No Looking Back. CLOSED

Olivia waved goodbye to her parents, as she borded the train with her older brother Atlas. Her mother was extremely proud that both her children had inherited her magical ablities, whereas thier father was more worried about the letters that will be sent home now that both of them were in Hogwarts together.

Olivia didnt care about that though she knew as long as she didn’t damage the family reputation all was good. Olivia was a little nervous but she would never admit that to anyone, her excitement had clearly shone through as no one from her family had asked if she was ok or reasurred her. Her brother had told her many stories about Hogwarts and the dumb things he had gotten up too. Olivia couldn't wait to see it all for herself and create her own stories with her own friends.

As the train began to move Atlas bid her farewell as he went off with his friends to thier compartment leaving Olivia alone to find her footing, and make a name for herself. She looked into the carriages aimlessly, she wasn't shy but she was picky she wanted to pick the right one. Some had two or more people already in it and she didn't want to intrude. Some had kids she didn't think were worth getting to know, sounds harsh but at the end of the day she was from a private school and a wealthy family, they had standards.

She had passed many carriages and was sure she was going to find an empty carriage where someone would find her instead. However her eyes soon landed on a carriage with a boy who had a messy modcut which covered his forehead and ears with rounded square glasses, looking out the window with a book in hand. He looked nerdy which wasn't normally Olivia's type of people but something about it felt right. She took in a deep breath before knocking on the door and opening it, "Can I sit here?" she asked with a kind smile, part of her already knew the answer but she had to be polite.

Word count: 354
@Manal Smith

Manal had been quietly staring out the window, the passing scenery reflecting faintly against the glass as the train slowly carried them further away from London. The rhythmic sound of the wheels against the tracks and the soft rustling of the pages in his book had almost lulled him into a calm, distant state of thought.

That's when the compartment door was slid open. He looked up, slightly surprised, his eyes falling on the girl standing in the doorway. He quietly observed her, she looked confident, way more than he felt at that moment. Still, the polite tone she gave made her seem friendly rather than arrogant.

Realizing he had been staring and quiet for too long, "Oh.. yeah go ahead." he quickly put his book away to the side, glancing away from her.

His eyes drifted to back to the window for a moment before returning to her again, "I'm Manal, Manal Smith." he said after a short pause, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness, after all this was the first person he was talking to since boarding the train to a school he still isn't completely convinced was real.

@Olivia Cuthburt

Olivia smirked as he took a while to answer but finally let her in, she knew she was right about him. She put her bag in the over head storage and took a seat opposite him. The boy glanced back out the window not paying her much attention, Thats a bit rude, she thought to herself but let it slide as she presumed it may have been due to his nerves. Olivia was quite good at reading people when she wanted to, but that also made her incredibly mean as she knew what buttons to press if she didn't like someone.

Olivia leaned back getting comfortable as the boy looked at her again and introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, I'm Olivia, Olivia Cuthburt" she introduced, "You must have heard about my fathers business," she added proudly. If he was a muggle he would most definitely know. Her parents would have scolded her for being so forward and revealing her status to a stranger, but she was proud of the fact that her family had a name.
Due to her wealth and background sometimes fake friends were created but she was able to weed them out, she hated fakeness of all kind.

"It is beautiful," she said as she glanced out the window, "The scenery," she clarified with a soft smile. "First time on a train out of London?" she asked, curious to find out more about this boy.

Word count: 240
@Manal Smith

Manal watched quietly as she stepped in and sat across him, not expecting anyone to choose this compartment. His hands rested awkwardly on his lap as he glanced back out of the window for a second, mostly to have a moment to think about what to say.

When she introduced herself, he shifted his attention back towards her.

"Olivia Cuthburt.." he muttured quietly, hearing her talking proudly about her fathers business his expression tightened as it sounded like something he was supposed to recognize. He did not recognize it.

"Nice to meet you too, olivia." he said awkwardly. Manal studied her for a brief moment. She looked completely at ease compared to him, she seemed confident and relaxed like someone who belonged in this new world

When she mentioned the scenery, his gaze followed hers toward the window, watching the scenery, "It really is." His expression softening into a small, tentative smile.

Her question caught Manal a little off guard. "Uh, yeah. First time on a train out of london.. and definitely first time going to a magic school" a faint nervous smile appearing.

"I'm still trying to process this whole thing." he looked back at her, the earlier nervousness replaced by curiosity. "I'm guessing this is not new for you? Hogwarts and everything?"

@Olivia Cuthburt

Olivia smiled, a muggle, she didn't think she would bump into one straight away. "Oh you're going to love it " she stated excitedly, "My brother is a last year and he's told me sooooo much," she added. "So any questions just ask," she said with a genuine smile.

Olivia was nervous, she had never fully immersed herself in the magic world before but she defiantly wasn't going to share that with someone she had just met, especially a muggle at that. Atlas had told her that purebloods were the way to go in terms of building connections in the wizarding world and muggles didn't do much for our social standing. People often saw this as a very uptight mindset but when you have grown up in a certain way it all seems normal. Regardless Olivia was open to befriending some muggles if they seemed like fun and Manal had seemed to relax a bit making Olivia feel more welcomed, maybe a friendship could be created from this interaction after all.

"Im a half blood if you haven't guessed," she informed, "I know about both worlds and let me tell you, you have nothing to worry about, we are all learning," she reassured as she shifted a bit in her seat trying to make herself believe that too. It was going to be weird going somewhere her surname wasn't well known and even weirder having to actually study things that might not make sense at first.

Maybe she was glad she had met a muggle first instead of a Pureblood or a half blood that had grown up in the wizarding world.

Word count: 272
@Manal Smith

Manal listened carefully as she spoke, the friendliness and excitement in her voice while talking about her brother felt genuine, not like the fake one he's used to back at home. When she offered to answer his questions, a small, grateful smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Thanks, i'll probably take you up on that offer. I don't even know what I don't know yet, if that makes sense.. Like, magic was something I didn't know existed before a few weeks ago and now i'm going to a school for it?" he said, letting out a quiet chuckle

"It's a lot."

When she mentioned being half-blood, Manal tilted his head, recording the information quietly. So she grew up knowing about this world but wasn't fully engraved in it. That explained why she seemed comfortable but unlike the other wizard families he'd briefly noticed on the platform.

"I didn't guess actually, I don't really know enough to guess anything yet." he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

Her reassurance made him relax, just a little. He hadn't even realized how tense he had been till then. He glanced down at his hands for a moment before looking back up at her "It's been weird to say the least. Everyone seems to know each other, or atleast know how to be here." a small, self-conscious smile appearing.

"Thanks" he added quietly, after a moment "For not making me feel stupid about any of this.".

The train rattled beneath them, the countryside still rolling past outside. Manal glanced outside for a moment, then looked back at her with a curious expression "So, what did your brother tell you? About hogwarts i mean. Like the stuff they don't put in the letters?"

@Olivia Cuthburt

Olivia couldn't help but chuckle at the boys lack of knowledge, he was clueless like a lost puppy. Normally Olivia wouldnt have the patience for all this, but she was in a nice mood and there's no harm in being nice.

She thought about all the things she had been told from her brother and mother, she had no idea where to begin, "Just picture a school with magic," she answered simply, "Moving portraits, moving staircases, magic lessons, flying, duels, a place where food appears on the table, great lake with many creatures inside, a forest, a sport called Qudditch," She began listing. "Basically a big old enchanted castle," she concluded, honestly she could go on and on, but she thought it would be best not to overwhelm the poor boy. There was a lot to discover and a lot of trouble to be had, Olivia just didn't know if she had met a partner in crime or if she was yet to discover that perosn or group.

Olivia glanced out the window watching the green fields fly by, as she let Manal digest all the information she had just thrown his way. After a short pause she turned her attention back to him, she was debating weather to show him some pictures that Atlas had taken, but decided against it. That would ruin the magical awe he would be in when he first sets eyes on the castle.

"Well," Olivia began once again "The first thing students are normally nervous or excited about is the sorting ceremony, you must be aware of that?" she asked.

Word count: 266
@Manal Smith

Manal listened carefully as Olivia listed everything like she was reading a grocery list - moving portraits, moving staircases, flying, and food that just appeared. His expression changing from attention to overwhelmed disbelief. By the time she finished listing out all the things, he was looking at her with widened eyes and his mouth partially open, not being able to get his thoughts arranged.

For a few seconds, he just blinked at her "That is.. a lot." he said slowly.

He let out a quiet sigh, running his hand through his hair as he sat back properly, resting his hand on his chin, thinking.

"So, just to be clear - the portraits move. Like, the people in them, so do they have normal lives like us?" he asked as a small smile appeared on his face, "And food just appears? Nobody needs to cook..? And what is quidditch? Is it like football..? And how do duels work? And what kind of creatures are in the lake??" his eyes lighting up as he asks a barrage of questions.

He opened his mouth to ask another question, then he stopped himself, "Sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck "You probably didn't think this would turn into a whole Q&A session.." he said, a small, sheepish smile appearing.

He leaned back as he heard about the sorting ceremony, it didn't sound familiar or wasn't mentioned in the letter he recieved. "Is it a test..? Please tell me it's not. I will most probably make a fool of myself if it is a test." he chuckles nervously, "What is it? The sorting thing.."

@Olivia Cuthburt

Olivia burst into laughter at Manal's questions, "You know nothing," she said in between laughter. The questions he was asking were halirious however she quickly composed herself worried she may have come across a little insensitive. After all if she put herself in a muggles shoes it must be quite scary, Manal must be finding this whole ordeal a lot harder and daunting as he knew absolutely nothing.

Olivia sat up straight fixing her hair, "The sorting ceremony isn't a test, we get called up one by one and a sorting hat is placed on our heads, it gains an understanding of you and places you into a house based on your traits," she explained. "There's four houses, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw," she added, "Dont worry there will be many more muggles so the headmaster will explain all this in further detail," she reasurred not wanting to bore him with specifics. "Lets just hope we are in the same house," she said with a smile. That would work out great as then she could help guide him through his first day and answer any other questions he may have.

" Oh by the way, food is cooked by house elves," she informed smirking, knowing this would throw Manal off even more and create further questions. Olivia felt her tummy rumble at the thought of food, she really hoped the trolley lady would come sooner rather than later.

Word count: 237
@Manal Smith