So this is what a train sounds like, huh?

It was loud, which December had expected, although, if he was being honest, he'd like to admit that he overestimated how quiet it would be.

Well, at least it looks as cool as it did outside, on the inside... They think, continuing to sleepily walk through the main corridor of the train. Though tired from waking up early out of excitement, they weren't tired enough to be a walking slug right now. Yes, indeed-- being a walking slug is not as useful as... Not being a walking slug.

December paused, blinking a few times. Maybe I should find a compartment to get into a little faster, they decided. After all, they were starting to fall asleep on the walls, and definitely remembered getting scolded for wandering the walkway by an... attendant?

What does one call train personnel? Train personnel?

...Then again, maybe it was an older year messing with them. Whichever the case, they straighten up and adjust the small bag they had brought over one shoulder, before deciding that the next ajar-doored compartment they saw, would just have to be entered-- social anxiety aside.

Of course, there was no drought of compartments for him to reside in for the duration of the ride, however; most already had one or many, many people in them. One or two seemed empty, but when he'd tried those doors, they were just-stuck shut. He had tried to un-stiff it for a minute before a passing student, probably two or three years above him, kindly informed him that "Those doors are locked for a reason, kiddo," but that he was free to "Test his luck" if he so badly needed somewhere "empty".

From the way the way the older student had put emphasis and possibly teasing air quotes on the word "empty," they decided not to "Test their luck," and to, instead, scurry along their way to finding an actually empty (or, at least, quiet) compartment.

As he continued to walk through the slightly cramped yet elegant walkway, he spotted many an ajar door, but, as expected, when he glanced into them, there were too many people. Or, just... people. Not that he wasn't fond of others, much the opposite, but right now: They needed a nap.

Well, though the walk seemed long, December stopped to look back and realized that they could still see the door from where they'd boarded. Not close, of course, but if he squinted...

"It seems I'm prolonging the inevitable," he sighed to himself, pinching his cheek to get back in the game. I got this.

Less than a minute later, after having put their damn social 'skills' to work, December found someone who absolutely did not care about the presence of another's company or not--

That was to say, the kid that they infiltrated accompanied in the compartment of, was asleep. Which is exactly what I want to do, December thought in agreement to his own thought as they quietly closed the door behind them.

He'd seen, noted, or got the vague impression of what the compartments were like from the multiple times he'd failed to acquire entry to one... But, well, wow, were these compartments lovely. They were small, obviously, but what architects could do with what space they're given, December always admired. There were large cushioned benches along the walls, the expensive kind that make indents due to the buttoning, and they had cushioned parts for the backs, too. A sofa, really. Though, there weren't legs, so they supposed it had to be a bench.

The slightly dull, or maybe more 'faded' red, of the cushions was enveloping and warm, most likely once a ruby or brownish-red, worn over time. Worn well, though, and he could just tell from a glance how many stories became of just a few people enjoying time and conversing with one another during the ride, over however many countless years the express had been in function.

Maybe next year, I'll have friends to make stories with on the way to school, They thought absently, looking up more, and seeing a window. What became of the bench-couches, it seemed, was a U-shaped stature, due to both the cushioned benches along the right and left walls connecting to another one against the back wall. That one, against the back wall, was smaller, as the room was larger in length than width, and backless, because of, well, the window.

Which seems to be openable, December observed dubiously. Is that even safe? Well, whatever...

As he turned back to face the other student a mere foot or two away, he noted her position and speculated a bit, because it was always fun to think, and why not? Far corner, farthest away from the window. Her robe was already on - Which means I was probably right to get dressed beforehand, yippie, - and she had pulled the hood up, probably for blanketlike comfort while she slept. She also had an enormous blue-and-black striped scarf, probably better fit for weather colder than the currently well-heated temperature of the train. Of course, it was being used as a blanket, which, given situation, was quite reasonable.

I suppose she's in Ravenclaw, then, December thought to himself as he silently made his way to the opposite side of the room from her, right in the corner between the right wall and the window, and curled his legs up comfortably.

I wonder if I'll be in Ravenclaw.

Actually, scratch that, I wonder what house I'll be in.

No, scratch all of that. I don't need to fret about that right now. And it's not like it really matters anyway--

--Okay, well, now I'm just lying to myself, jeez.

December shook their head silently, rolling away their train of thought with a sigh.

Speaking of trains... They turned their head towards the window, mere inches away from his face, and pulled the hood of their own robe up onto their head comfortably. Then he loosely wrapped his arms around his legs and leaned back, back into the comfy embrace of the worn cushions, as they observed the world outside of the Hogwarts Express.

The scenery was nice.

It changed a lot, but only when he actually thought about what he'd seen previously. It was a smooth roll of changing backdrops, ranging from trees to hills, then lakes and other large, blue expanses of water. Who knew the train route was so vast in pretty little pools of water?

They were so pretty, and sparkly.

I wonder if you're allowed to count water instead of sheep...

And then December was getting tired,

I wonder if you're allowed to count the sheep you see in the hills, out the windows, instead of sheep in your head...

and then December was asleep.