His first year had come and gone by in no time, leaving behind some excellent memories. Summer too had scurried by and there had been moments where he learnt new stuff. There had been new sweets that papa Ren had taught him and Vasco to prep and new Quidditch moves taught to him by Papa Raju, for example. But now Vi was back on the express, heading off to his second year and this time, he wasn't going to have to be homesick for Di.

{"What do you think so far?"} Viano asked eagerly in Spanish, wanting to know all of Di's thoughts on the Hogwarts Express so far. {"Pretty impressive, right? You can choose any compartment you want to sit in, by the way."} Since Vesper was with her friends, she wouldn't miss his presence that much. Plus, the Gryffindor wasn't about to leave his best friend alone in unfamiliar territory. So... yes. Di was stuck with him.

Diego couldn't help but feel conflicted. He was excited to go to Hogwarts! But... he already missed his papa and daddy after saying their goodbyes and hugs. He wished he could snuggle his raccoon plushie that was currently packed in the trunk. It smelled like home and he was already missing it.

It was nice to have his best friend though, who he had to go a whole school year without last term. Their linked hands dropped as he rubbed his previously tear-soaked eyes. It was hard to see with tears in his eyes, so being shown around was needed. He could've noticed his crush Zen following two older students if he hadn't been crying.

Diego couldn't be sad for long with Vi being so cheerful with him. "It looks great." He replied. "Let's sit here." He moved to slide open and shut the compartment door behind him. "How long does it usually take to get to Hogwarts?" There were lots of questions for Diego to ask Vi now that they were alone.

SPOILER!!: Di! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charely Potter

Diego couldn't help but feel conflicted. He was excited to go to Hogwarts! But... he already missed his papa and daddy after saying their goodbyes and hugs. He wished he could snuggle his raccoon plushie that was currently packed in the trunk. It smelled like home and he was already missing it.

It was nice to have his best friend though, who he had to go a whole school year without last term. Their linked hands dropped as he rubbed his previously tear-soaked eyes. It was hard to see with tears in his eyes, so being shown around was needed. He could've noticed his crush Zen following two older students if he hadn't been crying.

Diego couldn't be sad for long with Vi being so cheerful with him. "It looks great." He replied. "Let's sit here." He moved to slide open and shut the compartment door behind him. "How long does it usually take to get to Hogwarts?" There were lots of questions for Diego to ask Vi now that they were alone.

Viano couldn’t blame Diego for feeling the way he did; it was a natural response to this sort of change. Having experienced it himself last year, Vi knew he couldn’t stop all the emotions running through his friend but could be there for him. Maybe, just maybe, it would soften all the negatives. Vi hardly had time to give Di’s hand a reassuring squish before his own was dropped.

The older guy looked around at the younger one in concern. There was no judgment for tears. In fact, Vi was just glad that Di was able to express the sadness, and he mentally told himself that he could learn from his bestie. Bottling up his feelings was something that came naturally, and it was mostly only Vesper who successfully got him to talk about them. Vi’s train of thoughts was interrupted by Zen passing by with her two brothers. Much to his own surprise, he didn’t bother pointing her out to Di and soon, he found himself averting his eyes from the trio. Most likely, if Di saw her, he’d want to go after her which would in turn mean that Vi got left behind.

It was okay; Di could be sad for however long he needed to be. As long as the sadness eventually left. Vi was smiling though. {“I’m pleased to hear you think so! Just wait until you get to Hogwarts!”} And hopefully be Sorted into Gryffindor too. He followed Di into the compartment then headed for a seat near the window. {“Many hours. But there’s plenty to see and do during that time. The view out the window’s great.”} Though Vi was a superb view himself. {"And we can always play a couple of games.”} Which reminded him of something that had crossed his mind recently. {“Would you be up for helping me practise Quidditch, Di? You could be Keeper. Or Beater?”}

The rhythmic clatter of the Hogwarts Express rolling along the tracks filled the narrow corridor as Alaric Ashcombe trailed his hand along the cool metal wall, his steps slow and deliberate. His light blonde hair fell into his eyes, but he didn’t bother pushing it back—his free hand was already clutching the strap of his bag so tightly his knuckles had turned white.

He peeked into one compartment after another, his gray eyes scanning for a miracle: an empty car, a space to think. Each time, his stomach twisted tighter at the sight of other students, chatting and laughing like they’d known each other for years. How did they all look so confident?

"Too full" he muttered under his breath after passing yet another compartment. His heart raced as if he’d just dodged a Bludger, though all he’d done was avoid eye contact.

Reaching the back cars, the crowd thinned, and the noise dulled into a faint hum. A flicker of hope stirred in him, though his nerves still buzzed like a swarm of restless doxies. Finally, he stopped outside a compartment with no occupants. His hand hesitated on the door handle, and for a moment, he glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting someone to swoop in and claim it before he did.

"No one’s going to bother you" he whispered to himself, though the words didn’t do much to calm the anxious knot in his chest. Taking a deep breath, he slid the door open and stepped inside, setting his bag down carefully as if the wrong move might shatter the fragile quiet.

The seat by the window called to him. He sank into it, letting his head rest against the cool glass as the countryside blurred past. One deep breath, then another. The nerves hadn’t left, but at least now he had space to think—to prepare for what awaited him at Hogwarts.

Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter in my life, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. After spending four amazing years at Ilvermorny, the incredible wizarding school in America, I’m finally back home in Scotland—and heading straight to Hogwarts!

Don’t get me wrong, Ilvermorny was a dream. I made lifelong friends and learned so much, but there’s something about being back where your roots are that just feels… right. The train ride to Hogwarts has been surreal so far. As I found an empty compartment and settled in, I finally had a moment to breathe and let it all sink in.

I took out my trusty blue journal (yes, I’m one of *those* people who journals everything) and poured my thoughts onto the page. Packing and leaving America was such a whirlwind that I hardly had time to reflect. But now, with the rolling Scottish countryside outside my window, it feels like the perfect moment to start fresh. Here’s to new adventures, old castles, and maybe even a little bit of magic along the way. Hogwarts, here I come!

One thing that was great with his friend Vi, they accepted him for who he was. He had his moments of being a "baby" as some mean former kids called him at St. Woboldo's, but he didn't let them ruin his ego. He was loved and his eyes just happened to leak every now and then. He heard grown men end up wishing they could have leaky eyes again after years of manly pressure to the point of sealing those faucets closed. "I'm good." He said when he was sure the tears were gone now.

As they entered into the compartment, he took in all the fun information. "Yeah?" Diego asked, deciding that he too would get the window seat as he sat across from Vi. "I did bring some cards along just in case. You remember how to play Uno? Or we can play whatever you got." He was sure Vi learned some wicked wizard card games that he would love to learn. "Of course I'll help! We got to make sure you're good enough to make the team here and U-17!" Even though it would be a couple years before they're eligible. "I'll try both and see what works out." Having a bat sounded a bit more fun, though he worried about hurting others too bad. Maybe he could just focus on keeping them away from his friend. Yeah, that'll work.

"Do you think... she'll be here or even come find us?" Diego thought about Zen. She was pretty, though it had been some time since he saw her. Her family always did something spontaneous in the summers and he was too busy moving and playing with Zi. He didn't have to worry about her being a squib, she did magic but... if she went to a different school... Well, no use thinking about it. "Actually, let's not talk about her." At least not now. "Do you think I'll be able to get sorted into Gryffindor too?" It sounded fun, and it wasn't like he's easily spooked. But the pressure to be a mighty lion, he had some doubts there. Maybe he would end up in Ravenclaw like his Daddy or Slytherin like his Uncle.

SPOILER!!: Di! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charely Potter

One thing that was great with his friend Vi, they accepted him for who he was. He had his moments of being a "baby" as some mean former kids called him at St. Woboldo's, but he didn't let them ruin his ego. He was loved and his eyes just happened to leak every now and then. He heard grown men end up wishing they could have leaky eyes again after years of manly pressure to the point of sealing those faucets closed. "I'm good." He said when he was sure the tears were gone now.

As they entered into the compartment, he took in all the fun information. "Yeah?" Diego asked, deciding that he too would get the window seat as he sat across from Vi. "I did bring some cards along just in case. You remember how to play Uno? Or we can play whatever you got." He was sure Vi learned some wicked wizard card games that he would love to learn. "Of course I'll help! We got to make sure you're good enough to make the team here and U-17!" Even though it would be a couple years before they're eligible. "I'll try both and see what works out." Having a bat sounded a bit more fun, though he worried about hurting others too bad. Maybe he could just focus on keeping them away from his friend. Yeah, that'll work.

"Do you think... she'll be here or even come find us?" Diego thought about Zen. She was pretty, though it had been some time since he saw her. Her family always did something spontaneous in the summers and he was too busy moving and playing with Zi. He didn't have to worry about her being a squib, she did magic but... if she went to a different school... Well, no use thinking about it. "Actually, let's not talk about her." At least not now. "Do you think I'll be able to get sorted into Gryffindor too?" It sounded fun, and it wasn't like he's easily spooked. But the pressure to be a mighty lion, he had some doubts there. Maybe he would end up in Ravenclaw like his Daddy or Slytherin like his Uncle.

Vi wouldn’t be a great bestie if he didn’t accept Di as he was. In any case, he had been drawn to the younger guy for reasons still unknown to him; something which had never occurred except when it came to his adopted family, the first time he met them in Italy. So, Di being a little on the softer side never bothered him; the fact just made Vi want to always protect him. He nodded in response to Di’s words, sending him a smile reassuring him it was okay if he needed some time - and a shoulder- to work through the emotions.

Not long after that smile turned into a grin. “You bet I do! Sorry in advance if I don’t go easy on you, Di. We can always switch to something else when we get tired of Uno.” His friend’s next words had him pulling a silly face. “Are you saying, Diego Melo-Dreamer, that you don’t think I’m good enough right now to join an U-17 team?” Vi was only clowning about, of course! He knew she wasn’t U-17 material as yet hence why he needed Di’s help for constant practise. “Okay, we can definitely see what works for you. Maybe both will, you never know.” The Gryffindor was about to say more but he clamped his jaw shut when Di mentioned… Zen. He even bit back a snarky comment about her not telling Di which school she would be attending. Certainly if Zen cared as much for Diego as Diego cared for her, she would have mentioned it?

As it was, Vi couldn’t bring himself to hurt Di with that sort of thing, and he didn’t want to conceal that he had seen her. “I saw her earlier,’’ he replied flatly, staring carefully out of the window to mask his annoyance. “Maybe she’ll come find you and you guys can go explore the Express together.” Why even was he annoyed? Because Vi was afraid he was going to lose the one friend he had chosen to have as his bestie. So it suited him just fine when Di didn’t want to talk about Zen further. “I hope you are! Then we’d be able to share a common room at least, if not dorm. But if not, we’ll still see each other everyday, right?” He didn’t want Di to feel like he was alone in an entirely new setting.