Foxglow's First Steps
Elspeth strolled beside her parents, having already convinced them to push the baggage trolley for her; why waste energy when persuasion worked so well? The moment they neared the fabled brick archway to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, she couldn’t help herself.
“Keep up!” she called, darting ahead and slipping through with a giddy laugh.
It was rare for Elspeth to let her feelings spill into her movements, but the sight beyond the barrier made it impossible to hold back. The platform was a perfect, magical reflection of the station she’d just left. Only here, students bustled in robes, some her age, others older, all part of this magical hidden world.
Catching sight of herself in the train’s glossy windows, she straightened at once, tugged her clothes into order, and softened her open smile into a knowing grin. She turned just in time to brace for her mother’s full assault of kisses, hugs, and syrupy affection. Her father, as ever, simply smiled.
And, like the universe had a sense of timing, the brickwork shimmered again to reveal Grandma Foxglow. She tottered toward Elspeth with all the inevitability of a terrible curse, and before El could even wriggle free from her mother’s grip, a thick yellow scarf was looped snugly around her neck.
The train’s whistle spared her from lingering too long under the weight of golden thread and bad taste. She gave her goodbyes quickly, slipped aboard, and, the moment she had a seat, stuffed the scarf into her bag. The family might wear their Hufflepuff colors like a badge of honor, but she refused. She didn’t want yellow; she dreamed of deep emerald and silver.
Settling in, Elspeth left her compartment door open (half hoping for company) and pulled out her copy of Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, picking up exactly where she’d left off in the car.
“Keep up!” she called, darting ahead and slipping through with a giddy laugh.
It was rare for Elspeth to let her feelings spill into her movements, but the sight beyond the barrier made it impossible to hold back. The platform was a perfect, magical reflection of the station she’d just left. Only here, students bustled in robes, some her age, others older, all part of this magical hidden world.
Catching sight of herself in the train’s glossy windows, she straightened at once, tugged her clothes into order, and softened her open smile into a knowing grin. She turned just in time to brace for her mother’s full assault of kisses, hugs, and syrupy affection. Her father, as ever, simply smiled.
And, like the universe had a sense of timing, the brickwork shimmered again to reveal Grandma Foxglow. She tottered toward Elspeth with all the inevitability of a terrible curse, and before El could even wriggle free from her mother’s grip, a thick yellow scarf was looped snugly around her neck.
The train’s whistle spared her from lingering too long under the weight of golden thread and bad taste. She gave her goodbyes quickly, slipped aboard, and, the moment she had a seat, stuffed the scarf into her bag. The family might wear their Hufflepuff colors like a badge of honor, but she refused. She didn’t want yellow; she dreamed of deep emerald and silver.
Settling in, Elspeth left her compartment door open (half hoping for company) and pulled out her copy of Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, picking up exactly where she’d left off in the car.