- Come in ! What's your name ?

Thankful for their acceptance of him Elias stepped into the cabin and smiled at the three who were already there, "I'm Elias Weare, it's a pleasure to meet all of you." He said as he sat down to the left of Callie, who he presumed wouldn't want to sit on her own with all three boys across from her.

Not long after he had sat down the next boy arrived and deciding it wasn't exactly his place to say who could and couldn't sit with them Elias kept his mouth shut. He had just got there after all and wasn't exactly in any place to be calling the shots. Perhaps if he better knew those around him he wouldn't be afraid to take charge but alas, he did not.

"Although Callie has a point, I guess, it's not really in our hands..."

Turning his attention to Thomas, Elias nodded, "I hear the Sorting Hat has complete run of your mind while it's on. It knows your deepest thoughts according to my mum." It seemed to perplex the boy slightly that something could know things about him that even he didn't know and it showed on his face. He enjoyed things he could understand and work out, not things that seemed to completely defy any and all logic completely. "If I could pick though, I think I'd like to be in Hufflepuff, I hear their common room is somewhat near the kitchens and I'm not at all opposed to a late-night snack to keep me going."

#6d9eeb in case you were wondering (:

The compartment was now nearly full. Of course, if the children decided to try, they would probably be able to reach the number of ten or eleven... with at least three or four of them standing up between the seats. This, of course, would not help any of them to have a normal conversation. The more the merrier, they said, although Phel's definition of 'merrier' could not possibly be a synonym of 'eight hours of train with ten people stacked over one another'.

After the young boy - Elias - came another one named Adonis. Phel was trying not to let it appear, but he was actually enjoying having so many other first years around him. It was very likely that one of them, if not all, would become a friend of him during the year, and hopefully, even after.

- See, the Hufflepuff common room seems like a trap. Surely whoever's in charge of the food has better things to do than feeding people in the middle of the night ? You'd easily get punished for it.

He cleared his throat and smiled.

- Even though you're probably right, I could not resist some delicious food at any time of the day either... Since we're on common rooms, if you're afraid of heights, I would ask the Sorting Hat not to send you to Ravenclaw. My dad told me the tower is so high it's sometimes caught in the clouds on grey mornings?

Phel was not really sure as for why his father was expecting him to end up in the Eagle House. Sure, both shared the same passion for astronomy, which seemed to be a domain Ravenclaw pupils excelled. However, the boy experienced difficulties to concentrate and learn, which could reveal counterproductive and strange in a house where children were sent for... well, a taste for learning and intelligence. He decided to avoid thinking about this before arriving at Hogwarts. There was no need to stress for something that would be decided by an old crumbling hat, was there ?

- Also, did you guys hear about the Great Hall ? Apparently it's got this magic ceiling with stars all over it... I cannot wait to see it ! said Phel with a cheerful voice. The ceiling of the Great Hall was one of the things he was urging to see. Diana and him had been dreaming about it since a long time.

Unlike the others Callie didn't seem to mind the growing crowd of people populating the compartment. If anything as the assortment of first years grew Callie grew happier at the prospect of meeting even more people. After all when it came to the wizarding world she was starting at square one with no friends and no connections, so the more people she could talk to the better. As Adonis walked into the compartment she greeted the boy with her usual toothy grin and an upbeat wave. "Heya! I'm Callie, that's Phel, Thomas and Elias." She greeted Adonis whilst pointing out each respective person, silently proud of her success in memorising their names already.

"I hear the Sorting Hat has complete run of your mind while it's on. It knows your deepest thoughts according to my mum."

"It does?" Callie exclaimed with a brief look of shock dancing across her features. She didn't have anything to hide, in fact Callie herself was more or less an open book, although the idea of a magical old hat probing into the deepest recesses of her mind was a shock to say the least. After a couple of moments in shock Callie's usual easy going expression returned, having suddenly decided such a thing was incredibly cool rather than terrifying. "Having to wear it in front of so many people though...that's scary! What if I trip over and break my glasses again? I do that a lot you know!" As if to emphasise her point even further Callie dramatically gestured to assortment of tape holding her tape together. By this point Callie had broken them so often her parents had given up buying her a new pair every time, resulting in the rather odd looking pair she has the luxury of owning currently.

- Even though you're probably right, I could not resist some delicious food at any time of the day either... Since we're on common rooms, if you're afraid of heights, I would ask the Sorting Hat not to send you to Ravenclaw. My dad told me the tower is so high it's sometimes caught in the clouds on grey mornings?

"Oh so it's kinda like one of the big mountains back home...that's so cool! Doesn't all the common rooms have those freaky doors? I heard to get into the Ravenclaw one, you've gotta solve a riddle from the knocky thing! What a weird door..." Callie didn't tend to dwell on the idea of which house she would be sorted into too often, preferring to leave such worries behind since it wasn't her that chose such things anyway. But this conversation about the houses had gotten Callie thinking and now she wasn't sure at all! All of them sounded so unbelievably cool, although right now for Callie anything with the slightest slither of magic achieved such status which meant a great many things had already gained such honour.

- Also, did you guys hear about the Great Hall ? Apparently it's got this magic ceiling with stars all over it... I cannot wait to see it !

"Oooh! Isn't that the place with all the floaty candles?" Callie asked whilst making some random gestures with her hands, seemingly mimicking the floating candles. All of this speculation about what sights awaited them upon arrival at Hogwarts only served to get Callie even more excited. This place sounded so much more exciting than the fields and forests she was so used to exploring back home, even if her parents weren't here. Although the pang of homesickness didn't seem as bad knowing that there was so many people in the same boat. "I'm already excited to eat...is anyone else really hungry? Or am I just greedy.." As if on cue Callie's stomach rumbled.

Adonis then proceeded to find himself a sit beside Callie and Elias with a bright smile plastered across his face. "Hello! Nice to meet you all." He intently listened in on their conversation about what houses they think they would be sorted into and other things they heard about Hogwarts. All the talk and the amount of people in this one compartment got him excited. The prospect of meeting these four new people at once on his first day excited him very much. Hopefully they would all be able to become friends and remain such for the rest of their Hogwarts journey. They seemed like a wonderful group of people.

Even though you're probably right, I could not resist some delicious food at any time of the day either... Since we're on common rooms, if you're afraid of heights, I would ask the Sorting Hat not to send you to Ravenclaw. My dad told me the tower is so high it's sometimes caught in the clouds on grey mornings?

"Wait really? Bloody hell that's wicked cool. I could not imagine looking down from my window in the dormitory all the way up there though. Must be crazy to look down while being that high up. I have a fear of heights, but I can handle it if I'm moving fast on a broom for example, like how they do when they're all the way up there to play Quidditch. Just can't handle it while it staying still." He suddenly spoke out with a rather excited tone to his voice. It made Adonis wonder what the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms were like. He knew the Gryffindor Tower was rather high up there as well like Ravenclaw's. Slytherin was in the dungeon, but where it was in there? He did not know.

"Oooh! Isn't that the place with all the floaty candles? I'm already excited to eat...is anyone else really hungry? Or am I just greedy.."

The sudden reminder of being hungry suddenly got to him and made him think. He too felt the need to eat at the mention it. "I'm certainly hungry now that you mention it." Hopefully he could it off though for as long as possible until they got to Hogwarts. There was also the trolley lady that should pass by at some point as well, so there was that to hold him off if he chose to buy something from her. That was just junk food though. But it was good junk food to him with all the different kind of snacks and candy they had. Especially the chocolate frogs, which he loved to collect.

"I hear the Sorting Hat has complete run of your mind while it's on. It knows your deepest thoughts according to my mum."

Now that was something interesting. Baffled, and mildly curious, he considered the implications of a sentient, mind-reading piece of headwear. He wanted to know how the thing worked, how telepathy was even possible (though, in the realm of magic, he presumed there were few limits anyways). As the boy contemplated, he answered Elias' second statement with, "Oh, true. Very practically minded, can't really argue with that."

The boy listened as Phel answered in kind, waiting for his opportunity to speak again.

- Also, did you guys hear about the Great Hall ? Apparently it's got this magic ceiling with stars all over it... I cannot wait to see it !

"That does sound pretty awesome," Tommy admitted. He'd always had a certain fondness for the stars and astronomy. Back in primary, he did a project on Venus, and ever since then the boy had been absolutely hooked on the subject. Needless to say, upon hearing that it was a class at Hogwarts, he was more than pleased. "Honestly, as nervous as I am about all of this, I'm also positively excited beyond belief.

"I have a fear of heights, but I can handle it if I'm moving fast on a broom for example, like how they do when they're all the way up there to play Quidditch."

"You looking to join the team, then?" Thomas had no personal interest in Quidditch, as with most sports, because he knew he'd be absolutely atrocious at it. His small stature and lack of musculature were strong obstacles against his proficiency at any sport, let alone wizard ones. Plus, the boy had a fairly prolific fear of heights. The only thing he had going for him was his agility, although that didn't do much for him when he was up in the air and not on his feet.

As Callie and Adonis spoke of their hunger, he offered them a series of sympathetic nods. Maybe it was the longevity of the train ride, maybe it was just because of his nerves, but Thomas was feeling a bit peckish as well.

Hex: #1C4587
Post order so I don't go mad: Elias -> Phel -> Callie -> Adonis -> Thomas

As the train ride progressed and the conversation seemed to become a tad more natural, a small smile began to form on Elias' face. Everyone here seemed to be exceptionally nice and the boy was suddenly very pleased with the compartment he had chosen. Pleased enough that the stoic nature his father had imposed upon him started to slip and fade away, even if just for a moment. It was progress.

Is anyone else really hungry? Or am I just greedy..

"You aren't the only one," Elias said, trying his best to conceal the grumble that his stomach wanted to oh so dearly let out, "I can't wait for the feast. I bet it'll be wonderful. Just think of all that food."

When the conversation once again began to naturally progress and flow Elias's ears perked up at the mention of quidditch. He'd never tell anyone but the boy had been desperate to go to a match ever since his mum had mentioned the sports existence to him. He held subscriptions to all the quidditch papers and tried his best to keep up with as many clubs as he could while still maintaining an interest in some muggle sports. On the low-key, the boy was an absolute superfan.

You looking to join the team, then?

"I think I'd like to," Elias said with a confident nod. "When I'm a little bit older, it's one of my goals to make the house team once I'm strong enough to." Despite the boy's love of books, knowledge, and food he was still a rather athletic child. PE had always been one of his favourite subjects at his muggle school and he simply loved to play football with the few people he did talk to in his spare time. If he could get onto the house team he was had to make friends. It was a guaranteed ticket to not being lonely while he was away from his parents in Elias's eyes. That and a way to blow off some steam he supposed; oh the joy he would hopefully feel sending bludgers sailing towards opposing houses players.

"Do any of you have older siblings at Hogwarts that already play? I'd love to meet them if you do. It'd be wicked to meet a real-life quidditch player."

6d9eeb
Phel -> Callie -> Adonis -> Thomas -> Elias

Phel was glad the conversation had orientated on Quidditch. He had an interest in the sport from a young age and had always dreamed about playing it. He even happened to have a little Leprechaun toy in his bedroom, back in Limerick, with the crest of the Kenmare Kestrels painted on his hat. It was a shame he did not bring it with him to the school. He had not realised it until now, but Hogwarts would reveal an amazing opportunity for him to become a Quidditch player in one of the four teams. He was not particularly good at flying or throwing a ball, but his tall size and normal musculature would make him at least an average player. His favourite role in the game was goalkeeper; but he was keen to play on any given position.

- I'd love to join the team too. It's a good way of competing with other houses without having to be good at homework. I hope we can join it from the first year...

The boy soon started to feel a little drowsy. The tiredness from his long trip was finally starting to kick in, and Phel found he could definitely use a nap. The sun was shining outside the window, warming up his body wrapped in his wizard robe, and he could see in the distance some birds flying above fields of gold. To avoid falling asleep in the presence of nearly complete strangers, he answered to Elias' question.

- Sorry, I only have a little sister and she's too young to be in Hogwarts yet. But you know, those Quidditch teams must train from times to times, otherwise they would get bad at the game. I'm sure you can try to meet them when they are in training, they would be super happy about it.

He then added :

- Although I would make sure to ask before you do, and to meet the team from your house only. There probably is a lot of spying for new players and tactics between the house teams, and I wouldn't want to be accused of spying for my house by two seventh-year Beaters from another team. Especially not just after my arrival in Hogwarts.

He then took a comfier position on his seat and scratched his nose. These discussions about Hogwarts had opened new horizons for him. His future life promised to be existing.

Callie very obviously perked up at Elias' mention of the feast just as any food motivated individual would. The prospect of being able to eat as much as her tiny stomach could carry after a day of being cooped up in a train compartment was positively tantalising. Callie was so busy thinking about food in fact, that she hadn't realised the conversation had moved onto Quidditch.

Quidditch was another part of wizard culture that found itself on Callie's list of things she didn't have much of a clue about. She never had been a sporty person per se and much preferred spending her days hiking the area surrounding the farmhouse. Her general image of sport had also been tainted by her brother and father, who insisted on hogging the TV every weekend to watch a bunch of people kick a ball around a field when she could be watching something infinitely more interesting. However for Callie anything with the faintest aura of the arcane was something to be investigated in it's entirety, even if she didn't have much of a desire to play it herself.

"Do any of you have older siblings at Hogwarts that already play? I'd love to meet them if you do. It'd be wicked to meet a real-life quidditch player."

"I don't have any siblings at Hogwarts, my brother isn't all that into the magical stuff! Well other than my cousin Nora but she's a professor and stuff now. I don't remember if she played quidditch or not.." Callie trailed off a moment as her sleeve slipped down her arm once again, prompting her to let out a little huff of annoyance as she rolled it back up. She hadn't seen much of her cousin ever since she found out about the truth of the world and was rather excited to see her face again, even if she'd have to subdue herself around the woman more since she was technically at work.

Although I would make sure to ask before you do, and to meet the team from your house only. There probably is a lot of spying for new players and tactics between the house teams, and I wouldn't want to be accused of spying for my house by two seventh-year Beaters from another team. Especially not just after my arrival in Hogwarts.

"Do they really take quidditch that seriously?" Callie snickered, not really understanding why so many people bothered to take sport so seriously. It was supposed to be fun, not littered with intrigue! Her train of thought was cut off by a bird passing by the window, prompting Callie to take a moment to watch the fields roll past as they made their way further north.

Adonis -> Thomas -> Elias -> Phel -> Callie

"You looking to join the team, then?"

The team. The Slytherin house Quidditch team. Adonis hadn't even thought about it at all ever since- well, just never did he think about it. Sure. He loved Quidditch. Big fan. His father would take him to Quidditch matches whenever they could. Azrael, his father, had even taken him to the Quidditch World Cup for the finals back in 2016 when Bulgaria beat Brazil to win it all. He knew how to ride a broom due to his father teaching him and being that they would fly around sometimes but that was it. Adonis was more of a duelist though, like his father, or at least he wanted to be. With the impression that would he mainly be focused on studying for Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, Adonis never really thought of thinking about joining the Quidditch team. It was always just a liking of his that he enjoyed to watch. "I never really thought about it, no. I am on being more of a duelist since I hope to be an Auror like my father for the ministry when I'm older. Although, I might join and go for Seeker now that you mention it." He said with a bright smile being rather excited at the prospect of possibly joining the Quidditch team now.

"Do they really take quidditch that seriously?"

His gaze then shifted over to Callie, listening to what she had to say and her question. "Most definitely. Quidditch is a big thing in the wizarding world. People take it seriously. They express their feelings about it in all kinds of ways. It's very a exciting sport. Personally, I'm a Montrose Magpies fan who come from Scotland and have constantly dominated the league throughout the years. Bloody hell you should've seen their match two weeks ago against the Holyhead Harpies. It was crazy! They were losing 140 to 310 until Cornelius Ambrose, the Magpies seeker found the snitch and won the match for them 340-320. That was one hell of an exciting match I can tell you that for sure." Adonis was practically on the edge of his seat while speaking about it with upmost excitement, reminding him of the anxious feeling he had when he had watched the match. He then noticed his body posture and where he was at and corrected himself, allowing himself to sit back into the seat once again and relax his arms on the rests.

"Do any of you have older siblings at Hogwarts that already play? I'd love to meet them if you do. It'd be wicked to meet a real-life quidditch player."

"Ah, I'm an only child. It's a no from me," Thomas replied to Elias. He then turned to Callie, listening to her contributions, then Adonis.

All this talk of Quidditch made the boy's head spin. The thought of being up in the air, wearing what was practically no safety equipment, beating each other over the head seemed like the very antithesis of a good time. His lack of athletic skill likely contributed to this opinion, but in general, Tommy wasn't much of a sports fan. Maybe if he had grown up surrounded by wizardry, he'd hold less skepticism towards the sport. "I'm not really interested in Quidditch. I think I'd be really awful at it. Plus, from what I've read, the rules seem a bit confusing. It's like football, but infinitely worse because some people have bats and it's also in the air." There was the temptation to add also, heights scare me witless, or something along those lines, but Thomas wasn't about to reveal that to a group of relative strangers.

Something Adonis mentioned suitably piqued his curiosity, however. Thomas didn't know what an Auror was, or what the job might end up entailing, but the prospect of fighting with magic thoroughly intrigued him. Dueling quickly shot to the top of things he could look into later. "The dueling sounds cool, though. Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions, but how does dueling work? Are there rules, or is it kind of just a free-for-all?"

Hex: 1C4587
Elias -> Phel -> Callie -> Adonis -> Thomas