Rozenn gripped the handle of her leather trunk, tightly. It was her only baggage, her only link with her home. She had spent hours packing it with her mother, unsure of what exactly she would take, except the obligatory items. Her fingers slid over the worn leather, and she awkwardly dragged it behind her, trying not to get jostled by the bustling crowd. Her parents were in front of her and seemed to walk on their memory lane. Her mind was occupied with all these new stimuli that were interfering with his senses, but she could perceive some sentences coming from the two adults. They were talking together and seemed to be under the illusion that the black-haired girl was listening to them. The station was very distracting. The crowds, train whistles, the cacophony of voices… It wasn’t every day Rozenn was exposed to such an atmosphere. And it was the first time she had seen so many muggles, at least from what she could remember.

“You’re listening, Zenita ?”

The girl turned her head at the use of her parent's nickname for her. “Sorry ?”

The tall blond woman who was her mother pointed to the wall in front of them, inviting her to move ahead of them with a knowing look. The Scottish girl swallowed her saliva and nodded. It was the path to the platform 9 ¾, and she was to cross the wall first. She took a deep breath, and complied. Her parents followed just after, and congratulated her quickly before getting out of the way. When they arrived at the proximity of an entrance, the little family stopped moving, to say their goodbyes. Rozenn could see the sadness in the eyes of the two wizards, and herself had a heartache that hadn’t let go of her since she went to the Diagon Alley for her school shopping. Knowing she was going away and going wasn’t the same at all.

Lazar bent down to embrace his daughter with his usual awkward tenderness, before releasing her and looking in her eyes. “Don’t smile at any boys on the train”, her father said, very seriously, using two fingers to pull down the corners of his daughter’s mouth, while her mother laughed, “or girls, if hm – and uh… don’t smile at anybody."

“Lazar sweety, let Rozenn be", Amelia asked nicely, "she’ll do whatever she wants, it’s her life. And it did work for her mother, to smile at boys."

“Exactly why she mustn’t!”

The girl moved the hand of her father from her face with a dirty look, followed by a sigh. “Dad, mom… stop, please. Can I go now ?” It was the man’s turn to sigh dramatically, saddened, and he let go as he straightened up. He kissed her forehead, and stepped backward, to make way for his wife.

“Be yourself Rozenn”, she whispered simply in her ear, “don’t be afraid, be brave my little storm. Make us proud.” Rozenn looked into her mother’s calm and kind-hearted eyes, and did a small smile, “yes mom”.

She released her grip on her trusty leather trunk and hoisted it up once more, feeling the weight of her things in her hands. Saying a final goodbye, she turned towards the train and walked quickly towards the entrance. When she was about to put a foot on the train, she heard her father shout for the last time: “Don’t forget to write us letters !”

Rozenn rolled her eyes, but she nodded. She could almost feel her wand burning inside her pocket, just as her own emotions were making her blood pounding in her veins. It was time to go to Hogwarts.