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Closed Hogwarts Express

'Bye Mom' she said as her mother patted her on the back before turning away, blowing a kiss on the way out. Her father and sister were standing right in front of the car, waving eagerly at her.

Kingscross was busy as usual, Margaret felt at ease in the crowd. She reached into her pocket to take out her ticket, she hadn't showed it to her parents. 9¾, really? Her mother would have caused a scene, asking every single person working here. But Margaret was on her own now. Was this all a hoax? This magic school, was it even real? Sighing loudly, she made her way towards platform 9 and 10, at least she knew these ones existed.

She stared blankly at the numbers. No. Only 9 and 10. People passed by and for the first time she noticed pointed hats, peculiar cloaks. Wizards? Not having anything else to do she followed this strange crowd, her eyes widening as they simply walked through the wall, right between 9 and 10. How could this be possible?

Margaret held her breath, clutch her bags as hard as she could and walked rapidly where others disappeared. If this was indeed all a joke, it was quite an elaborate one. Before her eyes was one of the most majestic trains she had ever seen, a rich shade of crimson. It had to be at least 100 years old. Steam filled the air and for the first time she stood out in this crowd. She seemed to be the only one perplexed by what she saw. A quick glance at her watch, she was right on time.


She walked towards the train, taking in the beauty and analyzing every little detail her eyes could make out. Hundreds of kids must of been here before her. Margaret looked at the crowd, imaging every single one the adults as kids, standing right where she stood.

The interior was perhaps even more stunning. She felt the secret history of this place seeping through the ground. Compartments, how funny. Margaret walked through a large group of eatery soon-to-be students, their heads out the windows, waving to relatives on the platform. Some were already dressed for the occasion. None of the compartments were free, unfortunately.

'Is this compartment free?'

The blond girl glanced up to her. 'Oh yeah of course'

Margaret nodded at her, carefully lifting her suitcase up above her head. She placed her bag beside her, she couldn't wait to paint the scenery. She took out her headphones but realized, much to her dismay, that they didn't work. She sighed and put them away. She stared at the girl, she seemed to fit perfectly. Strange, perhaps a child of wizards.

'So, tell me about this place, Hogwarts. Excited to get there?'

Word count: 465

Closed Hogwarts Express
Ava smiled warmly at Margaret as she settled into the compartment, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Oh, Hogwarts is amazing! It's like nothing you've ever experienced before," she began eagerly, leaning in closer. "There are four houses, each with its own unique traits and values. Gryffindor, where the brave and daring are; Ravenclaw, for the wise and curious; Hufflepuff, where loyalty and kindness reign supreme; and Slytherin, known for their ambition and cunning, but you probably already know that."
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Margaret listened intently, her curiosity piqued. "Wow, that sounds incredible! How do they decide which house you belong to?"

Ava giggled, her blonde curls bouncing with excitement. "Well, on the first day, we all get sorted into our houses by the Sorting Hat. It's this ancient hat that can see into your mind and heart, and it decides which house is the best fit for you."

Margaret's eyes widened in amazement. "That's so cool! I can't wait to see it."

Ava grinned, delighted by Margaret's enthusiasm. "I', sure you're going to love it, Margaret! There's so much to explore and discover."

As the train rattled along the tracks, Ava continued to share stories of her own anticipation leading up to this moment. "I couldn't sleep for weeks before coming here," she confessed, her voice filled with nostalgia. "I kept imagining all the adventures I'd have, the friends I'd make, and the magic I'd learn."
Closed Hogwarts Express
Contrary to what the girl thought, Margaret had no idea what to expect, she didn't know about the houses. Thinking about it now, she felt behind. Perhaps she could've read the books she bought, instead of jumping head first. Annoyed at herself she tried to keep on a straight face.

'That's so cool, I can't wait to see it.'

It was more than cool to her. She loved travelling, and getting sorted based on your personality seemed... perfect. She'd be able to meet people like her, navigating friendships wasn't something she was terribly fond of.

'Honestly, no, I didn't know that' she blurted out. 'But thanks for the info.'

She looked around. That answer probably seemed a little cold.

'So, do you have a favorite house? Oh and also, why on earth are headphones not working here?'

Not listening to music was going to be something to get used to, if the magical world didn't have that sort of thing, they were ironically behind. How do people with powers live like this? Normal people didn't have magical wands to do their bidding and still managed to stop living like the 1800s. There was a lot more getting used to than she anticipated. The magnificent train she sat it now seemed old, she felt like she was travelling in time. She sighed, hoping that boredom wouldn't take over her year there.

Wondering what the rest of the train looked liked, Margaret got on her feet, heading towards the sliding door.

'I guess I'll see you around.' she said, a slight smirk on her face.

- Margaret has left the thread -

Word count: 240
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