A First Year Entrance First Years Only

The boat ride was daunting to say the least. As a horde of first years converged on the banks and the loud voice called to order, Isaac stared at the bobbing reflections of the lanterns on the water, gleaming gold. The stars shone above and he felt ridiculous standing in a cloak, but his sorting ceremony was soon, and he was nervous too.

Perched on the bank, all of the other voices blurred away, leaving only his own concentration. The second that the boats were ready to board, he embarked on shaky legs, leaping into the boat.

A splash soared out and a couple of students were soaked, causing them to shout angrily at him. He called a half-apology over his shoulder, but wasn't really concentrating. Suddenly, the boat began to tilt wildly on its own, causing him to yelp. His cloak, already sopping wet, flipped upwards and blinded his face as he fell over.

Good going Isaac. You bloody fool. You just got dry from the train ride! he thought savagely, pulling himself onto his feet. With his soggy shoes, he treaded water, memories of swimming coming back to him. A few powerful strokes sent him back to shore, hopelessly soaked again and ready for his first year.

Well it can't get any worse, can it?

When the train came to a halt, Angellica held her breath as she hugged her copy of Hogwarts: A History she had perused between discussions with peers. She had met people, and as quickly as they had come in contact, life seemed to have taken them apart. The trunks were being taken away, to be found in dorms later that evening after the sorting ceremony. While the older kids were comfortably chatting as they made their way in the opposite direction, the blonde stood on the platform, taking in information, and yet not quite capable of motion beyond a quiet nod.

Soon she was ushered with the other first years to the edges of the lake, nestled in small boats. She had managed to sit on the side, her gaze falling on the darkness that was the water. She could have sworn she saw movement and if she hadn't read about the Giant Squid living within the waters, she might have been scared rather than fascinated. It was odd, she wasn't enjoying being on the water by any means, in fact, she seldom enjoyed the feel of her feet not being on solid ground, yet there was too much data going about for her to overthink her situation. There would be plenty of time for that, but right then, it was all about seeing what she had read about and being mesmerized by the lights ahead.

The castle perched on a small mound in the distance, looming over as they drew closer. The lights were warm, inviting, a sight she wasn't quite familiar with. The amber of the lights held a promise within them she hoped was true. She thirsted for knowledge and power, and Hogwarts had produced some of the world's greatest wizards. Some of the darkest, but mainly the greatest, footsteps she hoped she could follow in. Footsteps she would pursue at any cost in her quest to prove her worth in her father's eyes.

Brielle was nothing but relieved when the train had come to a stop. If she had stayed on any longer she thinks she might have been sick.

Fortunately, Brielle made friends with most of her peers in her compartment. Of course, there was one that didn't like her very much, but Brielle just ignored her.

As all the children were evacuated off the train, she noticed some older children, third year or so, speaking together in groups adequately. Of course, Brielle was a tad bit intimidated by their stares, but she shook it off and followed the rest of the first years to the lines of the lake.

As they reached closer to the marvelous castle, she could see it in all its glory. Brielle was full of mixed emotions; Happy, scared, amazed, nervous... The list went on for her.

As the boat hit the shore, she and the others scrambled out of the boat, while listening to what will take place when we go inside. They told us about the sorting ceremony. Brielle prayed that the sorting hat places her well.

She noticed a Blonde headed girl beside her staring up at the old castle. She carried the book Hogwarts; A history. She seemed so full of joy and pride, and Brielle couldn't help but match it.

As Martyn made his way off of the Hogwarts Express, the great crowd of students ushering him along the path away from the train, he quickly found himself separated from the only person he sort of knew.

Not that it mattered all too much, anyways; now that he was away from the relative privacy of his own small compartment, and back among the mass of his peers, his social anxiety quickly returned. Being stuck in a crowd of so many people at once sucked out any remaining energy he might have had to use to talk to people.

Instead, he found himself turning his attention elsewhere as the First Years were separated out from the rest of the crowd and ushered onto small boats, simultaneously trying to keep up as well as attempting to look over the heads of the other students towards the glow of a building in the distance; he could just make out the top portions of the school, though not in great detail.

Thankfully, blessedly, Martyn seemed to find himself on one of the final boats to push off, which meant that his was slightly less crowded than some of the first ones that had already shoved off into the water. Though some of his fellow passengers entertained themselves with conversation or laughter, for the most part silence quickly settled over them as each of them felt their anticipation rising.

Then, twinkling with light like the stars in the distance, he caught his first full glimpse of Hogwarts, and in that moment all of his anxiety and fears fell away, replaced with a simple thought.

Wow.

Martyn wasn't sure what it was he had been expecting, but his imagination paled in comparison to actually seeing the school for himself. Even from here, before he got close, he could tell it was ancient; yet, at the same time, that age only seemed to lend Hogwarts a silent pride, or strength. Lit in the night by, he assumed, either torchlight or magic, it was impossible for one's eyes not to be drawn towards it. It commanded his attention like he would think it commanded the attention of every other First Year there.

Or maybe not, he thought with a hint of annoyance, as two of the other students on his boat burst into a round of laughter, interrupting the quiet wonder of the moment.

Sighing, he hunched back in his seat on the boat, shrugging it off. It wasn't as if he would say anything to them, anyways, and soon enough he would be able to walk the halls of Hogwarts for himself, and experience its wonder up close. That thought made him smile. Then he thought about the library a place like this had to have, and his smile grew wider, before one of other First Years next to him noticed Martyn smiling to himself and he realized how odd it must be to see him sitting there grinning like a fool.

He turned red and looked down, and remembered once more that he was entering a very different world from the one he had grown up in. He would have to try and get used to constantly being surrounding by the other students, his peers; after so long never getting to spend any time with children his own age, there would have to be an adjustment period before he felt comfortable enough not to burn red or flinch anytime he did something that might draw too much attention to himself.

Martyn simply wasn't a fan of attention.

Hogwarts loomed closer and closer now, as he returned his focus to what lay ahead of him. He could see where the boats were coming to a stop, and the old stairs that wound their way up to the castle proper. Lights glistened along the stairs like they did above, making sure that everyone could see their path clearly.

As his own boat finally came creaking to a halt, and the other students stood and stepped off, Martyn felt his heart race as he followed suit, trying to swallow the lump in his throat as he joined the press of students heading up into the school.

Into Hogwarts.

The place where, he hoped, all of his dreams of adventure might come true.

If he managed to stop being so awkward all the time, anyways.

MARTYN RAND EXITS THE THREAD

I really hope I don’t get motion sickness.

Clara sighed as the slow methodical rocking of the train slowly began to disturb her stomach. Did wizards even have toilets? For her sake and the sake of the magical janitors, she really hoped they did.  She had been lucky enough to find an empty compartment, so at least if she vomited it wouldn’t be on another person.

Usually the brunette was more careful about these things, bringing medicine and distracting herself, but she had thought that with the whole magic thing, they would at least spelled the train to move smoothly. Apparently not though, because her stomach felt like that feeling you get after drinking orange juice and grinding your teeth. After a while, Clara slowly resigned herself to the never ending discomfort and decided to try to take a nap. So far, she hadn’t heard any accounts of anyone vomiting while sleeping, and hopefully she wouldn’t be the first.

When she woke up, the train was coming to a stop. She practically cried in relief, and rushed off the metal vomit trap. What she saw on the outside though was... blinding to say the least.

“Bloody hell,” Clara gaped at the mystical magic lake with a bloody castle,”that thing’s probably worth more than my entire family.” She definitely got some strange looks from other newcomers, but bloody hell this place must be expensive. Maybe if she tried hard enough she could nick a fork of something and support her family for a decade. Her train of thought was cut off by a woman yelling instructions in front. Maybe this being a witch thing would actually be fun.

The cool air blew pieces of Katey's hair into her face as she walked down to the great lake. Since the sorting hat ceremony, she had been so busy meeting new friends and exploring the castle that she hadn't had much time to get outside and explore the impressive grounds. Though she didn't much like deep bodies of water - or the creatures that lived in them - Katey's breath was taken away by the picturesque scene. Closer to the shore, older students were standing on the sand laughing and skipping rocks, and a group of girls sat on a nearby log and giggled here and there as they shared bits of gossip with each other.

A bit further back from the shore, a secluded piece of flat rock was untouched by moss and Katey walked over to take a seat. She pulled out a book from her bag, but waited a few minutes before opening it. Something about the beautiful scenery and the laughter created by nearby students made her want to remember this moment forever. The solitude and peace comforted her and she felt connected to the school like she never had before. With each breath, her body was filled with the same air breathed by those before her: powerful magicians, brilliant minds, and the kindest of souls. One couldn't help being inspired by all that had come before her, and the idea of all that was yet to come.

Sage Calloway was excited the whole way to Hogwarts. She couldn't believe her luck, finding out that she was actually a witch, even though neither of her parents were magical. The train journey was exciting at first, but very boring after the third hour; she just wanted to get to Hogwarts! She had read all about Hogwarts and the magical world, devouring every single one of her textbooks that she'd purchased at Diagon Alley, and she couldn't wait to see it for the first time. She was sure that what she had imagined was nothing compared to the real thing.

When the train slowed, and students began disembarking, she followed the orders given to them all: she left her luggage on the train, and she hopped out onto the platform. She heard a voice, asking first years to follow, so she quickly joined the rest of the first years as they walked down towards... a lake!

There was a little fleet of boats, and once they were instructed to climb into them, Sage joined a group of three people already in their boat. She did not speak to them, for she was too busy looking all around her, trying to take everything in.

This was it, she thought to herself. Any moment now, she would be at Hogwarts. The boats began to move forwards, and Sage could barely stay seated; she wanted to stand up so she could see just a little bit more of everything, but somehow she made herself remain seated. She ducked when they were told to duck, and when she looked up - oh, it was marvellous. The castle was towering over them all, elegant and beautiful. Sage's breath caught in her throat; this was her new home, and she could not imagine anywhere more perfect.

When Landon hopped off the train, he felt a brief moment of homesickness. The reality of being so far from home had hit him like a ton of bricks when fellow students, strangers, rushed passed him and were already making their way to their different means of transportation. He didn’t really know anyone aside from the brief interactions he had on the train ride here. The longest conversation he actually had was with the snack cart-lady who found a special interest in his mother’s work as a social worker. The concept seemed to be lost on her and he filled the conversation with the intricacies of social justice issues when it came to foster case and juvenile cases. In return, she had gifted him with a handful of candy that he had found as a great source of distraction for the rest of the train ride.

But no, with his inventory depleted and standing in the midst of people he didn’t know and in a world he wasn’t familiar with – the pang of his old life came back. Sighing, he shouldered the duffle bag and grabbed the handle of his suitcase, making his way through the moving crowd. He had no idea where he was going and he was halfway toward a pair of carriages that had no horses in site, behind a pair of tall older boys. They barely acknowledged him and he felt small in more ways than one in that moment.

A boom female voice sounded to his life for all first years to make their way toward her and with cheek’s painted pink, Landon changed direction and walked toward the voice which announced again, “leave all your baggage where it is,” and the light shade of pink turned bright red when he abandoned his luggage close to the platform. He was not off to a good start and despite the fact that some other new students had made similar mistakes, it did not lessen his embarrassment.

The short walk behind other eleven year-olds brought him to an opening that stretched out to a dark shimmering lake. When they were directed to get onto a boat, Landon hurriedly found a spot on one of the last boats that were being pushed out into the water. Getting comfortable, Landon sat at the farthest end of the boat to watch the reflective pool twinkle with the stars above. It was eerily quiet despite the soft murmurs from kids around him.

When the boat began to skim through the water by its own accord, Landon found himself mesmerized by the experience. He had very few experiences with magic since his own manifested and since then he found himself looking and wondering how it seemed to work. It was one of the disadvantages of coming from non-magical parents.

The peaceful boat ride made Landon privy of just how large the lake was and the surrounding grounds of the school. When they met a bend and turned slightly, Landon was presented with a magnificent castle where lanterns floated along the shores and the lights seemed to glow so brightly that it cut through the dense fog that hung above the water. Students all around gasped and paid tribute to seeing Hogwarts for the first time.

But for Landon, the anxiousness and nostalgia of home creeped back in. He hoped that his experiences within those walls would be good ones because one wrong step and his parents made it clear that he would be sent back home, no questions asked.

He whispered to himself, barely audible for anyone else to hear – “Welcome home, Landon.”

Casper was squished into a boat with a handful of other bright-eyed students, all whispering and pointing up to the castle. Yes, he did have to admit, it was an amazing sight. Nothing he'd ever seen before.

But it was still an isolating experience. He hadn't talked to anyone on the train ride, didn't know anyone in the whole school. Sure he'd had a couple of friends back home, but they were all muggles, and he always got the feeling they didn't care for him much. He could understand that.

Sitting in the rocky boat as it floated closer to the docks, he looked up at the shining castle and for once he hoped. He hoped that maybe he'd find friends. Or even maybe one friend. He wasn't picky. He hoped he would do well in school. He hoped his dad would find pride in his son's grades and maybe he'd come back home for the Summer. He hoped he'd be accepted to a house that wasn't filled with people that might outcast him. He hoped the teachers would be nice and the food would be as good as the stuff back home.

And he most especially hoped he wouldn't vomit from sea-sickness on his first day at Hogwarts.

@Amelia Boux

Teiki Laurent had just gotten off the train. She tried to stay close to Amelia while also slowly getting closer towards the docks. The view was marvelous. Everything felt so... surreal. It was a wonderful site with the castle looming overhead. She gasped and whirled round to find Amelia. When she found her, she smiled.
"Have you ever seen such a beautiful site? It's marvelous. Do you think they can illuminate the castle with one spell? Or would it take multiple? Or do they even use spells? It's so pretty!" She exclaimed, glancing between the castle and her friend. She had heard that this sort of entrance was only for First Years, so she wanted to make sure to remember this experience. The water, the castle, the small boats with their lanterns reflecting in the water. It was picturesque. Teiki went to a lonely boat, with no one inside it yet. She tried to wave at Amelia to get her attention. If this worked, she would ask Amelia if she(Amelia) would like to join her(Teiki). If the waving didn't get her attention, she would continue waving and eventually leave the boat, hoping no one would take it, in order to get Amelia's attention.

(OOC: Sorry, just trying to make sure I didn't control your character...)