any care on the part of her parents, or anyone else really. He would hunt at night to feed himself, and already had a cage to nest in when he returned. Thora had it covered.
So it was with a great deal of relief that she said goodbye to her mother, walked to the opposite end of the platform from where her mother stood - or as close to the opposite as she could manage - and climbed onto the train, carrying Carraig's cage in one hand and dragging her luggage behind her with the other.
The train corridors were packed with students, some already in their plain black school robes, but most in muggle clothes, like herself. Her sister, Ava, had lingered behind to speak privately with their mother, and Thora hoped to lose her in the crowd, searching quickly for the first empty compartment she could hide in.
She peeked into a few compartments, moving on each time because the students within all looked quite a bit older than her, and came, surprisingly quickly, across an empty one. With a cursory glance at the number over the door - thirteen - she slid the door open, dragged her things inside, and closed it quite quickly behind her in case Ava tried to follow her.
Setting Carraig gently on the seat nearest the window, she moved to stow her luggage, but being that it was quite a bit heavier than her usual load, Thora struggled with it. She put all of her weight against it, pushing with her legs, but it seemed to have caught on something and would not budge. Then with a jolt, it the trunk gave way and slammed into the wall opposite, sending Thora sprawling onto her stomach at the same moment her compartment door slid open.
Blushing furiously, she turned to see who had opened the door.
Of course, now she was also getting told off about buying a magical owl without asking for permission, but, as she'd argued a hundred times already, the owl had been a belated birthday present to herself, and her mother had said she could buy whatever she liked with that birthday money.
Besides, the shop-lady had explained how to care for the owl, and he wasn't going to require any care on the part of her parents, or anyone else really. He would hunt at night to feed himself, and already had a cage to nest in when he returned. Thora had it covered.
So it was with a great deal of relief that she said goodbye to her mother, walked to the opposite end of the platform from where her mother stood - or as close to the opposite as she could manage - and climbed onto the train, carrying Carraig's cage in one hand and dragging her luggage behind her with the other.
The train corridors were packed with students, some already in their plain black school robes, but most in muggle clothes, like herself. Her sister, Ava, had lingered behind to speak privately with their mother, and Thora hoped to lose her in the crowd, searching quickly for the first empty compartment she could hide in.
She peeked into a few compartments, moving on each time because the students within all looked quite a bit older than her, and came, surprisingly quickly, across an empty one. With a cursory glance at the number over the door - thirteen - she slid the door open, dragged her things inside, and closed it quite quickly behind her in case Ava tried to follow her.
Setting Carraig gently on the seat nearest the window, she moved to stow her luggage, but being that it was quite a bit heavier than her usual load, Thora struggled with it. She put all of her weight against it, pushing with her legs, but it seemed to have caught on something and would not budge. Then with a jolt, it the trunk gave way and slammed into the wall opposite, sending Thora sprawling onto her stomach at the same moment her compartment door slid open.
Blushing furiously, she turned to see who had opened the door.
Last edited by Thora Duffy on 10 Apr 2018, 08:03, edited 1 time in total.
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields.
4 Apr 2018, 05:18
Compartment #13
Isabella wanted to go to Hogwarts ever since Aidan got his acceptance letter. Then Felix went last year. In the holidays, they would tell her stories of grumpy, old professors and candle-lit corridors. They'd tell her about carefully-planned tricks and winter-morning Quidditch matches, about freezing dungeons and star-lit nights on top of the astronomy tower. And know she was here. In the slightly-cozy, swarming corridor of the Hogwarts Express, for the first time ever. But she was lost. Completly and utterly lost.
Isabella wasn't one to get nervous. She was the tomboy, the one who could make friends with anyone, the girl who would spend the longest outdoors, climbing trees and playing soccer with the local muggles, or risking a game of carefully-concealed Quidditch with all her seven other siblings. But right now, she felt more alone than she had ever felt in her life.
Aiden and Felix had disappeared in crowds of laughing mates, slamming the doors shut of their compartment doors. And even if she wanted to, Isabella knew that they would never want their baby sister sitting with all their friends.
And then she saw it, the nearly-empty compartment with one, red-haired, freckled girl with bluish green eyes and fair skin. Isabella slid the door open just in time for the girl to fall back on her back with a huge, echoing thud. The girl was shorter than Isabella thought, and an owl hooted softly next to the compartment window. Isabella dropped her own trunk and rushed over, pulling the girl's trunk off the floor and offering a hand.
'Are you okay? That was probably the loudest ever fall I've seen in my life!'
Isabella wasn't one to get nervous. She was the tomboy, the one who could make friends with anyone, the girl who would spend the longest outdoors, climbing trees and playing soccer with the local muggles, or risking a game of carefully-concealed Quidditch with all her seven other siblings. But right now, she felt more alone than she had ever felt in her life.
Aiden and Felix had disappeared in crowds of laughing mates, slamming the doors shut of their compartment doors. And even if she wanted to, Isabella knew that they would never want their baby sister sitting with all their friends.
And then she saw it, the nearly-empty compartment with one, red-haired, freckled girl with bluish green eyes and fair skin. Isabella slid the door open just in time for the girl to fall back on her back with a huge, echoing thud. The girl was shorter than Isabella thought, and an owl hooted softly next to the compartment window. Isabella dropped her own trunk and rushed over, pulling the girl's trunk off the floor and offering a hand.
'Are you okay? That was probably the loudest ever fall I've seen in my life!'
4 Apr 2018, 21:52
Compartment #13
Thora was used to falling down. She ran about in the wood near her home as often as possible, after all, climbing trees, stumbling over roots, and crashing through hedges. She'd had scrapes and bruises regularly all over her body ever since she could remember - the veritable 'boy' of the family.
So it wasn't the pain of falling that bothered her - that was next to nothing, for she was used to landing hard on the ground. No, it was the fact that someone she didn't know, another girl - and she had four sisters so Thora knew how horrid other girls could be - had seen her do it, and on their first meeting on their way to a new school. The very idea had her cheeks nearly matching her hair, the rush of blood filling in the spaces between her freckles.
She looked on enviously as the other girl moved her trunk out of the way with seemingly no difficulty - Thora could swear it had truly been stuck on something only a moment ago - and then moved to give her a hand up.
The other girl's words seemed nice enough when she spoke, however, and the soft lilt to her words made Thora feel oddly more comfortable. So, after a very brief hesitation, she accepted the proffered hand, and let the other girl help her up.
"Me?" she answered, as she straightened up. "I'm alright. That was nothin'." She insisted, grinning through her blushes. "Thanks," she continued. "I swear it got stuck on somethin'..."
As she said it, she looked about for whatever might've caused the issue, but seeing nothing, shrugged and turned back to the other girl.
"I'm Thora, by the way," she said, "and that's Carraig," she added, indicating the owl by the window.
So it wasn't the pain of falling that bothered her - that was next to nothing, for she was used to landing hard on the ground. No, it was the fact that someone she didn't know, another girl - and she had four sisters so Thora knew how horrid other girls could be - had seen her do it, and on their first meeting on their way to a new school. The very idea had her cheeks nearly matching her hair, the rush of blood filling in the spaces between her freckles.
She looked on enviously as the other girl moved her trunk out of the way with seemingly no difficulty - Thora could swear it had truly been stuck on something only a moment ago - and then moved to give her a hand up.
The other girl's words seemed nice enough when she spoke, however, and the soft lilt to her words made Thora feel oddly more comfortable. So, after a very brief hesitation, she accepted the proffered hand, and let the other girl help her up.
"Me?" she answered, as she straightened up. "I'm alright. That was nothin'." She insisted, grinning through her blushes. "Thanks," she continued. "I swear it got stuck on somethin'..."
As she said it, she looked about for whatever might've caused the issue, but seeing nothing, shrugged and turned back to the other girl.
"I'm Thora, by the way," she said, "and that's Carraig," she added, indicating the owl by the window.
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields.
4 Apr 2018, 23:20
Compartment #13
Isabella lifted her trunk onto the rack and turned her attention to the girl.
She stood up effortlessly, seemingly without any pain from the fall. Isabella instantly liked her. Coming to Britain, she thought she would be stuck with quiet girls who loved to knit and bake cookies. This girl was different. Any other girl would have moaned and cried to get off the train so they could see Mummy for the very last time. But this girl didn't. She picked herself up and sat down on one of the compartment seats, looking like nothing had happened at all.
"Me?" she said, standing up. "I'm alright. That was nothin'." She continued, slightly blushing. "Thanks, I swear it got stuck on somethin'..."
"I'm Thora, by the way," she said, "and that's Carraig," she added, indicating the owl by the window.
Carraig hooted softly and Isabella couldn't help but move over to him and softly patting his feathers.
'Carraig is Irish, isn't it? I'm not sure where it comes from, but I've definitely heard it before'
Isabella turned round to the girl and remembered the way she spoke.
'Oh! Are you Irish? So am I! I never thought I'd meet someone from Ireland here. They all seem to be British. I'm Isabella by the way, but everyone calls me Bella'
She stood up effortlessly, seemingly without any pain from the fall. Isabella instantly liked her. Coming to Britain, she thought she would be stuck with quiet girls who loved to knit and bake cookies. This girl was different. Any other girl would have moaned and cried to get off the train so they could see Mummy for the very last time. But this girl didn't. She picked herself up and sat down on one of the compartment seats, looking like nothing had happened at all.
"Me?" she said, standing up. "I'm alright. That was nothin'." She continued, slightly blushing. "Thanks, I swear it got stuck on somethin'..."
"I'm Thora, by the way," she said, "and that's Carraig," she added, indicating the owl by the window.
Carraig hooted softly and Isabella couldn't help but move over to him and softly patting his feathers.
'Carraig is Irish, isn't it? I'm not sure where it comes from, but I've definitely heard it before'
Isabella turned round to the girl and remembered the way she spoke.
'Oh! Are you Irish? So am I! I never thought I'd meet someone from Ireland here. They all seem to be British. I'm Isabella by the way, but everyone calls me Bella'
8 Apr 2018, 05:48
Compartment #13
Nervously, Coden made his way down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express. He hadn't been able to find Reine anywhere and suspected she'd already settled herself in a compartment, fitting in instantly like she usually did. Coden sometimes wished he had her confidence, but most of the time he was fine being the quiet person he was.
Hearing a loud crash come form a compartment behind him, he turned around and strode over to the door, taking his luggage with him. The door was already open, and inside were two girls, both who he assumed were first years like him. He didn't see anything wrong, the two seemed to be hitting it off nicely, chatting with each other.
To be sure, he walked inside, sliding the door shut behind him. He didn't know if there were many open compartments left, so this would have to do. Coden stood there, not sure if he should speak. His fist tightened around the handle of his trunk as he looked nervously at the girls. Maybe he shouldn't have come in here, what if they didn't like him?
Silently chiding himself for just standing there foolishly, he opened his mouth to speak, "Er, hello, I'm Coden. Is it alright if I sit in here?"
Hearing a loud crash come form a compartment behind him, he turned around and strode over to the door, taking his luggage with him. The door was already open, and inside were two girls, both who he assumed were first years like him. He didn't see anything wrong, the two seemed to be hitting it off nicely, chatting with each other.
To be sure, he walked inside, sliding the door shut behind him. He didn't know if there were many open compartments left, so this would have to do. Coden stood there, not sure if he should speak. His fist tightened around the handle of his trunk as he looked nervously at the girls. Maybe he shouldn't have come in here, what if they didn't like him?
Silently chiding himself for just standing there foolishly, he opened his mouth to speak, "Er, hello, I'm Coden. Is it alright if I sit in here?"
~I must be interesting if you're reading this~
10 Apr 2018, 08:03
Compartment #13
Thora found it odd to be asked by another girl from her own country if she was Irish, but perhaps her own sound was different enough to warrant the question. They were clearly from different parts of Ireland, after all.
Unable to think of something altogether 'nice' to say in response, however, Thora simply nodded. She only bristled slightly as the other girl went to pet her owl without asking, but then here again, perhaps, she was out of the loop. Maybe other witches and wizards didn't mind that sort of thing. If the owl nipped her finger, perhaps there wasn't a law in place that took that owl away from its owner, as a result of it.
"Aye," she answered, her words cautious. "It is Irish."
Then she thought herself silly. Of course, it was brilliant to meet another Irish student in her very first moments on her way to a magical school. It would be nice to have someone about who understood her.
"Grand to meet you, Bella," she answered.
Perhaps her lack of true socialisation was the cause of her discomfort, but Thora wouldn't have thought of that. Instead, she felt relief as someone else interrupted - a young boy their age. At the same time, she felt a bit cornered. So many new people, all at once.
Thora watched as he closed the door, then listened as he spoke. His look reminded her of Conall, who she missed as though he were her brother, and they'd been separated by this school, which in a way they had been.
"Aye," she answered, feeling a bit relieved to be asked, if she was being honest. "We just got here, ourselves. I'm Thora, that's Carraig," she said pointing in the direction of her owl, sitting imperiously in his cage, "and this is Bella." She indicated the other first year girl with a tilt of her head, then added, "Are you a first year?"
Unable to think of something altogether 'nice' to say in response, however, Thora simply nodded. She only bristled slightly as the other girl went to pet her owl without asking, but then here again, perhaps, she was out of the loop. Maybe other witches and wizards didn't mind that sort of thing. If the owl nipped her finger, perhaps there wasn't a law in place that took that owl away from its owner, as a result of it.
"Aye," she answered, her words cautious. "It is Irish."
Then she thought herself silly. Of course, it was brilliant to meet another Irish student in her very first moments on her way to a magical school. It would be nice to have someone about who understood her.
"Grand to meet you, Bella," she answered.
Perhaps her lack of true socialisation was the cause of her discomfort, but Thora wouldn't have thought of that. Instead, she felt relief as someone else interrupted - a young boy their age. At the same time, she felt a bit cornered. So many new people, all at once.
Thora watched as he closed the door, then listened as he spoke. His look reminded her of Conall, who she missed as though he were her brother, and they'd been separated by this school, which in a way they had been.
"Aye," she answered, feeling a bit relieved to be asked, if she was being honest. "We just got here, ourselves. I'm Thora, that's Carraig," she said pointing in the direction of her owl, sitting imperiously in his cage, "and this is Bella." She indicated the other first year girl with a tilt of her head, then added, "Are you a first year?"
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields.
4 May 2018, 01:06
Compartment #13
As the girl, Thora, spoke, he lifted his trunk and but it in the overhang above their heads before sitting down closest to the door. He smiled a bit as she introduced her owl before the other girl who was Bella. When Thora mentioned the owl, he looked over to it, staring at it a little uneasily. He'd never really been this close to an owl before, besides the one that had arrived with his Hogwarts letter. Carraig looked nice enough though, perched by the window as Bella pet him.
His attention came back to Thora as she asked, "Are you a first year?" Coden nodded, sinking back into his seat a bit, becoming more comfortable around the girls and the owl. "Yeah, I don't know much about Hogwarts besides what my friend has told me, her grandmother used to go there." His hand slipped into his pocket and he fingered his wand, wondering what he'd be able to do with it by the end of this school year.
"She's a pureblood, if that's what you call it. But neither of my parents are, sorcerers or whatever. How about you two?" He admitted, wondering if that would change their opinion of him at all. He hoped it wouldn't, but Reine had told him of how people like him could be shunned for having non-magical parents. Bringing his hand out of his pocket he looked up to the girls for their answer.
His attention came back to Thora as she asked, "Are you a first year?" Coden nodded, sinking back into his seat a bit, becoming more comfortable around the girls and the owl. "Yeah, I don't know much about Hogwarts besides what my friend has told me, her grandmother used to go there." His hand slipped into his pocket and he fingered his wand, wondering what he'd be able to do with it by the end of this school year.
"She's a pureblood, if that's what you call it. But neither of my parents are, sorcerers or whatever. How about you two?" He admitted, wondering if that would change their opinion of him at all. He hoped it wouldn't, but Reine had told him of how people like him could be shunned for having non-magical parents. Bringing his hand out of his pocket he looked up to the girls for their answer.
~I must be interesting if you're reading this~