leap finished

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THE YOUNGEST BLYTHE WAITED for the Hogwarts Express to disappear the exact moment she laid eyes on it.

To fade into nothingness, a memory out of her reach, as this weird, fantastical, anxiety-inducing dream comes to its end. Except, it isn't a dream. And the large, scarlet steam engine continues there

Cedrella's eyes widen at the magnitude of the locomotive, as she slowly moves out of the entrance, surrounded by witches and wizards of all sizes. There's this buzz around. Lack of trust, in a sense. Not at the thought of this whole side of the wizarding world being a lie; a scam of some sort, no. For all the things the girl has seen before in her decade-plus-one long life, nothing can make her doubt the existence of magic or its core. Not at this point.

The lack of trust comes from her own heart, and it calls for her. Coming naturally from inside, insecurity claws its way inside her stomach, and she grows cold. Perhaps asking to cross the barrier on her own had been a terrible choice. More than ever before, Cedrella wishes for her family's embrace; her mother's supportive smile, father's booming presence, and even her older brothers comparing her to frighted rodents.

Pushing her trolley forward, she looks back at the barrier, tucking some strands of her behind her ears, fear crossing her eyes for a split second. The sight of her family feels like a blur in the back of her mind. Cedrella knows she should be prepared for this moment: all of this she's feeling right now are things she knew were coming.

She's a witch, for Merlin's sake! A Blythe! Her presence at a wizarding school had been expected from the moment her mother was expecting her. Father had been speaking of it since March had passed, and the flowers began to blossom. Cedrella has been hearing of Hogwarts, Ilvermorny, Mahoutokoro, and other schools since birth.

And yet... fear. Hesitation.

Biting her lower lip, Cedrella takes another step, pushing the trolley forward. Always forward. The momentary expression of concern, fear, awe, surprise, all emotions possible, is no longer seen, as her eyelids flutter down, and Cedrella presses her lips together in a thin line; the usual bland expression coming to her. If anyone were to look at her face right now, they'd think going to Hogwarts was nothing short of a bore to her. A chore.

This, she can deal with: punching it all deep down, taking a deep breath, and leaping as plans and maps are traced in her brain. Whatever Cedrella might need to calm herself down, always avoiding the moment she'd have to sit down and get her thoughts in place.

It's not a Blythe thing. Everyone in her bloodline is known for their proficiency in reading themselves and others' emotions. One of the several little details that make her stand out in the extensive family tree. The Blythes are writers, singers, Aurors... Important people. Yet, all it takes is one quiet mind to get all of the neighborhood talking about them behind their backs.

Cedrella doesn't want to think about it: all of the times her methods of self-preservation turned her into the new gossiping topic, like the time she refused to leave the house for an entire week, as she had felt a heavy weight in her chest, keeping her in bed... Hogwarts won't be like that at all. For all the good things she's heard of it, Cedrella knows it'll be a place she'll learn to call home.

There's no need for all of these feelings... Easy now, Ced.

Keeping the doubts and fears all very hidden inside the parenthesis protecting her most important part, Cedrella enters the Hogwarts Express. This time, the girl does not hesitate, and she most certainly does not look back.

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word count: 600 words