A Ride into the Sun Solo

The train ride was relatively easy. She had chosen a full room in her car, but noticed too late that it was full of upper year students rather than first - or even second - years who might be more willing to talk to her. But, unfortunately, the upper classmen seemed just as happy to ignore her as they were to chat with each other.

She tried to eavesdrop on their conversation, maybe remember a few names or learn a few tips and tricks about the castle. But mainly they just talked about their summers and their vacations to interesting places. They were all clearly friends with each other, although one was nice enough to offer her a candy bean when the candy trolley rolled through. To her surprise and disgust, she got a not very tasty bean, but she couldn't quite place the taste, perhaps thankfully. Still, she acted polite and as if she had gotten something tasty, just to spare the older girl who had been so generous.

What was more nerve wracking than the train ride and the search for a seat was actually getting onto the platform in order to catch the train. Her parents had never mentioned the strange entryway before they actually arrived at the station platform between 9 and 10. In fact, she thinks they very specifically did not tell her as she caught them snickering at her surprise after they told her how to get there. She thought they were joking at first. Mireia had never done any proper magic before and this seemed rather proper to her.

Nevertheless, her father went first and she did make it through rather unproblematically. Her mother came after and soon she was on the train, gazing out the window of her found car, smiling at her parents. Her father, she though, was crying a little. He was always the more emotional of the two.

The train ride lasted for quite a long time. They had left in the morning and arrived just as the sun was starting to set. And such a setting made her first view of the castle so much more amazing than she would have ever imagine. As it sat in it hill, pointed and spirling towers cutting through the early evening fog of the lake that lay before it, the glowing orange sun dipping, slowly, beyond it's horizon line.