Amanda sat in an empty compartment on the train, her trunk safely stowed. She was still wearing her Muggle clothes, which consisted of a motorcycle fleece hoodie, a Rolling Stones T-shirt, distressed jeans, and black Converse high tops. Amanda was wearing her new glasses, which would tak some getting used to. I don’t think that I’m going to wear these very often, even if I’m supposed to. She glanced out the window at the surrounding landscape. She was happy to be going back to Hogwarts.

Amanda’s summer had been rather eventful. She had stayed behind at Hogwarts for the summer camp that lasted all throughout July. Then, she had gone on a history trip with the new History of Magic and Charms professors and some of her fellow second years.Amanda had returned home for the last few weeks of August. She had felt bad that she didn’t spend more time with her family, but they assured her that it was quite alright. The summer had seemed like it went by so quickly. Now here she was, heading back to school. It felt strange not to be one of the new kids.

Amanda took a box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans out of her satchel. She opened the box and popped a jellybean into her mouth. Phew, marshmallow. Amanda turned and looked back out the window, admiring the view.

'I should have realized it would fill up so quickly,' the boy thought to himself wide eyed as he gazed about at all the other students. Swallowing, he thought it might not have been such a good idea to have hidden out in the toilet. His stomach twinged, reminding him why he'd been in there in the first place. The anxiety still roiled about him but he knew he couldn't spend his whole train ride to his new school in there! His parents and his grandmother, especially his grandmother, would want a description about his train ride. While Kiernan might find the whole thing amusing, as he was five, the adults in his life would not. It wasn't as if he wanted to be in there.

Wiping the sweat real or imaginary off on his open button up, he sighed. This wasn't the way to make friends. Jonathan was sure he'd make some while at school, even if it was just one, but it would be nice to at least have some company on the way there. From what he had heard, it would take a few hours to get there. While he liked to read or disappear into his imagination he wasn't sure that he could go that long without getting rather bored.

Raising his hand, he knocked on the nearest compartment door deciding to get it over with. Opening it, he poked his head in and gave a nervous smile seeing only one occupant. While he didn't want to presume anything he was hoping that it would be alright if he joined her. If she had friends that would be coming, he could always find another compartment. He sat down near the door and crossed his legs at the ankles unsure what to say aside from the boring greeting. It would be polite though so he gave a jerky wave along with an obligatory and stilted, "Hello."

Then seeing the treats she was eating he bit his lip wondering if he should comment or not. It might be best if he didn't say anything? Inwardly he agreed with himself to hold his tongue, so he did.

Oh god, ew! Vomit! Amanda spit the bean out of her mouth and into her hand. She wrinkled her nose and looked at it for a bit, and then dropped it in a plastic bag that she had ready. She always carried a plastic bag with her when she ate Every Flavor Beans. Amanda reached into the box and hesitantly pulled out a red one and put it in her mouth. To her relief, it was cherry-flavored.

Amanda turned around when she heard a soft “Hello.” A brown-haired boy had entered the compartment and sat down. Amanda waved back. “Hey there. I’m Amanda Sparrow. What’s your name?” She noticed that he wasn’t saying anything. “You can talk, I really don’t mind. In fact, I’d like to have someone to talk to during this long train ride.” Amanda offered the box of jellybeans to the boy. “Want some? I can’t guarantee that all the flavors you get will be pleasant. Also, we can get some more sweets when the trolley witch comes around. She’s got all sorts of stuff. Do you collect chocolate frog cards?because I do and I’ve got them all right here. Maybe we can trade.” Amanda realized that she had been talking a lot. “Sorry if I talk too much. I can get a bit carried away.”

Jonathan's mouth curled up in a smile as the girl talked. When he was proffered the sweets, he shook his head. He'd tried them once, and that had been enough. He'd stick with the non magical version of the treat. It was a brilliant for a gag gift, or that's what he thought. Either that or if you just wanted to get a laugh at someone. "No thanks," he stated in reply to the beans, but his interest piqued when she mentioned the trolley. A look of puzzlement appeared on his face when she mentioned chocolate frogs. Maybe that would be something to look into? They hadn't had much time in Diagon Alley to look at more than what they had been there for when getting his supplies.

Shaking his head with an amused and happy smile, the tried to reassure, "I don't mind that you talk a lot. I like to listen." Which was true. straightening out his legs, he shoved a hand into one of the cargo pockets. Pulling out some Cadbury Sandwich Snack! biscuits, he set them on the seat before his hand disappeared again into the other pocket and pulled out a bag of Turkish Delight. He shrugged as he set that on the seat too and gestured to it. "I didn't know there would be a trolley. You can have some, if you'd like?"

She'd also asked his name hadn't she? "I'm Jonathan." After a moment, he asked, "Is it the risk you like about the beans?"

Amanda shrugged when the boy refused the beans and dumped several into her mouth. She got an assortment of flavors, some pleasant, some nasty; but she chewed and swallowed them anyways. “Wow, that was weird. I don’t think that I’ll ever do that again.” Amanda thanked the boy when he offered her sweets and took a piece of Turkish delight. “Yeah, there’s a trolley witch that comes around with a little cart filled with sweets from Honeydukes. Just curious, are you Muggle-born? It doesn’t really matter to me. I’m not one of those stuck-up Purebloods.” She placed the piece of Turkish delight on her tongue and savored it.

“Nice to meet you, Jonathan,” Amanda said when the boy introduced himself. “This is your first year, isn’t it? Are you excited?” Amanda remembered her first year. She had been nervous and excited at the same time. It had all been such a whirlwind. But that was all in the past now and this was her second year. She was no longer on the bottom tier, like freshmen would be in a Muggle high school. Part of Amanda couldn't wait to be back at Hogwarts. But the other part wasn’t so sure, wishing that she could just stay home. Amanda brushed all of that aside and focused back on the train ride and her new acquaintance.

Already going back to Hogwarts! I can't believe it. Last year went by so fast. I'm so glad I'm returing, Cecily thought happily to herself as she entered the Hogwarts express. Like last eyar, she had lost sight of her siblings, as they always went off by themselves with their friends. Cecily had friends too, but did not see any that she recognized. She would have to finda compartment herself this year.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I join you?" Cecily asked for the fourth time. She had been searching for a compartment for what it seemed like hours, and each one was either too full or the people in it looked like they would accept anyone but Cecily.
Cecily raised her eyebrows as the people in the compartment looked at her in a rather rude way.
"Bye then," Cecily called as she left the compartment, rolling her eyes.
Surely there's one empty compartment, Cecily thought. On and on she went, and each one she didn't even bother to ask the people if she could join. They were all full.
At last Cecily found an empty compartment. There were only two people in it. A girl and a boy. They seemed to have been there for a while.
"H-hi. Do you guys mind if I join you? Everywhere else is full," Cecily inquired. "Please say yes. I'm serious. Literally all the compartments are full or they don't want me. I don't know where I'll go," She added.

"You're really brave," he couldn't help but comment about her eating more than one of those beans at a time. Just the thought of some of those flavours made him shudder and make a face of disgust. But he was awed that she would actually put a whole handful like that in her mouth. He'd watched to see if he'd have to try and get away from her just in cast, but thankfully, there didn't seem to be any foreseeable projectile vomit.

The nod to respond to the question about his being his first year and if he was excited. He was very exited! Even if he wasn't practically vibrating with it. He shouldn't have been surprised that it was obvious. He hadn't known about the trolley and he wasn't a familiar face to her if she wasn't a first year. She hadn't added, 'too,' but it still woudln't assume. Taking a biscuit for himself he peeled open the wrapper and had pondered over her question about his being a muggle-born. A bit puzzled, he wondered aloud probably not really answering her question properly but not knowing any other answer at this time, "Sort of?"

Ducking his head, he was about to open his mouth to explain when his attention was drawn to the door and another person popped their head in. His lips curled up more since he'd done the same thing. Glancing at Amanda since it had been her car to begin with, he shrugged to show that he didn't mind. It had been crowded when he'd gone looking for a compartment himself.

Amanda looked at Jonathan when her replied “Sort of,” the confusion evident on her face. She was just about to ask how it was possible to be sort-of Muggle-born when a girl poked her head into the compartment and asked if she could sit with them. Amanda nodded and smiled at the girl. She recognized her from school and being in the same house. “Of course you can sit here! The more the merrier. Your name is Cecily, correct? I’m Amanda and that’s Jonathan,” she said, gesturing to Jonathan. “So, how were your guys’ summers? Mine was pretty busy, since I stayed behind for camp and then went on a History of Magic trip.”

Amanda finished the jellybeans and rooted around in her school bag for more sweets. Dammit, they must all be in my trunk. Suddenly, something tumbled out of her open bag and rolled under the seats. “Oh crap, I dropped my Remembrall.” Amanda got down on the floor and peered under the seats. When she found it, she reached under and grabbed it. “Got it!” she exclaimed, standing up and adjusting her glasses. Returning to her seat, Amanda placed the Remembrall back into her bag and closed it so that nothing else would fall out. “Sorry about that.”

Cecily sighed with relief as they both said yes to her sitting in the compartment.

"Thank you guys so much. Yes, my name is Cecily. I've definitely seen you around, Amanda. It's nice to meet both of you," Cecily said, smiling.

"That's really cool you got to go on a History of Magic trip. What was it like? Mine was pretty good. Same as always, I guess. But it was really good to see my parents and spend more time around my siblings. I have four older siblings, but they're all in different houses. I hardly ever see them during the school year."

That was all Cecily knew she should say.
If I keep rambling on then they'll probably want me to leave, Cecily thought, looking at the window.

She was glad that they were all communicating with each other. If Cecily was put in a compartment where they all sat awkwardly together not talking, Cecily would probably just sit in the corridros if there wasn't another empty compartment. Thankfully, this wasn't the case this time.

When Amanda dropped her remembrall, Cecily jumped a little.
“Oh, don’t worry! It’s okay. You have a remebrall? How does it work? I’ve seen ones and heard about them but I have never owned one to know. They look very neat and magical!”