Forward Date To September 1st

Adlai held her bags with a deathly grip as she stood beside her father on platform. She wore a long yellow skirt, an old pair of white sneakers, a dark green long sleeved sweater, and a nice floral print hijab.

Her father had brought her to the train station last year and this year he had brought her again.

However, this time he wasn’t alone. Adlai’s Great Aunt, Margret Viktoria, stood behind her and she could feel her aunts gaze on her back.

Over the summer break, she had learned some earth shaking news that may change her family for the better or for the worst.

The sound of the trains whistle brought Adlai out of an anxious daze and she loosened her grip on her bags as her fathers hand rubbed her shoulder.
“I guess that’s your cue to go.” He sighed before bringing Adlai into a tight embrace. Margret Viktoria stood awkwardly to the side.

“I’ll miss you dad.” Adlai said. “I’ll miss you too girly.”
A second too soon Adlai’s father let go of her and looked to his aunt. Margret Viktoria looked dumbfounded at her nephew as his eyes kept shifting from her to Adlai. After a few painstaking seconds she finally got it. “Oh! Yes! I’ll miss you too, Adlai.”

With the second blow of the trains whistle Adlai waved good bye to her family as she boarded the train and found an empty compartment to take a seat in.

Ankle Boots | Outfit | Satchel

They supposed to be get used to this but a person can dream, right? A day before the new school year rolled in, their mother said that she can not accompany the now second year. Every since their father disappearance two weeks before Summer Camp, they are in permanent sour mood and ready to snapped at whomever irked them.

They woke up late and when they arrived at the platform the second blow of the trains whistle rang through the air. "Out of my way"Cash said as they jog towards the train, shoving people left and right. They did not care whose they shoved in the process or the strings of protest in their awake.

Cash hopped into the train just a mere second later the train moved. Cash cursed under their breath. Second year supposed to be a fresh new start of another education year and excitement to meet old or new friends along the way. They wobble as the train gain its speed. "Bloody hell!"They grabbed the railing inside of the train to support them.

They almost face planted into the floor if only they were not holding the railings to support their balance. They will not let the same mistake they done a year back twice. They will not banged their head accidentally again to the glass door. Cash looked right and left and wondering if there still an empty compartment.

Row after row they had passed but none are pleasing them. Some of the occupants in the compartment throw them stinking eyes. What is their problem. Cash rolled their eyes and decided to look again. Finally they found a semi decent compartment. Inside the compartment there is one single girl. Cash slide open the glass door.

Their sunglasses perched on top of their head. "I do not feel like sharing with a stranger but I think we will get along just fine"Cash stated as their way of greeting the person inside the compartment even though the girl is a stranger to them. The ever presence of their Cuban accent pour out.

"Mind if I join you?"They inquire the girl. Though they are always in sour mood, they did not forgot about the socialite manner they taught upon them since their been born. "Cassandra. Cash for short"Cash introduced their name. They did not feel like a long and friendly introduction. They are hoping their short introduction will not offend the said girl.

They give a curt nod of their head and waiting for the other girl to respond.

Interact with : @Adlai Rod

Hearing the door of the compartment open Adlai saw an unfamiliar face. They stood in the doorway as they spoke, “ I do not feel like sharing with a stranger but I think we will get along just fine.” They said before asking, “Mind if I join you?”

“No not at all, please have a seat.” She said as she motioned to the empty seats in the compartment. “Cassandra. Cash for short.” They said as they sat. “Nice to meet you Cash I’m Adlai, Adlai Rod.” She held her hand out to Cash.

The train always seemed to bring about interesting people. Cash surely did have interesting hair. Adlai had never really seen dyed hair aside from seeing celebrities on the television. She always thought it was fascinating, she had wanted to try having dyed hair herself once but her mother was against it.

Her father in the other hand was all in, and even suggested giving Adlai rainbow colored hair but her mother’s opinion almost always over rides her fathers which in retrospect was for the best since her father was a bit much when it came down to anything and everything. Another reason as to why her mother was perfect for him. She balanced him out.

Interaction: @Cassandra Ironwoods

Interacting with @Adlai Rod and @Cassandra Ironwoods

His day couldn't have been worse.

After his rather shitty interaction with Ana, it left him in tears. The letters had shattered the semblance of reality that he had, practically, but having his friend reject him was insult to injury. He walked down the aisle with bleary eyes, sitting down in a compartment with two other people in it. One girl had a flowery Hijab, the other purple hair. He hardly even cared, they were both just blurs in his vision. He managed to put a painful smile on his face. He didn't dare cry in front of them, even though his eyes were red-rimmed and puffy.

"Sorry... Can I sit here?" Eyre asked, his voice raspy. He figured that perhaps he could sit next to his friend, but her coldness had proved otherwise. Maybe, if his seatmates weren't much for conversation, he would be able to get some rest. "I can move, if you have another friend coming." It was clear that although he was upset, he didn't want to be alone. There had to be some sort of semblance of good in this day, even if it was something as miniscule as having a few strangers letting him sit with them. He couldn't even fathom the universe dealing out any more bad cards to him today. He'd had enough.

The compartment door opened once again to reveal a young boy. His voice raspy as he asked,
“Sorry...Can I sit here?” Adlai looked to Cash looking for some sort of confirmation but then decided it would be best to answer herself as the boy spoke again. “I can move, if you have another friend coming.”

Adlai gave him a soft smile. “We’re not waiting on anyone so please have a seat.” She said motioning a hand to the two empty seats left in the compartment. She could tell the boy was a bit upset. “I’m Adlai and this is Cash.” She said hoping to make him feel welcome.

Adlai always had a need to fix things and it seemed that at Hogwarts there was a lot of broken people. Though she knew for a fact she couldn’t fix them all but she wanted to do her best to help those she could.

She wasn’t sure who she got this characteristic from. Her parents and family members were kind but quite like her. She liked to think she had inherited it from some far off relative who also helped many people in their life time, though she wouldn’t know since her families history seemed to be quite hush hush. At least in her mother’s side now since her Great Aunt had told them everything a few days before.

Reducio

Interacting With @Cassandra Ironwoods and @Eyre Reeves

@Adlai Rod, @Cassandra Ironwoods, and @Eyre Reeves
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There was a coolness already in the air when Mars arrived at Platform 9 and 3/4 once again. They hummed a little tune as they shifted the duffle bag higher onto their shoulder, pulling one earbud out to catch the sounds of the bustling station.

Mars smiled. Summer had started rough but it had flattened out with time, becoming maybe peaceful even. Still, they couldn't ignore that prickling in their heart, the knowledge that they had missed an entire two months to spend with the people that mean the most to them. For that, they were grateful they'd see Hogwarts soon. If anything, the magical school always proved to be quite the distraction.

Faintly, Mars heard someone calling them from behind. They pivoted, eyes softening as they spotted Lydia waving in the distance, a handkerchief in her hand. The wix raised their own, bidding farewell to the only person they might consider a mother figure in their life. She'd done so much for Mars already and they couldn't help but feel eternally grateful.

Mars was startled out of their farewell by the whistle of the train, loud and shrill against their ears. They turned hurriedly, hearing the small tinkle of laughter coming from their maid, and grinned, dashing off to catch the thing before it sped away without them.

Breathlessly, Mars hopped onto the train, steadying themselves with a hand to the doorframe. After taking a moment, they looked up. Oh. Right, this train had compartments. The Ravenclaw had forgotten.

Mars sighed. The last train ride they'd gone on hadn't been awful but they'd manage to create a fair amount of tension right off the bat, something that'd made the ride quite—unpleasant. With any luck, they'd avoid that this year.

Careful not to hit anyone with their guitar case, Mars wove through the corridors, peeking into the boxes every so often to see if they were occupied. Coming late had cost them a bit—most of the compartments were full or were obviously being saved for someone else.

Sighing, they neared a final one. Mars rested a hand on the door handle for a moment before breathing in and pulling it open. It was occupied, yes, but there was one free seat. And someone they knew! Cassandra Ironwoods was seated with a Hufflepuff girl and a Gryffindor boy, looking for all the world like some had stepped on their cupcake. In fact, the entire mood seemed a bit—gloomy.

Noting silently that all the houses were represented in the little compartment (them included), Mars leaned on the door frame, setting their guitar on the floor. Shooting everyone a small half-smile, they spoke,

"Well, you all look miserable."

Interacting with @Adlai Rod @Mars T'ien @Cassandra Ironwoods
Mentioning @Anastasia Beckett

Eyre was about to introduce himself when a shorter Ravenclaw came to the compartment, swinging a guitar case over their shoulder.

They sat their guitar onto the floor, grinning at them before they spoke.

"Well, you all look miserable."

Although Eyre was practically about to cry a moment ago, he could help but let out an amused, yet choked, laugh at that. A tear escaped and rolled down his cheek, which could've embarrassed him, but at least someone had spoken out and made light out of the sad vibe that was radiating from the compartment.

"...Nothing says a train ride to Hogwarts quite like an emotional breakdown right before the year begins." He quipped in spite of his dismal state, painfully laughing. Eyre thought to his first year at Hogwarts, how he and his compartment mates were so nervous that they practically couldn't speak to each other. He thought to himself back then, how he was hopeful for a new start and unaware of his tragic origins that had only just come to light. He wasn't aware that he was a Parselmouth then, or an unwanted half-blood son. He was just Eyre. A perfectly normal boy with a painfully neglectful, but normal family.

His fists clenched at the thought of that. God, if only he knew how lucky he was. Maybe he wouldn't have complained so much. Maybe Ana wouldn't have twisted it around to hurt him later, too.

"My name is Eyre." He said with a nod to the three of them. "Sorry about the tears..." He wiped them from his cheek. "I've had a horrible 24 hours, basically. Wish I could have a memory charm." He laughed again. Maybe laughing was becoming a defense mechanism for him, helping him hide the fact that he had absolutely no reason to laugh, or smile, or do anything right now. He had his life ruined just with a simple letter. He didn't want just a memory charm for that unfortunate moment, but his entire life. Maybe he could start again as the same, but as an entirely different person. Maybe he'd be happier, if he could just forget everything and everyone.

"...Are you all excited for the school year?" He asked, trying to make pleasant conversation even though his stomach was starting to twist into knots again, his eyes still red and rimmed with tears. "...I'm quite excited for H-Herbology..."

Adlai’s hand retracted back to her lap when she heard the thud of a guitar case hit the train floor.
“Well, you all look miserable.” Said the new stranger who stood in the compartment door way. Adlai gave a weak smile. “We are having to go back to school, which isn’t every kid’s favorite thing in the world.” She said.

"...Nothing says a train ride to Hogwarts quite like an emotional breakdown right before the year begins." Said the boy before introducing himself as Eyre. Although Eyre laughed at what he had said Adlai’s heart ached. Today seemed be a day people where knocked out of their joyful moods.

“...I’m quite excited for H-Herbology...” Adlai smiled and nodded knowing it wouldn’t be wise to ask about what had caused him to cry. Thus, she didn’t pry and went along. “Herbology is always exciting. I just hope no one passes out when handling the baby mandrakes this year.” She giggled.

Adlai didn’t have the best grades being that everything was new material of which she had never heard before or knew the basics of. On top of that Adlai was easily distracted since she was filled with wonder about the ever changing and new world of magic around her.
Though by now she had grown a bit accustomed to it.

Interaction With @Cassandra Ironwoods @Eyre Reeves @Mars T'ien

Interacting with : @Adlai Rod | @Eyre Reeves | @Mars T'ien

After Cash introduced theirselves to the flower Hijabi girl, and the said girl allowed Cash to be seated, they took the vacant one across the girl. They gently thrown their brown satchel bag with their surname imprinted on it to the space near the window wall. The said satchel bring a fond memory of a debate between Alec and themselves.

Alec Mason. Their fiancé. Their fake fiancé whom they'll encountered at some point in the next semester of school. Cash sighed at the absurd arrangement that both of their parents and Alec's parents agreed upon. Shaken themselves out of that reverie, "Thanks and yeah nice to meet your acquaintance too"Cash spoke out then slide close the glass door. Then they sit near the window.

The girl held out her hand and introduced herself as Adlai. Adlai Rod. Cash did not accustomed to shaking hands but they held out their hand as well and shook the girl hand. They did not want to be rude to someone that practically a stranger to them. Cash just situated in their seat then the door being open again.

This time a boy with curly mane, that somehow reminded them of Alecs' asked to both of Adlai and themselves whether he can joined the compartment. Adlai look at the green eyes girl but Cash remained silent. They did not feel like talking to a stranger. Adlai then said that the curly mane boy is welcome on both of the girls compartment.

Cash looked at the boy. The boy eyes were red-rimmed and puffy. His eyes also has unshed tears in it. Once again Adlai introduced her and the purple dyed hair girl name to the boy. Cash thought the compartment will be a small blissed for them but they thought wrong. A moment later the door being open again.

"For the love of-"Cash stopped abruptly after seeing the person standing on the door way. "Oh it is you"Cash stated to the other wix. Mars leaned on the door frame, their guitar on the floor near them. "Well, you all look miserable."Mars pointed out. Cash let out a sarcastic scoffed. "That one way to put it"They quipped with disinterested tone.

The soft boy that now sit next to Adlai let out an amused, yet choked, laugh at Mars comment. A single tear escape the boy eyes and rolled down on his cheek. "Nothing says a train ride to Hogwarts quite like an emotional breakdown right before the year begins."The boy said in those self-pity voice. Cash let another scoff at that.

"My name is Eyre."He introduced himself to his train compartment companions. "Sorry about the tears..."He wiped them from his cheek. "I've had a horrible 24 hours, basically. Wish I could have a memory charm."He laughed again with the same dejected self-pity tone. Cash gritted their jaw to stop the verbal abused.

Eyre then ask whether the other three wixes excited for the new year and he mentioned that he excited Herbology and Adlai second Eyre opinion about Herbology. Cash usually up for a chit-chat during the journey back to school but not today. They glare at the boy with their green eyes.

"Dios Mio! (my god!) For the love of Merlin's, stopped your tears. How sap can you be?"They expressed. The green eyes girl no longer can hold their tongue. "Your dejected self-pitied wallowing self are just beyond pathetic and just unpleasant sight to see"They growled out. "You are a boy for Merlin's sake! Have some self respect"They slide down their shades that perched on top of their head to cover their eyes.

They look out on the window. A blurred of green and blue being their scenery. They know that they should have not projected their anger to innocent people but they already felt worse ever since their father been missing. Then this boy sit in the compartment, wallowing his feeling and it did not help Cash to tone down their anger for one bit.

OOC Note - So sorry for the super late reply, guys. Been busy with IRL stuffs and for Eyre, Cash just a big jerk. Don't mind them.

@Adlai Rod, @Cassandra Ironwoods, and @Eyre Reeves
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Well, it seemed that they were in far worse shape than Mars' thought. At least one of them—a Hufflepuff in a flowery hijab—was at least trying for some sense of normality, but the other two... Mars was used to Cash's snarky retorts, but something behind their greeting was maybe hollower than usual. More aggressive.

They turned to the other passenger—a Gryffindor boy—just in time to catch the tear rolling down his cheek. Mars' eyebrows flitted up once, a sign of concern, before returning to their natural position. Surprise, sympathy, comfort—all of them felt a little too close to pity for the Ravenclaw's comfort. But still, they couldn't just let the sour mood hang there. They were trying to have a pleasant train ride.

Mars slid the duffle bag off their shoulder as he made a small comment, huffing out a laugh as they kicked it under the seat next to Cash. Well, not all was lost. They propped their guitar case up by the door before plopping down in the seat next to their Slytherin friend, a hand rummaging through their coat pockets for something.

Eyre, hmm? They glanced up at him, taking in his disheveled state, and figured that, yeah, his last 24-hours probably had been horrible. The comment about the memory charm had them stalling for a second though. Something in the back of their brain burned like a live wire and Mars' winced, shaking it away.

"I'm Mars," they offered, hand still busy. The they/them pin on their lapel glinted in the light from the window, silver heart grinning up at the others. Mars turned to look at the Hufflepuff, arching a brow.

"I know Cash, but I don't think I got your name?" There were so many faces in Hogwarts, it was kind of dizzying, but Mars did their best to keep track of everyone.

And then they were back to small talk. A rather abrupt change of speed, but it made enough sense. Topic changing was an art form in its own right. Eyre mentioned something about Herbology and the Hufflepuff seconded it. Mars—just after finally finding what they were looking for—was just about to comment when Cash interrupted.

It was safe to say they were nothing short of shocked by what came out of their friend's mouth. A torrent of insults, the judgemental tone ringing clear, poured out just before they turned to look out the window, eyes covered by dark shades.

The beats of silence rang through the compartment, thick and awkward. There was irony in this somewhere, they were sure of it.

"Cash," Mars spoke, "that was rather uncalled for, doncha think?" That same hollowness, the fueled aggression they'd sensed earlier had made itself all the more clear now. They placed one hand on the Slytherin's shoulder, the other going into their field of vision in a closed fist.

"You don't know what he's been through. Besides—" the fingers of their closed hand popped open, a lollipop sliding through their knuckles like a jackknife, and they grinned, "You're not looking much better yourself."

The sway of the piece of candy tilted towards Cash, offering itself to them. Mars wanted to know what was up, but they figured prying right now was a mistake. Maybe this would keep them occupied—a little bit of a peace offering for their sour tongue.

Whether Cash took it or not, Mars turned back to the other two, giving them both a sheepish grin. Their eyes softened when they turned on Eyre—a reflex, really—and the Ravenclaw opened their mouth to pop a candy in for themselves.

"Sorry 'bout them," they said through it, "but yeah, Herbology is always fun." The wix would play along for now, but something told them they should ask. They wanted to know for their own curiosity too, and he didn't seem hostile like Cash. Maybe he'd actually tell them. But they'd wait for now, let the tension defuse.

Mars' eyes lit up for a moment. Oh right! They pulled their right hand out, two more lollipops in their grasps. Looking at the two opposite to them, they grinned, the stick caught between pearly white teeth.

"Want one?"