6 Sep 2022, 14:55
You Must Be Brave
"All Aboard the Hogwarts Express!" shouted one of the conductors of the train. He was dressed in maroon slacks and a vest adorned with gold and black buttons and chains that laid neatly on a white undershirt. His outfit was completed with a maroon blazer with similar black and gold adornments and a maroon conductor's hat with the Hogwarts crest.
Arleth's breath caught in her throat at hearing these words as her mother pulled her into a tight embrace. Her father soon joined the hug and wrapped both of them in his arms and squeezed them tight. This was it. She was going to Hogwarts. Her mother and father told her so much about the school, how amazing and fun it could be - and how dangerous. This was a new exciting adventure and Arleth was not sure if she was excited or nauseated. Was it possible to be both?
"Ok, lovebug - remember to study hard, write as often as you can and we will see you at Christmas." her mother pulled away from her and smoothed her hand over her oldest daughter's crimson hair. Arleth swallowed hard and nodded forcing back hot tears that fogged her vision and threatened to spill over. Her father placed his hand on her shoulder and grunted at her. It was obvious he hadn't prepared to say goodbye to his pride and joy - his first babe. His grunt was all Arleth needed to dive straight into his arms and hug him tight. She needed his strong embrace once more before putting on her brave face and heading off to school.
After their tearful goodbye, Arleth picked up her bag and walked bravely toward the entrance of the train. She looked back once more before disappearing onto the train to find a dorm. She was glad her parents hadn't brought her sisters and left them with her grandparents; if they were there on the platform this goodbye would have been so much harder to bear. Arleth trudged along the corridor until she found what seemed like one of the only empty compartments left. She entered it in a hurry, placed her bag with her robes on the shelf above her, and plopped down in the seat with a sigh.
As she waited for the train to lurch forward she buried her head in her hands and took a deep breath, muttering to herself. "Be brave, be brave. If you want to get into Gryffindor - you must be brave Arleth."
Arleth's breath caught in her throat at hearing these words as her mother pulled her into a tight embrace. Her father soon joined the hug and wrapped both of them in his arms and squeezed them tight. This was it. She was going to Hogwarts. Her mother and father told her so much about the school, how amazing and fun it could be - and how dangerous. This was a new exciting adventure and Arleth was not sure if she was excited or nauseated. Was it possible to be both?
"Ok, lovebug - remember to study hard, write as often as you can and we will see you at Christmas." her mother pulled away from her and smoothed her hand over her oldest daughter's crimson hair. Arleth swallowed hard and nodded forcing back hot tears that fogged her vision and threatened to spill over. Her father placed his hand on her shoulder and grunted at her. It was obvious he hadn't prepared to say goodbye to his pride and joy - his first babe. His grunt was all Arleth needed to dive straight into his arms and hug him tight. She needed his strong embrace once more before putting on her brave face and heading off to school.
After their tearful goodbye, Arleth picked up her bag and walked bravely toward the entrance of the train. She looked back once more before disappearing onto the train to find a dorm. She was glad her parents hadn't brought her sisters and left them with her grandparents; if they were there on the platform this goodbye would have been so much harder to bear. Arleth trudged along the corridor until she found what seemed like one of the only empty compartments left. She entered it in a hurry, placed her bag with her robes on the shelf above her, and plopped down in the seat with a sigh.
As she waited for the train to lurch forward she buried her head in her hands and took a deep breath, muttering to herself. "Be brave, be brave. If you want to get into Gryffindor - you must be brave Arleth."
Arleth Winnifred Nolan
A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it.
A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it.