A Return Journey
Reducio
Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, 10:30 am
Platform 9 3/4, London
Platform 9 3/4, London
Stephen walks through the doors of King's Cross Station with his parents, excited and a bit nervous to be starting his second first year at Hogwarts. After falling seriously ill over the winter holiday last year, Stephen couldn't return to his studies, but he has fully recovered and is now excited to start a new year at Hogwarts.
Stephen keeps his eyes on his trunk as he and his parents navigate the platforms of King's Cross until they reach the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. His mother looks over at him, noticing the look of worry and apprehension on his face. "Dear, is everything alright?" Stephen starts at her words, looking over at her with a slightly lost look in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm quite alright, just..." He pauses, searching for the right words. "Nervous; it's going to be weird going back as a first year. All of the friends I made last year will be in different classes from me now, so it's almost like starting over." His mother looks down at him; a look of compassionate understanding graces her face. "It won't be that bad, dear; you will still see your friends from last year, and there will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with them. This is a perfect opportunity to make new friends. Based on your letters from last year, it might be nice for you to expand your circle of friends a bit." Stephen blushes a bit, remembering that he didn't really have a lot of time last year to make many friends, and most of the ones he did make he hasn't heard from in quite a while. "Yeah... maybe you're right." They approach the barrier, making sure to look around for nearby muggles before stepping through onto Platform 9 3/4.
Stephen turns to his parents, smiling sheepishly. "I should probably go and find a compartment; maybe this year someone will join me." Stephen gives his mum and dad a hug before he sets off for the train, looking back only once before he embarks. He navigates the close corridors of the train, passing some familiar faces and many unfamiliar ones before he finds a free compartment. Sliding in, he finds himself a seat by the window, his backpack beside him, and his cat Lobelia curled up on his lap.
Reducio
WC 389
Last edited by Stephen Ross on 19 Sep 2026, 21:39, edited 1 time in total.
A Return Journey
Millicent Barnes walked up to Platform 9 and 3/4, her hands shaking and her nerves feeling like they were set on fire.
Finally. I'm at Hogwarts. And I can't even tell if I'm dreading it or looking forward to it.
Millicent then looked back and the vice around her heart only served to tighten.
Her parents looked at her with teary eyes. Agnes looked about two seconds away from throwing a toddler-like fit, even though she was eight.
I have to be brave. For them.
Her parents hugged her immediately after and it felt suddenly heavy, like she was feeling the weight of them leaving. Her leaving.
"Please be safe, Millie," her dad said.
Her mom nodded against her and the young girl could feel tears staining her new robes. "Please. Owl us as often as possible."
Millicent smiled weakly. "You hate owls."
"Not if they're from you."
She could barely hold her tears back now, especially when Agnes came for an embrace, her small hands clasping Millicent's robes.
"Send us letters and magical things," Agnes pleaded and their parents' eyes went wide. "I want to go to Hogwarts, too."
Millicent gave her a smile. "Maybe one day, lil sis," she said and hugged her back tightly.
Their parents gave her the bags she needed and she felt herself almost topple with the weight of them; so many books! But she gave them one last grin and went off.
She set her bags down almost immediately and then, out of the corner of her eye, saw a boy with a cat in his lap. She grinned and immediately called out,
"Hi! What's your name? I'm Millicent. I love your cat!"
She stopped and then began to ramble, as she usually did when she was nervous.
"Well, I love all cats, but yours is very pretty! Are you a first year like me? What do you think of Hogwarts if you've been here before?
Finally. I'm at Hogwarts. And I can't even tell if I'm dreading it or looking forward to it.
Millicent then looked back and the vice around her heart only served to tighten.
Her parents looked at her with teary eyes. Agnes looked about two seconds away from throwing a toddler-like fit, even though she was eight.
I have to be brave. For them.
Her parents hugged her immediately after and it felt suddenly heavy, like she was feeling the weight of them leaving. Her leaving.
"Please be safe, Millie," her dad said.
Her mom nodded against her and the young girl could feel tears staining her new robes. "Please. Owl us as often as possible."
Millicent smiled weakly. "You hate owls."
"Not if they're from you."
She could barely hold her tears back now, especially when Agnes came for an embrace, her small hands clasping Millicent's robes.
"Send us letters and magical things," Agnes pleaded and their parents' eyes went wide. "I want to go to Hogwarts, too."
Millicent gave her a smile. "Maybe one day, lil sis," she said and hugged her back tightly.
Their parents gave her the bags she needed and she felt herself almost topple with the weight of them; so many books! But she gave them one last grin and went off.
She set her bags down almost immediately and then, out of the corner of her eye, saw a boy with a cat in his lap. She grinned and immediately called out,
"Hi! What's your name? I'm Millicent. I love your cat!"
She stopped and then began to ramble, as she usually did when she was nervous.
"Well, I love all cats, but yours is very pretty! Are you a first year like me? What do you think of Hogwarts if you've been here before?
A Return Journey
Reducio
@Millicent Barnes
I start at the sudden sound of another person in the compartment, a first-year girl, who introduced herself as Millicent; she introduced herself, quickly rambling a bit in her excitement. "Oh, hello there. Nice to meet you, Millicent; my name is Stephen." he pauses for a second, contemplating his words. "This is Lobelia, my cat; she's quite friendly. As far as being a first year, it is kind of a yes and no on that front." Stephen blushes slightly before continuing. "I am a first year, but this isn't exactly my first time going to Hogwarts. I was a first year last year, but I fell pretty seriously ill over the winter holiday and couldn't return to school. I've made a full recovery, so I am back now. I'm a Ravenclaw, by the way. What house are you hoping to be sorted into?" His words peter off as he realizes he's been talking a bit too much; he is just excited to have someone to share this journey to Hogwarts with. Stephen absentmindedly strokes Lobelia, his hairless Silver Mackerel Tabby cat. Unable to help himself, he asks. "Are there any subjects you're keen to explore this year? My favorite subjects are by far Astronomy, Transfiguration, and Charms."
Reducio
WC 207
A Return Journey
Millicent eagerly listened to the other Hogwarts student, wincing in sympathy as he told her about his illness.
That must have been hard. I wonder what he got sick with?
"Well, nice to meet you, Stephen!" Millicent answered, sitting next to him with a plop! "And it's nice to meet you too, Lobelia!" She reached out for the cat, who leaned into the touch, purring. She grinned.
"I have honestly no idea what house I want. I'm thinking Hufflepuff and honestly," she lowered her voice, "no offense, I don't want to be sorted into Slytherin. I think they'd eat me alive. I'm not cunning at all. But that's amazing that you're in Ravenclaw! Do you like it and do you feel like it suits you?"
Millicent then paused for a moment, thinking it over. "I'm also just wrapping my brain around the fact that a place like Hogwarts exists. My family didn't really talk about magic, and they still don't like talking about it, which is understandable, but... hard."
Millicent then remembered his other question. "I think I'm excited for Care of Magical Creatures. But I heard that's later in the years so I'm a little disappointed by that. What's interesting about Astronomy, Transfiguration and Charms?"
That must have been hard. I wonder what he got sick with?
"Well, nice to meet you, Stephen!" Millicent answered, sitting next to him with a plop! "And it's nice to meet you too, Lobelia!" She reached out for the cat, who leaned into the touch, purring. She grinned.
"I have honestly no idea what house I want. I'm thinking Hufflepuff and honestly," she lowered her voice, "no offense, I don't want to be sorted into Slytherin. I think they'd eat me alive. I'm not cunning at all. But that's amazing that you're in Ravenclaw! Do you like it and do you feel like it suits you?"
Millicent then paused for a moment, thinking it over. "I'm also just wrapping my brain around the fact that a place like Hogwarts exists. My family didn't really talk about magic, and they still don't like talking about it, which is understandable, but... hard."
Millicent then remembered his other question. "I think I'm excited for Care of Magical Creatures. But I heard that's later in the years so I'm a little disappointed by that. What's interesting about Astronomy, Transfiguration and Charms?"
A Return Journey
Reducio
@Millicent Barnes
Stephen listens as Millicent talks about the house she thinks best suited for her, when she asks him what he thinks about his sorting he replies. "Oh, I think my sorting was spot on, I have always been a curious kid, I've loved learning ever since I was young, my gran loves to tell anyone who will listen, how I was able to list all of the planets in our solar system in order before I even began primary school, I've always had a fascination with the night sky, and when I started my lessons last year and got to study the night sky and how the timings and alignments of the planets can effect certain types of magical practices, I was enthralled." Stephen listened as Millicent explained a bit about her upbringing and how there was little magic even discussed. "Are you muggle-born then? I'm a half-blood myself, my da is a wizard, but mum is a muggle." Before they could go into much detail about her family, Millicent changes the topic, circling back around to a question Stephen had asked earlier. "Magical Creatures? Yeah, I believe that is an elective class, I don't think we can start taking any of those until third year. As far as Transfiguration, it is by far my favorite subject, using magic to change one thing into another, it is a bit of a complicated subject though. Charms however is a lot of fun, the professor knows how to keep younger kids entertained and each class is bound to give you a lot to talk about." The train rattles on as the two of them continue chatting.
Reducio
WC 274
A Return Journey
Millicent found her new friend Stephen to be fascinating; who could name all the planets before primary school?
Apparently he can! she thought, with a wave of admiration. Then she remembered his earlier question and her spirits felt a little deflated.
"I'm not Muggle-born, no. Long story short, my mom's a witch but didn't tell us for a long time." Stephen looked at her with concern, so she went on. "Magic has kind of been the... taboo subject in my family for a long time. It's only been recently, when I got my Hogwarts acceptance letter, that they've been more open about it and to it. I think that's part of why I'm so interested in magic; I want to know more about it and understand it. I don't want to just fear it anymore."
She then remembered what he had said about being a Ravenclaw and smiled. "It sounds like the Sorting Hat did right by you. I still wonder what house I'll be in, but I suppose we'll see the right fit."
As they continued on in conversation, Millicent found herself increasingly at ease with the Ravenclaw and spoke up about it.
"Would you-want to be friends after this? We may not be in the same house, but I think you're pretty nice."
Apparently he can! she thought, with a wave of admiration. Then she remembered his earlier question and her spirits felt a little deflated.
"I'm not Muggle-born, no. Long story short, my mom's a witch but didn't tell us for a long time." Stephen looked at her with concern, so she went on. "Magic has kind of been the... taboo subject in my family for a long time. It's only been recently, when I got my Hogwarts acceptance letter, that they've been more open about it and to it. I think that's part of why I'm so interested in magic; I want to know more about it and understand it. I don't want to just fear it anymore."
She then remembered what he had said about being a Ravenclaw and smiled. "It sounds like the Sorting Hat did right by you. I still wonder what house I'll be in, but I suppose we'll see the right fit."
As they continued on in conversation, Millicent found herself increasingly at ease with the Ravenclaw and spoke up about it.
"Would you-want to be friends after this? We may not be in the same house, but I think you're pretty nice."