Only Stop: Hogwarts Open Finished

O livia stood with her father on the platform. She felt a sense of tension and nervousness. "Promise to write," she said, pleading with her father. He nodded and Olivia felt a little calmer. When her father wished her luck and gave her a hug, Olivia didn't want to let go, but she had to because the whistle sounded.

Olivia boarded the Hogwarts Express and began looking for a compartment. Ideally, she would sit alone, but she understood that it would probably be difficult. All the compartments she passed were full.

Olivia continued walking along the train without finding an empty compartment. She had to sit somewhere. Finally, she found a compartment that was almost empty. She stretched out her hand and was about to pull open the compartment door when she hesitated. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

But finally, she opened the door and stuck her head in. "Hey, uh, can I sit here?" she asked. She smiled crookedly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "But it's okay if you don't want to, I can go somewhere else," she added quickly. Then she leaned against the door frame and waited. She hoped she wouldn't look ridiculous.

Speech | Thoughts

Interacting with: @Olivia Williams

Luca sat at the far end of the plush cabin seat, gazing at the new sights as the Hogwarts Express slowly pulled away from Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station. He was fascinated by the idea that beyond the brick wall he had just passed through with his trolley lay an entirely different world with the Muggles who traveled through King's Cross Station daily, completely oblivious to its existence. A few children had passed the threshold into the compartment Luca had made home for the next several hours, but one stopped in.

The boy became aware of her presence when the cabin door opened and gently thudded against the rubber stops to avoid making a loud noise. Luca turned his head to look and shifted slightly away from the window with a small, welcoming smile. He noticed her slight nerves as she immediately gave him an out to avoid sitting with her, but he didn't mind. The boy nodded and gestured to the seat across from him, relaxing a bit more into his comfortable seat. As he waited for her to take a seat, he glanced out the window to Platform 9 3/4.

"Please," Luca encouraged her with his gesture. "I'm Luca. What's your name?"

Olivia was a little surprised when he told her to sit down. But Olivia smiled and sat down. When he introduced himself as Luca and asked her name, Olivia answered quickly: "Olivia Williams," and extended her hand but quickly pulled it back. "Sorry," she muttered, blushing and looked out the window instead.

The landscape rolled by outside and she could feel Lucas's gaze on her. Finally she turned back to face him. "Which house do you think you'll end up in?" Olivia asked to break the silence and start a conversation.

Olivia herself was pretty sure she would end up in Gryffindor. Her father had always said she was like him and he had been in Gryffindor. But Olivia's mother had been in Hufflepuff so maybe she would end up there. Olivia felt a pang in her heart when she thought of her mother. Automatically she looked down at her arm where the bracelet with a moon she had gotten from her mother was. Her mother had been killed by a magical creature about six years ago. Despite all that time, Olivia would sometimes find herself fantasizing about her mother being alive. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked at Luca, waiting for his answer.

Speech | Thoughts

Interacting with: @Olivia Williams

Luca's muscles twitched momentarily when he saw Olivia extend her hand, but before his own hand could rise, she had pulled her hand back. He didn't pay much attention to her muttering an apology, recognizing that she was probably as nervous as the other First Years on the train. Luca was nervous himself, but he was determined not to show it. This was the first time he was completely on his own, but he wasn't sure if everyone else was experiencing the same thing. I can't imagine most responsible families leave eleven year olds to their own devices often, so everyone else is probably as nervous as I am, Luca thought for a moment.

"Nice to meet you, Olivia. Luca Corranado," the young boy added, completing his introduction with his last name. "I don't know what house I will end up in. My father attended Ilvermorny and was a Wampus. My mother attended Hogwarts, and she was a Ravenclaw," Luca explained to Olivia. The Wampus is a fearsome creature, and members of the Wampus House at Ilvermorny are known to be skilled warriors. Ravenclaw House at Hogwarts is known for its emphasis on wisdom, learning, and wit. He reflected on how he was often determined to excel in everything.

Luca made a mental note of Olivia focusing on the bracelet on her hand, along with the shake of her head, but he kept it to himself for now.

I ran into the train excitedly after saying a quick bye to my grandmother. I was running for two reasons. 1) My parents were a little (okay a lotta) late. My grandma had to come and drop me off instead. 2) I was super excited. Especially after I left Elm at the ice cream palour. We had plans to meet up after the train ride! And that I was finally heading to Hogwarts! Both of my parents were Slytherin so I guess I expect to be put in Slytherin. I know my parents do. But my Grandmother doesn't. Secretly I'm praying I get Gryffindor like her. My grandmother is super sweet and my mom says I'm like her. Probably because she practically raised me.

I hurried into the first compartment that wasn't very filled with people. There was only 2 people in it. A boy and a girl. I sit down quickly and catch my breath. Then I introduce myself.

"Hi! Sorry to intrude and be so out of breath. My family was running late. Hopefully Im not interrupting anything important. Oh and Im Bree! Bree Grey! What are your names?" I smile brightly at them. Hopefully they wont kick me out. Wait what if they do. My mind wonder through the possibilites

Olivia was a little surprised when the girl named Bree came panting into the cabin. But Olivia felt that she was nice so she smiled kindly and introduced herself: "Hi Bree, my name is Olivia Williams and this is Luca Corranado." Olivia pointed first to herself and then to Luca.

There was silence for a few seconds. Olivia drummed her fingers on her knees as she did in the evening. "Can you tell me a little more about yourselves?" Olivia suggested to break the silence.

Olivia could talk about herself to a certain extent. Her father had warned her not to tell too much. "You have to be careful who you trust, or things can go really wrong," he had said. "Not everyone likes werewolves." Olivia knew he was right and had made sure to wear clothes that hid her many scars. It was pure luck that she didn't have any on her face.

She looked at Luca and Bree with interest and waited for their answer. She wanted to know more about these two people. Maybe they could become her first real friends.

For Olivia, friends were something new. She had never had a friend before and didn't really know how to do it. She hoped she wouldn't be completely alone.

Speech | Thoughts

Interacting with: @Olivia Williams, @Bree Grey

Just as Luca finished making a mental note about Olivia focusing on her bracelet, a pretty brunette girl burst through the still-open door of the cabin and sat down, out of breath. She quickly introduced herself as Bree Grey, catching her breath, and asked for their names. Luca stayed silent for a moment and nodded as Olivia introduced them both, which he found a bit odd but thought nothing of it. He looked between the two girls during the brief silence before Olivia spoke up to break it.

I wonder how much I should share with them. My parents didn't say anything about it. My dad mentioned something about a firm handshake, but I don't remember, Luca thought quietly as he formed some words in his mind. After another split second of silence, he spoke up, "I'm from London. We live in a big house outside the city. My dad has an owl named Midnight."

Luca wasn't sure what to say about himself, so he simply listed a few facts that came to mind. He had socialized with a few kids during the first eleven years of his life, but living in Corranado Manor, away from everyone and being homeschooled, he didn't have much opportunity for socialization. His nanny did what she could, and it was probably the reason he was only slightly awkward rather than completely socially inept.

I smile at them both. “Love the names! Especially yours Olivia! I don’t know why but sounds like it’s from a storybook! Wouldn’t be surprised if y’all told me you live in a castle.” I laugh slightly and study the boy or Luca. He hasn’t said anything yet. I’m about to say something to him when Olivia asks a question. He answers and says his dads owl name is midnight. “That’s a very pretty name Luca. My parents share an owl. Her name is winter! What’s your owl name Olivia? Do you have one? And I’m from London too! Do you have any other pets Luca?”

As soon as I said I was from London too I get hit with the sadness and longing for home. More of for my grandmother who was sweeter than other.

I smile at both of them, very happy that I ran in here. Other people might of kicked me out, but they didn’t. As I wait for them to answer I study them both. Olivia had short pretty brown a hair and freckles. She was dressed in some clothes that looked comfy. Luca on the other hand was a little more proper. He had brown hair and blue eyes.

“Alright don’t know if y’all already asked this but what house do y’all think you’ll get into? My parents were in Slytherin so maybe I’ll get into that. But to be honest I’m hoping for Gryffindor like my grandmother.”

Speech | Thoughts

Interacting with: @Olivia Williams, @Bree Grey

"We were talking about that before you came in, actually," Luca informed Bree as she inquired about the Hogwarts houses they might belong to after the Sorting Ceremony. "I was just telling Olivia that my father attended Ilvermorny and was a Wampus. My mother went to Hogwarts, and she was a Ravenclaw," the boy said, reiterating to Bree what he had shared with Olivia regarding his Hogwarts house. Realizing he never actually answered the question that Olivia or Bree had asked, Luca began to speak again, "I honestly don’t know what house I will end up in. I could argue for all four, but it's really up to the Sorting Hat."

Not realizing how much time had passed, he noticed that King's Cross Station was far behind them, and they were now in the heart of the countryside as they made their way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The light plume of smoke from the steam powering the Hogwarts Express was still fairly thick as it rolled by their cabin window, indicating they were quite close to the front of the train. After a few moments of silence, Luca looked back at Olivia, expecting her to answer Bree or continue the conversation. However, he noticed that she seemed deep in thought, so he tried to keep the dialogue going as they drew closer to Hogwarts.

"Why are you hoping for Gryffindor over Slytherin?" he asked, doing his best to pose a question that would spark conversation.

OOC Note: I was asked by Olivia to roleplay her as deep in thought.