27 Jul 2023, 09:54
Off to Magic
As my father was driving the car I looked out of the window. “I can’t believe I’m going to Hogwarts!”. My brother, who was sitting besides me said something to tease me and my mother who sat at the front told him to stop, but I didn’t listen. I was way too excited.
When we got to the train station I carried my cart which had my school supplies on it. My father keeps saying something about the platform 9 3/4 which I’m very confused at, since there’s only platforms 9 and 10. Seems like we’re in a rush considering how fast my parents are walking. Then my brother runs in one of the stone platforms. My parents encourage me to do the same and I do. I end up in another train station, but this time, it isn’t stuffed with muggles. Instead I could see so many interesting witches and wizards getting on the train. My mom pulls me towards the entrance to the train and kisses my cheeks goodbye. I hug my father and mother and get in the train. Before I even knew it, the train was moving. I started walking where my brother was going but he stopped me. “Woah woah woah. I’m sorry but I’m not sitting with you. I have a reputation.” He says and walks off. I roll my eyes at him and find an empty train compartment. I sit down and look out of the window. I’m teilst so excited to explore Hogwarts and find out all about magic I possibly could.
When we got to the train station I carried my cart which had my school supplies on it. My father keeps saying something about the platform 9 3/4 which I’m very confused at, since there’s only platforms 9 and 10. Seems like we’re in a rush considering how fast my parents are walking. Then my brother runs in one of the stone platforms. My parents encourage me to do the same and I do. I end up in another train station, but this time, it isn’t stuffed with muggles. Instead I could see so many interesting witches and wizards getting on the train. My mom pulls me towards the entrance to the train and kisses my cheeks goodbye. I hug my father and mother and get in the train. Before I even knew it, the train was moving. I started walking where my brother was going but he stopped me. “Woah woah woah. I’m sorry but I’m not sitting with you. I have a reputation.” He says and walks off. I roll my eyes at him and find an empty train compartment. I sit down and look out of the window. I’m teilst so excited to explore Hogwarts and find out all about magic I possibly could.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky”-Michael Scott
3 Aug 2023, 06:03
Off to Magic
Jesse | Other Characters | Thoughts
Jesse’s step-brother Oliver was the one to drop him off at the train station. His father couldn’t get time off work, and his mother had flown to St. Andrews the day before to help Jesse’s sister move into her new dorm. Even his step-sister was traveling for work and would not be back in the UK for several months. Still, he strode confidently across platform 9 ¾, an easy smile playing at his lips. He was a wizard. A few months ago even the existence of magic would have been unthinkable, let alone Jesse being a part of it. He had always known he was exceptional, but had assumed that was because he was an amazing rugby player with stellar hair, not because he could cast spells and brew potions.
“This is absurd,” Oliver said, staring at the witches and wizards around them. Some levitated trunks above their heads, while others held a broomstick in one hand or chased an animated book across the station. “I mean, just look at that bloke.” The bloke in question wore a pointy wizard hat and robes much like the ones Jesse had bought in Diagon Alley. When his trunk burst open, he snapped it back together with a flick of his wand.
“By next year I’ll be able to do that,” Jesse boasted, standing a little taller.
“Sure,” Oliver agreed distractedly. Apparently the novelty of the station had already worn off, because he was checking his watch. “Listen, Jesse, I have an important meeting in under an hour. Think you can make it from here?”
“Of course,” Jesse said. Oliver flashed him a tight smile and hurried away. Jesse boarded the train, passing by several full compartments before he found one with ample space. A girl with long brown hair who looked to be about his own age was sitting inside. Jesse slid open the door.
“Hey, the name’s Jesse Marotta,” Jesse said with an easy grin. He lifted his trunk onto the overhead rack and took a seat across from the girl, setting his school bag off to the side. “I’m a first year. Dunno too much about Hogwarts yet. Do you know what the Houses are like? Whatever the best one is, I want to be in it.”
Interacting with @Ara Vindicta
3 Aug 2023, 16:46
Off to Magic
I was taken by surprise by Jesse’s sudden appearance. I suppose I should’ve seen expected that at least someone would share a train compartment with me.
“Oh, hi Jesse! My name’s Ara Vindicta.”
I listen to the boy asking me about Hogwarts.
“I’m actually a first year as well. I don’t really know too much about the houses, but my older brother who’s a Ravenclaw told me that Ravenclaw is the only logically thinking and valid house. He also said that Gryffindor’s not that bad as well, but I wouldn’t listen to him. He always messes with me. I’ve read books about Hogwarts tho, my father is a wizard. Mother’s a muggle. I guess she found all that magic stuff in my father intriguing or interesting.”
I adjust my sitting position, being kind of nervous about talking to someone.
“From what I’ve read, Hogwarts is amazing. I’m really excited, I’m pretty sure I read at least 80% of the books we got assigned to buy. Anyways, what about you? I mean your family.”
Suddenly my brother’s black toad jumps on my lap.
”ugh! Yuck! I have no idea why would my brother choose a toad instead of an owl or cat.”
“Oh, hi Jesse! My name’s Ara Vindicta.”
I listen to the boy asking me about Hogwarts.
“I’m actually a first year as well. I don’t really know too much about the houses, but my older brother who’s a Ravenclaw told me that Ravenclaw is the only logically thinking and valid house. He also said that Gryffindor’s not that bad as well, but I wouldn’t listen to him. He always messes with me. I’ve read books about Hogwarts tho, my father is a wizard. Mother’s a muggle. I guess she found all that magic stuff in my father intriguing or interesting.”
I adjust my sitting position, being kind of nervous about talking to someone.
“From what I’ve read, Hogwarts is amazing. I’m really excited, I’m pretty sure I read at least 80% of the books we got assigned to buy. Anyways, what about you? I mean your family.”
Suddenly my brother’s black toad jumps on my lap.
”ugh! Yuck! I have no idea why would my brother choose a toad instead of an owl or cat.”
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky”-Michael Scott
4 Aug 2023, 04:51
Off to Magic
Jesse listened as Ara talked about her brother and what she knew of Hogwarts. “If your brother’s right, we’ll definitely be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor,” Jesse said, with enthusiasm. He really believed it, too, that they could get into whichever House was the best.
He remembered only the vaguest descriptions of each one. He knew that Ravenclaw valued intelligence, Gryffindor valued bravery, Hufflepuff valued hard work, and Slytherin valued ambitiousness. None of them sounded bad, though Jesse strongly suspected he was not destined to be a Hufflepuff. He was certainly dedicated to his youth rugby and football teams, but wasn’t exactly known for his hard work in school. It wasn’t that he hated to learn, he just struggled to sit still and focus for long enough to get his homework done.
“My family didn’t know anything about wizards until I got my Hogwarts letter. I have three older siblings, but none of them can do magic,” Jesse said, running a hand through his hair and messing up his curls. “My siblings don’t really mess with me like your brother does. My youngest sister is in college, and my step-siblings both graduated a while ago so I don’t see them very often.”
Of course, even when they were home he rarely saw them. His step-siblings worked time-consuming and high-profile jobs, perpetually throwing themselves into their work. His parents were much the same way, and it was for that reason that Jesse spent so many evenings in after school programs instead of at home.
Abruptly, a black toad jumped onto Ara’s lap and she made a noise of disgust. “You don’t like toads?” Jesse asked. He thought it was actually pretty cool to have one hopping around their compartment. “I always wanted a reptile or amphibian. Tried to convince my parents a couple years ago that we should buy a lizard, but they’re not big on pets.”
He wondered if the toads wizards had were magically intelligent, like the owls that delivered their letters. “What kind of pet would you get for yourself?” Jesse asked Ara curiously.
Interacting with @Ara Vindicta
4 Aug 2023, 07:43
Off to Magic
Ara listened to Jesse when he told her about his family. She found it very interesting, how no member of her family knew magic, but Jesse was still “chosen” to go to Hogwarts. It seemed pretty cool to her.
When her brother’s black toad finds Ara and jumps on her lap, she seems truly disgusted. She finds it surprising that Jesse is so interested in exactly that type of animals.
“Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love animals, but my brother’s toad knows how to annoy me. In fact, im pretty sure he got it just to annoy me.”
She picks up the toad with one hand, showing the disgust on her face and moves the toad away from her. The toad doesn’t even wait seconds before jumping on her lap again.
“See what it does? It’s like clinging to me, like it knows I don’t like how slimy this dude is.”
She tries to move the toad away from her but it comes back again. Ara sighs and accepts that the toad will most likely not leave her alone for this whole ride.
“I know this seems horrible, but you have to understand, that my brother simply bought it to annoy me. When we were in the pet shop and my dad, mother, brother and I were looking for a pet for him, one toad, yes you guessed right. That toad. Jumped on my face and peed on it.” Ara seems visibly embarrassed by that story but still continues.
“My loving brother bought it right away, dying of laughter at the same time. Now he knows I have some kind of “trauma” with the toad, so he used a spell or something on it, which makes it slimier every time it comes near me. He also kind of wants it to come near me.” As Ara talks the toad croaks on her lap. She flinches to it, but continues.
”I would much rather get a cat. An orange cat. I used to have one, but it passed two years ago.” Ara remembers her now gone Orange cat, Misu. She definitely misses him, there’s no denying that, but life must go on. At least that’s what her mother told her.
Ara looks at Jesse and realised how much she has just talked. She feels quite embarrassed.
“Sorry for talking so much. I kind of lost track there. How do you feel about cats? Would you consider yourself a dog or cat person? Or more of a different animal’s person?”
When her brother’s black toad finds Ara and jumps on her lap, she seems truly disgusted. She finds it surprising that Jesse is so interested in exactly that type of animals.
“Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love animals, but my brother’s toad knows how to annoy me. In fact, im pretty sure he got it just to annoy me.”
She picks up the toad with one hand, showing the disgust on her face and moves the toad away from her. The toad doesn’t even wait seconds before jumping on her lap again.
“See what it does? It’s like clinging to me, like it knows I don’t like how slimy this dude is.”
She tries to move the toad away from her but it comes back again. Ara sighs and accepts that the toad will most likely not leave her alone for this whole ride.
“I know this seems horrible, but you have to understand, that my brother simply bought it to annoy me. When we were in the pet shop and my dad, mother, brother and I were looking for a pet for him, one toad, yes you guessed right. That toad. Jumped on my face and peed on it.” Ara seems visibly embarrassed by that story but still continues.
“My loving brother bought it right away, dying of laughter at the same time. Now he knows I have some kind of “trauma” with the toad, so he used a spell or something on it, which makes it slimier every time it comes near me. He also kind of wants it to come near me.” As Ara talks the toad croaks on her lap. She flinches to it, but continues.
”I would much rather get a cat. An orange cat. I used to have one, but it passed two years ago.” Ara remembers her now gone Orange cat, Misu. She definitely misses him, there’s no denying that, but life must go on. At least that’s what her mother told her.
Ara looks at Jesse and realised how much she has just talked. She feels quite embarrassed.
“Sorry for talking so much. I kind of lost track there. How do you feel about cats? Would you consider yourself a dog or cat person? Or more of a different animal’s person?”
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky”-Michael Scott
5 Aug 2023, 04:36
Off to Magic
Jesse grinned at the thought of a toad with a personal vendetta against Ara. It looked so small and harmless sitting on her lap, he could hardly imagine it plotting against her. His expression shifted from amusement to sympathy however when she began to explain the situation with her brother. “Your brother sounds difficult,” Jesse said.
In spite of having three siblings, Jesse felt that he didn’t understand traditional sibling dynamics. He and his own siblings rarely gravitated between bickering and friendship. If anything, they were more like family friends to him: polite but distant, with their own very separate lives. He wondered if Ara disliked her brother, or if incidents like with the toad were normal between them.
“I’d say I’m a dog person,” Jesse told her. “They’re more energetic and playful. I like any kind of pet though. Next year I might get an owl to bring to Hogwarts.” Being so new to the wizarding world, everything to do with magic was exciting to Jesse. The magically intelligent owls were no exception. Already he could imagine buying one and proudly showing it off to his friends and family back home.
“Are the cats that students bring to Hogwarts magic? And the toads?” he asked curiously, with a glance at the black toad seated on Ara’s lap.
When the compartment fell into a comfortable silence some time later, Jesse pulled out one of his books, The Standard Book of Spells Grade 1. He skipped through the pages, stopping on spells that looked partícularly interesting. Incendio, tarantallegra… It was still hard to believe that he would soon be capable of casting all those spells. Jesse had always thought there might be something different about him, but even with the strange occurrences throughout his childhood, never imagined he might be a wizard.
Soon Jesse lost interest in the pages, and his eyes began to glaze over. It was difficult for him to focus for long. He leaned back against the bench, smoothing out his hair with one hand. “Which classes are you most excited for?” he asked with an easy, self-assured smile.
interacting with @Ara Vindicta
5 Aug 2023, 09:39
Off to Magic
As Ara told Jesse about her brother, she noticed his face changing into a look of almost like sympathy.
”He is difficult, but he’s still my brother. He’s only doing that to tease me. He actually doesn’t mean harm.” She gave Jesse a reassuring smile. And what she said was true. Ara and her brother were very close. Even though they bickered and her brother messed with her sometimes, she knew that they both still loved each other, no matter how much they sometimes hated each other.
Ara didn’t seem surprised by the fact that Jesse was a dog person. “You actually kind of remind me of a golden retriever- in a good way of course!”
“Well I’m not so sure to be fair. Almost everything I know of the wizarding world I’ve either read from books or my brother has told me. My dad is a wizard but he’s busy with his Auror stuff. Anyways from what I’ve either heard or read, not so sure myself, there are normal cats and some of the cats may have Kneazle ancestry, which means they would be magical. I’m also pretty sure that some rats have some kind of powers. Owls must have some magic in them. How else would they track literally anyone?”
The black toad on Ara’s lap jumps on her arm. As soon as she feels the slimy feeling on her arm she jumps of fear and quickly moves to the other side of the bench, away from the toad. The toad doesn’t seem to bother and starts croaking and jumping around to scare her. Ara covers her face with her hands to prevent getting literally peed on again. As lame as that sounds she’s genuinely kind of terrified.
“I don’t know much about toads but this one has been blessed with the great power to annoy me.”
The toad jumps on Ara’s lap once again and plans on staying there. She accepts her fate and moves closer to the window to watch the views.
As Jesse takes out some books Ara glances over them and recognises the books since she had to buy them for her upcoming school year as well. She looked out of the window in the comfortable silence and enjoyed the beautiful, beautiful views. Ara still couldn’t believe she was on her way to Hogwarts, to learn magic. Magic! Once Jesse asked her a question about classes she snapped back to reality and looked Jesse’s way.”Oh! Probably Defense against the dark arts. Or charms. Or flying! Or transfiguration? I don’t know to be fair. I’m too excited for everything! I wonder if they’ll have music classes…” Ara fell into her own thoughts but snapped back to reality once again. “What are you most excited for?”
She took a tiny section of her hair from the front and started braiding it for fun.
”He is difficult, but he’s still my brother. He’s only doing that to tease me. He actually doesn’t mean harm.” She gave Jesse a reassuring smile. And what she said was true. Ara and her brother were very close. Even though they bickered and her brother messed with her sometimes, she knew that they both still loved each other, no matter how much they sometimes hated each other.
Ara didn’t seem surprised by the fact that Jesse was a dog person. “You actually kind of remind me of a golden retriever- in a good way of course!”
“Well I’m not so sure to be fair. Almost everything I know of the wizarding world I’ve either read from books or my brother has told me. My dad is a wizard but he’s busy with his Auror stuff. Anyways from what I’ve either heard or read, not so sure myself, there are normal cats and some of the cats may have Kneazle ancestry, which means they would be magical. I’m also pretty sure that some rats have some kind of powers. Owls must have some magic in them. How else would they track literally anyone?”
The black toad on Ara’s lap jumps on her arm. As soon as she feels the slimy feeling on her arm she jumps of fear and quickly moves to the other side of the bench, away from the toad. The toad doesn’t seem to bother and starts croaking and jumping around to scare her. Ara covers her face with her hands to prevent getting literally peed on again. As lame as that sounds she’s genuinely kind of terrified.
“I don’t know much about toads but this one has been blessed with the great power to annoy me.”
The toad jumps on Ara’s lap once again and plans on staying there. She accepts her fate and moves closer to the window to watch the views.
As Jesse takes out some books Ara glances over them and recognises the books since she had to buy them for her upcoming school year as well. She looked out of the window in the comfortable silence and enjoyed the beautiful, beautiful views. Ara still couldn’t believe she was on her way to Hogwarts, to learn magic. Magic! Once Jesse asked her a question about classes she snapped back to reality and looked Jesse’s way.”Oh! Probably Defense against the dark arts. Or charms. Or flying! Or transfiguration? I don’t know to be fair. I’m too excited for everything! I wonder if they’ll have music classes…” Ara fell into her own thoughts but snapped back to reality once again. “What are you most excited for?”
She took a tiny section of her hair from the front and started braiding it for fun.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky”-Michael Scott
7 Aug 2023, 00:30
Off to Magic
“I’m excited for everything too,” Jesse said enthusiastically. He unconsciously moved his hair out of his face, casually leaning back in his seat. “I mean, isn’t it so cool that we’ll be able to do magic? I guess you expected it more than I did since your father’s a wizard.” Of all the people in the UK who couldn’t do magic, Jesse had been born with a natural talent for it. It felt sort of exciting, having something special and secret to him that his friends back home would never know about.
“I’m most looking forward to flying,” Jesse told her after a pause. “I know there’s a pretty popular sport in the wizarding world - Quidditch, I think it’s called? I want to learn to play it. Dunno if they let first years on the team, though.” As far as Jesse was aware, Quidditch and broom racing were the only two sports Hogwarts offered. Football was something he would have to leave behind in the muggle world, or do only over the summers instead.
“I’m a really good rugby and football player. The football club I go to - our U11 team was invited to a national tournament and placed third last year.” It was a point of great pride for Jesse. He was rarely able to focus in class or while reading a book, but on the field he was always dialed-in. He knew he was skilled, whether or not his family had the inclination to attend his games. “I think I could be good at Quidditch too, if I gave it a go.”
He remembered what Ara had said about music classes and asked, “Do you play an instrument, then?” Jesse had never played one before himself, though his step-sister’s piano sat untouched in their family room. He was full to the brim with unearned confidence, however, bolstered by the excitement of going to Hogwarts, and felt that he could pick up anything and take to it pretty well.
“I could try to take your toad, if you like,” Jesse offered, glancing momentarily out the window at the gorgeous passing scenery. His offer was partially out of curiosity and partially out of sympathy. Ara had seemed both annoyed by and more than a little anxious about the pet’s presence.
Interacting with @Ara Vindicta
7 Aug 2023, 14:26
Off to Magic
"I love quidditch! I've read a lot about it. My dad took my brother and I to a Quidditch game once. Not so sure which, but it was awesome! I fear that I wouldn't be too interested in playing Quidditch myself, but it's a wonderful sport!" Ara remembered some things she read about quidditch in books. "Did you know that the longest quidditch mast lasted for about three months? It's pretty crazy. Neither of the seekers caught the golden snitch until after three months." Ara was never too interested in playing sports herself. She was good at them, but she would rather do something else. like play the piano or read. She has been dancing for 8 years though.
"You're into football and rugby? I'm most certain that you'll make it to the quidditch team if you're really as good as you say you are at those sports." Ara's brother was a great rugby player as well. Ara herself liked to watch football matches and go to them.
"Oh! Yeah! I've been playing the piano for four years. I really like to play the instrument. My teacher said that I'm a really good player for my age, I hope she wasn't overreacting tho." Ara took music classes in a muggle music school. She definitely already misses the lessons. She knows that when she gets to Hogwarts, she'll have to say goodbye to her muggle piano classes. "I couldn't tell my teacher that I was going to a school for witches and wizards so I had to pretend that I want to quit music school. I could tell she was pretty disappointed and almost sad. Ara really hates disappointing people, especially with her studies or abilities. "I just hope there's a piano somewhere in that school so I could at least practise a bit."
The toad on Ara's lap shot his tongue at Ara's hand to which Ara quickly flew her arm into the air. She looked at the toad like she's had enough of that him and his tricks. She loved animals more than everything. Living in a cottage in the middle of a forest really helped to it. She made friends with lots of animals. She made a real connection to a certain forest fox. She loved animals, but not that specific toad, since she knew its main goal was to annoy her. Once Jesse offered to take the toad Ara looked at him with a look of curiosity. "You sure?" Ara took one more look at the toad and sighed. "If you're so sure... Alright, maybe it's only annoying towards me." Ara took the toad in her hands and felt the toad biting her finger. She rolled her eyes almost like she's used to it. She gave the toad to Jesse and started to examine how it acts in Jesse's hands.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky”-Michael Scott