Closed Foundations PV Charlotte Winfield

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As she took her first steps onto the Hogwarts Express, Lottie felt a twisting feeling in her gut. It was an odd feeling to her, one she had nearly attributed to the light cold her sister had caught a few days before. She knew it was more than that, but the source for the feeling wasn't from homesickness or nerves. No, it was from guilt.

For the weeks leading up to her departure, she had been giddy with some mix of relief and excitement. The latter was obviously because she was going to be attending one of the most renowned magic schools in all of the continent, an obvious reason for excitement. But the former had been sourced from something much more bitter than that, a kind of yearning she had felt, not to go, but to be gone. The incessant cold that had drifted through their house had been bare and sour, her parents hardly speaking to anyone and preferring to stay locked away in their respective offices rather than spare so much as a glance at their children. It had been unbearable, making Hogwarts seem like the perfect escape, at least just for the year.

Now, the reason for the hollowness back at home was pretty obvious. Lottie's sister had just left after all, and it didn't seem like she had any plans on coming back. The only one who she really stayed in touch with was Lottie, and their letters had become a lifeline for the younger girl. She felt around her messengers bag every now and then just to make sure she could still feel the slightly crinkled outline of her latest letter through the fabric of her bag. Once she was sure it was still there, she began her walk down the aisle.

As she peaked into each compartment, she saw other students of varying ages laughing and playing, clearly happy to be starting their school year, for the first time or not. A few of the younger students were crying in their compartments, left to the comfort of their friends, or just by themselves. Although that meant there were openings, Lottie wasn't too intent on sitting with someone who was just going to blubber their whole way there.

It was becoming increasingly obvious to her as she went that she would either have to squeeze in with a larger group or spend the whole ride with someone just as uncomfortable as she was. And if there was anything a person who wasn't keen on interaction knew, it was that two awkward people were far worse than one.

As she made her way down the rows of seats, she felt that guilt in her stomach turn into something more like a sinking, misplaced feeling. She was about to just spend the whole ride standing in the aisle when her eyes caught sight of a lone girl in one of the compartments. She had short, ginger hair and a fairly calm, domestic look to her. She was reading a book Lottie couldn't quite catch the name of, but the fact that she was reading at all was a massive green flag in the first year's eyes. It meant quiet.

Carefully, she opened the door to the compartment and stepped in so that she was no longer in the way of passersby. "Excuse me," she said in a polite, practiced tone, "May I sit here?"

@Avery McCall

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The sound of a cordial voice from the entryway draws Avery's waning attention towards the door. The second year blinks up at the girl standing at the opening of the compartment. There is a moment of inertia as she tries to recall if she'd ever seen the girl before. When all she draws blanks, the Hufflepuff pushes herself back into motion and offers up an inclination of her head in greeting. "Yeah. Yeah, of course," she answers with a small smile. With the invitation in the air, she closes the book and sets it aside before slightly straightening out her slouched posture.

Avery remains quiet for a moment to allow the other girl to settle, stealing a glance out the window at the station outside. Wouldn't be long now before they took off if her estimations were correct. The sooner they were on their way the better. She hadn't realized quite how much she'd missed Hogwarts until the day finally arrived to return. The thought elicits a warm feeling that spreads to her smile as Avery turns her full attention back to her new compartment companion.

"Don't think we've met before unless my memory is truly as horrible as it sometimes seems. My name's Avery, pleasure to meet you," she greets. The second year briefly stretches her legs out in front of her before crossing her ankles and settling back into her seat. In a way, it felt weird. Settling in for another trip back for a new school year. There was almost a sense of deja vu, though with considerably less anxiety in the equation this time around. A low buzz of eager anticipation took up its place instead. "Will this be your first year?"

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𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Charlotte Winfield

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Lottie didn't really have much of a capacity for regret in her ever-moving mind, so there wasn't any turning back after the request had been put out. The girl appeared slightly older, though it was hardly noticeable, so Lottie assumed that she was likely a second year. She gave a curt nod of thanks and then slid into the seat across from the girl, folding her hands in her lap.

She had made great attempts at not appearing timid while on the platform, then while getting onto the train, but now she found that she was subconsciously curling into herself. She straightened out her posture a bit, but there was still a certain air of uneasiness surrounding her. She found herself wishing she were in the other girl's position, older and more knowledgeable, wiser to at least a small degree. Like how she was at home, with her little siblings.

"Charlotte Winfield. Or Lottie I suppose is alright." She notices the second year's more relaxed position, and subtly attempts to replicate it by loosening her legs and arms. "Yes, I'm coming in from Cambridge. Though I'm fairly well-versed in wizardry, as my parents made sure to include it in my education. I'm guessing you're older?" She looked up at the girl through her bangs, questioning.

@Avery McCall

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Avery offers up a small, but kind, smile to the younger girl. "Lottie, got it. It's great to meet you." She falls momentarily quiet once more as she listens to the younger girl, idly running her fingers across the textured cover of the book in her lap. It simultaneously felt like it had been no time at all since she was in Lottie's position of uncertainty, but it also felt like it was a lifetime ago. So much had changed in the last year that she sometimes felt like an entirely different person.

The Hufflepuff hums in affirmation to the question, lips twitching back into a characteristic smile. "Just barely I imagine. This will be my 2nd year. I feel much more prepared this year at least, though that's not exactly a huge feat considering I had virtually no idea what was happening last year," she jokes, quietly chuckling to herself. "Glad to hear you've at least got some wizardry knowledge to lean on. It should hopefully help with getting settled in with a bit more ease. But if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help! We've got plenty of ride ahead of us still." She accentuates the point by looking towards the window, the final few stragglers hurrying towards the train as family members pass along final farewells.

She stares out the window in quiet thought for only a moment longer before looking back to Lottie, an amused look settling across her features. "Do you have a particular house you're hoping for?"

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𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Charlotte Winfield

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Lottie couldn't help but return the smile on Avery's lips, one that brought on a sense of calm the younger girl needed more than she would let on. It was easy to forget about what she had left behind when she had something so new and fresh right in front of her. She slid a hand down the strap of her bag, before carefully lifting it over her head and placing it on the seat beside her.

Lottie gave a breath of laughter at the girl's words, resting her hands in her lap. "Yes, well I appreciate that greatly. I'm sure that by the end of my first day I'll already have so many new questions." While the thought was intriguing to the younger girl, it also brought on a sense of dread that she had been trying to push down. Her smile twisted bitterly, but the next question lightened her up a bit.

"I'm not sure that I do," she replied thoughtfully, dragging her gaze to her lap, "My father was a Slytherin, but my siblings have mostly been a mix. My sister was a Gryffindor, while my brother was a Ravenclaw. I'm prepared for anything, really." She brought her eyes back up to the other girl's, attempting to clear away the personal shift the conversation had taken. "And what house are you in?"

@Avery McCall

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Avery can feel some of the tension leak from her shoulders as she observes her new compartment companion all but relax into her seat. While she was always excited to meet new people, there was always that nervous buzz in her chest pushing her to try and make a good first impression. Merlin knows she's had her fair share of embarrassing ones, so she'll gladly take any as seemingly smooth as this instance.

The Hufflepuff's smile only brightens all that much more at the quiet laugh from Lottie. "I'm sure you'll have a great time of it. Honestly, it's all pretty well laid out to make sure you know the important bits at least. I was just a little shell shocked by all the y'know," she states, lifting her hand in a small wave while wiggling her fingers, "magical bits. Prefects will be around as well to help with anything."

Avery listens quietly as the other girl rattles off some of her families' experiences with the Hogwarts houses, leaning forward slightly to rest both elbows against her knees. She hums thoughtfully at the first years nonchalance, admiring the flexibility. When Lottie looks back up with her own question, Avery allows her smile to shift into a bright grin before sitting up straight once more. "I got sorted into Hufflepuff. The Sorting Hat is certainly a...character, but he knows his stuff." A sudden thought seems to occur to the girl, as she visibly brightens even further. "You have any interest in any of the sports?"

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𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Charlotte Winfield

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Easing into the deep red cushion that padded the seat behind her, Lottie found herself oddly comforted by the other girl's presence, perhaps due to her relaxed tone or her knowledge of the school's atmosphere from experience. The first year folded her hands in front of her stomach, glancing briefly out at the blur of scenery that passed by the window.

"Magic bits," Lottie muttered with amusement. The other girl must have had quite a shock, then, as nearly everything Lottie had heard about the school was in some relation to magic. Floating staircases and talking portraits, ghosts that wandered from hall to hall playing pranks on the students. Even to Lottie, who had been raised constantly surrounded by the notion of magic, it seemed like an entirely different world. Perhaps it was, in one way or another.

Hufflepuff was the one house that Lottie knew least about, so she was immediately intrigued by Avery's answer. Clearly she seemed content with the idea of being in the house, which was often a difficult thing for many. When her sister had been sorted into Gryffindor, she had sent a tear-stained letter home begging their mother to retrieve her from the "horrid school". Funny how that worked out.

"I haven't done much research on the sports at Hogwarts. Mostly just the brief summaries. I suppose dueling could be of interest." Even as she said it, Lottie doubted she would ever find herself on the other end of someone's wand. It was a territory she had no desire to explore, and the idea of being shot back by a blast of sparks sent chills down her spine. "I suppose Quidditch has always caught my interest, however... unorthodox it may be."

@Avery McCall