Closed Sharing sweets and expectations Open

Scene: Hogwarts Express | Empty Compartment
Current Characters: Eira Cravensworth | @Graci Laren|@Zoe Laren|@Agnès Odette

As Eira took a bite from the cake, Graci shook her head, thick hair following every movement. "Oh, no mind. It's fine. I was actually just about to introduce myself to the mysterious new girl. Did you catch her name?"

Eira gave her own head-shake, mouth filled with pastry. The siblings took their place on the seat opposite hers. Zoe leaned back, eyes glazed as if she was miles away, whilst Graci rummaged through her bag and began to pull out a sheaf of parchment from her bag and started to write what looked to be a letter.

She immediately shifted her eyes back to the scene out the window to respect her privacy. Well, at least she had some company through the train ride. A pang of sadness pinched her chest. She missed home even when she had only left that morning.

No more breakfast with Mitzy giving her an extra helping of sausage, with mum telling her to finish her beans. No more afternoon tea parties where she, Anna, and Emile would wander off to the estate gardens and make their adventures. Eira usually taking the lead and like always, Emile would protest while Anna had to pull them away before he huffs and lets Eira be the leader, again.

Now, Anna will be attending Ilvermorny while Emile is shoving off to Beauxbatons and love gloating about it based on the messages he had sent through his grey owl Chouchou.

No more secret conversations with Circe during the twilight hours before Mitzy calls her for dinner. Last time she asked when she can see her again, Circe told her that they could meet after the 'great sleep'.

Even the strict lectures from Mr. Sheffield on literature and Lady Rozov for poise and etiquette will sorely be missed.

No more warm hugs from dad and soft kisses from mum... for the first time in a long time. Eira truly felt like a child.

'No tears in front of company, Ms. Cravensworth!' Lady Rozov's steely voice echoed.

Swallowing down the urge to cry, she took a breath and felt her body relax. Right, crying about it is foolish; she's going to learn about magic and make new friends. Chin up, and just be herself. Right.

"So" she started, "Erm, have you thought about which house you're going to be in? My parents are both from Hogwarts, but they haven't told me how you're going to be placed. My mum said there's going to be an exam, while dad says they'll make you do some challenges."

She doesn't feel confident with their explanation though, her dad had a wide grin on his face while mum answered with a secretive smile by the rim of the tea cup she was drinking from. It was one of her tells when she says one of her witty jokes- or what her father fondly calls it 'mum's clever comics'.

Her parents may be barmy...

The sudden sound of wheezing made her look towards the quiet girl from before. She tried to meet her eyes to check if she needed help but it was a bit hard to see what was happening based on where she was sitting.

Current Characters: @Eira Cravensworth @Graci Laren @Agnès Odette

Extra Mentions:N/A

A head shake.
No name.
Yet.
I could ask, but then again, maybe she did not want to be talked to?
Graci sighed, as she had been noticing she does a lot of late, and got out one of her gel pens to practice her Greek. She was getting rusty.
She had a passing thought, wondering if using gel pens instead of quills would make her look more like a muggle. Some people were bound to have issues with her mum being a muggle even though all of her fathers side were magical, her aunt and grandfather on her mum's side too.
"So" Eira started, "Erm, have you thought about which house you're going to be in? My parents are both from Hogwarts, but they haven't told me how you're going to be placed. My mum said there's going to be an exam, while dad says they'll make you do some challenges."
"Oh, yeah, I have, I'm thinking Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, and as for the sorting, my dad has told me all sorts of wacky things, but my aunt, Katerina, said it was a hat. I don't know which to believe. Though I'm pretty sure it's the hat. I don't know how it would work, but Katerina has stayed true to her story the whole time so..."
Aunt Katerina and her father were good friends, always trying to tell Graci that their version was right, but her dad was more notorious for joking. But Katerina never went to Hogwarts so, she could totally be wrong.
Graci trailed off, but even if she did have more to say, she would have been cut off by the wheezing that was coming from the window seat.

Agnès knew the sound would bring attention to her, but she had no idea how awkward it’d feel to be stared at because of a cough… her mouth suddenly felt drier, tongue attached to the roof of her mouth now, but ignoring her otherwise rosy cheeks, she managed to keep a somewhat straight face.

Her heartbeat mixed with the quick, rhythmic chuffing of the train, she could practically feel the beat in her ears, her hands immediately moving together and pretending to groom each nail, maybe if she messed with her nails she’d appear normal, maybe even dignified… inside it wasn’t quite as simple.

Agnès found herself glancing up before clearing her throat. “Hairball..” She looks away, flashing an awkward, though comical grin. Agnès then crossed her legs, running her hands through her doll-like curls before glancing back at them. `please tell me that wasn’t weird’ her eyes drifted away again, now looking at other parts of the girl’s faces, hair, nose, lips, anywhere but their eyes, 'oh la vache-(holy cow) you’re staring…' Back to her dress her eyes went… as she picked at the frills and rubbed the material, it almost looked at though Agnès wanted to swim in the waves of fabric… maybe even stuff her face into it and breathe it in.

Current Characters: @Eira Cravensworth @Graci Laren @Agnès Odette

Marquise's hurried footsteps reflected the inner turmoil in his mind. He wasn't sure how much time had passed but he knew he'd have to find a compartment soon, before they had all filled up. He'd been impeded by the passing by of some rowdy 6th years, and was unable to secure a compartment closer to the front of the train, he'd been planning on. All he wanted now was to find a place to sit. In his haste he'd tripped and lost control of his trolley, it went speeding down the train as he ran to catch it. If any of my books are damaged, my parents will kill me! He managed to grab hold of it, before it could hurt anybody. However this earned him a few stares from passers by. His face flushed red with embarassment as he hurried on his way. As he walked his mind travelled to other things, the sorting ceremony had been weighing on his mind pretty hard. He'd be satisfied with either slytherin or hufflepuff, as that was where his family went historically. He just didn't want to be in gryffindor. Apparently his mother had an ex who went there and things had been sour for the family ever since. There was the little voice in his head who said he may not even be picked for a house. He ignored that voice, and finally found a compartment that looked like it had an open seat.He opened the door, politely 3 girls. Not exactly ideal but he'd take anything at this point. He sat down next to the girl eating a pastry

Scene: Hogwarts Express | Empty Compartment
Current Characters: Eira Cravensworth |@Graci Laren|@Agnès Odette|@Marquise Raven

"Hairball..."

Eira had to strain to hear it but it's an answer, she guessed. Maybe she would try to invite her again later, but oh, she might be overstepping.

Getting back to the discussion at hand, she thought about Graci's explanation about her aunt Katerina about a hat.

A hat.

She remembered watching a Muggle pull a rabbit out of a top hat when she and her parents went to a seaside pier in Blackpool. Her dad was charmed by the sight of how non-magic folk can imitate real magic, and her mum explained how the man may have placed the animal in the hat with a false bottom.

But Graci's words did spark her intrigue; how does a hat fit into all this?

"Oh my dad's from Hufflepuff and mum's in Ravenclaw!" Eira exclaimed, placing her hands together to contain her excitement. "Dad says that their dormitories are by the kitchens and swore you can smell the food in the common room. My mum says theirs were in one of the towers where you can see constellations out the windows every night."

Her parents showed her the memorabilia they had collected over the years. Dad even kept several wrappers of the sweets he and Reinhilde had when they had their first date in Hogmeade. Her mum kept her notes organized and tidy, as always, with her OWLS and NEWT grades proudly on display.

"Ravenclaw is a great house" Eira hummed, "Loads of witches and wizards that came from Ravenclaw have stellar careers or amazing artists. I dunno where I will end up but I hope they have a cold common room. I'm not great with humidity" she ended with a weak laugh.

Another subject that was weighing her mind, "Have you thought about what sort of classes we will have? We have been given our syllabus, but I wonder if they will let us actually use magic or just read it from the books?"

She had to stop herself from fetching her wand from her satchel; she dearly loved it and always tried to maintain its luster with her dad's wand polish. Eira grabbed a pumpkin pasty and bit into it when the door to the compartment suddenly swung open.

A boy with long blond hair with a dishelved appearance stepped in. He looked a bit peeved and tired- apparently really tired as he then sat next to Eira, earning a squeak from her.

There was a beat before Eira blinked owlishly at the newcomer and swallowed her pasty, food dry in her throat.

"Oh, hello."

OOC: Welcome Marquis!

Current Characters: @Eira Cravensworth @Graci Laren @Agnès Odette

Marquis wasn't good, at social interactions. He often liked to argue that his peers were simply too dull to comprehend what he said, but if he was being completely honest. He didn't help matters much. He had grown up with little friends and had been hoping that hogwarts would be different. This seemed like the perfect chance to start on that path. He didn't exactly no what to say. Part of him wanted to talk to her about his interests, but he had no way of guaging whether or not she'd care about such things. Right, first i've got to reply to her. Get it together marquis
"Hi, I'm Marquis Raven. Sorry I came in such a rush." While he waited for the girl to respond he looked around at the other 2 girls in the carraige. One was wearing a frilly dress, and had curly hair lookin rather embarassed about something. The other one was wearing a red dress, with earrings that looked rather nice. Part of him wanted to ask her where she'd gotten them but felt it would be too forward. He'd noticed that the girl he was sitting next to seemed to be swallowing something. Marquis rummaged around his trolley only to find that all of the food he'd brought had been squashed when he trolley had gun runway. His stomach grumbled loudly, and his face turned scarlet red. He wanted to sink into the floor at that moment

OOC: Hi Eira, nice to meet you

Current Characters: @Eira Cravensworth @Graci Laren @Agnès Odette @Marquise Raven

Extra Mentions:N/A

"Oh my dad's from Hufflepuff and mum's in Ravenclaw!" Eira exclaimed,"Dad says that their dormitories are by the kitchens and swore you can smell the food in the common room. My mum says theirs were in one of the towers where you can see constellations out the windows every night."
"Oh, those both sound WONDERFUL!"
"A Ravenclaw is a great house" Eira hummed, "Loads of witches and wizards that came from Ravenclaw have stellar careers or amazing artists. I dunno where I will end up but I hope they have a cold common room. I'm not great with humidity."
"Valid, it makes my hair frizzy, which is quite annoying."
"Have you thought about what sort of classes we will have? We have been given our syllabus, but I wonder if they will let us actually use magic or just read it from the books?"
"I don't know, dad always treated it as a joke and said, 'we'll see!' So... that's that."
The compartment door opened, a boy appearing in the doorway.
Ah, another person, another potential friend. Wonderful!
"Hi, I'm Marquis Raven. Sorry I came in such a rush."
"No worries, at least you weren't late for the train! My, that would be horrid. I'm Gracilia Laren, but you can call me Graci, everyone else does." Graci ran her hands down her red skirt, smoothing it out. Wishing she wore a baggy Beatles t-shirt and her usual battered cargo jeans. This'll have to do I suppose. It was just a matching skirt and blouse, but to others it probably looks like a full on dress.
"Oh, hello," Eira seemed to be surprised at another person entering.
Graci gave him a once-over, blond hair, slim, beautiful ice-blue eyes, about her height but maybe an inch or two taller. No, almost exactly my height, odd, considering I'm one of the taller arrivals. Though I knew a ten year old who was 5'3, so I shouldn't be surprised.
He looked all of them over as well, taking in the people he was about to spend the next nine-ish hours with. He promptly sat down next to Eira, which made her seem a bit surprised. But pretty curls (as Graci was now referring to her in her mind) was a seat away from Graci and Zoe so the only logical place to sit down was next to Eira, to make sure both sides were even.

Agnès gives the newest member of the compartment a one over, then she double took… her eyes narrowed, picking apart his facial expression. From where she was sitting he seemed almost timid, his scarlet cheeks and silence giving him away. She pitied the sight, in the same vein she felt like she could relate a bit… now if only she could voice that.

Noticing her rather dull joke fell flat made her feel even worse… two people getting along in the trolley, a third joined them and even made the effort to sit near them, meanwhile she was bunched into corner, as if she could blend into it like an octopus.

By now she’d lost most of her hope that she could salvage what she’d said earlier.. and even if she did, was she even remotely interesting enough to keep their attention. She found herself frowning deeper, eyes going a bit distant as she began to wonder how she’d be able to spend 9 hours alongside these people… and more importantly how they’ll be able to spend it around her, moping in the corner like a looming rainstorm.

Agnès looked back at the boy, observing what he may do next…surely if he can talk to them she could to, right?

Watching them speak, she began to pick up names, maybe they’d be useful later?

Current Characters @Graci Laren @Agnès Odette @Eira Cravensworth

Marquise was a bit startled, to hear the girl's voice. He looked up to see who had spoken. The girl in the frilly dress, with the curls seemed to be staring at him, analyzing him. The other girl in the red dress seemed to have been the one who spoke
"Indeed, I don't think I'd know what to do if I was late for the train. It's nice to meet you Graci" Quick come up with something to continue the conversation! What do I say, Unfortunately the first thing he thought of, was to ask her if she kept up with quidditch or duelling. Something he couldn't guarantee
Ah, I've got it
"What houses are you three hoping for. I'm hoping I end up in either slytherin or hufflepuff" It was an odd combo, that got him more than a few eyebrow raises when he'd told other people. But his parents had been an unlikely love story. That line of thought led him to wondering how he'd be sorted. His parents infruiatingly kept it from him, and so did most books on the subject. Citing the suprise as a rite of passage. A pit formed in his stomach as he worried about whether or not he would actually end up in his desired house. From what he knew ravenclaw was for people more focused on learning than personal advancement, which sounded rather boring. And apparently his mother had bad history with a gryffnidor so he wasn't much of a fan of them on principle

Scene: Hogwarts Express | Not-So-Empty Compartment
Current Characters: Eira Cravensworth |@Graci Laren|@Agnès Odette|@Marquise Raven

Marquis' innocent question gave Eira pause.

What house does she belong to?

Parents were in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, her Aunt Deidre and most of the Cravensworth clan were full of Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, and an odd Ravenclaw here and there. The Von Thaine side of the family... mum avoided any talk about them.

"I think I will be in Ravenclaw like my mother" she said with confidence, "They say that the most clever and brightest are in that house. Though I wouldn't say no to Gryffindor either since I have loads of relatives from that house."

She remembered the rowdy and chaotic handful of cousins of the Cravensworth bunch and suddenly realized that she had been the odd duck at family reunions. Her cousin William called her a priss during a Christmas party before his sister Claire cuffed him on the back of the head and said that he was just being rude and not to mind him.

'Why do you have to antagonize Eira all the time? She's a sweet girl!'

''Sweet'? She's acting like those pure-blood snobs who are nice to you when you talk to them but laugh as soon as you turn your back.'

'We're a pure-blood family too, you muppet!'

'Yeah well, she's got Von Thaine blood! I bet she thinks we're beneath her and acts proper because Uncle Ezra told her to.'

Eira felt her hands clench, an ugly thought formed in her mind before she silently detached herself from the wall and looked for her mother, asking if they can leave early.


"I'm definitely not going to be in Hufflepuff. I'm certain of that one" she added, lost in the memory.

To relieve the sudden tension she had placed within the space, she shifted her attention back to the food and pushed them towards her new companions.

"Oh here. Please take as much as you want" she offered in a light tone "I don't usually eat this much sugar at home. Though I did hear there's going to be a feast when we arrive. I hope the food at Hogwarts will be good, I grew up on Mum's baking and Mitzy's cooking. She's our house-elf by the way. Do you have house elves as well?"

The image of kind and patient Mitzy made the heavy weight on her stomach disappear gradually. Apart from her parents, Mitzy had been the constant presence in her life she can't live without, and seeing how the elf burst into happy tears when she got her Hogwarts letter was a testament to their bond.

Or because she didn't have to keep an eye on Eira sneaking off to the gardens to talk to Circe and those were tears of relief.