Compartment #3 FULL Closed

"Oh my-st-..mama...mama, stop! Oh my god!" Alina tried to get out of the hands that clawed at her uniform, and her hair and her face. "Mama! I'm fine, I look fine!" She sighed, annoyingly, making a rather pointed look at her father. "Papa! Can you please do something about her?" But her father stood there, eyes twinkling in amusement. Alina groaned loudly, before finally getting away from her mother's claws. "Remember, Alina. Slytherin! You must be in Slytherin." Her mother called after her, while Alina tried her best to hurry along with the heaviest travelling trunk she had ever carried.

Weaving in and out of the throngs of people, Alina could still hear her mother scream Slytherin after her. "So embarrassing!" From the moment Alina was born, all her mother told her was that she had to be in Slytherin. Carry on her family legacy. Alina rolled her eyes, while she pushed past a crying child. She just wanted to have fun and learn a lot. Why did Houses matter that much anyways?

Alina finally made it onto the train, slinking past groups of people chattering in the corridors. By now, it looked like most of the train compartments were filled. "Oh gee, I really don't want to have to stand." She mumbled to herself before spotting one that just had a single girl in it. "Jackpot!" Alina set her trunk down, knocking softly on the door to announce herself, before sliding it open. "Hello, do you mind if I come sit?" She asked brightly at the short-haired girl before sneaking in further in. "Unless you're waiting for other people?"

 Thankfully by the time that the compartment door reopened for another person to come into the compartment, Sabrina wasn't asleep yet. Drooling and half-asleep when first meeting someone wasn't the most idealistic, and it wasn't like everyone was graceful in their sleep. The redhead jolted up from her sleep as another person's voice came into the small space, and her eyes landed on a blonde girl in the doorway, with her trunk. 

 Sabrina shook her head as she asked if she could sit there, or if she was waiting for anyone. It wasn't in a way to say 'no', and that could have been noticed by the gesture that Sabrina made to the seating across from her. "By all means," She invited, grinning. She should be sitting with Reid for the ride in to Hogwarts, but she hadn't a clue where he was. She was much too lazy to consider going on the hunt for the boy, so staying where she was was the best option that she had at the moment. And no one could really turn down the possibility of starting new friendships - especially this girl. She might be god-awful at communicating with girls, but she could try.

 Pulling her legs up to tuck them underneath her, Sabrina decided that now that someone was sitting with her, she probably shouldn't be falling asleep on them. Her mum's voice sounded in her mind, reminding her that it was rude. Her mother had always been so formal when it came to this kind of thing, and she socialized so effortlessly. Sometimes, Sabrina wondered where she got her awkward tendencies from. "So, what's your name?" Sabrina asked curiously, shifting her position so that her back was leaning against the window.

 Her mother had already taken her leave due to having ''business'', so the girl didn't really have a good reason to look out the window until they got moving. That could be counted as people-watching, and she hoped that nobody was people-watching her and this other girl. "My name's Sabrina, but Sab is good enough." She decided to introduce herself, leaving out the action of sticking out her hand enthusiastically with a large grin.

Alina noticed she that startled the poor girl out of what looked like a comfy nap. Oops! "Thanks so much! This train got full so fast. I didn't think I was going to find a seat." After Alina set up her luggage up top, she plopped down into the seat, and let out a huge breath. She looked around, noticing that the compartment was actually quite big and comfy. There was lots of people milling about outside the window, and a tearful goodbye caught Alina's eye. "I almost didn't think my mama was going to let me go." She gestured out the window at the people. "If you hear or see a woman screaming 'Slytherin', that's my mother," Alina grumbled unhappily.

She got so wrapped up in memories of her mother, she almost didn't notice the girl asking for her name. "Sabrina? Like the muggle show, Sabrina the teenage witch? I loved that show!" She gushed, laughing. "Hello, Sab. I'm Alina, it's a pleasure to meet you." Alina settled into her seat, before kicking off her shoes and crossing her legs. "You're a first year too, right? Are you nervous?" She looked up at Sab who settled herself up against the window, looking incredibly comfy.

"Aravis you must tell your Aunt and Uncle goodbye even if you don't want to." A voice spoke to the black haired girl who was pouting waiting to run through the platform. Aravis looked up to see her brother Lucien. He was only a day older than her but somehow was much more mature. "Thanks for the offer! I'll pass on it though." She said full of sarcasm. Her brother however didn't find it funny one bit. He pulled Aravis over to her family. She had already gave her younger brother Maven, and her father a farewell hug. 

She looked up at her father sadly. "Dad, what if I don't get Slytherin? What if I get another house." Her father looked down at her and bent down to her height. "No matter what house you get we will always be proud of you!" He said with a soft smile while tucking a strand of her curly black hair behind her ear. She gave him one last hug, eager to leave for Hogwarts. "Aravis Isolde Escanora if you don't get Slytherin you are not welcome home!" Her bright blonde haired Aunt spoke with her equally blinding blonde Uncle nodding beside. "Well if I don't see you at home I'll see you in hell!" She said with a smile meaning every word.

Lucien began to laugh at the comment she made while her father tried not to. Her Aunt and Uncle looked like they would kill her the second they got a chance. "Well that's my cue to leave! Au Revoir Lucien, Maven and Good riddance Aunt Farrah, Uncle Arthur." She laughed as she bid her brothers farewell. "Young Lady get ba-" Her Uncles angry yelling was cut off as she ran through the platform. 

She hummed a song her brother liked as she got onto the train. Looking for a place to sit was nearly impossible. Aravis moved her hair out of her face as she found a place with only two people in it. Aravis wasn't a shy girl but she suddenly felt unsure of if she would be a burden to them. She swallowed her pride and approached them. "Do you mind if I sit here? There aren't many other places left."

 The chatter that ensued in the compartment was not something that Sabrina had expected. Maybe she should have though, considering it was bound when two people were in the same space for a various amount of hours. Perhaps Sabrina could make the best of it. "Yeah, it isn't a problem, I was lucky to find an empty compartment, actually," She replied to Alina, grinning widely at her. Being friendly was one thing that happened to come naturally to Sabrina, but not usually around other girls. She was surprised she was able to communicate fluently - and honestly, relieved. 

 "She really wants you in Slytherin, huh?" Sabrina asked, sparing a glance out the window to see if there really was a woman screaming 'Slytherin'. As far as she could tell, there wasn't. She turned her attention back to the other girl, her grin fading into a faint smile. There was no need to be enthusiastic all of the time. "Nice to meet you Alina," She responded, pulling the corners of her lips back up to a more evident smile, nodding her head as the blonde asked if she was a first year, humming in agreement. "Mhm, but no, of course not! I'll have my dad there with me, so it should be fine, I think." She mentioned, considering different outcomes. Should she be nervous? In all honesty, she was far from it. More excited than anything.

 Before the redheaded girl could pipe up and ask her the same question back, another person slid open the compartment door, looking in. Without hesitation, Sabrina welcomed her into the compartment, "Of course! Come in," She grinned and gestured to the rest of the seats left. There were two seats next to Alina, and one next to Sabrina. It was a weird set-up, but she didn't mind it much. "What's your name?" She asked the other girl, leaning her head back against the glass of the window. The train was going to begin moving soon, she hoped. 

The red haired girl welcomed Aravis into the compartment. Aravis smiled happily before taking her seat. She was glad that she wouldn't have to stand. "Thank you. I'm Aravis Escanora. Pleasure to meet you both. What are your names?" She said kindly, her posh accent almost made her seem more mature than she really was. "What house are you two hoping you get? I don't have to really guess what I'll get, I'm sure I'll get Slytherin like the rest of my family has." Aravis was very sure she was going to get Slytherin. Her mind fit in with all the house traits of it after all. 

Aravis looked out the window to see her family walk through the platform to wave goodbye. She gave a slight wave to her brother and her father. Her Aunt and Uncle were probably still to mad at her to even say good luck or have fun. Aravis remembered that the red haired girl and the blonde haired girl had been talking before she arrived.  "Oh also, before I forget, I wanted to apologize if I interrupted your conversation. Don't mind me." She said quickly and politely. Normally she would have just been silent the whole time, but telling off her Aunt and Uncle had put her in a rather good mood.

"Your papa is a professor here?" She exclaimed, leaning forward. "What's he teaching? That must be so comforting! I haven't been away from my parents for more than a couple days," Alina sighed, looking out the window again. "I think I'm gonna miss my parents a bit."

Alina smiled at the new girl who slipped into the compartment, and was astonished by how green her eyes were and how interesting her accent was. She couldn't help but feel so young next to her! It sort of reminder her of her mother with her very high-England Queen-ish accent of hers. Except her mother's was way more condescending and disapproving. Unlike this girls. "Hi Aravis! I'm Alina Ambrosia. Don't worry about bothering us, I just got in here not too long ago myself! More the merrier, right?"

She looked over at Sabrina, and gestured to her. "I was actually just telling Sabrina about my crazy mother who's been telling me I need to be in Slytherin like her, and all her family before her. Like I said, listen hard enough and you can still hear her screaming 'Slytherin'," Alina laughed, gaze flickering out the window almost nervously before turning back to the two girls. "Honestly? I'm happy wherever they put me." She fiddled with the hem of her coat. "Home is where you make it, that's what my papa always said."

Originally Katha had been worried about having to board the train by herself; now though, if her mum would ever decide to let her get on it, she'd be thrilled to leave.

"And you have all of your jumpers?" Ruth inquired anxiously. "The winter is so dreadful in Scotland."

Katha rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mum." She also her nice shoes, her toothbrush, her new textbooks, and every other item that her mother had asked her about. She was quite certain of this fact, seeing as how they'd had this same conversation two days prior while they were packing her trunks.

"What about your emergency card?"

"Mum, I don't think I'll need an emergency card." Katha whined. "I don't even think they have phones."

Her father gently placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. That's how he did everything- so, so gently. From tending the flowers in his garden, to helping her put baby birds back into their nests, to swinging her up into the air as a child, he was so gentle. She swallowed down a lump in her throat. She'd never been away from home for long before. She would miss him so much.

She'd miss her mum, too, if she'd ever stop wringing her hands and just let her get on the train already.

"Ruth, you did a good job. She's going to be fine."

Her father pulled her into a hug, and her mother, doing her best to push aside her anxiety, followed suit. Even her sister Sue Ellen, who'd been watching the whole spectacle go down without comment, was pulled into the hug, grimacing all the while.

"I'll write to you all as soon as I get there." Katha murmured. "I promise."

---

Katha climbed onto the train, huffing as she pulled her overstuffed trunks along with her. She'd bet her allowance that they'd burst open as soon as her fingers touched the clasps. As she stood at the entrance of the train, pushing her brown curls out of her eyes, she was suddenly hit with a wave of uncharacteristic nervousness. She was reminded again that she didn't know how anything worked here. She'd seen a boy on the platform with steam coming out of his ears. That was weird, right? People walked differently and talked differently, and even though her hometown of Wolverhampton had quite a few different cultures represented, she'd grown up there. She knew the rules. Here she didn't even know where to sit.

She glanced at all the compartments, making note of the numbers in her head. None of them especially called out to her.

"Being brave is more fun than being scared." She murmured to herself.

Katha took one last glance at the compartments.

"Good things come in three's..." She decided, dragging her trunks over to Compartment 3. Gathering up her courage she knocked on the door, peeking inside at the three girls already sitting within. She sent them a small wave.

"Hello, I'm Katha. Mind if I sit with you?"

Wesley hopped onto the train with his luggage in one hand and his sister's hand in the other. Melody - his sibling - went off to be with her friends that had also gotten accepted into Hogwarts. His older brother Ian - who was in his sixth year - would be an option to sit with but he would probably not notice him at all; he never did when his boyfriend was around. He wasn't interested in sitting with Melody and her giggly friends because they'd be talking about boys and playing stupid games.

Wes, being the timid cat-like boy he was, didn't like socialising, or being around people he wasn't used to. He honestly just wanted to be at home, playing with the dogs, feeding his birds, and petting his cat. So, it seemed there was no empty, lonely compartments left so he just had to settle for an already-full compartment. He dragged his luggage to a compartment full of girls; now this would be terrible for him. Being around people is bad enough for him, but girls? Especially girls he didn't know that he could potentially fancy. He knocked on the transparent glass door before opening it up and gulping.

"M-May I sit with you?" he asked, his hand gripping tight around the handle - his knuckles were turning white and he didn't notice. "It seems that eh-everywhere else is full."