Closed To hogwarts I/We go

Luke was lost in thought as he thought back to his conversation with Julia. ‘Oh my goodness, what if she didn’t really need to go to the bathroom? What if I freaked her out with all my talking? Why do I talk so much? Why do I talk so much in class? I need to pay more attention. What if I just ruined my first chance with a new friend? Gosh, Luke, why can’t you just-’

“Ello? Luke?” An unfamiliar voice sounded outside the cabin as he heard someone’s knuckles rapping on the door a few times.

“Erm, yeah. That’s me? Come in?” Luke was intrigued as to who this new person was and why they knew his name, but it sounded like they were someone his age, and he figured maybe Julia had told them his name. ‘Ah, yes. They probably met in the hallway.’ That made Luke feel a bit better. “Come in!” he repeated, more confidently this time.

On cue, the cabin door slid open, revealing a tall, lanky boy with gorgeous, somewhat fluffy dark hair, glasses, and olive skin. He gave a friendly aura about him, though more of a calm vibe than
Luke’s ferociously friendly one he had been told he had, the one where no one and nothing would stop him from making friends with someone if he wanted to. No, this boy seemed rather relaxed, kind, and curious, and Luke could tell he liked him already.

“Hello!” He grinned, running his left hand through his hair while sticking his right hand out for a handshake. “Lucas Andrew Wilhelm, you can call me Luke! What’s your name? Do you know Julia yet? Is she nice? Did she tell you to sit here?”

A sinking feeling in his stomach made Luke realize he was rambling again. ‘Calm down, you idiot. You don’t want to scare every new friend off.’ Trying to calm himself, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes momentarily. He then got to his feet realizing it was somewhat awkward for the boy to shake his hand if they had a two foot difference. ‘Whoa, this guy is taller than me!’ Luke noted. This didn’t happen a lot- Luke was pretty tall for his age, and he took pride in it. It felt strange having to glance up at someone to meet them in the eye. Speaking of eyes, the new boy had deep brown ones that reminded him of hot chocolate on a frosty December day. It was comforting.

“Erm, yeah. That’s me? Come in?”

The voice inside sounded a bit apprehensive at first, but still kind. It sounded like a boy, perhaps his age. Before Jacob could respond, a stronger "Come in!" quickly followed, and Jacob pushed open the cabin door with an excited smile.

Through the door was a boy about Jacob's age with messy brown hair and a killer smile that immediately gave Jacob a warm feeling of comfort and safety. This boy seemed to have a natural friendliness about him. Jacob's eyes caught his, both a bright emerald green that seemed to twinkle when they met his gaze.

“Hello! Lucas Andrew Wilhelm, you can call me Luke! What’s your name? Do you know Julia yet? Is she nice? Did she tell you to sit here?”

Luke tossed his hair gently while reaching for a handshake. Man, this guy was smooth. Jacob couldn't help but feel a little intimidated and in awe of this kid with such natural charisma and seeming self-assurance. Though looking deeper, he did notice that Luke wasn't taking a breath between his questions, and wondered for a fleeting moment if the confidence was a front for deeper feelings. The thought passed quickly though, as Jacob was already beginning to forget all the questions he was just asked.

"Hey Luke! Great to meet ya, mate. My name's Jacob, or Jake, or anything really." He chuckled. Jacob's siblings called him every name under the sun (usually not mean names), so he didn't feel he had much of a strong identity to any particular name or nickname. "I just met Julia in the hall. Well, smashed into her, really. I sorta hit her with the bathroom door accidentally as I was coming out. She seems real nice though! For real, I just smacked her with a door and she asked if I wanted to sit with you all, so I think she gets the niceness award for the day. Yeah, she said she was gonna get changed real quick. Are we supposed to be changing into our robes already? And is it alright if I join your cabin? I don’t want to intrude.”

As Luke waited for a response, his mind briefly got carried away. ‘What if I just met my two best friends? Like those trios in all those movies! That would be awesome!’ He returned to reality when the boy spoke.

“Hey Luke! Great to meet ya, mate. My name's Jacob, or Jake, or anything really." His voice was warm and inviting, and when he let out a laugh, Luke realized he had had a pretty accurate first impression of Jake- friendly and calm.

Jake continued, and Luke hung onto every word, captivated by his presence that was almost like sitting by a warm fire in the woods, sipping cocoa on Christmas Eve. “I just met Julia in the hall. Well, smashed into her, really. I sorta hit her with the bathroom door accidentally as I was coming out. She seems real nice though! For real, I just smacked her with a door and she asked if I wanted to sit with you all, so I think she gets the niceness award for the day. Yeah, she said she was gonna get changed real quick. Are we supposed to be changing into our robes already? And is it alright if I join your cabin? I don’t want to intrude.”

‘Ah, so he did meet Julia in the hallway.’ Luke paused and nodded when Jake commented on how kind Julia was. “You can say that again! She seems super cool. And she asks a lot of questions, which is good, because I’m the talkative sort- as if you hadn’t figured that out already,” he added, letting out a brief but genuine laugh. “And after Julia comes back, I guess one of us can go change. We won’t be on the train forever, so better be prepared.” Jake asked if it was ok if he joined the cabin, to which Luke replied a hearty yes. More is better, was his philosophy (actually, it was all’s well that ends well to end up with you, which was a lyric from a Taylor Swift song he had heard and really liked. He was super social and people-oriented, so he felt this applied to his thought that everything would be ok if he stuck with his friends and family- but more is better was generally true for him as well).

“You can say that again! She seems super cool. And she asks a lot of questions, which is good, because I’m the talkative sort- as if you hadn’t figured that out already,” he added, letting out a brief but genuine laugh. “And after Julia comes back, I guess one of us can go change. We won’t be on the train forever, so better be prepared.”

Jacob felt himself relax as Luke spoke. His smile, his laughter, his demenor, it was all so infectious, and Jacob settled himself happily onto the opposite bench in the cabin. Luke seemed like someone Jake really hoped to become good friends with, someone he could look to for familiarity and comfort as they entered this new adventure of Hogwarts.

"Yeah best we are ready for anything. It's my first time on the Express. Are you a first year, too? I've been to muggle school and that was fun, but I am absolutely buzzing about getting to finally learn magic. I feel like I'm so behind already, all my siblings are older than me and have all gone to Hogwarts. Do you have any siblings? And what are you most excited to start learning? I can't wait to get to the library. And experiment in potions!"

Jacob looked expectantly at his new friend, excited to have someone to share this experience with. I love Jewel, but I'm so glad I decided to find people my age. I would have been tempted to just hide behind her. Having this experience together is fun already. He thought of all the adventures his siblings have talked about at home, about meeting friends and discovering new talents. The feeling on the train, the general hum of anticipation, joy, and a little bit of fear in the air felt magical all itself.

After meticulously adjusting her Hogwarts attire, Julia decided to keep her hairband on, wanting to maintain a touch of her own style amidst the magical world she was about to enter. As she made her way back to the cabin where her family was seated, a whirlwind of thoughts danced in her mind. She couldn't help but wonder about the connection she had felt with Luke, the boy she had met on the train. Their conversation had flowed effortlessly, as if they had known each other for years. Julia couldn't help but hope that they were indeed friends, even though they had just met. And then there was Jacob, the person she had accidentally bumped into earlier. She wondered if he would be open to forming a friendship as well.Lost in her musings, Julia approached the cabin door, her senses suddenly alert to the sound of voices seeping through the cracks. Curiosity piqued, she decided to exercise caution and discreetly lingered outside for a few minutes, eavesdropping on the conversation within. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Julia gathered the courage to announce her presence with a soft knock on the door. But just as she was about to do so, a peculiar sight caught her eye. The Trolley Witch, a mystical figure with an air of wisdom and a slight hunch in her back, appeared in the corridor, clad in pink-gray clothing that seemed to blend perfectly with her surroundings.

She knocked on the door and said ´´ Hi I’m back Luke, mmm Jacob`` she waited until they said she could come in.

``Of course, Jake and I were just chatting!``

With a deep breath, she prepared herself to enter the cabin and continue her conversation with Luke and Jacob, eager to explore the magical world that awaited her.

As Luke was about to respond, a rap on the door had him stopped, followed by Julia’s voice requesting if she could enter. “Of course, Jake and I were just chatting!” As Julia slowly slid the door open then walked back in, Luke turned back to Jake and tried to recall what he was saying.

“Let’s see- I am a first year as well, I turned 11 in March. And erm, I only went to a muggle school until I was six or so, which is when my family discovered I was a wizard. That was when my mum pulled me out- not much was different from regular school than with her, but she did teach me to manage my emotions so I wouldn’t have random magic outbursts, and I read a few books on Hogwarts and the wizarding world.” Taking a breath, Luke stretched his muscles before continuing.

“I do have one sibling, a brother Matthew. He just turned 14 a few weeks ago. As for what I’m most excited for- I love animals with all my heart, so magical beasts, but I’m pretty sure that’s a third year class anyway. So, at least this year, charms. I mean, I’ve never really used a wand before, and this is all the basics I suppose! Should be fun. I guess potions will be alright, too,” he added, referencing Jake’s apparent eagerness to start that class. “But I don’t really want to be cooped up in a dungeon for too long. I like being outside. But on the ground. Most definitely not in the air.”

As Luke leaned back against the cushiony seat, he decided he would be next to change. “If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go change into my robes. I’ll be back in a second.” Luke scooted out of the compartment and as he did a slight jog down the hallway, he felt elated at how well this experience was going. “Gosh, it’s really cool to know some magical people my age. The only non-muggle in all of Redditch is my mum! As far as I know.’ He then entered the restroom.

“If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go change into my robes. I’ll be back in a second.” Luke suggested, scooting towards the door of the compartment. I chuckled softly. "Sure, take your time, Luke. We'll be right here," I assured him. As Luke left, I turned my attention back to Jacob, who seemed a bit reserved. "So Jacob, how are you doing? We didn't get a chance to talk much before I went to change," I said, trying to break the ice. I noticed his curiosity towards Luke's background and preferences. It was refreshing to see someone so eager to learn about others. A smile played on my lips as I continued, "I overheard your questions to Luke earlier. It's great to see that you're so interested in getting to know your fellow students. It's always fascinating to learn about the different houses and favorite lessons, isn't it?" As I spoke, my gaze wandered to the window, where the passing landscape blurred into a colorful mosaic. The excitement of starting a new chapter at Hogwarts filled me with both anticipation and a hint of nervousness. However, I couldn't help but let my attention wander to the trolley lady, pushing her cart filled with delectable treats. "Oh, but I must admit, my attention was momentarily diverted by the trolley lady. I have

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD), so sometimes my focus tends to shift unexpectedly," I confessed, hoping Jacob wouldn't think I was being rude.

Jacob was glad to see Julia again as she stepped through the doorway, but quickly turned his attention back to Luke as he answered Jacob's earlier questions.

“Let’s see- I am a first year as well, I turned 11 in March. And erm, I only went to a muggle school until I was six or so, which is when my family discovered I was a wizard. That was when my mum pulled me out- not much was different from regular school than with her, but she did teach me to manage my emotions so I wouldn’t have random magic outbursts, and I read a few books on Hogwarts and the wizarding world.”

So Luke had attended muggle school as well! At least for a little bit. Jacob's eyes lit up as this was possibly a connection he and Luke could bond over, and help each other as they entered a very different kind of education. And he likes books! Jacob felt more calm and settled, feeling a small sense of belonging he didn't expect.

“I do have one sibling, a brother Matthew. He just turned 14 a few weeks ago. As for what I’m most excited for- I love animals with all my heart, so magical beasts, but I’m pretty sure that’s a third year class anyway. So, at least this year, charms. I mean, I’ve never really used a wand before, and this is all the basics I suppose! Should be fun. I guess potions will be alright, too. But I don’t really want to be cooped up in a dungeon for too long. I like being outside. But on the ground. Most definitely not in the air.”

An older sibling! Perhaps Luke's brother Matthew and Jacob's sister Jewel knew each other. He would ask Jewel after they got to Hogwarts. And an animal lover? Animals always scare Jacob a bit, so the idea of Care of Magical Creatures is intimidating. He's glad to hear that's a third year class.

"I'll make sure to stick on you if any terrifying monsters come out of the Forbidden Forest!" Jacob chuckled with a nervous grin. "I like being outside alright, but I could stay inside reading for hours, especially with a good cup of tea. And no air? Not a broomstick fan, eh? I can't wait to get riding, what a rush! Though I can be kinda awkward, yeah, so the likelihood of me hurting myself is... pretty high."

Jacob was enjoying the exchange, but understood when Luke decided to duck out next and change into his robes. He nodded to Luke, then turned to Julia. She spoke up first, and Jacob was grateful for the lack of awkward silence.

"So Jacob, how are you doing? We didn't get a chance to talk much before I went to change, I overheard your questions to Luke earlier. It's great to see that you're so interested in getting to know your fellow students. It's always fascinating to learn about the different houses and favorite lessons, isn't it?"

"Oh, bet! I just can't wait to actually be there and get to learn hands-on by some of the greatest witches and wizards in the world! I feel so lucky. I've been so jealous of my older siblings, always feeling a step behind, ya know? But now, now its time to get to step up and show what I've got! Not that I've got much of anything yet, but I will. I'm going to study and work really hard. Mum says if I apply myself and listen to my professors I could really be something some day, but I don't even know what I want to be, I just want to learn all there is to learn."

Jacob noticed he had started to drift into a monologue a bit and felt embarrassed. Julia seemed to not be very interested in what he was saying.

"So, yeah, anyways, tell me about you?"

"Oh, but I must admit, my attention was momentarily diverted by the trolley lady. I have
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), so sometimes my focus tends to shift unexpectedly."

"Oh I've heard of ADHD, my sister Jewel has that, too! Cool! Though she says it makes studying hard sometimes. Have you ever been to school before? What's it like for you having ADHD, if you are alright talking about it? I know I'm a stranger so we don't have to talk about it either, totally up to you." Jacob gave a warm smile, hoping to show that this was a safe space and he really was interested in her experience. "Oh, and do you want something from the trolley? My mum gave me a little money to get a treat or two."

OOC: Sorry I have been MIA! I was on a trip and it was wild. I'm back now!

Luke exited the washroom in fresh new generic Hogwarts robes. He couldn't wait until their trimming turned into the color of his house- red, hopefully! It's not like any other house would be terrible but Gryffindor seemed rather cool and all of his cousins were there. Though, he didn't like them too much anyway so perhaps it would be for the best if he got sorted elsewhere.

As he was walking down the aisle back towards Jake and Julia, he noticed a plump elderly lady making her way towards him, stopping every so often when kids came up to her. 'Oh, wicked! Sweets!' Luke picked up his pace, rummaging around in his pockets for the few sickles his mum had given him for this very purpose. He approcahed the kind old woman and held out the currency.

"Hello, erm... one pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans... thanks..." Luke trailed off, mulling the options over. "And a chocolate frog please!" The lady nodded, smiling and taking out the two items he had asked for. In exchange, Luke placed the few sickles in the little money-collecting can on the trolley and slid past it, reaching the compartment with his new friends. Not bothering to knock since he knew no one would be in there changing, he slid open the door and plopped back inside across from Jake and Julia, catching something about ADHD.

"Oh, do you guys have ADHD? Me too. It's kind of annoying because I can't read for long periods of time, even though it seems kind of cool. I mean, the parts of books I do read are usually pretty interesting but I lose focus after 20 minutes. Overall, not that into books... but if they're engaging or fun enough then I can read for like... 45 minutes!"

Luke took a breath and rested his chin on his hand. "Sorry for interrupting. Talking is one of my strong points. You guys want some candy? The trolly lady will be here in like two minutes. I got some of my own- Bertie Bott's and a Chocolate Frog. They look bloody awesome! I can share if you want! And you guys can get other stuff, and share it too, so we all try a little bit of something!"

OOC: No problem, totally understand! Hope the trip was fun!

"Hey Luke! Welcome back, mate, Julia was just telling me she has ADHD and my sister Jewel has it, too! I love to read, it would be really tough if I couldn't read for long periods of time, since that's most of what I do. Reading is my happy place. And the trolly is coming? FINALLY. Thanks for the offer, but I want to buy something off her myself. Gotta get all the "firsts" to tell the siblings about back home, ya know?"

Jacob jumped up and opened the cab door to see the trolly lady not far down the isle.

"Be right back!"

He walked quickly over to the trolly lady, excited to buy his very first chocolate frog and pumpkin pasty with the knuts his mum gave him for the trip. A couple older Ravenclaw girls were buying some sweets, and he waited patiently for his turn.

"Hey," one of the older girls called to him, "is this a brand new first year I see before me?"

"Who, me? Uhm, yes, brand new first year here! My name's Jacob."

"I'm Selene. Guess I'll be seeing you around the castle then, Jacob. Be careful, its a dangerous place." She gave him a look over that made him feel really self conscious, and shut the cab door.

"She seems nice!" Said the seemingly ever cheery trolly lady. "Can I get you anything, deary?"

Pretty shaken up, Jacob quickly bought his treats and went back to his cabin.

"I just met some older girl named Selene. And honestly, she's kinda terrifying guys. Gave me chills."

Jacob shivered. Something about that girl got his hair standing up on the back of his neck. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her felt off. Or maybe she was just trying to freak him out. Fresh meat, and all that.