7 Jun 2019, 23:11
New Opportunities, New Life
They had left her with her trunk at the exit of the nearest Floo Terminal on the platform and Erika had simply walked forward without looking back. The parting words from her mother being "Do not disappoint us, remember your brother's stellar reputation first and foremost." There hadn't been a hug and kiss goodbye, no well-wishes. Just scorn. Always scorn. After a brief moment of weakness, Erika had hurriedly blinked the salt out of her eyes and had raised her chin again. Defiant, stubborn, proud but ultimately still a young eleven year old witch who was embarking on her journey to Hogwarts that day.
She let a small smile grace her lips as she caught her first sight of the gleaming scarlet Hogwarts Express through the smoke and for the first time in a while, her eyes glittered with excitement. This was her turn to ride the Hogwarts Express. Her turn to be sorted into her new home of seven years. There wouldn't be any of her old tutors, nannies, her brother or mother and father breathing down her neck. At last this was Erika's time to shine. There was almost a new pep in her step as she hauled her trunk onto the train, having arrived early enough where the platform wasn't filling up with students of all ages just yet. Erika could at least find a compartment now and, hopefully, find some fellow first years to travel with. She'd rarely been allowed to interact with peers her own age outside of tutoring, so she couldn't help the brief tug of nervousness within her. She'd never been nervous before, not like this anyway.
Ten minutes later after walking towards the middle of the train, Erika found herself settling into a compartment as more and more students had started to appear on the platform. As she pushed her trunk under her seat, she was reaching up to pull her satchel back down when her compartment door opened again. Turning around in sudden surprise, Erika hoped that her smile didn't look suddenly manic,
"Oh, um. Hi!"
Smooth, Erika, smooth.
She let a small smile grace her lips as she caught her first sight of the gleaming scarlet Hogwarts Express through the smoke and for the first time in a while, her eyes glittered with excitement. This was her turn to ride the Hogwarts Express. Her turn to be sorted into her new home of seven years. There wouldn't be any of her old tutors, nannies, her brother or mother and father breathing down her neck. At last this was Erika's time to shine. There was almost a new pep in her step as she hauled her trunk onto the train, having arrived early enough where the platform wasn't filling up with students of all ages just yet. Erika could at least find a compartment now and, hopefully, find some fellow first years to travel with. She'd rarely been allowed to interact with peers her own age outside of tutoring, so she couldn't help the brief tug of nervousness within her. She'd never been nervous before, not like this anyway.
Ten minutes later after walking towards the middle of the train, Erika found herself settling into a compartment as more and more students had started to appear on the platform. As she pushed her trunk under her seat, she was reaching up to pull her satchel back down when her compartment door opened again. Turning around in sudden surprise, Erika hoped that her smile didn't look suddenly manic,
"Oh, um. Hi!"
Smooth, Erika, smooth.
Last edited by Erika Hines on 18 Jun 2019, 14:26, edited 1 time in total.
7 Jun 2019, 23:41
New Opportunities, New Life
Reducio
@Erika Hines
This was it. This was her moment, her time to shine. Finally, after waiting eleven years, she had finally gotten her letter. It was true, she would be the first Millie in her entire bloodline to attend Hogwarts; School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now was the time for Euphrasia to live her legacy. Not her mother or fathers, not her grandmother's. Her legacy. Living her truth, not anyone else's. So, why was it so nerve-wracking?
When she bid her mother and father goodbye, Euphrasia had never experienced more of a tough time. She was terrified. Nobody else knew what Hogwarts was like, and it was her first time. Naomi and Andrew knew where to go, though, so it wasn't too embarrassing. Even when Honey jumped out of her poorly-shut case and almost jumped in front of a moving train. That was a story for another time, though.
The scarlet train shined brightly in the fog it emitted. After Honey was placed back in her large crate, Naomi and Andrew bid goodbye to their daughter. If you were looking close enough, you could see the blond male crying ever-so-slightly. His daughter was really growing up!
When she stepped on the train, finding a compartment was a new experience. She hadn't met anyone from Hogwarts, and it was slightly scary to see everyone getting along so great. Not that she had any problem with other students, it was just a little scary not being able to fit in instantly, just as she had done in other places. But here, she should be able to fit in. After all, everyone was like her; a witch or wizard. Everyone was learning the same thing.
When she traveled further down the train, compartments were filling up, and it was only a matter of time before she would need to find one of her own. She took up that chance when she found a compartment with one person in it. Inside was a girl with blonde hair. Her hair was the only feature that Euphrasia could spot, as the girl was turned around.
The purple-eyed girl gingerly pulled open the compartment door, and flinched when the girl turned around, she had bit her lip.
"Oh, um. Hi!"
"Hey there. You don't mind if we share the compartment? Everywhere else is full."
`Even if you can't change the world, you can change individuals.' Daniel Howell
Stamina: 6 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 6 | ArcPower: 7 | Accuracy: 7
8 Jun 2019, 00:03
New Opportunities, New Life
Reducio
@Euphrasia Millie
Erika bit her own lip as she eyed up the other girl, evidently a first year like herself, who had opened her compartment door. This was her chance to meet somebody, she supposed, and Erika momentarily felt bitterness in her mouth at the shame of feeling so bashful and nervous. She needed to let go of what her family had instilled in her, yet she couldn't. She didn't know if she ever would. As the two eleven year old girls eyed each other, Erika found herself standing straighter and offering another smile towards the other student. It wouldn't have done her any good to be stand-offish and stuck-up after all. She had told herself repeatedly that she would make acquaintances or friends. She would't hole herself away and obsess on how she could be better than her brother. Again, this was her chance now.
Pulling down her satchel in one fluid motion, Erika settled in on her chosen seat by the window before turning to the other girl fully. She took in the other girl and one eyebrow slanted curiously at the purple eyes of her fellow student. Never in her life had Erika seen anybody with that colour, it made her own look dull and boring.
"Sorry.."she offered, "I didn't mean to stare..I've just never seen anybody with purple eyes before. They're very unique!" Erika quickly made a movement with her hands towards the other empty seats in the compartment, "Of course you can join me....I was half expecting to spend the trip alone, to be honest.."said Erika with another smile as she took her seat, her satchel beside her yet again, "I'm Erika Hines."
9 Jun 2019, 01:20
New Opportunities, New Life
Reducio
@Erika Hines
They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. But perhaps that wasn't true, for, in Millie's case beauty was seen in the eyes of everyone else. She never really understood why she had to have the chosen Amethyst eyes, why not her mother? or aunt? Anyone else in her family line, but why her? Sure, having odd eyes was beautiful, in some cases, but it was also sort of scary. She had been the only person most recently, to achieve this goal. And being a Parseltongue?
Maybe she was meant to be special. Created and destroyed, but to hold power within those unreachable. Her father had quit his job in order to stop eating away his ambition and live a real life. With a real family. And he had to make that choice then, and not let it all go away. After all, power is only powerful if you believed it to be. Like giving into your fears.
That must've been something she was doing.
"I'm Erika Hines."
Erika was a pretty name. Hines was a pretty last name. They went well together, like peas in a pod. Euphrasia Millie did not go together, and did not sound well together. Maybe Euphrasia Destiny, but the latter was near-to-impossible to achieve.
"I'm Euphrasia, but I prefer Millie."
`Even if you can't change the world, you can change individuals.' Daniel Howell
Stamina: 6 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 6 | ArcPower: 7 | Accuracy: 7
12 Jun 2019, 10:32
New Opportunities, New Life
@Euphrasia Millie
Taking her seat by the window again, Erika turned her head towards it and watched as they passed through and out of London. It'd take hours to get to Hogsmeade, she knew that much - it had pretty much been the only bit of information she'd got out of her older brother. Not that there was much love between them, they had been set up as competitors from the moment that she had been born and it hadn't been forgotten in the Hines household. Whatever she had done or achieved was always outshone by Matthias having done it first. It was rare that Erika was ever allowed to forget that and it was because of that the unsorted eleven year old knew that in a day or two she would receive that first it of owl post. The first part of her reminder that Matthias was the favored older son, and even though they truly love her- Erika scoffed at that word and the false sentiment - she'd never amount to the splendor and pride that Matthias had brought upon the family name. She was eleven for Merlin's sake, how could she compete with Matthias anyway?
Tuning out her thoughts that threatened to darken her mood and churn the nerves further within her, she looked to the other first year again. "Then I shall call you Millie," she agreed, "A silly question I'm sure...but are you looking forward to Hogwarts?"
Taking her seat by the window again, Erika turned her head towards it and watched as they passed through and out of London. It'd take hours to get to Hogsmeade, she knew that much - it had pretty much been the only bit of information she'd got out of her older brother. Not that there was much love between them, they had been set up as competitors from the moment that she had been born and it hadn't been forgotten in the Hines household. Whatever she had done or achieved was always outshone by Matthias having done it first. It was rare that Erika was ever allowed to forget that and it was because of that the unsorted eleven year old knew that in a day or two she would receive that first it of owl post. The first part of her reminder that Matthias was the favored older son, and even though they truly love her- Erika scoffed at that word and the false sentiment - she'd never amount to the splendor and pride that Matthias had brought upon the family name. She was eleven for Merlin's sake, how could she compete with Matthias anyway?
Tuning out her thoughts that threatened to darken her mood and churn the nerves further within her, she looked to the other first year again. "Then I shall call you Millie," she agreed, "A silly question I'm sure...but are you looking forward to Hogwarts?"
12 Jun 2019, 17:52
New Opportunities, New Life
Shelby sighed as she moved from her last compartment. Everything had gone dull quickly and she really just wanted to enjoy herself. She wanted to drown out the ache from missing her family, from missing being a regular ole muggle. Everything had changed so quickly for her and it was antagonizing. Why did life treat her so cruelly sometimes?
As she struggled a little to move against the moving the train, she looked into the compartments she passed. Some people were dozing off, others whispering together, some people played fun-looking games, while others just read books. Shelby had thought of that herself but did she really want to spend her time flipping pages when she could spend her time making new friends?
She was thinking this when the train gave a little jolt that sent her hard against the wall. She cried out, making her way into to the nearest compartment in front of her. She stumbled in, rubbing her arm but she didn't look that much in pain. She wore simple black robes, a leather backpack, and held a pointed hat in her hand.
"Pardon," she said in a low voice, staring at the occupants for a moment. One had short black hair—oh, did she have purple eyes? That was interesting. This girl seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with another one, one with blond hair and dark eyes. They were both pretty girls, probably prettier than her. "Mind if I sit with you? Seems a bit dangerous just walking about the train..." She rubbed her arm in emphasis.
(If yes) Shelby sits down quickly next to the blond one, smiling at them both. She keeps her pack on, holding her hat in her lap. It was decorated with a smiley face sticker on the brim, mirroring her own grin. She was happy to be with other people but she told herself to increase her guard, she didn't know they'd react if they found out she wasn't from here, meaning from the Wizarding World or England. She was pretty much and alien to magic, but being the young girl she was, she just wanted to have fun.
"I'm Shelby," she offered. "We're all First-Years, I'm guessing?" They all looked like babies, with their youth and freshness.
As she struggled a little to move against the moving the train, she looked into the compartments she passed. Some people were dozing off, others whispering together, some people played fun-looking games, while others just read books. Shelby had thought of that herself but did she really want to spend her time flipping pages when she could spend her time making new friends?
She was thinking this when the train gave a little jolt that sent her hard against the wall. She cried out, making her way into to the nearest compartment in front of her. She stumbled in, rubbing her arm but she didn't look that much in pain. She wore simple black robes, a leather backpack, and held a pointed hat in her hand.
"Pardon," she said in a low voice, staring at the occupants for a moment. One had short black hair—oh, did she have purple eyes? That was interesting. This girl seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with another one, one with blond hair and dark eyes. They were both pretty girls, probably prettier than her. "Mind if I sit with you? Seems a bit dangerous just walking about the train..." She rubbed her arm in emphasis.
(If yes) Shelby sits down quickly next to the blond one, smiling at them both. She keeps her pack on, holding her hat in her lap. It was decorated with a smiley face sticker on the brim, mirroring her own grin. She was happy to be with other people but she told herself to increase her guard, she didn't know they'd react if they found out she wasn't from here, meaning from the Wizarding World or England. She was pretty much and alien to magic, but being the young girl she was, she just wanted to have fun.
"I'm Shelby," she offered. "We're all First-Years, I'm guessing?" They all looked like babies, with their youth and freshness.
"YEEEAHHH, I didn't die!" -Asta from Black Clover
STR 7 | AGL 8 | CON 6 | STA 9
STR 7 | AGL 8 | CON 6 | STA 9
13 Jun 2019, 04:53
New Opportunities, New Life
Reducio
@Shelby Clark | @Erika Hines
Whether Erika thought that it was weird that Euphrasia preferred Millie over her first name, was beyond her. She preferred Millie over Euphrasia, Destiny, and 'Phrasia. While teachers and family members were allowed to call her whatever they wished, she wanted her friends and fellow peers to know her as Millie. It was a nice and simple name. American, too.
Ah, America. The land of the free. Well, maybe not the freest country, but definitely a nice place to live. Without the politics and raging hate, it was pretty decent. The weather was fair, depending on where you lived. There weren't heat waves every week in Summer, and it was usually Sunny outside, instead of it raining every day. Millie wasn't lying either, it seemed to rain all the time.
Another girl entered the compartment. She asked to sit down, and Millie nodded fervently. She didn't want anyone to have to be alone during the trip to Hogwarts, and she didn't want anyone to get hurt walking the train, either. Well, mainly the former, but the latter was important, too!
She introduced herself as Shelby and asked if everyone in the compartment was a first-year as well. Millie nodded again.
"I'm Euphrasia, but I prefer Millie. And yeah, I'm a first year, too. So is Erika," She motioned to the blonde. "And I'm honestly pretty nervous for Hogwarts. My entire family attended Ilvermorney, the American school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'm the first one!" At this, Millie smiled proudly.
Maybe America was cool, but so was England.
`Even if you can't change the world, you can change individuals.' Daniel Howell
Stamina: 6 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 6 | ArcPower: 7 | Accuracy: 7
13 Jun 2019, 05:27
New Opportunities, New Life
Holly walks into the compartment, with her shades still on and a slight, nervous smile, she didn't have a proper trunk for her items, instead she only had a really, really stuffed single strap bag, she was already wearing her robe, with objects tucked into her pockets and hood probably due to insufficient space in her... bag. she stands at the door, and waves at the others.
"Hi. Umm... I'm Holly, it's awesome to meet you all. Is this compartment full? i cant seem to find a seat..."
She asked with her mix of an American and a light British accent, worrying that she'd get denied like how she did for the last...... 5 compartments? Holly lost count, but it was a lot of compartments full of people, Hogwarts sure takes in a lot of students... it was almost impossible to not bump into someone on the platform. Her hair was a bit messy from rushing all the way here, because being the goofball she is she set her alarm wrongly yesterday at the hotel and it woke her one hour late. Other than that she looked quite excited to be here, with that warm smile as she remembers the image of roughly half an hour ago, when she left for the platform, her mother gave her a little good bye kiss and said to Holly.
"Go get em'. "
and her father patting her on the back telling her not to be afraid. This feeling of warmth and love makes her feel that all the trouble she's gone through, running into walls thinking she would phase through them, dropping everything while buying things in Diagon Alley... it was all worth it, to finally be here Holly thought.
"Hi. Umm... I'm Holly, it's awesome to meet you all. Is this compartment full? i cant seem to find a seat..."
She asked with her mix of an American and a light British accent, worrying that she'd get denied like how she did for the last...... 5 compartments? Holly lost count, but it was a lot of compartments full of people, Hogwarts sure takes in a lot of students... it was almost impossible to not bump into someone on the platform. Her hair was a bit messy from rushing all the way here, because being the goofball she is she set her alarm wrongly yesterday at the hotel and it woke her one hour late. Other than that she looked quite excited to be here, with that warm smile as she remembers the image of roughly half an hour ago, when she left for the platform, her mother gave her a little good bye kiss and said to Holly.
"Go get em'. "
and her father patting her on the back telling her not to be afraid. This feeling of warmth and love makes her feel that all the trouble she's gone through, running into walls thinking she would phase through them, dropping everything while buying things in Diagon Alley... it was all worth it, to finally be here Holly thought.
Last edited by Holly Frost on 15 Jun 2019, 18:33, edited 1 time in total.
Frost.
13 Jun 2019, 11:11
New Opportunities, New Life
Tucking a piece of hair behind he ear, Erika opened her mouth to respond to Millie before her attention was distracted yet again. This time by another girl turning up, holding her arm. It wasn't entirely unexpected, the train journey was quite bumpy already as the tracks curved. It'd definitely make it easier to fall asleep if she started to become drowsy, she was sure that however they were sorted was going to be taxing in some form. Not to mention beginning to meet new people.
"Of course, "spoke Erika, "The more the merrier, I'm told." A saying that her Grandfather had come out with quite often before he'd died - although it could certainly be said that it didn't apply well to the Hines family. The less of them the better was the thought that often popped into Erika's mind. The young blonde found herself relaxing more as the conversation picked up around her again and she nodded to Shelby's question. "Yes, "she grinned, "My family have been attending Hogwarts for generations - so far most of my family have either been in Slytherin or Ravenclaw house, so I'm expecting to go to either one myself really....but who knows, I might end up elsewhere yet." Gryffindor wouldn't go down well however.
Her attention was captured by the compartment opening again and Erika blinked at the newcomer before waving her in, "Plenty of room, Holly," laughed Erika, "Come and join us." She pointed to the others and then to herself, "This is Shelby and Millie, I'm Erika."
13 Jun 2019, 17:29
New Opportunities, New Life
Shelby smiled at Millie and nodded at Erika. She noted that Millie seemed to have a underlying American accent, and her suspicions were confirmed when she mentioned the magic school in the States, Ilvermorney. Still to this day she wondered if it would've been better to go there than to move to England for 'better schooling'. Really it had been her choice, she liked listening to all of the stories about Harry Potter and Dumbledore, and what they did. But was chasing adventures better than being close to family?
She was going to share her own experiences, being American and also a Muggle-Born with absolutely no background on magic, when another girl popped in. She was extremely direct, sharing her name and saying they were all 'awesome'. Shelby's eyebrows shot up, taking in this girl, who wore shades inside and heaved a stuffed, single-strap bag. She also seemed to have some American roots. Shelby was beginning to feel more at ease; she wasn't the only purebred American around.
She listened as the girls spoke about where their family came from and what they did, but she chose to remain silent. She felt that it was better for people not to know everything, she liked having a little mystery about herself.
She opened her mouth to greet the girl but she was beaten to it by Erika, who introduced both her and Millie. Shelby knew she could speak for herself but decided it didn't really matter.
Staring out the window, Shelby mused, in a British accent without a hint of American, "I don't care which House I get into, really, I just want to have fun." She had taken the time to read up and learn about the different Houses of Hogwarts and figured that despite the biases she wouldn't even mind being in Slytherin, as long as the kids didn't focus solely on her faults and chose to have fun. "But I think that I'll either get sorted into Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, one of the two."
Thinking for a moment, Shelby asked, "What do you guys want to be in? The Sorting Hat pays attention to you, no one else, so he's going to focus on how we are. I feel like Gryff and Huffle are good enough for me. I'm not...studious enough for Ravenclaw, and Slytherin wouldn't fit me, I just know it." She thought about being a muggle-born and about the complications that would erupt if someone found out about her blood.
She was going to share her own experiences, being American and also a Muggle-Born with absolutely no background on magic, when another girl popped in. She was extremely direct, sharing her name and saying they were all 'awesome'. Shelby's eyebrows shot up, taking in this girl, who wore shades inside and heaved a stuffed, single-strap bag. She also seemed to have some American roots. Shelby was beginning to feel more at ease; she wasn't the only purebred American around.
She listened as the girls spoke about where their family came from and what they did, but she chose to remain silent. She felt that it was better for people not to know everything, she liked having a little mystery about herself.
She opened her mouth to greet the girl but she was beaten to it by Erika, who introduced both her and Millie. Shelby knew she could speak for herself but decided it didn't really matter.
Staring out the window, Shelby mused, in a British accent without a hint of American, "I don't care which House I get into, really, I just want to have fun." She had taken the time to read up and learn about the different Houses of Hogwarts and figured that despite the biases she wouldn't even mind being in Slytherin, as long as the kids didn't focus solely on her faults and chose to have fun. "But I think that I'll either get sorted into Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, one of the two."
Thinking for a moment, Shelby asked, "What do you guys want to be in? The Sorting Hat pays attention to you, no one else, so he's going to focus on how we are. I feel like Gryff and Huffle are good enough for me. I'm not...studious enough for Ravenclaw, and Slytherin wouldn't fit me, I just know it." She thought about being a muggle-born and about the complications that would erupt if someone found out about her blood.
"YEEEAHHH, I didn't die!" -Asta from Black Clover
STR 7 | AGL 8 | CON 6 | STA 9
STR 7 | AGL 8 | CON 6 | STA 9