A Return Journey
Reducio
Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, 10:30 am
Platform 9 3/4, London
Platform 9 3/4, London
Stephen walks through the doors of King's Cross Station with his parents, excited and a bit nervous to be starting his second first year at Hogwarts. After falling seriously ill over the winter holiday last year, Stephen couldn't return to his studies, but he has fully recovered and is now excited to start a new year at Hogwarts.
Stephen keeps his eyes on his trunk as he and his parents navigate the platforms of King's Cross until they reach the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. His mother looks over at him, noticing the look of worry and apprehension on his face. "Dear, is everything alright?" Stephen starts at her words, looking over at her with a slightly lost look in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm quite alright, just..." He pauses, searching for the right words. "Nervous; it's going to be weird going back as a first year. All of the friends I made last year will be in different classes from me now, so it's almost like starting over." His mother looks down at him; a look of compassionate understanding graces her face. "It won't be that bad, dear; you will still see your friends from last year, and there will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with them. This is a perfect opportunity to make new friends. Based on your letters from last year, it might be nice for you to expand your circle of friends a bit." Stephen blushes a bit, remembering that he didn't really have a lot of time last year to make many friends, and most of the ones he did make he hasn't heard from in quite a while. "Yeah... maybe you're right." They approach the barrier, making sure to look around for nearby muggles before stepping through onto Platform 9 3/4.
Stephen turns to his parents, smiling sheepishly. "I should probably go and find a compartment; maybe this year someone will join me." Stephen gives his mum and dad a hug before he sets off for the train, looking back only once before he embarks. He navigates the close corridors of the train, passing some familiar faces and many unfamiliar ones before he finds a free compartment. Sliding in, he finds himself a seat by the window, his backpack beside him, and his cat Lobelia curled up on his lap.
Reducio
WC 389
A Return Journey
Millicent Barnes walked up to Platform 9 and 3/4, her hands shaking and her nerves feeling like they were set on fire.
Finally. I'm at Hogwarts. And I can't even tell if I'm dreading it or looking forward to it.
Millicent then looked back and the vice around her heart only served to tighten.
Her parents looked at her with teary eyes. Agnes looked about two seconds away from throwing a toddler-like fit, even though she was eight.
I have to be brave. For them.
Her parents hugged her immediately after and it felt suddenly heavy, like she was feeling the weight of them leaving. Her leaving.
"Please be safe, Millie," her dad said.
Her mom nodded against her and the young girl could feel tears staining her new robes. "Please. Owl us as often as possible."
Millicent smiled weakly. "You hate owls."
"Not if they're from you."
She could barely hold her tears back now, especially when Agnes came for an embrace, her small hands clasping Millicent's robes.
"Send us letters and magical things," Agnes pleaded and their parents' eyes went wide. "I want to go to Hogwarts, too."
Millicent gave her a smile. "Maybe one day, lil sis," she said and hugged her back tightly.
Their parents gave her the bags she needed and she felt herself almost topple with the weight of them; so many books! But she gave them one last grin and went off.
She set her bags down almost immediately and then, out of the corner of her eye, saw a boy with a cat in his lap. She grinned and immediately called out,
"Hi! What's your name? I'm Millicent. I love your cat!"
She stopped and then began to ramble, as she usually did when she was nervous.
"Well, I love all cats, but yours is very pretty! Are you a first year like me? What do you think of Hogwarts if you've been here before?
Finally. I'm at Hogwarts. And I can't even tell if I'm dreading it or looking forward to it.
Millicent then looked back and the vice around her heart only served to tighten.
Her parents looked at her with teary eyes. Agnes looked about two seconds away from throwing a toddler-like fit, even though she was eight.
I have to be brave. For them.
Her parents hugged her immediately after and it felt suddenly heavy, like she was feeling the weight of them leaving. Her leaving.
"Please be safe, Millie," her dad said.
Her mom nodded against her and the young girl could feel tears staining her new robes. "Please. Owl us as often as possible."
Millicent smiled weakly. "You hate owls."
"Not if they're from you."
She could barely hold her tears back now, especially when Agnes came for an embrace, her small hands clasping Millicent's robes.
"Send us letters and magical things," Agnes pleaded and their parents' eyes went wide. "I want to go to Hogwarts, too."
Millicent gave her a smile. "Maybe one day, lil sis," she said and hugged her back tightly.
Their parents gave her the bags she needed and she felt herself almost topple with the weight of them; so many books! But she gave them one last grin and went off.
She set her bags down almost immediately and then, out of the corner of her eye, saw a boy with a cat in his lap. She grinned and immediately called out,
"Hi! What's your name? I'm Millicent. I love your cat!"
She stopped and then began to ramble, as she usually did when she was nervous.
"Well, I love all cats, but yours is very pretty! Are you a first year like me? What do you think of Hogwarts if you've been here before?
A Return Journey
Reducio
@Millicent Barnes
I start at the sudden sound of another person in the compartment, a first-year girl, who introduced herself as Millicent; she introduced herself, quickly rambling a bit in her excitement. "Oh, hello there. Nice to meet you, Millicent; my name is Stephen." he pauses for a second, contemplating his words. "This is Lobelia, my cat; she's quite friendly. As far as being a first year, it is kind of a yes and no on that front." Stephen blushes slightly before continuing. "I am a first year, but this isn't exactly my first time going to Hogwarts. I was a first year last year, but I fell pretty seriously ill over the winter holiday and couldn't return to school. I've made a full recovery, so I am back now. I'm a Ravenclaw, by the way. What house are you hoping to be sorted into?" His words peter off as he realizes he's been talking a bit too much; he is just excited to have someone to share this journey to Hogwarts with. Stephen absentmindedly strokes Lobelia, his hairless Silver Mackerel Tabby cat. Unable to help himself, he asks. "Are there any subjects you're keen to explore this year? My favorite subjects are by far Astronomy, Transfiguration, and Charms."
Reducio
WC 207