The First Mile of Magic open

The big day was finally here, and as much as Angel was excited she was also nervous and sad. She knew that once she got on that train she wouldn't see her parents again until one of the vacations, and Angel has never been away from her parents for a long period of time before.

It was a bit tricky for Angel and her family to get onto the platform of the train, but once they were there, the platform was hustling and bustling. Parents were saying goodbye to their children, owls hooted, and doors were opening and closing. Angel looked at the majestic red train and after saying goodbye to her parents, she boarded the train.

It was quite funny how there was many first years boarding but it looks like she won't be alone after all. As she looks over the cabins and checks each seat, she gets to the end of the train she founded an available spot, there was another girl there and she looked quite serious and scary.

Quickly taking her seat she didn't say a word, because it seemed like it was hard to talk to the girl. From there the ambience was silent too.

Diana had been staring out the window when the other girl entered the compartment, watching Platform Nine and Three-Quarters blur with movement and color as families hurried past. She’d chosen the seat mostly because it was quiet — or at least, it had been — and because something in her chest had nudged her toward the far end of the train without explanation. It felt safer there, somehow. Less overwhelming.

She noticed the girl the moment she sat down. Not because she was loud — she wasn’t, in fact, the girl didn't even talk — but because Diana had the sudden, inexplicable sense of being noticed, even before she looked up. For a heartbeat, Diana wondered if she’d done something wrong: taken the wrong seat, looked too unfriendly, appeared unapproachable. The thought made her straighten slightly, fingers tightening around the strap of her bag, before she loosened it and allowed her bag to fall down and sit beside her where there was some space between her and the window.

The silence stretched, thick and awkward, and Diana became painfully aware of how she must look: quiet, serious, maybe even cold. She hadn’t meant to seem scary. She just… didn’t always know how to start.

A strange flutter passed through her — the same one she’d felt moments before choosing this compartment — and with it came the sudden certainty that saying nothing would make things worse. Diana blinked, surprised by how strong the impulse was.

“Um,” she said softly, turning toward the girl and offering a tentative smile. “Hi. I don’t bite. I promise.”

She let out a small, nervous laugh, hoping it helped. “I’m Diana. First year. I figured it’d be less crowded back here.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward the corridor before returning. “You can stay, if you want. I don’t mind the company.”

The tension eased slightly in her chest as she spoke, like she’d corrected something just before it went wrong — though she couldn’t have said why.

@Angel Dayes

She noticed that the girl had spoke. She turned and said, "Oh! Hello! My name's Angel! Angel Dayes! I'm a first year too."

When she heard that the girl's name was Diana, she smiled, it seems like they both got acquainted just fine.

"I apologize for being hesitant earlier, I didn't want to disturb you!" she added after they got aquatinted.

Diana was relieved, seeing the look on her eyes it wasn't so obvious, but atleast they didn't got on the wrong foot.

After a few minutes passed Angel noticed how much time has gone by. The school was up a ahead and everyone couldn't wait to be there.

She was very excited that she'll Hogwarts soon. Angel pulled down the window and felt the cold icy breeze, she took a deep breath and soak everything in. Knowing that her life will change right here and now.

Angel noticed that the girl she met, seemed to be smart and knows all about magic although she won't really know unless she asked.

"Hey! Uh, are you wizard born? Or a muggle like me?" Angel asked quietly, not wanting the others to hear.

"Ah, I'm muggle born just like you!" she replied.

@Diana Roberts

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At Angel's sudden question, asking if Diana were a wizard-born or a muggle like her, the young Seer blinks in surprise. She didn't want Angel to think the wrong thing, especially since at this point, Angel assumes that Diana is a Muggle-born witch just like her, but in reality, the young Seer is actually a wizard-born. Before answering, for a moment, Diana looked out the window, watching as the land whizzed by, not too fast, but fast enough that if Diana didn't look properly, she probably would have missed a cow or a horse.

“I’m wizard-born,” she replies gently, no trace of superiority in her tone, only honesty, lowering her voice to match Angel’s. “My parents both went to Hogwarts. And my grandmother did too.” She offers a small, almost apologetic smile. “But that doesn’t mean I know everything. I promise.” If Diana wanted to share the house that her parents and grandmother were sorted into, she would have. Her grandmother was a Ravenclaw, and since she's also a Seer, Diana had a feeling she'd be placed into that house. "And, in fact, I was raised in the muggle part of London, not the wizarding part," Diana added, feeling as if she should tell that to Angel.

The cold breeze drifting in through the open window brushes strands of her hair across her face, and she tucks them behind her ear. Something is flickering in her eyes, something distant for half a second, like she’s listening to something no one else can hear. A faint tug. A whisper of intuition. The sort she’s grown used to. Especially ever since her grandmother taught her the basics of being a Seer.

“I think,” she adds quietly, “being Muggle-born is rather extraordinary, actually. To discover magic instead of growing up with it… that must feel like stepping into a storybook.” Her gaze shifts back to Angel, curious but warm. “Just out of curiosity, when you first found out, was it frightening?”

“And for what it’s worth,” Diana continues, folding her hands neatly in her lap, “no one truly knows who they’ll become until the Sorting Hat decides. We’re all just… in-between right now.” Her lips curve faintly. “That’s a rather magical place to be.” Diana then decided to ask a rather common question she was sure other first years were asking the people in their compartments, "Do you know what house you'll be sorted into? Or at least think you know?"

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@Angel Dayes

Natalie walked past many compartments, listening to the sounds of gossip and excitement all around her. She held two cauldron cakes and searched for a compartment with people her age. She was undeniably nervous.

It was a risky thing to do, searching for friends in the middle of the train ride when she was completely new to magic. Her crazy idea was to bring cauldron cakes for other students so they wouldn’t hate her for barging into their lives. Was that the wrong thing to do?

Trying not to overthink it, she found a compartment with the door slightly open and noticed two girls inside. They seemed to be around her age, so she slowly stepped in, hoping she didn’t look too awkward.

“Hey,” she managed to say.

She couldn’t help but notice how similar the two girls looked, but they didn’t seem displeased to see her, so she relaxed a little.

“I didn’t mean to barge in, but I was feeling bored alone in my compartment, so I hope you guys don’t mind me joining you..... Also, I’ve got cauldron cakes! Would either of you like one?” she said in a friendly tone.

Still standing, she wondered if she should sit down.

She waited awhile for her answer to arrive to reply to Diana. She took a pause then spoke.

"Ah! I think I would be a Ravenclaw, I am very creative or maybe a Hufflepuff because I love being in the kitchen alot especially in my hometown Cearphilly!"

Diana nodded and was impressed with her answer. Few hours passed and a girl appeared.

"Oh hello!" she noticed another girl standing. "It's alright you can join us! The more the merrier!" Angel chipped with a inviting tone. Diana also noticed, and simply kept quiet, but with a slight smile.

As the train kept going, there was a deafening silence, the only sound that can be heard was the train on the tracks, it would be awhile before they reach Hogwarts. Meeting other first years wouldn't be a bad idea.

As the idea was fresh in mind, she decided to introduce herself.

"Hi! I'm Angel Dayes, pleased to meet you! What's your name?" she started off before the rest.

The sunlight, was overflowing the windows showing the bright future ahead. Maybe going to Hogwarts wasn't so bad after all, Angel wouldn't be alone and having making two new friends, it would be a great leverage to her. She exhaled and appreciate the moment.

@Diana Roberts @Natalie Morris

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It seemed that Angel was thinking about her answer to Diana's question, so the young Seer took the time to look out the window. When Angel mentions Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff as her house guesses, Diana tilts her head thoughtfully and looks at her new friend. “Creativity does sound very Ravenclaw,” she agrees gently. “But loving kitchens and home… that feels very Hufflepuff as well. I suppose the Hat will know which part of you shines brightest. Or perhaps the hat would put you into another house, perhaps Gryffindor or even Slytherin.”

Diana then looked up when the compartment door slid open again, her attention shifting from Angel to the girl hovering uncertainly in the doorway. She notices the way Natalie grips the cauldron cakes, not tightly, but carefully, like they’re a peace offering. Diana's smile grows a little. Cauldron Cakes are by far one of Diana's favorite magical sweets, especially when her grandmother makes them from scratch. They're so nice and fluffy and sweet!

“You’re not barging,” Diana says softly, shifting slightly on the seat to make more room. “The train feels rather lonely otherwise. And as Angel said, the more the merrier.” Her gaze flickers to the cakes. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

Diana then felt the need to let Natalie know about their current question, so Diana said, “I was just asking Angel what house she thinks she'll be in. What house do you think you'd be in?" Diana didn't yet know Natalie's name, but she was addressing her.

The train rattles along the tracks, sunlight flashing across their faces in intervals, going from bright, then shadowed, then bright again, and these repeats. For a moment, Diana feels that familiar quiet tug in her chest. Not a vision. Just a feeling. There was something about the compartment that her intuition was telling her about: this compartment matters. She leans back slightly, relaxed now. “It would be rather nice,” she says softly, “if this wasn’t the last time we all sat together like this.”

It was like Diana was suggesting that when they got to Hogwarts, no matter what house they got sorted into, they shouldn't be strangers. And that was actually the message Diana was trying to get across from the other two girls, who are first years just like her. Now that Diana had met another first-year, she wasn't as nervous, and she couldn't wait to see the castle. Hopefully, she could experience what her family had told her about Hogwarts during her seven years there.
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@Angel Dayes @Natalie Morris - Welcome! I'm so glad you joined! My dialogue color code is in my signature

Natalie sat down on the seat across from the two girls, relieved to be welcomed.

“Thanks,” she replied. “And here you go.” She handed the cake to Diana. It truly seemed as though Diana was delighted at the sight of it, she must have really liked cauldron cakes.

When they asked about houses, Natalie said, “I honestly wish I were a Gryffindor. The adventurous spirit in me hopes I belong there. But I’m almost certain I’ll be a Hufflepuff. I match its qualities well.”

As the train passed winding rivers, Natalie turned her gaze to the window and completely forgot to introduce herself.

The other girl introduced herself as Angel Dayes. A pretty name, Natalie thought.
“I’m Natalie Morris. Pleased to meet you both,” she said, then turned to the other girl. “And what’s your name?” she asked curiously.

After her reply, they fell into a kind of silence that, rather than being awkward, felt comforting. Natalie continued watching the highlands approach through the window.
After a while, Diana mentioned how she hoped this wouldn’t be the last time they met. Natalie couldn’t agree more. She didn’t know much about Hogwarts or magic, and having friends from the very beginning seemed like the best way to find her place. She still had no idea what awaited her at school and wondered if she should learn more.

“Do you know much about Hogwarts and magic? Even though I’m a half-blood, my mother never told me much about it,” she asked.

Almost immediately, she regretted the question as she realized everyone probably knows about magic and she might have just portrayed herself as a fool.

The girl sat down immediately, she scooched over towards Angel's side. It was nice having another person to talk to, Angel thought to herself.

After the introductions Angel promptly replied "It was nice to meet you all! I know we're going to see each other often."

Angel was starting to feel bored, so she stretched her legs and relaxed, looked outside the windows and checked the scenery. Hogwarts was really far away. The three of the girls kept the conversations going and often kept the time passing with silly questions and wondering what they're going to do there.

Natalie was talking about how she was a half blood and if they knew much about Hogwarts but after that she seemed a bit hesitant almost embarrassed.

To break the silence Angel asserted "Hmm I don't think I really know much about Hogwarts, besides wizards and all that jazz really, I don't think anyone else here does too because we're all first years pretty much!" Angel laughed

"But it's interesting how your a half blood, and Diana a wizard born, and me a muggle born? Gee! I'm really surprised to have friends like you guys, I'm honored. Most people aren't fond of muggles like me but I don't think it's true anymore, most people don't really pay attention." she exclaimed

She paused before speaking.

"I forgot about Diana's other question!" She remembered.

"It wasn't really scary, not for me at least haha!"

Angel noticed she spoked a lot so she but her lip and softly chuckled

"Oops. Sorry may have spoken too much, it's true when they say my other nickname can be Chitter huh?" with her words it seemed like she was laughing along.

@Natalie Morris@Diana Roberts