It was early this morning when Eira and her governess arrived at the train platform. The young girl had a good idea that her parents had neither the time nor the inclination to see her off. To tell the truth, she wasn’t surprised; she knew full well that she had almost always been a ghost in their eyes, so it was only natural that they weren’t there.

Her governess, Isadora, was her only anchor in this ‘family’. Her only mother figure, the one who had raised, cherished and loved her. The only source of love she had ever received in her eleven years of life.

Although the young girl admired her brother – Cadell – and got on wonderfully well with him, since he’d left for Hogwarts, she hadn’t really had the chance to see him or spend time with him. Her father, having no other concerns but his son, kept him to himself and wouldn’t let Eira see him.

The little Welsh girl had grown accustomed to living in the shadows, in the solitude and cold of that house. On the one hand, she was happy to be leaving this place devoid of feeling and life. She felt as though she were constantly locked away there.

Isadora looked at her, tears in her eyes, knowing that the fateful moment was approaching, the moment of parting. At least there was a silver lining: her creators – for indeed, there were no other words to describe them; they had merely given her life, and even then, she knew full well that this pregnancy had been unwanted – had not come along for what would have been a frankly awkward moment.

Nevertheless, the little girl turned to the old lady. A look that was both sympathetic and sad at having to leave her, but such was fate. She knew that one day she would have to go to Hogwarts, and learn everything her brother had learnt before her.
She must not stray from the path, and must uphold her family’s good name, for the only thing her parents expected of her was that she bring honour to the family through her behaviour and her grades.

When the time to leave was announced, she turned to Isadora, who took her in her arms and whispered discreetly in her ear:

- Take care of yourself, Miss Blaenor, I have faith in your abilities. Grow into a beautiful young woman, even more capable than your brother. We’ll see each other again this summer.

- Thank you, Isadora. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. See you soon.

Then, after one last glance, the young girl picked up her luggage and boarded the first carriage she saw. Now she had to find an empty compartment, or at least one with few people.
After a good fifteen minutes searching for the elusive compartment, she found it. So she sat down in a seat by the window and let her gaze drift over the landscape, through the glass, which was already beginning to flash by.