August 1st, 2021:

JD sat in an empty compartment of the Hogwarts express, staring out the window into the hills rolling by. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels was very soothing to him. He felt himself becoming drowsy. He had after all, travelled what he felt had been an unnecessarily long way today, and it was all per the instruction of his letter from Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He took out the parchment from the pocket of his robes, and unfolded it with pride. The light that shown in from the window reflected off the emblazoned Hogwarts insignia at the top of the page, casting a myriad of color onto the compartment wall. JD tilted the parchment back and forth, sending the reflected light into a sort of dance. He imagined himself floating on a broomstick just above the wall's surface racing back and forth as the reflected light was in chase.
He felt his eyelids becoming heavier. As JD set the parchment in the seat next to him, he turned his attention to the details of the compartment. The more he looked, the more impressed he was. There were two lamps on either side of the compartment door that grew in illumination the further the sun sank into the horizon. Their holders twisted in elaborate design. The compartment door contained a pained window that was skillfully shaped, baring the symbol for each Hogwarts house, and tented respectively. JD leaned his head back against the seat. It felt particularly comfortable, and the maroon velvet of its surface was soft against his skin.


Suddenly, JD felt the elation of flying. He zoomed past the hills of his family farm, his school robes billowing in the wind behind him. He raced over the pasture, flying low enough that his bare toes brushed through the wool on the backs of his family's sheep. He banked his broom hard to the right, and felt the force tugging at him as he swung around. He pulled back and his broom shot him high into the air. JD leveled out and came to a hover, glancing around. He spotted his family's muggle truck sitting in the driveway with its windows down. He smiled and pulled out his wand. JD tucked his body to the broom, and dove towards the old pickup. When he felt he was close enough, he sat straight, slowed his flight, and shouted something he didn't quite understand with his wand pointing at the open window. A look of horror filled JD's eyes as an enormous stream of flames shot forth from his wand engulfing the truck's cab. Panic stricken JD shook and dropped his wand, and reached out with both hands to grasp it. As he leaned out to grab the falling wand, he tipped over and tumbled from his broom. He felt dread. How could he have been so stupid. He closed his now tear filled eyes, held his wand tightly, and waited.

JD woke with a start and sat up straight. His vision was obstructed. JD reached up to his face, and felt. He had fallen asleep and slumped over on the invitation and it was now stuck to his face. He pulled the drool covered parchment from his face and immediately it went flush with embarrassment. Two boys that looked to be a bit older than he was now occupied the seat across from his, and they both had the biggest smiles across their faces. JD regarded them closely. They were nearly the same height, the one on the right being slightly taller than the left, but both taller that he was. They were also holding boxes and bags of what looked to be an assortment of sweets and candies. They were wearing what appeared to be uniforms that consisted of black robes, black slacks, and finely polished shoes. Embroidered on the robes were a symbol he didn't recognize. "You are having rest?" One of them said through a heavy accent. The two started laugh. JD quickly folded the wet parchment and shoved it back into his robes. "Heh. . .heh. . . Hello," JD croaked, his face growing even more red. "Do not worry. We tell no one of zis." The right boy said. "I am Illya and zis is Vyacheslav. We go to Koldovstoretz, but have come here by invitation." JD stared blankly, trying to gather his thoughts. The sun had gone down, and the train compartment was now brightly lit by its lamps. Vyacheslav held out a navy blue pentagonal box with gold trim wrapped around its edges. "You missed cart. You would like to have?" How long had he been sleeping? JD took the box, and began unwrapping it. "Thank you," he said. "So. . . tell me about Koldovstoretz." JD's inquiry caused slight shock to sweep across the other two boys faces, but they began to tell JD of their experiences at the foreign school.

Shortly after the three boys had finished eating their assortment of sweets, they heard the train's whistle blow. Then the train jolted ever so slightly, signaling its decrease in speed. "We must be getting close to Hogsmeade." JD proclaimed, and they all three moved to peer out the compartment window. JD looked across the village, the lamp lights, lanterns, and candles stuck in windows of shops, on street sides, and all around gave JD a feeling of homeliness. A huge smile spread across his face. He was ready.