A Brilliant Start to the Year
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mentions| @Stelle Mims @Crystal Theodora
ooc notes| i started this in another thread, but wanted to develop the story with crystal and stelle (and anyone else who might join in)word count
white button-up, black pinafore, basic robes, black tights, mary janes, vintage scarf |outfit
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Valour hadn’t slept a wink. They paced the halls of their home, on the brink of delirium in the small hours of the morning. They had tried everything to fall asleep. Laying with their eyes shut in the dark, reading a dull textbook, even running laps around the gardens. Every nerve in their very being was on fire, like her skin was paper-thin kindle that would catch alight at any second. In their excitement, they even performed some unintentional spells, bursting a cushion into a flurry of goose feathers.
Their nightly escapades only made morning all the more stressful. Their mother and father were just as free-spirited (disorganised) as their child, waking up with a start at 7:36am. The household of three scampered across the house, pulling on tights, fussing over the weather and desperately trying to find missing glasses. Arguments carried down the corridor as Kaavya pestered Ambrose to tame his almost sentient beard, handing him a trenchcoat instead of his robe. “It’s distracting!” she claimed, “Far too warlock-like for muggles.” Valour’s father pouted, stroking his beloved beard before reluctantly giving in to his wife, as he often did. Valour straightened out their long brown skirt and black turtleneck and admired their new robes in the mirror, turning this way and that. Before they could develop much of an opinion, their mother’s heels clicked through their doorway and a thick scarf was thrown over their shoulders. It was a rusty orange and marigold and smelt thickly of Kaavya’s perfume. “So you don’t get cold,” she explained softly – no other reason.
It wasn’t long until the Argentums were out of the door and apparating into Central London. Nothing could have prepared them for the hoards of busy commuters marching to work as if by clockwork. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and bitter telephone chatter as the family elbowed their way towards King’s Cross Station. God, it was even worse there. It seemed as though every individual believed themselves to be more important and in more of a rush than anyone else in the world. Valour made a mental note not to live anywhere near central in the future. If the entire station weren’t so self-absorbed, Valour and their parents would have been the sight of the century, hauling old leather trunks and satchels, sporting a disgruntle long-eared owl on Ambrose’ shoulder. “Erin’s part of the family,” he insisted, “She wants to say goodbye too.” He was thoroughly overestimating the bird’s tolerance for the general public.
After putting up a good fight, the three found themselves in front of the famous pillar between Platforms 9 and 10. Staring at the dull brick wall before them, Valour’s situation really began to hit them. They were going to Hogwarts. Gone were the days of roaming their lonely estate, of being forced to play nice with spoilt pureblood brats. A year of no reins. People, muggle-borns even, ghosts, elves, professors and Merlin only knew what else. Halls famed for their endless mysteries and ancient history. Best of all, they’d learn actual magic. No more mere theory, no more daydreaming over textbooks; Valour could finally put all of their pent-up potential to use. It was difficult being a child beyond their years, isolating at times, and finally they would be able to stretch their legs and run. For a moment, the prospect of making actual friends stole the breath from their lungs. They hardly thought twice before lunging through the boundary.
The Argentums were thrown into the thrum of young witches and wizards saying teary goodbyes and yelling at their friends after a long summer apart. The atmosphere was emotional and heartfelt, but it felt so much like home. It wasn't long before Ambrose and Kaavya launched into a lecture, mingled with fond recollections of their days at Hogwarts and unsolicited advice. “Just you wait until those black robes take colour – then you’ll be a true Hogwartian. Perhaps a fine shade of navy blue…” Ambrose rambled on, but Valour was too distracted to take much notice, blinking at the scene unfolding before them. Children piling into carriages, owls crying and parents waving them off. It was all becoming so real, like watching water crystallise into snow.
By this time, Erin had made herself quite comfortable on Valour's shoulder, becoming a little more sedate now that they were among wizard folk. She preened and clicked softly in Val's ear, earning her an absentminded scratch from the young witch, who was too enamoured to pay much mind. Suddenly, a chill shot up Valour’s spine, accompanied by an acute sense of dread. They side-stepped quickly, but their intuition wasn't quite fast enough. Two slightly older boys, dressed in Gryffindor robes, were racing through the crowd, recklessly lobbing a Quaffle back and forth. One bellowed, "Watch the bird-" but at this point, the ball had already plummeted into Erin. The bird screeched and beat its wings in panic, surging towards some young witches. Valour could only rush after the owl, gesturing for the girls to move. "Erin, get back!"
What a terrible first impression.
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sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
Last edited by Valour Argentum on 11 Jan 2026, 22:51, edited 4 times in total.
A Brilliant Start to the Year
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Crystal Theodora stepped into an empty train compartment and shut the door behind her with a soft click. She was…blue. Not in a dramatic, heartbroken, falling-apart sort of way. Crystal had learned how to hold herself together given her past encounters with overwhelming mix emotions.
But her parents hadn’t come. Her mother had left early when she got a phone call about a case. Her father had left early too when he got a call about a fight in the hostel of the school he worked in. A lawyer and a teacher. Crystal understood that they were serving the community. She always had. But it didn't stop or numb the sting. Especially today of all days.
This was the beginning of something important. A new chapter. And she was stepping into it alone. Crystal turned her gaze to the platform outside. Parents hugged their children tightly. She felt a small, sharp tug in her chest. But she squashed it down almost immediately.
It’s fine. I’m fine. she told herself.
She was mature. She knew how to move forward even when things didn’t look the way she wished they did. She heard a whistle blow in the distance. Just as the train gave a faint lurch, a sudden rush of feathers exploded into the compartment.
Crystal startled, gasping as an owl fluttered through the open door and collided clumsily with the seat opposite her. It screeched once, wings beating against the walls, knocking a Chocolate Frog box to the floor.
"Oh! Hey, hey, easy!" Crystal said instinctively, holding her hands out slowly, trying not to scare it further. The owl paused. For the first time since stepping onto the train, Crystal smiled. She chuckled softly. "I suppose neither of us wanted to start alone, huh?"
Last edited by Crystal Theodora on 2 Feb 2026, 13:55, edited 1 time in total.
A Brilliant Start to the Year
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mentions| @Stelle Mims @Crystal Theodora
ooc notes| enjoy : )word count
white button-up, black pinafore, basic robes, black tights, mary janes, vintage scarf |outfit
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Valour watched in horror as Erin burst onto the carriage, alarming students and parents alike as many moved out of the bird’s way. She screeched and pecked angrily at children in her path, feathers scattering everywhere. Quickly, Valour and their parents surged after her, calling out apologies to innocent bystanders. Valour clambered on board and sped-walked down the aisle of the train, peering into compartments as she went. Their stoic demeanour betrayed a hint of panic, staring intensely into each compartment; a few students shuddered as she made fleeting eye contact. All she could do was mutter to herself in annoyance, “Brilliant, I’m sure to have a reputation now.”
Soon, the young witch came across a girl, alone with the fearsome bird, who had calmed down substantially and was now pecking at crumbs between seat cushions. The owl wasn’t often so amicable with strangers, but Erin seemed to take a liking to the young witch, studying her curiously. Valour huffed in annoyance, rolling her eyes at Erin’s temperamental nature. It was just typical of her to put on such a show for nothing. Much to the surprise of the girl – and Erin – Valour slid the door open and shot the owl a glare. Erin shrunk back just a tiny bit.
“If you were intending on being a diva, I would have told father to leave you home,” they clicked their tongue in annoyance, holding out their arm for Erin to mount, “You just need to make everything about you, don’t you?” Erin started to preen and nestle her head into wing, as if smugly protesting. The witch shook her head, as if used to her attitude, and turned to exit the carriage. Just before leaving, she shot the girl a look. They didn’t mean to glare, or to come across as rude; they simply gave her a once over before pacing back down the corridor, bird in tow.
As they stepped off the Express, the crowd parted like the Red Sea, allowing Valour to walk straight towards their parents. They paid no mind to the unwanted attention and looks, simply turning their chin up a little in retaliation. Ambrose quickly ushered Erin onto his shoulder, petting her apologetically and shooting his child a sheepish look. “Perhaps crowds aren’t Erin’s forte.” His meek admission was met with looks from both Kaavya and Valour, as if to say, ‘I told you so’.
The family of three – well, four – said their farewells. Kaavya fussed over Valour’s hair and scarf, only for Ambrose to scruff them up again with a big bear hug. Before they had the chance to resume their lectures, Valour bid them goodbye, squeezing their hands with a tiny smile before taking their luggage and boarding the train. They strode down the carriage, this time with a bit more composure and a renewed feeling of excitement. The two Gryffindor boys from earlier even tried to apologise as she passed them by, tail between their legs; she paid them no mind. Valour didn’t bother peering into compartments; they knew exactly where they were going to sit.
The girl’s compartment door slid open once more. Valour stood in the doorway, looking at her with an almost blank expression. Her eyes betrayed her curiosity, as she tilted her head slightly to one side.
“Is this seat taken?”
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sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
A Brilliant Start to the Year
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Crystal watched as the girl stormed out of the compartment. She watched through the window as the girl handed the owl to her parents and dragged her luggage back with her.
"The seat isn’t taken." Crystal said softly as a little pout tugged at her lips. She glanced back out the window. She dramatically waved goodbye to the owl. "Aww... I was hoping to interact more with the owl. It's SO cute and it seemed... dramatic in a good way. Like me! What's its name?" She shot a playful grin in the girl's direction.
"Anyways, are you a first year too? You look my age. You're probably more mature, though. That's an assumption I'm making based on your clothes and the way you carry yourself, by the way." she asked as she casually popped a crisp into her mouth. "What’s your name? I’m Crystal Theodora. I'm a pureblood! " She leaned forward slightly. "I like your hair and your skin color. It suits you though!" She shrugged before offering the packet of crisps.
"Want some? You’re not one of those 'I’m too cool for crisps' types, are you?!" Crystal's voice had a playful edge, the kind that suggested she’d never really cared much for what other people thought, but genuinely wanted to know if Valour would bite. "Because we can't be friends if that's the case..."
A Brilliant Start to the Year
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mentions| @Crystal Theodora @Ekaterina Varganova @Tatiana Contraire @Alix Fenwick @Stelle Mims
ooc notes| n/aword count
unchanged |outfit
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Valour blinked blankly at the flurry of questions and observations that erupted from Crystal. They could sympathise with her excitement, after all, this was Valour's first interaction with a classmate too. They slowly tried to work through all the information that was thrown at her in a methodical fashion.
"I apologise for Erin - my father's owl. She doesn't do well in tight spaces and crowds. She's certainly not shy, just... well, stand-offish. She seemed to like you, so I trust her judgment," Valour cracked a small smile as she looked Crystal up and down, observing her stylish choice of clothes that certainly weren't school protocol. "And yes, I am a first year. My name is Valour." She extended a hand for Crystal to shake.
They took a seat across from Crystal and carefully took a crisp from her packet. She took one cautious bite before deciding the girl had good taste and eating the whole thing. Valour decided to glaze over the odd compliment; they never knew what to do when they received them anyway. "Thank you for the crisp. I certainly don't think I'm 'too cool' for them," they quirked a brow, amused by the girl's energy, "How could someone be 'too cool' for crisps?" They shook their head and shrugged, "Anyway, I don't suppose you've met anyone else in our year yet? Maybe it's worth looking around the carriage."
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sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
A Brilliant Start to the Year
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❛ Art Deco — Allure in Effect ❜
Date:---| Words: 891| Dialogue: #aa5713 (Stelle) #d77947 (grandfather) #4798d7 (grandmother)
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The return home always held a certain intimate ceremony for Stelle, even if no one else seemed to notice. Unlike the previous year (when everything had been a whirlwind of activity, noise, and an expectation so immense it was almost painful), this time the emotion was different: deeper, more grounded. No less intense. Returning to Hogwarts to begin her second year wasn't just returning to a castle or classrooms; it was returning to a version of herself that had begun to take shape. To a place where, for the first time, she had felt that every part of her had a clear purpose.Stelle had been awake since early morning, her nervous energy finding no rest. She had checked her luggage more times than necessary, making sure everything was exactly where it should be. Books arranged by size, robes folded without a crease, paintbrushes carefully wrapped in cloth, almost every kind of accessory, and, of course, her diary. The outside world might be chaotic; she wasn't. Not today. Not on such an important day.
The platform greeted her with its usual commotion, but Stelle didn't let it sweep her away. She walked with a determined stride, breathing deeply the air heavy with farewells, steam, and latent magic. The Hogwarts Express loomed before her like a renewed promise, and for a moment she felt that familiar pang in her chest that always accompanied beginnings: the perfect blend of ambition and fear of not living up to her own expectations. Her grandparents had accompanied her; after all, she had spent the entire holiday with them. Unlike the millions of students surrounding her, whose parents were bidding them farewell with emotion, her grandmother seemed to have a splinter in every inch of her body.
—Ni su phruicephus phir ullau, auen ni su zau au cimur au nonjen noñi—.(Don't worry about her, she's not going to eat any children yet)—. , her grandfather said, ruffling her curls. Stelle couldn't help but laugh, and she couldn't believe that a man with so little seriousness was with such a moody woman. But they loved each other, and it was perhaps in that opposition that their love blossomed.—Ara aeui raodae? Yui ruud baoisekir. Arr I voms ek kur aeui su daav vrocsecems, udoae?—(Are you ready? You look beautiful. All I want is for you to keep practicing, okay?)—. he added as he crouched down to her level with a smile and carefully adjusted her shirt collar. The young woman nodded with a smile before replying, — I'll keep practicing, okay?—. Trud smiled contentedly and stood up, ruffling her hair again. At this, her grandmother approached and began to smooth her hair. —Remember to behave, okay? And don't forget to write to us—. the woman said. Before she could answer, the loudspeakers began announcing the final call to board the train. So, without further ado, she quickly waved goodbye and grabbed her bags. She boarded the train unhurriedly, walking down the corridor with a watchful eye. The compartments passed one after another, some already filled with boisterous laughter, others still empty, waiting to be claimed. Stelle moved with a certain caution, aware that, although she knew Hogwarts, the social landscape was always shifting. New alliances, new dynamics. New people. It was then that she noticed a compartment with its door open, occupied by two figures who didn't seem to be caught up in the same commotion as the rest of the train. Something about the scene made her stop: a strange, almost fragile calm, interrupted moments before by the chaos of feathers that still seemed to float in the air of her memory. Stelle hadn't witnessed the incident itself, but she'd heard the commotion, the murmurs, that kind of disturbance that always caused a slight tension in her shoulders.
She moved a little closer, instinctively adjusting the strap of her bag. She felt self-conscious in a particular way: her upright posture, the way her presence filled the space. Not arrogance, she told herself. Confidence. Or at least, that's what she was trying to project.
Before crossing the threshold, she hesitated for barely a second. She didn't like to intrude unannounced, not even in something as trivial as a train compartment. She raised her hand and gently touched the door frame, a small but deliberate gesture.
— Excuse me—. she said, her voice clear and polite. — Would you mind if I joined you? I haven't found many free compartments yet—.
Her eyes scanned the interior quickly, registering details almost unconsciously: the arrangement of the seats, the gestures, the energy that floated among those already there. Stelle didn't judge immediately, but she did observe. She always observed. It was a hard habit to break, and perhaps one of the reasons why she often stood out… or clashed.
She waited for the answer without losing her composure, bearing the weight of her expectation with practiced patience. Inside, however, she felt that familiar tingle: the beginning of something new. Another year. New challenges. New opportunities to prove to herself that she could be better than yesterday.
And as she waited, with the train still but about to depart, Stelle felt clearly that this second year would not simply be a repetition of the first. She had learned too much to go back to being the same. And although she didn't know it yet, that compartment was the first step in a story that promised to challenge her in unexpected ways.
ABILITIES: Part-Veela
STATS: | Sta-6 | Eva-5 | Str-5 | Wis-6 | Arc-7| Acc-6 |
INTERACTIONS + MENTIONS: @Valour Argentum @Crystal Theodora @Charlotte Evergreen
VISUALS: Here!
You make me wanna make you fall in love───⊹ |
Stelle Mims - Huffelpuf |
A Brilliant Start to the Year
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mentions| @Crystal Theodora @Stelle Mims
ooc notes| super speedy updates from me today cos im bored - sorry if things are moving too fast! ill ease up!word count
unchanged |outfit
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The end of her sentence had hardly graced her tongue when Valour felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck - a pair of eyes burning into her. Before the visitor even had a chance to speak, Valour’s gaze was already on her, taking in the sight of their new arrival. Their habitual stare was punctuated by thick bottom lashes and unnaturally large eyes, only to be made a little more unsettling by their stormy grey hue. They took a deliberate once over of the girl in the doorway, eyes trailing over the curl of her blonde locks and her alluring aura.
“Well, looks like new company has found us instead… You’re awfully pretty,” it was a compliment, but it almost didn’t sound like one. More like an assertion of fact, a mere observation. Valour extended a hand for her to shake. “My name is Valour. You’re welcome to join us, but I was just planning on leaving.” A small smile graced their lips, bordering on devious, as though they had an idea in mind. Everything about them seemed oxymoronic; sincere, but a little detached. Kind, but somewhat methodical. The witch had an intriguing air about them, seeming to be driven purely by the whims of their intuition and whichever way the wind blew them.
Voices carried down the corridor as if rowboats on water, catching Valour’s attention. Her head then snapped back in the direction of the two girls with a thoughtful pout. “We’re right in the last carriage, aren’t we?” They pressed their tongue into their cheek, formulating a plan of action. “I don’t fancy spending this whole eight-hour train journey doing nothing. What do you say we make our way up the carriage and look around. Might find something interesting… or the snack cart.” They nicked another crisp from Crystal's packet with a charming wink, already turning towards the compartment door as they popped it in their mouth.
After a beat, they paused, blinking at the blonde girl who stood now in her way. It seemed as though their plans of grandeur faded away for a moment as they were suddenly reminded of something. Valour smacked their palm to their forehead with a little thud and met the witch’s eyes with a light chuckle. This time, she finally seemed earnest, floating down from the clouds to meet the girl at her level. “How rude of me. I didn’t even ask your name and I’m already inviting you off on a detour. Could you forgive me?”
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sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
sta 5 | eva 8 | str 5 | wis 2 | arc 1 | acc 9
ability | ability | ability
A Brilliant Start to the Year
Alix was exhausted.
She had read once that werewolves were usually more tired or haggard than their normal counterparts, so that was one possible reason. It was also possible, and infinitely more likely she supposed, that her exhaustion was the result of staying awake all night. Her usual nine o'clock bedtime had come, but she hadn't been able to sleep. She didn't want to wake her parents, since they had plenty to do tomorrow between Alix's first year at Hogwarts and Elisabeth's fourth, so Alix toughed it out. She had closed her eyes and tried to force herself to sleep through willpower alone.
It hadn't worked. Other than dozing into a half-daydream state around three thirty, Alix had been well and truly awake all night. And now, it was showing, in the bags under her eyes, the way her hands trembled slightly when she did something as simple as turning on the tap to brush her teeth, and even the headache she was beginning to feel. It wasn't as if Alix was nervous about school for the usual reasons. She was actually excited to learn magic. The part she dreaded most was coexisting with people who had every right to fear her, and the worst part about it was that all she could do was keep her head down and try not to let anyone know. She didn't even know how she would manage full moons without people finding out, and her whole restless night had been filled with dastardly daydreams of ridicule, punishments, and whatever other treatment her mind could conjure up for a young werewolf like her.
Mum didn't say anything about her exhaustion, but Alix could feel the concern in her gaze. Alix's dad seemed utterly unbothered, as if a night without rest was the most common thing in the world for a Hogwarts student. Perhaps it was. Elisabeth had certainly gotten her share of detentions for her late night troublemaking. That was probably normal, especially for a Slytherin, if Alix had to assume based on her dad's lack of concern with the punishments.
Breakfast was a rushed affair, since Alix and Elisabeth had to be rushed off to London. The twins were left at home with Rickie and Alex so that both parents could see the two witches off. Alix would have liked for the twins to see the Hogwarts Express like she'd gotten to when Elisabeth first departed for Hogwarts, but she also knew the hassle of dragging two four-year-olds along on a car trip whilst also managing the luggage, the traversal to Platform 93/4, and the boarding of the train itself, so she settled for hoping the twins would show their own signs of magic before they got much older.
"Stop looking so nervous," Elisabeth told Alix as the family power-walked through King's Cross.
They weren't quite running late, but they weren't exactly running early either. Alix was wearing a long black coat that wasn't much shorter than the school robes packed away in her trunk. She kept it pulled taut around her torso, as if a small gust from the crowd walking about around them could somehow blow the coat away, displace her sleeve, and reveal the scar she so ached to hide. Where the coat ended, just below her knees, a pair of dark jeans could be seen. Only a sliver, though, since her dark leather boots rose almost to the hem of the coat. The ensemble, complete with a dark green scarf around her neck and a leather satchel with a few books and one of her school uniforms inside it, made Alix look as small as she felt, and she hoped that would be enough to keep anyone from noticing her nature.
"'m not nervous," Alix lied through her teeth. Fangs? No, no. Teeth.
"You're going to tear that button clean off," Elisabeth gestured to the coat button Alix's fingers were toying with as they walked.
Dad, who had been dragging Elisabeth's heavier trunk, piped in.
"She's right, Alix," Dad said. "You've little to be nervous about. There are more students like you than you think."
That was not a comforting thought. Students like her. That meant there were a lot of children who were bit by werewolves. Children who were, at most, seventeen years old. Alix knew that she herself was a werewolf, but part of her wondered why there weren't stricter means of control for werewolves by the Ministry. Then she remembered that she was basically wishing for imprisonment, or worse, for herself, and she crushed that part of her mind with great precision.
They got to the barrier, and Elisabeth was the first to cross between King's Cross and Platform 93/4. Without hesitation, she grabbed her trunk from her dad and ran through without issue. Alix wasn't afraid of the barrier. She'd crossed it before when they brought Elisabeth, after all. But still she hesitated. She didn't fear the barrier itself, but the people who existed beyond it. The people she didn't want to hurt, or scare, or anything else.
"I'll go in and look after Elisabeth," her dad said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You stay here and help your mum through. She's not used to magic like we are."
Alix wasn't used to magic at all. She wasn't even in school yet. But she knew what her dad was doing, and Alix could definitely use a mother's comfort before she left. But what could she say? 'Mum, I'm scared. Please don't make me go' wouldn't exactly cut it. She couldn't just not go to Hogwarts. Even if it wasn't too late, she did want to learn magic. Mum, sensing Alix's hesitation, knelt down before Alix and put her hands on either side of her face.
"My little star. I can't say I know what you'll expect at Hogwarts, but I can say that I know what you're capable of. You're scared, and that's normal, but overcoming that fear is part of life. All I ask is that you give it a fair chance, and if it becomes too much, your father, me, and all your siblings will be one letter away. If you really can't stand Hogwarts, we'll come get you," she said, and Alix almost cried from the relief and the earnestness in her mum's eyes.
Alix threw her arms around her mum's neck, holding her tight.
"I'll try it until the holidays," Alix said. A compromise. Not a promise to stick with it all the way through, but if Alix found that she truly couldn't coexist around so many people, she had an out. And that meant a lot to her.
"Good. Good," her mum said, standing up and taking Alix's hand in her own. She dragged Alix's trunk behind her with the other. "I made sure to pack your medication. I know the last one didn't... didn't help much, but we're not done figuring it out. Okay?"
"Okay," Alix said softly, then they crossed through the barrier.
It was chaos. Students bumped into each other and even into other students' parents as the crowd shifted excitedly. There was an anticipation in the air, especially from the older students. Contrarily, Alix wasn't the only of the younger students to be very visibly nervous as many even clung to their parents' legs. Elisabeth was already talking with her Slytherin friends, twirling her wand between her fingers as if it was the most casual thing in the world.
Then the quaffle happened. A quaffle being tossed about like a muggle ball, not a broom in sight. It seemed harmless at first, until Alix saw it strike an owl. A younger student chased after the owl, and Alix found the sight gloriously distracting. It was hard to focus on blending in and staying away from people when someone else was generously taking the spotlight, imagined or otherwise, away from you.
Alix was already boarding the train after a nervous goodbye to her parents when she saw the student carrying the owl off of the train. Alix stood nervously along the corridors of the Hogwarts Express, staring longingly at the various compartments. Some were full, some were partially full, but none that she could see were completely empty. She walked very slowly as she peeked into each compartment, hoping to find one with no people, or at the very least fewer than six or seven. She saw a compartment full of students who had to be in their seventh year by now, another compartment where Elisabeth held court with her friends. Alix had almost went in there for the familiar comfort of family, but the silent warning glare Elisabeth had shot her way before Alix even opened the door had killed that notion.
The bird student had already passed by, and Alix found herself following them without even realizing it. It wasn't a dastardly, methodical plan by any means, but Alix figured if she could join them for the trip to Hogwarts, maybe something else would happen and they would find another way to draw all the attention of those around them. That would suit Alix just fine.
Alix found the compartment, but hesitated. This was the worst part, trying to build the courage to knock on the door and ask if she could join them. What if they said no? What if they saw her fangs? Wait, did she even have fangs? Alix put a finger into her mouth to check, and, no, as far as she could tell, she had normal human teeth. Oh, God, this was so stressful, but the train was moving now, so Alix couldn't hesitate. She opened the door to the compartment - without knocking, she realized with a wince - and looked around. Two students were roughly Alix's age, from the looks of it. Bird student was here, sharing a bag of crisps with the other student. An older student was there, too, looking around with confident perception that made Alix instinctively shrink back. It was clear the three of them had been in the middle of a conversation when Alix walked in, and she hated interrupting people.
"Right, um, sorry. I was wondering if this cabin's all full up," Alix said uncertainly, finding herself unable to meet anyone's eyes. She clutched her satchel nervously to her chest.
@Valour Argentum @Stelle Mims @Crystal Theodora