New Year, New Me PV Madison Bennett FINISHED

september 1st 2023; interacting with @Madison Bennett

The knock was a rude interruption back into the real world. She still detested the bad luck she had all morning, but she composed herself. Now was not the time to take out her anger on a random stranger.

So, with a plastered smile, she turned to the carriage door and greeted the girl with a nod. "Hi, do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is pretty full."

Alyssea nodded. "Yeah, come in."

At one point, she was like this girl, looking for an empty carriage. Or, at least, not full. She thought back to the first time she was on this train. How were the people she made on that first trip doing now? Were they also on the train right now? She hadn't seen them in a while and there was a longing ache.

Once the girl settled herself, she sat across from Alyssea and smiled. "I'm Madison by the way, Madison Bennett, I'm pretty sure we're in the same house actually."

Alyssea sorted through her memories trying to find the name 'Madison Bennett'. There were a lot of First-Year Hufflepuffs, just like every other house, but she didn't recognise it. Probably heard it in passing but never thought about it since then. Did they ever share a class? No, Alyssea reasoned.

Still, she offered a smile to Madison. "I'm Alyssea Brown. Hufflepuff? I'm not wearing my robes right now since I was in a hurry to arrive, but if we're in the same house, then that would be Hufflepuff."

Truth be told, she was only wearing her white button-up shirt and black skirt. She felt it too hot to wear her robes and wearing a tie would've gained some unnecessary glances by Muggles. Besides, she would've had no time to tie it.

"I do apologise," Alyssea chuckled, "that I don't remember you. We never shared a class, did we? I do also apologise if I snap at you. I had a terrible morning."

She took one of the chocolate frog packets she hadn't opened yet. "Did you want a frog? I bought three and ate one already."

september 1st 2023; interacting with @Madison Bennett

Madison was, indeed, a Hufflepuff which embarrassed Alyssea since she had no clue about her. Then again, it's highly unlikely one would ever know their whole year group unless they involved themselves everywhere in the school. This was not the case for Alyssea.

"I'm pretty sure I've seen you in passing when going through the Common Room but I don't think we're in the same dorm."

Alyssea hummed, arms crossed at her chest. "Probably. I'm in the Plant Palace. What about you?"

Did Madison stay in the Badger Bungalow or in one of the gender-neutral dorms? She hadn't a reason to visit either but maybe she should ask the other Hufflepuffs in her year what dorm they stayed in. If there were sleepovers, she wanted in.

Madison asked if she wanted to recount her horrible morning which, for a second, Alyssea contemplated. Should she tell a stranger (not a stranger anymore, an acquaintance) she just met today about her horrible morning? Or should she brush it off and say it didn't matter anymore?

She looked outside the window and decided she'd tell her. There was still a while before they arrived at Hogsmeade Station, so any conversation was a good one.

With a sigh, Alyssea began. "I missed my alarm when I woke up since I stayed up late figuring out which clothes to bring. You have to bring enough for six months but not too much that you can't carry it, you know? And quite frankly, I have too many clothes."

She chuckled as she uncrossed her arms and gave Madison a chocolate frog. "So waking up late meant I still had a suitcase to pack, a bus that I was supposed to take but instead missed, and breakfast that I decided would be too much time wasted to sit down and eat. So, in summary, I'm frustrated, angry, and hungry. Malding, hangry, I don't know. Maybe both. I'm just so over it."

Madison took the chocolate frog and smiled. "Thanks, I love these, though Fudge Flies are my favourite."

Alyssea raised an eyebrow. "We have fudge flies? I've never had those."

Alyssea took the container with her cauldron cake and took the disposable spoon that came with it. She took a bite from the cake and hummed with joy at the food. Her stomach would soon settle after all of this, thankfully.

She licked her lips clean from the cake. "What are you looking forward to this year? I'm excited for astronomy. Do we have any new classes? I don't think so, right?"

september 1st 2023; interacting with @Madison Bennett

One sleepover planned. One left to execute. Many more to plan. She was going to enjoy Second Year more than the last. No more being Miss I'm-Too-Careful-To-Do-Anything. She needed to spice up life, as one Ravenclaw she met the previous year had said.

Madison offered a fudge fly which Alyssea took eagerly. "I have a whole bag of fudge flies so by all means have some."

Alyssea unwrapped the fly and asked, "How much were they? If it weren't for the collectable cards, I'd have chose these over the frogs."

The fudge melted right on her tongue and she smiled. She was beginning to believe that stupid theory her brother had been rambling on about during their holiday in Eastern Europe. Something about the 'burnt toast' theory just made so much sense at this very moment. She meant to miss that bus and forego breakfast so that she could savour these moments trying something new. Was that right? She couldn't quite remember the theory.

Alyssea chuckled. "You're right. This fudge is amazing. Do you mind if I have another?"

Aside from also being excited about astronomy, Madison was also interested in Quidditch. Alyssea never enjoyed Quidditch, but it was a pastime that her father and brother enjoyed whenever he came home from America. If they were watching it, she'd tag along just for some family bonding.

"Do you have a favourite constellation?" Madison asked.

Alyssea shook her head. "There's too much light pollution where I live to see the stars. And even if I had a chance, I couldn't ever remember what they look like. The stars all blend together. Besides, the only constellations I know are the twelve zodiacs."

"Mine is Aquila because it's shaped like an Eagle and Eagles are one of my favourite types of birds."

Alyssea smiled. "If we get to see it at the Astronomy Tower, you have to tell me."

Taking another bite of her cauldron cake, Alyssea asked again, "What's your zodiac? I'm a Gemini."

september 1st 2023; interacting with @Madison Bennett

Fudge flies weren't that expensive, Madison told her. Gosh, she had to make a lot of mental notes today. They say you learn something new every day, but they don't tell you that it's more than just one. The next time the trolley witch passed, she'd grab some fudge flies.

"How about one of the holidays you come and stay with me in Kensington? I get to see plenty of stars where I live," Madison suggested.

Kensington? That was in London and, being a resident of Devon, that was quite a far travel. Heck, she almost didn't even make it to King's Cross this morning. But she could spare a three-hour ride, couldn't she?

But her brother! He came to England every holiday he could, considering he was away for more than three-quarters of a year.

Alyssea shrugged. "I'll have to ask. Usually, my brother comes home and visits, and it's the only time he has to come back. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

Madison answered her zodiac question which came out of the blue. It wasn't normally a question one would ask unless you were looking at love compatibility. Alyssea only wanted to ask since they both had an interest in astronomy. Then again, zodiacs aren't astronomy, right? They're astrology, which itself was quite different.

"I'm a Cancer since my birthday is in July," Madison said.

A Cancer in July! Their birthdays weren't far off then. "What day?"

Madison pulled out a book which Alyssea leaned forward to have a look at. It was a zodiac book, something you'd see in the bookstore in the spiritual well-being section. She'd seen a couple of those along with tarot card decks and oracle cards.

When Madison read the part about Alyssea having to be more expressive of her feelings to make their friendship work, her face turned cherry red. God, did she have to? She preferred to listen to everyone else bare their emotions and she stood by and observed.

Nervously, she chuckled. "I'll be taking note of that."

"I'm glad we sat together Alyssea," Madison said as she sipped her water, to which Alyssea nodded. "Want to sit together during dinner too?"

Alyssea smiled. "Sure! I don't see why not."

Alyssea shrugged. "I'll have to ask. Usually, my brother comes home and visits, and it's the only time he has to come back. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

Madison nodded and smiled "That's ok I understand, even though my brother goes to Hogwarts too I hardly see him except when we're home. He's in Ravenclaw so since we're not in the same year or same house, it means we don't really see each other much Madi says with a sigh but then a small smile.

Madi smiled and answered when Alyssea asked what day her birthday was "oh my birthday is the 5th of July, what day is yours?" she asks back, swapping fudge flies for fizzing whizzbees and putting them on the table for the girls to share.

When the trolley witch was doing her rounds, she stopped by the girls compartment and Madi went over to the trolley, saying hello to her first. "Hi, could I have two packets of fizzing whizzbees, a packet of fudge flies and a cauldron cake please?" Madi asks her politely.

"Of course you can dearie" The lady says and hands Madi the treats in exchange for the coins before Madi looks at Alyssea "What are you gonna get Alyssea?" she asks with a giggle as Madi sits backs down so that Alyssea can see the trolley better.
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Once the trolley witch had moved on, Madi smiled when Alyssea agreed to her proposal that they sit together at dinner. "Great, it will be nice to sit with someone I know rather than sitting there with no one to talk to. I wonder what kind of feast we'll get this year though, last years dinner was so good, i felt like i'd grown a massive blueberry in my stomach" Madi said with a chuckle.

@Alyssea Brown