After a long flight from Scotland to England, a blurry, tired car ride, and hours of waiting in traffic, and a rushed shopping trip in Diagon Alley, the car finally stopped moving as small the family of three reached their destination. She thought it was a bit silly to travel to England only to travel back to the Scotland, but her parents told her Ollivanders is the best place to get a wand, and she wanted to see the infamous Diagon Alley. Cecilia groggily stirred in the leather back seat of their car, her cheek smushed against the window and her curly strawberry blonde hair a mess, tangled up in a loose ponytail with a scrunchie.

“We’re here,” her mother grumbled, “I hope your decision to learn magic will be worth it.”

Cecilia ignored her and creaked open the car door, inhaling the new air of the bustling streets and admiring the twinkling lights of cars, steam rolling out of street gutters, and people rushing along the sidewalks, late to work. It was a scene she was unfamiliar with, but it was one she was excited to be a part of for the next seven years of her life.

Her parents unloaded her luggage from their trunk as she took a look around. She has heard about a secret train station, quite old fashioned, hidden away from society—but only from a book. Her parents hadn’t told her much about Hogwarts... or how to get there... or where it was... She had already bought school supplies—she was surprised ‘wizards’ even used books—and picked up a wand—chestnut with unicorn hair—but the experience didn’t tell her much about the school. Was she even registered? Did they need to pay?

She shook herself out of her musings and went to the back to help her parents with the luggage. Wizards don’t need logic, she assumed. Just let it happen...

So much for magic and mystery, her parents led her to a brick wall. “Now what?” She asked them expectantly, an aeyebrow arched. Just as her father opened his mouth, a huge group of people came walking towards them, engrossed in their own conversation not noticing the small eleven year old standing in their way, and began running towards the brick wall, right where she was. She tried to shout, to move, but she was pushed along with the crowd. Right into the wall. 

She braced herself for pain and a hard wall as she tensed with her arms covering her head. When she didn’t receive any of the two, she let out a quiet breathe and opened her lids, a small gasp leaving her mouth. It really was magic. Her lavender eyes were blown wide as she watched people were dressed in robes and wizardry hats with long sticks and staffs hanging out of their pockets. There were buildings with strange colors and objects that she had never even heard of before. 

Her parents appeared beside her, offering her a hand up. “Are you okay?” Her mother asked, dusting off her jeans and robes and smoothing out her unruly hair. “Yeah..” Cecilia said breathlessly, her eyes still glued to the waiting train.

“Great! We’re late so hurry on the train. Don’t forgot to mail us! And if you ever decide that you don’t want to do magic, come back right away!” Her mom said over the rabble of the crowd as she pushed the small of her back towards the groups of children boarding. 

“I will Mom... remember to feed the birds!” Cecilia yelled back, grabbing her bag and running towards a group of students that seemed like they were around her age. She shifted her weight frantically from one leg to the next and fingered the front pocket of her robe, antsy to board the train.

Nova had waited for this day to arrive, on the very day her letter had arrived to their doorstep, she was already preparing everything in advance-something she never did very often. After a few small trips to Diagon Alley to get all her supplies, the day had finally come.

She was almost jumped out of the car before it had come to a halt, her sister pulling her back by the back of her sweater "Hang on!", Camile whispered so that their mother couldn't hear, a smile spread across her face "Are you ready?""I was born ready", Nova said eagerly, her grey-blue eyes twinkling with determination as she got off the car, followed by Camile and her little brother- Christopher, who wouldn't be going on the Hogwarts Express, but still wanted to come along.

As they walked through the stations, her little owl-Jako, was flying around them excitedly-and the moment he knew they were close to arriving at the station 9 3/4', he flew around at vigorous speed, his fluttering made other people stare in mid-confusion as Nova raced after Jako with quiet laughs following her trail.

Her mother stopped close top a wall, and waved over at Nova to come back, for she had gone way past the station accidentally. Nova got hold of Jako and placed him calmly on her left shoulder, for the other was now being occupied. Nova looked over in the other direction and grabbed hold of a tiny creature who had been sneaking about in her pocket before he had gotten out and grabbed hold of her sweater.

With a small giggle, Nova petted her little bowtruckle-Thumper- and after hearing her mother call, hid him quietly and delicately back in her bag before racing back to her mother. "Sorry-he got a little carried away", she said addressing Jako who was looking around, still gripping eagerly on her shoulder, his claws almost piercing her sweater.

Camile and Christopher grinned as her mother sighed non-enthusiastically, Nova knew very well that her mother did not want to see her go- but still supported her and brought her, for she knew this was her dream-even if she disliked the idea, which gave Nova many different feelings on her. She shrugged them off and looked at the wall "Where's the station?", she asked "Right infant of you", Camile said casually, as her brother snickered behind her.

"Perhaps you should demonstrate Camile", her mother suggested with a small grin, and nodding, her sister grabbed her trunk and said "Ready for this?""Ready for what?", Nova asked curiously "This". And without another word, Camile ran straight at the wall. Before Nova could say anything, her sister had disappeared through the wall, followed by her mother and Christopher. Nova and Jako exchanged curious looks, and finally, after many discomforting thoughts, Nova did the same.

She expected to crash at any moment, but instead, she stood at the platform of 9 3/4, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the marvelous train she would be going on very soon. After saying good bye to her brother and many hugs from her mother, Camile led Nova towards the train, before heading to talk with her friends from last year. Shrugging, Nova waited patiently to board the train, blood racing through her body like a shock as they announced that the train would be leaving soon.

Jumping onto the train, she got to the nearest window and waved happily at her mother,Christopher waving happily from behind the glass. She still couldn't believe that she wasn't going to see them for an entire year-but she knew that she could communicate with them everyday if she wanted to. She continued to gaze at her family for a while, before more students began filling into the train, then she began to move happily through the Hogwarts Express.