"-And be sure you study ahead at least a chapter in each subject; I want letters on your progress weekly. If you start falling behind, I don't care how improbable it is for me to see your school, I will find you young man." Riku listened as his mother went on a tangent, fussing over him while slightly teary eyed.

" I will mother." he answered her easily, before turning towards his father.

The man towered over them both. His normally relaxed and calm expression was marred with a nostalgic look as he took in the sights of new and returning students saying their goodbyes to their varying families. Upon realizing that he was staring at him, his father rested a hand on his shoulder and spoke soothingly, "I know that it isn't necessary, but take care son. Being at Hogwarts will be some of the best years of your life. While your studies are important, be sure to take her in, and enjoy her."

"No hints on some of her hidden bounty?" Riku asked hopefully. Despite the many years of hearing and experiencing magic; Hogwarts was one of the few things that his father was careful to not mention when he was around.

Chuckling, his father turned him around bodily, and started pushing him gently into the train.

Taking the hint, Riku grabbed a hold of his luggage and began working his way inside, never once looking back; he was raised better than to do so.

It took some time, but he had finally found an empty compartment to take a seat in. Resting down on one, he sighed; he was so close to everything that he was hoping for. For the chance learn the 'forbidden' knowledge that was the mind arts, to gain the skills necessary to make his dream come true, to able to take control of what he desire... He'd be lying if he wasn't excited by the thought.

Opening up his trunk, Riku sat back down with his transfiguration text book in hand. Besides the mind arts, this was another subject that had truly captured his interest; so much potential, and only limited to intent, skill, mental fortitude and a bit of magical talent.

He would thrive.

Kristen stepped into the Hogwarts Express. He looked back to his parents, who were looking slightly pale. Neither of them had wanted Kristen to go to Hogwarts at first; they didn't like the idea of a boarding school. However, they had decided it would be better for him to go and learn how to control his magic. Just last week, he had set his hand on fire by magic.
He waved to his parents one last time, and set off down the train, looking for a compartment.

Right... Where do I want to sit? he thought to himself. I want to make friends, but at the same time I don't want to sit in a compartment with lots of people.
After a brief moment of consideration, he realised he didn't really have a choice where he sat, because most of the compartments were full.

He walked down the train, eventually finding a compartment that only had one person in it. They were reading a book about something called Transfiguration. Being muggle-born, he didn't know what that was, but he assumed it was one of the subjects taught at Hogwarts.
He knocked on the glass window of the compartment and opened the door.
"Um.. Hi. he said nervously. Goddammit, Chris, he thought to himself. Make a good impression.
He cleared his throat and spoke again. "Can I sit in here please? "

Dawn stood looking around uncertaintly between Platforms 9 and 10. She was confused; was she really supposed to run through a wall or was it just a big joke? At first it sounded silly but she remembered that she was living a magic world, something she had only dreamed of before, so she had begun to rethink everything she had ever been taught. That was a little difficult, considering that this world was more complex than just faerie godmothers and princess eating dragons; it was something serious and more profound than how the faerie tales and movies depicted which was both daunting and exciting.

She considered going back, perhaps to ask a station master or just send a letter to the school, but then she saw a peculiar yet reassuring sight: a couple of people her age were running towards the Platform 9, straight for the column. They were dressed in regular garb but they pushed carts full of things she knew only to be from the wizarding world; one had a cage partially covered housing a great barn owl and the other had books spilling out. Dawn managed to catch a glimpse of one of the covers: Book of Spells. 

Dawn quickly raced towards them, a lopsided grin on her face. The fear of running into a brick wall and the excitement from actually going to magic school fueled her, and soon she was disappearing into the wall like the boys, leaving behind her muggle life for who knows how long.

She emerged into bright sunlight on a crowded platform. All around her stood wizards and witches of different sizes, classes, and backgrounds. Dawn felt her body shake; she was  excijust soted! But she remembered her family, who she had to leave because they could never know about this school. Well, her parents knew what kind of school she was going to, a wizard had came to her house to explain as much as she was allowed to before going in depth with Dawn by herself. It made Dawn feel said that she was now ever more distant from her family but she felt a sense of relief as well; while her family were very popular and charismatic people, Dawn had never been like them. She had always felt like an outsider, usually forgotten or given strange looks because of her uncanny interests. But now she felt like she could bloom, surrounded by people just like her.

Soon she was on the train, having had no one in particular to speak to on the platform. She was just excited to be on this great red express. Dawn made her way down the little corridor, wondering who she should sit with. Soon she felt the train begin to move and hurried, wanting to get seated before it really started going, since she got motion sick. She spotted a boy tentatively open up a compartment and she went over to him.

“Uh, hello, can I just get passed you...” Not waiting for him to answer, Dawn ducked under his arm and plopped onto a seat across from the other boy, sliding as far away from the window as possible. She blushed, realizing that had been rather rude. “Pardon, I just get a bit sick on trains.” She smiled. “I'm Dawn. You?”

Riku was fully immersed once more within his transfiguration textbook, mind racing as he thought on the concept of the branch and thinking of the applications he may or may not be able to perform with it.

"Um... Hi. " A voice spoke, Riku took a second to up himself out of his book, and focus on the person. By then they were already speaking, "Can I sit in here please?" the person finished.

Riku opened his mouth to answer, when another piped up. "Uh, hello, can I just get passed you..." she spoke, then the next instant, Riku had a girl occupying the sit beside him without any particular fanfare. He observed her blushing face as she continued, "Pardon I just get a bit sick on trains. I'm Dawn, You?"

Riku chuckled aloud as he first took in the girl. Given her actions, she seemed to be the abrasive type. Impulsive maybe? At the very least she was self aware enough.

Riku closed his book as he focused on the boy still waiting at the door despite the girl's... Dawn's? action. Polite, shy maybe? Though that could simply be to new situation and interacting with a stranger.

Riku had thought he'd have some time to himself before Hogwarts, but he suppose he'd have to put his mother's teaches to practice sooner than he had thought.

Adjusting him to be more open, shoulders relaxed and a small smile on his face, Riku first turned to the girl.

"My name is Riku Aburame, and that's quite alright Ms. Dawn, though maybe you'd prefer the window instead? Just in case of any... Emergencies?" Riku finished delicately, attempting to save Dawn some unnecessary embarrassment that she may feel.

Focusing back on the waiting boy, he continued," You're welcome to have a seat, Mister...."Riku paused, but then continued,"I can imagine it was difficult finding any that wasn't already too occupied.

@Dawn Blanchomery @Kristen Coulter

Kristen was slightly taken aback at how the girl had just pushed past him to get into the compartment. However, the girl did look slightly sick, so he decided to just excuse it. He considered saying something to them, but the boy and girl had already started talking. He just stood at the compartment door, listening to the conversation. So the boy is called Riku, and the girl was called Dawn. he thought to himself. Remember that. After a moment, he considered moving on and going to another compartment. But then, the Riku addressed him

" You're welcome to have a seat, Mister...."Riku paused,

"Oh, my name's Chr-" he began to reply, but Riku continued talking.

"I can imagine it was difficult finding any that wasn't already too occupied.

"oh, well... yeah most of the compartments had too many people in them." He said.
He stood there for a moment, feeling slightly awkward. Then, realising that Riku had invited him to sit down, he sat down at one of the window seats. His eyes darted around the compartment as he tried to think of something to say. His eyes fell on Riku's book. He cleared his throat.
"that's uh... That's a really interesting book you've got there." He said. "Isn't it one of our textbooks?" He continued, tilting his head slightly so he could read the title.

@Riku Aburame @Dawn Blanchomery
edits: spelling, because im stupid

Buffy had learned about Hogwarts from an owl, so she guessed that kids with owls on the platform must be going there too. Who else would keep an owl in a cage? Not a normal pet. Using that connection, she found some other likely candidates, those with assorted animals about her age. Lining up to run into platform 3/4 helped confirm they were students.

Thinking about owls and the platform a devil on Buffy's shoulder whispered into her ear. Since this is a magical setting it's worth noting this was not a little red man with pitchfork, horns, and a tail literally on Buffy's shoulder. It was a metaphorical devil. The origin of the idea wasn't even outside her. This was all Buffy. I suppose that makes her the little devil in all this? Metaphorically, of course.

She only had a few chances to do the devil's bidding correctly. Nonchalantly eating from a bag of crisps, she squatted close to the magical platform. She waited for a victim. It wasn't long before her prey approached. A lone, stuck up looking girl about her age set up to run in. Perfect. As she was about to pass in, Buffy's eyes grew wide, she jumped up, and she shouted that it was the wrong platform.

Of course Buffy had warned the other girl when it was too late to stop. But the split second as she turned to look at Buffy, eye's wide, right before she disappeared into the right platform, made the little devil happy. That little devil was satisfied, for now. Buffy went through next and put on a show apologizing to the girl, simple mistake, she was very sorry. Lying too now? Buffy, how terrible.




On the train, Buffy stalked the corridor, working on the second half of her bag of crisps. As she passed cabins she glanced in ones that looked promising. Interesting. There had to be something or someone on the train to amuse her. Many cabins seemed full of either students that knew each other and were busy chatting away, or strangers taking a final moment to use their phones before they were disabled in Hogwarts. So a group of three that were exchanging awkward greetings caught her eye. As she crossed the threshold into the cabin she caught them discussing the book and announced,

"Hey nerds." A rather different tack, perhaps, to previous entrances. And this one was more observation then greeting, she didn't really wait for a response. A British ear might also pick out the drawn out 'nerds' in it with a slight roll of the 'r' as coming from a Welsh working class background. Sshe walked across the cabin and leaned her back against the window, causing a few chains she was wearing to jangle and clink against each other. She remained standing against it. There was no point in sitting down yet. Cool people like her don't commit like that, and besides, there was still lots of train to explore. She guided a fistful of crisps to her mouth.

"Learning to pull rabbits out of hats?" Buffy asked, still chewing the crisps. The question was actually about 50% serious. She was genuinely interested in magic but knew absolutely nothing about it. But Buffy had an aversion to appearing to be interested in schooling of any sort, hence the flippant question. She of course had some magic books with her too, but she didn't understand them. If she was to keep her promise to her brother and make something of herself in Hogwarts, she could use some nerdy friends.

@Riku Aburame @Dawn Blanchomery @Kristen Coulter

As Riku made to reply to the boy... Kristen wasn't it? His thoughts were on the reasons why he asked. Was it just a genuine means to continue conversation or was he fishing for information.

He was stopped from further introspection however, by a voice speaking, "Hey nerds." it stated, proceeded by a girl strutting into the compartment. she walked across the cabin and leaned her back against the window, She remained standing against it as she looked down at them all. "Learning to pull rabbits out of hats?" she finished with a question, while still chewing bits and pieces of food.

Riku sighed openly. This... This was his life now wasn't it. Living in interesting times indeed. With an internal shake of his head, Riku focused on the new girl.

This new girl had made Dawn's entrance look like a tutorial in proper etiquette. Her muggle clothes was littered with chains and other curious items. Her posture was inviting, yet brash in nature. She was gearing up for a confrontation.

... Riku was curious.

Roll d20 for observation on Buffy's motive: (13+7)

Then it clicked for him. This was just a mask? A show of force and aggression to see how they would act? A test, but... For what?

Riku decided to entertain his theory, stared into the Leaning girl's eyes, and spoke, "Not at the moment I'm afraid; fresh out of rabbits." giving a small smile, Riku continued, "I'm aware that human transformations were possible. If you'd like to volunteer, I suppose we could have one in a try or three."

Riku then stood and then gestured to the others occupying the compartment to fulfill his defunct duty as host "These are Miss Dawn, and Mister Kristen." Nodding his head slightly to the girl, he continued, "I'm Riku Aburame, Miss...?"

@Buffy Pfalzgraf @Dawn Blanchomery @Kristen Coulter

Dawn meant to sit across from Riku but in her hurry she hadn't paid attention and instead found herself seated next to him. It wouldn't have been to bad if it weren't for the fact her stomach still felt uneasy. She didn't want to vomit on the first person she'd exchanged names with. But it was too late now; the other boy, Kristen, was seated across, and she was already settled in her seat.

She listened curiously as she caressed her abdomen, watching the boys exchange the typical awkward greeting. Well, Riku wasn't exactly awkward. He actually sounded very well-spoken, like many of her sister's friends and her parent's colleagues. No one had ever called her Miss anything, not until she visited Diagon Alley, at least. A lot of the wizards and witches there were rather polite and it made her feel even more ease.

She was visibly startled by the entrance of a girl, carrying a bag of crisps and a bit of arrogance. Dawn shied away, not in fear but because she didn't want to attract too much attention. It was good thing she was dressed in her black cloak already; dark colors were for blending in with.

Dawn eyed the girl wearily, offering a smile if the girl looked her way. She didn't think she was a nerd by any means, if the girl was talking about her, but she didn't say as much. She merely glanced at the book the boys were looking at. But what made her actually speak up was when the girl mentioned pulling rabbits out hats. Dawn had heard somewhere that wizards hated being compared to magicians, it was considered an insult, actually. It made so much sense to her that she was surprised that this girl had actually said it.

She opened her mouth to say something she probably would've regretted but Ruki beat her to it. He went along with her game, saying that they could possibly transfigure her into a rabbit if she wanted. Even though it was hard for her to read his tone, whether he was serious or kidding, she barely managed to stifle her laugh, faking a cough into her cloak.

Suddenly her stomach rumbled. She glanced at the food the girl was holding and hesitated before asking, “Hey, are you sharing?” She nodded at the crisps. She hoped the girl hadn't licked her fingers or anything.

Kristen shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the new girl leaned against the window. Her dress sense and her manners (or lack thereof) reminded him of some of the bullies at his old school. He had shied well away from them, not wanting to associate with them at all.
For not the first time, he considered getting up and looking for a different compartment. He would have, if Riku hadn't started speaking.

"Not at the moment I'm afraid; fresh out of rabbits." giving a small smile, Riku continued, "I'm aware that human transformations were possible. If you'd like to volunteer, I suppose we could have one in a try or three."

Kristen looked down at the ground, avoiding eye contact with anyone. To his inept ear, Riku's answer sounded slightly passive-aggressive, however he kept his head down, not daring to say anything.

"These are Miss Dawn, and Mister Kristen.

Kristen winced when Riku said his actual name. "Call me Chris.." he muttered. He had always hated his name
After Riku had finished speaking, Kristen stole a glance at the girl, trying to judge her reaction. However, just her presence put him at such unease that he immediately looked away.
Then, he heard Dawn's stomach growl.

“Hey, are you sharing?”

Kristen actually laughed aloud at that sentence. He quickly stopped, once again feeling quite uncomfortable. Kristen couldn't even make eye contact with the girl if he tried, but to ask her for some of her food? Kristen thought that Dawn was either slightly stupid or just not thinking.

@Riku Aburame @Dawn Blanchomery @Buffy Pfalzgraf

"Not at the moment I'm afraid; fresh out of rabbits."

Buffy feigned sadness with an 'ohhh' as Riku spoke.

"I'm aware that human transformations were possible. If you'd like to volunteer, I suppose we could have one in a try or three."

Buffy couldn't help letting out a slight smirk at what sounded like a riposte. Quick one too.

"Maybe later." Buffy said, her smirk widened ever so slightly. At being prompted for her name, her head for some reason went to a memory where her friends warned her of people who ask your name and personal questions out of the blue, at shows and the like. They were probably undercover officers or security. She wasn't supposed to tell them the truth. Of course Riku wasn't either.

"I'll tell you my name, but you can't laugh, okay?" She said, as if deadly serious.

“Hey, are you sharing?”

The bag of crisps only had some potato dust in the corner that had managed to escape Buffy's fingers. Not much. This was breakfast for her, even though it was closer to lunch now. She wouldn't mind getting more to eat.

"No." Buffy said before tilting the bag back and finishing it. She got up off the window and made it to the cabin entrance again. "Where's the food at?" She mused softly, almost to herself. Surely there was food on trains. She poked her head out of the cabin. "Where's the food at?" This time she hollered as loud as her body would let her down the hall, again at no one in particular. A student looked at her for a moment, dumbstruck, before slowly pointing down the hall.

Assuming she had their attention after shouting, Buffy gestured with her forehead down the hall to rest of the group, a raised eyebrow meant she was also asking a question. Through gestures, it appeared she was asking if anyone wanted to get food with her down the corridor.

@Riku Aburame @Dawn Blanchomery @Kristen Coulter