Only a Train-Ride Away PV Closed

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Charlie had had quite the year, he would conclude. Between his... rough beginnings and his new friends, not to mention Quidditch and the ball... and the after-ball. It was needless to say he'd had his fill for the year, and wasn't exactly keen to any more surprises. He wanted a nice, calm summer, possibly with some friends- but he wasn't sure yet.

He packed and cleaned and did the usual riff raff that shan't need explaining, and then found his way down to the carriages, and then to Hosgmeade, where a large mass of students clambered to the station. This wasn't his first song and dance, and it wouldn't be his last, but he wasn't particularly enthused about leaving. The train rides were dreadfully long, and quite frankly, reminded him just how lonesome he tended to be.
And then he saw a familiar face is one Miss Decipio- A friend, he would hope, given how much crap they'd gone through, and the other things. He clambered throught the crowd to her, before she boarded, and asked if he could tag along- seeing as he didn't have anyone else to sit with.

They found themselves in a nice, empty compartment, and after loading both his and her trunk into the overhead, he sat down across from her, setting his bottle of water on the sill of the window, and his bag at his feet.
Why wasn't he sitting with anyone else? She'd asked, as if he had other friends. He let out a dry chuckle, almost bittler, but not directed towards her.
"I'm not exactly the most popular guy in second year-" Although it was third year now, wasn't it? Oh man. "The other boys on the team kinda scare me, and I think the only other person I know on the team is Rafael." He crossed his arms, sitting himself into the cushioned seat. "He's great- but he's a bit more popular than me, I hate to intrude on his whole... thing." He gestured vaguely into the air. He could actually recall a few times when the boy had dragged him to events or such with people he'd never met- which was fine- but it was just another reminder he wasn't exactly... inclined to social convention.

"What about you, Miss Decipio, I thought you'd have plenty of friends to sit with. You're all that n' more and all." He cocked his head to the side, watching her as she let her vision glance between all the different visual ques in the compartment.

Evelynn's observant gaze trailed after her upperclassman as he took his seat across from her. It was strange, in a way, to find him sitting there. In one sense, she supposed, it was quite the contrast to the last time she'd found herself seated in such a compartment, where everyone, regardless of their upbringing, had appeared strange and almost frightening to her. So absorbed in her own thoughts had she been, that she couldn't even remember having uttered even a single word until the boat-ride across the Great Lake.

That wasn't the only oddity, however. The other matter was that she'd hardly spent much time in such a position. Generally speaking, every significant instance with this particular boy had been some combination of sitting behind him looking at the back of his head, or sitting nearby in the dark with her focus on tending to a wound.

As he spoke up, she reined in that particular trail of thought to focus on the conversation at hand. A brow lofted almost immediately in reaction to his first comment. It seemed very lacking in confidence in a way. The way he'd said it, it almost sounded like he was some sort of plague that the rest of the students in his year actively attempted to avoid. Moreover, it was as though that fact should have been well known.

"Are you not? You seem quite likable to me," Evelynn responded, only half rhetorically, but not really expecting an answer given that he'd carried on with another sentiment.

To that, her pleasantly quizzical expression only deepened. "Really?" She chuckled, scooching herself back a little in seat and adjusting her position for comfort. Her feet crossed themselves at the ankles and she let her hands fall to fold in her lap as she settled back. Lips parted to pose a follow-up question only to freeze, almost as though she'd been struck dumb, when Charlie painted Rafael with an adjective that Evelynn would never have thought possible. "I'm sorry.. Did you say... He's great? Is there another Rafael other than our Captain?"

D'Spacito? Great? He wasn't serious, was he...? That had to be some sort of sarcastic comment... A few seconds passed with her continuing to stare skeptically at Charlie as though waiting for the punchline, but all he delivered was a vague swirl of his hand to accompany the comment of relative popularity. Impossible. He actually believed that. Evelynn's chest rose and fell with a slightly deeper than average breath and she had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.

Thank goodness Woodward let it pass without comment. Or at least seemed to for the moment, at least, as he quipped back about her own state. This time, it actually did draw forth a brief peel of laughter. "All that and more and all?" She echoed, once again placing him with a thoroughly amused expression.

"I'm not sure what you mean by that, Mister Woodward," she chimed, mirroring the way he had addressed her. And then, taking that a step further, continued with, "I'm not exactly the most popular girl in first year. It seems I've landed myself with such labels as 'monster', 'know-it-all', 'stuck-up', and other more colourful ones that the less creative and more crass of our generation seem to feel the need to stoop to using. But.." A blink accompanied a shrug of her brows and when her eyes opened, she was peering out the window. "I've been trying to fix that and prove them wrong."

"Anyway.." Not really feeling particularly keen on discussing that topic much, and already regretting having brought it up at all, Evelynn snapped her gaze back to Woodward and inquired, her tone flecked with resignation, "are you attending the camp?"

[font=century gothic]Amara & Aurelia - join any time![/font]

[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Charlie Woodward

Summer.

With the school term at an end, summer comes looming. To some, summer meant a time of parting, of not being able to see school friends and spend time together. To others, it is a parting with the usage of magic, as underage magic is strictly prohibited. Summer holds many meanings to each and everyone but to Amara, summer means reunion.

For several months she had been parted with her family, only seeing them during the Winter and Easter Holidays. It was a tough time as it is the first time that she had ever experienced being parted from her entire family for such a long time. It didn't matter that they communicate using mirrors and owls, she just misses them terribly. The holidays too had been short, that was why, coming home for the long summer months was something she had been looking forward to.

So excited was she that ended up waking far too early. Everyone else in the dorms were still fast asleep and she couldn't risk waking them up, so she settled back into her bed with a book at hand and began to read to pass the time.

And time passed.

With everyone else awake, Amara began to check her items for the last time before heading out and make her trek towards the Great Hall to have some breakfast. She was feeling a tad bit jittery as she ate her meal, her nerves about finally going home making her antsy and just wishes for time to hurry up. With breakfast done and over with, she head back to the dorms to grab her trunk, alongside some of her fellow Slytherins.

Arriving at Hogsmeade was a wonder, as it was her first time arriving at the place. Her gaze darted from one shop to the other, taking it all in before it was her time to come up and find a compartment to settle in.

She had thought herself early, early enough to find an empty compartment for her to settle in and just ignore the world as it pass by. But everywhere she looked, the compartments were already filled in, and she felt antsy as she moved about, trying to find a compartment to settle in.

Finally, she decided to settle on a compartment with two Gryffindors already in, as they looked nice and well, she hopes they wouldn't mind her barging in on them. Fidgeting with her robes, she took a fortifying breathe, knocked on the door before sliding it open.

"Could I take a seat here please? Every where else is kind of full"

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"I was talking about our captian, yes." He chuckled. "Although I've gathered you two were never... on the best terms. But he isn't all bad, I suppose a little... well.." He'd really hate to say dense, the kid was nice. "Besides the point."

He crossed his arms and leaned back himself, listening to her talk-- she seemed to take his half-compliment with some... satire.
Crass, stuck up and monster? He wasn't exactly sure how to respond, after all, he knew Evelynn to be quite the sensible witch, if not a little... headstrong.
Being headstrong wasn't nearly a bad thing, though.

"I'd disagree with the first year, then." He pursed his lips, since he really did think Miss Decipio to be a well-rounded individual. Even when she'd dragged him to that embroidery thing (where he sat, and watched, and didn't so much as comment or do anything) he'd found her to be quite the compelling character. She wasn't... well, she wasn't some of the other students he'd met.
"I think you'd got a bit of a one-track-mind... but I think the same could be said for any of the students here. You're thoughtful, and you're well-spoken. You have a good head on your shoulders... and you're headstrong, you like to... I dunno, prove yourself." His thick, texan twang was probably most apparent while he spoke then, the sincereity of trying to at least acknowledge to the girl that he held some appreciation to her made his voice thicker. "I may only know you from... the game, when you um... you know. -and the ball, and our... "after ball" but... You care, and I don't think that's a trait a monster, or a stuck-up whatever could have. Like I said, you're all that 'n stuff."

And then she had to ask about the camp. The camp he'd apparently heard so much about. "Ah- no. I have to go home, to Texas-- I don't really have the um... funding to stay for too long and keep my parents back home waitin'" He chuckled dryly. "What about you? Are you going?"
As he asked, he heard the sliding of the door as a girl stood, asking if she could join them. She was thin, blonde, pale blue eyes staring at them. A Slytherin, based on the robes.

He'd never spoken to a Slytherin before, not personally.

He sat up from his semi-lounged position, not fully breaking his attention from Miss Decipio, and nodded. "I don't mind, if you're alright with it, Miss Decipio." His vale eyes flicked between the two girls. "The name's Charlie Woodward, second year--I'm guessing you're a first year?" He offered a smile, in hopes of easing any tension from the stranger.

Interacting with @Evelynn Decipio and @Amara Sylvr

Before Aurelia knew it, summer had arrived. It felt like yesterday when she first saw the majestic castle or rode a broom for the first time. While she sat up in bed, she relived countless memories she had made over the year. It was the best year she had ever had, far better than anything that she had ever done at home. Not like she didn't like home, no, Auri loved her home and she missed her parents terribly. It was just that it had been a dream of hers to go to Hogwarts, and now that she had been, she could confidently say that it was better than she had ever imagined.

Aurelia looked around. Suddenly, she remembered staff coming in to wake her up and Aurelia going back to bed after they left. She slapped her forehead: "Stupid Aurelia, stupid, stupid, STUPID! Arghh!"
How did she let this happen?! She never woke up late... why today? She scrambled to her feet as fast as she could, anyone watching would just see a blur of clothes, items, and books being thrown into a large brown trunk "A.R" engraved on the side. In her head, she cursed her roommates for not waking her up but she didn't have anyone to blame. They weren't her parents after all.

After a while, Aurelia was done packing and getting ready. All she remembered after that is leaping down the stairs while trying to hold her ridiculously heavy trunk and on the way grabbing a sandwich from the great hall. She reached the train station and paused to look back at Hogwarts. Mentally, she said her goodbyes but she knew she would be returning in just a few months. Behind her, the whistle from the conductor brought her back to the present. After a quick nod, and a bit of help from the conductor she managed to heave her trunk onto the train.

One by one she passed the compartments, all of them full. She held a lookout for familiar faces but didn't find any. Only seconds after her boarding, the train started to move. Now stumbling across the corridor Auri gingerly kept a lookout for an empty seat. Across the hall, she saw a Slytherin girl asking if she could join a compartment and Aurelia sighed. "At least she found a seat...", Aurelia whispered under her breath and tried to shove past the girl, but not before looking into the compartment and doubling over. Wasn't that the Evelynn girl from the slumber party yesterday? The slumber party had been quite a mess and was most likely the reason for her tardiness, but that was not what caught her attention. "Ahh! A free seat!", Aurelia squealed and poked her head over the Slytherin's shoulder. There were indeed, two very inviting empty seats. "Ah, um...", Aurelia blushed in embarrassment, "Uh, I mean... Could I please sit with you guys? Everywhere else is full and I've been looking for ages..." She hadn't really been looking for ages, but the girl has no patience, guess that's why she isn't in Hufflepuff. "Sorry by the way, you know, for shoving you earlier", she whispered to the Slytherin, "What was your name?"

The two Gryffindors had been talking, that much she could tell before she had opened the door. She had hoped that she didn't come out rude when she had suddenly opened the door and not necessarily barged in, but she did disturb their conversation and that was that.

Her gaze darted between the two, first looking at the girl then at the boy. The girl was pretty, with her auburn hair, striking gaze and pretty face, overall she was a beauty one could appreciate. The boy was good-looking too, in a classic way with his curly strawberry locks and green eyes that shone bright. The two make a striking pair in Amara's opinion, and they seemed familiar although she wasn't sure where had she seen them. Maybe across the halls or something but that wasn't why she came barging in. She was looking for a seat, and she has to focus on that.

She straightened herself when the boy came close, addressing her. She looked at the girl, at Miss Decipio, hoping she wouldn't mind. Her gaze turned back to the boy, Charlie Woodward and was about to speak when she felt herself get shoved as someone came barreling in from the sides. Amara had to brace herself against the door frame, with the train on the move she had the risk of toppling over if she hadn't braced herself well.

As she had righted herself, she sighed and did her best to ignore the issue of being shoved over as she didn't want to cause a scene or anything like that. She was about to speak once more when she felt the weight of someone's head up on her shoulders and said someone speaking through.

"It's fine" she told the new girl, and as the other had already apologized, Amara let the issue go. There was no point in trying to pick a fight when the other had already apologized for their wrong doings. Turning towards both Charlie and Miss Decipio but still keeping an eye on the new girl she spoke "My name's Amara Sylvr, first year, it's a pleasure to meet you" and she hoped she wasn't being too formal or a tad bit rigid as she wasn't really sure of how she came off to these people. "I hope you wouldn't mind if I take a seat here" and she really does hope it was alright. Charlie had said it was fine with him but Miss Decipio still hasn't spoken and although she knew House Rivalry wasn't all that intense anymore or maybe it was and the nuances just flew past her head, she hoped they wouldn't mind her sitting there with them, given that the trio were all from Gryffindors and possibly knew each other well.

He… had been talking about their captain.. She'd let the notion slide without comment when he'd countered her own skepticism, but the fact was, she was still somewhat aghast. How could he possibly be thought of as great? That he and she weren't on the best terms? Yes. That was an understatement. For some reason that she simply didn't understand, he had taken it upon himself to paint her as the devil incarnate. He had belittled her, publicly mocked her, and undermined her authority in front of the team on the very day that he had announced she would be the co-captain. What was more, he had refused to even talk about it to try to sort out what the heck his problem was, instead turning to fire and attempting to burn her existence from the face of the earth as though that would somehow solve his problems.

Woodward could say what he would. He was just as deluded as Flash. In fact, Evelynn doubted there was anyone who could possibly change her mind on the matter. Yes, D'Spacito was all bad.

Her already spiraling annoyance had hardly been helped by the description with which Woodward had painted her, either. You'd got a bit of a one-track-mind. A twitch at the corner of her mouth had betrayed her displeasure at being called such. A one-track mind? Really? He thought her obsessed? Incapable of adapting or donning multiple hats? Was he really that dense? Was he not aware that she was co-captain of the Gryffindor Team, an editor on the paper, invested in her studies, a member of HHAWT in an effort to expand her social skills, while also contributing what spare time she did have into research to try to figure out what in the heck was going on around the school? One-track mind? Really?

It was a darn good thing that he hadn't stopped with that statement, however. Before Evelynn could dwell too much, before she could ruminate and grow resentful, he had continued to elaborate. Thoughtful. Well-spoken. A good head on her shoulders. She liked to prove herself. She cared. She was "all that 'n stuff". All of a sudden, the line that had formed between her brows had faded, and the tension that had built in her shoulders relaxed. Even if the compliments had been coloured with a few less-than-ideal word choices, that was the first time — with the exception of Morgan when she was bewitched, and possibly Vanes when under pressure of her meltdown — that anyone had really been so kind to her.

She really hadn't known what to say to that. And so she said nothing, instead having dropped her gaze to the hands interlaced in her lap.

"You're not—?" For some reason the fact that Woodward wasn't going to the game surprised her. Perhaps she had just assumed that everyone who played on a Quidditch team would be making the trip. Negate the fact that this assumption was already moot with the consideration that she played, and she wouldn't be going. That wasn't the only thing that had caught her off guard, though. He'd said he was going back to Texas. Unless she was very much mistaken, the only Texas she knew of was in the States. He was American? Granted, she knew that of course he at least had been American. His accent was enough of an indicator of that. But she'd thought everyone at the school resided in Europe at least.

Before she could fully form her inquisitions, however, there was a knock and the door to the compartment slid open to reveal a girl with a Slytherin crest. By the way in which she idly fidgeted with her robes, she seemed.. Nervous.. As she posed her question. Was that a normal state for her, Evelynn wondered? Or was it due to company. For a moment, the redhead entertained the empowering idea that her role as co-captain was beginning to earn her at least some level of notoriety and recognition. She recalled when she had first joined the school, she had found those on the various Quidditch teams to be just as intimidating as they were inspiring. Did she now fill that role for others?

"Of course," Evelynn replied to Woodward with a brief glance in his direction before returning a welcoming smile on the girl. "I don't mind at all."

"She is, yes," Evelynn added, answering Charlie's assumption on behalf of the girl. Although she didn't know the girl personally, she recognized her from class. "I'm Decipio. Evelynn Decipio. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sylvr. Do you need a hand with your trunk?" She wondered, leaning forward slightly and craning her neck to see if the girl still had her trunk in tow, or if she had stowed it in an overhead rack elsewhere.

Rather than see a trunk, however, Evelynn's attention was drawn to the jarring of the girl followed by the appearance of a second head over her shoulder. Cocking a brow, Evelynn cast the visage of the new arrival an inquisitive look at the resounding exclamation of the existence of a free seat. "Roberts, wasn't it?" Came a question of confirmation. The girl was familiar, one of the ones who had had an equal amount of fun the night prior if memory served. "Of course you can," she continued, and with an open palm beckoned to the seats next to each herself and Woodward. "We were just talking about the upcoming camp and the game with Durmstrang. It seems neither of us will be going. Are either of you?"

[font=century gothic]INTERACTING WITH @Charlie Woodward, @Amara Sylvr, and @Aurelia Roberts

[font=times new roman]Charlie watched as the two first year girls got pushed and spoke, exchanging words with Evelynn, sitting quietly with his hands folded in his lap. He didn't fare all too well in groups, not as well as he wished he did, so he opted to stay quiet as they introduced themselves. He felt slightly bad for Miss Sylvr, who had been haphazardly pushed as the lucrative seats on the train became apparent to them, but apologies were in place, and the Slytherin seemed to be in order.

He moved over, towards the window of the cabin, to give the girls some space to put their luggage up in the over head, and when Evelynn offered to help, he nodded. "I'm happy to assist ya'll's luggage-" he added, although it came off a bit awkward, his thick texan accent coming out far stronger than usual.

He glanced over to Evelynn, as if it would somehow give him strength in a social situation he was not particularly inclined to- but he hardly knew her better. It was nearly a saddening fact to him that he'd even consider Evelynn Decipio to be one of his better friends- given he only had about two of them.
He pursed his lips, unsure of what to do or say in the moment- godawful social skills becoming more and more painfully aware in the face of strangers he had no connections to. A quidditch team was one thing, strangers were another. He had no interest in rejecting the girl's their open seats, of course, he wasn't an ass- but he'd hardly the time to mentally prepare himself for the journey back to London, now with Sylvr and they rather exuberant Gryffindor whom had not introduced herself yet.

"Right- the Drum-string thing." He breathed out. He didn't know anything about it besides that it was a Quidditch game, and he hadn't the time for it- and the other team was from Germany or Norway or something-- somewhere north. "I'm sad I can't go, but the heart of Texas awaits-" He tried to push a weak chuckle, to lighten his own mood if anything, but it wasn't a particularly convincing act- his discomfort would probably be known to those who were aware of his usual atittude.

Interacting with @Evelynn Decipio @Amara Sylvr and @Aurelia Roberts

Interacting with @Evelynn Decipio@Charlie Woodward@Amara Sylvr

Aurelia stood at the door of the compartment, facing the two redheads. Like she had suspected the Slytherin girl was actually a Slytherin, oh and she had a name too... Amara Sylvr. Aurelia turned the words around in her head and looked at the others only to realize after Evelynn's question that Auri hadn't introduced herself yet. "Oh, yes, I'm Aurelia Roberts", she replied. In response to the second question she heaved her trunk past Sylvr but denied Evelynn and the boy's offers with a: "Oh no, I'm fine" She then tried to lift her trunk up into the compartment but her arms felt like they had turned into spaghetti and she turned back to them: "Actually, I think I'll take the help."

When the luggage was finally secured, Aurelia plopped onto the seat next to Evelynn. As they started chatting about camp Aurelia said: "Oh, you guys aren't going? I am and I can't wait! Why aren't you guys going? You are going to miss out!" She was slightly disappointed that they wouldn't go, but she supposed they both had valid reasons.

Auri grinned at the boy's: "Drum-string" and corrected him: "It's Durmstrang", she found him quite amusing. How could he not know? Wasn't he on the Quidditch team? After all, it was the school the legendary Quidditch player Victor Krum attended. "Oh, and I don't think I caught your name", she said to him.

She had seen Evelynn and this boy before when she watched the Quidditch practices but never had the courage to go up and talk to any of the players. She still really wanted to get on the team, but she supposed that had to wait until after the break. Sighing, she leaned back into the seat and looked out the window at the green mountains passing by. It would be a long ride to London, but with the people in this compartment, Aurelia was certain time would fly.