Quinn sighed as she looked at the castle. She wouldn't be seeing it again until january. I won't be seeing Cassian either. Quinn thought, blushing. Dragging her away bag, Quinn looked at her watch.
"Eep! Better get moving." Quinn started lugging her bag faster, she wanted to be timely about getting on the train. I can't wait for christmas! Quinn thought. She didn't really have any presents for her family so she would have to do it when she got home. It's weird leaving hogwarts after living here for so long. It's like a home too. Quinn finnaly reached the train and housted her bag onto her back. Quinn noticed that there were other students around. Some happy, some saying tearful farewells, some just hanging out to see what was going on. Quinn slid a door open and stepped into the train. Memories flooded Quinns mind from september 1st. I still can't belive it's already december 23rd. Quinn thought.

Quinn walked through the train, sticking her head into compartments then seeing that they had people in it and leaving. After doing this several times Quinn found a compartment near the end of the train that seemed empty. Quinn slid her bag onto a seat and sat down. The squishy seats sank on impact and Quinn let herself breath for a minute. I can't wait to get to dublin, I miss the city.

Quinn's thoughts drifted to her time at hogwarts. The being late for class, getting lost, and making friends. Middle school life, but with magic. Quinn remembered her time on the train to hogwarts had been full of wonders about hogwarts, her mum not having told her to much about it. The castle was magical and it looked amazing at night. Quinn was abruptly taken from her daydream by the train whisle. Quinn fished a book out of her bag and flipped to the first page.

@Ophelia Northwell

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december 23rd, 2023 • date the hogwarts express • location training a friendship • thread

Ophelia mentally slapped herself. She'd been late for the Hogwarts Express once already, and now she was about to completely miss it. It wasn't that it had been hard for her to pack, she would've been less angry if that had been the case. No, it was because she'd been reading a novel and had gotten too caught up in it to realise the time.

The novel itself hadn't been very interesting, just a basic mystery story with easy to read, predictable characters. But the setting? Ophelia had loved the details. A scenic lake surrounded by greenery. The wonderful part was, the place that had been described was none other than Ireland's Lough Leane. Since the Northwells went on a road trip every year, she'd planned out a sample itinerary to show her parents in the hopes that they would take them there.

But that had distracted her and now here she was, running to the station. Ophelia missed her family a lot and couldn't bear the thought of missing the train. Still, the thought of staying at Hogwarts was appealing as well. She'd grown to love the castle and knew that she would miss it.

Huffing, she climbed onto the train, glad that she hadn't missed it in her stupidity. The doors to the compartments were already closed and Ophelia felt the train jerk underneath her feet. They were about to move. Hurrying along the little corridor, she looked into each compartment through the window at the door. She didn't have time to be picky, but none of them were open.

Sighing, Ophelia kept going, reaching the end of a car before she found one that she could slide into. The compartment that she had her eyes on wasn't empty, like she'd hoped, but filled with one person. She seemed young, most likely a first year like Ophelia herself, and she had a book in her hands.

Opening the door, Ophelia entered, then realised that she'd forgotten to ask permission. Taking a step back but not completely out of the compartment, she waved, trying to get the person's attention. She sighed. She was getting better at speaking to others, but it still wasn't her strong suit.

"Hey there. I'm Ophelia. Do you mind if I sit here?"

interactions • @Quinn Brook mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

367 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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A girl slid into the compartment without Quinn's notice. Quinn was deep in her book and she had planned not to look up until the trolley wich came by or Kings Cross came into view. The girl was unexpected though. The girl stepped back out for a second then asked Quinn a question. Quinn smiled and looked up from her book.
"Sure-I mean sure you can sit here. I don't mind." Quinn smiled again then dropped her eyes to the book again. She wasn't activily trying to be rude she just... was. Quinn was immersed in her book, Wait- but if he was in london then why did he say he was in Aladia. Quinn's thoughts were deep in the book.

Quinn read for a few minutes then slammed her book down yelling,
"How dare you!" Quinn looked up realizing that there was someone else in the compartment. Blushing, Quinn waved.
"Oh um sorry-I was just very invested-It's quite a good book you know." Quinn turned her head out the window just to have something to do. The train rumbled and Quinn felt the floor shift.
"Were off" She wispered. Quinn turned to her compartment buddy.
"Um... Have you ever read this book?" Quinn asked holding up the book she had been reading. I wonder how long I was sitting here not noticing her. Quinn wondered.
"Hey... I'm sorry for ignoring you..." Quinn racked her brains trying to remember what the girl had said earlier.
"Ophelia" Quinn felt that she should introduce herself and she stuck out her hand for a handshake.
"I'm Quinn"

@Ophelia Northwell

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december 23rd, 2023 • date the hogwarts express • location training a friendship • thread

Quietly, Ophelia slipped into a seat across from the girl, trying her best not disturb her. Though she tried not to judge her for it, Ophelia had found the girl's response of "Sure- I mean sure you can sit here. I don't mind." very disheartening. She'd been hoping to sit with one of the friends she'd made, or at least make a friend. She'd thought that this girl, the reader that she seemed to be, would be a good person to meet, but maybe she had been wrong.

Well, you can't back out now. There's no more compartments, and the train's already on its way. You'll be fine here. Ophelia smiled, trying to seem as if she weren't thinking all these thoughts, then realised that she didn't have to. The girl in front of her had already been sucked back into her book, completely unaware of Ophelia once more.

The Ravenclaw sighed, then took out her sample itinerary from her trunk, spreading it out on her knees so she could study it. They sat like that in silence. Ophelia didn't mind it as much as she'd thought she would. She liked the quiet companionship of it. Knowing that someone was there to talk to if you got bored, but doing your own thing until then.

Suddenly, after what seemed like only a few minutes to Ophelia, the girl screamed something that she couldn't quite make out and slammed her book shut. When she looked up, her eyes went wide and she blushed furiously. She must have forgotten I'm herer, Ophelia thought, amused.

As the girl apologised and explained, Ophelia felt sympathetic. She knew what it was like to dive into a book and found it hard to come out. "Oh, don't be sorry. I've done the same thing plenty of times." She grinned, remembering that she'd once yelled "I hate you" in front of her mother's teatime guests.

"Um... have you ever read this book?" The girl asked, not bothering to introduce herself. Or maybe she forgot.

Ophelia brightened at the question. She took a closer look at the cover, then shook her head. She would've loved to bond over the books. "Is it good? I love reading and I'll be extremely bored over the break if I don't find anything good. Maybe I can check it out of the Dublin Public Library."

The girl seemed to remember something, then started speaking. "Hey, I'm sorry for ignoring you... Ophelia. I'm Quinn."

Ophelia shook her head. "No, it's alright, really. I love books too. It's nice to meet you Quinn!"

interactions • @Quinn Brook mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

345 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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The girl, Ophelia, seemed sympethetic of Quinn. At least she seems to have done that before. Quinn's faced brightened when Ophelia said that she loved books too.
"Really? Cool!" Quinn suddenly remembered something that Ophelia had said.
"Wait did you say Dublin public library?" Quinn couldn't belive it. I've found a girl, or a girl found me who loves books and lives in dublin.

"I live in dublin. I got this book from dubray books! The local bookstore." Quinn showed the back of the book.
"Oh, and you can get it from the public library." I still can't belive she lives in dublin like me. I should have known from her accent. Quinn relized. I was to focused on my book though. Quinn relized blushing. Quinn turned to Ophelia and put her book down.

"What's your favorite book? Mine is Keeper of the Lost Cities. It's by Shannon Messenger." Quinn added just so Ophelia would have a reference. Quinn had lots of questions for Ophelia but was trying to be friends with her and didn't want to overwell her. Quinn looked out the window at the rolling hills quickly going by. Soon she would be home in dublin, speaking irish and being with her family. Quinn grabbed the book she had been reading and stuffed it in her trunk. The trunk shut with a resounding clank and Quinn turned back to Ophelia.
"It's nice to meet you too Ophelia."

@Ophelia Northwell

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december 23rd, 2023 • date the hogwarts express • location training a friendship • thread

Quinn seemed extremely surprised that Ophelia had said Dublin. Her eyes widened and she seemed beyond excited. "I live in Dublin. I got this book from Dubray Books! The local bookstore." She said.

Suddenly it all made sense to Ophelia. This girl, this girl who was a witch just like her, was from Dublin too? Ophelia couldn't believe it herself, she closed and opened her mouth. Why couldn't I have met her on the train to Hogwarts earlier? Or, better yet, I could've known her before that. It would've been nice, knowing a familiar face at Hogwarts.

She remembered her mother, Cecelia, telling her that she would make forever friends at Hogwarts. Telling her that some of the friends that she would make would be there for her entire life. Ophelia hadn't believed it, she'd never been good at making close friends like that, but looking at this girl who seemed so similar to her, she couldn't help but think that it might be true. Maybe Quinn would become one of her forever friends.

"We have to meet up over the break! I can show you my first editions book collection." Ophelia paused to take a breath and reminded herself not to get too excited. This girl was someone new who she didn't know very well, and she might have plans. Plus, I have plans. We're going to go on a road trip sometime. "That is, if you would like to."

Quinn asked her what her favourite book was, explaining that hers was Shannon Messenger's Keeper of the Lost Cities. Ophelia grew excited again. She'd more than heard of that book, she'd poured over it, loving every word. "Keeper of the Lost Cities is awesome! I love the worldbuilding that was done. Don't spoil anything for me though, I haven't read the last three books yet." She paused, remembering the actual question that Quinn had asked. "As for my favourite book, it has to be Wings of Fire, by Tui T. Sutherland. I love all the character personalities, even though they're dragons."

Ophelia giggled, then realised how much she missed this. She had only one friend back home who she could talk to about books like this, and she'd missed her so much. Maybe Quinn and I can talk more in the next semester.

interactions • @Quinn Brook mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

291 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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Interacting with @Ophelia Northwell

Quinn got excited.
"Yeah! I would love to meet up over break!" Quinn's smile widened. Whoa she has a first edition books collections? Quinn thought.
"Yeah I would like!" Quinn exclaimed.
"would you like to meet up at the public library? Or maybe that cute coffe shop near the dog park?" Quinn asked.
"oh, and I do like wings of fire. Full confesion, I've only read the graphic novel version." Quinn laughed at herself.

This girl could be a friend for a really long time! Quinn thought. Quinn's memory started up.
"Mama? Did you ever have friends forever?" Quinn had asked her mum one day.
"Oh sweetie, I had some very close, very close friends in elementary school but they weren't wizards. None of em'." Quinn had gasped.
"wait so you had to leave them all behind?" Quinn looked horrified. Quinn's mum had reassured her that she had made friends at hogwarts and she had stayed in contact with her old friends.

Quinn resurfaced herself.
"I still can't belive I have never seen you before now." Quinn said. Maybe Ophelia can be a life(ish) long friend. Quinn looked at Ophelia for a moment. Quinn broke into a wide grin.
"You know me mum used to say that she found her lifelong friends at hogwarts." Quinn wondered if Ophelia had any magical parents.
"I'm a half-blood. What about you?" Quinn asked. I hope that question wasn't to personal. Quinn thought. Quinn looked out the window as the train raced onward.

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december 23rd, 2023 • date the hogwarts express • location training a friendship • thread

Ophelia's eyes brightened as the girl across from her agreed to her request of meeting up. She was tempted to ask if Quinn really meant it, then realised that it would make her sound stupid. Still, she was giddy with excitement. "Oh, the coffee shop! I know the one you're talking about, though I don't remember the name. That's the perfect place to meet up. I love the hot cocoa there." She paused, then remembered the second part of Quinn's sentence. The dog park! "My dog, Galleon, would love to meet you too. I can bring him along and we can go to the dog park after."

As Quinn made her comment about only reading the Wings of Fire graphic novels, Ophelia laughed along with her. The young Ravenclaw had known others to get angry when no one had done the things they loved, but she wasn't like that. She knew that different books were for different people. Plus, it was evident that Quinn had some taste, because she loved Keeper of the Lost Cities.

"I still can't believe I have never seen you before now." Quinn seemed to be digging through her memories, looking for any trace of Ophelia, who was doing the same. She'd lived her entire life in Dublin and had spent half a year at Hogwarts and she hadn't seen Quinn once.

"Well, Hogwarts is a giant school and Dublin is an even bigger city. I'm a Ravenclaw, so maybe my classes just never overlapped with yours." Ophelia shrugged, though she was still stumped. Maybe it was just that she'd never been looking for her new companion, so she'd never noticed her presence.

"My mum says the same thing! She said that she's still in touch with some of them." Ophelia sighed dreamily. How nice would it be to have someone like that? Someone that you knew would always have your back? A best friend. A forever friend. "Oh, I'm a half-blood, too. I didn't know a single thing about magic before my first instance though. My mum kept it a secret from me." She blinked, feeling like she'd said too much suddenly. She'd found so much to bond over with Quinn that she'd forgotten that they'd just met.

She's not your forever best friend, Ophelia chastised herself. Maybe one day, but today you are just acquaintances, getting to know one another. She's not Mum. She smiled at the thought of her mother, who'd always been her closest confidante. Ophelia felt her body relax as she realised, again, that she was about to go home.

interactions • @Quinn Brook mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

297 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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Speaking-#029226
Thoughts-xxxxx
December 23rd 2023

Interacting with @Ophelia Northwell

Quinn looked back at Ophelia and nodded as she said that she could bring her dog to the park. I should definetly get a pet. I miss having one around. Maybe seeing Ophelias dog will spark me into wanting one again. Quinn sighed dreamily as she thought of her old dog.

He had been an old german shepard when he died and Quinn had always had him. He had been really big and he had very floppy ears. Quinn shook her head trying to clear it of the dreamy thoughts of her old dog.

As Ophelia kept talking Quinn wondered again how it would be to have someone she could always confine in and always have somthing to conect with. Someone that connects me to home and hogwarts. Ophelia suddenly stopped talking. Her mum kept it a secret? Quinn thought that sounded like private information. Ophelia relaxed again after thinking about something.

"So, when do you think you are free?" Quinn asked wanting to make sure they could meet up and talk again over break.
"I'll check with my mum... Maybe I can send an owl to you telling you when I'm free." That's a stupid idea. Quinn relized.
"Or um maybe on the second day of winter break we can meet? Or later if your not free." Quinn thought that she sounded extreamly stupid right then, rambling madly. Quinn forced a smile on her face.
"If you have any other ideas, I'm open." Quinn relized that soon she would be home and it hit her that she would finnaly see her older sister. Maeve would know just what to say in this situation. Quinn thought wisfully. I can't wait to see her and the rest of the family though. Quinn wondered when she would get to see some of her friends. And more. Quinn thought thinking back to her letters to Declan. Quinn shook her head to clear it again and brought her thoughts back to meeting up with Ophelia. Quinn looked at Ophelia.
"So er- is a few days into break good?"

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december 23rd, 2023 • date the hogwarts express • location training a friendship • thread

Thoughts of her mother kept coming back to Ophelia, even as she tried to listen to Quinn's excited chatter. She was excited as well, though she felt as if she was suddenly seeing everything from a faraway lens, her mind almost completely occupied by the thoughts of her family and their smiles, of their upcoming road trip and everything they would have to do to prepare for it.

"I'm free at any point tomorrow. We always spend Christmas in the car as the beginning of our annual family road trips." Ophelia hesitated, realising that everything might have to be changed because of Hogwarts. Her family, for one thing, hadn't packed or decided where to go yet because they were waiting for her. That left them only a single day to plan and prepare. She had her itinerary, which they could use, but that still left the point of her getting to Dublin before they could start. If there was even an hour delay in the trains, it would be chaos. Maybe they would have to travel a day late this year. "Or we could meet after we get back on the 28th. I don't mind."

As Quinn mentioned owling, Ophelia's eyes widened. She'd forgotten about the wizard communication method, and it seemed like a great idea so that Quinn could easily tell her the date that she could meet up. Ophelia nodded.

They descended into a silence that the Ravenclaw found comfortable. It wasn't that they'd run out of things to talk about, it was more that they didn't need to speak. She stared at the itinerary, which was still spread across her lap. Not wanting to stress over it, she folded it up carefully and placed it in her bag. Ophelia glanced out a window and realised that they were much farther along on their journey than she'd originally thought. What had felt like only ten minutes of conversation filled time had actually been hours and she wouldn't be surprised if the train stopped in another hour or so.

"Is your family going to do anything special over the break?" It was a lame question, but she didn't think that Quinn would mind.

interactions • @Quinn Brook mentions • @ stats • sta 6 | eva 5 | str 6 | wis 7 | arc 6 | acc 5

317 • word count xxx • outfit perfectionist • abilities

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