Somehow Thea had lasted through most of the ride without having anyone come sit in her compartment. She was still alone but now outfits the candy cart was waiting she went and just looked but could not buy. She sat back looking at the expertly crafted wolf howling at nothing in particular. She grinned and let her mind wander to what classes she would like to be in. She definitely was going to be in the Care for Magical Creature class, and the flying class. Her thoughts then wandered away again to Gabe and his muscular arms and thick pitch black hair that he would comb through with his hand straight back. Then she thought of his long slender bow made of pine wood and sap. She smiled and then began to shake with the amount of restraint she was going through to not completely break down.
She instead just let silent tears roll down her cheeks. But no one noticed it because she was alone. “Yes” she thought “I am alone in the world.” She then pulled out yet another piece of wood and slowly and carefully carved a broken heart with a Wolf on one side and a Hawk on the other she then put a string around it and put it around her neck. She calmed herself and then stood up closed the curtains of the compartment and got changed into her robes.

The people in my compartment are not really my type of friends, Leanne had concluded shortly after joining the carriage. Being one of the last ones to board the Express, she had entered the first compartment she saw, which was unfortunately full of people who already had started bonding and getting to know one other before she came. She felt extremely awkward sitting there, only partially following the conversation, somewhat feeling like a burden.

Taking an opportunity to free herself from her uncomfortable situation, she made a break for the door, choosing to wander the hallways of the various carriages. (Leanne had pretended that she was in need of the toilet, and the other gullible girls and boy had let her go.) Passing by one random carriage, she couldn't help but notice a poor depressed girl sitting alone inside by herself, and resolved to go join her. No one should be alone in this world, Leanne had thought, especially on their first ride to Hogwarts. 

And besides, my compartment is way too noisy to go back. Turning her head towards the direction she had walked away from, she was genuinely surprised that she could still hear one of the girl's high-pitched and hysterical laughter. I bet, they wouldn't notice even if I'm gone. Sparing one disgusted look at her former compartment, she quietly knocked on the door before carefully sticking her head in, once the curtains were open.

"Hi, I'm Leanne! Could I sit here?" Closing the door silently behind her, she noticed the intricate carvings that the short brown-haired girl was holding. Sitting down on the plush velvet chair opposite the girl, she offered a kind smile. "Are those made by you? That's so cool and beautiful! I've never seen such good craftsmanship from someone so young!" Realising that she was partially rambling, Leanne paused, embarrassed that she was caught doing one of her nasty habits again. 

"So, what's your name? And are you excited to attend Hogwarts?"

@Thea Everdeen

Thea tensed as she saw a young girl enter her compartment but she soon relaxed as she saw the girl’s friendly attitude. She silently nodded to the seat across from her and she was relieved to see the girl sit down. She did not want to make herself look shy or ignorant on the first day. She then thought quickly “What are you doing Thea speak! Speak!” The girl “no Leanne asked about the carved wolves and heart. She smiled and quickly said yes I made those out of pine tree wood. Leanne also wanted to know her name she smiled and said “I am Thea, Thea B. Everdeen” Leanne asked if she was excited to be going to Hogwarts. Thea stopped short and sat there for a while staring at nothing. She was thinking " The one question I won't, no can't answer" Thea then put her carving knife and carvings in to a bag on the top rack. She then turned around and sat next to Leanne. She huddled close and started to cry, sharp pains burst into her stomach and she then calmed herself by running her hands into her hair and let on final tear escape. "No" Thea said “I am not excited.” She then stood and sat down at the window across from Leanne and silently stared out at the country side.

Leanne looked over awkwardly, not knowing what to say to comfort Thea. She was never good at conversations, and glancing at the bawling girl sitting opposite her, she felt a tinge of pity. The comforting words were at the tip of the tongue, but yet, she hesitated to say. Just say something!, she chided herself. Instead of saying something, she stood up after Thea had calmed down, and walked over, doing something she wouldn't have expected to do.

Leanne gave a hug. Yes, a hug. It was strange at first, hugging a random stranger she met only a few moments ago, but at that moment, she could sympathize with Thea's fear of being in the unknown, far away from the people she loved. It must be worse for her, suddenly being pushed into a new world and a new culture, without the guidance of her parents. At least I knew about this trip and Hogwarts before-hand. 

Stepping back to her seat, she soothingly asked: "You feeling better?" It was the best thing she could think of saying at that moment, and Leanne took out a few sweets from the trolley cart that she had bought earlier. Eating chocolate would always make her feel better; so she wondered if it worked for Thea too.

She wondered if the girl had tried wizarding sweets before, being a muggle-born and all, and she patiently introduced the names of every one of the snacks she held in her open palm. "...and these are Pumpkin Pastries. Hey Thea, do you want to try one?" 

Thea had never seen the kindness that Leanne had shown her. She was used to a order from Roy to do something to get her mind focused. And then Leanne hugged her. Ohh how it felt to be held again. Leanne had wrapped Thea in her beautiful (and strong) arms.

Thea had melted into that embrace and was thinking “nothing else in the world matters except the love that others and yourself show to each other.”

When the hug was over Leanne went back to her seat. She asked a question but Thea was to out of it to answer. “But Leanne’s voice was so soothing and utterly beautiful.”Thea thought.

Leanne tried something else unexpected she leaned over to Thea and pulled out a few boxes and wrappers, “No these were the candies from the magical refilling candy cart.”

Leanne started talking again about the candies in her hand and a few she had already eaten. Thea listened intrigued and mesmerized. She had to stop for a second to shake herself, thinking “Okay you have to talk she already thinks you are a insecure scared person. Okay Thea talk.”

Leanne asked if she wanted to try a pumpkin pastry. Thea started nodding but them stopped and said “Sure why not, they look delicious. Thanks”

Thea ate her pastry and an assortment of other candies before she asked “You know I am not scared about magic, or the school, or any of that. I am just scared of coming here without my best friend, Gabe.”

Thea took a breath and huddled into a ball. “He died two years ago two days before my birthday, a.k.a Christmas. That is why I am scared, sad, and most of all angry that he died because he was trying to find something for me, for my birthday and that I couldn’t save the one person I really loved.

He... he, he would’ve been my tour guide basically. He was a two years older than me. He was in Ravenclaw. Boy was he smart.” Thea slowly started shuddering rapidly and this time only let one tear shred down her cheek. “That is why I am not excited to go to Hogwarts. The memory is to painful.”

She then straightened and said “You should get your robes on we’re almost to the school.” She then walked out of the compartment to let Leanne change into her robes.”

Leanne didn't really feel much after hearing about Gabe, other than a tinge of pity. Her birthday was actually on a day her new friend dreaded. She shivered, mentally making a note not to tell Thea about it.

It wasn't that she was cold and could care less if someone close to Thea had died, but she just couldn't relate. Being born in a rather small wizarding community, she had no close relatives that were nearing their death dates, nor had any weird accident befalling anyone she knew. The people she interacted daily were little, with her best friends away in Ilvermorny, currently.

She offered a small apologetic smile to Thea, who was describing her dearest friend, and about all the memories that they had shared. At that moment, a fantastic idea popped into her head at that instance. Since I'm most likely going to Ravenclaw, and Gabe's only two years older... I wonder if I could ask the older students, if they have any memories, stories and mementos about him, and I could compile them and give them to Thea on her birthday...  The though of it lit up her face, but Leanne quickly suppressed her happiness, knowing that Thea would likely suspect something suspicious if she smiled at this moment.

"Even if he's not around anymore, he's still with you, in your heart." Leanne pointed to her chest and unknowingly did the wand movements of Alohomora. This is getting weirdly cheesy, she thought. "Anyway, you shouldn't blame yourself for not being able to save him, since you might have been too young to do anything much." 

"I think that you should look towards the future, and work hard and make him proud with your schoolwork and achievements in Hogwarts. After all, you're going to be in this school for the next seven years!" She replied joyfully, nearly bouncing off her seat. Talking about morbid things always made her feel awkward. 

After Thea had exited the compartment and closed the curtains, it wasn't long before Leanne was done changing. Her Hogwarts robes were rather easy to fit in. Seeing the tall towers of Hogwarts looming into view, she hurriedly pulled open the curtains, taking a hold of the girl's hand, she pulled her in forcefully, excitedly pointing to the windows. 

"Look Thea, we're almost here!"

Thea had stood in the corridor of the train for some time while Leanne changed. She was actually very grateful that it took her so long, because she wanted to have a moment to herself to think and compose her self. She thought about all the calming words Leanne said and all the moments where the other girl just nodded. Thea new what this meant, it meant that she couldn’t connect to her feelings because she had never felt them.

Thea was then interrupted by Leanne. Thea was fine with being interrupted but there were butterflies in her stomach as she saw how nice Leanne looked. Thea actually had to stifle a whistle so that Leanne wouldn’t be embarrassed.

She had just stood there in the doorway not looking at anything in particular, but trying to avoid Leanne’s eyes. They were just so pretty, like diamonds in an empty black sky.

Leanne then grabbed Thea’s hand and had pulled them closer. Well that was how Thea had seen it in her mind. But then she finally came back to the real world and saw Leanne was just showing that they were almost to Hogwarts.

Thea then calmed herself so that she wouldn’t be all dependent on Leanne and sat down. She took out yet another piece of wood and started to carve a picture into the softly sanded piece of wood.
She then showed the picture in the wood to Leanne.

It was a picture of them eating their sweets together. Thea then wrapped a cloth around it and tied a string around the small package. She then handed it to Leanne and said “Never forget.... never forget how some of the shortest meetings can turn into the longest friendships.”

Thea then sat next to Leanne and said “I want to have a long friendship with you, Leanne because you are so kind and thoughtful to everyone.”

Thea looked up at the window and saw they weren’t moving. She smiled warmly at Leanne “Well let’s have our first adventure begin.”

From the start, Leanne knew that Thea was looking at her with a glazed sort of look, as if looking at an idoi. She didn't mind being friends with her, but hoped that their bond wouldn't go past a deep-rooted friendship bond. But still...she did not expect to receive such a sweet gift after such a short conversation with her. She graciously took the carving, glancing at its beautiful designs and intricate carvings. She took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of the wood. Pine, and it still smells freshly cut. I'll probably display it in my dorm room once I've arrived. 

"Thanks so much!" she had replied, carefully placing the carved wood in her pocket, along with her wand. "I don't mind a long-lasting friendship with you; maybe one day we could hang out near the Great Lake or some other place?" Leanne didn't mind hanging out with Thea, she could imagine the days that that they could study together, and best of all, play some pranks with her...

She was so absorbed in her ideas that she did not notice that they had arrived, she could hear the whoosh of the train as it finally slowed to a stop, and the various students alighting, their clip-clop of their shoes marking their descent. As Thea was speaking about starting their new adventure, she warmly smiled. Saying a short bye to her new friend, she headed towards the crowd of first years gathered on the platform.  Leanne couldn't wait for her Hogwarts journey to finally start!