CL A New School Year, and New Friends PV Justin W, Katie N, and Mariana O.

Justin walked through the loud, smoky platform. This experience was always a mixed bag for him. On one hand, he loved being at Hogwarts. It was welcoming, and he felt just as at home there as anywhere else. On the other hand, he had to say goodbye to his family for another entire term. No matter how exciting Hogwarts was, this was always so hard.

He looked up at the train before him. Every year, this one step felt like an enormous leap. Every year, he hesitated. He’d done this 4 times already. Why was he so nervous?

He turned around, and ran back to his parents to hug them one last time. He stood there for a few seconds, before he quickly turned back and stepped onto the carriage, wiping his eyes.

- - - - - - - -

He walked through the various compartments, trying to look for one that seemed relatively empty. Marple followed at his heels, looking a lot more joyous than he was.

Usually, he preferred to find one early before everyone else boarded, but he seemed late today. Through most doors, he could hear talking. Everyone seemed happy.

Justin stopped at a door. He opened it tentatively, and poked his head in. “Umm ... Hi. May I join you?”

@Bailey Glade, @Katie Newson, and @Mariana Oriel

Dialogue: ✕ | Thoughts: ✕ | Quotes: ✕
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Coming back to the post that lead to platform 9 3/4 was easier this year than last, for many reasons. One, Monica now had a good idea of what to expect from Hogwarts... less mystery around what a wizard school even was, though the castle itself still held plenty of mysteries in other forms. Two Monica had made quite a few acquaintances over her first year, therefore making the whole experience this year more to look forward to. Three, she wasn't entering into this year alone. With faithful Kiwi resting on-top Monica's shoulder the same fear an anxiety that quickly overtook her last year boarding the train, melted away and seemed like a distant memory.
As the Evans family approached the train, Monica nearly forgot to say good-bye, being stopped by her mother just as her foot graced the first step, "Oh right!" Monica dropped her trunk and ran into her mother's arms, "See you! don't burn down the shop while I am gone!" Passing over to her father, "Love you!" For her brothers she gave hi fives, only for both of them to nearly tackle her in a bear hug. Unfortunately her sister was unable to join this time around, but Monica was happy with the good-bye she said the night prior.
Finally done with the see you laters, she picked up her trunk and hopped on the train. The familiar walk up and down the isles seeking a place for refuge during the next few hours of travel. One compartment after another, Monica saw full of people. Though some had friends of hers, she figured it was better to find a place less crowed, plus making it better for meeting some new people on this long journey.
Finally she came to a compartment with a boy lingering in the doorway. Monica came up behind him... but didn't want to startle him, tapped him on the shoulder, "Um can that be a duel request?" Kiwi poked out of Monica's hood, sniffing towards the boy, Monica added, "I can move on if you guys were planning a friend meet up... I don't mind."

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| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Bailey Glade |@Justin Whiteley | Anyone else that joins |

Looking up, Bailey saw her fellow third year, Justin. He timidly asked if he could join her, and she smiled and said “Of course!”
Bailey added “You can join us too!” when she saw the second year prefect, Monica, and heard her ask if she could join.
“She didn’t mKe any plans to meet up with any of my friends on the train, so I’m happy to have some company. And to make some new friends! How were your summers? Did you guys go to summer camp? Kim said- well wrote- that it went really well, and it sounded like a lot of fun! Maybe we can bring some of the games they played to Hogwarts and play them; I would love that!”
Smiling as her new friends moved into the compartment, she turned back to her book.
Twinkle meowed from her basket, and Bailey set her book down to pick up her cat.
“Is it ok if I bring twinkle out?” Bailey asked, making sure her compartment mates didn’t have anything that twinkle could or would be inclined to harm. Monica had a rat on her shoulder, and Bailey made sure to hold on to twinkle so something didn’t happen between the two pets.
A few minutes later they were off, and Bailey put Twinkle back into her crate basket for the trip.

Dialogue: ✕ | Thoughts: ✕ | Quotes: ✕
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Monica smiled at the girls invitation to join the compartment, dragging her trunk in and setting it in one of the shelves for it, before claiming a seat in the cart. Kiwi was awake and very curious at the new people now in her midst, but Monica was able to keep her on her shoulder, "no more running away for you miss."
After getting all settled, "Thank you so much for letting us join, I am Monica by the way...Evans," She extended her hand to both parties in the compartment with her. "This is Kiwi, and she is cute, but a gremlin." Kiwi perked up her head at the mention of her name, her eyes were wide and beady, almost contradicting what Monica was claiming, "Yes I am calling you that you little escape artist. She has a habit of scurrying off on me, but I think we got in some very good training over the summer, and she should know better now."
Monica looked up to her train travelling buddies, "I did go to summer camp, and I can concur it was a fantastic time!"
Summer camp was even more than Monica could have hoped for. Her amazing tent mates, the fun games, and competitions that were had, not to mention a certain boy that had stolen her heart... Monica often wondered when the next time would come that she would see Hiro again, and also wondered if he thought of her too.

The train lurched forward, snapping Monica out of her self induced trance, "Oh... here we go." Monica gazed out the window, only now realizing she never completed her thought about camp, "Anyways, it was great to meet so many other wizards and witches from other schools. The games were a blast, and a much different experience playing some of them when magic is involved. I was actually talking to a friend about that in my tent, about bringing these games to Hogwarts, would be a super fun time!" Monica took note that the cat was out, but didn't seem interested in Kiwi, plus the girl seemed to be quite sure to not let things get out of hand.
"What about the 2 of you, did you guys go to summer camp? Or did you get up to other things?"

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| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Bailey Glade |@Justin Whiteley | Anyone else that joins |
Mentions: Hiro (@Kim Sato's iNPC)

Outfit

It was early morning, Marina was finishing packing and deciding which books to bring.
"How many books do you need?" Marina's sister Koharu asked.
"I don't know. The Hogwarts library is huge and full of books, but it is easy to get lost in." Marina responded.
"You're afraid of getting lost in bookshelves." Koharu laughed.
"Are you ready Marina?" Kayako asked.
"Yes." Marina responded as she shoved all the books into her trunk and struggled to shut it. Koharu rolled her eyes.
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They had arrived at Platform 9^3/4 Marina waved goodbye to her family. "See you at Christmas!"
"See you at Christmas." Koharu waved.
"See you at Christmas." Marina's family echoed.
"Will you keep sending me letters every day?" Azealia asked.
"Yes every day." Marina replied as she boarded the Hogwarts Express.
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Now the hard part began, finding a seat. Marina hoped there were still some empty compartments. She walked through the entire train searching for an empty compartment, only to find there were none left. Well, this was annoying. Mochi was trying to slip out of her grasp. Marina tried to hold the rat tighter. She found a compartment with multiple people who were asking to join it. "Hello, my name is Marina I'm a second year Gryffindor." Marina introduced herself. "May I join your compartment?"

Justin grinned and entered the compartment, holding Marple closely. She meowed angrily and tried to claw herself out.

Justin tried to grab her, but she slid through his hands and leaped up onto his shoulder, where she promptly lay down and closed her eyes, leaning against the seat behind.

“She’s always doing this,” he complained to the others. “Literally never leaves me alone. I don’t think she’s going to move from here till I get up. She was nearly the entire night yesterday, and spent most of it in my room. I could barely sleep.”

“Also, hi, I’m Justin. And this is Marple. She’s usually quite shy. no, I didn’t get to go to summer camp this year. I was stuck at home nearly for the whole holidays. Well, I was dragged into London for a few days, but I’d honestly rather have stayed at home than go to those ‘events' again.”

He sighed. His grandparents were dears, but they were quite insistent about being in with 'society', and they always forced him to go with them as well.

“So anyway, I’ve done basically nothing.”
That could probably have been said of his entire life so far. Slightly depressing.

He was shaken out of his thoughts by the sound of the door opening again.

@Bailey Glade, @Monica Evans, and @Marina Oriel

Justin joined her and Monica In the compartment. Shaking Monica’s hand as she introduced herself, Bailey also extended her hand to Justin. “My name is Bailey-Bailey Glade. I’m a third year Ravenclaw!”
As they settled in, and the train started, Bailey brought twinkle out. the conversation soon was turned to Summer camp. It turned out that Monica went to summer camp, but Justin did not.
Bailey was about to say that she hadn’t gone either, but then a young girl, a second year, poked her head in and asked if she could join their compartment.
Looking at her compartment mates, Bailey said “Hello Mariana! It’s nice to meet you! I’m ok with you joining our compartment- we have plenty of room! If I need to I can put twinkle away too.” Bailey said, indicating her cat when she mentioned her.
When the girl entered the compartment, Bailey moved her stuff so that she could sit.
“We we’re just discussing how we spent our summers!”
Bailey said, trying to include Mariana in their previous conversation.
“I spent my summer in Poland with my grandparents and my family. I got to roam the countryside. And visit all of my distant relatives. It’s kinda a family tradition to go every summer, and I am so happy I got to go!”

Dialogue: ✕ | Thoughts: ✕ | Quotes: ✕
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"Nice to meet both of you!" Monica smiled at her fellow compartment mates, listening intently as they each shared about their summer endeavours. Not long into the conversation however, did the door slid open, bringing yet another addition to the compartment, It was a pleasent change from last years trip. Monica could remember it all, the awkward silence of the long ride to Hogwarts for the first time. Sharing the compartment with 2 others that didn't speak too often, it was nice to start off this new year in a full compartment.
"Pleasure to meet you Mariana!" Monica couldn't help but bow her head, she never knew how to be formal when meeting new people, though try as she might, more times than not did she just make herself the fool, but she was rather excellent at hiding her embarrassment when such an occasion occurred. "Welcome to our humble abode, please sit, make yourself at home!" Monica brushed down the empty seat, "So since you are joining you must regale your summer events with us!" Kiwi poked her little head out of Monica's tangled hair, peering out at the new party member. "Oh, how could I forget, this is Kiwi, she is rather a curious sort." Monica took out a small morsel of food she had stashed in her robe, giving it to the little rodent, who quickly retreated back into the safety of Monica's locks.

OOC Note:

Reducio

Hey guys, in my next post, Monica is going to leave for a brief time to join in a separate compartment. I will make it clear when, but will be back! But please continue as many back and forths as you want. No need to wait for her return.

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| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Bailey Glade |@Justin Whiteley | @Mariana Oriel | Anyone else that joins |

Justin smiled at the new girl, a little nervous.

“Hi ... Marina,” he tried carefully. Was that right?

Four was a lot of people. Especially when you had to talk to them. He usually preferred an empty cabin, where he could just think or stare out the window. When it was one or two, he could manage, but ...

He could never understand how some people preferred a crowded cabin. With just a few people you can either think in peace, sleep, or have a normal conversation. That can’t work when there are 5 in a tiny cabin.

Nevertheless, he’d resolved to make an effort this year, and he would ... try.
“My name’s Justin.” He held out his hand. “I’d stand, but,” he looked at his cat. “I don’t think that would be wise.”

“Anyway, this is Marple.” Her ears twitched slightly at the mention, and she pushed her head against his before settling down comfortably.

“She can be quite possessive, and a little frustrating. I really don’t understand why I love her so.” He smiled again. “If she knew what I was saying about her, she’d probably claw me to death.”
Marple purred in agreement.

“Yes, please do. So, how were your holidays?”

@Bailey Glade, @Monica Evans, and @Marina Oriel
OOC: Hi, I know it's been a while. I am really sorry.