What If?
September 1st 2025 |
If Kennedy could pick one word to describe the train station, she would say busy. Platform 9 and 3/4 was bustling with activity, which was normal even when it wasn't September 1st. Kids crowded the walk way, some crying and some laughing. Kennedy's eyes darted all around, surveying all the people. One young boy with bright orange hair was hugging what seemed to be his entire immediate and extended family. An older girl was blowing chewing gum and rolling her eyes as her mom expressed some sort of concern at her leaving. And of course there were parents and kids alike, stressing about where stuff was put.
"Did you remember extra socks."
"Don't tell me you forgot your tooth brush."
"No you can't jinx your sister."
"Are you alright."
The last comment came from Kennedy's dad, as he knelt down to her height. If she was being honest, she wasn't alright. A thousand thought swirled in her mind, making her nauseous. It was all so new, so many things were changing, she wasn't ready for this
What if she got lost.
What if she failed her classes.
What if the whole school hated her.
What if she hated school.
She looked up at her dad. "But what if I-" she started, but he cut her off,
"But what if you love it?" His reassurance stopped the swirling thoughts momentarily. He wrapped her in a hug, before nudging her in the direction of the train entrance. "I love you my Chickadee," He called above the noise. Kennedy smiled, not as worried as before, and waved at him as she boarded the Hogwarts Express.
...
Kennedy followed her older brother Robbie past the compartments. Kennedy looked in each one as conversations were already in full swing. She briefly wondered if she would ever have a relationship like that, someone to gossip with, even thought she hated gossip. She had only ever had one friend, and she was now all the way over in France, probably with dozens of new people she could call her best friend. Robbie stopped in front of a compartment with 3 other boys who were already talking and laughing. Kennedy tried to follow her brother in, but he stopped her in the doorway.
"These are my friends, your supposed to go find your own. They don't want you in here."
While he didn't say it with any bitterness, it felt like a cold slap. Kennedy hadn't thought about Robbie not wanting her with him. She thought that she would have him as her safety net. Kennedy knew she shouldn't be mad at him, he was valid in wanting his own friends, but she had no idea what she was going to do now. She slowly backed out of the doorway, and Robbie closed the compartment door as she left. She walked alone down the corridor, stopping at a thankfully empty compartment. Kennedy propped her head against the window, mentally exhausted. Her doubts from earlier crept back into her mind, as the reality of Hogwarts came closer and closer. Would it be everything she had hoped it wouldn't be, or would it really be the fairy tale that everyone said it would be? A few silent tears ran down her cheek before she quickly wiped them away. She then let the lull of the moving train persuade her into sleep.
562 word count
If Kennedy could pick one word to describe the train station, she would say busy. Platform 9 and 3/4 was bustling with activity, which was normal even when it wasn't September 1st. Kids crowded the walk way, some crying and some laughing. Kennedy's eyes darted all around, surveying all the people. One young boy with bright orange hair was hugging what seemed to be his entire immediate and extended family. An older girl was blowing chewing gum and rolling her eyes as her mom expressed some sort of concern at her leaving. And of course there were parents and kids alike, stressing about where stuff was put.
"Did you remember extra socks."
"Don't tell me you forgot your tooth brush."
"No you can't jinx your sister."
"Are you alright."
The last comment came from Kennedy's dad, as he knelt down to her height. If she was being honest, she wasn't alright. A thousand thought swirled in her mind, making her nauseous. It was all so new, so many things were changing, she wasn't ready for this
What if she got lost.
What if she failed her classes.
What if the whole school hated her.
What if she hated school.
She looked up at her dad. "But what if I-" she started, but he cut her off,
"But what if you love it?" His reassurance stopped the swirling thoughts momentarily. He wrapped her in a hug, before nudging her in the direction of the train entrance. "I love you my Chickadee," He called above the noise. Kennedy smiled, not as worried as before, and waved at him as she boarded the Hogwarts Express.
...
Kennedy followed her older brother Robbie past the compartments. Kennedy looked in each one as conversations were already in full swing. She briefly wondered if she would ever have a relationship like that, someone to gossip with, even thought she hated gossip. She had only ever had one friend, and she was now all the way over in France, probably with dozens of new people she could call her best friend. Robbie stopped in front of a compartment with 3 other boys who were already talking and laughing. Kennedy tried to follow her brother in, but he stopped her in the doorway.
"These are my friends, your supposed to go find your own. They don't want you in here."
While he didn't say it with any bitterness, it felt like a cold slap. Kennedy hadn't thought about Robbie not wanting her with him. She thought that she would have him as her safety net. Kennedy knew she shouldn't be mad at him, he was valid in wanting his own friends, but she had no idea what she was going to do now. She slowly backed out of the doorway, and Robbie closed the compartment door as she left. She walked alone down the corridor, stopping at a thankfully empty compartment. Kennedy propped her head against the window, mentally exhausted. Her doubts from earlier crept back into her mind, as the reality of Hogwarts came closer and closer. Would it be everything she had hoped it wouldn't be, or would it really be the fairy tale that everyone said it would be? A few silent tears ran down her cheek before she quickly wiped them away. She then let the lull of the moving train persuade her into sleep.
562 word count
Last edited by Kennedy Cheek on 9 Mar 2026, 15:59, edited 1 time in total.
What If?
September 1st 2025, somewhere between the Kings Cross Station and Hogwarts |
The train was vibrating beneath her feet as she was walking down the crowded aisle looking for a seat in a cabin. Elise made her way through the students with difficulty, some were already dressed in wizard's robes, others giving her annoyed glance for interrupting their conversation. As if whatever they had to say was that important... she grumpily thought after excusing herself and her way too big suitcase for the umpteenth time.
The girl already missed her small, dear, lovely and not that crowded town. After all, going to study at Hogwarts wasn't something insignificant and, even though she did not wanted to feel this way, Elise was scared. Scared of not fitting in, of not being great the way she was before, of not finding friends, of failure. The word lingered in her head, as if someone had stamped it on her mind with a hot iron and it kinda made her shiver. An unpleasant knot of anxiety formed in her stomach as she finally reached the last compartments of the train.
Once in a corner and finally alone, Elise allowed herself to breathe more deeply. I bet it's something with the red of this blinds, she tried without much success to convince herself that she was absolutely not anxious about this turning point that a first year at Hogwarts represented.
A more violent tremor of the train brought her out of her trance. She blinked and shooked her head, recomposing herself before resuming her walk, her steps carrying her to an empty cabin. Well, not that empty because, there was a girl, head against the window and slightly tilted downward. She looked the same age as Elise, who froze at the door frame. The sleeping girl had really pretty dark brown and long hair, a few freeckles on her still slightly round baby face. But what intrigued her the most was the fact that she was all alone even though she seemed so sweet and kind. This world is definitely meaningless, Elise thought, slightly frowning at the scene.
Then, she decided she had to do something to stop staring at that poor girl like a psychopath. Elise had always been bad at the whole "clearing the throat" stuff. But when you gotta go...., she thought, while still standing in the doorway of the compartment, her heavy suitcase carried as best she could given the situation.
Eventually, she brought her fist to her mouth and, in the most awkward way possible, cleared her throat, waiting for a reaction, a waking up, something, anything so as not to let Elise's distress drag on even more. She stared at the girl with anticipation as the constant rolling of the train underneath their feet was carring them far away from London.
473 words
The train was vibrating beneath her feet as she was walking down the crowded aisle looking for a seat in a cabin. Elise made her way through the students with difficulty, some were already dressed in wizard's robes, others giving her annoyed glance for interrupting their conversation. As if whatever they had to say was that important... she grumpily thought after excusing herself and her way too big suitcase for the umpteenth time.
The girl already missed her small, dear, lovely and not that crowded town. After all, going to study at Hogwarts wasn't something insignificant and, even though she did not wanted to feel this way, Elise was scared. Scared of not fitting in, of not being great the way she was before, of not finding friends, of failure. The word lingered in her head, as if someone had stamped it on her mind with a hot iron and it kinda made her shiver. An unpleasant knot of anxiety formed in her stomach as she finally reached the last compartments of the train.
Once in a corner and finally alone, Elise allowed herself to breathe more deeply. I bet it's something with the red of this blinds, she tried without much success to convince herself that she was absolutely not anxious about this turning point that a first year at Hogwarts represented.
A more violent tremor of the train brought her out of her trance. She blinked and shooked her head, recomposing herself before resuming her walk, her steps carrying her to an empty cabin. Well, not that empty because, there was a girl, head against the window and slightly tilted downward. She looked the same age as Elise, who froze at the door frame. The sleeping girl had really pretty dark brown and long hair, a few freeckles on her still slightly round baby face. But what intrigued her the most was the fact that she was all alone even though she seemed so sweet and kind. This world is definitely meaningless, Elise thought, slightly frowning at the scene.
Then, she decided she had to do something to stop staring at that poor girl like a psychopath. Elise had always been bad at the whole "clearing the throat" stuff. But when you gotta go...., she thought, while still standing in the doorway of the compartment, her heavy suitcase carried as best she could given the situation.
Eventually, she brought her fist to her mouth and, in the most awkward way possible, cleared her throat, waiting for a reaction, a waking up, something, anything so as not to let Elise's distress drag on even more. She stared at the girl with anticipation as the constant rolling of the train underneath their feet was carring them far away from London.
473 words
What If?
September 1st 2025 | Kennedy Cheek | @Elise Abberton | WC: 243
Kennedy stirred from her slumber slowly, blinking sleep from her eyes. She'd had a vague dream of a unicorn, but as a couple seconds passed, the dream slipped away from her as most dreams do. She adjusted herself in her seat to stretch a little, and saw something in the corner of her eye that made her jump. It was a girl, and first or second year by her looks. The stranger had brown hair with spots of freckles like her own, but the similarities stopped there. The girl was fairly tall compared to Kennedy, and her looks could be described as elegant. Kennedy stared in shock for a moment, trying to wrap her head around the fact that there was a person right there. In full honesty, Kennedy hadn't planned on talking to anyone on her first day. It was already stressful going to a new place, and she had been afraid to add new people to the equation as well. Kennedy had next to no social interaction with anyone but her family and best friend.
"Would you like to sit," Kennedy asked awkwardly. She had no idea if that was the polite thing to say or not, and her cheeks blazed with embarrassment. To keep the girl from noticing the abrupt show of red in her face, Kennedy looked out the window, too nervous to do anything that might screw up her social life before it was even supposed to begin.
Kennedy stirred from her slumber slowly, blinking sleep from her eyes. She'd had a vague dream of a unicorn, but as a couple seconds passed, the dream slipped away from her as most dreams do. She adjusted herself in her seat to stretch a little, and saw something in the corner of her eye that made her jump. It was a girl, and first or second year by her looks. The stranger had brown hair with spots of freckles like her own, but the similarities stopped there. The girl was fairly tall compared to Kennedy, and her looks could be described as elegant. Kennedy stared in shock for a moment, trying to wrap her head around the fact that there was a person right there. In full honesty, Kennedy hadn't planned on talking to anyone on her first day. It was already stressful going to a new place, and she had been afraid to add new people to the equation as well. Kennedy had next to no social interaction with anyone but her family and best friend.
"Would you like to sit," Kennedy asked awkwardly. She had no idea if that was the polite thing to say or not, and her cheeks blazed with embarrassment. To keep the girl from noticing the abrupt show of red in her face, Kennedy looked out the window, too nervous to do anything that might screw up her social life before it was even supposed to begin.
What If?
September 1st 2025 | Elise Abberton | @Kennedy Cheek | WC: 243
Elise felt a wave of relief washing over her the second the girl awakened from her sleep. However, at the little start she made, she displayed an apologetic look. As Elise could not prevent herself from fidgeting with the cabin's door lock, she put on a sly awkward smile, nodding when she offered her to sit with her. "Oh, uhm-- yes, thank you," the newcomer responded to the girl while dragging her heavy trunk and lifting it (with perhaps a little too much effort) to put it in the overhead compartment above the seats in front of her. Once that was done, Elise sat down on the bench seat opposite her and clasped her hands together, her stance maybe a bit too straight.
There was a silence, whereas the only noises were the train rolling along the tracks and the voices of other students outside the cabin. By Merlin's beard, it's getting awkward, was all she could manage to think instead of saying something to get out of this quiet. Actually, Elise almost wanted to laugh, but that perhaps would not have been decent at the moment.
"Erm-- sorry for the whole..." she vaguely gestured anything understandable "...awkward silence. And for waking you, too," she apologised while rubbing the back of her neck with an umpteenth slight awkward grin and a nervous chuckle, glancing at the girl who was sitting in front of her. Is she really blushing that hard?... No, it is not possible, it must be the low lights in the cabin, Elise thought before chasing it out of her already full mind.
"... My name's Elise, by the way. Elise Abberton. I'm a first-year," she introduced herself, extending her hand with a small, warm smile, almost shy now.
Elise felt a wave of relief washing over her the second the girl awakened from her sleep. However, at the little start she made, she displayed an apologetic look. As Elise could not prevent herself from fidgeting with the cabin's door lock, she put on a sly awkward smile, nodding when she offered her to sit with her. "Oh, uhm-- yes, thank you," the newcomer responded to the girl while dragging her heavy trunk and lifting it (with perhaps a little too much effort) to put it in the overhead compartment above the seats in front of her. Once that was done, Elise sat down on the bench seat opposite her and clasped her hands together, her stance maybe a bit too straight.
There was a silence, whereas the only noises were the train rolling along the tracks and the voices of other students outside the cabin. By Merlin's beard, it's getting awkward, was all she could manage to think instead of saying something to get out of this quiet. Actually, Elise almost wanted to laugh, but that perhaps would not have been decent at the moment.
"Erm-- sorry for the whole..." she vaguely gestured anything understandable "...awkward silence. And for waking you, too," she apologised while rubbing the back of her neck with an umpteenth slight awkward grin and a nervous chuckle, glancing at the girl who was sitting in front of her. Is she really blushing that hard?... No, it is not possible, it must be the low lights in the cabin, Elise thought before chasing it out of her already full mind.
"... My name's Elise, by the way. Elise Abberton. I'm a first-year," she introduced herself, extending her hand with a small, warm smile, almost shy now.
What If?
September 1st 2025 | Kennedy Cheek | Internal Dialogue | @Elise Abberton | WC: 319
"Oh uhm-- yes, thank you," The girl responded, offering a small smile. Kennedy watched with her mouth slightly open as the girl struggled with her large heavy trunk. Should I help her, Kennedy wondered. But she didn't, mostly because she was paralyzed in fear from her social anxiety. The girl did alright with lifting the trunk into the overhead compartment by herself, and when she finished, she sat across from Kennedy with her hands clasped in her lap. What do I say. Am I supposed to say something. What if I say something stupid, I'm probably going to say something stupid. Kennedy's fears kept her mouth firmly shut. Afraid that she would mess up her first social interaction, she decided to speak only when spoken to. Silence filled the compartment, making Kennedy feel uncomfortable in her skin. The girl must have been feeling the same way because she began so speak
"Erm-- sorry for the whole...," She waved her arms around in a vague gesture, "...awkward silence. And for waking you, too."
Kennedy narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Why was she saying sorry? It wasn't as if it was her fault that Kennedy was too sacred to talk to people. If anything was anyone's fault, it was surely her own. Her cheeks blazed with embarrassment.
"You don't have to apologize," Kennedy said, but it was so quiet she didn't even know if the girl had heard it.
"My name's Elise, by the way. Elise Abberton. I'm a first-year," The girl explained as she extended her hand and smiled. Kennedy hesitated for a moment. What if I screw everything up and the she hates me. What if I--, but Kennedy cut her own thoughts off, remembering her fathers words from that morning.
"My name is Kennedy Cheek. I'm a first-year too," She introduced herself and shook the Elise's hand. "I have a feeling you and I will be great friends."
"Oh uhm-- yes, thank you," The girl responded, offering a small smile. Kennedy watched with her mouth slightly open as the girl struggled with her large heavy trunk. Should I help her, Kennedy wondered. But she didn't, mostly because she was paralyzed in fear from her social anxiety. The girl did alright with lifting the trunk into the overhead compartment by herself, and when she finished, she sat across from Kennedy with her hands clasped in her lap. What do I say. Am I supposed to say something. What if I say something stupid, I'm probably going to say something stupid. Kennedy's fears kept her mouth firmly shut. Afraid that she would mess up her first social interaction, she decided to speak only when spoken to. Silence filled the compartment, making Kennedy feel uncomfortable in her skin. The girl must have been feeling the same way because she began so speak
"Erm-- sorry for the whole...," She waved her arms around in a vague gesture, "...awkward silence. And for waking you, too."
Kennedy narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Why was she saying sorry? It wasn't as if it was her fault that Kennedy was too sacred to talk to people. If anything was anyone's fault, it was surely her own. Her cheeks blazed with embarrassment.
"You don't have to apologize," Kennedy said, but it was so quiet she didn't even know if the girl had heard it.
"My name's Elise, by the way. Elise Abberton. I'm a first-year," The girl explained as she extended her hand and smiled. Kennedy hesitated for a moment. What if I screw everything up and the she hates me. What if I--, but Kennedy cut her own thoughts off, remembering her fathers words from that morning.
"My name is Kennedy Cheek. I'm a first-year too," She introduced herself and shook the Elise's hand. "I have a feeling you and I will be great friends."
What If?
September 1st 2025 | Elise Abberton | @Kennedy Cheek | Hogwarts
Indeed, as the time flew by, the two girls made acquaintance. And, even with some differences in personnality, they were pretty similar to each other and found a lot of resemblances. They talked until the Hogwarts Express ride came to an end and the two new friends picked up their suitcases to get off the train.
Once outside, they could admire the splendid view that streched out before them from the station. The castle was illuminated by the low glow of the moon which was hidding behind some clouds, and the majestic building was perched on the cliffside, as if floating above the dark lake below. Kennedy and Elise hurried to join the group of first-years, all gathered around a man holding a lantern. He introduced himself as the keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts and also the gamekeeper, then invited the newcomers to follow him.
After crossing the lake and a rather long walk up the stairs, the new students entered the Great Hall. Almost each one of them opened wide eyes in awe and excitation, or anxiety for some of them.
One after another, the young people were called, with Elise among the very first. The strange talking hat seemed to hesitate, causing the young girl a little stress, before sending her to Slytherin in a deep, raspy voice like old parchment. The most cunning students' table erupted in applause as Elise walked down the aisle to sit there, without failing to give Kennedy a broad, delighted smile, who was still waiting with the other new pupils. A few of them later, it was Kennedy's turn. The dark brown-haired girl walked timidly down the aisle to the wooden stool on the platform before the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. There was a long silence before the old-looking hat exclaimed in a loud and still raspy tone that she was received in Hufflepuff. Like Elise's ones earlier, the details of Kennedy's blank uniform turned into the pretty yellow and black of her new house. Her table applauded her as well while Elise, from where she was sitting at the Slytherin table, warmly smiled at her in an encouraging way. Actually, she was pretty sad not to be in the same house as her friend. That is why, later on, the two girls decided to walk together in the corridors to discover their own common rooms. Their steps led them to the second floor, following the other students of Hufflepuff and Slytherin behind their prefects. Once there, Kennedy and Elise said goodbye before parting ways and beginning their new adventures, each on their own, each in their own house. Without, however, forgetting the other one.
Indeed, as the time flew by, the two girls made acquaintance. And, even with some differences in personnality, they were pretty similar to each other and found a lot of resemblances. They talked until the Hogwarts Express ride came to an end and the two new friends picked up their suitcases to get off the train.
Once outside, they could admire the splendid view that streched out before them from the station. The castle was illuminated by the low glow of the moon which was hidding behind some clouds, and the majestic building was perched on the cliffside, as if floating above the dark lake below. Kennedy and Elise hurried to join the group of first-years, all gathered around a man holding a lantern. He introduced himself as the keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts and also the gamekeeper, then invited the newcomers to follow him.
After crossing the lake and a rather long walk up the stairs, the new students entered the Great Hall. Almost each one of them opened wide eyes in awe and excitation, or anxiety for some of them.
One after another, the young people were called, with Elise among the very first. The strange talking hat seemed to hesitate, causing the young girl a little stress, before sending her to Slytherin in a deep, raspy voice like old parchment. The most cunning students' table erupted in applause as Elise walked down the aisle to sit there, without failing to give Kennedy a broad, delighted smile, who was still waiting with the other new pupils. A few of them later, it was Kennedy's turn. The dark brown-haired girl walked timidly down the aisle to the wooden stool on the platform before the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. There was a long silence before the old-looking hat exclaimed in a loud and still raspy tone that she was received in Hufflepuff. Like Elise's ones earlier, the details of Kennedy's blank uniform turned into the pretty yellow and black of her new house. Her table applauded her as well while Elise, from where she was sitting at the Slytherin table, warmly smiled at her in an encouraging way. Actually, she was pretty sad not to be in the same house as her friend. That is why, later on, the two girls decided to walk together in the corridors to discover their own common rooms. Their steps led them to the second floor, following the other students of Hufflepuff and Slytherin behind their prefects. Once there, Kennedy and Elise said goodbye before parting ways and beginning their new adventures, each on their own, each in their own house. Without, however, forgetting the other one.