Steam, Snacks, and The Unexpected
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| xxx | As the Hogwarts Express pulled away from the station, Ada watched out the window as the train gathered, speed. London went by and the land started to merge into a stretching landscape of rolling green hills. Nox (Ada's cat) it seemed had already been rocked to sleep by the train on the seat across from her, his pale stomach rising and falling with every breath he took. Ada lay her head against the red velvet seat back. I probably should have studied more... she thought with a sigh. Ada didn't like studying very much, from what she could tell. Regardless, she reached under her feet, opened her trunk with a soft "click" and pulled from a large stack: Book of Spells, Grade One by Miranda Goshawk. Ada opened to a random page near the front of the book. The Dancing Feet Charm (Tarantallegra) the page was titled in bold letters. Just down from that was a picture of a wooden doll who's legs were jerking and twitching in such a manner that it looked like it was dancing. This doesn't seem to hard... Ada thought. Besides, a little practice can't hurt. Ada reached once more into her trunk (it took longer this time to find what she was looking for, as she had hidden it very well.) a small stuffed cat: Mr. Mozzarella was his name, and for good reason: his pelt was a creamy white and soft despite his old age. After reading the passage about casting safety and such, as well as technique, she placed Mr. Mozzarella on the seat opposite her and raised her new wand (Kneazle whisker and willow wood, eleven and a quarter inches). She looked again at the book copying the wand movement a couple times more mouthing the incantation. Then she turned to pale white cat slumped in a corner. She hoped (as she aimed her wand at Mr. Mozzarella) that It wouldn't hurt him if the spell went wrong (as it probably would). She hadn't read anything that might imply that if the spell went wrong, the test dummy would spontaneously combust... Pushing her worries aside, she said in a quiet but clear voice: "Tarantallegra." Something shot out of her wand and hit Mr. Mozzarella, but instead of making him dance like the book said, it ricocheted of him and hit the peacefully sleeping and unsuspecting Nox. He was forcefully jerked awake as his brown legs started to writhe under him, completely out of his control. He looked wildly around the compartment his green eyes wide. Though not intending for this to happen Ada giggled in spite of herself as she watched the effect of the charm wear off. Nox glared at her as he turned around, his cream colored flank towards Ada. He looked as though he were sleeping, but Ada knew better. It was some time before Ada herd any more noise in the cabin apart from the low rumble of the engine. It was the lunch trolley passing by Ada's compartment that roused her study of her charms book. She did buy some sweets, but not very many. Just some Berty Bots Every Flavor Beans and a couple chocolate frogs. She also asked the witch if she had any tuna (though she forgot to mention that it was for her cat) so the plump witch just muttered a confused "No..." and hurried away to the next compartment. Ada Sat back down in her seat and slid the compartment door closed with a metallic sounding "clunk." Then she opened a chocolate frog. "Alastor Moody" it read. The picture was of a heavily scarred man with a scruffy grey beard and mismatched eyes: one small and beetle like, the other large and electric blue. That one was spinning in all directions, completely oblivious to the other eye; once it even rolled into the back of his head as if to look behind him. The caption read: 1949-1997 The most famous auror of all time, hunter of Dark Wizards. A majority of the incarcerated prisoners in Azkaban could be credited to him. A bit dramatic Ada thought as she tossed the card aside and grabbed the frog who was making a desperate leap for freedom. She sat contentedly in her compartment (sucking absentmindedly on one of the arms of the chocolate frog) staring out the window. The sky was beginning to darken so she quickly changed into her Hogwarts robes. By now, night had fallen, and clouds partially obscured the starry sky. Ada looked out the window again and was surprised to see the Hogwarts Castle looming in the distance. The train slowed to a halt, but Ada's heart sped up. ... Boats? Ada thought with mild dislike. She had never really liked boats much, nor any type of water travel for that matter. Never the less, the got into one of the rickety old row boats with two other first years: one, a girl with bushy black hair and dark skin, the other, a pale faced boy with long arms and a brooding expression on his gaunt face. The trunks and other items owned by the students such as pets, had already been taken inside, so Ada's hands were free to clutch the sides of the boat as it sped forward at an alarming speed across the lake. Nerves were bubbling in her stomach like never before. "This is it..." she thought as the castle loomed ever nearer. "What If I'm sorted into the wrong house! She thought worriedly. However nervous Ada was on the inside, it did not show. Her face was calm as the lake before the boats had hit its waters. Her pale green eyes were practically glowing and she was looking forward. "This is it." She repeated to herself, more calm this time. More certainly. She was ready. She hoped. | xxx |
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Steam, Snacks, and The Unexpected "This is it." |
By the words of the wisest cat I ever knew: "Don't be mousebrained!" |
Stamina 6 • Evasion 7 • Strength 4 • Wisdom 6 • Arcane power 4• Accuracy 8 |