On the Hogwarts Express Closed

A blonde girl stood at the entrance, her hair short and light, with pale skin and eyes a brilliant blue. AF seemed to have assumed her official role of welcome agent of their compartment, and started introducing everyone.

"I am AngelFyre McCubbin, but please call me AF. This is Annabeth Taylor," AF said, while gesturing to Annabeth and the empty seat next to her. "And sitting next to me is Harmonia Melodious." She then sat back in her seat.

The new blonde girl sat down, and waved, introducing herself. After that, the situation felt rather awkward. Rose even pulled out "Hogwarts, a History" and started reading.

Annabeth wondered if she ought to say something, but was saved frombdoing so by the trolly lady, pushing a cart filled with snacks. Annabeth reached for her money, but Rose first pulled out 3 galleons, "What do you guys want?" she asked.
Since Annabeth came from quite a wealthy family, she had quite a lot of money. "Oh, I can pay for my own food, Rose. I couldn't possibly use yours! Oh, and also," she turned to everyone in the compartment,"I was thinking, maybe we can, all, like introduce ourselves later! I mean, we’re going to a new school, where we’re going to spend the next seven years of our lives. Heck, we might even be housemates! So, we should really get to know each other! We can all be good friends!”

Annabeth thought she sounded a bit too cheerful, but continued,” So, what I’m thinking is, we can, like go around the compartment, and we’ll say our name, like, full name, your family, and two things about yourself. Oh, and which house you’re hoping to get! Definitely that too!"

@Roselia Campbell @Harmonia Melodius @AngelFyre McCubbin 

Harmonia gave a small wave with a smile to Rose. "N-nice to meet you" She said shifting in her seat. "I don't exactly have a nickname, no one my age gave me one, though the adults like to compare me to a doll." Which was a perfect description of her, out of the girls she was the shortest, she had flawless skin, silky hair, and large bright eyes. If she wasn't wearing her Hogwarts uniform and instead a frilly dress with bows or ribbons in her hair, she would look like a porcelain doll that every grandmother has sitting on a shelf.

She rummage through her bag when the trolley came, Rose already up and ready to get something. Harmonia leaned forward to get a better look at the trolley, but instantly couldn't recognize any of the treats. "I'm not familiar with British wizard candies, so I don't know what to get." She said sitting back in her seat. Annabeth suggested to introduce each other. " I agree, w-we could talk about... what houses we think we might be sorted into or... or what classes we are excited for."she said excitedly, before shrinking back in her seat, flustered by her sudden outburst.

@Annabeth Tayler @Roselia Campbell @AngelFyre McCubbin

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Harmonia looked nervous, she did look like a doll, not to be offensive but she did. Annabeth insisted on paying for her own candy, but we agreed to split it. My dad's pure-blood line was wealthy, but we didn't waste our money so we still had loads.

Harmonia said, "I'm not familiar with British wizard candies, so I don't know what to get." I replied and said "Let's get a little bit of everything then. So you can see what you like!"

In the meantime, Annabeth said we should get to know each other and Harmonia agreed. I started off the conversation by saying "I know I'll be a Hufflepuff. My whole family line was one, I'm also really excited for History of Magic and Charms. My dad is always creating little spells, and he is documenting them and is going to send them to me so I can try them out!" They then replied.

The trolly lady came in and Annabeth passed me her money, and I asked the trolly lady for everything, I gave her the 3 galleons and Annabeth's money, and we got 4 of each candy."Keep the change," I said. The trolly lady smiled.

"Alright, let's dine," I said, opening a box of Peppermint toads. I held it open over to Harmonia, and she smiled.

Harmonia took the peppermint toad from Rose, returning the smile. She thought about what she should say to the others. She took a bite from the peppermint toad, it was good, but it would be better if it was dipped in dark chocolate. "T-thank you, Rose."

She didn't really like Annabeth and Rose paying for her, she then remember Zeekay had packed her a snack. Opening her bag, she pulled out a small metal tin. "W-would any of you like some Zefir... my families' house-elf Zeekay made them?" she asked holding out the box towards the middle of them so they grab some if they wanted to. Inside was a what look like the frosting part of a cup cake of varying colors about the size of macarons. "Mum said that they are like marshmallows, made from puree fruits, gelatin, and whipped egg whites. I have strawberry, raspberry, and black berry."

She gathered her courage to introduce herself first. "I-I can start first." She said taking a breath. "I am Harmonia Melodius, my family moved to Russia in 1990s, it wasn't until I turned ten that they decided to move back to England so I could go to Hogwarts like they did, Dad was a Slytherin while Mum was Ravenclaw, so I'll probably be one of those." She stop to take another breath and to take a bite of a licorice wands. "I play the violin and piano, and I can speak Russian and French. The classes I'm most excited for is charms and potions. I would like to use charms to make my performances more... enchanting." She said her smile growing a bit at her own joke.

@Annabeth Tayler @Roselia Campbell @AngelFyre McCubbin

AngelFyre had been sitting back and taking the time she needed to recoup her emotional balance. She did not do this to be rude. She never meant to be purposefully rude to anyone at any time. She was actually quite a caring, loving young girl, but social situations always drained her emotional gas tank very quickly. What was going on with her right now was particularly difficult because she had just gone through the emotional turmoil of saying goodbye to her family, and now she was sitting here, making a terrible first impression, no doubt. By nature, she was an introvert and very, very quiet. Not shy. She simply was just not much of a talker. However, she recognized she was not experiencing anything these other three young girls had not experienced themselves, and that rather snapped her out of her situational withdrawal. It was time to engage, and to clear the air.

Reaching into her bag, she brought out a large tin of home baked Scottish shortbread cookies she and her Grandma Ruth had baked yesterday in preparation for today's trip. AngelFyre opened the lid and passed it around, while smiling and listening to Harmonia's introduction.

"How marvelous that you lived in Russia. My father used to travel there for his job when I was very young. I have never been, but it looked beautiful from the photos he took. I would love to see St. Basil's Cathedral one day."

Then clearing her throat, AngelFyre said, "I guess I will go next, but I first want to apologize to each of you for any awkwardness I may have caused for a time. It is not that I do not like people, it is that I generally find it easier to listen than to talk, and social situations, if I am being honest, tax me a good deal. So, that having been said, I do sincerely apologize and hope to redeem myself the rest of the way to Hogwarts." She forced herself to smile and to look at each of them in the hopes of making some small personal amends before continuing.

" You would never know it based on my American accent, but I was born in Edinburgh, and have lived in Scotland my whole life. My mother and grandmother are both American, so as my father was gone often when I was little, I guess I picked up the American accent before the Scottish brogue ever had a chance to take hold. I am 11 years old, live on a large farm, had attended a girl's boarding school, and I know absolutely nothing about magic or what to expect at Hogwarts. Truth be told, I am still not sure this is really real and that I am not dreaming right now."

She shrugged her shoulders and eagerly took one of the confections Harmonia had offered. Before taking a bite, she smiled at each of them again and said, " I am glad for the opportunity to meet each of you though. Will be nice to know some friendly faces once we get there, for me at least."

@Annabeth Taylor @Roselia Campbell @Harmonia Melodius

Annabeth realized that all of the other three girls had already spoken, which meant it was her turn. She cleared her throat awkwardly,” I guess it’s my turn, huh?” she muttered. “Well, the best for the last, as they always say.”

She looked up, and said in a louder voice,” So, it’s great to meet all of you! Since, you’ve all introduced yourselves, very well too, if I may say, it’s finally my turn!”

Biting her lip, Annabeth thought about where to start. “Anyway, my name, as you probably know, is Annabeth Taylor. No nicknames. The last kid who tried to call me ‘Annie’ earned a broken arm for his troubles. And my family is….quite well-off, I guess. My dad worked in the Ministry, and my life is pretty good. Both my parents are really nice to me.”

After a short pause, in which Annabeth wondered what to say next, the girl continued,” And two things about myself are….um, I like singing, and am rather good at it too, if I do say so myself. Also, uhh… I’m from Hatfield.” That last part was kind of boring, but Annabeth really couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“As for the house…Well, I guess I’m fine with all of them!”

@Roselia Campbell @Harmonia Melodius @AngelFyre McCubbin 

Listening to everyone's introductions and enjoying the treats that were being passed around, AngelFyre decided to ask all of them some more questions since they all seemed to know something of magic and she, herself, was utterly clueless.

"Errrm.... so since I seem to be the odd duck of this bunch, would any of you mind telling me what I can expect when we get to Hogwarts? I have heard you mention something about houses, but I have no idea about any of that. I thought Hogwarts was a castle. Are you telling me we are going to be living in houses? Are the classrooms in the castle, then?"

She asked her question and then immediately popped a beautiful, deep red jelly bean into her mouth. It was the most delicious jelly bean she had ever tasted and she was thrilled when the cherry flavor exploded in her mouth. Having never actually been much of a jelly bean fan, but now developing a newfound liking to them on the heels of the cherry flavored one, AngelFyre looked at the other flavoured beans resting in her palm and popped the light brown into her mouth. If she thought the cherry flavored one was delicious, this chocolate one had it beat by a mile. Just incredible. The last one was a sort of an orange-ish yellow-ish color with different colored flecks in it. Having no idea what flavor this one could be, a sherbert of some sort maybe, AngelFyre eagerly popped it into her mouth and almost immediately regretted it. It tasted off. It tasted worse than off. The foulness now coating her cheeks, throat, and tongue was indescribably nauseating and tasted like what it was making her body involuntarily want to do....vomit!

Looking around in a panic, her blue eyes now the size of saucers, AngelFyre grabbed her bag and quickly found a tissue to spit the nasty business into while turning away from everyone else in the car, sparing them such a visual. After it was out, she felt the need to wipe her tongue again and again with the tissue in an effort to rid herself entirely of the unpleasantness. Finally feeling like she was returning to a normal state, she looked at them all and said, "Be careful of those jelly beans! I think some of them have gone bad."

@Annabeth Taylor @Roselia Campbell @Harmonia Melodius

Harmonia listen to the others introduce themselves, trying a little bit of every snack and agreeing that the every flavor beans might not be something she eats often. Upon hearing AF questioned about the houses and Hogwarts. "Oh you must be muggle-born, err... your parents don't have magic." She corrected herself assuming she doesn't know what muggles means.

"Hogwarts is indeed a castle somewhere in Scotland, and each student is sorted into one of four houses based on who you are or maybe who you will be I'm not sure. The four houses are Gryffindor for bravery, Hufflepuff for loyalty, Ravenclaw for wisdom, and Slytherin for ambition. They have other traits but I find this is a good summary of them."She explained. "Each house has their own common room and dorms split between boys and girls, though I believe they add... what was it called... N-Non-ben... Bi." She focused on the ground trying to remember what it was.

"I've never met a muggle or muggle born before, all my parents told me was that muggles aren't supposed to know about magic, I guess the exception is if they have a family member that does have magic. I would like to know more about muggles later if you don't mind?" She ask looking at AF, a wide smile on her face and her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Harmonia is starting to warm up to them, most likely because they all seemed to be in the same position as she was, scared and alone when they first entered the train.

@Annabeth Tayler @Roselia Campbell @AngelFyre McCubbin