Sitting Alone

"My siblings say it's usually a pretty long trip and the train doesn't arrive until dark, but that's a bit exaggerated, it will be dark ut we'll get there around 7:00, that's what they said. They told me about one year where they didn't arrive until midnight though, the tracks were broken and the conductor didn't know so it took them 2 hours to back the train up and take a longer route. That probably won't happen again" Margaret says reassuringly. She looks at her watch "oh good, we'll actually be there soon, we only have 2 hours left that's not too long compared to the rest of the trip." Margaret smiles "and- just so you know- I think you're really good at magic, you're doing better than I did when I first started, on most of the spell."

Margaret looks out the window, she hadn't really been paying attention to the sights /scenery along the way, she had only looked out the window twice through the whole trip, the first time during that silent period where they sat on thought for a while and the second time when she wanted to see where they were so she took a look outside. She stares out the window for a while until they hear a crash on the door, presumably from the people making noise from before. She opened the door to see someone on the floor and several other wrestling around, it looked like they were just having fun so she laughed "what's going on" Margaret asked the boy on the floor. He chuckles a bit before getting up, Margaret waits for a response but isn't sure if she'll ever get one.

"That's not too bad," she said with a nod. "And you're right. If we end up going over broken tracks, that'll be the worst luck in the world." She smiled playfully. "And my luck definitely isn't that bad."

There was a pause as she glanced out the window at the rolling countryside and listened to Margaret.

"Thanks," Miranda replied sincerely. "My only problem is that it's really hard for me to remember all of the necessary wandwork and incantations." She sighed, her gaze trailing along the floor. Then she perked up. "Well, if I managed all those spells, maybe I will do okay. I mean, my memory's never been good, but maybe it'll get better."

She realized that she was being a bit optimistic, but she couldn't help it. There seemed to literally be happiness floating in the air. Alright, now I've cracked. The excitement is way too much for me, Miranda thought wryly. I sound absolutely crazy. If only Cedar could hear me now.

"I wonder what our classes will be like," Miranda said aloud, trying to distract herself. "I heard most of them are really hard." She looked over at Margaret. "And some of them actually involve science. Muggle science, of all things!"

"I don't have no idea what they'll be like but I'm sure they'll be more fun than are normal classes" she laughed. Why did I laugh that wasn't that funny, why do I keep laughing at my own jokes I'm really not that funny. Then she began to wonder if classes at Hogwarts would be harder than muggle classes or not.

She looked back out the window as something flashed by them. What was that? it seemed like some kind of winged creature, it didn't look as if it was touching the ground but just s she turned to look out the window to see what it was another one flashed by, looking as if it was trying to chase the other one. "What is that?" Margaret asked, turning her head toward Miranda, hoping she would know. After she said it she immediately felt stupid, it was like one of those times when you and another person are watching a movie for the first time and you ask what happened and they say "I don't know we're both watching this at the same thing, for the first time." She felt so stupid but she still hoped that maybe Miranda might have known more than she did.

Miranda wrinkled her nose in thought. "Probably harder," she finally decided. "This is magic, after all. It won't be too easy."

She then noticed that Margaret was watching something outside of the window, and twisted to look, just in time to see something white flash past.

"What is that?" Margaret asked, but Miranda didn't answer for a long moment as she tried to match the glimpse she'd caught to anything she'd seen before.

"I have no idea," she finally answered. "I didn't see enough of it. It was too fast."

Strange, her mind murmured. What would be moving through the muggle hillside? Is it some muggle's toy plane, or is it some kind of magical creature? It looked like it was flying...

She furrowed her brow as she continued to wonder about the strange thought. "Still nothing. It looked like it was flying, but I can't be a hundred percent sure..." Miranda sighed. I hate being useless. Isn't that why I read so many books? So that I can help others? Well, fantastic job I'm doing with that.

"I wonder if any of the other students got a clearer view," she said, glancing towards the compartment door. "We could ask them...I mean, if you'd like to." Although then we'd have to head out into that racket, she thought with a wince.

"Yeah, it probably doesn't matter too much what it was but I have to admit I am curious." Why do I care so much what it was. It won't make a difference whether or not I know. Then I remembered a quote I heard in a book about great wizards of the past that said "curiosity is not a sin (and then some one's name that I couldn't remember) but you should exercise caution." I guess it couldn't hurt to know, I don't think this is one of those instances where caution should be exercised.

"I'll go out into the ruckus if you don't want to go out into whatever is going on outside. I can just come back and tell you if you'd like" Margaret offers, rummaging through her suitcase to find her robes. There was probably a restroom on the train she could use to change into her robes while she asked her siblings on the train if they saw it. Even if no one else knows what that thing was at least I'll get a chance to talk to my siblings, see how they're doing and change into my robes.

Margaret stepped out of the train compartment, not knowing if Miranda might fallow her out or if she would rather stay in the compartment. Margaret wouldn't mind the company or mind being alone for a bit while she walked to the next compartment to ask Lizzy and Jase if they had seen it close enough. She would be happy either way (having company or being alone for a bit).

Miranda shot another look at the door. "Well, if you don't mind...I'd probably rather stay in here." She winced. "I don't really like noise. You know, at all."

She watched as Margaret stepped out, peering past her to see other students running up and down the hall. Well aren't they mature, she thought sarcastically. I guess there'll always be those few. Miranda sighed, and reached over to slide the door shut behind her friend (?).

The sudden quiet was almost overwhelming, compared to the noise earlier. She could still hear muffled thumps and raised voices, but none of them sounded louder than a whisper. This is nice. A little too quiet, though. I miss Margaret. Miranda was surprised by this. Excluding Cedar, she'd never had another friend. Well, another human friend.

It was nice, she supposed. To know that she wouldn't be lonely for the entire school year. And who knows, Miranda thought. Maybe I'll find more people like me who I could be friends with once we reach the school. Somehow, she found herself even more excited to finish the train ride. It helped that she wasn't distracted by her conversation with Margaret anymore, which was either a bad thing or a good thing, she couldn't quite tell.

(Also, do you mind if I list you as a friend on my encyclopedia page?)

(Of course, you can list me as a friend )
Margaret comes back, in her robes "they think it was just an owl but someone believes it may have been a griffin." Margaret smiles.

She sits down on the seat "it doesn't matter too much but I guess it was just nice to know." I think we'll be arriving at Hogwarts soon. Margaret said excitedly "I can't wait for the first day... What first-year class are you looking forward to most?"

After Margaret wonders what will be the most interesting class for her after asking that question. Probably potions or charms, it really could be any class I guess, I won't know until I've tried them. Well, actually I don't think I'll like astronomy very much. I might like it but it definitely won't be my favorite, actually, it might be I guess I should keep all options open. I already knew Miranda's favorite of all classes would be Care of Magical Creatures but I didn't know which first-year class she was most excited for.

Then Margaret started to wonder what the classes would be like, she knew what classes she would have just not what they would be like. She realized she wondering off and tried to get back on track but usually when she trailed off it was hard to find her way back. She hoped it might be easy talking to Miranda was both fun and interesting and she hoped that would be enough to stay on the path.

Margaret notices that it is now fairly dark outside. She expects that they will soon be at Hogwarts.

(I'm moving to second year, mostly because my RL brother wants to join this site, and he'll be playing Cedar (who is listed as a year younger than me) What about you ?)

"Well, of the first year classes, the one I'd have to be looking forwards to the most is...hmm." Miranda paused, her brow furrowing in thought. "Probably Defense Against the Dark Arts. Mainly because it doesn't involve too much in the way of magic and spells, but is mostly about the dark arts. Not that I'm interested in the dark arts!" she added hurriedly. "It's just that I want to know how to fight them. And uh, how to keep dark creatures at bay. Well, the evil dark creatures anyways." Her mouth abruptly snapped shut, like she'd said too much, and a flicker of pain flashed across her face. "Just to make sure they don't, you know, attack any other innocent people."

Did I say too much, she wondered, trying to decode Margaret's expression. Did she guess? Oh dear, I don't know what I'll do if she did. I think I can trust her, but I'm not sure...I shouldn't risk it. At least, not yet.

"Sorry, I know that's a hopeful aspiration, but I can't help it. I've seen, uh, too many victims of things...like that."

(I won't be moving up but I will be changing my profile to look more like my profile description. If we are in different years are we going to roleplay as people in different years or are we as now, just to clarify?)

"The Dark Arts sounds like fun and don't worry I didn't think you were planning anything or you were evil or anything, I totally understand. You don't have to worry, even if you weren't you seem nice enough I wouldn't worry" Margaret smiles reassuringly.

Wait... was that weird to say. Does she think that I think I suspect her of something now... I don't oh no I don't want to seem like that kind of person.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that. I meant you don't seem like a person who would do something that evil." Margaret tries to laugh it off.

Am I making things better or worse, jeez I'm just being so weird. Margaret couldn't tell how Miranda was feeling about this comment, she just hoped she wasn't judging or thinking I was weird or thinking I was a suspicious freak or anything. Margaret felt so bad and so stupid. I hoped I didn't seem mean or weird. I began to wonder if I had ruined everything.

(I think we're supposed to roleplay according to our official years, but if you don't want to, I can pretend Miranda's still in first)

"Thanks," Miranda said, her smiled returning. "And just for the record, I don't think you're evil either."

I'm glad Margaret didn't realize. She doesn't look all that suspicious, but I'm not exactly the best at reading expressions. Although... her thoughts trailed off into silence, and instead she occupied herself by watching the window.

"I think we're getting close to the school!" Miranda suddenly exclaimed, leaning towards the glass. It was definitely darker out, and the rolling hills had become rockier without her noticing. She grimaced, wishing she'd thought to bring a watch. She'd never had much use for one before, at home, but it was different now that she would have to be places at a certain time, not just whenever she wished.

I wonder what happens once we get there, Miranda thought. Mother mentioned a "Sorting Hat", but she didn't explain what it was, other than that it somehow places is in our houses. I bet you have to do something to it, and then everyone can obviously tell your house. I have so many questions! I should have Mother some of them, even if she was acting even grumpier than normal during the ride to the station! She sighed, but couldn't keep the smile off of her face for long.