27 Aug 2021, 01:22
Through it?
Fiona had hardly slept the night before. How was she expected to sleep at a time like this? There was so much excitement swirling around in her immediate memories of the last month. Fiona discovered that she was a Witch. Her parents aren't, but there was either a Witch or a Wizard somewhere in her family. A professor had delivered her Hogwarts letter to her in person, along with explaining to her what it means to be Witch and how well-known this school was. Not only did Fiona feel privileged, she felt grateful. She was grateful that she had talents and gifts that could help people. She could do more for her community back home; she could help her parents and her family too. Fiona was a helper; time would tell what kind of things she would get caught up in because of it.
The Sun had been up for nearly an hour, and Fiona had already been packed and ready. She felt hungry but too nervous to eat. You see, when she is nervous or stressed, she held tension in her gut. Which usually led to her feeling sick to her stomach most of the time. By the time Fiona's parents had woken up, she had already had done her best to eat breakfast. They had stayed the night at the Leaky Cauldron, and now it was off to King's Cross station to catch the train to school. Though she was reassured and guided through the entrance process of making it onto the platform, she still felt hesitant. She looked at the ticket in her hand " Platform 9 3/4. How is that a thing?" she thought to herself. Fiona remained fixated on Platform 9 3/4 the duration of the journey to get to the station. Once at the station, her attention shifted to finding that platform.
The family weaved through the stream of other families and visitors at the station. Katherine, Fiona's mother, had her hair up in her blonde curly ponytail that danced every time she moved. With her shape, dark blue eyes darting in every direction, looking for directions to the platform. Fiona's father, Samuel, towered over both women. Fiona's father was exceptionally tall. Samuel was nearly six foot four and built like a house. He looked half-giant compared to his wife and daughter. Though he looked the part, he was actually a muggle historian and conservation specialist. Fiona got most of her looks from her father. His thick auburn hair, the hazel eyes, and the general thirst for knowledge, particularly when it came to botany. The family held onto each other's jacket hoods as they walked through the crowds to the destination. The destination was the brick pillar between platforms nine and ten. The family found a vacant area near the pillar, where they stood holding all of Fiona's things. Her mother had been pushing the metal cart that held most of Fiona's heavy belongings. Her father had been navigating it with his arms while carrying one of Fiona's bags. Fiona also carried a smaller bag that she kept snacks and a book.
Fiona dumbfoundedly stared at the stone pillar. From there, she looked at the platform signs. First platform nine and the over to platform ten. She did this a few times. She then lowered her eyes to see if she could see someone else do this before she even attempted to make a fool of herself.
The Sun had been up for nearly an hour, and Fiona had already been packed and ready. She felt hungry but too nervous to eat. You see, when she is nervous or stressed, she held tension in her gut. Which usually led to her feeling sick to her stomach most of the time. By the time Fiona's parents had woken up, she had already had done her best to eat breakfast. They had stayed the night at the Leaky Cauldron, and now it was off to King's Cross station to catch the train to school. Though she was reassured and guided through the entrance process of making it onto the platform, she still felt hesitant. She looked at the ticket in her hand " Platform 9 3/4. How is that a thing?" she thought to herself. Fiona remained fixated on Platform 9 3/4 the duration of the journey to get to the station. Once at the station, her attention shifted to finding that platform.
The family weaved through the stream of other families and visitors at the station. Katherine, Fiona's mother, had her hair up in her blonde curly ponytail that danced every time she moved. With her shape, dark blue eyes darting in every direction, looking for directions to the platform. Fiona's father, Samuel, towered over both women. Fiona's father was exceptionally tall. Samuel was nearly six foot four and built like a house. He looked half-giant compared to his wife and daughter. Though he looked the part, he was actually a muggle historian and conservation specialist. Fiona got most of her looks from her father. His thick auburn hair, the hazel eyes, and the general thirst for knowledge, particularly when it came to botany. The family held onto each other's jacket hoods as they walked through the crowds to the destination. The destination was the brick pillar between platforms nine and ten. The family found a vacant area near the pillar, where they stood holding all of Fiona's things. Her mother had been pushing the metal cart that held most of Fiona's heavy belongings. Her father had been navigating it with his arms while carrying one of Fiona's bags. Fiona also carried a smaller bag that she kept snacks and a book.
Fiona dumbfoundedly stared at the stone pillar. From there, she looked at the platform signs. First platform nine and the over to platform ten. She did this a few times. She then lowered her eyes to see if she could see someone else do this before she even attempted to make a fool of herself.
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
27 Aug 2021, 03:06
Through it?
Excitement. It buzzed through the air like electricity, and Paige was the power source. She was extremely happy to be heading back to Hogwarts. It's not that she wanted to leave her family, not really. She just really loved her school, and she missed her best friend, Henry Knight. They had chatted using owls, but Paige wanted to see his face, to hear his voice.
However, she hadn't actually spent the whole summer with her family. She was at Hogwarts summer camp. But she didn't go inside the school, so she technically hasn't been to Hogwarts since last year. The little time she did spend with her family was... so boring. Not to mention the diapers she had to change for her baby brother.
It wasn't something she would miss. She walked with her familiy at the train station, not beleiving today had finally come. It felt like last night lasted years. Years and years. But it didn't. She remembered last year, when she was terrified to run into a wall. But it had soon turn to courage, because she had rushed at it.
This time, she was happy to see the bricks. She walked up, and saw another girl there. Her first thought was that she was a muggle. Great. She would have to wait until she left so she could walk into a wall.
But then she heard the magic words... magic being the key word. "9 and 3/4" Yup. She was a witch, a muggle born like Paige, presumedly.
Paige walked up. "Hi! You looking for platform 93/4? You found it pretty well, last year I nearly got lost. Numbers aren't my thing. But anyways, don't worry. You just go through the bricks! It's not solid, don't worry. It's like a gate, it's between certain times, then it closes. Anyways, I've talked too much now. " She looked at the girl. "Oh, I'm Paige by the way."
@Fiona Sheehan
27 Aug 2021, 03:57
Through it?
Fiona felt that she was holding someone up behind her as she looked forward at the pillar, then she heard a voice from beside her. Hi! You looking for platform 93/4? Fiona turned her head to see who was talking to her. Her heart had skipped a beat when she heard someone else say the number out loud. " So it is a thing?" Fiona asked. It was a young girl who had come up beside her. Fiona listened intentionally to everything the girl told her. You go through the bricks! Fiona could feel her eyes widen and her face contort. What the girl was telling her was no different than what she had already been told, but the concept of the action still outweighed the rationality. " You just...walkthrough? I don't need to tap some magic bricks or anything?" Fiona asked half-jokingly with a breathy sigh. There was a part of Fiona that still felt like this was all a scam or a dream. None of the last month or so had felt normal. Yet, at the same time, she felt compelled to learn and explore more.
Her hazel eyes darted between the girl and the pillar. The girl had introduced herself as Paige, and Paige seemed to know what she was talking about. Fiona looked back at her parents for reassurance. Her dad gave her his best beats-me-kid look, and her mother contorted her face to make an over-emphasized frown, also known as the beats-me look. Swinging her head back to face the girl. " Hey, I'm Fiona." she replied. "Yeah, sorry. This is my first time doing this." she continued to explain. "Like, straight down the middle? O, do I have to lean to a certain side? Do I run at it? Or should I walk?" She began to ask. Sometimes when Fiona feels a bit overwhelmed, she talks faster than normal. This also makes her a bit more breathy, and this instance was no exception. The energy around the two girls amplified the heightened anxiety that Fiona felt within herself. She wasn't sure how magical folk reacted to people who were muggle-born. From what the professor who had come to her house to explain all of this had mentioned, some people believe in a class and hierarchy within the magical community. Fiona had generally been accepted into most groups that she had attended in her muggle school but this was an entirely new world. She didn't want to mention that she was muggle-born, so she felt mentioning that it was her first time at the station.
This was also a new sensation for Fiona, which was embarrassing. Of course, she has felt embarrassed before, but this felt different. She felt embarrassed that she only found out about her lineage and family history, a month ago. Granted she had done some wandless magic prior to this, but it was all very subtle stuff. Like being a great gardener. It wasn't like the cauldron incident at school, where she made a small vintage cauldron float in mid-air.
Her hazel eyes darted between the girl and the pillar. The girl had introduced herself as Paige, and Paige seemed to know what she was talking about. Fiona looked back at her parents for reassurance. Her dad gave her his best beats-me-kid look, and her mother contorted her face to make an over-emphasized frown, also known as the beats-me look. Swinging her head back to face the girl. " Hey, I'm Fiona." she replied. "Yeah, sorry. This is my first time doing this." she continued to explain. "Like, straight down the middle? O, do I have to lean to a certain side? Do I run at it? Or should I walk?" She began to ask. Sometimes when Fiona feels a bit overwhelmed, she talks faster than normal. This also makes her a bit more breathy, and this instance was no exception. The energy around the two girls amplified the heightened anxiety that Fiona felt within herself. She wasn't sure how magical folk reacted to people who were muggle-born. From what the professor who had come to her house to explain all of this had mentioned, some people believe in a class and hierarchy within the magical community. Fiona had generally been accepted into most groups that she had attended in her muggle school but this was an entirely new world. She didn't want to mention that she was muggle-born, so she felt mentioning that it was her first time at the station.
This was also a new sensation for Fiona, which was embarrassing. Of course, she has felt embarrassed before, but this felt different. She felt embarrassed that she only found out about her lineage and family history, a month ago. Granted she had done some wandless magic prior to this, but it was all very subtle stuff. Like being a great gardener. It wasn't like the cauldron incident at school, where she made a small vintage cauldron float in mid-air.
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
27 Aug 2021, 04:34
Through it?
"Yup! It's not a trick or anything, if that's what you're thinking." Turning to look at the wall, she spoke remembering her first time here. "I sure thought it was trick. However, I still wanted to run into it, because it felt like a dare." The girl before definitely seemed the age of a first-year, and gave off some nice vibes. Paige wanted to bet she would be a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff, hopefully. Paige shook her head. "Nope, but if you want to do some silly tap dancing with another brick wall, go for it."
Paige watched the young girl look to her parents, as if for support. Paige gave the girl's parents a a big grin. The smile totally said "Don't worry, your daughter is gonna be just fine." Paige looked towards her parents, who had been here before last year. Her father stood awkwardly as her mother fussed with the baby. Her brother kept throwing food and yelling "NO". Paige raised an eyebrow. The girl, Fiona, turned herself back to Paige, which is when she introduced herself. She gestured to Fiona's parents. "I'm guessing you're a muggle-born like me?"
"No worries. I've been here before, I'll answer any questions!" She was happy to be of help in any case, and felt powerful. However, with great power comes great responsibility. The girl launched questions and Paige, and Paige was taken back. "Okay, okay. Just go right through it... I suggest running since it's your first time." She remembered back to her first time.
"tell you what, I'll go first and you watch. I'll wait for you on the other side." She grabbed her things."Kay?" Then she took a few steps, pushing her cart. She ran to the bricks, and bounced back. "Ahhh!" She pretended to stumble backward and fall. She then got up, and winked at the girl, brushing herself. "Just messing." Then she ran into the bricks. Through the barrier.
27 Aug 2021, 18:13
Through it?
" Okay, she seems to be genuine," Fiona spoke to herself. Her hazel eyes glanced from the girl to her family. "Cute baby, oh..maybe not." Fiona thought to herself as she witnessed what it was like to have a sibling. Fiona is an only child, at least as of right now. She had always wondered if her parents wanted to have another kid and often thought about how it would look and feel to have a sibling. The girl did seem genuine. She flashed Fiona's parents a reassuring smile, which helped Fiona feel more at ease as well. Perhaps it was her young naivety or her unbridled optimism, but Fiona often believed a kid to be foolish and try to lie to an adult. She was honest to a flaw. The girl had mentioned, "... if you want to do some silly tap dancing with another brick wall, go for it." but Fiona wasn't feeling wildly comfortable with making that much of a fool of herself. " That's alright, I can walk." Fiona assured the girl.
The girl moved forward to show Fiona how it's done. This was it, the moment of truth. What was going to happen? Would muggles see them? Would it let a muggle through? How are Fiona's parents going to get through? These thoughts swirled around in Fiona's mind while she watched the girl walk towards the pillar with her belongings. Fiona raised her index finger to her face to prevent her mouth from contorting or moving in any way. The girl pushed her cart into the bricks, and for a moment, she got pushed back. The shock and terror ran like ice through Fiona's blood. She imagined her heart just stopped. As Fiona's voice was about to catch up with her disbelief, the girl laughed and readjusted herself while walking directly through the middle of the pillar. Fiona felt like her world zoomed out and then shrunk.
The stones blended into the girl as she pushed forward, and she blended into them. Fiona's breath escaped her as she whipped her head back at her parents to validate what she had just seen. "She went right through. She really did. I, don't....what?" She spoke to herself. As nervous as she was, Fiona silently appealed to her parents for their approval to go through the portal. With their reassuring gaze, Fiona turned back to face the pillar, and with a breath of excitement and hesitation, Fiona walked forward into the center of the pillar. As she walked through the portal, she felt the contrasting air between the wizarding and muggle worlds. The wizarding world already felt so much warmer but in a comforting manner. Fiona could feel the rush of air blowing past her ears, muffling them to the transitional sound of the two platforms. The two scenes blended seamlessly before her, and right in front of her with that big smile was the girl who went through.
" THAT'S GRAND!" exclaimed Fiona. She rushed out of the corridor and in front of the girl. Through the entire transaction and transition, Fiona had forgotten the girl's name. Or had she? "Paige, I think. Penny? No, it's Paige...definitely Paige." she questioned to herself. " Thanks" Fiona paused for a moment to reassure herself of the girl's name before she spoke "Paige." she continued. "That was absolutely batshit."
The girl moved forward to show Fiona how it's done. This was it, the moment of truth. What was going to happen? Would muggles see them? Would it let a muggle through? How are Fiona's parents going to get through? These thoughts swirled around in Fiona's mind while she watched the girl walk towards the pillar with her belongings. Fiona raised her index finger to her face to prevent her mouth from contorting or moving in any way. The girl pushed her cart into the bricks, and for a moment, she got pushed back. The shock and terror ran like ice through Fiona's blood. She imagined her heart just stopped. As Fiona's voice was about to catch up with her disbelief, the girl laughed and readjusted herself while walking directly through the middle of the pillar. Fiona felt like her world zoomed out and then shrunk.
The stones blended into the girl as she pushed forward, and she blended into them. Fiona's breath escaped her as she whipped her head back at her parents to validate what she had just seen. "She went right through. She really did. I, don't....what?" She spoke to herself. As nervous as she was, Fiona silently appealed to her parents for their approval to go through the portal. With their reassuring gaze, Fiona turned back to face the pillar, and with a breath of excitement and hesitation, Fiona walked forward into the center of the pillar. As she walked through the portal, she felt the contrasting air between the wizarding and muggle worlds. The wizarding world already felt so much warmer but in a comforting manner. Fiona could feel the rush of air blowing past her ears, muffling them to the transitional sound of the two platforms. The two scenes blended seamlessly before her, and right in front of her with that big smile was the girl who went through.
" THAT'S GRAND!" exclaimed Fiona. She rushed out of the corridor and in front of the girl. Through the entire transaction and transition, Fiona had forgotten the girl's name. Or had she? "Paige, I think. Penny? No, it's Paige...definitely Paige." she questioned to herself. " Thanks" Fiona paused for a moment to reassure herself of the girl's name before she spoke "Paige." she continued. "That was absolutely batshit."
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
27 Aug 2021, 19:13
Through it?
A raised eyebrow. "Okay. No tap dancing?" The girl seemed to nervous for jokes, and Paige couldn't understand that. Jokes were awesome, it was always the right time for jokes, no matter how nervous one is! Laughter is the way to live!
After a few minutes, Paige found herself running through the barrier, smiling. She felt a woosh, as if a sudden burst of wind had hit, but instead she stepped forward into a whole other place. The wizarding world. She was here, even if she wasn't at Hogwarts yet. She smiled as she looked around, and saw people hugging parents and running to greet friends. She stood on her toes, searching for any friend of hers... but found none. She suddenly remembered Fiona, and she moved out of the way just in time for the girl to come through. Paige looked at the awe on the girl's face, and laughed.
"Welcome to the wizarding world, my friend." Through the chatter, laughter, and the steam from the train, you could hear owls and cats. It was chaos in the eyes of a muggle, insane maybe. But to her, it was beautiful. She held her hands on her hips. " Isn't this amazing?" she looked at the girl to see how she was handling this.
She laughed at the girl's comment. "Batshit... crazy?" Paige offered. "crazy awesome?" She smiled at the girl. "Anyways, this is the Hogwarts Express! Dun dun duuuun!" Paige stepped back a few steps and held out her arms towards the train, as if to say ta daaaa!" She stood like that for a few awkward seconds before walking back to her cart. Her cat sniffed the air, and flicked her ears. "Do you hear the other cats?"
She looked around. "Can you see or hear or smell Loki? I can't find Henry, and his cat would be with him obviously..." Her cat licked her paw. "Guess not." Paige looked around. If this place wasn't so crowded, she would be able to track Henry's sent. The perks of a werewolf. Unfortunately, there were so many things to smell that it would cover up anything.
She turned to the girl. "So? Thoughts? Questions?"
@Fiona Sheehan
29 Aug 2021, 15:34
Through it?
Fiona could feel her smile expand further and further as she heard Paige say ' Welcome to the Wizarding world, my friend.' A breath of warm comfort settled in the pit of Fiona's stomach. Completely replacing the previous feelings of anxiety that had once been there. The chattering, bustling, and general noise of the platform seemed to become a dull buzz in her ears. She was here, the wizarding world and she knew that nothing will ever feel as good at this. Fiona continued to move aside from the portal she had just come through to center herself closer to Paige as she continued to ask 'Isn't it amazing?'
"Absolutely batshit." She replied. "Yeah, crazy. Sorry, it's something me and my friend Andrea say." Fiona explained. Fiona's eyes felt like they were in a dream but she knew she wasn't. This was all too incredible to be a dream, for she didn't think she would be creative enough to create this kind of magic in her head on her own. There were cats, and owls hooting and meowing. There were kids running around laughing and parents chatting and the occasional clashing of two metal carts.
Fiona looked back at Paige and responded " Oh, I have about a million questions, mate." Just then she thought to herself "I hope that my parents can get through. Don't worry Fiona, I doubt you're in any danger. Just relax."Fiona looked back at the pillar to see the parents walk through the entrance of the platform and releasing a smile to her parents as she watched them walk through and into the next stage of her life. Once the parents were all on the platform Fiona's father spoke to her " Well. Interesting. Say, how about you two girls chat for a bit while yer mother and I go speak to whoever's in charge. To make sure we have our bearings. " As her parents walk away with her belongings, she faced Paige with a wild-eyed smile. " So my first question is, how is any of this real? Every single day for the last week or so, I've seen things that don't make any sense. Some things that make total sense and then I just walk through a wall into another dimension." Fiona takes a beat. "I'm just really trying to process all of it." She continued. She raised her hands a bit to gesture as she spoke. " Thanks for helping. Honestly, it would have taken me much longer to go through on my own."
@Paige Grant
"Absolutely batshit." She replied. "Yeah, crazy. Sorry, it's something me and my friend Andrea say." Fiona explained. Fiona's eyes felt like they were in a dream but she knew she wasn't. This was all too incredible to be a dream, for she didn't think she would be creative enough to create this kind of magic in her head on her own. There were cats, and owls hooting and meowing. There were kids running around laughing and parents chatting and the occasional clashing of two metal carts.
Fiona looked back at Paige and responded " Oh, I have about a million questions, mate." Just then she thought to herself "I hope that my parents can get through. Don't worry Fiona, I doubt you're in any danger. Just relax."Fiona looked back at the pillar to see the parents walk through the entrance of the platform and releasing a smile to her parents as she watched them walk through and into the next stage of her life. Once the parents were all on the platform Fiona's father spoke to her " Well. Interesting. Say, how about you two girls chat for a bit while yer mother and I go speak to whoever's in charge. To make sure we have our bearings. " As her parents walk away with her belongings, she faced Paige with a wild-eyed smile. " So my first question is, how is any of this real? Every single day for the last week or so, I've seen things that don't make any sense. Some things that make total sense and then I just walk through a wall into another dimension." Fiona takes a beat. "I'm just really trying to process all of it." She continued. She raised her hands a bit to gesture as she spoke. " Thanks for helping. Honestly, it would have taken me much longer to go through on my own."
@Paige Grant
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
20 Sep 2021, 02:14
Through it?
Paige took a breath. "A million questions? Gosh, Fiona, you're a curious girl. If I didn't know better, I would say you're fit for a Ravenclaw. But I get Hufflepuff vibes from you, to be honest. I'll just cross my fingers you join Hufflepuff, we're really awesome. She winked at the young girl, absent-mindedly brushing her cat's ear. She got good vibes from the girl, and she wanted to bet she would be in the same house as her. She definitely enjoyed playfully teasing the young girl. If they were in the same house, she could definitely see the girl as becoming a little sister to her.
Paige turned to Fiona's parents, flashing her signature smile. "Of course. My parents are over there, they're non-magical like you, but this isn't their first time, so." She pointed to her parents, who had just come through, and her parents caught Paige's eye and waved. Her baby brother replied by yelling "NO" She turned to Fiona. "He can tell I'm leaving." She guessed.
"To answer your question... I have no idea. That's just the magical world for you. Nothing makes sense that it becomes common, that it does make sense. It makes no sense what so ever!... And that wall... It's... like like like... a door... like that "inside the box" thing?" She waved her hands around, trying and failing to explain.
She beamed at Fiona. "No problemo! I love to help! Anytime!"
Paige turned to Fiona's parents, flashing her signature smile. "Of course. My parents are over there, they're non-magical like you, but this isn't their first time, so." She pointed to her parents, who had just come through, and her parents caught Paige's eye and waved. Her baby brother replied by yelling "NO" She turned to Fiona. "He can tell I'm leaving." She guessed.
"To answer your question... I have no idea. That's just the magical world for you. Nothing makes sense that it becomes common, that it does make sense. It makes no sense what so ever!... And that wall... It's... like like like... a door... like that "inside the box" thing?" She waved her hands around, trying and failing to explain.
She beamed at Fiona. "No problemo! I love to help! Anytime!"
@Fiona Sheehan