A Brand New Journey
10:34
Diana looked at her watch as she walked into King’s Cross Station with her father and sister. A good start, she thought. At least we’re not late. She turned her head to take in her surroundings. Of course, as her father had said earlier, a Muggle train station was obviously full of—
“Muggles!” Diana’s sister, Dalia, whispered excitedly. “Is the station this crowded every single day? There must be hundreds, or even thousands of them!”
Their father, Mr. Pairie, placed his right hand on Dalia’s shoulder to calm her down. “Probably mixed with some wizards—don’t forget, all students are coming here today.” His eyes were fixed on the wall between Platforms Nine and Ten.
Diana followed his gaze and spotted a boy about her age, dragging a huge trunk as he hurried toward the wall. Just as he was about to crash into it, he vanished. Diana smiled. “Can’t the Muggles ever see it? It’s quite obvious.”
“Well, they never look—even if the truth is right in front of them. Those things they call ‘science’ have restricted their minds and thoughts,” Mr. Pairie replied, his face showing both empathy and apathy—if such feelings could coexist.
The older twin raised her eyes to her father’s face. “But the science Muggles study, in certain ways, makes them more successful than us. You said so yourself once, at dinner with your… friends.” Diana stumbled over the last word; she knew those people were “friends” only for the sake of benefits.
Mr. Pairie narrowed his eyes, as though regretting what he had once admitted. He raised his voice: “That was nothing more than a drunken man’s gibberish, Diana.”
Before Diana could respond to that “gibberish,” a voice cut in—
“C’mon, Diana, let’s go in already! Can’t you walk faster? You’re not fifty!”
“No, I’m not fifty—thank you for reminding me. But unlike someone, I’m not a crazy three-year-old either.” A smirk spread across Diana’s face, and out of the corner of her eye she saw her sister roll her eyes.
Now all three of them stood right in front of the very special wall.
Diana glanced around; no one seemed to be paying them any attention…
Dalia edged closer, excitement and nerves flickering across her face. “Hey, do you think I can wa—ahh!”
Before she could finish, Diana gave her sister a playful shove into the brick wall. At the same time, she shut her eyes and took a bold step forward…
…She opened them again.
The 9¾ sign, the steam, the long train, the crowds—
A feeling of excitement, swelling like a balloon, filled the eleven-year-old’s heart.
They said goodbye to their father, boarded the train, found an empty compartment… and, filled with joy, waited for the departure.
A departure into a brand-new journey.
࣪ ִֶָ☾.The soul that sees beauty⋆.˚may sometimes walk alone ִ ࣪𖤐
--- Goethe✮
A Brand New Journey
(Mind if I “join”? If you do… then just say so and I’ll delete this—no hard feelings. If you’re like… no, then I’m good with that. Also, sorry if a lot is misspelled because I write in Canadian English and don’t really know how to write in American English, sorry. So stuff like colour will be different.)
It was getting near 10:55, and Daria was… not exactly lost, but more annoyed. This whole ordeal was… too much. First, she got a random letter saying… oh, you’re not human! And your whole version of reality is a lie!!! Science is useless because magic exists, and you’re going to a school that will now teach you to use these abilities. Hope you have a horrendous day! Or at least that’s how it felt.
She didn’t want to be in the UK much. It wasn’t her decision… and maybe that was selfish, but she missed her old life—her friends, her sports and hobbies, her school, her favourite foods. Everything seemed more… her back in Canada.
But it didn’t matter much. Mum and Dad were… “travelling abroad.” Oh my, oh my! And Daria had been dragged along and told to “suck it up,” as per usual. All her parents had done was drop her off at King’s Cross Station and drive away. It had been the equivalent of The Hunger Games, working her way through.
Luckily, it had been pretty easy to get to Platform 9¾, as she had seen somebody else phase through the wall—but at that point, what wasn’t going to happen?
Now safely on the train, Daria desperately searched for an empty compartment, to no avail. Finally, almost giving up, she stumbled across one near the end of the train. Only problem… there were two people already there, talking and laughing.
This was going to be awkward… but—
“Hi, can I sit here? Everywhere else is full, sorry.”
She blurted the words out, half not expecting an answer.
It was getting near 10:55, and Daria was… not exactly lost, but more annoyed. This whole ordeal was… too much. First, she got a random letter saying… oh, you’re not human! And your whole version of reality is a lie!!! Science is useless because magic exists, and you’re going to a school that will now teach you to use these abilities. Hope you have a horrendous day! Or at least that’s how it felt.
She didn’t want to be in the UK much. It wasn’t her decision… and maybe that was selfish, but she missed her old life—her friends, her sports and hobbies, her school, her favourite foods. Everything seemed more… her back in Canada.
But it didn’t matter much. Mum and Dad were… “travelling abroad.” Oh my, oh my! And Daria had been dragged along and told to “suck it up,” as per usual. All her parents had done was drop her off at King’s Cross Station and drive away. It had been the equivalent of The Hunger Games, working her way through.
Luckily, it had been pretty easy to get to Platform 9¾, as she had seen somebody else phase through the wall—but at that point, what wasn’t going to happen?
Now safely on the train, Daria desperately searched for an empty compartment, to no avail. Finally, almost giving up, she stumbled across one near the end of the train. Only problem… there were two people already there, talking and laughing.
This was going to be awkward… but—
“Hi, can I sit here? Everywhere else is full, sorry.”
She blurted the words out, half not expecting an answer.
A Brand New Journey
(I hope it’s okay that I join too. I’m urgently looking for friends. If that’s not okay, that’s completely fine. Sorry if my English isn’t very good. I’m from Germany and I’m having it translated by AI.)
Lucy was very nervous. Once again, her mother hadn’t had time for her. So she quietly got herself ready and said a brief goodbye. “She doesn’t care anyway. I’ll be gone for a whole year and she didn’t even look up,” Lucy thought sadly. She had also taken the bus to the train station all by herself. If her mother had known that, she probably would have driven Lucy after all. The bus was crowded with Muggles. A few passengers stared at her in surprise as she dragged her heavy suitcase onto the bus.
Now Lucy had arrived at the platform. She had asked an older student for directions. The train whistled as Lucy got on. She pulled her suitcase through the corridors. Every compartment was full. Of course she was late. The bus had been delayed. Ah—there, a free compartment. Well, almost free. Three girls were sitting there, chatting.
“They surely won’t mind if I sit down,” Lucy thought. Panic slowly rose inside her. Apart from the house staff and Terry, she had hardly ever spoken to other people. “Don’t panic! They’re not going to hex you,” she thought before stepping inside.
The girls looked up and stared at her. Lucy couldn’t quite read their expressions, but they seemed friendly. Hesitantly, Lucy said her first word:
“Hello.”
She sat down on the last free seat and took a deep breath.
“My name is Lucy. I’m new here.” Her introduction sounded a little shy. Without thinking, she added,
“And what are your names?”
Lucy was very nervous. Once again, her mother hadn’t had time for her. So she quietly got herself ready and said a brief goodbye. “She doesn’t care anyway. I’ll be gone for a whole year and she didn’t even look up,” Lucy thought sadly. She had also taken the bus to the train station all by herself. If her mother had known that, she probably would have driven Lucy after all. The bus was crowded with Muggles. A few passengers stared at her in surprise as she dragged her heavy suitcase onto the bus.
Now Lucy had arrived at the platform. She had asked an older student for directions. The train whistled as Lucy got on. She pulled her suitcase through the corridors. Every compartment was full. Of course she was late. The bus had been delayed. Ah—there, a free compartment. Well, almost free. Three girls were sitting there, chatting.
“They surely won’t mind if I sit down,” Lucy thought. Panic slowly rose inside her. Apart from the house staff and Terry, she had hardly ever spoken to other people. “Don’t panic! They’re not going to hex you,” she thought before stepping inside.
The girls looked up and stared at her. Lucy couldn’t quite read their expressions, but they seemed friendly. Hesitantly, Lucy said her first word:
“Hello.”
She sat down on the last free seat and took a deep breath.
“My name is Lucy. I’m new here.” Her introduction sounded a little shy. Without thinking, she added,
“And what are your names?”
Jasmina