22 Aug 2022, 09:24
I've Been Waiting on the Railroads
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Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting. (Joyce Meyer)
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School was not exciting, it was boring. Or so most full-time students said. Personally, Marius preferred staying at home, helping around at his family's farm, and relaxing or playing with his brothers and the animals; but it did not mean that he was not pumped up about going back to Hogwarts for his second year. Second year meant it was only one more year's wait before he was able to enrol in elective classes, and the Chinese-English boy had really been looking forward to taking Care of Magical Creatures.
There had been so many teens and tweens at Platform 9 3/4, and the Hufflepuff had failed to find any kid he knew. He had not made any promise to sit with anyone on the trip to school either, so for now he had to be content with waiting.
Oh, cheer up, Marius, the second year said inside his head. This means you'll get the chance to meet potential new friends. And even if no one comes to this compartment, you can always walk around and find someone to talk with.
His soft brown eyes shifted from the window to the new enchanted satchel on his side. The satchel was his twelfth birthday present from his parents, a very useful gift for it was very practical; he did not have to heave a trunk like on his first year anymore and, because it was a satchel not a suitcase, he could take it with him to classes and practically almost all occasions.
If only he had a trunk with him right now, he might worry about leaving it in case he decided to walk around from compartment to compartment. But with this satchel, he could easily take it anywhere if he needed to.
There had been so many teens and tweens at Platform 9 3/4, and the Hufflepuff had failed to find any kid he knew. He had not made any promise to sit with anyone on the trip to school either, so for now he had to be content with waiting.
Oh, cheer up, Marius, the second year said inside his head. This means you'll get the chance to meet potential new friends. And even if no one comes to this compartment, you can always walk around and find someone to talk with.
His soft brown eyes shifted from the window to the new enchanted satchel on his side. The satchel was his twelfth birthday present from his parents, a very useful gift for it was very practical; he did not have to heave a trunk like on his first year anymore and, because it was a satchel not a suitcase, he could take it with him to classes and practically almost all occasions.
If only he had a trunk with him right now, he might worry about leaving it in case he decided to walk around from compartment to compartment. But with this satchel, he could easily take it anywhere if he needed to.
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Having eyes, but not seeing beauty; having ears, but not hearing music; having minds, but not perceiving truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire - these are the things to fear.
3 Sep 2022, 12:50
I've Been Waiting on the Railroads
Hexcode:#684370
Interacting with @Marius Brown
Right after she left the Summer camp, they were brought to the King's Cross Station in London, England. Ash saw her parents and grandma who was holding her cat, Olive, already waiting for her there with smiles on their faces. They wanted to say their goodbyes and wished her luck at Hogwarts. Ash couldn't use any words to describe how she felt right at this moment, all kinds of emotions were bottled up together like a ticking time bomb that might explode anytime.
This is it, I'm going to a magical school and learn magic to become a witch!
The 1st of September 2022 would certainly mark as a momentous day for her, and a life-changing journey aboard the Hogwarts Express. Ash still couldn't believe it. This could only happen to characters from the fantasy books she read, but now, she became the protagonist and ready to go on an exciting adventure full of wonders. She already changed into her school robe, and honestly, she was slightly not used to it. Very different from the school uniforms she wore in Muggle schools.
Her stepdad gave a very interesting train ticket and would guide her where to find the Platform 9¾. Once Ash walked straight into the "wall" she was amazed seeing the Hogwarts Express in front of her. Who would have thought that there has always been a hidden train to Hogwarts all this time? Ash gave her stepdad a tight hug and promised she will write letters to them every month.
Finally, Ash boarded on the Hogwarts Express, she first looked around then proceeded to go find a compartment. Olive meowed softly a few time in her arms, expressing her discomfort. "Please be a bit patient, Olive. We will find ourselves a compartment to settle in.", Ash gave a quick peck on Olive's fluffy head to reassure her cat. To her luck, she found a compartment that didn't seem to be full, and there was only one boy inside. The boy had brown hair and brown eyes, but what really stood out was the yellow colors on his school robe, and there was a house crest of a badger on it. This implied that he was already sorted into a House, so he must be older than her, maybe a year or two. This could be a perfect opportunity to learn more about Hogwarts from him.
Ash gently knocked on the glass window of the slide door to get his attention. "Excuse me, may sit with you in this compartment? I'm Ashleigh Hazelwood, you can call me Ash for short, first year, and this is my cat, Olive. Pleasure to meet you.", Ash asked the boy politely, then briefly introduced herself and her cat. Olive stared at him quietly for a while with her orange eyes, then let out a small meow as a greeting.
3 Oct 2022, 09:22
I've Been Waiting on the Railroads
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There was a gentle tap on the window (the one on the compartment door, not the train window of course, or else it would be quite horrific), and Marius turned his head. Outside stood a girl with quite a young face and blonde hair, and a cat was with her.
("A cat!" he excitedly thought.)
The preteen asked him if she may sit in the compartment he was in, and the Hufflepuff welcomed her. "Please, do sit down," he gave her his friendliest tone.
She proceeded to introduce herself as well as her cat; and, as outspoken as he was, Marius remembered that it would be terribly rude to tell someone he did not like their name or the name of their pet. Even though he secretly wondered if the knack to choose "bad" names (that would be names that were not his subjective favourites) ran in this tween's family, the boy said nothing about it and instead politely introduced himself back.
"I'm Brown," he said, "Marius Brown. That's a cute little cat, Ash. I love cats, and we have one named Josephine at home. But she's responsible for keeping the mice and rats away from the crop, so she can't come to Hogwarts. You're so lucky to have Olive accompany you at school."
("A cat!" he excitedly thought.)
The preteen asked him if she may sit in the compartment he was in, and the Hufflepuff welcomed her. "Please, do sit down," he gave her his friendliest tone.
She proceeded to introduce herself as well as her cat; and, as outspoken as he was, Marius remembered that it would be terribly rude to tell someone he did not like their name or the name of their pet. Even though he secretly wondered if the knack to choose "bad" names (that would be names that were not his subjective favourites) ran in this tween's family, the boy said nothing about it and instead politely introduced himself back.
"I'm Brown," he said, "Marius Brown. That's a cute little cat, Ash. I love cats, and we have one named Josephine at home. But she's responsible for keeping the mice and rats away from the crop, so she can't come to Hogwarts. You're so lucky to have Olive accompany you at school."
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Having eyes, but not seeing beauty; having ears, but not hearing music; having minds, but not perceiving truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire - these are the things to fear.
27 Oct 2022, 12:39
I've Been Waiting on the Railroads
Hexcode:#684370
Interacting with @Marius Brown
Ash was glad that the elder boy didn't seem to mind her sharing a compartment with him and even welcomed her to join, "Thank you." Ash thanked him with a bright smile on her face. Her cat, Olive, let out a soft meow then simply jumped on the seat and tried to find herself a comfortable spot before settling in.
After she introduced herself to him, the boy also introduced himself to her in a very polite tone. Oh, so his name is Marius Brown...he seems like a very nice person... She thought while taking a seat in front of him. Then he complimented how cute her cat was and told her how much he loved cats and had one at home. Somehow, Olive seemed to understand and closed her eyes, a purr could be heard from her. Normally, cats couldn't smile, so when they closed their eyes and purring, it implied that they were happy. "Olive seems to understand that you just complimented her. And yes, you're right about that, it's nice to have a pet companion to accompany you at Hogwarts, but I'm sure you'll be able to have a new pet on your own in the near future." Ash said to him with a reassuring tone.
Out of curiosity, Ash decided to finally ask Marius about Hogwarts, "Based on the color of your school robe and the emblem of a badger...you must be a Hufflepuff, right? I heard a lot from my stepdad about the four houses, and each house has very interesting traits. He was a Hufflepuff himself when he was a student of Hogwarts. I'm really excited to know in which house I'll be in. And if you don't mind me asking...what is it like, studying magic in Hogwarts? What kind of subjects they have there?" Her piercing blue eyes lighten up with excitement, and she waited for Marius's response to her questions.
19 Dec 2022, 10:20
I've Been Waiting on the Railroads
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To be honest, Marius was not very sure about Ash's assurance that soon there would be a pet of his own, a pet who would accompany him at school. How much would it cost to purchase one? And even if he did not have to buy it, how could he have enough money to keep it fed and healthy? A pet was, one could say, another child, except that it did not require as much education and attention. However, he said nothing; he did not expect people to understand his economic background, not that they had the obligation to.
But his lips curled up into a smile when he heard Ash ask if it would be all right for him to share what it felt like to learn magic at Hogwarts and what classes they offered there. He was tempted to laugh, but not mockingly, not at her, but rather with her; to ask her why he would mind. He did not, though.
On the contrary, he merely said matter-of-factly, "It isn't like how Muggles portray in their fiction, it isn't easy. It requires hard work just as with all things one studies. No instant way. As first and second years, we take eight compulsory modules - (he counted with his fingers) Astronomy, Charms, Potions, Flying, Transfiguration, History of Magic, Herbology, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. When we go to third year, we should take at least two optional modules."
But his lips curled up into a smile when he heard Ash ask if it would be all right for him to share what it felt like to learn magic at Hogwarts and what classes they offered there. He was tempted to laugh, but not mockingly, not at her, but rather with her; to ask her why he would mind. He did not, though.
On the contrary, he merely said matter-of-factly, "It isn't like how Muggles portray in their fiction, it isn't easy. It requires hard work just as with all things one studies. No instant way. As first and second years, we take eight compulsory modules - (he counted with his fingers) Astronomy, Charms, Potions, Flying, Transfiguration, History of Magic, Herbology, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. When we go to third year, we should take at least two optional modules."
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Having eyes, but not seeing beauty; having ears, but not hearing music; having minds, but not perceiving truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire - these are the things to fear.
13 Jan 2023, 18:53
I've Been Waiting on the Railroads
Hexcode:#684370
Interacting with @Marius Brown
It was an interesting feeling that Ash couldn't describe herself when someone who was quite familiar with magic, and stuff explaining to her about the subjects that she would learn in Hogwarts soon. Marius might not know that the fantasy books she read not all showed that it was easy to learn magic. The protagonists in the stories had to work very hard in order to achieve their dreams and make it happen. So of course, Ash expected that she would need to study hard when she started to learn magic in the next seven years at Hogwarts. Ash listened to Marius telling her about the eight compulsory modules she would learn in her first and second year.
Ah, so I will learn Astronomy, Charms, Potions, Flying, Transfiguration, History of Magic, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts in the first year...
Even though her stepdad already told her about all the subjects that were taught in Hogwarts, but it was still cool to hear it from a student. "Oh, I see, so those are the subjects I will learn in the first and second year. Well, I'm more excited for Herbology because I love plants and flowers, so I wonder how different it would be compared to the Muggle world. Potion also sounds super cool!", Ash smiled after saying that, then a question came to her mind, "And which subject or subjects do you think it's the most difficult in your opinion?" Her guess would be Transfiguration or Defense Against the Dark Arts because these subjects sounded quite complex, but she would be interested in hearing Marius's answer.
20 Mar 2023, 09:20
I've Been Waiting on the Railroads
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The second year listened with a solemn attention as the younger pupil, the new first year, chirped in enthusiasm regarding her impatience to start studying Herbology and Potions. Marius had to disagree with her, though; Herbology was fine for him, but Potions was not his strongest suit. He had almost failed the class last academic year, and he really did not like the chemistry-like nature of the class, even though the professor was fine. But then again, everyone was different and this was merely a matter of preference, and thus there was no right and wrong in this matter.
"I hope you'll really enjoy them," he remarked in a friendly tone. And then, answering her question, "Most people say that Transfiguration is, but for me personally, it has to be Potions. Yes, the one you look forward to learn about, but I guess we just have different interests and talents." On purpose, he left out the bits about his bad Potions marks, the optional extra credit assignment he had taken to lift up his grades, and the fact that he had almost cheated in the final exam to ensure passing the class.
Looking at his watch, the Hufflepuff continued talking, though about another topic, "This trip is going to be long, and then we still have to travel to Hogwarts - I'm via the land, you and the other first years by the water. After that, there will be a ceremony before we can finally have dinner and go to bed. So, Ash, I'd suggest we take a nap after lunch - this is going to be a tiring day, although it is exciting as well."
"I hope you'll really enjoy them," he remarked in a friendly tone. And then, answering her question, "Most people say that Transfiguration is, but for me personally, it has to be Potions. Yes, the one you look forward to learn about, but I guess we just have different interests and talents." On purpose, he left out the bits about his bad Potions marks, the optional extra credit assignment he had taken to lift up his grades, and the fact that he had almost cheated in the final exam to ensure passing the class.
Looking at his watch, the Hufflepuff continued talking, though about another topic, "This trip is going to be long, and then we still have to travel to Hogwarts - I'm via the land, you and the other first years by the water. After that, there will be a ceremony before we can finally have dinner and go to bed. So, Ash, I'd suggest we take a nap after lunch - this is going to be a tiring day, although it is exciting as well."
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Having eyes, but not seeing beauty; having ears, but not hearing music; having minds, but not perceiving truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire - these are the things to fear.