Compartment #12 PV to Passengers

James was quite shocked at the response one of the boys gave him. The sarcastic, rude attitude was nothing James wasn't used to. After all, he lived under the same roof as someone with the same type of manner. A girl sat in the compartment as well, and introduced herself. From her introduction, James found out her name was Rhea. Another boy also introduced himself, who from his tone, had a sense of pride about his own name. The boy's silver hair was a bit odd and quite eccentric, but that's what you get when you go to a school to learn magic. His name also stood out, as from his introduction, his name was apparently Griffin White. White was a last name he could behind, but Griffin? The amount of weirdness made James put on a face of confusion for a split second, before returning to his usual expression.

"My names James, James Henderson." James said, having a small smile on his face, still holding the bag he had filled to the brim with things like clothes and treats. His book was still being held to his side, and he was quietly tapping his fingers onto the cover of his book. James sat down in the last vacant seat, placing his bag underneath the chair he was sitting on. He placed the book onto his lap, and he began to flip through the pages for what felt like the 500th time.

Despite him feeling like he'd read the book hundreds of times, he still wasn't bored of it. Every read he learned something new. James pulled out a small leather journal with the words "Study of Magical Creatures: James Henderson" written on a golden plate in the front of the notebook. James turned to a page in his book on Bowtruckles, and did the same with his journal. He gave a few glances to the group, but tried his best to avoid any actual interaction.

Dmitri didn't miss Rhea's snicker at his words nor the amused grin Griffin shot at him from the corner of his eye. He raised his head and shot back an unimpressed look at the latter--all raised eyebrow and pursed lip--seemingly conveying 'Enjoying yourself?' silently. 

He went back to reading. 

However, when he caught the both of them stealing looks at the title of his book, he cleared his throat, daintily laid his now-closed book front-cover down on the table in front of him and crossed his arms. Dmitri rested his back on the seat and gave them both another of his raised-eyebrow look, daring them to comment. "Is something the matter?" He stated sarcastically. More than anything else, he was posturing--he didn't want any of them to deduce that he has... borrowed the book from his aunt's collection. The less questions asked, the less likely it is for him to get caught--and he wouldn't want his advantage be taken from him, would he?

After that, he laid back on his seat and stared right back outside their window.

He only turned back to his companions when they started to introduce themselves. Dmitri frowned when he heard both of their last names. Bishop. White. Now why do they sound familiar.

(It was familiar because the moment Dmitri knew of the wizarding world, he consumed all the books about it that his aunt allowed him to read. Once or twice he has come across history books that mentioned the family names. They were names of a few of the strictest pureblood families of the wizarding world--the types of families that would shun anybody with a blood less than pure. However, as of then, the raven-haired boy couldn't remember what he had read or where he had read it from.

It was good, because the boy never really hid his distaste for Wizard "politics" and had he remembered, he would have had biased and stereotypical thoughts about his companions.

Truth be told, even though he was abrasive sometimes--most of the times--he does want to make some friends, and knowing their pureblood backgrounds would not have helped.)

He shrugged it off.

Dmitri tipped his head in acknowledgement as the newcomer introduced himself last. 

James Henderson. 

"Pleasure." He stated matter-of-factly before staring out his window again.

He was once again interrupted out of his thoughts when someone poked their head at the door.

"Anything you want from the trolley, dears?" A red-cheeked, plump, and jovial looking lady smiled at them, hand poised on the handle of a massive trolley full of all kinds of sweets Dmitri could imagine. There were candy sticks and suckers and jelly beans and marshmallows--you name it. The raven-haired boy's mouth, dare he admit, started watering.

However, after a prompt check of his pockets, he found no coin he could spare.

Oh yeah. I refused Aunt Tabby's offer of a few sickles--opting instead to be "mature" and spend my own coin. (Students get a scholarship stipend from Hogwarts and Dmitri, in his quest for "independence", refused his aunt's given money for a chance to spend something he "earned", instead). Way to go, independence. He thought ruefully to himself.

Trying hard to school his expression from showing any disappointment and regret, he murmured, "None for me, ma'am, thanks." 

Rhea looked up at the new boy who had recently introduced himself. James Henderson. She'd never heard the name before, so automatically she assumed that he was of lower status than her. She scrunched her nose when he smiled at her, but quickly dispelled her thoughts and smiled a fake --I mean, definitely oh so real -- smile back at the boy. She watched him sit down and pull out a huge book, by the looks of it worn out through multiple uses. Rhea rolled her eyes slightly at boy, finally realising that he was a Muggle-born. No one of magical descent would read a book so many times before the start of the school year. 

Everyone was doing their own thing - James was reading his book for the umpteenth time, Dmitri reading his Grade 6 book (in Rhea's opinion, she thought he was rubbing his intelligence in everyone's faces. But, she didn't say anything), and Griffin - what was he doing? Who knew. 

Rhea rolled her eyes at how everyone was stuck in their own little bubble. She was one of those people that lived off of socializing, off of talking to others. But just as she opened her mouth to start a conversation, an old, kinda chubby woman walked in. Rhea grinned and realised it was the trolley witch. She clapped her hands and retrieved some money from her pockets.

"Anything you want from the trolley, dears?" she asked. Rhea nodded her head vigorously, retrieving about as much money as she needed to buy the entire cart. Not that she would, of course.

She looked at the others in her compartment and noticed that Dmitri was trying to hide a face of disappointment after digging around in his pockets. She sighed and debated whether she should help him. Would helping him lower her chances of getting into Slytherin? She didn't think so, as Slytherins were people too.

Rhea turned to the trolley witch and started to list off the sweets she wanted. "Can I have five Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, five Cauldron Cakes, five Nougat Chunks, and five Pumpkin Pasties." 

Out of the kindness of her heart, Rhea decided to get some candies for everyone. What better way to make friends than to bribe them? The redheaded girl handed the wizened woman the money it cost and then held all the candies in her arms. She distributed one of: the chocolate frogs, the cauldron cakes, the nougat chunks, and the pumpkin pasties to each of the occupants of the compartment and kept the rest for herself. She bit into the Chocolate Frog first and moaned of happiness.

"You should be happy I'm being so nice to you," Rhea said pointedly. "I'm never nice to anyone. Actually, that's a lie. I'm nice to some people. But not that many. So consider yourselves lucky."

Settling back into the seat after introductions were stated Griffin surveyed his current company with mild curiosity.




Rhea, it seemed was quite experienced in hiding her true feelings as she smiled a smile that seemed real enough to most people, but his upbringing had conditioned him to pick up on the things pure blood witches and wizards tend to do when attempting to appear genuine.

Dimitri on the other hand was still a bit of mystery. No first year should be reading a spell book that far ahead, he thought to himself, unless...

He began to mentally weigh the situation as to how he should ask Dimitri as to where- or to be specific, how- he got his hands on the grade 6 textbook. The boy was... abrasive to say the least, and it wasn't that Griffin was opposed to confrontation- he rather enjoyed engaging in a bout of fisticuffs- it just seemed a bit too early in the year to peeve a potential asset off. Friend! He meant friend, not asset.

His constantly wandering mind was however interrupted by noticing what the boy...James was it? Was doing. Prior to any thoughts being formulated, the compartment door would be opened to fill with the presence of a delightfully cheery, aged woman carting about a plethora of magical treats. Attempting to quickly figure out what he wanted from the trolley, Griffin would be beaten to the punch by Rhea. A generous soul it seems he thought as she handed out the treats she had purchased to everyone in the compartment.

Giving the Bishop girl a nod of thanks, he returns his attention back to the boy currently carting about his own assortment of items,  completely ignoring Rhea's words before speaking ...

"Henderson?" Griffin mused aloud as vivid gaze settled on James, his entire image seemed to set Griffin off the wrong way. The boy was a bit too interested in the wizarding world. The worn book and his leather journal.

This James fellow had the vague stink of being mud blood. If his Great grandmother were here she'd have known immediately, tasted it in the very air she would have. Griffin on the other hand did not this particular talent, so he had no choice but to probe suspected muggle born witches and wizards with tedious questions. However, being not as well versed in rhetoric as other family members, Griffin found his line of questioning quite blunt.

"You  muggle born?" he inquired whilst striking features faintly twisting to an expression of disgust- expectant disgust mind you... like the kind one gets from eyeing a suspiciously coloured Betty Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

James continued to read his book, waiting eagerly for the train's arrival to Hogwarts. His old life would be completely in the past, and he was enjoying thinking of the adventures he'd might have at Hogwarts. James was confident in his ability when it came to magic, despite having little to no knowledge about the wizarding world. He felt as though he was about to become a new person, eager to see what awaited him in his new life.

Out of nowhere, an elderly, slightly chubby women with rosy cheeks approached the compartment, and with her came a trolley full of sweets. James was sent out of his thoughts and back into reality with the arrival of the woman. Looking at the cart, James realized he couldn't name a single sweet that was on the trolley, and he began to look slightly confused every time he gazed at the cart. James was surprised by the woman's arrival to the compartment, as he didn't think that the school would have a person that sells sweets on the train. James reached into the depths of his pockets, but found he didn't have any of the wizarding money that was required to purchase the sweets. He began to say a simple "no thanks" to the women, when Rhea interrupted him and started to list off the things she wanted.

James began to grow slightly confused after Rhea stated her order, asking himself why exactly someone would want that much candy. The sweets Rhea named were ones James didn't have any knowledge about, and began to get even more confused when hearing the names of each thing. His confused expression quickly turned to one of gratefulness as Rhea began to pass out the treats, giving one to everyone within the compartment. "Thanks!" James said with a smile as he began to think about which of the sweets he'd want to try first. James placed the sweets onto the cousins of his seat, looking at them and thinking which one would be best to go for. He began to grab the hexagonal blue chocolate frog box that laid on his seat but he was interrupted in his actions when a comment from the silver-haired boy in the compartment began to speak.

"You  muggle born?" the boy said, having an odd expression James could not describe. James blinked, confused at what the boy was talking about. James didn't recognize the term "muggle" at first, and was slightly confused at Griffin's comment. James took a second before realizing what the term meant, and nodded in the direction of Griffin. "Yup." James said, still not really understating the consequences that might come with his openness. He initially began to shrug off the comment, thinking it was simply some way for Griffin to know more about James' personal life.

Dmitri resisted to roll his eyes as he saw Rhea walk across the compartment towards the trolley and pick out an obscene number of sweets. He was fairly certain the she was trying to shove her wealth in front of their faces, at least, that was his opinion. However, he was interrupted out of his mulling when said girl approached him and dropped a set of candies on the table in front of him. He couldn't stop his raised eyebrows--(pleasantly?) surprised at the girl's actions. 

"Why, thank you, Miss... R--Bishop." He smoothly switched to her family name. Dmitri found out that he did not clearly remember any of his compartment-mates' first names--testament to the fact that he was too engrossed in the book (and partially disliked his companions--but that's clearly being internally debated right now, especially because he now had sweets that he had his eyes on thanks to Rhea).

However, well used to real life at an early age, Dmitri knows that free things really didn't come without a price--it's just that the price comes later. He was already planning on ways to settle his "debt" as early as possible, when his thoughts were interrupted by Griffin talking.

The raven-haired boy daintily picked up a pumpkin pasty, adeptly crumbled a piece of it off, and popped it in his mouth, trying to disguise the fact that he was all ears to the conversation that was happening. At a young age, he has already learned the importance that information was power--especially the information that people give away without them knowing.

The sound of the train starting up reverberated throughout their carriage, signalling that the school year has officially started.

Dmitri can't wait.

Rhea smirked as the others enjoyed the candy she bought. She didn't know what compelled her to share her sweets, but the feeling she was left with left her feeling great. But what was the feeling? Rhea couldn't pinpoint it. But soon her Slytherin nature came out, and she was already thinking of all the ways these three could pay her back for her kind deed.

The redhead tuned back in when Griffin asked if James was a pureblood. When the boy said yes, Rhea instinctively cringed. Unconsciously, she scooted a bit farther away from the brunette. When she caught herself doing what she was doing, she silently reprimanded herself.

Rhea sighed and bit into a chocolate frog, savouring the sweet taste. She took out the card from the chocolate frog and saw that it was Grindelwald. Rhea grumbled, knowing that she had at least five of these. Nevertheless, she shoved it into her bag. 

"When you guys finish your frogs, give me the card," Rhea said. "I almost have everyone, I just need a couple more."

Just as she finished talking, the train started up and started to move. Rhea snuck a look out of the window, albeit knowing that she wouldn't find anyone there. A small look of disappointment graced her face, but it was gone as fast as it had arrived.

With a quick shake of her head, Rhea got rid of all the negative thoughts in her head. She put a smile on her face and thought of a question to get the conversation going. "What house do you think you're gonna be in? I think I'm gonna be in Slytherin, just like the rest of my family." Rhea shrugged and cast a separate look to all the occupants of the carriage.

The James boy replied with an answer that did not sit well with Griffin. For pity’s sake he was only
supposed to have met mud bloods at Hogwarts, not the ruddy train to Hogwarts! How he yearned
for his Great Grandmother’s advice right about now. She’d probably set the boy ablaze! Oh how the
boy would scream… His thoughts would not be completely internal though as his features twisted
from a look of disgust to split said expression to a venomous smile and a wistful gaze about his
mismatched eyes.

Deciding to simply offer a brief nod in acceptance of sated curiosity, Griffin would mentally file
this away. Never know when you might need to use a mud blood. This train of thought however
would be interrupted by the Express coughing into life, the rattling of the train seemingly rattling
his own mind.

He wouldn’t have to wait long however as the Bishop girl piped up, inquiring as what houses they
thought they would be sorted into? Ha! And she fancies herself a Slytherin? Ah, my sweet sweet
child. Griffin would let a scoff purposefully escape him as he leaned back into the seat once more,
bringing his arms up to fold behind his head, cradling the back of his head against the comfortable
cushioning.

Allowing his head to roll over the side, Griffin gives the mud blo- muggle born- James
and the Dimitri fellow a cold and sweeping glance that emanated just how little he thought of
everyone in the current compartment. His piercing gaze rests on Rhea last, his silence allowing the
constant chugging of the train to echo throughout the compartment for a moment before softening
his expression to a glass smile “You don’t strike me as a Slytherin.” he says in measured tone. “Him
perhaps.” he says briefly inclining his ashen crown to Dimitri “But not you.”