Carrie's farewell to her parents had been rather tearful. It had taken a long held embrace and lots of reassurance before she was remotely ready to finally depart. As she turned around one last time before boarding the Express, one hand trembled badly as she waved them off, the other barely keeping steady hold of the handle for her fairly sizable and loaded trunk mostly only because of the charms placed to make it weight less than usual. 

As with anything related to magic lately, her heart was painfully in conflict. She was still scared of actually using hers, given that the last major thing it had done had caused something terrible to happen to someone dear to her. At same time, if she didn't go to Hogwarts and learn to control, it would only mean that situations like would just keep happening. She definitely didn't want that. She wanted to be like her parents, whose magical skills could actually save lives instead. 

It didn't help at all that she had never stayed away from both her home and family for so long as she was set to do now. And there once again her feelings clashed. If on one side, it was good to escape the tensions that had been plaguing her family, on the other, she felt guilty for even experienced such a relief. It didn't seem right, that she should be the one to get a respite of sorts, when she had been the cause of it all in the first place ... 

In anycase, she then started to wander through the train, discreely peering into various compartments to see how much occupied they were already were. After searching for a while, she ended up rather towards the rear end of the Express before she found a suitably empty cabin. She didn't actually want to end up alone for what seemed be a fairly long trip, but the thought of a dealing with such a relatively tight space already full of people was too overwhelming. Even intruding on a couple or so of people, who might just want to be together by themselves, seemed too much. She hoped a few fellow students would make it to this place, although, how she would deal with if it were to become too many there as well, she didn't know. She didn't want to be so rude as to deny anyone entry, specially when it could have just about the only remaining seats by then, just because of herself. That would be too selfish. 

After entering and tucking her trunk away, she then took off her shoes and curled up on a portion of one of the seats, pulling her legs up to embrace them, her head resting on her knees and her long hair draping over. With as tense as she was, she had become hyper-aware of her surroundings and thus could easily pick up the sound of approaching footsteps that came soon thereafter. She turned her head around slightly, her eyes fixated on the door as she waited to see if it would be opened, trying to ready herself for the potential arrival of someone into the room. 

Tessa was excited and anxious at the same time. She just said goodbye to Argus, her adoptive father, the only man in the world she could bond to. It was exciting to finally start this journey on her own, to understand and control the magic flowing insde her. She was eager to know everything Argus told her about during the last year, since she was living with him: all the spells, potions, creatures... To sum up, she was ready for experiencing the wizarding world.

It wasn't a problem that the place she would live at would be her school as well, as she already had the same experience in the Ever Open Door orphanage. However, she was anxious about the change of environment and meeting new people. Would they also hurt her as the orphanage kids? Would she get into trouble again for defending herself in her own way? She didn't know, but she hoped for the best.

Walking on the train was a bit frustrating, kids of different ages running around everywhere. Everybody seemed to know each other and have fun, so Tessa, not feeling herself the part of it, walked towards the rear end of the train to find a calmer compartment for herself, but each of them seemed to be full except for one. There was a little brunette sitting there, curled up, head laying on her knees. Tessa couldn't see her entire face, as it was covered by her hair, but she didn't seem to be neither a serial killer, nor an idiot, so she decided to join her. There was also some kind of inner instinct in her that wanted her to check if the girl was all right. Poeple just wouldn't curl themselves up in the corner if everything was all right.

She opened the compartment door slowly, with a shaking hand, face pale, her freckles literally glowing on her face. 'Would you mind if I sit here?' - she asked quietly, holding her trunk beside her until she would get any kind of reaction.

It was a good thing Carrie had been so guardedly observing the door, otherwise even the slow sliding of it would probably have startled her enough to not be able to do much about the new arrival. She was also thankful that whoever did it had the sense to stay back while asking if they could join her, unlike some others kids that she had seen promptly entering regardlessly. That would have been way too for her to deal with. 

While still mostly mantaining her curled stance, Carrie edged a bit forward and slowly lifted her head, to take a look at her prospective travel companion. Standing there at the partly opened entrance was a girl that seemed like she was about her own age. She was grateful for that. Someone that looked a lot older would likely have been too intimidating for her. She still tended to do much better with kids that were significantly younger than her, but in this case, that wasn't an option, given that everyone started at Hogwarts when they were at least eleven. 

By the way she had asked the question, the redheaded girl seemed nervous as well, which helped a little. She couldn't be too threatning if she was acting like that even around someone like her, specially given the manner she had been found in, after all. 

"Uh, not at a-all,"  Carrie then answered, in a equally low, as well as quite trembling tone. Her complexion was deathly pale, making the patches of blotchy skin and tear streaks, evidence from her recent bout of desperate crying, jump out all the more on the portion of her face that was not hidden away by her hair. She felt particularly self-conscious of what the other girl must be thinking about her current position, but could not bring herself to let go off it just yet. She very much needed even the dismal ammount of comfort it brought,  specially when compared to actually being held by someone else.  

Tessa was hoping for the best, even if she knew that she could also get a negative answer to her question. She tought that her chances for both a yes and a no were equal. She desperately hoped she would be accepted in this calm and silent compartment, otherwise she wouldn't really know where to sit to bear the quite long journey to Hogwarts.

Once the girl gave her the chance she wanted so bad, Tessa let out a huge sigh of relief: 'Phew, thank you... people outside seem to be crazy...' She quickly got in, struggling with her heavy trunk to lift it up and put it above her head, right opposite the girl. The she sat down, breathing hard, watching her companion as she tried her best to collect herself a bit.

She examined her face, and spotted the traces of tears on it. So she was crying... - she thought - Maybe it was hard for her to leave her family... She wasn't sure if she was a first year too, and felt just as lost as her, or she had another reason for crying. She quickly started to rummage in her pockets to find a crumpled, but clean tissue, and handed it to her with an awkward smile. 'I guess you need this...?' - she started awkwardly, as she didn't really know if it was a question or a statement.

She was still doubtful about any new person she got to know - that's why she felt a bit terrified by her new school. The only kind of people she would meet would be new people... None of her acquaintances ended up as good friendship so far, but the contrary. But at least Argus would be there, and she can always owl him about anything that happens to her. He didn't ask her to do so, but Tessa knew she would need it, to feel that no matter what happens, she still has someone to belong to.

Given the rather relieved way that the other girl reacted to being accepted in the compartment, Carrie was glad to have done it. Maybe she was like herself, struggling with crowds and/or unknown people. If so, she was happy that even such a small act might have made things at least a bit better for her. 

"No problem... I c-couldn't deal with the c-crowds either," Carrie then replied. Her new companion really did seem to be having a hard time as well and she wished she could something more for her. 

The other girl seemed to stare at her for a moment, which made her even more uncomfortable, until she then extended out a sheet of tissue. Remembering just how hard she had cried just beforehand, she figured her face must still be rather a mess. Reaching out with a still slightly trembling hand to accept the kind offer, with a watery smile she then responded,  "Ah, uh, t-thank you," while using it to hopefully clean up at least most of the remaining tears and stains left trailed by them, first on the side that wasn't obstructed by hair, then, finding the locks covering the other side damped and clumped, rather uncomfortably, she then lifted it to dab at it and the skin until then covered up. Thus she accidently ended up leaving most of her face uncovered for the moment, unvealing her other green eye fully. 

Carrie then set to try her hardest to collect herself, unfurling a bit from her position as she did so, her legs dangling down and her hands gripping the soft edge of her seat rather tightly as she tried to upright herself. She also attempted to gather the courage to interact at least a bit more with her companion. She didn't want her to come to regret her choice and it would nice if she could start things out by knowing someone at least somewhat already. Her new, fast approaching reality was rather daunting. Pretty much all of the wizarding families she knew through her parents had much older kids that had never really paid her any mind, so largely much everyone at school would be unknown. At the same time, as for the few friends she had left from primary school ... Much as she didn't want to nearly completely leave them behind, she didn't see much of a way otherwise. While hiding things like magic had been  tough before, at least she had had somethings in common with them, things she could be truthful about. Now nearly any interaction would based on a complete lie. She couldn't even mail them without breaking the Statute, for crying out loud! 

She then finally managed to say, "So, uh, I'm Carrie ... Will this be your f-first year too?" 

Tessa watched the girl as she took her tissue and cleaned her face. If she wanted to be honest, she had to admit to herself that she was curious about her face. She wanted to see the whole face of this girl. She could see it for some seconds, as she had to reveal it for the time of the cleaning. She had green eyes. Tessa didn't know why it felt so important for her to observe her newly found travel companion. Probably she just wanted to save this moment deeply in her mind - she felt like this was the start of something important.

'Carrie' - she repeated, tasting the word - 'Erm... hey! I'm Theresa... but please call me Tessa!' - she said in return. She didn't like the official sounding of her full first name, especially as Argus only said it that way if he was angry at her. 'Yes, I'm a first year too...' - she continued with a smile, realising they were in the very same age. She didn't know why, but it didn't reach her mind until she said the words.

'Are you looking forward to the Sorting Ceremony?' - she asked, as she was excited about it. Not about being exposed to the view of the whole school, but the houses. She read what she found in her books about the four houses, but she thought she wouldn't fit anywhere. What if the Hat wouldn't say anything? Tessa didn't know if there was a place for the 'dumb guys who couldn't be sorted'... Maybe this category only existed in her head.

Her companion introduced herself as Theresa, or rather, as she seemed rather insistent on, Tessa. It felt oddly intimate to call someone by what seemed like a nickname right off the bat. But maybe it just was what the other girl would be rather be called in general. It would be rude to ignore someone's preferrence about such a thing, so she would be happy to oblige. 

"W-Well, nice to meet you, Tessa," Carrie then said, sporting a gentle smile. She was rather glad when Tessa then confirmed her earlier guess by saying she would be a first year as well. That was really great! It meant she could start out by knowing at least one classmate at least somewhat. Maybe in such a secluded, calm setting, hopefully between just the two of them, she could overcome her recent issues adn really get to know the other witch. She could really use actually making a friend again. 

Regarding Tessa's question about the Sorting Ceremony, she then said, "I g-guess so ... Don't really know where I might end t-though..." she of course knew all about the houses and their desired traits and while her parents had mostly upheld a sort of tradition by not telling exactly how the sorting would happen, not wanting her to miss out on the wondrous surprises that lay ahead, she knew that it would take place in front of pretty much everyone else at the school, which really made her feel anxious. In anycase, she supposed she really wouldn't mind most of the houses, as long as she ended with at least some nice housemates.  She really didn't feel really brave, smart or ambitious though. Well, while some might look down on Hufflepuff, she actually looked forward to potentially end up with it as her second home. Loyalty, hard-work, honesty, fairness, kindness ... Yes, she could do well with that, she supposed. 

Suddenly, Carrie started to get this really warm feeling and while outwardly, she was beginning to regain some healthy flush to her complexion, it wasn't at all limited to that. She felt it right down in her heart. She really didn't know why yet, but she really had the sensation that, when she were to look back at these moments, it would be at the start of something wonderful. 

Tessa was glad Carrie called her just like she wanted to, not using Theresa at all. The brunette seemed to share her fears about not knowing where she would be sorted. She wished she could become part of the same house as Carrie! At least there would be one person to stick to, if the other housemates wouldn't be much nicer than the orphanage kids. She didn't know if she should tell this desire to her, maybe it would only scare her. She already knew that she couldn't force herself on anyone. She already tried it a couple of times, thinking it would help her find friends, but in the end, she only managed to scare certain people, or made them think she was some kind of maniac.

'I also have no idea where will I belong... but... I'm a bit scared of getting Slytherin. Usually people think they are bad guys.' - She didn't know if it was true or not. Tessa definitely wasn't evil, and didn't have big ambitions, only one secret dream. She wanted to have as good grades as possible to become a Ministry Auror, and find the assassins of her real parents. She only had one crumpled picture of them, smiling... had fading memories of the smell of old books her mom cherished... and the glistening vials in her father's room... That was all.
She looked out of the window for a little while, watch the plow-lands passing by, then looked back to Carrie. It seemed the clouds above her mood were gone, as her face finally regained some color. Tessa was happy to see it, and a bit proud of herself. Could she be the reason?

Carrie was the sort to believe in the good in everyone and found it hard to think that a entire quarter of a school such as Hogwarts could be made of inheritenly evil people. 

"I'm not sure how to feel about Slytherin either ... I have heard those things too ... But I don't think they can all really be that b-bad. Ambition, cunning ... Those things don't have to necessary e-evil. They can dangerous if use for bad things, but they could used for good too ..."  She then said, sporting a wide smile while then continued, "I think you're pretty nice, so ... Don't worry even if you end t-there."

In anycase, Carrie didn't find that such traits were all that major in her. She would be pretty happy already if she could manage just to learn to control her magic. But she did hope that she would be able to do well enough to become a healer. While a lot of her family, including both of her parents, was in the profession, she had never felt pressed by anyone to follow along that path. It was just in her nature to want to do something that would let her to help and take care of people like that. 

Carrie really hoped that she and Tessa would end sharing a house. But if they really did become friends, as she was hoping for as well, it wouldn't really matter even if it turned out otherwise. She wouldn't let something like that to get in the way. Separation into houses shouldn't create any more division than it already it. They would still go to at least a few classes together and she would do her best to keep in touch with her in as much as possible of the free time that they ended up sharing. Well, not so much that it would possible bother the other girl though. 

She felt that it was a good idea to start to get to know Tessa better, so Carrie then asked, "So, anyway ... 
Maybe you could tell me a bit about yourself? Like ... Uh, where do you come from you?

Tessa listened to Carrie with all her attention. She seemed to be right. The character traits of a Slytherin didn't necessarily mean evil personalities. Everybody could be either good or evil. She had to admit that she had bad intentions towards the orphanage kids who bullied her when she scared them with the blood-like substance she managed to turn her glass of water to... She knew she would never forget the first day of panic in the canteen, caused by the sudden emergence of her magical abilities...
Hearing that she found her nice surprised her. She only tried to behave when she was in the company of others, and be polite, just like Argus taught her to be. She didn't try to be nice, maybe that was something that came from her naturally.
'You' re right. With me there will surely be a nice Slytherin!' - she replied and then couldn't help to chuckle a bit.
Her next question surprised her eve more. 'I was born in Southampton, but now I'm living in London with my foster father.' - she said quite quickly, but she felt the need to explain why she was adopted. 'My parents died when I was four.' - she added and her mouth flinched a bit. It was somethibg sad, but she felt good with Argus, as finally she could be in a small but real family again. What about you?