Corius tightly squeezed the handle of the briefcase in front of his legs while Grandma Beatrice gave him a dozen instructions on how to behave like a true Lord-Right-Honourable. In fact, he had already memorized nine out of ten words of Grandma Beatrice's sermons. Luckily for him, the noise on the platform was so great that he could barely hear the matriarch, he was more worried about his stomach about to collapse. The thought of going so far from home for the first time and alone was certainly desperate. He would even back off, if he wasn't sure that Grandma Beatrice would pull him by the collar and shove him into the wagon herself. Besides, it wasn't just nervousness that filled her stomach: excitement too. He had spent years hearing from his parents about this moment - and even though they were not on the platform holding his hands and squeezing his shoulders warmly like the other children he had seen hugging their own families, Corius felt that somehow he could make them proud of where they were; Therefore, no nervousness or stomachache would make him retreat now.
Corius felt a slight rustle in his costume as the scarlet-red train pulled up making a loud noise. A mixture of relief and fear hung over him. Grandma Beatrice straightened the little one's collar carefully and then lifted his chin with that stately golden gaze of his own.

"Then that's all, and don't forget to write to me whenever you can..." she said, puffing out her chest. "And for Merlin's sake, don't run down the stairs. That's how his late grandfather...

"He mysteriously tripped and broke his spine." Corius added, puffing up his cheeks. "I know exactly what to do, Grandma Beatrice."

Grandma Beatrice just squinted her big brown eyes.
Coriolanus bowed a little, bowing his knees just as he had learned early on the proper way to say goodbye. Grandma nodded and waved her hand; She wasn't exactly the most sentimental person in the world, but it was with her big, golden-brown, towering eyes that she showed her affection.

"Now go... It's your time!" she said.

Without waiting any longer or looking back, Corius took a deep breath and suppressed his nervousness. He tightened the handle of his briefcase even tighter and entered the wagon along with half a dozen other children squeezing into the line.
******

The interior of the carriage was unexpectedly warm and welcoming, although the bustle was so expressive that Corius barely walked straight looking for his cabin. There were many children his age, some of them already knew each other. But Corius had not met anyone he knew, and he was anxious to have to feel alone. Even so, it was something almost instinctive for him. His cousin Jacob was not there and certainly none of the other older boys. I need to find my seat soon, he thought, pushing these feelings away.
And there it was! he breathed steadily and opened the door to wander; the words of your parents echoing like whispers in your head: Never forget who you are.

1 Sep 2024

Norwegian
English

Astrid watched the Hogwarts Express arrive at the station with narrowed eyes. It looked exactly as the books she'd read had described it with its gaudy red paint job and the plume of billowing smoke escaping it.

Her parents were standing on either side of her, and they shared a look when they thought she wasn't looking. They didn't realize how perceptive she was. They didn't realize a lot of things, according to the rest of the family.

"Did you pack all of your things? Are you prepared?" her dad asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. His expression was that of a worried parent saying goodbye to their child for the last time. Astrid rolled her eyes. She was eleven, but despite her age, he always saw her as a small child to be coddled and watched with eyes like a hawk.

"Yes," she said, smiling despite the indignant feeling in her chest. "I'm a Nereim. I'm always prepared."

"We're your parents. We're meant to worry, Astrid," Astrid's mother spoke softly, in English. She didn't speak much Norwegian unless they were at home.

"The parents of these other children are meant to worry," Astrid corrected her, taking a step toward the train, her heavy trunk dragged behind her. "But I'm a Nereim. We carry ourselves with dignity and pride, so don't worry about me, mum."

Astrid approached the train, waving to her parents as they offered their final I love you's before she boarded. She lugged her trunk onto the train with more effort than she would admit to anyone. She longed for the day that she could freely just use magic to move heavy objects.

Her eyes traveled over the interior of the train. It was very cozy in its own way, and the various hues of wood and other materials stood out. Her aunt Eira would have scoffed in disapproval at such décor, favoring instead the minimalistic darker tones of their castle in Norway, but Astrid actually liked the inside of the Hogwarts Express.

Not one for wasting time, Astrid quickly found the first compartment her eyes landed on and approached it, opening the door to find it was already occupied. There was a boy, all alone, wandering about.

Astrid stepped into the compartment and pulled her trunk in beside her.

"You'll be on this train for the next several hours, so you may as well sit," she said, amused. "I'm Astrid. Astrid Amundsdottir på Nereim."

@Corius Minyard

He had been standing there for exactly five minutes, just craning his neck out the window to check if Grandma Beatrice was gone. In the midst of all that excitement he could see a ball of unmistakable golden threads adorned by an elegant black hat, it was grandma leaving and disappearing through the crowd with her eccentric furry coat. He felt quite relieved, now he knew that in fact there would be no one watching him at all times. It was there that his journey was really beginning. He sighed in relief and then put his head back into the compartment.
He arched his eyebrows as he heard the compartment door open. Would Jacob have been concerned and come to this side of the train to keep him company during the trip like a good cousin? No. Of course not. Instead, a female face marked by small blue eyes like diamonds and framed up to the neck by golden hair was what appeared inside the cabin. Coriolanus swallowed hard when the girl introduced herself gently. Astrid, Astride Amundsdottir på Nereim. An accent seemed to come from somewhere in Scandinavian Europe as she pronounced her last name.

Corius bowed a little.
"It's a pleasure to meet you..." he said somewhat clumsily. "I'm Corius, Coriolanus, actually." He cleared his throat and lifted his chin to repeat confidently. "Coriolanus Andrew Josten Minyard."
It was good to know that he was no longer alone for the next few hours until Hogwarts, in which case he would not have to be pressed by his own mind with all the fear and excitement of what was to come.

"You are absolutely right, I suppose it would be better to sit down." Coriu gestured to the seat with his hand. "Please sit down first..."

1 Sep 2024

Norwegian
English

Astrid felt a bit strange, watching Corius bow. The way he introduced himself suggested regality, but his initial clumsy greeting suggested reluctance to embrace that regality. She wondered if he was cut from the same cloth she was meant to be cut from, and if his relationship with that elaborate tapestry of purity of blood was similar to that of her own parents.

"Coriolanus," Astrid greeted with perfect English, offering a polite and practiced curtsy in response. It was probably improper to curtsy and bow before each other when for the next seven years they were to be equals, but Aunt Eira and the rest of her family had imparted, behind her parents' backs, the importance of maintaining her image. "I do believe I've heard the name 'Minyard' before, but I have to admit its origin escapes me in the moment."

Certainly, the name was a familiar one. It was possible she'd read it in passing during her education as a girl, only to forget it once she neared her own proper magical education.

Astrid followed Corius's lead, taking her seat near the window. Her posture was far from perfect, but it was still and it was stiff. She was meant to represent her family, not the common rabble that were to be accepted at Hogwarts. That was what she'd been told by her cousins through the summer before coming to school. She was to hold herself to a higher standard because she was above the muggle-borns and the half-bloods, whether she wished it or not.

"You're quite the gentleman, aren't you?" Astrid asked with a small smile.

"Are you eager to attend Hogwarts?" Astrid asked, making polite conversation and hoping to scratch the itch in her brain from hearing Corius's name by subtly probing for information. "I can only imagine your family has a history at Hogwarts. My family has a deeper connection to Durmstrang, but, if He-who-shall-not-be-named is any indication, this school is certainly capable of educating some fine witches and wizards."

Astrid glanced into Corius's brown eyes as if awaiting an answer, her curiosity definitively piqued.

@Corius Minyard

Coriolanus sat down and wrapped his hands in the pockets of his coat. The first impression he had of Astrid was that she conveyed a certain confidence that almost hurt his pride. Although he had been extremely educated for years to know how to behave in every situation, Corius had never before been in the company of a girl his age without the presence of his supervisors, always at private and boring dinners in prominent residences to which Grandma insisted on taking him. Jacob would certainly do very well with this, he bragged all the time. The way she easily made him feel comfortable gave him a rather curious personality. But there was something else in her that Coriolanus initially couldn't decipher. Each of her gestures, even her rigid way of sitting seemed to have been instructed to convey some kind of grandeur that suited her very well, worked as a natural glow for Astrid. With Coriolanus it was different, the grandeur of his gestures had been forcibly put on him and taught as a tool - almost as if it were a shoe that did not fit him properly. He wondered if there was a reason for this as Astrid talked about his family.

Corius cleared his throat, recovering from his thoughts.
"You are right not to remember..." He said. "The Minyard surname had been forgotten throughout the ages... They say it was the war's fault, but my grandmother insists that some of us have a large share of the blame as well. She refers to them as sentimentalist and useless incompetents." Corius paused, realizing that perhaps he shouldn't have told the last part that way. He analyzed it again and then remembered something. "You're a Nereim, I think I've heard of them..."

He had certainly heard about it. Although the mere mention of the subject made him feel like he was treading into somewhat dangerous territory for those he had just met for a few minutes. And the way Astrid talked about Durmstrung and he-who-shall-not-be-named reminded him relatively of his uncles.

"I've never heard much about Durmstrung, but I think my relatives have some friends there. It must be quite exciting to study dark art," Corius continued. "All the Minyards studied at Hogwarts. Honestly, I'm really looking forward to it. And nervous too..." Corius added, his clenched and sweaty hands inside the pockets of his overcoat evidenced what he was saying. "There are a lot of amazing stories about Hogwarts, of course, beyond what we already know. I'm sure it will be a unique experience for both of us." Corius swallowed. "I mean... for all of us."

There was a crack and then the chimney made another noise, followed by the sound of the wheels sliding along the tracks. The train slowly began to move. Corius looked out the window as the station gradually became more and more distant. This was a point of no return. He met Astrid's blue eyes again while his contained a distant, unrecognizable glow.

"I hope you're excited too."

1 Sep 2024

Norwegian
English

Astrid listened intently, eager to learn more about the Minyards. History was a strong focus in her family, and she'd been educated thoroughly, but that didn't mean she knew everything about every family.

"The war affected my family too, but not quite negatively. We had a few who turned to the dark arts during the war, but the surprising part was the number of Nereims who stood against them," Astrid shared. "What was your family known for? My family shifts its focus every ninety years or so, usually when the one in charge passes away and the young heir is instated. Our current head focuses on alchemical research."

Astrid watch through the mirror as the train began to move, and she had to stop herself from standing up to watch outside. She had to carry herself with grace and poise, even if the child in her longed to watch the scenery and crying parents pass by.

"I'm very excited to attend, personally. My parents deemed Durmstrang too dangerous for me, so they moved to England when I was quite young," Astrid smiled, fond memories of her parents' overprotectiveness filling her mind. "Have you read any of the books from the supply list, yet? I've dabbled with each of them, but Hogwarts, A History makes note of some very interesting facets of the castle itself. I'm honestly pretty excited just to explore, if my schedule permits it. There's even a whole section of the book devoted to the founders and their houses. It's fascinating."

Astrid's posture relaxed slightly as she spoke about exploration and, of course, history. She was eager to learn more about Hogwarts, if only to prove that she was an expert in something that the rest of her family knew little about. She was, after all, the first Nereim to attend Hogwarts, so she had a unique chance to gain some insight and knowledge that would surely enrich her family's understanding of the world at large.

"Which house are you hoping to be sorted into?" she asked, assuming that Coriolanus was already familiar with the Sorting. "Personally, I'm hoping for Slytherin or Gryffindor, but anything other than Hufflepuff would suit me quite well, I think."

@Corius Minyard

"Most were Aurors or Ministry officials," Coriolanus replied to Astrid's question. "But right now, there's nothing very special about us... except for the blood, believe me." The idea of exploring the castle made Coriolanus very enthusiastic. It was, without a doubt, one of the first adventures he wanted to embark on. "We can explore together if we want. I was told that there are many secret passages that lead to unimaginable places. I can't wait to find out all of this."

He would explore, and having the company of a friend like Astrid would be great, since his cousin Jacob would probably be busy with his popular friends. Also, exploring a castle like Hogwarts alone could be problematic. The Minyards were always involved in trouble at Hogwarts, but they had incredible stories to tell, and Coriolanus didn't want to be an exception.


"Honestly, I have no idea which house to expect to be selected. My father was from Gryffindor and my mother from Ravenclaw. I'd rather not be cast in Slytherin, since that's Grandma Beatrice's house, and she wouldn't stop talking about it for the rest of my life."

Corius paused, reflectively.
"Aren't you nervous? With so many possibilities and not knowing what to expect..." He smiled gently. "I think we'll be good friends." It would be great for Corius if they were selected for the same house. Having a familiar face would certainly be a tranquilizer. Coriolanus was not exactly an expert at making new friends. Not like his cousin who had a natural gift for it. He looked curiously at Astrid. I wanted to know more about what life was like in Norway. "So you came from Norway?"

1 Sep 2024

Norwegian
English

"Secret passages, eh?" Astrid asked, her grin blooming to a full smile. She could imagine the pair of them sweeping along the corridors and examining every square inch of wall and floor in search of elusive hidden passages. She'd read about a few, but unfortunately, Hogwarts, A History didn't go into any detail as far as actually finding and using the passages. It could be quite fun to seek them out, and they had seven years to work at it. "You've got a deal. We should meet up, perhaps after our first day of classes in the library? That way, even if we're sorted into different houses, we can still meet up."

The rolling hills passed by outside as the Express chugged along, and Astrid was quite pleased with the journey so far. She'd made a friend, which was rare for her, and the long journey gave plenty of time to adjust to a new life away from home.

"I'm not nervous at all," Astrid admitted, still smiling. "Hogwarts is so far away from most of my family. That means I won't have them breathing down my neck, or criticizing my every move. I still want to do well, but, if I were at Durmstrang, they'd have significantly more influence there than here. Are you nervous?" Astrid watched Coriolanus with curious eyes. "If you come from a family of aurors, I'd wager you have little to worry about at Hogwarts, of all places."

The discussion turning to Norway of all subjects was a bit of a surprise to Astrid. Her parents didn't speak much about their home country, so Astrid often forgot she even came from Norway, except when they were speaking Norwegian around their home.

"I moved to England when I was quite young, maybe six. As I said, my parents thought Hogwarts would be safer. It's strange, and some joke that it's a curse on the family, but in every generation the Nereim family produces at least one Dark Wizard or Witch. They're not as powerful as the likes of He-who-shall-not-be-named and his followers, mind you. In fact, most are bumbling fools tampering with power they have no business with. But, still, my parents thought that Hogwarts and its lower tolerance for studying the Dark Arts would lower the risk that I would be my generation's fool," Astrid said, trailing off as she realized she'd been rambling. Her face pinkened a bit and she gazed out the window to mitigate her embarrassment. She didn't usually like to talk so much, but having met a friend that was a friend and not just a pureblood acquaintance had lowered her guard quite handily.

@Corius Minyard

Coriolanus' lips curved into a mischievous smile. It would be the first of many adventures. "Great idea, let's meet at the library then. They say the librarian who runs it is quite attentive and strict..." He confessed. "But I know there must be a way around it." He had read a little of his books, just enough to pique his curiosity since he had barely had time to think properly in the last few weeks. Learning more about the friend he had just made had been exciting, but he felt a little guilty asking about her family when she told him about the curse. But how could he know? How could he look at that young girl his own age and think she could be a dark witch? He couldn't. But thinking about it, he could easily imagine Grandma Beatrice as a powerful and Machiavellian dark witch if the Minyards were cursed in a similar way. True, there had been those who had tarnished their names on the Minyard family tree by joining He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but that had been a long time ago. These days, the only curse that seemed to linger with the Minyards was the wounded pride of a centuries-old dynasty in decline.

Coriolanus tried not to look too impressed.

"Most of those who came before me either got into a lot of trouble or were very studious. I'm kind of trying to find myself somewhere between the two extremes," he confessed. "I'm a little scared, yes. But I guess it's only a matter of time before we get used to being so far from home," he added with a small smile.

Corius noticed the slightly uncomfortable look on Astrid's face and decided that this whole family thing had reached its limit. He sat back and watched the scenery and let time pass.

__________________________________________________________________

1 Sep 2024

Norwegian
English

In her mind, Astrid could picture what she imagined the librarian to look like: an older woman with graying hair, glasses with too-small lenses perched upon her nose, and a very authoritative method of clearing her throat that would hush even the most rebellious of students.

"That's how a library is meant to be, I suppose," Astrid said, grinning. "And we'll only be meeting in the library. We'll actually explore properly once we reach the corridors. And who knows, perhaps finding the secret passages in the castle could help with our studies. It never hurts to have a faster route between classrooms, does it?"

Astrid allowed the silence to linger, taking the time to daydream. She imagined the halls of Hogwarts, and how it would feel to be free to wander about at their own pace. She imagined the first day of classes, and how wonderful it would be to finally learn a bit of magic. She'd memorized incantations and wand movements since purchasing her book, but now she would finally be able to learn to actually cast spells, and it was exciting.

"You know, as much fun as I think causing mischief and just exploring could be, I think I'm looking forward to class most of all," Astrid said, barely able to contain her excitement. "I was first hit by a Knockback Jinx when I was, I don't know, seven? Eight? My older cousin thought it'd be funny. But now I won't be such an easy target. I know school is meant to be boring for children, but learning magic isn't quite the same as learning history, or maths. It's exciting."

@Corius Minyard