2 Nov 2024, 17:32
Bitter Departures
The morning mist that clung to the platform was like a silk veil, wrapping itself around the very thing that would carry Anais far away from everything she'd known. Her trunk stood neatly beside her on the trolley, carried with all the dignity that was hereby expected. Despite the chaos of every excitable first year running amongst the station, her only goal was to appease the two individuals that mattered.
"Ma chérie." The nickname crept behind her, one that felt like a taunt in of itself. "Remember what we've discussed. Hogwarts may lack the.. refinement of Beauxbatons, but a Prideaux rises above their circumstances." The words circumstances tasted like months of unspoken tension, the family name even more so. Their decision to send her to Hogwarts had been made with the same logic that governed their move to Ely, British holdings supposedly needing utmost attention.
Her father stood a half step behind his wife, the man's presence more felt than acknowledged. His disapproval had always been like that; a shadow that followed her, never quite touching but impossible to escape. "You will excel." His words were simple; not encouragement, but an order.
Anais lifted her chin slightly, the movement so subtle it might have been mistaken for a trick of the light. "Oui, père." Her native tongue slipped out by default, and she saw the barely perceptible tightening around her mother's eyes. "Yes, father." The correction stifled itself immediately.
Around her, parents could be seen embracing their children, some making jokes amidst teary eyes. The only thing close to affection Anais received was that of her mother's kiss, one that barely brushed her cheek upon the train's whistle. She didn't mean it, never had. The sentiment of her father was even less sincere, a stern hand that rested briefly on one shoulder. Through her cloak, of course. No direct contact. Never that.
Upon discovering an empty compartment, she settled herself by the window with hands folded neatly in her lap. It was through the glass that she could still, unfortunately, see her makers. Two perfectly stoic figures on the platform, you'd think they had no business being there at all.
"Ma chérie." The nickname crept behind her, one that felt like a taunt in of itself. "Remember what we've discussed. Hogwarts may lack the.. refinement of Beauxbatons, but a Prideaux rises above their circumstances." The words circumstances tasted like months of unspoken tension, the family name even more so. Their decision to send her to Hogwarts had been made with the same logic that governed their move to Ely, British holdings supposedly needing utmost attention.
Her father stood a half step behind his wife, the man's presence more felt than acknowledged. His disapproval had always been like that; a shadow that followed her, never quite touching but impossible to escape. "You will excel." His words were simple; not encouragement, but an order.
Anais lifted her chin slightly, the movement so subtle it might have been mistaken for a trick of the light. "Oui, père." Her native tongue slipped out by default, and she saw the barely perceptible tightening around her mother's eyes. "Yes, father." The correction stifled itself immediately.
Around her, parents could be seen embracing their children, some making jokes amidst teary eyes. The only thing close to affection Anais received was that of her mother's kiss, one that barely brushed her cheek upon the train's whistle. She didn't mean it, never had. The sentiment of her father was even less sincere, a stern hand that rested briefly on one shoulder. Through her cloak, of course. No direct contact. Never that.
Upon discovering an empty compartment, she settled herself by the window with hands folded neatly in her lap. It was through the glass that she could still, unfortunately, see her makers. Two perfectly stoic figures on the platform, you'd think they had no business being there at all.
Treating me like I'm some bet to lose.
3 Nov 2024, 20:27
Bitter Departures
Anticipation was a lot like staring at a clock, or so he was told. The countdown from months to weeks to days felt anything but stagnate for the impatient young boy now staring out of a window. A summer spent soaking up knowledge from his wizarding side, and goodbyes to his muggle friends all led up to this day. Steven was off to Hogwarts. Although the excitement he felt leading up to today was now replaced with exhaustion. His eye lids went lower and lower as he watched the trees pass one by one until the sound of the tires on the road lulled him to sleep.
"Steven, wake up honey."
A hand on his shoulder pushed him awake. Steven stared blankly at his mother before wiping his eyes and looking around. "Hm" Was all he managed to get out as it took all a second to process.
"Come on son, we're here."
His dad said as he slammed the car trunk closed. This snapped Steven out of his morning trance. Like a cat getting sprayed with water, Steven jolted out of the car and took in the crisp morning air. He was wearing an orange hoodie that seemed to be at least two sizes too big for him, and a pair of basketball shorts that hung below his knees. "Let me get my stuff!" He said failing to notice that his school trunk was already besides the car, and his bookbag filled with his snacks and books for the train ride was already hanging from his dad's shoulder.
"At least let me carry it." Steven said as he took his backpack from his father, and off they went.
Despite it not being a very big muggle traveling day, Kings Cross Station was packed. After spending most of summer with his aunt and uncle Steven didn't see anything strange about the people walking through the station. The muggles however did, and Steven noticed a couple of people not even hiding the fact that they were staring. It wasn't until an owl screeched that Steven began to connect the dots. Although crossing over to the platform was what they were supposed to do, but doing so dressed so ordinarily made him wonder if they would stand out.
The scene that followed as they crossed over the barrier wiped any thought from his mind. It was all too extraordinary for any other thoughts to take precedent. Families gathered around the train on the platform saying the final goodbyes, younger siblings ran about, a couple of students already formed groups talking, and a lot of parents lectured their child going off. Steven's parents were no different, but truth be told Steven wasn't listening. He just wanted to off on his next adventure.
"Listen to your teachers," his mom tossed in, "and don't go jumping off any bridges cause your friends are!" was the last thing he heard as they took turns embracing him one less time before school break. "Do you need help?" His dad asked as he put the trunk handle in Stevens hands. "No, I got it." He lied, but still managed to lift the trunk in. The train capacity was filling up quick, and the sound of a horn singled for last call. It was difficult navigating through the train with students still filling in, but after a couple moments walking, he found a compartment with only a single student in.
"Mind if I?" He asked as he nodded to the open seat across from her.
"Steven, wake up honey."
A hand on his shoulder pushed him awake. Steven stared blankly at his mother before wiping his eyes and looking around. "Hm" Was all he managed to get out as it took all a second to process.
"Come on son, we're here."
His dad said as he slammed the car trunk closed. This snapped Steven out of his morning trance. Like a cat getting sprayed with water, Steven jolted out of the car and took in the crisp morning air. He was wearing an orange hoodie that seemed to be at least two sizes too big for him, and a pair of basketball shorts that hung below his knees. "Let me get my stuff!" He said failing to notice that his school trunk was already besides the car, and his bookbag filled with his snacks and books for the train ride was already hanging from his dad's shoulder.
"At least let me carry it." Steven said as he took his backpack from his father, and off they went.
Despite it not being a very big muggle traveling day, Kings Cross Station was packed. After spending most of summer with his aunt and uncle Steven didn't see anything strange about the people walking through the station. The muggles however did, and Steven noticed a couple of people not even hiding the fact that they were staring. It wasn't until an owl screeched that Steven began to connect the dots. Although crossing over to the platform was what they were supposed to do, but doing so dressed so ordinarily made him wonder if they would stand out.
The scene that followed as they crossed over the barrier wiped any thought from his mind. It was all too extraordinary for any other thoughts to take precedent. Families gathered around the train on the platform saying the final goodbyes, younger siblings ran about, a couple of students already formed groups talking, and a lot of parents lectured their child going off. Steven's parents were no different, but truth be told Steven wasn't listening. He just wanted to off on his next adventure.
"Listen to your teachers," his mom tossed in, "and don't go jumping off any bridges cause your friends are!" was the last thing he heard as they took turns embracing him one less time before school break. "Do you need help?" His dad asked as he put the trunk handle in Stevens hands. "No, I got it." He lied, but still managed to lift the trunk in. The train capacity was filling up quick, and the sound of a horn singled for last call. It was difficult navigating through the train with students still filling in, but after a couple moments walking, he found a compartment with only a single student in.
"Mind if I?" He asked as he nodded to the open seat across from her.
Interacting with @Anais Prideaux