The Way Things Change PV Finished

Willow was absolutely buzzing with excitement to board the train and head back to Hogwarts. The feeling had been immensely different from just last year and her feelings about boarding that train for the first time. Then she was nervous, shaking in fear rather than anticipation, and honestly a little bit nauseous. But maybe that was from the train itself, she would have to see if she felt nauseous this time. She actually had friends to see this time, people to sit with at the Great Hall table, a place of belonging, and a renewed confidence in her feelings about melding her two worlds together. Rather than keeping them separate.

Her dad dropped her off at the station with a big hug and a kiss on the forehead of well wishing. He was on his way to work in London and her mom stayed home this time so she wouldn't be a sobbing mess again. She ran headfirst through a platform which she couldn't help but flinch at despite knowing she was going to sail right through. Her trunk and everything else she brought with her was quickly taken care of by the people helping the students board the train as others said tearful goodbyes. Quickly, she snatched up the floral yellow and pink carrying case that had a red tabby peacefully sleeping despite all the noise. Her parents figured since it seemed to just be a regular cat, they'd just buy all the things she needed at a muggle store, rather than at the Magical Menagerie.

The carrying case was snugged close to her chest to protect Buttons as she weaved through the students finding compartments. She followed the silence of contemplation and trepidation to find her brother, Flash. She knew him well enough to know that he'd go way far away from where the hustle and bustle was, and she confidently threw open a cabin door to find... not him. "Ah! Sorry! I thought you were... uh. Anyway! Bye, have a safe trip!" She giggled as she slowly and sheepishly shut the door. After a couple more very polite, quiet inquiries she eventually found the cabin that he had found himself, of course with a book. She plopped her backpack on the floor, Buttons carefully on the seat next to him before throwing her arms open and encasing him in a hug that made it seem like she hadn't seen him in years rather than a few weeks.

"Flash! It's time for you to meet the man, the myth, the legend himself!" There was no time for pleasantries, she had a cat now and he needed to be introduced immediately. She closed the door as she spoke before opening the carrying case and pulling out the sleepy wonder of a cat that was slowly starting to awaken. She plopped herself next to Flash and slid the carrying case under the seat. Her legs came up to criss cross and set the cat in the cozy space of her lap. "Buttons was a little sleepy from the car ride." Her hand gently scratched his head to help him awaken. "Do you wanna hold him? He's friendly to like everyone. Like a certain Slytherin I know." A perception not everyone would have about Flash. But he was at least pleasant to everyone that he met, and she rarely saw him visibly cross towards someone.

Opeila had just gotten rid of her trunk and now walked through the train to find a seat. She didn't want to sit with her new 'sister'. After those weeks, she only wanted a few hours of not being reminded that she would never get back to normal. She would never be Opeila Seilun again, never hear that name again either if things went well. She was Opeila Winters now, ward of the Winter family in Finland.

Slowly she walked through a wagon. Apart from sleeping there had not been much that she really wanted the last weeks. Sleeping was good. It allowed her to give the control over her thoughts to her subconscious. It eased the pain that had ever since weighed heavy on her chest. For the first weeks it was like a hole in her chest, that seemed to rip open again, whenever she thought of her family, was told to act like a pureblood would, sometimes even if she just stood straight or took a deep breath. Where she had always thought that she was not treated right, now she would accept all of it gladly, if it could just bring her old, messed up life back. Messed up, but filled with people who loved her.

Opeila was about to walk past a compartment, when she heard familiar voices. She looked through the door. There was Willow, the Hufflepuff girl, who she had shouted at, the last time they talked. That event seemed ridiculously far away now, she couldn't even clearly remember, why she shouted at her. And Flash. He was mostly the reason, why she quickly jumped away from the transparent door and hid. She was not ready to play fine. She was not ready to put on a believable act, especially in front of the one person, who could always see through her masks? That couldn't happen this time. She couldn't let him find out.

The Slytherin listened. Had they seen her weird disappearance? If they had, then she had already successfully destroyed the mask before putting it on. Instead of hearing something, she felt something. The cat transportbox, she had her gray mackarel tabby Loras in, moved and then was suddenly very light. Opeila hadn't even noticed that the box had not been closed properly and now Loras jumped out and ran straight into the compartment Flash and Willow were sitting in. "Loras!" Forgetting her concerns, she followed her cat into the compartment.

Loras had found something, something very interesting. Something he would now claim as his new toy. There was a quill sticking out of Flash's bag. Quickly Loras pulled it out and then hid under the seats. He curled up in a corner, chewing on his new toy.

"Oh no... Flash, I am so sorry.", Opeila kneeled down in front of the seats, trying to reach under them to pull her cat out again. Quickly she pulled her hands back, when Loras smacked her right, leaving a little bleeding scratch. "Merlin, what a devil..." She did not look up. The Loras incidence had not been planned and she had no time to prepare for actually talking to her friends. Now her cat had forced her to socialize and Opeila already felt panic like a tight little knot in her stomach.

@Willow Anderson @Flash Holmwood

Hexcode= #507091

Some things had changed for certain, but most things were still the same however. For example the trip to King’s Cross from Inverie, still a monotonous slog that took twelve hours and thirty-one minutes. First Sylvain had to wait for the ferry, which only crossed from Inverie to Mallaig four times a day, then once in Mallaig he would wait for the twice a day arrival of the train to Dalmuir. From Dalmuir the boy would then transfer at Glasgow Central taking the London Euston where the last four-thousand-three-hundred-and-sixty feet took him exactly fifteen minutes to walk. By the time Sylvain made it to the platform of 9 ¾’s the young wanderer was more than exhausted. Luckily he’d brought his faithful summer companion, Moste Potente Potions. Another chance to read what were now almost sacred words wasn’t lost to the ravages of travel and time. Assuming he might try the journey by air next year, Sylvain walked into the station.

Making his way to the Hogwarts Express brought back feelings of the year before. Loneliness, fear, and anxiety were all lost in the grandiose theme of exploration and any trepidations he’d had back then were summarily forgotten now as he boarded the locomotive. As the comfort of sitting with people he knew threatened to steal away his reading time, a warm fuzzy feeling inched across his heart and filled his face with blushing warmth. Syl’s trunk had to be replaced over the summer, so at least that much had changed for him. Honestly, there wasn't much for him to share in the way of news. The raggedy old suitcase had finally given up the guff, and since he couldn’t use magic outside of school to fix it, his mothers had to spend their precious money on getting him what they had called “an upgrade.” As if any amount of new would ever replace how dearly he cherished the old.

Searching the train for familiar faces, Sylvain finally found a compartment with known entities. Giving a short wave, the scholar peered in to see Flash, Willow, and Opeila. Moving past the open sliding door to reveal a couple kittens as well, Sylvain did his best to quietly acknowledge the others before remembering to stow his luggage in the overhead compartments. Willow’s hair color had changed for a more lovely shade. Flash looked like he pondered something morose, and Pei attentively regarded her cat as a Devil while she bled from a cat-scratch upon her hand. Smiling at Flash and winking to Willow, Sylvain got down on his hands and knees next to Opeila.

“Here kitty kitty, pspspspspsp.” The boy called out gently.

“Don’t you want to come out and play little one?” Rummaging in his satchel again, Sylvain produced a plastic zip-lock bag filled with catnip and retrieved a handful of the good stuff. His two eyes both star-struck by the company of the cute creatures compartmentally contained scanned below the seats for the hidden kitten. Sylvain shared the catnip. Offering a pinch for Willow to administer herself, and attempting to coax the little kitty Loras out from its hidey hole.

“Good to see all of you again by the way.” Syl said between grunts on the floor of the train. He was unsure of how to join into the conversations already taking place. Why was it that his introductions always had to be so plain?

@Flash Holmwood @Opeila Winters @Willow Anderson

When Flash heard the cabin door slide open, he didn’t have much time to gauge the situation before a flurry of Willow blew through the room like a hurricane. That was acceptable, of course, and Flash’s heart became wildly fluttering at the reintroduction of his dear sister’s glowing energy. His worries were all but tossed out the window, as he tucked a quill into his book to keep the place and set it beside him in his bag. Willow had put some of her things aside as well, as they were both tossing things that came in the way of them embracing in a vice grip. Flash had needed it, the feeling of relief that flooded through his body was so preferable to the looming dread and gloom that followed him like a stormcloud.

Flash of course knew who the ginger feline that had been set in the crate beside him was. Before he turned his smartphone off, Willow had been inundating him with nonstop pictures of her new familiar. They were optional, so Flash had never even considered getting one. He could see why Willow would though, it seemed she had no end to the amount of love she had to give back into the world. She had quickly prepared the stage, Flash finding a bright smile on his face as the sleepy kitty was pulled into her lap to be showcased. ‘Friendly to everyone’ she said, ‘like a certain Slytherin’ which made him chuckle a bit in the back of his throat.

Flash’s eyes instead caught the hint of movement at the door, and was drawn to that instead. He was much more on edge now, his awareness of his surroundings more keen. He was sure he saw someone looking in before ducking away. His smile was gone, with every intention to investigate, though the need was quashed quickly. Though Willow had closed the door most of the way, it wasn’t actually closed enough for their new intruder. Squeezing his flexible cat body through the crack, another cat pranced into the cabin. It didn’t take long to find the owner, as she followed behind quickly after. Opeila, another dear friend.

Instead of having time for pleasantries however, she was on the hunt for the runaway. He had made himself comfortable by nabbing the quill out of Flash’s book and ferreting it away to a hidden spot under a seat where he could enjoy it in relative peace. Flash didn’t make any move to stop the proceedings, though he lost the place in his book, he didn’t mind that the greedy little cat took his things. At least, not the quill. He could understand Opeila’s immediate frustration. This was part of the reason he didn’t was a familiar himself-- he didn’t need an independent creature to be responsible for. He had enough trouble being responsible for himself.

”It’s alright…” Flash responded to Opeila’s words of concern, but couldn’t manage a proper greeting in such a situation.

He wanted to go over and hug her, give her part of the relief Willow had given him, but she was preoccupied. Linking what he saw before, he imagined Opeila didn’t actually want to enter their compartment, and had been hiding instead, though he didn’t know why. Before Flash could raise his voice to question it, Opeila’s efforts to dig Loras out from his hiding spot instead earned her a scratch on the hand. Things had escalated quickly.

Flash made a move to go and assist, but was instead greeted by the familiar face of Sylvain. Yet another dear friend. Perhaps he had been worrying over nothing, suddenly he was surrounded by people he loved. Syl acknowledged the two of them silently before pulling out a plaster for Opeila’s cut. It should really be cleaned first... Flash’s first aid was a bit out of place for the moment, as the current situation seemed to be trying to get Loras to cooperate. Flash would have much preferred that everyone put their animals away and spend time together, but he couldn’t demand such a thing.

”Opeila, it’s quite alright. Loras can have my quill for now.” Flash tried.

Syl had pulled something else out of his bag as well, some kind of herb Flash didn’t recognize. He gave some to Willow as well as trying to ply Loras with it. Flash had the feeling things would get worse before they got better. He stood up and shut the cabin door properly this time. He was tall enough that reaching over everyone his age wasn't a problem in the slightest.

@Willow Anderson @Opeila Winters @Sylvain Indarys

✿Interacting✿
@Flash Holmwood, @Sylvain Indarys, @Opeila Winters

It wasn't long before the familiar chaos that seemed to surround Hogwarts began to ensue, with an unfamiliar cat running in and grabbing Flash's quill to play with. She couldn't help but giggle as Opeila ran in in quite a panic. "Hiya Opeila, it's been a while." Her and Opeila hadn't really talked since the Blossom Ball really which had ended quite poorly between the two of them. That seemed so long ago, but never quite forgotten in Willow's mind. She didn't feel any negative feelings towards the Slytherin girl, but nothing really positive either. Maybe she could change that this year.

Sylvain also entered the cart not long after and her eyes absolutely lit up, though her body stayed still and calm as she had the very important job of soothing a quiet kitty in her lap. "Ah! Sylvain! I've missed you." What she would give to leap and give him a hug as she did Flash, but he seemed to immediately be on the mission to help with containing Loras. He reached out and gave her some catnip he had, and she couldn't help but raise an owl. "Do you have a cat too? Where are they?" She couldn't see why someone would carry around catnip when they didn't have one of their own. Her head ducked down slightly as Flash reached over her to close the train door, closing them off from further intruders. She couldn't help a fake pout that came over her face. "Aw... but what if more kitties wanted to join us?"

Her hand held some of the catnip out for Buttons who slightly woke up to rub his head into it. Her parents had skipped the catnip in their pet shopping trip, so this was his first encounter with it. "Buttons... you're gonna get it in your fur." She sighed, she had just cleaned him all up for traveling to Hogwarts and it seemed like another grooming would be in order once they arrived at the castle. The curious cat, finally slightly awake, moved to explore the new area. That area... was Flash's lap for a new sleeping spot. "Traveling makes him sleepy. I suppose you've already gained a new friend in your second year, haven't you?" She winked at her brother before turning to the rest of the group. "How did you guys spend your time off? Did any of you have a particularly fantastic summer? I feel like I did just because my mom finally let me dye my hair and get a cat. Those are two battles I didn't think I would win for ages." Her eyes sparkled with a joy of getting to catch up with her friends that she hadn't seen in so long, hoping they had just a good time over the break as she had.

@Sylvain Indarys @Willow Anderson @Flash Holmwood

Willow giggled when Opeila ran in, making some of the nervosity go away. So there was no hard feelings still? Hopefully? Opeila didn't want to bring up the topic blossom ball in this compartment. In front of Sylvain, who now entered the compartment as well... was he even at the ball? Opeila couldn't remember. The Slytherin ran the fingers through her hair, holding the one with the scratch awkwardly in the air to keep it away from seats and clothes. "Hi! Yeah, definitely." She sent Willow a careful smile.

"Are you sure?", she asked Flash, when he said that Loras could keep the quill for now. "Chances are you'll only get it back in two pieces." And I can barely afford to replace it.
Sylvain kneeled down next to Opeila and tried to lure Loras out of his little spot with some catnip. "Careful, he might just claim your hand next. With scratches and bites. Anyone happen to have a tissue I can borrow?"

Opeila climbed up on a seat and now only noticed the red cat on Flash's lap, who Willow just called Buttons. "Since when do you have a cat Willow?", Opeila asked the enthusiastic Hufflepuff, who now enthusiastically asked about their summers. Opeila forced herself to smile. "I like the colour a lot!", she commented on Willow's new haircolour. "Pink really suits you." Opeila knew that since the two girls went dress shopping in easter. "How is your mother?" Her insides seemed to twist when she realized what she was provoking with the polite question. She hoped deeply that Willow wouldn't ask about Lady Margary in return, who she met back then. As long as Opeila didn't have to answer questions about her summer, a thing she really wanted to avoid, it would all be fine...

Hexcode= #507091

Unwilling to abandon his attempt to rescue Loras from the cat's own antisocial behavior, Sylvain reached under the seat rashly. The goal was simple, sacrifice his cruddy mitts for the kitten and retrieve it from its hiding place. A little prick or two would hurt, a bite might sting, but neither could do much to deter him from finding the fuzzy feline and soothing it with the catnip he had prepared for exactly this kind of situation.

Too focused on the kitten to really interact with his friends, Sylvain thought the creature in distress clearly needed him more than they did at this given moment. Sylvain slid onto his side, lying flat to give the creature no safe angle of escape except towards the scrawnly lad himself. All in hopes of his peace offering going over well.

Syl would catch the cat's eyes with his own if possible and whether or not the slow blink of reassurance he let off was reciprocated by the stow away, Sylvain would plead it to come his way. "Pspspsps, it's okay little Loras, I won't hurt you. I have a treat for you." That his voice was gentle was all he had to accompany the catnip as he stuck his hand in even deeper beneath the cushions. "Come on little one, I promise it will be alright."

Mentions @Willow Anderson @Flash Holmwood @Opeila Winters

Willow protested when Flash closed the door, apparently imagining a parade of cats coming in and climbing all over everything. Flash’s eyes widened in hyperbolic disbelief, rolling afterwards to show his disapproval of such pandemonium. Pulling faces, however, was uncommon for him, and could easily be taken for the lighthearted reply it was intended as. As much as Flash liked nature and plants, he wasn’t nearly as knowledgeable about them as Willow and Sylvain were, especially non-magical plants that they hadn’t been learning about in Herbology. With that, Buttons took up residence in Flash’s lap, the warmth of a living body more hot than he expected. He wanted to take off the jacket he was wearing, but also didn’t want to disturb Willow’s cat. She seemed rather excited to have got one, after all, and unlike Loras, it was behaving quite civilly.

”Certainly, he can have it if he likes it so much.” Flash waved off the matter completely. Quills weren’t precious to him, very few material things were. On queue, Flash pulled out a handkerchief from an inside pocket and handed it to her after she asked.

Opeila seemed to give up on the cat and its feisty behavior, which only had Syl doubling down, lying on the ground with the seriousness of a firefighter rescuing someone from a collapsing building. Flash couldn’t even begin to know how to influence or tame cats, the one purring peacefully in his lap seemed demure enough, though it hardly seemed like anything different had actually happened between the two.

”Sylvain, be careful…” Flash seemed far more worried about Opeila’s warning than he had, sometimes that boy needed protecting from himself. In fact, everyone in the compartment was the type of person whose big heart often found them running head-first into danger.

Flash wasn’t all too happy about the subject being changed to summer activities. Willow’s answer was nice enough, and brought a cheery mood to the cabin. Flash couldn’t help but see a similarly false optimism in Opeila’s face, likely similar to the one he was wearing. Had something happened? Opeila was acting strange…

”The best part of my summer was visiting Willow.” Flash told the truth, highlighting the positive. ”Her family is wonderful. Her house, too… even better than I imagined.”

Flash smiled with genuine happiness at the memory, though he couldn’t help but be distracted by Syl’s efforts on the floor. He seemed determined, and he nearly wanted to pick him up and sit him down on one of the chairs, though he tempered his patience for the scholar’s apparent love of animals. He was being quite gentle, so perhaps it would work on the beast. Best to not stick his nose in and ruin it.

”Sylvain, have you thought about getting a pet yourself?” Flash started talking to him to assuage some of his nervousness.

@Opeila Winters @Willow Anderson @Sylvain Indarys

✿Interacting✿
@Flash Holmwood, @Sylvain Indarys, @Opeila Winters

Even though Buttons was safely in Flash's lap, someone that she had trusted with her own life a couple times now, her hand rested on his back. She had become quite protective of him, and him of her. She watched the debate about the quill, eyes passing between the three that she found in the compartment with her. A wave of reflection came over her, just how many people she had met, how many friends she had made, in just one year at Hogwarts. How much that she had learned through all three of them. Though, Opeila was teaching her how to deal with friendships more complicated than ever. Maybe not quite as complicated as the beginning of her and Flash's siblinghood. But, nevertheless. Sylvain had provided her a consistency that she loved, she knew what to expect from him and she hoped she did the same.

Her thoughts were broken when Opeila addressed her directly, snapping up slightly and humming in thought. "Over the summer, August 5th actually." She omitted the fact that she got them after a particularly bad set of nightmares that she couldn't talk herself out of, and that Buttons was supposed to help her out with them. Absentmindedly she twirled her hair around her finger at the compliment. "Ah thank you, my mother is doing quite well actually. Recently started an Etsy shop, which is an online craft kind of store, since she doesn't have me running around anymore. How's Lady Margary?" A polite smile as she inquired, truthfully she hadn't given much thought to her since the day her and Opeila hung out.

She gently nudged Flash with her shoulder when he said visiting her was her favorite part, a small blush spreading across her face that she was just that important to him. "I would have to say seeing you was my favorite part as well. My family wouldn't stop talking about you for the rest of the summer, asking how you were. It was really cute. They want you to come back." She knew her family would just adore Flash, it was to expected with how attached she was to him. But it was nice for it to be confirmed. "Sylvain, come join us up here. Loras will come out when he's ready, but I want to hear about your summer!" Although, Willow couldn't really blame him for wanting to spend time with the cat, she had missed him and wanted to hear the latest news about what he had been up to.