The Last Compartment of the Last Car PV Closed

Ami let out an inaudible, invisible sigh of relief as Aurelia switched seats. Thank god, because her legs were cramped. Slipping out of her favorite shoes (ahemDoc Martensahem), she shifted her body so her back was leaning against the compartment wall and her feet were on the seat next to her. Much better.

Aurelia continued explaining about her parents still being pureblooded and stuff, and Ami kind of zoned out at that point. Between the jet lag, the travel, her sleep insomnia, the insane all-nighter she pulled while packing, and the soft rocking of the train, the redhead was so ready to get some shut-eye. 

Before she could quite register what was happening to her brain, her head was against the compartment wall as well, and her eyes were shut. She wouldn't hear Howie's words after, wouldn't see him glance at her, waiting for a reaction that would never come. If one of the other two were to reach over and gently poke her, she'd instantly wake up... but her expression wasn't as fierce when she was asleep. It wasn't creased with frown lines, and her eyes weren't open to pierce you with a sharp glare. In fact, one could almost say she looked docile... would you really want to wake her up, and risk her wrath?

In her sleep, Ami turned her head away from the other two so she was now facing the seat back, and her arms were crossed over her chest, although her hands were limp. They clenched into fists, however, and Ami tensed- certainly, it had to be a bad dream of some sorts. She relaxed once more, and the fists were gone. Really, it made you wonder just exactly what an angelic-looking eleven-year-old would be dreaming about.

"Wait...really?! You cant have friends that aren’t Purebloods?"

Howie had asked.

Aurelia exhaled deeply, giving a reluctant sigh. She didn't think she would need to explain it him but if he wanted to know then she would. if she were to marry a non-pureblood, it would be a dishonour and a disgrace. It wasn't something a muggle-born would know. It was a burden every pureblood had to carry. Even then some chose to foolishly follow their heart instead of their minds which would cause a load of complications within the family.

"I can have friends who aren't purebloods. However, I can't have any romantic relations with them. A Non-pureblood can love whoever they want to love but having the status of a pureblood... Wouldn't expect you to understand." Aurelia explained reluctantly, shaking her head slightly at the end. Even though she was still young, it always bothered her that she would have no choice but to abide by that simple but exasperating rule. Especially becoming the oldest of her generation in her family, the burden was weighed upon her on the day of her brother's death. to carry on with the pureblood legacy. She hoped that her other uncle, her father's younger brother would somehow get married and have a child. If it were a boy, he would automatically take over her role, but if it were to be a girl, Aurelia would continue having the burden on her shoulders.

She didn't think that Howie would understand. Only purebloods would, yet some of them never followed. Aurelia was master of bending the rules but never breaking them, however she knew that this was a rule that never could be bent only broken.

Aurelia turned towards Ami who somehow had fallen asleep. Aurelia was aware that the timezone in America was much different than the one in UK so she must have been tired form the journey. Aurelia still had to wake her up once the train stopped.

"Aren't you lucky to be a non-pureblood?"She asked Howie with a hushed tone, ensuring not to wake the sleeping princess up.

Howie listened closely as Aurelia explained the intricacies of being a Pure Blood in the magical community. To him it all seemed....old? Dated is probably the better term. It was 2018 and here Aurelia was, speaking of keeping blood lines pure and how she was expected to marry for status, not love. Howie could barely believe it, he would have that she was just having a go, but one look in her eyes told him she was quite serious. It all reminded him of his Muggle history books, with royalty forcing arranged marriages upon themselves. Howie knew these kinds of things still happened in the world, but here, in the UK? He had much to learn about this new world that had been thrusted upon him.

"Aren't you lucky to be a non-pureblood?"

Apparently so..he thought to himself. Not wanting to be rude or offensive to her families beliefs, he kept his true opinion to himself...for now. “I’m not too sure what to think of it honestly. I never would have expected to see practices like this still existing in theses times, but then again, I’m brand new to this world. Doesn’t matter much what and who muggles marry, but when you’ve got magic in your blood, I guess it makes a difference.” He hoped that he struck the right balance between questioning this practice and respecting her family. His eyes broke away from hers and drifted back towards the window.


Ami was fast asleep, her head and body rolling with the movement of the train. Howie looked her over, she seemed quite peaceful in her slumber. It only seemed natural to mess with her. He couldn’t help it, it was in his nature. Don’t poke the beast Howard! But how are you ever supposed to truly know the beast if you just avoid it at all times. Reaching down into his bag, he tore off a piece of parchment, and then tore that piece into many tiny pieces. Rolling his forefinger and thumb together, Howie made a dozen or so tiny paper balls. One by one he tossed them at Ami, trying to see if he could land them perfectly in her crossed arms. Uh oh, her hands were balling into fists. He launched the last one, yikes, his aim was poor, it bounced square off her forehead.

Like with most people, Ami translated the parchment balls hitting her into a reality in her dream, and small whimpering sounds came out of her mouth, almost pleadinng, begging. Of course, she was reliving one of the countless times where she had gotten beat up at school, each ball mimicking another punch. It had been after that particular fight that Ami had begged her dad to teach her how to fight back. From there began a long, long record of fistfights and brawls forever tainting her academic record- but, at least she no longer lost against her physical bullies. 

Ami’s nose crinkled and her eyes opened as the parchment ball hit her forehead. Blinking, not caring who the offender was, Ami simply flipped them off, shifting into a sitting position. Noting her arms were full of the same little parchment balls, Ami laughed bitterly and gathered them into a pile, squishing them into one giant ball. Howie had the guilty expression of the perpetrator, and Ami threw the ball right at his face, booping him right in the nose. “Not cool, dude,” she grumbled displaying another rude hand gesture. “Some of us like to sleep on trains, y’know.” Sitting up fully, now, and rubbing her eyes, she slipped her feet back into her shoes and checked her watch- the wizarding kind, enchanted bt magic to never need batteries. 

“3 minutes. That’s all you let me sleep for?” Ami sighed heavily, brushing her hair out of her face. “Y’all are rude.” But even that short amount of time had been enough to fuel her- well, for the next three hours, at least. Looking back and forth between the two, and feeling she missed something important, she waited for someone to fill her in on what she had missed- or, for Howie to apologize so she could go back to sleep.

I’m not too sure what to think of it honestly. I never would have expected to see practices like this still existing in theses times, but then again, I’m brand new to this world. Doesn’t matter much what and who muggles marry, but when you’ve got magic in your blood, I guess it makes a differenc

Howie didn't understand like she had expected. It was all about politics and family reputation before anything else. Even Before love. Her grandmother had told her love was as distraction that could not be avoided but it was best she stay away from it until it had found her. Aurelia always believed her grandmother was right. She didn't question, she just listened. Was she being to naive?

It wasn't as practice, it was the right thing to do. Because if purebkoods choose not to do so, then there would be half bloods around. Like the sleeping girl in front of her, her mother had used her heart without using her head. However, all that her family members out in her own head was confusing her. Did her parents really loved each other? Aurelia shook the thought from her mind. She shouldn't be thinking of such things. They did love each other.

Aurelia elbowed Howie on his arm as he threw dozens of paper balls directly towards Ami. The blue eyes brunette shot him a look, but it was too late, she had already woken up.
" sorry Ami, someone... she glared at Howie accusingly.
" clearly doesn't know how to keep his paper balls to him self."

Howie giggled as Aurelia elbowed him, he looked in her direction with a sly smile. “What?” He said in a voice with mock innocence. The last paper ball had hit Ami on the forehead, she squirmed in her sleep, whimpering quietly. She must be having a nightmare. Howie looked back to Aurelia to see if she was picking up on this as well.

When he turned back to Ami, he had every intention of gently waking her, sparing her from the bad dreams. What he saw made him laugh out loud. Ami had shot him quite the obscene hand gesture. Man, he liked this girls attitude, she didn’t take any crap, a trait Howie found commendable. 

Before he knew it a large paper ball was hurtling in his direction, he flung his hands up to defend himself but his reaction was too slow. The ball boinced square off his nose. She began to lay into him, not that he didn’t deserve it. “Oh c’mon Ami, I was just having a go.” Howie smiled from ear to ear, a wierd habit he had when facing confrontation. “Didn’t mean nothin by it mate.” He held his hands up in a peaceful gesture. “Aurelia and I were just talking about pure blood families. She was saying that one day she can’t marry anyone else besides another pure blood. Sounds mental to me.” He shot Aurelia an apologetic look. “No offense.”

"I know you were joking," Ami grumbled in response to Howie's apology (if you could even call it that), reluctantly acknowledging the fact that Howie wouldn't ever do something malicious. "I'm just mildly annoyed, that's all." She had crinkled her nose at Howie's "mate"- she half forgot that they were in the United Kingdom. Blast this 'Queen's English' or whatever.

Ami listened to Howie's explanation of what he and Aurelia had been talking about earlier. "Absolutely mental," Ami said in absolute agreement. "Loopy, insane, psychotic, nonsensical, silly, a horse's ass, and rat crap." Oof, that was a little harsh. But it was true. Ami had grown up with her best friend being discriminated against because of who he loved, and marriage equality was something that Ami fought very hard for, even as an eleven-year-old. It was really, honestly disappointing to hear that this kind of discrimination still existed in a society as cultured and advanced as the wizarding world.

"You should be able to marry whomever you want," Ami said honestly with a shrug, not bothering with the apologetic look like Howie had. "My mom's a pureblood, but she still married a No-Maj, she still turned out fine." Did she really just let that slip? Flinching slightly, Ami looked down at her lap, suddenly silent. Shut up, shut up, shut up... 

No offense

Howard said looking towards her.

It wasn't ridiculous or mental, it was the smart thing to do. Love was only a luxury, a benefit. It was complicated and could tear a family apart and mend it together again.

They didn't understand, they weren't purebloods, they didn't have parents who were purebloods and knew the importance of the status. Her parents knew the importance of the tradition of keeping the blood untainted, they knew it was only a small sacrifice of her freedom in the future but it was necessary, Aurelia to, couldn't deny it.

Then the red head explained that her mother was a pureblood but had married a muggle. There were people who chose to follow their heart instead of their head, to Aurelia, it wasn't the best decision to make, life was always about choices still. Ami's mother must have disappointed her own parents.

"So what are you grandparent's view about your mother's relationship with a non-purebloods, hm?" Aurelia had asked.

"You know what, honestly, I'd rather let my parents arrange my marriage for me than I chose a soulmate myself." She admitted though she wasn't sure herself if she really wanted her parents to. If she accidentally fell in love with a non-pureblood, it would be a disaster.

OOC: Sorry again for my absence. I’m back up and running now.

Howie suppressed a laugh as Ami went on a slight tangent about how she felt about all of the “pure blood” business. He happened to fully agree with her, but spared Aurelia in case she was sensitive to the matter. 

He shot Ami and appraising look, she had gained his full respect, for she seemed passionate about the subject. Something they could bond over for sure. Howie hated how the world was so intolerant towards anything deemed, “different,” and it appeared to be the same in the wizarding world as well. He listened closely as she told them of her own mother, a pure blood who had married a muggle. However it appeared by her body language that maybe she had let too much slip. Was this really something Ami would have to fear throughout her school years? Or the rest of her life for that matter. Howie opened his mouth to question this when Aurelia spoke. She questioned Ami of her grand parents reaction. His eyebrows raised as he waited for a response, Aurelia seemed to have no problem digging in. Then she admitted something that made Howie’s head spin.

"You know what, honestly, I'd rather let my parents arrange my marriage for me than I chose a soulmate myself."

“What?!” He couldn’t help the outburst. An eleven year old already thinking about marriage? And an arranged one at that? What was this? Medieval times! Of course Howie had heard of this practice still being used today, but he thought that was only in far away lands, in different cultures. But here, in the UK? 


“I’m sorry Aurelia, but that is absolutely insane. I can’t beleive that you would want that decided for you. I can’t wrap my head around it.” Then a thought entered Howie’s mind. Was he being intolerant of someone’s beliefs and cultural practices? Love and marriage all seemed about freedom and choice to him, but that’s just it, that’s what it meant...to him. Was he being just as ignorant as the people who discriminated against gay or interracial marriages. He ran his hands through his hair as he tried to figure it all out.

Ami stared at Aurelia in complete and utter shock. Her question had been way too personal for Ami's liking, considering that she had never actually asked her grandparents about it. They seemed pretty okay about it, considering that they had obeyed their daughter's wish not to tell Ami about the wizarding world.

Thankfully, the conversation moved on... well, was it really a good thing? Aurelia's declaration scared the heck out of Ami- she didn't want her parents making a decision as important as marriage. Honestly, they would probably do an awful job about it, picking a gross, old man who drank beer or a shallow, selfish girl who spent all her money on makeup.

Wasn't there a song, or something, about it? Trust Fund Baby, maybe?

But whatever. It was the wizarding world, and although the extreme blood-preferences still confused her, it wasn't her place to try and correct a system that was hundreds of years old. They would figure it out, eventually.

The witch with the snack cart finally rolled around to their compartment, knocking on the door. "Sweets, anyone?" she called out, sliding the door open. Glancing at the other two for a brief moment, Ami just shook her head and smiled politely. "No, thanks." Turning back to her companions, grateful for the welcome distraction, she asked, "Did you guys want anything to eat?"