No Looking Back. CLOSED

Manal chuckled quietly as Olivia burst into laughter, his cheeks warming slighty. When she composed herself and explained, he listened carefully, nodding along. "So a hat just.. knows me. And puts me in a house. Based on my traits. Makes complete sense." chuckling as he takes mental notes. "That's so normal indeed..".

When she mentioned more muggle-borns would be there and the headmaster will explain, some of the tension in his shoulders erased. "That's good because I feel like i've already forgetten everything you've said." he said chuckling at himself.

With her smile and the hope they would be in the same house, Manal felt something warm settle in his chest. He gave her a small, genuine smile "Yeah, that would be nice. Would be nice to have one familiar face.."

Then she hit him with the house elves. His eyes widened for a second. "House elves." he repeated, "So there's elves. That cook. In a castle with moving stairs and portraits." he shook his head with a dazed smile.

"At this point someone could tell me that the toilets talk and i'd probably believe it." he paused, and added quietly: "I don't wanna know more. I've reached my limit. No more magic stuff..". He leaned back in his seat, looking slightly dazed but also amused.

@Olivia Cuthburt

Olivia burst into laughter once more, the shock on his face was priceless. She was glad by his reaction, he didn’t find her rude as she had laughed at his questions and clear anxiousness about attending Hogwarts. Manal hadn't seen Olivia's true colours yet and she was a little concerned he may distance himself once he did. How do muggles live without magic? she thought to herself as she leaned back in her seat once more glancing out the window. The green fields were practically flying by and you could barly make out the cows, sheep and horses grazing. She admired the zooming scenery allowing her mind to relax in the quiet for a while since Manal had informed her ever so quietly that he did not want to hear about anymore magic stuff.

Come on Olivia surly you have more in common with him, she thought trying to think of something, anything that she could imagine was similar in their lives. Apart from magic Olivia was finding it really difficult to find common ground. He was clearly not from a wealthy family, he didn't even recognise her family name. Most people would be in awe to be in the presence of a Cuthburt, but Manal had shrugged it off as though it was nothing.

"Tell me Manal, what's your family like? What do your parents do?" she asked not bothering to look his way. She feared his answer, she really hoped it would be something she could work with. Atlas wound never let her live it down if he found out her first potential friend was poor and a muggle born.

Word count: 271
@Manal Smith

Manal blinked as Olivia burst into laughter again, his cheeks warming up a bit. He wasn't sure what was funny about what he said, but watching her laugh made Manal let out a small chuckle aswell.

"Okay, glad my confusion is entertaining" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. There wasn't any real annoyance in his voice. If anything, he was relieved at her laugh. Back home, laughter usually led to being made fun of, this.. felt lighter.

Manal didn't mind as the silence streched between them. He turned back to the window as she did, watching the green fields blur along with her. It was peaceful. Then olivia spoke up again asking him about his family. Manal's expression tightened for a moment as he heard that question.

"My family huh..?" he repeated quietly as he looked down at his hands "They're busy people, business owners. Always working. I don't really understand honestly.. Something corporate."

A small pause.

"They're successful. respected. The type other people looked up to." he said it flatly, not proud. Just stating facts. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter "I'm their only child, so everything they do, every expectation they have.. lands on me. Always has." he looked out the window, watching the trees dissapear behind them "Good grades. Good behavior. Good future. That's what matters to them.."

A quiet sigh left his mouth "I don't think they are bad people.. it's just.. tiring.".

He finally looked back at her, his expression calm but his eyes telling another story.

"That's my family." a small, sad smile appearing "What about you? What's your family like?"

@Olivia Cuthburt

Olivia looked over at him hopeful this time, he might be worthy she thought. "My father is a businessman too, well he's actually the owner of a company, so technically he is a CEO," she said proudly. "And my mother is an auror," she added. "So I guess in a way my parents are always busy too but they make sure to find time for my brother and I," she finished.

She looked at Manal analysing his face, something was wrong but she couldn't pinpoint what, "My parents arn't too fussed about grades or behaviour but more about reputation and ensuring one of us can take over the company," she informed, "I think that's a harder thing to sustain," she said as she weighed the two things in her head, hoping Manal might agree with her.

"I guess being a only child would be hard," She said after some silence. Manal didnt seem to like something about his family and she thought that might be it, since he stated it quite softly. She now regretted not looking at him when he had answered her question. She did feel for him, all that pressure must drive him crazy. At least for her the pressure was shared, and most of it fell on her brother. "I still don't understand how you have never heard my surname," she stated confused, if his father was businessman and his family were the kind of people others looked up to then he must be aware, something just didn't make sense.

Word count: 254
@Manal Smith

Manal listened as she eagerly talked about her family - CEO father, auror mother, pressure about the reputation and the company. "She seems proud of them." he thought, and when she said that they make time for her and her brother, something in his chest tightened.

They make sure to find time, she'd said.

He wondered what that felt like. When she said being an only child must be hard, he let out a small depreciating chuckle. Hard isn't the word he would use. Lonely, maybe. "Yea, but i'm used to it."

Then she circled back to the name thing. Manal tilted his head, thinking about her surname "I genuinely don't know.. Am I supposed to know it..?" he paused for a moment, then his expression softened, "And i'm don't really mind what your last name says about you. I'm more interested in you." he looked at her, a warm smile plastered on his face, "So yea, you can keep the family name stuff. I'll stick with Olivia."

A muffled voice echoed through the train as the train came to a stop, "We have reached Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be transported seperately to the school.".

Manal looked at her, a small, genuine smile on his face, "Thanks Olivia. Y'know, for not making me feel stupid.".

He looked out the window, catching a glimpse of the castle. "Is that.. Hogwarts?" it looked like it was straight out of a fantasy movie and he just stood there dumbfounded at the view. It looked like something which shouldn't be real.

But it was. And he was going to study magic there.

@Olivia Cuthburt

Word count:237
@Manal Smith

Olivia couldn't help but smile, she had definitely gotten lucky choosing this carriage for the journey to Hogwarts. Not only had she found someone who won't be fake or sugarcoat things as he had no idea about her surname but she had also met someone who wouldn't and hopefully shouldn't affect her reputation in her parents eyes, if they established a friendship.

Olivia looked out the window as Hogwarts came into view, its towering immense presence made her feel almost intimated something she didnt feel quite often but on the contrary she also felt welcomed like she was about to enter her second home. "It's amazing isn't it?" she asked as she looked at it in awe. She was finally here, the huge castle filled with many stories was right within her veiw. She couldn't wait to get in and see the magic all around.

She took in a deep breath the sorting ceremony was next and she was dreading it, she hoped to be in Slytherin like her brother, or Gryffindor but that was just a personal preference. Olivia was aware that there were students who had parents that who be hugely dissapointed if they got into a house they disliked, she did feel sorry for them. "Lets hope we are together," she whispered, a familiar face is always an advantage and if she was being totally honest with herself she had never felt this nervous, ever.