Calliope stared at the wall for a very long time. She’d know the moment was coming for a while, with all the stories her mum had started shoving at her about how great Hogwarts was and how much she was going to like it.

There were many things Calliope didn’t like. She’d never tried it before, but she was pretty sure that walking into a wall was one of them. Her hand reached for the letter in her pocket again, smoothing it over. She had to go eventually.

So she took a deep breath, trying her best to still her nerves as she ran towards the wall. Her fear kicked in at some point, but by the time she was ready to stop herself, she’d already gone through.

Not the worst of beginnings, if she could say so herself. She could have hid in the bathroom for so long the train left... And it had confirmed that she didn’t like running into supposedly solid barriers.

Sighing, she glanced at the train. It wasn’t the most special thing, and it wasn’t like she could tell anything obviously magical about it, but there was a very thick mist surrounding the place and making it much harder for her to see. It was loud, too. So many families talking loudly, saying goodbyes and crying. It was all so... dramatic. She looked away, deciding to quickly board the train and snag an empty compartment for herself.

She liked the compartment, at least. It was quiet, had nice red cushions, and a good window view. Or at least... it was quiet, before the train whistle was blown and her compartment door opened.

"Oh hi... I didn't realize that there was someone in here already. Is it ok if I stay in here?" The girl timidly asked, as she drug her trunk in. Setting it down, she asked, "By the way my name is Bailey. Bailey Rose Glade. What is your name?"

"Sorry if I'm interrupting your peace and quiet." Bailey said since the girl hadn't responded yet. "Is it ok if I stay?"

Deciding to talk instead of being silent, Bailey asked, “ Do you have any siblings? I have three younger brothers and I used to have two dogs. But they have both died from old age. My parents homeschooled me and my brothers that are old enough to learn. They are both muggles, and I am the first person in my family to attend Hogwarts. Are y ok muggle born? Do you have any pets? I want to get a cat or an owl so I am saving up my gallons. Do you have plans to buy a magical pets? I heard that if you own an owl you’ll are more likely to be in Ravenclaw... is that true?” Realizing she had been blabbering on, Bailey decided to stop talking before she embarrassed herself any more than she already had.

Calliope sat up a little too suddenly, accidentally hitting her head on her seat. She hadn't really expected either the whistle or the new person. She reddened, coughing awkwardly as she moved her luggage to make room.

"Yeah, sure. It's fine. I'm Calliope Bellerose," she mumbled, her eyes shifting back outside the window. It wasn't like she could refuse without being extremely rude, and the train was going to leave soon. She didn't really want to make the girl switch compartments either... Moving her hand, Calliope gently rubbed the area she'd hit in her stupidity. It didn't hurt too much, and she was sure she would get over it soon. She was lucky it was at least cushioned.

Suddenly feeling awkward, Calliope glanced back at the girl to study her more. Something about her seemed welcoming, and Calliope decided that she should at least try to continue their conversation. After another short pause, she began to speak again.

"Are you excited for Hogwarts? And the uh, sorting itself?" Calliope asked, before continuing hesitantly. "I think that I'd like to be sorted into Slytherin. I know many people hate it, like my parents... But it just seems like it would be so cool. Ah, sorry, I don't want to start rambling. Any house you like in particular?

Emily was walking by this compartment which had two girls already inside of it. Emily stopped when she heard that one of the girls said Slytherin.

Emily walked back to that compartment then she said "Did I hear someone say Slytherin? My whole family has been sorted into Slytherin. I'm hoping that the Sorting Hat places me into the wonderful house of Slytherin. May I sit here?

Emily was still standing in the corridor waiting for someone to let her come in or not. Then Emily continued "If I'm not sorted into Slytherin my parents are going to kill me! I'm also, going to get a holler. My whole family will think that I'm a traitor. I really do need to be sorted into Slytherin or else I don't think I'll have a family or a home any more."

Emily looked scared. She also, probably did make the other two girls scared as well. After a moment of silence Emily added "I'm sorry if I scared you guy's with what will happen if I'm not sorted into Slytherin. But I'm afraid to say that it will happen if I'm not sorted into Slytherin. So ya, I really do need to be sorted into Slytherin."

Emily started to leave after that but she heard one of the girls calling her name, so Emily stopped and she went back to the compartment then she asked "Yes?"

Calliope glanced up, seeing another girl walk in. She had chocolate brown hair with beautiful green highlights. Before she could respond to the girl's request to sit with them, the girl had continued talking about her family's history of being Slytherins and how she would need to be sorted in as well.

"Do you... personally want to go into Slytherin though?" Calliope looked down at her hands as she asked. She'd never liked her parents that much, but at least they hadn't tried to force her into a certain house... She considered it for a moment, feeling mildly scared. How could a family just abandon someone if they didn't get into a certain house? She bit her lip. Perhaps she was a lot luckier than she thought she was.

The girl had started to leave, but Calliope felt oddly guilty. "Um, wait! Do you want to sit with us?"

Seeing the girl walk back in. Calliope tried to smile up at her and thought about ways she could comfort the girl. "Even if you don't get sorted into Slytherin, you'll get at least a year before you really have to go back, I think. Maybe you can stay with a friend...?"

"Yes I do want to be sorted into Slytherin . I know it might seem that I'm being forced to be come a Slytherin, but I just love that house a lot." Emily had said when she came back to the compartment.

Emily thought about the question that one of the girls asked then she said "I'll love to sit with you guys!" Emily walked into the compartment and she sat down beside the girl that asked her if she wanted to sit with them.

Emily smiled back at the girl then Emily said "All of my friends live really close to my house. So I don't think I can. I think I might have to be an orphan girl if I'm not sorted into Slytherin."

Emily frowned when she said that. She noticed that the other girls frowned two. Then Emily looked out of the window. She smiled at the girls but she was secretly sad inside.

Emily was thinking about what her family will think of her when she isn't sorted into Slytherin. Emily also is thinking about the punishment that she will get, plus she probably won't have a family and a home to go back to when she is sorted into a different house. Emily will also be an orphan girl then and probably for the rest of her life.

After a moment of thinking Emily asked "What are your names? Sorry that I didn't ask this when I first introduced myself." Emily smiled at the girls when she asked that question.

Irakma walked into the train, nervous for what was going to happen when he would get to the school. Would the other kids scorn him because his parents had been put in Azkaban? Would he be able to make friends? His worry was evident as he walked through the halls of the mystical train.

After searching the first three compartments and finding no one he knew, (which didn't surprise him, judging how he had been isolated from everyone else in the wizarding world since his parents were taken away) he gave up and opened the compartment the girls were talking in and said, "Pardon me, but can I sit in here? I hope I'm not intruding on anything."

He sits down nervously and puts his luggage in the racks above the seats. He looks at them carefully, wondering if they could be in cahoots with The Ministry of Magic. "Hey, would you happen to be spies for the Ministry? I don't trust the ministry." He shudders slightly at the thought of the Ministry.

He sits next to the window and looks out onto the misty platform, wondering what Hogwarts would really be like. Would he get sorted into Slytherin, like his parents? And would he be able to keep up with all of the work? His eyebrows furrowed as he thought of this.

Emily looked at the boy and she studied him. Then she said "Hello. My name is Emily Flower. Daughter of Rebbecca and Chris Flower. What's your name?"

Emily thought she say this boy before, but she doesn't know if she has saw him before. But, Emily might not know if it was him. Emily looked at of the window as well.

After a moment of silence Emily added "What house do you want to be sorted into? For me it is Slytherin. My whole family has been sorted into Slytherin. Also, I don't want to get a holler and lose my family and home if I'm not sorted into Slytherin."

Emily then reached into her jacket pocket and she pulled out a box of Every Flavor Beans. Emily handed one to the boy then she said "Here. You can take it. They are really good."

Emily waited for the boy to take it. Once Emily's hand was hurting she just put it beside the boy, then she opened up her box and started to eat hers. Once, Emily was done she put her box back in her pocket.

Emily then looked at the door of the compartment then she looked back out of the window.

Emily had a good idea... trying to talk to the boy. I think I'll try next. Bailey thought. Looking up from her book.

"Hi!" She said cheerfully."My name is Bailey. Bailey Glade! And no, I'm not a spy for the Ministry. I'm muggle born and I grew up around Leeds, England. Is there a reason you don't like the Ministry? I'm sorry if I'm acting to nosy. You don't have to answer that if it is to sensitive."

Blushing, Bailey looked down at her book again, afraid she had embarrassed herself once again.

I do wonder... She thought... Why is he so nervous about the Ministry? Maybe I'll just ask about Houses and family next!

Never one to stay quiet long, Bailey spoke again, this time a little quieter. "What house do you want to be sorted into? I really want to be sorted into Ravenclaw. And I know Emily wants to be in Slytherine... What about you?"

A pause. After a minute when the boy had still not responded, she spoke again. "Do you have any siblings? I have three younger brothers. They drive me nuts, but I still love them. I wonder if I will get homesick? I really hope I don't...."

Trailing off, Bailey looked out the window, possibly thinking about all the letters she would write.

She was brought back to reality when someone spoke.

Irakma was unsure as to if he should respond, but he was uncertain. he decided that he must eventually speak, or they might hate him.

"Well, I guess I should talk, so ill try to answer as many of your questions as i can. First off, my name is Irakma Fultran. I was raised alone because my parents were thrown into Azkaban for a crime they didn't commit. secondly, i don't mind what house i get sorted into, as long as its not Gryffindor. I just don't trust them. and thanks for the beans, but i dont trust anyone until i've properly gotten to know them. i don't trust the ministry because they improperly put my parents in jail, even though i had both of their wands with me and was playing with them at the time, they got their wands snapped and were sent to Azkaban. the thing is, i still have their wands, which were never snapped. and no, i don't have any siblings. i'm an only child. does that answer all of your questions, or do you have more of them?"

he leans back against the seat and stares at them questioningly, and carefully takes one of the beans and, after looking at it for a second, pops it into his mouth. he gags and spits it out, saying, "urgh. toe clippings."