25 Oct 2021, 16:32
The Next Great Adventure
Annie took several deep, long breaths as she sat in one of the end carriages of the Hogwarts Express.
She'd dreamt of this moment for years; her mother had told her stories of Hogwarts, the winding corridors, the ever-changing staircase, the ghosts, the food, not to mention the life-long friends she'd made. But Antoinette was not her Mum, who was bright and bubbly, and naturally fun. She was shy and introverted, and found speaking to strangers the scariest thing in the world. So, instead of saying hello and introducing herself to the people she'd be sitting in class with for the next seven years, Annie had hurried down to the end of the train and curled up in the corner seat, nearest the window, and waved to her parents as they disappeared.
She'd seen how proud of her they'd been, but she couldn't help but wish she was staying in London with them. What would she do without them there? What if she needed a big bear hug from Dad, or a pep talk from Mum? It had always been the three of them. For the first time, Annie was on her own and she hated it.
She leant her head against the window and stared out into the abyss. Well, at least the view kept her company. It really was breath taking. There was nothing but the sky and green, steeping hills for as far as the eye could see. Annie looked out toward the sun, which was slowly setting beneath those hills. How much longer until they arrived? Maybe she could hide here, and then return to London and live life as a muggle? She had a life back there, she had friends. Here, she had only her own horrible thoughts.
Annie scowled at her own cowardliness. Stop being a baby, Annie, she thought angrily. How many kids would kill for this experience? She had to be brave. Like her Mum had said, this was her next great adventure, and Annie was determined to make the best of it.
She'd dreamt of this moment for years; her mother had told her stories of Hogwarts, the winding corridors, the ever-changing staircase, the ghosts, the food, not to mention the life-long friends she'd made. But Antoinette was not her Mum, who was bright and bubbly, and naturally fun. She was shy and introverted, and found speaking to strangers the scariest thing in the world. So, instead of saying hello and introducing herself to the people she'd be sitting in class with for the next seven years, Annie had hurried down to the end of the train and curled up in the corner seat, nearest the window, and waved to her parents as they disappeared.
She'd seen how proud of her they'd been, but she couldn't help but wish she was staying in London with them. What would she do without them there? What if she needed a big bear hug from Dad, or a pep talk from Mum? It had always been the three of them. For the first time, Annie was on her own and she hated it.
She leant her head against the window and stared out into the abyss. Well, at least the view kept her company. It really was breath taking. There was nothing but the sky and green, steeping hills for as far as the eye could see. Annie looked out toward the sun, which was slowly setting beneath those hills. How much longer until they arrived? Maybe she could hide here, and then return to London and live life as a muggle? She had a life back there, she had friends. Here, she had only her own horrible thoughts.
Annie scowled at her own cowardliness. Stop being a baby, Annie, she thought angrily. How many kids would kill for this experience? She had to be brave. Like her Mum had said, this was her next great adventure, and Annie was determined to make the best of it.
25 Oct 2021, 22:45
The Next Great Adventure
Lizzy walked up and down the train, looking quickly in the compartments as she went. She had gotten to the train station early on purpose, she hadn't wanted to miss it her first year! Still, as she glanced into the many compartments the train held, she couldn't find a single open one. Surely, the school would have accounted for all the students and made sure everyone would have a seat. It was a school of magic after all, couldn't they just magically make the train bigger?
Lizzy's mind wandered off as she made her way to the back of the train, still glancing in the compartments she passed. This would be different than anything she had ever experienced before, Lizzy was sure of this. She hadn't even known magic existed until she got her letter. The incident with the tree was apparently magical, but Lizzy had always just assumed she got lucky. She thought back to the days leading up to this one. She had thought her brother, Ben, would be mad that she was leaving him, but he wasn't. He was a good sport about it, but she could tell it pained him. They had always been each other's best friend, and now she left him behind with nobody and she was going somewhere where she had nobody. Maybe she could make a new friend on the train though, if she could ever find a compartment.
Lizzy was almost at the end of the train and had nearly given up all hope of finding a compartment. She peered in the next carriage and saw that only a girl that looked about her age was occupying it. Lizzy slid the door open shyly. "Hi. Mind if I sit here? Everywhere else on the train seems to be full."
Her hand tightened on the book she was holding. In most cases, every time she tried to make a friends or just talk to someone else, it never ended well. No one knew her here though. Lizzy had had to remind herself of this several times coming to the station. There was none of the pressure on her shoulders here that there usually was. Coming here was like a blank slate, a fresh start. No one knew anything about her past life and Lizzy would make sure it would stay that way.
Lizzy's mind wandered off as she made her way to the back of the train, still glancing in the compartments she passed. This would be different than anything she had ever experienced before, Lizzy was sure of this. She hadn't even known magic existed until she got her letter. The incident with the tree was apparently magical, but Lizzy had always just assumed she got lucky. She thought back to the days leading up to this one. She had thought her brother, Ben, would be mad that she was leaving him, but he wasn't. He was a good sport about it, but she could tell it pained him. They had always been each other's best friend, and now she left him behind with nobody and she was going somewhere where she had nobody. Maybe she could make a new friend on the train though, if she could ever find a compartment.
Lizzy was almost at the end of the train and had nearly given up all hope of finding a compartment. She peered in the next carriage and saw that only a girl that looked about her age was occupying it. Lizzy slid the door open shyly. "Hi. Mind if I sit here? Everywhere else on the train seems to be full."
Her hand tightened on the book she was holding. In most cases, every time she tried to make a friends or just talk to someone else, it never ended well. No one knew her here though. Lizzy had had to remind herself of this several times coming to the station. There was none of the pressure on her shoulders here that there usually was. Coming here was like a blank slate, a fresh start. No one knew anything about her past life and Lizzy would make sure it would stay that way.
27 Oct 2021, 17:30
The Next Great Adventure
Annie jumped as a voice appeared behind the carriage door. To her relief, it looked like a girl around her own age. She smiled kindly. ”Sure! No problem!” She gestured to the seat opposite and awkwardly straightened up. Her eyes went to the book the girl was holding, but she couldn’t make out what it was. Muggle or magical? Annie had read the odd book in her mother’s study, but they were generally well hidden in case they had any visitors. She hadn’t exactly understood a lot of it, either. That would come in time, she hoped. What if she wasn’t smart enough for Hogwarts?
”I’m Antoinette,” she blurted out, not knowing what else to say. She wasn’t very good at meeting strangers. ”But most people call me Annie. What’s your name? Is this your first year too?” Was she asking too many questions? It felt like it. Maybe this girl just wanted to sit on the train in peace. Annie’s nerves were getting the better of her and she immediately became apologetic. ”Sorry, I’m rambling,” she laughed, running a hand through her hair. ”I don’t know anyone here, and I’m a little nervous.”
It was best to be honest, right? Her parents had always taught her the importance of honesty and trustworthiness. Follow your heart, and you’d never go wrong. Well, right now, her heart was telling her to branch out and make some new friends, or she’d be left alone with no support until Christmas.
”I’m Antoinette,” she blurted out, not knowing what else to say. She wasn’t very good at meeting strangers. ”But most people call me Annie. What’s your name? Is this your first year too?” Was she asking too many questions? It felt like it. Maybe this girl just wanted to sit on the train in peace. Annie’s nerves were getting the better of her and she immediately became apologetic. ”Sorry, I’m rambling,” she laughed, running a hand through her hair. ”I don’t know anyone here, and I’m a little nervous.”
It was best to be honest, right? Her parents had always taught her the importance of honesty and trustworthiness. Follow your heart, and you’d never go wrong. Well, right now, her heart was telling her to branch out and make some new friends, or she’d be left alone with no support until Christmas.
28 Oct 2021, 22:48
The Next Great Adventure
Lizzy smiled gratefully, and sat in the indicated seat. The girl opposite her introduced herself as Antoinette, and explained most people called her Annie. Lizzy's real name was Elizabeth, but no one had called her that for most of her life. She had always been Lizzy and that was the way she liked it. "Nice to meet you. I'm Lizzy -- well technically my name is Elizabeth, but no one calls me that." Lizzy was astounded that she had actually said her real name. She knew her effort to make friends never ended well, and this was probably just one example of many to come.
So this was Annie's first year like Lizzy had thought when she had first walked in. Maybe Lizzy could make a friend that was her age before school even started! "Yes, I'm a first year. You don't have to apologize, I'm nervous too. I'm worried that I'll make a mess of myself at Hogwarts. I never knew that magic existed until I got my letter, and now I'm afraid that I won't know anything that the other kids do." Lizzy had just said Annie didn't need to apologize for rambling, and yet here Lizzy was, rambling.
Ben would be glad she was trying to make friends though. Lizzy gave a little shake of her head to wake herself from her thoughts. No matter how much she daydreamed of home, she wasn't there and wouldn't be there for many more months. She'd just have to make the best of this. It probably wouldn't be hard though, from what she had heard Hogwarts was incredible. At that exact moment, a jumble of sparks flew past the compartment.
Lizzy turned back to Annie and smiled friendlily. "Don't say you don't know anyone here. You know me a little now." Annie seemed really nice from what Lizzy had experienced so far. She hoped she wouldn't mess this up. Annie seemed like a good friend to have for the next seven years she would be going to Hogwarts.
So this was Annie's first year like Lizzy had thought when she had first walked in. Maybe Lizzy could make a friend that was her age before school even started! "Yes, I'm a first year. You don't have to apologize, I'm nervous too. I'm worried that I'll make a mess of myself at Hogwarts. I never knew that magic existed until I got my letter, and now I'm afraid that I won't know anything that the other kids do." Lizzy had just said Annie didn't need to apologize for rambling, and yet here Lizzy was, rambling.
Ben would be glad she was trying to make friends though. Lizzy gave a little shake of her head to wake herself from her thoughts. No matter how much she daydreamed of home, she wasn't there and wouldn't be there for many more months. She'd just have to make the best of this. It probably wouldn't be hard though, from what she had heard Hogwarts was incredible. At that exact moment, a jumble of sparks flew past the compartment.
Lizzy turned back to Annie and smiled friendlily. "Don't say you don't know anyone here. You know me a little now." Annie seemed really nice from what Lizzy had experienced so far. She hoped she wouldn't mess this up. Annie seemed like a good friend to have for the next seven years she would be going to Hogwarts.
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Mentioning: @Antoinette Asteria
1 Nov 2021, 15:49
The Next Great Adventure
Annie grinned. Abbreviating their names was hopefully one of the many things they had in common. She could already feel her first day nerves beginning to ease. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. Lizzy seemed friendly and as unsure as Annie, making her feel less alone. "Lizzy," she repeated. "I'll remember that. It's nice to meet you too! My family only really call me by my full name when I'm in trouble. Which can be quite often." She laughed a little. "I can get a little headstrong sometimes."
Annie inclined her head, understanding exactly where Lizzy was coming from. She'd been feeling very similar. "Don't worry, my Mum's a witch, but I barely know anything either. She's a Healer at St Mungo's, while my Dad is a muggle. He's a Vet." She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and smiled kindly. "I'm not sure if I'll be much help, but if you have any questions, I might know something. Just so you don't feel so scared. It must be a lot to be the first one in your family to get a letter to Hogwarts!"
She grinned in reply. "That's true. I hope we get put into the same house. It will be nice to know someone there. Do you know which house you'd like to be sorted into?"
Annie inclined her head, understanding exactly where Lizzy was coming from. She'd been feeling very similar. "Don't worry, my Mum's a witch, but I barely know anything either. She's a Healer at St Mungo's, while my Dad is a muggle. He's a Vet." She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and smiled kindly. "I'm not sure if I'll be much help, but if you have any questions, I might know something. Just so you don't feel so scared. It must be a lot to be the first one in your family to get a letter to Hogwarts!"
She grinned in reply. "That's true. I hope we get put into the same house. It will be nice to know someone there. Do you know which house you'd like to be sorted into?"
3 Nov 2021, 21:13
The Next Great Adventure
Lizzy smiled at Annie, "My family... actually I can't remember the last time they ever called me Elizabeth. I can get headstrong too, but my parents don't mind as much. They gave my brother and I a lot of freedom growing up." Lizzy was a bit taken aback. Was she really already using past tenses to describe her childhood back home? Just because she was going to Hogwarts away from her family didn't mean everything would change, she reminded herself. It would take some getting used to, she was sure, but soon it would feel natural, she hoped.
Just then, Annie was kind enough to offer help to Lizzy if she needed it, even though Annie said she didn't know much either. "Thanks for the offer! What's St. Mungo's? Is it like a hospital?" Lizzy felt a little stupid, realizing there was a lot she didn't know about the wizarding world. It was like she was isolated all her life, and now she has to catch up to the level of knowledge everyone else has.
"I hope we get sorted into the same house too. I heard the other houses don't talk to each other as much." It would be disappointing if Annie and Lizzy became good friends on the train ride, only to be sorted into different houses and didn't see each other much. "I dunno. Ravenclaw sounds like me, but Gryffindor sounds better in a way. Ravenclaws must have a lot of pressure trying to be the best and uphold their reputation. Gryffindor sounds... freeing," Lizzy decided. "What about you? Which house do you want to be sorted into?"
Just then, Annie was kind enough to offer help to Lizzy if she needed it, even though Annie said she didn't know much either. "Thanks for the offer! What's St. Mungo's? Is it like a hospital?" Lizzy felt a little stupid, realizing there was a lot she didn't know about the wizarding world. It was like she was isolated all her life, and now she has to catch up to the level of knowledge everyone else has.
"I hope we get sorted into the same house too. I heard the other houses don't talk to each other as much." It would be disappointing if Annie and Lizzy became good friends on the train ride, only to be sorted into different houses and didn't see each other much. "I dunno. Ravenclaw sounds like me, but Gryffindor sounds better in a way. Ravenclaws must have a lot of pressure trying to be the best and uphold their reputation. Gryffindor sounds... freeing," Lizzy decided. "What about you? Which house do you want to be sorted into?"
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@Antoinette Asteria
8 Nov 2021, 00:22
The Next Great Adventure
I knew an adventure
was about to happen.------Gryffindor, First Year
"Oh cool, you have a brother!" Interjected Annie eagerly. "I'm an only child, but I've always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling." She almost sounded a little envious. "It would be kinda nice to have someone like me, who was around my own age. I'm really close to my parents, but Mum can be a little overprotective sometimes. Maybe she wouldn't have been that way if there'd been a brother or sister around." Annie blushed, realising how stupid that must have sounded. "I'm not sure if that makes sense," she laughed, trying to rein in the crazy. She was a little odd sometimes, and she didn't want her honesty and openness to freak Lizzy out. They'd only just met, after all.
Annie's face brightened at the mention of St. Mungo's. "That's right!" She said cheerfully. "Healer's are just like the doctors and nurses we have in the muggle world. Apart from the magic," she added with a grin.
Annie nodded. "It's sad that we can't all mingle. Not that I'm very good at mingling." She looked around at their almost empty carriage compartment. "I'm the same. Ravenclaw would be a lot of pressure I think. I'm not really sure if I fit into any of them. Has that ever happened before?" The sudden thought put Antoinette on edge. "Let's hope they don't send me home if I'm impossible to sort." That was a joke. Sort of.
9 Nov 2021, 22:23
The Next Great Adventure
Lizzy wondered what being an only child was like. She couldn't possibly imagine her life without her brother. He had been, not only her brother, but also her best friend, role model, and partner in crime. "I couldn't imagine not having him," Lizzy replied truthfully. "He's three years older than I am, but it never actually felt like that. It has always felt like we were much closer in age." She thought of her own experience between her, her brother, and her parents. "I wasn't ever super close to either of my parents. We all loved each other, but I was gone with my brother for most of the day while they were at work, so I only really ever saw them in the evenings."
Lizzy was relieved to hear her guess on the Healers hadn't been that far off. Doctors with magic. She wondered what that would have been like if there were Healers in the muggle world. She had heard that every injury and malady could be cured in the wizarding world with magic. If the same could happen in the muggle world there were most definitely be less illness and people would be happier. "Why don't they allow magic to be used to heal people in the muggle world? Is the only reason that the wizarding community would be exposed?" Lizzy asked. It was rather odd if the only reason was the exposure of magic in exchange for curing people of all ailments.
Lizzy glanced around the near empty compartment as Annie did. They were magnificent at mingling. "They will probably sort you no matter what. I mean, even if you don't know where you think you should be, they say the Sorting Hat will. I heard it can see into your mind and that's how it knows which house you are supposed to be in." Lizzy laughed uneasily, thinking about an article of clothing reading her mind. "I'm not sure I want a hat reading my mind," she said smiling.
Lizzy was relieved to hear her guess on the Healers hadn't been that far off. Doctors with magic. She wondered what that would have been like if there were Healers in the muggle world. She had heard that every injury and malady could be cured in the wizarding world with magic. If the same could happen in the muggle world there were most definitely be less illness and people would be happier. "Why don't they allow magic to be used to heal people in the muggle world? Is the only reason that the wizarding community would be exposed?" Lizzy asked. It was rather odd if the only reason was the exposure of magic in exchange for curing people of all ailments.
Lizzy glanced around the near empty compartment as Annie did. They were magnificent at mingling. "They will probably sort you no matter what. I mean, even if you don't know where you think you should be, they say the Sorting Hat will. I heard it can see into your mind and that's how it knows which house you are supposed to be in." Lizzy laughed uneasily, thinking about an article of clothing reading her mind. "I'm not sure I want a hat reading my mind," she said smiling.
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@Antoinette Asteria
15 Nov 2021, 13:49
The Next Great Adventure
1st September | The Hogwarts Express, 13:30 | @Lizzy Solace
[/font][font=Corbel Light]Lizzy looked at Annie with curiosity. "That sounds so cool," she admitted, feeling a little envious. Being that close to someone else her own age, who knew her secrets... She had her friends back home of course, but they didn't know who or what she was. Not anymore. It had created an invisible barrier between them, a barrier Annie would never be able to explain.
Lizzy looked relieved that her answer had been right, making Annie realise she was probably a lot more nervous that she was letting on. It was a lot, this new world. ”I’m not really sure,” Annie replied thoughtfully. ”I think it must be something to do with the Statute of Secrecy. I sometimes think we could do so much if we all just joined together. But Mum said muggles didn’t like us. Or, well, they didn’t used to. Things seem a little different now.”
”That’s true,” she added, smiling at Lizzy. She was making her feel better already, and she hoped she was easing some of Lizzy’s one worries and insecurities. ”See into my mind!” Annie laughed too. ”Me too, that sounds so weird! I don’t really like letting anyone in, let alone a hat that will decide my future!”
She rummaged inside her bag and pulled out a Chocolate Frog. ”I am so hungry. Do you want one?” She added, pulling out another for Lizzy.
25 Nov 2021, 02:19
The Next Great Adventure
Lizzy was glad to see how much she and Annie had in common. "Things are different now," Lizzy said. "I bet if we told the muggles most would be understanding. In fact, they'd probably think it was a dream come true, I know I did!" Lizzy expressed her feelings openly to Annie. She felt like they had become good friends in the short time they had known each other on the train.
The Statue of Secrecy? That was something unlike anything Lizzy had heard of before. From the sound of it she could deduct that it had to have something to do with keeping the wizarding world a secret from muggles. "I take it back," Lizzy said with a thoughtful expression. "I think it would be a dream come true for the children. The adults-- well adults just aren't as receptive to things that are different from what they are used to." If wizards did say something to muggles, she was sure the adults would hate them. Lizzy was beginning to think the Salem Witch Trials were for real witches. Maybe they had told muggles of the wizarding world, and that was the result.
Lizzy smiled and took a chocolate frog from Annie. "Thanks!" Opening it, she revealed a frog made entirely of chocolate. It jumped out of the package and right out the compartment door! Lizzy reached inside to find a card, like a collectible almost. Lizzy looked back up at Annie. "I think we are going to be very good friends," she said with a smile. Lizzy really believed it too. She had made her first friend, and she was sure this friendship would last a long time.
The Statue of Secrecy? That was something unlike anything Lizzy had heard of before. From the sound of it she could deduct that it had to have something to do with keeping the wizarding world a secret from muggles. "I take it back," Lizzy said with a thoughtful expression. "I think it would be a dream come true for the children. The adults-- well adults just aren't as receptive to things that are different from what they are used to." If wizards did say something to muggles, she was sure the adults would hate them. Lizzy was beginning to think the Salem Witch Trials were for real witches. Maybe they had told muggles of the wizarding world, and that was the result.
Lizzy smiled and took a chocolate frog from Annie. "Thanks!" Opening it, she revealed a frog made entirely of chocolate. It jumped out of the package and right out the compartment door! Lizzy reached inside to find a card, like a collectible almost. Lizzy looked back up at Annie. "I think we are going to be very good friends," she said with a smile. Lizzy really believed it too. She had made her first friend, and she was sure this friendship would last a long time.
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@Antoinette Asteria