The boarding of the Hogwarts express was almost procedural, despite Kreszentia not having ever done this before.
She was woken up early, school supplies and the essentials already packed for her by her overenthusiastic parents, and hurried through her morning routine so they could get out the door faster. Krez was half awake for most of it, taking a small nap on the trip over until she had to be jostled back into consciousness and gleefully escorted to the platform..or, pardon, through it. Before she even realized it she was in front of the train, hugging her parents uncomfortably tight before the train's warning whistle signaled her to release them and board almost instinctively. Hasty farewells were exchanged between them and the next thing she knew she was standing inside the train.

That felt like an eternity ago.

She was awake now, tentatively roaming the walkway in search of a compartment. An empty one, at least. A few were already taken and even though there were seats available in some, she hurried by them anyway, not wanting to just barge in on strangers. Kreszentia fretted in her mind, wondering if maybe all compartments would have other students in them. Would she have to settle? Maybe she could sit in the walkway? Alas, she knew they probably wouldn't let her do that...
Thankfully, before her search was given up, she spotted one! An empty space! It was her lucky day after all! Krez vanished behind the compartment doors in an instant, shutting the door swiftly behind her before making her way to a corner by the window. She placed herself in the seat and drew up her legs, resting her arms on her knees so she had a cozy spot to put her head. Her attention was drawn to the window and she watched all the people go by, skipping over most of them in search of her parents. It took a moment, as the crowd was still thick with parents and guardians alike shooing their children aboard or saying goodbye, but she soon saw two familiar hands waving excitedly from the middle of the throng. She knew they couldn't see her but she waved anyway, chuckling quietly to herself as she watched them steadily move further from the train, the sea of families whisking them away. A dull, sore lump rose in her throat as their hands vanished and she lost track of them. Kreszentia's teeth clenched and she shuddered, swallowing hard to make the feeling go away to the best of her ability.
She was going to miss them.

Norah stood on the top step of the carriage well aware of the encouraging shouts from her parents and less than thrilled waving from her little sister. In here, the smoke wasn't stinging her eyes, but she could still taste the bitter vapor. London was a good distance away from Portsmouth--nearly two hours by car. This is really happening, Norah thought. The days leading up to today had been a wild blur and barely felt real. She took a deep breath and stepped into the carriage corridor with her trunk being dragged awkwardly behind.

The morning felt like a lifetime away with her alarm clock going off and her cat kneading against her chest. Breakfast was special. Blueberry pancakes and a fruit smoothie. In eleven years, Norah had only known her father to make breakfast a few times. Anniversaries and birthdays. Her little sister Chloe was already at the table and devouring pancakes as soon as they came off the skillet. "Surprise, dear! We're so excited for you. I'm sure you'll have so much fun at Hogwarts!" A firmly planted kiss on the girl's cheek announced her mum's presence. In a daze, Norah was ushered to a seat and presented with a plate loaded with pancakes and syrup.

The car ride reminded Norah of her first day at primary school. Don't forget to bring extra pencils, write often, smile, make friends, study hard and get good grades, we'll love you no matter what, we're so proud to have a witch in the family, review the lessons every evening, did you remember your toothpaste, tell us all about wizarding school, don't get in trouble, don't be afraid to try new things, remember what that professor told you about magic. The list droned on, and Norah glanced over at her sister who was sleeping soundly and envied her innocence. King's Cross Station couldn't come soon enough. Her ticket had a small barcode on it to get through the turnstyles and clearly a modern addition. And while the professor had been quite clear in how to get onto the platform, standing in front of the solid metal barrier between platforms nine and ten made Norah's knees weak. Surely she'd just crash into it?! To this, Chloe proved to be the braver of the two siblings. She sprinted headlong into the barrier and vanished. Norah took her example and jogged towards it closing her eyes in anticipation of the impact that would never come. Her parents were a few steps behind.

The train was something out of a storybook with white smoke billowing about the steam engine. It was a vibrant shade of red with HOGWARTS EXPRESS clearly marked across the front. Norah's jaw dropped. Surely the school would have used something like flying carpets and not an old fashioned train. Before she could even think about boarding the train, her father pressed a wrapped box into her hands. He kissed her on the forehead with promises that it would come in handy and that she should open it on the train. Bewildered, Norah merely nodded and slipped it into her jacket pocket.

Walking down the corridor felt like walking down a runway. No one was looking, but the isolation was suffocating. Most of the compartments were filled with the shadowy outlines of other students, and she passed them by. Finally, she came across a compartment that didn't look crowded and pushed the door open. One other person, and it wasn't like anyone could realistically expect a compartment to themselves. With great effort and much heaving, the girl managed to stow her trunk in the overhead rack and flopped down to catch her breath. Her family was standing on the platform waving at the train. Norah tried to ignore them as the reminder would only make separation worse. Instead, she sized up the other girl in the compartment.

"Er, are you ok? I hope you don't mind me sitting here, but most of the compartments are already full. I'm Norah. First year." She tried to look as unthreatening as possible with a soft smile and genuine curiosity. Her long hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail with a few wispy strands that had pulled free. Her attire was distinctly muggle with a knitted cardigan over a t-shirt and jeans. Her trainers were well worn with frayed laces. Despite the massive change in her life, Norah was the sort to take it all in stride and didn't look terribly bothered by the idea of going to a boarding school far from home.

"Alex Ann, you are going to be late!" The commanding voice of her mother echoed up to the young eleven-year-old as she grabbed her pale blue faux leather bag and ran down the stairs, the bag bouncing lightly against her back as she went. "I'm here! I'm here..." She said quickly, running towards her mother's voice. In reality, they were not going to be late, especially since they were going to use floo powder to get there anyway. She heard her mother's annoyance as she as she ushered her only daughter towards the fireplace. "Now, you know what to do, clear your mind and enunciate. I don't want you ending up in heaven knows where." Her mother was fussy but it was for a good reason. Alex was leaving and she wasn't going to be back until Christmas... The woman with dark brown hair rushed forward and gave her child one last hug. "See you in a snap, ok?" Her motger pulled back stiffly. 
"King's Cross Station!" The girl with eyes that matched the color of her bag barely waited long enough for her mother to let go of her and that was the last thing she saw as green flames enveloped her, her mother's green eyes staring at her with sadness as she was on her own. 
But only for a moment. "Alex. Alex over here!" A spritely man's voice called over to her, sounding about as excited as she was nervous. "Dad!" She managed a smile however as she dragged her trunk over to where her father was, his glasses fogged up from the humidity that had been building since early in the morning. "My little girl is growing up! My gosh... I remember when you were knee-high to a grasshopper and just as hyper as one." He laughed but it held a hint of sadness. "Dad..." "I know, I know. But, write often ok? Your mother and I will try to respond as much as we can. I want to know all about Hogwarts. We'll see who has the better school." He gave her a wink and the girl could only shake her head with a faint smile on her face. "Dad, I really have to go now." 
Tears seemed to be gathering in his eyes but he blinked them away as he wiped his glasses. "Make us proud, Alex. I know you will." That was the last thing she heard her father say as she ran towards the marked platform on her ticket, platform 9 3/4. No real goodbye, no hug. Just to make them proud. Well, she would have to try. 

The sound of steam engine greeted her ears and she realized that she really was late. Many thoughts crossed the young girl's mind as she ran for the entrance to a car in the train, adrenaline rushing through her. As if it wasn't bad enough that she was leaving home she nearly missed the train! She pulled her trunk onto the train and no sooner than she did the doors closed behind her, obviously automated. A man spoke up behind her, however, and startled her. "I'll take that from you." "What?" "...your trunk." "Oh, um. Thanks." Her face was beet red again and her freckles showed up like a sprinkle of stars. This was not going well. Well, time to try to find a quiet car.  She rushed passed the man and held onto the strap of her blue bag, finally slowing down once she spotted a compartment with only two people in it. Hesitantly, she opened the door. "Hello, do you mind if I join you?" Her voice didn't betray her, somehow. Maybe she would make a good first impression after all...

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is disguised to muggles with a powerful disillusionment charm; If a muggle were to approach the school all they would see is a ratty old sign with faint print that read: DANGER, DO NOT ENTER, UNSAFE. Alternatively....

"Adalacia!" The young witch barely flinched as her bedroom door flew open, her mother standing on the other side in all her unnecessary fury. She was like a statue, all rigid lines and hard creases; a hand on the hip, silvery hair flowing around her shoulders and tamed to perfection, pale and plump lips; everything Adalacia herself was not. Sometimes she pondered on the idea of being adopted, but then she remembered her father and the idea quickly expelled itself. "Your father is waiting, pack the book up and grab your stuff. No more stalling, it is time to go." It was only then that she cast a small glance upwards away from her Hogwarts, A History textbook, an annoyed grimace taking precedence over any other facial expression her mother would surely appreciate. She didn't care what her mother appreciated. "I'm coming." She spat, closing the book gently despite her evident vexation. With that confirmation her mother turned her nose upwards with a sniff, and left to do whatever annoying, belligerent, horrifyingly mean mother's did in their free time. 


She stood, placing her book in her open suitcase and grabbing her wand. It was a beautiful specimen, 28.3 cm, walnut wood and dragon heart string. With her first small smile of the day she tucked it in her back pocket, zipped up her suitcase and drug it off the bed. Today was the day, the one she'd been waiting for since she was old enough to understand who she was. Or rather, what she could do. Her whole life had been Magical Creatures, a little brother, and a secluded life on a little ranch with two highly trained magical parents. Now the next seven years of her life was going to be learning how to be just as highly trained of a witch as her mother, or so she hoped. "Ah, sweetie, great! Grab some floo powder, we need to be going now." Her father was a kind looking man, and unlike her mother had laugh lines and eye crinkles that showed when he smiled. His eyes were a beautiful and soft hazel, his hugs felt like home, and he had a soft spot for anything with four legs. She loved him, he was her best friend. 

"Are we late?" She asked tentatively, feeling a little bad that she'd waited so long just to spite her mother. He smiled warmly, shaking his head. "Not yet, but if you don't hurry we will be." So she took her suitcase in one hand, the floo powder in her other and ducked into the family fireplace. Her mother was nowhere to be seen, and little Judd was still fast asleep in his bed. This was the extent of her goodbye, a year at Hogwarts and not a single "good luck" from her mother, or "bye" from her brother to help her along for the next 180 days. Well, she couldn't say she wasn't used to it. Adalacia Valerie-Skye Podmore took one last glance at her home, a hard frown etched into her features.



She'd been here on numerous occasions, her father enjoyed going to Hogesmead on holidays, and so the beautiful cherry red and coal black train with gold detailing did not come to as much of a shock to her as it did for the other muggle born children around her. "You ready, kiddo?" Her dad asked, but his voice seemed distant, like she was under water and he was far above the surface. Kids milled around her of various ages, laughing and talking with family members and friends from years prior. Some were already loading on the train, other's hung around their families, making it totally obvious that they were nervous to be leaving. Adalacia found herself feeling apathetic, but crowded. There was a pressure on her chest, a pressure that she had never really felt before and couldn't discern as any specific type of emotion. She didn't like it. 

"Lacy, c'mon give me a hug I have to head out now." Her attention snapped back to her father, lips pursing to form a sentence but no words making their way out. Her father, an understanding man if there was any just smiled sadly, pulling his first and only born daughter into a tight hug. The house she'd just left behind was okay, but this? This was home to her. In her father's arms, and heart. "We will see you in the summer, okay? Have fun, and don't get into too much trouble." He laughed, pulling away. The train whistle was loud and alarming, but she didn't scare. She didn't have the energy to. "I love you little bird, okay?" 

"I love you too dad." When she found herself on the train, making her way down the aisle way and attempting to find a compartment she would find that she felt regret sitting in the pit of her stomach, regret that her last sentence came out barely above a whisper, that she had spaced out and hadn't listened or talked to her dad, that she had retreated from little Judd emotionally these last few weeks and left him all on his own to play and figure things out. She regretted a lot, and now she was all alone, with strange faces surrounding her at every corner. The pressure on her chest returned, and in an attempt to escape it she picked the nearest compartment and slipped in without a second thought, taking a seat. The three other's that occupied the compartment didn't seem to deter her; but then again, she really didn't even notice they were there to begin with. 

Just her luck. Of course she was only gifted a moment of solitude before her little sanctuary of relative silence was destroyed by the addition of other children. She blinked hard and hurried to straighten herself up, slipping her feet off the seat and scooting back until she could feel the cushion against her coat. Her body language obviously a little tense, fists clenched and short form somewhat stiff, making it understandable for this other girl to ask about Krez's well being. Probably more out of manners than actual concern, Kreszentia assumed.
She gave Norah a brief glance before quickly looking at her boots. Just as she was taking her first breath, ready to mutter out an answer that would probably be too quiet to hear anyway, the sound of the door opening for the second time cut her off and she looked back up. Another girl? Already? Krez was beginning to regret picking an empty compartment. Should have figured other first years would have the same ideas or would be looking for companionship on the ride to school. Her plans weren't meant to last.
Luckily, much like this Norah student, she seemed polite, asking for a spot before just sitting in it. Neither of them seemed initially unpleasant really, so she decided to ignore her nerves and gave the new kid an affirmative nod. Though even if she was going to give these two a chance before judging, her instinctive reaction was to continue being tense, maybe even a little more rigid with the increase of persons around her. She slid closer towards the window, pressing ever so steadily into the corner, hoping these girls wouldn't notice and be offended.
Again, she mustered up the courage to open her mouth to introduce herself, and in a similar pattern as previously she was rapidly startled her out of doing so. This time there was no greeting, no inquiry to if she was welcomed inside, not even so much as a grunt from this last student entering. She simply sat, looking rather distracted if not distressed. It was all a little sudden, enough for Kreszentia to retract her legs to her chest once more and express mild panic on her visible features. She was perfectly still for a good few seconds, but soon her head turned from staring at the last girl to giving the previous two a glance hinting at concern.
Since attempts to introduce herself were thwarted both times, it now appeared it wasn't quite on her mind anymore.

Norah watched the two new girls with curiosity. They looked to be about her age and clearly weren't trying to sit with established friends. She moved over to sit closer to the door and provide more space. The newest addition that looked rather sulky in Norah's opinion earned the fewest respect points. It also wasn't until she could properly see her three cabin mates that she realized just how tiny the blonde girl was. Was 'midget' even an ok term to describe another eleven-year-old who probably just hadn't hit a growth spurt? Norah was reminded of her cat folding itself to be small and hide from strangers. It occurred to her that some of the first years might never have been properly away from home before. Half a year was a long time, and Scotland was a far cry from Pompey. Yet, the prospect didn't terrify her as it would most other eleven year olds. It was like sailing in a way, striking out into the unknown with a vast endless blue ahead. Who knew what was out there just underneath the surface? And the Isle of Wight didn't count.

She opened her mouth the break the crushing silence and shut it again. If no one said anything, then this was going to be one really long train ride. Maybe picking the door seat was a bad choice. She didn't even have the window with which to distract herself. Her father was always so much better at these situations with ice breakers and a joke always at hand. Even her mother could usually ask engaging enough questions and extract an opinion from everyone, though she was a professor, and her audience had some inclination to be there. Norah pressed her lips together in thought. This was neither a classroom auditorium or a board room. But the silence was unbearable even for her. "So! What's everyone's names and where are you from? I'm Norah, and I'm from Portsmouth." She did her best to put on a brave face and be the leader. She honed in on the shy girl that came in after her. "You next. And we'll just go around from there." Her back straightened slightly shoulders squared.