2 Nov 2018, 23:12
With a Wave and a Smile
It was almost 1 in the afternoon. As was typical of a British summer, the sun was obscured by wispy clouds travelling in the breeze. Oliver shivered involuntarily despite the relatively warm temperature, fingers gripping anxiously at the hem of his woolen jumper. This was it. He was finally going to start a new life, filled with magic and adventure. All he had to do was get on the train.
"Mam! I am twenty one, quit your fussing!" His older sister, Aoife, cried in protest as their mother circled her, tutting concernedly. "I'm only leaving for a few months. It's Ollie you should be worried about," Aoife turned to look mischievously at Oliver, "I'll bet he'll be in trouble before the day's out." Oliver spluttered as his mother rolled her eyes. "Don't tease your brother, Aoife." She then looked to Oliver, her expression softening. "Alright, do you have everything you need? Wand? Clothes? Books? Toothbrush?" Oliver smiled and nodded. "Yep, I packed everything!" Just as he finished that sentence, a nearby church bell clanged. Aoife enveloped her brother in a quick hug. "Go on then, Ollie, else you'll be late! Win the house cup for me, eh?" Oliver smiled tearfully and turned on his heel, walking directly into the designated magic wall with his mother close behind.
Immediately, the whistling of a steam train filled the young boy's ears. He stepped out onto the platform, steam billowing about his face. Hundreds of students were filing busily onto the train. "Alright, better get going! Send me an owl every week, you hear?" His mother pinched his cheek and he laughed."I will!" He promised, already halfway to the train. As he stepped onto the scarlet steam engine, he turned around one last time, smiled, and waved. Then he walked away from his mother, onto the train. With some searching, he found an empty compartment and sat down, busying himself with tidying his things as the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station.
"Mam! I am twenty one, quit your fussing!" His older sister, Aoife, cried in protest as their mother circled her, tutting concernedly. "I'm only leaving for a few months. It's Ollie you should be worried about," Aoife turned to look mischievously at Oliver, "I'll bet he'll be in trouble before the day's out." Oliver spluttered as his mother rolled her eyes. "Don't tease your brother, Aoife." She then looked to Oliver, her expression softening. "Alright, do you have everything you need? Wand? Clothes? Books? Toothbrush?" Oliver smiled and nodded. "Yep, I packed everything!" Just as he finished that sentence, a nearby church bell clanged. Aoife enveloped her brother in a quick hug. "Go on then, Ollie, else you'll be late! Win the house cup for me, eh?" Oliver smiled tearfully and turned on his heel, walking directly into the designated magic wall with his mother close behind.
Immediately, the whistling of a steam train filled the young boy's ears. He stepped out onto the platform, steam billowing about his face. Hundreds of students were filing busily onto the train. "Alright, better get going! Send me an owl every week, you hear?" His mother pinched his cheek and he laughed."I will!" He promised, already halfway to the train. As he stepped onto the scarlet steam engine, he turned around one last time, smiled, and waved. Then he walked away from his mother, onto the train. With some searching, he found an empty compartment and sat down, busying himself with tidying his things as the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station.
3 Nov 2018, 04:00
With a Wave and a Smile
Asha watched her father and grandfather stand awkwardly near the Hogwarts Express as a journalist and a photographer took pictures of them, a squib and a muggle. The woman spoke everything into a magical pen that wrote down everything for her and she was very enthusiastic. Her father looked so overwhelmed, glancing at the train, the owls, and the magical people around. Her grandfather, the squib, looked both irritated and joyful, probably because he was around people he was like yet who he wasn't like, since he couldn't use magic. Asha was just glad because this was the happiest her grandpa has been in a long time and it made her happy.
Asha gave them both a hug, breathing in the smells she was so use to but she wouldn't smell for a long time. She gave them both a kiss on the cheek but before she went to get on the train, her grandpa pulled her in for a last tight hug, whispering, "Be careful of who you trust, because there are some who know if where you come from, yes." But before she could question him, he gently pushed her into the crowd of students trying to climb onto the train. Asha caught one last look of her grandfather before she lost him in the sea of families.
She was on the train, walking down the walkway between the compartments when she caught sight of a familiar looking boy. She had seen him talking to his family members, especially his older sister who looked like she already graduated from magic school, and Asha remembered over hearing his mother, she suspected, telling him to owl her every week. Having not owled before herself, Asha felt like questioning him about it. It was something to talk about anyway.
Asha followed him into his chosen compartment and stood by the door. "Hey, can I join you? I overheard you talk to your family─have you ever owled before? My parents are muggles so they wouldn't know..."
Asha gave them both a hug, breathing in the smells she was so use to but she wouldn't smell for a long time. She gave them both a kiss on the cheek but before she went to get on the train, her grandpa pulled her in for a last tight hug, whispering, "Be careful of who you trust, because there are some who know if where you come from, yes." But before she could question him, he gently pushed her into the crowd of students trying to climb onto the train. Asha caught one last look of her grandfather before she lost him in the sea of families.
She was on the train, walking down the walkway between the compartments when she caught sight of a familiar looking boy. She had seen him talking to his family members, especially his older sister who looked like she already graduated from magic school, and Asha remembered over hearing his mother, she suspected, telling him to owl her every week. Having not owled before herself, Asha felt like questioning him about it. It was something to talk about anyway.
Asha followed him into his chosen compartment and stood by the door. "Hey, can I join you? I overheard you talk to your family─have you ever owled before? My parents are muggles so they wouldn't know..."
A. Pederson
3 Nov 2018, 10:19
With a Wave and a Smile
Oliver looked up, still absentmindedly fiddling with his things. A girl about his age stood by the entrance of the compartment, looking at him questioningly. He hastily moved closer to the window to make room for the newcomer. "Sure, sit down!" he gestured to the empty space beside him. As he watched the girl sit down, he considered her next question. "I'm from a wizarding family, so we send owls a lot. It's really easy, don't worry! All you need is an owl and a letter to send. You don't even need to teach them where to go; they're smart enough to just know where they're going! He smiles brightly, hands subconciously making gestures as he spoke. "My name's Oliver. What's yours?"Then another question crossed his mind. "What's it like growing up in a muggle family?" he frowned as he realized the sensitivity of the question. "I mean, sorry, that's probably insensitive of me to ask," he fumbled with his hands, twisting them into his jumper, "But I've never met a muggle-born witch! I was just curious... You don't have to answer if you don't want to!" He raised his hands slightly and smiled sheepishly. Hopefully he hadn't messed up the conversation too badly.
3 Nov 2018, 14:17
With a Wave and a Smile
Asha gratefully sat down, relieved that she had someone to sit next to during the ride to her new school. As he talked about owls and how they worked, that created a new array of questions about sending letters and the wizard world in general. Even though he said he was from a wizarding family, Asha didn't think it would be fair to bombard him with questions, especially since they were supposed to be enjoying the ride. But she couldn't help herself, she was just really curious. "So do they magically train animals to do things for them? How do owls know where to go, can they just know? It's just really intriguing to me."
Catching herself, Asha took a deep breath and giggled. "That's weird, usually I don't ask that many questions, but I think all of the hype is getting to my head, probably. My name is Asha... actually, I'm not sure if I'm muggle-born, you see, because I'm adopted. And it's not insensitive to me, it's ok. My grandpa always says it's better to be curious than ignorant of what's all around you." She watched him fidget with his hands, maybe he was nervous in some way.
"Um, I don't know how to really describe how it is to be...muggle-born? Only because I don't know how people live who aren't muggles. My grandpa is a squib, which is why I guess my dad turned out to be a muggle. But since being a muggle means that you don't have wizard blood in you, I guess just imagine doing everyday things without using magic, I don't know how to compare it to anything else, since I don't know how wizards really live. My grandpa tells me bits and pieces but not enough to get a clear picture." Asha gave him a questioning look. "What's so bad about being muggle-born that you'd think it's bad to question me about living as one?"
Catching herself, Asha took a deep breath and giggled. "That's weird, usually I don't ask that many questions, but I think all of the hype is getting to my head, probably. My name is Asha... actually, I'm not sure if I'm muggle-born, you see, because I'm adopted. And it's not insensitive to me, it's ok. My grandpa always says it's better to be curious than ignorant of what's all around you." She watched him fidget with his hands, maybe he was nervous in some way.
"Um, I don't know how to really describe how it is to be...muggle-born? Only because I don't know how people live who aren't muggles. My grandpa is a squib, which is why I guess my dad turned out to be a muggle. But since being a muggle means that you don't have wizard blood in you, I guess just imagine doing everyday things without using magic, I don't know how to compare it to anything else, since I don't know how wizards really live. My grandpa tells me bits and pieces but not enough to get a clear picture." Asha gave him a questioning look. "What's so bad about being muggle-born that you'd think it's bad to question me about living as one?"
A. Pederson
3 Nov 2018, 18:12
With a Wave and a Smile
Oliver flushed under Asha's scrutinising look. He just had to go and mess up again. He shut his eyes for a second, counting to seven before replying. "Nothing! Nothing at all! I guess I'm like you, but... reversed? My family tends to stay out of muggle business, you see. So all I know about their society is how much they're willing to pay for a horse." knowing that this statement would draw questions, he added, "We have a farm, and we sell horses and hippogriffs. The horses keep up our image for muggles, you see."
The young boy stopped for a bit, aware that he had gone off track. He returned to the question at hand. "So, I guess I was just curious? You know, I've never actually spoken to a muggle before." He snorted. "God, that makes me sound like a right prat, doesn't it? I should stop talking about this." He stilled his hands for once, smiling at Asha. "Have you tried any spells?" He attempted to change the subject as smoothly as he could. "My sister Eimear swears that she knew half the book's worth of charms before she even got sorted into her house, but I still haven't learnt a thing."
Oliver thought for a moment. "Speaking of sorting, what house do you think you'll be in? Two of my sisters were in Ravenclaw and one was in Gryffindor. I just hope I don't get Slytherin, I'd never hear the end of it." Oliver recalled his eldest sister Ciara having told him that only half-trolls get into Slytherin and smiled. Knowing his luck, he'd probably manage to get in somehow.
The young boy stopped for a bit, aware that he had gone off track. He returned to the question at hand. "So, I guess I was just curious? You know, I've never actually spoken to a muggle before." He snorted. "God, that makes me sound like a right prat, doesn't it? I should stop talking about this." He stilled his hands for once, smiling at Asha. "Have you tried any spells?" He attempted to change the subject as smoothly as he could. "My sister Eimear swears that she knew half the book's worth of charms before she even got sorted into her house, but I still haven't learnt a thing."
Oliver thought for a moment. "Speaking of sorting, what house do you think you'll be in? Two of my sisters were in Ravenclaw and one was in Gryffindor. I just hope I don't get Slytherin, I'd never hear the end of it." Oliver recalled his eldest sister Ciara having told him that only half-trolls get into Slytherin and smiled. Knowing his luck, he'd probably manage to get in somehow.
4 Nov 2018, 16:40
With a Wave and a Smile
Asha wondered why Oliver seemed to get worked up so much. She was offended by anything he's said so far. She wondered if she could somehow make him feel more at ease, since he was probably going to be her first friend at Hogwarts. As she listened to him talk about his family and what they did for a living, it made her wonder how other wizard family's worked, since she had no idea. Besides muggle-born, were there pther types of wizards? Did all wizard family's not like dealing with muggles? What types of jobs could wizards have, did they have their own hidden world, something bigger than Diagon Alley where they could run businesses and live separated from the non-magical people? There were so many questions but Asha figured that she should wait until she could ask maybe a professor at the school first, and just enjoy the ride.
Smiling back at him, Asha assured him, saying, "You don't sound like a prat at all, Oliver, it's really okay. I think you'd only sound like a prat if you just didn't like muggles or muggle-born without a very good reason, like just because they can't use magic or something. But you don't seem like that." Patting him on the shoulder, Asha took a moment to glance out the window. She'd forgotten what time it was and wondered if they'd be getting to Hogwarts at night. She really couldn't wait to see what the school, which she'd heard to be a large, labyrinthine castle, looked like in person.
Turning back to Oliver, Asha shook her head. "I haven't really tried any spells, my grandpa says I could get in big trouble, especially for doing them around muggles. But..." Bringing hee voice down to a whisper, Asha said, "Once I found a locking charm in the textbooks, and I tried it on the bathroom door that never locks downstairs...and my Aunt was in there! No one could unlock the door, it really worked! My dad and my uncles had to break down the door, and everyone was really confused because the door had brand new lock, since the old one had been busted." Asha giggled, thinking of her Aunt Bella who came out the bathroom like a flustered bird.
But then her grin fell a little. "My grandpa knew though, he's really good at sensing magic and he wouldn't let me have sweets for three months, candy, cake, not even soda." When Oliver mentioned Houses, Asha nearly squealed, but she coughed into her hands, pretending to be more serious. "Well, okay, I'm actually not sure, I think all of them are pretty good and I don't think I'd mind being in any of them. My grandpa said his family was mostly Ravenclaws, maybe me too? I'm not so sure, it doesn't matter to me, I'll support whichever one I get into, no matter what." Thinking back to what he said earlier, she asked him something that was on her mind. "Um, I don't know what a hippogriff is exactly, is it like a horse or something?"
Smiling back at him, Asha assured him, saying, "You don't sound like a prat at all, Oliver, it's really okay. I think you'd only sound like a prat if you just didn't like muggles or muggle-born without a very good reason, like just because they can't use magic or something. But you don't seem like that." Patting him on the shoulder, Asha took a moment to glance out the window. She'd forgotten what time it was and wondered if they'd be getting to Hogwarts at night. She really couldn't wait to see what the school, which she'd heard to be a large, labyrinthine castle, looked like in person.
Turning back to Oliver, Asha shook her head. "I haven't really tried any spells, my grandpa says I could get in big trouble, especially for doing them around muggles. But..." Bringing hee voice down to a whisper, Asha said, "Once I found a locking charm in the textbooks, and I tried it on the bathroom door that never locks downstairs...and my Aunt was in there! No one could unlock the door, it really worked! My dad and my uncles had to break down the door, and everyone was really confused because the door had brand new lock, since the old one had been busted." Asha giggled, thinking of her Aunt Bella who came out the bathroom like a flustered bird.
But then her grin fell a little. "My grandpa knew though, he's really good at sensing magic and he wouldn't let me have sweets for three months, candy, cake, not even soda." When Oliver mentioned Houses, Asha nearly squealed, but she coughed into her hands, pretending to be more serious. "Well, okay, I'm actually not sure, I think all of them are pretty good and I don't think I'd mind being in any of them. My grandpa said his family was mostly Ravenclaws, maybe me too? I'm not so sure, it doesn't matter to me, I'll support whichever one I get into, no matter what." Thinking back to what he said earlier, she asked him something that was on her mind. "Um, I don't know what a hippogriff is exactly, is it like a horse or something?"
A. Pederson