25 Oct 2023, 07:09
Farewells and a New Beginning
"Have you got everything, Cory? Books? Robes? Your toothbrush?" Corinthia's mother fussed and fretted, smoothing out her daughter's hair.
"Yes, Mam, I double-checked my trunk. And my satchel," she added quickly before her mother could interject. Wendy breathed a heavy, dramatic sigh of relief.
"Just looking out for you, my love," Wendy cooed, giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek before releasing her. Corinthia grimaced and pulled away, slightly embarrassed by her mother's tendency to gush in public. She turned to Callum.
"Hey. Thanks for taking the day off to say goodbye," she grinned, hugging her older brother fiercely.
"Of course, baby mountain goat," Callum said, ruffling Corinthia's hair. He liked calling her that due to her tendency to scramble on any rock she could find. "Take care, and make sure to write. Hopefully you'll save up enough to buy a good owl."
Corinthia grimaced. "Ew. Why do we have to use owls to write? Why can't we use ravens, or a falcon? You know, a cool bird?"
Callum chuckled. "I think owls are pretty cool. Remember, they're birds of prey, too." He leaned in closer, grinning wickedly. "Maybe when you send your first letter home, I can send you a dead mouse back."
"Don't you dare!" Corinthia squealed as he put her in a playful headlock. "Stop! You're messing up my hair! Mam's gonna kill you." She shot her mother a rueful glance. Wendy was too busy poking and prodding Corinthia's bags to make sure she had everything to notice. Callum gave his sister one last hug and let her go.
"Well, best be off, then. Good luck, Cory."
"Please write home, and make some friends! Be nice to your teachers, too!"
"I will, I will!" Corinthia had to shout over the noise of the growing crowd. It was nearly time. She grabbed the handle of her cart, heavy-laden with her trunk and book satchel. Turning to the platform between nine and ten, she hesitated slightly. Would running through it really work? Only one way to find out. Taking a deep breath, she began to run towards the pillar, closing her eyes in fear of collision...and opened them to reveal a majestic train. She let out her breath. Thank goodness!
~
Corinthia made her way down the train's corridor, searching for a free car. Most of them were already packed with students, some of whom seemed friendly--others, not so much. She doubted she'd find an empty one, having arrived at King's Cross Station at the last minute due to her morning sluggishness. She secretly hoped she'd find a car with one or two other first-years, just so she could make some friends; most of the kids on the train seemed older and much more well-established.
At last, she found an empty car towards the engine room. Sighing with relief, she slumped down on the bench inside, stretching out her legs. Maybe she could take a nap on the way there? No, she decided. Better stay awake, in case someone were to come in. She made herself comfortable as the train began to move, pulling out a small sketchbook and some charcoal pencils. Having camped in the Scottish Highlands numerous times, she knew she was bound to see some gorgeous scenery on the way there.
Half an hour later, Corinthia was comfortably sketching away, nibbling on a licorice wand. There were miles and miles of green, rolling hills and patches of forest outside her window, all of which she added to her drawing with zeal and enthusiasm. The licorice wand wasn't half bad, either. She was one of the few kids that didn't find black licorice completely repulsive. She hoped that Hogwarts would have sweets as unique as the ones she found on the train. She made a mental note to herself to snag a chocolate frog before disembarking.
"Yes, Mam, I double-checked my trunk. And my satchel," she added quickly before her mother could interject. Wendy breathed a heavy, dramatic sigh of relief.
"Just looking out for you, my love," Wendy cooed, giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek before releasing her. Corinthia grimaced and pulled away, slightly embarrassed by her mother's tendency to gush in public. She turned to Callum.
"Hey. Thanks for taking the day off to say goodbye," she grinned, hugging her older brother fiercely.
"Of course, baby mountain goat," Callum said, ruffling Corinthia's hair. He liked calling her that due to her tendency to scramble on any rock she could find. "Take care, and make sure to write. Hopefully you'll save up enough to buy a good owl."
Corinthia grimaced. "Ew. Why do we have to use owls to write? Why can't we use ravens, or a falcon? You know, a cool bird?"
Callum chuckled. "I think owls are pretty cool. Remember, they're birds of prey, too." He leaned in closer, grinning wickedly. "Maybe when you send your first letter home, I can send you a dead mouse back."
"Don't you dare!" Corinthia squealed as he put her in a playful headlock. "Stop! You're messing up my hair! Mam's gonna kill you." She shot her mother a rueful glance. Wendy was too busy poking and prodding Corinthia's bags to make sure she had everything to notice. Callum gave his sister one last hug and let her go.
"Well, best be off, then. Good luck, Cory."
"Please write home, and make some friends! Be nice to your teachers, too!"
"I will, I will!" Corinthia had to shout over the noise of the growing crowd. It was nearly time. She grabbed the handle of her cart, heavy-laden with her trunk and book satchel. Turning to the platform between nine and ten, she hesitated slightly. Would running through it really work? Only one way to find out. Taking a deep breath, she began to run towards the pillar, closing her eyes in fear of collision...and opened them to reveal a majestic train. She let out her breath. Thank goodness!
~
Corinthia made her way down the train's corridor, searching for a free car. Most of them were already packed with students, some of whom seemed friendly--others, not so much. She doubted she'd find an empty one, having arrived at King's Cross Station at the last minute due to her morning sluggishness. She secretly hoped she'd find a car with one or two other first-years, just so she could make some friends; most of the kids on the train seemed older and much more well-established.
At last, she found an empty car towards the engine room. Sighing with relief, she slumped down on the bench inside, stretching out her legs. Maybe she could take a nap on the way there? No, she decided. Better stay awake, in case someone were to come in. She made herself comfortable as the train began to move, pulling out a small sketchbook and some charcoal pencils. Having camped in the Scottish Highlands numerous times, she knew she was bound to see some gorgeous scenery on the way there.
Half an hour later, Corinthia was comfortably sketching away, nibbling on a licorice wand. There were miles and miles of green, rolling hills and patches of forest outside her window, all of which she added to her drawing with zeal and enthusiasm. The licorice wand wasn't half bad, either. She was one of the few kids that didn't find black licorice completely repulsive. She hoped that Hogwarts would have sweets as unique as the ones she found on the train. She made a mental note to herself to snag a chocolate frog before disembarking.
The fairies exchanged me for a human baby
25 Oct 2023, 13:14
Farewells and a New Beginning
"On you get, come on!"
Kierra's mother almost had to drag her gawping daughter towards the entrance to the noisy, old-fashioned train so she didn't miss it. Her grandmother followed closely behind. In contrast to her worry-stricken mother, her grandmother wore a gentle expression and gave her a reassuring nod as she boarded the train. Her trunks were pushed on soon after.
"Alright, now don't forget to change your robes." Her mother nagged for what felt like the thousandth time. "There's the apple slices in your bag, but should you still feel hungry, buy yourself something off the trolley. Have you got the change I gave you?"
Kierra absent-mindedly plunged a hand into the pockets of her brand-new denim jeans and felt the cold metal brush against her fingers, before nodding at her mother. Her legs were shaking a little, so she leaned back against her trunks as her mother continued to bombard her with more nagging and questions.
"Don't be too nervous, love." Her grandmother smiled at her, and Kierra nodded again, but couldn't bring herself to reply. It was like she'd lost her voice. The train sounded its horn and smoke evolved from the smokestack, signaling its departure. Her mother urged her inside after they bade their farewells one last time, her grandmother gave her another warm smile, and then Kierra stumbled onto the long corridors of the train that was lined with compartments on either side. She swallowed, before walking down towards one of them.
---
With trembling hands, Kierra clutched her trunks tightly as she trudged down the corridor of the train, her heart hammering wildly against her chest. She was afraid someone would hear it, at the rate it was going off. As the train began to move she jerked forward and almost tripped in the process. She adjusted her beige and brown sweater and dusted off her jeans, wondering if she was to keep searching for a cabin forever.
She didn’t even know how long she’d been dragging her trunks, desperately searching for an empty cabin. Her mother had warned her about the train being crowded before she boarded and had advised her to sit in whichever cabin came first. If it was occupied, the solution supplied to her was to simply ask if she could lodge there with the students. However, it seemed that her mother had not taken into consideration that the students in question were very intimidating to even make eye contact with, let alone ask for a seat. Even more so since she wasn’t much of a talker. Not to mention the cabins were packed enough as it is. So her reason for not asking any of the seniors for a seat was justified. According to her, at least.
The girl continued to hopelessly trek down towards the engine room, where at long last, she located a somewhat empty cabin with just one girl inside, looking about her age.
A frown crossed her features. She would have much rather preferred the entire cabin to herself. But seeing as she didn’t have too many options, and the train had begun to speed up already, she decided to put up with the company she’d found. Sliding the door open, she peered in and forced a small smile at the girl seated inside. Kierra willed her heart to stay still lest she stammered, and spoke.
“Hello, mind if I sit here? I couldn’t find any other empty cabins.” She asked quietly.
Kierra's mother almost had to drag her gawping daughter towards the entrance to the noisy, old-fashioned train so she didn't miss it. Her grandmother followed closely behind. In contrast to her worry-stricken mother, her grandmother wore a gentle expression and gave her a reassuring nod as she boarded the train. Her trunks were pushed on soon after.
"Alright, now don't forget to change your robes." Her mother nagged for what felt like the thousandth time. "There's the apple slices in your bag, but should you still feel hungry, buy yourself something off the trolley. Have you got the change I gave you?"
Kierra absent-mindedly plunged a hand into the pockets of her brand-new denim jeans and felt the cold metal brush against her fingers, before nodding at her mother. Her legs were shaking a little, so she leaned back against her trunks as her mother continued to bombard her with more nagging and questions.
"Don't be too nervous, love." Her grandmother smiled at her, and Kierra nodded again, but couldn't bring herself to reply. It was like she'd lost her voice. The train sounded its horn and smoke evolved from the smokestack, signaling its departure. Her mother urged her inside after they bade their farewells one last time, her grandmother gave her another warm smile, and then Kierra stumbled onto the long corridors of the train that was lined with compartments on either side. She swallowed, before walking down towards one of them.
---
With trembling hands, Kierra clutched her trunks tightly as she trudged down the corridor of the train, her heart hammering wildly against her chest. She was afraid someone would hear it, at the rate it was going off. As the train began to move she jerked forward and almost tripped in the process. She adjusted her beige and brown sweater and dusted off her jeans, wondering if she was to keep searching for a cabin forever.
She didn’t even know how long she’d been dragging her trunks, desperately searching for an empty cabin. Her mother had warned her about the train being crowded before she boarded and had advised her to sit in whichever cabin came first. If it was occupied, the solution supplied to her was to simply ask if she could lodge there with the students. However, it seemed that her mother had not taken into consideration that the students in question were very intimidating to even make eye contact with, let alone ask for a seat. Even more so since she wasn’t much of a talker. Not to mention the cabins were packed enough as it is. So her reason for not asking any of the seniors for a seat was justified. According to her, at least.
The girl continued to hopelessly trek down towards the engine room, where at long last, she located a somewhat empty cabin with just one girl inside, looking about her age.
A frown crossed her features. She would have much rather preferred the entire cabin to herself. But seeing as she didn’t have too many options, and the train had begun to speed up already, she decided to put up with the company she’d found. Sliding the door open, she peered in and forced a small smile at the girl seated inside. Kierra willed her heart to stay still lest she stammered, and spoke.
“Hello, mind if I sit here? I couldn’t find any other empty cabins.” She asked quietly.
27 Oct 2023, 00:39
Farewells and a New Beginning
Corinthia, deeply absorbed in her drawing, almost didn't hear the new person enter the car until a quiet voice sang out to her. She startled, accidentally bumping her head on the overhead compartment above her. "Ow!" She cried, rubbing her sore head. "Sorry," she apologized to the girl with an embarrassed smile. "I'm terribly clumsy. Go ahead and take a seat; no one else is in here but me." Resuming her previously-relaxed sitting state, Corinthia continued to draw.
The rough sketch soon transformed into a stunning Scottish landscape as the charcoals worked their magic. Her art skills were improving by the day. Shortly before the end of her most recent school year, her art teacher had proudly displayed one of Corinthia's landscapes on the classroom display board. She hoped that Hogwarts would have art classes, too, or maybe even a club. Satisfied, she erased the rough edges of the drawing with a small kneadable eraser, then put her sketchbook and art supplies back in her satchel.
Looking up, Corinthia suddenly remembered that there was another person in the car with her. "Goodness!" She exclaimed. "How rude of me. I was so focused on my drawing I totally forgot you were here. I'm Corinthia, but everyone just calls me Cory. What's your name?" She stuck out a charcoal-stained hand to shake. "I have one licorice wand left, by the way. You hungry?"
The rough sketch soon transformed into a stunning Scottish landscape as the charcoals worked their magic. Her art skills were improving by the day. Shortly before the end of her most recent school year, her art teacher had proudly displayed one of Corinthia's landscapes on the classroom display board. She hoped that Hogwarts would have art classes, too, or maybe even a club. Satisfied, she erased the rough edges of the drawing with a small kneadable eraser, then put her sketchbook and art supplies back in her satchel.
Looking up, Corinthia suddenly remembered that there was another person in the car with her. "Goodness!" She exclaimed. "How rude of me. I was so focused on my drawing I totally forgot you were here. I'm Corinthia, but everyone just calls me Cory. What's your name?" She stuck out a charcoal-stained hand to shake. "I have one licorice wand left, by the way. You hungry?"
The fairies exchanged me for a human baby