16 Sep 2019, 22:08
Express To The Future
Adlai looked herself up and down in the reflection of the express windows wanting nothing but perfection for her first impressions. She wore a simple white hijab with a long sleeve chestnut colored dress and white vans. Her trunk was at her feet, her father still in awe as to how they had just walked straight through a brick wall.
With last goodbyes and well wishes Adlai finally made her way onto the express to Hogwarts. That’s when it hit her, she didn’t know anyone like she would have with her muggle schools. Thus she went out on a search to find somewhere to sit with possibly someone to meet.
Finding a surprisingly empty cart Adlai took a seat by the window and pulled a small coin pouch from the pocket of her dress. Inside were sixteen afghan afghani’s her grandfather had given to her as a gift for her tenth birthday although they had no financial worth where she was going they were pretty. Along with the foreign currency two photos laid folded up inside.
Taking one out Adlai peered down to see her mother, father, two little sister’s, and herself all standing together as Adlai held a trophy for her gymnastics team. Although it wasn’t first place Adlai’s family was still very proud of her. Putting the photo away she pulled the next one out which had Adlai getting frosting smudged all over her face by her sister, Dorothy. With her other sister, Johana, laughing in the background as her great aunt, Margret-Viktoria, held Johana in her arms.
A smile formed on Adlai’s face as she recalled those memories and hoped to make more at Hogwarts to share with her family.
With last goodbyes and well wishes Adlai finally made her way onto the express to Hogwarts. That’s when it hit her, she didn’t know anyone like she would have with her muggle schools. Thus she went out on a search to find somewhere to sit with possibly someone to meet.
Finding a surprisingly empty cart Adlai took a seat by the window and pulled a small coin pouch from the pocket of her dress. Inside were sixteen afghan afghani’s her grandfather had given to her as a gift for her tenth birthday although they had no financial worth where she was going they were pretty. Along with the foreign currency two photos laid folded up inside.
Taking one out Adlai peered down to see her mother, father, two little sister’s, and herself all standing together as Adlai held a trophy for her gymnastics team. Although it wasn’t first place Adlai’s family was still very proud of her. Putting the photo away she pulled the next one out which had Adlai getting frosting smudged all over her face by her sister, Dorothy. With her other sister, Johana, laughing in the background as her great aunt, Margret-Viktoria, held Johana in her arms.
A smile formed on Adlai’s face as she recalled those memories and hoped to make more at Hogwarts to share with her family.
Last edited by Adlai Rod on 27 Oct 2019, 15:06, edited 4 times in total.
Adlai Winifred Rod
19 Sep 2019, 13:23
Express To The Future
As the smoke cleared a little on Platform 9 and 3/4, Leah finally saw the Hogwarts Express. She'd been here before, when her older siblings had come here, but all of those visits had been tinted with longing. Now it was finally her turn - the train was here for her!
She picked up her luggage and wished her family a lengthy goodbye before jumping aboard the train with the excitement of a bee finding a garden full of blooming flowers.
There was a sharp whistle from outside - though she hardly acknowledged it - as she trekked up the corridor. The carriages were filling up slowly, and she was eager to make new friends. Just as she was about to enter a crowded carriage, she was knocked sideways by someone chasing after a cat and bumped into the door of a different compartment. Through the glass, she glimpsed a figure sitting alone.
The cat being chased suddenly shot by her, and she ducked into the compartment to avoid it's pursuer. As she turned around, she noticed that the figure was a girl who looked around her age.
"Oh, sorry," Leah said. "I didn't mean to disturb you. Although... do you mind if I sit in here too? I'm in first year, and I love to meet new people!"
She picked up her luggage and wished her family a lengthy goodbye before jumping aboard the train with the excitement of a bee finding a garden full of blooming flowers.
There was a sharp whistle from outside - though she hardly acknowledged it - as she trekked up the corridor. The carriages were filling up slowly, and she was eager to make new friends. Just as she was about to enter a crowded carriage, she was knocked sideways by someone chasing after a cat and bumped into the door of a different compartment. Through the glass, she glimpsed a figure sitting alone.
The cat being chased suddenly shot by her, and she ducked into the compartment to avoid it's pursuer. As she turned around, she noticed that the figure was a girl who looked around her age.
"Oh, sorry," Leah said. "I didn't mean to disturb you. Although... do you mind if I sit in here too? I'm in first year, and I love to meet new people!"
9 Oct 2019, 01:28
Express To The Future
Adlai was startled at the sound of the girls voice. “No! You didn’t disturb me.” She said as she shifted in her seat and gesture to the empty places around her. “Sit anywhere you like by all means.”
In the back of the mind echoed her mother’s words. “First impressions are everything.”
This lead to Adlai adjusting her hijab, smoothing out her dress, sitting more properly. She didn’t want to look a fool in front of a potential classmate.
“I’m a first year too.” She blurted her mixed accent of welsh and Icelandic causing some of her words to sound like gibberish. Something her parents always nagged her about.
“Are you familiar to magic?” Adlai asked then completely regretting it afterward. ‘Was it rude to ask that? Could I have offended her? Is everyone here a native in the wizarding world?’ She panicked.
She had thought this through days after she got her letter from Hogwarts. Her parents has reassured her that there was bound to be other muggle born children attending, ‘but what if they lied?’
Adlai leaned back in her seat like a turtle would retract its self into its shell. Oh how she wished to be a turtle in that very moment, to go back in time and change was she had said to the girl, to have better educated herself of the world of magic.
In the back of the mind echoed her mother’s words. “First impressions are everything.”
This lead to Adlai adjusting her hijab, smoothing out her dress, sitting more properly. She didn’t want to look a fool in front of a potential classmate.
“I’m a first year too.” She blurted her mixed accent of welsh and Icelandic causing some of her words to sound like gibberish. Something her parents always nagged her about.
“Are you familiar to magic?” Adlai asked then completely regretting it afterward. ‘Was it rude to ask that? Could I have offended her? Is everyone here a native in the wizarding world?’ She panicked.
She had thought this through days after she got her letter from Hogwarts. Her parents has reassured her that there was bound to be other muggle born children attending, ‘but what if they lied?’
Adlai leaned back in her seat like a turtle would retract its self into its shell. Oh how she wished to be a turtle in that very moment, to go back in time and change was she had said to the girl, to have better educated herself of the world of magic.
Last edited by Adlai Rod on 27 Oct 2019, 15:06, edited 1 time in total.
Adlai Winifred Rod
9 Oct 2019, 19:05
Express To The Future
"Thank you," Leah said, turning away for a moment to pick up her luggage and haul it up to a rack. "And yeah, I grew up knowing about magic. My older siblings came to Hogwarts."
She smiled as she thought back to how her family had been so worried about her leaving home for so long. Though it was a pain to be coddled so much, she was quietly glad to know they cared.
But as Leah slid into a seat opposite the other girl, she wondered briefly whether anything really would happen to her. She'd heard some rumours about what had happened at this school, but she had always been assured that it would be secure and safe.
The girl opposite her seemed far more presentable than Leah. Slightly more conscious, she checked that her collar was still in place.
" But what about you?" Leah asked, turning her attention back the girl's face. "Are you new to this crazy world?"
Because wouldn't that be terrifying? Leah couldn't imagine having no knowledge of Hogwarts. She probably would have stayed at home, she though. Not being aware of the secret world of magic, not having Wizarding friends - Leah shook herself from her thoughts and refocused on her companion.
She smiled as she thought back to how her family had been so worried about her leaving home for so long. Though it was a pain to be coddled so much, she was quietly glad to know they cared.
But as Leah slid into a seat opposite the other girl, she wondered briefly whether anything really would happen to her. She'd heard some rumours about what had happened at this school, but she had always been assured that it would be secure and safe.
The girl opposite her seemed far more presentable than Leah. Slightly more conscious, she checked that her collar was still in place.
" But what about you?" Leah asked, turning her attention back the girl's face. "Are you new to this crazy world?"
Because wouldn't that be terrifying? Leah couldn't imagine having no knowledge of Hogwarts. She probably would have stayed at home, she though. Not being aware of the secret world of magic, not having Wizarding friends - Leah shook herself from her thoughts and refocused on her companion.
9 Oct 2019, 20:17
Express To The Future
“I’m absolutely new. Is it obvious?”
Adlai asked. She’d been a mixture of emotions since she’d gotten into the car this morning with her father. Reaching as far as dumbfounded heights of excitement to horrific amounts of anxiety.
Adlai knew for sure that this year would be a rollercoaster of emotions, are there even rollercoasters in the wizarding world?
Surly they had gymnastics, tennis, Astronomy, Geography, Canoeing, soccer, or pickle ball...right?
If not Adlai wasn’t sure how she’d live. She’d have to find all new hobbies. New topics to indulge herself in to understand basic conversations between kids her age.
She began to pray to Allah to save her from this whole debacle.
What if she didn’t like the food? Or the music? Or the games? Or the classes? All the questions she had planned solutions for days ago flooded her mind. She felt like she was drowning.
‘Breathe,’ she thought ‘just breathe.’
Taking a deep breathe in she opened her mouth a simple request leaving it.
“Could you tell me about it? The world of magic that is. What it’s like? What you do for fun? If you don’t want to it’s ok. I’m just curious.”
Her palms began to sweat.
Adlai asked. She’d been a mixture of emotions since she’d gotten into the car this morning with her father. Reaching as far as dumbfounded heights of excitement to horrific amounts of anxiety.
Adlai knew for sure that this year would be a rollercoaster of emotions, are there even rollercoasters in the wizarding world?
Surly they had gymnastics, tennis, Astronomy, Geography, Canoeing, soccer, or pickle ball...right?
If not Adlai wasn’t sure how she’d live. She’d have to find all new hobbies. New topics to indulge herself in to understand basic conversations between kids her age.
She began to pray to Allah to save her from this whole debacle.
What if she didn’t like the food? Or the music? Or the games? Or the classes? All the questions she had planned solutions for days ago flooded her mind. She felt like she was drowning.
‘Breathe,’ she thought ‘just breathe.’
Taking a deep breathe in she opened her mouth a simple request leaving it.
“Could you tell me about it? The world of magic that is. What it’s like? What you do for fun? If you don’t want to it’s ok. I’m just curious.”
Her palms began to sweat.
Last edited by Adlai Rod on 27 Oct 2019, 15:06, edited 1 time in total.
Adlai Winifred Rod
10 Oct 2019, 15:00
Express To The Future
The girl seemed nervous, so Leah was quick to reply: "Of course! Right, what do we do...?"
She paused. What exactly was different?
Sports, for starters. There was no way that Muggles could do Quidditch without magic. From somewhere deep in her memory rose a snapshot of her trying to fly for the first time, her broom wobbling about, the ground seeming so far beneath her despite the fact she knew she couldn't be more than a few feet up. She felt the wind in her hair, the gentle purr of magic in the wooden handle, the cheers of her family as she managed to stay balanced.
"There's Quidditch," she grinned. "It's where we fly around on brooms and throw balls. There's some for points, and one for hitting people, and another which is for even more points! But that one kind of isn't there for most of the game, you know?"
And what else?
"We sometimes play Gobstones, which is where we have these stones that can squirt you - oh, and sometimes we play Wizard chess, which is the same but not really - and I love reading magical books because sometimes they sing songs to you - ooh, and I love painting, and drawing, and all sorts, and there's spells which make them move, and -" Leah stopped abruptly.
Not again. How long had she been waffling on this time?
"Sorry about that," she said, laughing a little. "I sometimes forget I'm in an actual conversation, not a speech."
She paused. What exactly was different?
Sports, for starters. There was no way that Muggles could do Quidditch without magic. From somewhere deep in her memory rose a snapshot of her trying to fly for the first time, her broom wobbling about, the ground seeming so far beneath her despite the fact she knew she couldn't be more than a few feet up. She felt the wind in her hair, the gentle purr of magic in the wooden handle, the cheers of her family as she managed to stay balanced.
"There's Quidditch," she grinned. "It's where we fly around on brooms and throw balls. There's some for points, and one for hitting people, and another which is for even more points! But that one kind of isn't there for most of the game, you know?"
And what else?
"We sometimes play Gobstones, which is where we have these stones that can squirt you - oh, and sometimes we play Wizard chess, which is the same but not really - and I love reading magical books because sometimes they sing songs to you - ooh, and I love painting, and drawing, and all sorts, and there's spells which make them move, and -" Leah stopped abruptly.
Not again. How long had she been waffling on this time?
"Sorry about that," she said, laughing a little. "I sometimes forget I'm in an actual conversation, not a speech."
11 Oct 2019, 01:38
Express To The Future
“Don’t apologize! You were really very informative. Even though I don’t quite know what half of those things are.” Adlai said a reassuring smile spreading across her face.
“I’m Adlai by the way. Adlai Rod.”
She proceeded to stick her hand out after she had wiped her sweaty palm on the side of her dress.
“You had mentioned having older siblings before? If you don’t mind, would you tell me about them? I only have younger siblings so it would be interesting to hear what it’s like to have older ones.” Adlai said, fond memories of her sisters flooding back to her. Calming her rattled nerves.
Adlai remembered her first day of fourth grade and having to share a school with her sister Dorothy.
It drove her mad the first few days having to show Dorothy over and over again where her class was.
But Dorothy always managed to put a smile on Adlai’s face, especially when she’d rush up to Adlai in the hallways when she’d spot her. Even if Dorothy did get scolded for running off.
Adlai also remembered her other sister, Johannas first birthday. Johanna of course was the center of attention. Adlai and Dorothy weren’t to fond of it but when Johanna had gotten cake all over herself they both couldn’t help but laugh until their sides hurt.
“I’m Adlai by the way. Adlai Rod.”
She proceeded to stick her hand out after she had wiped her sweaty palm on the side of her dress.
“You had mentioned having older siblings before? If you don’t mind, would you tell me about them? I only have younger siblings so it would be interesting to hear what it’s like to have older ones.” Adlai said, fond memories of her sisters flooding back to her. Calming her rattled nerves.
Adlai remembered her first day of fourth grade and having to share a school with her sister Dorothy.
It drove her mad the first few days having to show Dorothy over and over again where her class was.
But Dorothy always managed to put a smile on Adlai’s face, especially when she’d rush up to Adlai in the hallways when she’d spot her. Even if Dorothy did get scolded for running off.
Adlai also remembered her other sister, Johannas first birthday. Johanna of course was the center of attention. Adlai and Dorothy weren’t to fond of it but when Johanna had gotten cake all over herself they both couldn’t help but laugh until their sides hurt.
Last edited by Adlai Rod on 27 Oct 2019, 15:06, edited 1 time in total.
Adlai Winifred Rod
11 Oct 2019, 12:54
Express To The Future
Glad she hadn't scared her companion off, Leah shook Adlai's hand and grinned. "Leah."
Adlai seemed to be more tense than Leah, so she tried to send out her most positive vibes (which she totally believed in; she was magic, right?).
"Having older siblings?" she said. "It's alright, I guess. It's hard to keep up with them sometimes, as they both know about stuff that's way more advanced, but I get away with a little more, I guess. Being the youngest means they hide things from me, though. I'm sure they do."
Her siblings were twins, so they always had similar classes, and Leah often found herself drifting off in family conversations. It had resulted in her father, who was not magical, empathising with her lack of knowledge about whatever the topic was, which ultimately meant she had learnt many things about Muggles from her father.
"What about having younger siblings?" she finally asked, taking off her coat and laying it beside her. She couldn't wait to start wearing the school cloak. "How is that?"
Maybe Adlai's view would enlighten her as to what her own siblings felt. She knew they considered her relatively annoying, and magical families couldn't be that different to Muggle families, right?
Adlai seemed to be more tense than Leah, so she tried to send out her most positive vibes (which she totally believed in; she was magic, right?).
"Having older siblings?" she said. "It's alright, I guess. It's hard to keep up with them sometimes, as they both know about stuff that's way more advanced, but I get away with a little more, I guess. Being the youngest means they hide things from me, though. I'm sure they do."
Her siblings were twins, so they always had similar classes, and Leah often found herself drifting off in family conversations. It had resulted in her father, who was not magical, empathising with her lack of knowledge about whatever the topic was, which ultimately meant she had learnt many things about Muggles from her father.
"What about having younger siblings?" she finally asked, taking off her coat and laying it beside her. She couldn't wait to start wearing the school cloak. "How is that?"
Maybe Adlai's view would enlighten her as to what her own siblings felt. She knew they considered her relatively annoying, and magical families couldn't be that different to Muggle families, right?
11 Oct 2019, 14:41
Express To The Future
“My sisters are a hand full. Since their so much younger than me I’m constantly having to help my mom with them. I wonder what she’s going to do without me. But we have our laughs.
You should have seen my fathers face when my youngest sister, Johanna, put my mother’s makeup all over our brand new curtains. It was priceless! Although we were all punished for it.” Adlai said
“I wonder what they’ll think of all this when their old enough to understand. My parents have been telling them that I’m just attending a boarding school. If they knew the truth they’d blabber mouth it off to everyone.” She said resting her head on the side of the cart wall.
“I think Johanna will love it all, she’s always been a big believer in magic anyway. But Dorothy...I’m sure she’ll be mad at me. She hates it when anyone keeps secrets from her.”
Adlai let out a sigh. “It’s too bad that not everyone knows about the magic world. I’m sure they’d all jump for joy. But I understand, safety measures have to be taken or else horrible things will happen.” She said softly mumbling the very last part of the sentence.
You should have seen my fathers face when my youngest sister, Johanna, put my mother’s makeup all over our brand new curtains. It was priceless! Although we were all punished for it.” Adlai said
“I wonder what they’ll think of all this when their old enough to understand. My parents have been telling them that I’m just attending a boarding school. If they knew the truth they’d blabber mouth it off to everyone.” She said resting her head on the side of the cart wall.
“I think Johanna will love it all, she’s always been a big believer in magic anyway. But Dorothy...I’m sure she’ll be mad at me. She hates it when anyone keeps secrets from her.”
Adlai let out a sigh. “It’s too bad that not everyone knows about the magic world. I’m sure they’d all jump for joy. But I understand, safety measures have to be taken or else horrible things will happen.” She said softly mumbling the very last part of the sentence.
Last edited by Adlai Rod on 27 Oct 2019, 15:07, edited 1 time in total.
Adlai Winifred Rod
11 Oct 2019, 16:23
Express To The Future
Listening quietly, Leah nodded. Adlai was right - and it was really quite sad that she had to keep it a secret.
"My parents never said anything about magic explicitly when I was younger," she eventually said. "Nobody at school doubted it when I told them magic was real; I was only a child, I wouldn't know. You know how it is.
"After some time, I suppose I caught on to the fact that my family was different. Nobody believed me when I described how my mum cooked, or when I talked about how my siblings liked to fly around the garden. When I was old enough to realise that it had to stay a secret, I immediately told all my friends I 'knew' magic wasn't real." She chuckle at the memory. "They believed me, too! It's so easy to pretend you don't believe rather than saying you do."
Leah knew that some of her friends from school who were religious were told they were wrong to believe without proof. Leah's best friend had once replied that 'there's no proof that I'm wrong to believe without proof', which sent half of the class into despair as they were dragged into a paradox.
Leah loved her best friend. She was honestly so awesome. What would she say if she knew about Leah being a witch?
"I guess it's similar with my best friend. She'd be furious if she knew I had such a huge secret."
"My parents never said anything about magic explicitly when I was younger," she eventually said. "Nobody at school doubted it when I told them magic was real; I was only a child, I wouldn't know. You know how it is.
"After some time, I suppose I caught on to the fact that my family was different. Nobody believed me when I described how my mum cooked, or when I talked about how my siblings liked to fly around the garden. When I was old enough to realise that it had to stay a secret, I immediately told all my friends I 'knew' magic wasn't real." She chuckle at the memory. "They believed me, too! It's so easy to pretend you don't believe rather than saying you do."
Leah knew that some of her friends from school who were religious were told they were wrong to believe without proof. Leah's best friend had once replied that 'there's no proof that I'm wrong to believe without proof', which sent half of the class into despair as they were dragged into a paradox.
Leah loved her best friend. She was honestly so awesome. What would she say if she knew about Leah being a witch?
"I guess it's similar with my best friend. She'd be furious if she knew I had such a huge secret."