25 Feb 2023, 18:31
The Sendoff
Kings Cross Station was busy and bustling. Her dad, David, helped lift her luggage out of the car and onto the asphalt with a bit of an oomph. Between the cauldron and the books it was a bit heavy admittedly. Nella was grateful however for muggle conveniences, as she extended the handle on the case, and tilted it onto its wheels so she could pull it along behind her.
The case itself was large and unwieldy, even with wheels, and a base coat of bright purple on its hard shell. Ot looked even larger and more unweildy for being towed by a 4'8" 11year old girl. This was then overlaid with decals of black cats and stars to make a unique design. It also tied into Nella's outfit for the day- oversized black hoodie with cat ears over a purple skater dress and knee high socks deliberately mismatched. One sock was black with grey stars, and the other black and grey horizontal stripes. A pair of plain black docs finished the look with style and comfort in mind.
Together the family of three made their way through the station, trying to blend in and not jostle the others too much. The glass arching overhead turned the conversations of hundreds of people into a din, and it took more gesturing than words for her mother Lisa to steer them in the right direction towards platforms 9 and 10. While the majority of the crowd were muggles, here and there Nella spotted her would be class mates. Some striding purposefully towards the platform, others looking nervously around trying to get their bearings. She wanted to help some of the obviously muggle borns but her parents were moving forwards and she didn't want to get lost or separated herself. And honestly, she thought to herself, the school should reallt send someone like a teacher or a prefect to come and help them out.
Soon enough Nella, Lisa, and David stopped at a brick wall between platform 9 and 10. David looked at it intently, as if somehow after all the years married to his wife he might see something about the wall to indicate that it was strange. But no, just as a family approached it, his gaze shifted to a train pulling in to another station and he missed seeing them go through the barrier itself. "Here you are then baby girl. Are you ready?" Lisa asked Nella, pride and sadness in her voice.
Nella beamed, she had been excited for ages. "Yup, all set. I guess... do I have to say good bye to Dad here? He can't come through the barrier can he?" She asked, a bit sad to leave her dad behind. Her mums face fell a little, "correct honey it'll just be me to see you onto the train."
Nella threw herself at her dad, hugging him around the waist. He hugged her back, and pushed the hood off her head. Squatting down to be her height, he gently took her arms in his and looked her in the face with all the fatherly love and adoration he had for his little girl. "You are going to be an amazing witch. I'm so proud of you already, your the best daughter we could have asked for. Have fun at school, and we will write often, and the holidays will be here before you know it. Be good and remember that I love you, no matter what." And with that he pulled her back into a hug before straightening back up.
Lisa took Nella's hand then, and turned to her husband. "I'm sorry darling. But I won't be too long. Do you want to go find us a coffee maybe?" She asked. David compled and with an affectionate pat on the head for Nella, and a kiss for his wife he went off in search of a coffee shop. Lisa and Nella turned toward the barrier, and crossed the few steps toward the brick wall. "Don't be nervous, it's not a real wall for us no matter what your eyes are telling you," Lisa told Nella, who nodded. It didn't stop her taking a deep breath before stepping through the barrier, but she let it out quickly as the excitement built up again looking at the big steam train and the platform of magical families.
They were early so it wasn't as full as it would be soon. And the two crossed the platform with ease. When they were closer to the doors, Lisa stopped Nella, turning towards her. "Now darling. You know I love you, and I want you to do well. But don't think that you have to follow in my footprints the whole way ok? I want you to go and find out what kind of amazing witch lives inside of you. And I have no doubt that you will be an exceptional witch. Be good and follow the rules, and owl me the first chance you get. OK?"
Nella's eyes glistened a little as she hugged her mother. "Yes mum, I will. I'm going to miss you though. And Dad."
"I know sweetie and we will miss you too," Lisa responded, a little choked up. "I love you."
"I love you too mum."
The two stood there for a moment or two in a hug before breaking apart. "OK baby girl, onto the train. Find yourself a nice compartment. Benefit of early means you should have your pick. And make sure you change before you get there." Lisa put her 'my baby is all grown up and going to school' feelings behind her 'efficient mum mode' feelings. She tucked a stray strand of Nella's white-blonde hair behind her ear and kissed the top of her head. "Off you go. Be your wonderful self and we will see you for the holidays ok." She said softly.
Nella nodded and gave her mum one last hug before getting onto the train. The luggage became unweildy and heavy again as she navigated stairs, then student-crowded hallways. She found an empty compartment, and getting the luggage into the overhead rack was nearly beyond her. But with one last herculean effort she got it up without incident, snuggled into the seat to get as comfortable as possible, and pulled out her book.
(1053 words)
The case itself was large and unwieldy, even with wheels, and a base coat of bright purple on its hard shell. Ot looked even larger and more unweildy for being towed by a 4'8" 11year old girl. This was then overlaid with decals of black cats and stars to make a unique design. It also tied into Nella's outfit for the day- oversized black hoodie with cat ears over a purple skater dress and knee high socks deliberately mismatched. One sock was black with grey stars, and the other black and grey horizontal stripes. A pair of plain black docs finished the look with style and comfort in mind.
Together the family of three made their way through the station, trying to blend in and not jostle the others too much. The glass arching overhead turned the conversations of hundreds of people into a din, and it took more gesturing than words for her mother Lisa to steer them in the right direction towards platforms 9 and 10. While the majority of the crowd were muggles, here and there Nella spotted her would be class mates. Some striding purposefully towards the platform, others looking nervously around trying to get their bearings. She wanted to help some of the obviously muggle borns but her parents were moving forwards and she didn't want to get lost or separated herself. And honestly, she thought to herself, the school should reallt send someone like a teacher or a prefect to come and help them out.
Soon enough Nella, Lisa, and David stopped at a brick wall between platform 9 and 10. David looked at it intently, as if somehow after all the years married to his wife he might see something about the wall to indicate that it was strange. But no, just as a family approached it, his gaze shifted to a train pulling in to another station and he missed seeing them go through the barrier itself. "Here you are then baby girl. Are you ready?" Lisa asked Nella, pride and sadness in her voice.
Nella beamed, she had been excited for ages. "Yup, all set. I guess... do I have to say good bye to Dad here? He can't come through the barrier can he?" She asked, a bit sad to leave her dad behind. Her mums face fell a little, "correct honey it'll just be me to see you onto the train."
Nella threw herself at her dad, hugging him around the waist. He hugged her back, and pushed the hood off her head. Squatting down to be her height, he gently took her arms in his and looked her in the face with all the fatherly love and adoration he had for his little girl. "You are going to be an amazing witch. I'm so proud of you already, your the best daughter we could have asked for. Have fun at school, and we will write often, and the holidays will be here before you know it. Be good and remember that I love you, no matter what." And with that he pulled her back into a hug before straightening back up.
Lisa took Nella's hand then, and turned to her husband. "I'm sorry darling. But I won't be too long. Do you want to go find us a coffee maybe?" She asked. David compled and with an affectionate pat on the head for Nella, and a kiss for his wife he went off in search of a coffee shop. Lisa and Nella turned toward the barrier, and crossed the few steps toward the brick wall. "Don't be nervous, it's not a real wall for us no matter what your eyes are telling you," Lisa told Nella, who nodded. It didn't stop her taking a deep breath before stepping through the barrier, but she let it out quickly as the excitement built up again looking at the big steam train and the platform of magical families.
They were early so it wasn't as full as it would be soon. And the two crossed the platform with ease. When they were closer to the doors, Lisa stopped Nella, turning towards her. "Now darling. You know I love you, and I want you to do well. But don't think that you have to follow in my footprints the whole way ok? I want you to go and find out what kind of amazing witch lives inside of you. And I have no doubt that you will be an exceptional witch. Be good and follow the rules, and owl me the first chance you get. OK?"
Nella's eyes glistened a little as she hugged her mother. "Yes mum, I will. I'm going to miss you though. And Dad."
"I know sweetie and we will miss you too," Lisa responded, a little choked up. "I love you."
"I love you too mum."
The two stood there for a moment or two in a hug before breaking apart. "OK baby girl, onto the train. Find yourself a nice compartment. Benefit of early means you should have your pick. And make sure you change before you get there." Lisa put her 'my baby is all grown up and going to school' feelings behind her 'efficient mum mode' feelings. She tucked a stray strand of Nella's white-blonde hair behind her ear and kissed the top of her head. "Off you go. Be your wonderful self and we will see you for the holidays ok." She said softly.
Nella nodded and gave her mum one last hug before getting onto the train. The luggage became unweildy and heavy again as she navigated stairs, then student-crowded hallways. She found an empty compartment, and getting the luggage into the overhead rack was nearly beyond her. But with one last herculean effort she got it up without incident, snuggled into the seat to get as comfortable as possible, and pulled out her book.
(1053 words)