The Red Engine's Call
To say Ava was nervous, would be an understatement. She almost wanted to puke out her breakfast that her mother forcefully fed her. What could she do, she is alone going to a place she has only heard about. She has never been somewhere without her parents. And no matter how much she protested, they couldn't come to the Hogwarts express.
So, the little girl, dragging her sling bag, made her way to an empty compartment after having a bit of teary goodbyes with her parents. She nervously and teary looked out the window. Would anyone would be friends with me? Which house would I be a part of? Maybe I could be a Hufflepuff.. They are the kindest huh?
She pulled herself out from her head, taking out a muggle book she brought with herself. Ava always been fond of reading books and novels. And when she got to know that Hogwarts might not have all her favourite romantic novels, she decided to sneak some in her bag. Her mother thinks they are not for someone her age, but what Mum doesn't know won't hurt her?
She wasn't expecting anyone to join her, but a sudden voice pulled her out from her daydreaming reading. A voice of an old woman, the trolley lady. She immediately opened her compartment door. "I would like to have chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes and Bertie Botts, two each please." She got her sweets as she sat down happily going back to her reading while munching on the delicious goods.
Last edited by Ava Lynn on 30 Mar 2026, 17:02, edited 2 times in total.
| sta ⋆ 5 | eva ⋆ 7 | str ⋆ 4 STATS I GOT wis ⋆ 6 | arc ⋆ 5 | acc ⋆ 3 | seer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |
The Red Engine's Call
Marcella had woken up super duper early in the morning to get ready for her journey to Hogwarts. She put on a comfortable blue turtle neck sweater and a brown skirt with black leggings and Mary Janes. Marcella had always looked forward to going to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express. She had heard numerous stories from her family and relatives about it. She was nervous, there was no denying that, but her excitement outweighed her nerves. She wondered whether she'd get any friends....What if no one likes her? What if she has to be alone forever? Marcella shook her head forcefully. No negative thoughts, Cella she chided herself. She thought about what house she would be in. Probably Gryffindor. They are, after all, the bravest, and she loved adventures.
After she had gotten on, she dragged her trunk around searching for a compartment. After a while, she found a girl sitting alone in a compartment. "Oh, umm, hello," Marcella gave the girl a hesitant yet warm smile. "Can I join you? All the other compartments are full. But only if you want me to, of course!" she said quickly. why am I so awkward she internally groaned and scolded herself.
After she had gotten on, she dragged her trunk around searching for a compartment. After a while, she found a girl sitting alone in a compartment. "Oh, umm, hello," Marcella gave the girl a hesitant yet warm smile. "Can I join you? All the other compartments are full. But only if you want me to, of course!" she said quickly. why am I so awkward she internally groaned and scolded herself.
Last edited by Marcella di Angelo on 15 Feb 2026, 09:18, edited 1 time in total.
The Red Engine's Call
Ava was minding her own business when a voice pulled her out of her daydream. The girl standing there looked to be about her age. Ava didn’t consider herself much of a social person—or so she believed. She’d had tons of friends back home, but since they were all neighbors, she figured they were only friends because they had to be.
"Y-yes, you can join me. I wasn't expecting anyone, anyway," Ava said, trying her best not to sound awkward. "I'm Ava," she added, giving the girl a small smile. She wanted to ask a dozen questions, but she restrained herself. Her mother always told her to wait until the other person seemed ready for a conversation.
"Uhm... do you want some?" she asked, holding out one of the Cauldron Cakes she’d just bought from the trolley. "I have Bertie Bott’s, too, if you don't like the cakes." She pointed at the unopened box of Every Flavor Beans. "You won't believe it, but I just had a pizza-flavored bean. I mean, whoever thought of putting a flavor like that in a bean is a genius!"
Ava suddenly realized she was yapping. It was a bad habit of hers—talking someone's ear off and then claiming she wasn't sociable. She shut her mouth abruptly, realizing she hadn't even given the other girl a chance to speak.
[/quote]
"Y-yes, you can join me. I wasn't expecting anyone, anyway," Ava said, trying her best not to sound awkward. "I'm Ava," she added, giving the girl a small smile. She wanted to ask a dozen questions, but she restrained herself. Her mother always told her to wait until the other person seemed ready for a conversation.
"Uhm... do you want some?" she asked, holding out one of the Cauldron Cakes she’d just bought from the trolley. "I have Bertie Bott’s, too, if you don't like the cakes." She pointed at the unopened box of Every Flavor Beans. "You won't believe it, but I just had a pizza-flavored bean. I mean, whoever thought of putting a flavor like that in a bean is a genius!"
Ava suddenly realized she was yapping. It was a bad habit of hers—talking someone's ear off and then claiming she wasn't sociable. She shut her mouth abruptly, realizing she hadn't even given the other girl a chance to speak.
Reducio
@Marcella di Angelo
| sta ⋆ 5 | eva ⋆ 7 | str ⋆ 4 STATS I GOT wis ⋆ 6 | arc ⋆ 5 | acc ⋆ 3 | seer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |
The Red Engine's Call
Marcella released a sigh of relief as she sat across from the girl. "Hi Ava, my name is Marcella, and it's nice to meet you" she said with a smile as she looked at the girl. Marcella could already see them being great friends.
"I wouldn't mind either," she said as she reached for Berti Bott's "Berti Bott's is rather a favourite of mine, though. I once ate a spinach-flavoured bean, and trust me, they were super duper disgusting. But I still love eating them. We may never know what we may find. And you are right, Pizza is a spectacular bean flavour!"
Marcella ate her bean "oh wow, it's chocolate. Can't say I'm not kind of surprised to eat a normal bean flavour."
Marcella already loved yapping with her new friend. She noticed that Ava had been reading a book " Ooh! Is that a Muggle book? My aunt is a muggle and she had once taken me to a Muggle bookstore for book browsing. And I had ended up buying a book named "The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents", it was so interesting that I had annoyed my aunt into buying me its sequel."
"I wouldn't mind either," she said as she reached for Berti Bott's "Berti Bott's is rather a favourite of mine, though. I once ate a spinach-flavoured bean, and trust me, they were super duper disgusting. But I still love eating them. We may never know what we may find. And you are right, Pizza is a spectacular bean flavour!"
Marcella ate her bean "oh wow, it's chocolate. Can't say I'm not kind of surprised to eat a normal bean flavour."
Marcella already loved yapping with her new friend. She noticed that Ava had been reading a book " Ooh! Is that a Muggle book? My aunt is a muggle and she had once taken me to a Muggle bookstore for book browsing. And I had ended up buying a book named "The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents", it was so interesting that I had annoyed my aunt into buying me its sequel."
Reducio
@Ava Lynn
The Red Engine's Call
Ava smiled watching the girl match her excitement. "Chocolate on your first try? That's criminally lucky!" She said, taking one of the beans from the packet. "Watch me get something really bad like earwax or rotten egg. That's usually my fate."
She brought the bean in front of her, looking at it carefully, then popped it in her mouth. With a pause, her face scrunched up, and she slowly said, "...Grass." She swallowed it anyway, "Hm.. Very fresh and outdoorsy, wouldn't say I'm a fan of that."
At the mention of the Muggle bookstore, her eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah, it’s Muggle," she said, lifting the book up showing her the cover, 'Heartstopper,' getting a bit giddy.
She tilted her head. "'School for Magical Delinquents' sounds exciting. I would try it, once we get vacations. Or I can tell my mum to owl me."
Ava tucked a loose wave of hair behind her ear and leaned forward, interested now. "What is it about? Something like Hogwarts? Or what Muggles thinks magic is?" Ava had her fair share of girls' sleepovers, where she realised, that for Muggles, witches and wizards portray an entire description of what they really are. Most of them think, they are evil.
Whatever it is, Ava was just glad, she didn’t have to spend her whole ride reading, even though she loves reading. She would rather have a friend at Hogwarts.
Reducio
@Marcella di Angelo
| sta ⋆ 5 | eva ⋆ 7 | str ⋆ 4 STATS I GOT wis ⋆ 6 | arc ⋆ 5 | acc ⋆ 3 | seer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |
The Red Engine's Call
"Honestly, my fate is usually worse too, but it seems that today The Bean Goddess has shown me some mercy. " Marcella said, chuckling. She winced as Ava announced her flavour, "Grass? Oh god..." Marcella wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Marcella read Ava's book title. "Heartstopper, huh? I have it in my library back at home. I still haven't read it, though. What's it about?" She asked, growing interested.
Marcella pondered Ava's question. "Well, it's not really about witches and wizards. Rather, it's about mages, and it's told from the perspective of a girl named Vin Lucas. It's awesome, actually. You should try reading it."
Marcella was glad she had gotten Ava as her friend. She was so worried she'd have to spend the rest of her life at Hogwarts all alone and friendless.
Marcella read Ava's book title. "Heartstopper, huh? I have it in my library back at home. I still haven't read it, though. What's it about?" She asked, growing interested.
Marcella pondered Ava's question. "Well, it's not really about witches and wizards. Rather, it's about mages, and it's told from the perspective of a girl named Vin Lucas. It's awesome, actually. You should try reading it."
Marcella was glad she had gotten Ava as her friend. She was so worried she'd have to spend the rest of her life at Hogwarts all alone and friendless.
The Red Engine's Call
"Oh, you have to read it!" Ava squealed, her previous shyness completely vanishing the moment books were mentioned. She practically shoved the copy of Heartstopper toward Marcella so she could see the cover art better. "It’s just... so sweet. It’s about these two boys, Nick and Charlie, and it’s mostly about how they find each other and go through school. It’s a graphic novel, so it’s a quick read, but it’s still soooo good" She said, exaggerating her words.
She paused, her eyes widening as she processed Marcella’s recommendation. "Mages? That sounds so much cooler than the stuff I usually find in the muggle shops. Is it a series? I’m going to have to write that name down." Ava reached into her sling bag, pulling out a small, slightly messy notebook and a pen. "My Mum says I have a 'book-buying problem,' but I like to expand my library, can't a girl have hobby." She scribbled the name 'School for Magical Delinquents' in the margin of a page that was already half-filled with doodles of stars and what looked like a very round cat.
She took a bite of her Cauldron Cake, the chocolate making her feel significantly braver. "You know, I was really scared about coming here," she admitted, her voice dropping a little softer. "I thought everyone would be... I don't know, intense? Or that I’d be the one who didn't know everything about magic. But you’re really easy to talk to, Marcella. I’m glad you didn't keep walking past this door."
She looked at the box of Bertie Bott’s sitting between them. "Okay, your turn for a bean. But if you get 'Earwax' or 'Sardine,' don't blame me—blame the Bean Goddess!"
Reducio
@Marcella di Angelo
| sta ⋆ 5 | eva ⋆ 7 | str ⋆ 4 STATS I GOT wis ⋆ 6 | arc ⋆ 5 | acc ⋆ 3 | seer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |
The Red Engine's Call
"OOh right right right. It was a webtoon, right? My cousin Bianca had a poster of it on her bedroom wall, and she asked me to read it too. But procrastination is a possessive girlfriend; she didn't want to let me go. But I'm happy to announce that I've finally broken up with her," Marcella said with an excited chuckle.
Marcella listened as Ava talked, voice lit with excitement. "Well, it was an accidental find, but trust, you'd fall in love with it. Usually, I read a bit more mature books, but this, even though it's a middle school level, is a legit exception. " Marcella paused, waiting for Ava to finish writing in her notebook. "Can't say the same about my family. All of us are positively diagnosed with book addiction/obsession."
Marcella listened as Ava talked, a soft smile adorning her lips. "Oh, Ava..." she said softly, "I'm glad you let me join you in this compartment. AndI, too, am glad I didn't walk past your compartment. And I'm more than happy to have you as my friend, Ava"
As her friend offered her the box of Bertie Bott's, accepted and took one out of it. "Urghh", she gagged, "It's dirt flavoured". Marcella immediately grabbed a tissue from her shoulder bag and spat into it. And gulped down some water to get rid of the taste.
Marcella listened as Ava talked, voice lit with excitement. "Well, it was an accidental find, but trust, you'd fall in love with it. Usually, I read a bit more mature books, but this, even though it's a middle school level, is a legit exception. " Marcella paused, waiting for Ava to finish writing in her notebook. "Can't say the same about my family. All of us are positively diagnosed with book addiction/obsession."
Marcella listened as Ava talked, a soft smile adorning her lips. "Oh, Ava..." she said softly, "I'm glad you let me join you in this compartment. AndI, too, am glad I didn't walk past your compartment. And I'm more than happy to have you as my friend, Ava"
As her friend offered her the box of Bertie Bott's, accepted and took one out of it. "Urghh", she gagged, "It's dirt flavoured". Marcella immediately grabbed a tissue from her shoulder bag and spat into it. And gulped down some water to get rid of the taste.
The Red Engine's Call
Ava let out a bell-like laugh, clutching her stomach as Marcella gulped down for her water. "Dirt! Oh, no! That’s definitely a point for the 'Grass' bean—at least grass tastes like a fresh lawn, not a garden bed!" She giggled, reaching over to pat Marcella’s arm in mock sympathy while she recovered from the earthy shock.
"Procrastination being a possessive girlfriend is the most relatable thing I’ve ever heard," Ava added, her eyes twinkling. "I think she tries to date me too, but usually, my 'book addiction' is the one that wins the breakup. It’s a very messy love triangle."
She tucked her notebook back into her sling bag, feeling a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the Cauldron Cakes. The heavy knot of anxiety that had been sitting in her stomach since breakfast was finally starting to unknot itself. For the first time all day, she didn't feel like the 'lonely girl' leaving her parents behind, she felt like a student heading toward an adventure with a friend.
She was about to ask more about the Vin Lucas books when a heavy thud sounded from the ceiling of the train, followed by the screeching of the wheels. The Hogwarts Express began to slow down, and the afternoon light outside the window started to fade into a misty evening.
Ava’s heart gave a little skip but this time from excitement, not fear. "We’re almost there, aren't we? Do... do you think we should change into our robes now?"
Reducio
@Marcella di Angelo
hey, do you want our characters to interact on the ravenclaw table?
hey, do you want our characters to interact on the ravenclaw table?
| sta ⋆ 5 | eva ⋆ 7 | str ⋆ 4 STATS I GOT wis ⋆ 6 | arc ⋆ 5 | acc ⋆ 3 | seer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |
The Red Engine's Call
Ava giggled, and reaching over to pat Marcella’s arm in mock sympathy while she recovered from the earthy shock. Marcella couldn't help but join Ava in laughing.
"Ahh, the classic love triangle. I'm team 'book addiction' by the way, may it win," Marcella laughed at herself. "My humour is dying." Marcella was so elated to have a friend to call her own. She had gotten on the train thinking she'd be alone forever. But meeting Ava had given her hope that she wouldn't be alone. That she'd always be together.
The Hogwarts Express began to slow, and the afternoon light outside the window faded into a misty evening. They were getting closer to Hogwarts. Marcella felt excitement flood her veins. The next part of their adventure is slowly unraveling. And Marcella had never felt happier.
"We should definitely change our robes now," she said with a big grin on her face.
"Ahh, the classic love triangle. I'm team 'book addiction' by the way, may it win," Marcella laughed at herself. "My humour is dying." Marcella was so elated to have a friend to call her own. She had gotten on the train thinking she'd be alone forever. But meeting Ava had given her hope that she wouldn't be alone. That she'd always be together.
The Hogwarts Express began to slow, and the afternoon light outside the window faded into a misty evening. They were getting closer to Hogwarts. Marcella felt excitement flood her veins. The next part of their adventure is slowly unraveling. And Marcella had never felt happier.
"We should definitely change our robes now," she said with a big grin on her face.
Reducio
@Ava Lynn
Oh ofcourse!
Oh ofcourse!