The Western Concourse
 

taylor <33
 

Having said good bye to her father, Kurumi made her way alone through the station at almost a snail's pace. She was both looking forward to the upcoming term while also fearing it. There was just so much uncertainty coursing through the Gryffindor right now that it was a wonder she was able to stand on her own two feet.

Tugging on her grey dress, Kurumi decided that she would use her remaining coins to buy herself some juice and a snack before making her way through the barrier. Besides, she was hoping to run into Selina before they officially were on the platform and Kurumi was swept up in prefect duties and had to make sure that no first years lost control of their trolleys or their owl escaped their cage.

So, apple juice box in hand although Kurumi really wished it was pumpkin juice, Kurumi found a place to sit down where she should be visible and sipped on it while she waited for Selina to hopefully walk by. Kurumi had arrived early, so she highly doubted that her best friend was already on the platform. Although, there was always a first time for everything. Kurumi's chocolate doe eyes searched the area while her free hand held a delicate looking journal.

It was time to go back to school; had time really gone that fast? One moment she was getting off the train a fourth year and now she was getting onto the platform a fifth year- officially an upperclassman. Where had time gone? And yet, this summer was one that she would never forget. She had done wonderful things, like learn first had about Quidditch from her father at summer training, and she had seen awful things, like watching her beat friend fall apart; she had tried new things, like her experience over Elektra's house over the summer, and she had met new people who she was surprised she had never met, like Lewis and Taryn. But she could not say that she was unchanged because she was just not as much as she knew others had changed.

As she wandered around the platform she looked up and down for people she knew. This was the first year that she was alone on the platform. Her parents thought that it would be wise to start doing things on her own and she was not going to complain. It was nice to not have her parents breathing down her neck. It was not that she did not love her parents, quite the contrary, but some freedom was much obliged. After all she could not have a babysitter forever- she was growing up.

Once she set aside her baggage she leaned down to tie her unlaced boot. Finally, with that all sorted out, she stood up and continued to survey the platform. It was then that she saw a figure that she had missed all summer. The two girls had seen each other briefly over the summer, but through an unfortunate series of events had made it difficult to see one another besides the week Selina spent in Japan.

Without a word she walked up to Kurumi and pulled her in a hug. She whispered in her beat friend's ear, "Hey..."

Squeezing her juice box to try and get the remaining apple juice out, and making sort of obnoxious noises in the process, Kurumi was just about to throw it away in a rubbish bin when she felt arms around her. It didn't take her long to figure out who they belonged to. If nothing else, the smell of fried chicken was still lingering on the other girl's fingers.

The hand holding her empty juice box reached up and rested on Selina's back as she returned the hug. "Hey...Selina," she replied with a faint smile. Not that Selina could see it right now since they were hugging, but if she had looked out of the corner of her eye she might have. It was good to see Selina again, and she felt foolish that they hadn't seen each other immediately after she had arrived back in London. Then again, Kurumi hadn't exactly announced she had come back and her chance meetings with people had been just that, chance.

Funny how the only two people she had seen were Jonathan and Lewis.

Kurumi gave Selina another tight squeeze before pulling back a bit, surprisingly keeping herself together. Her conversation with Lewis had helped a lot. More than she had realized until now, and it was nice to not just cry the moment she had any sort of comforting touch from her friends.

Kurumi had something she wanted to show Selina, and that something was currently clutched in her other hand, but she couldn't just shift conversation to that right away. It would be awkward, right? Not that Selina and Kurumi were ever that awkward around each other. The most awkward they had been was when Selina had come to her home over the summer and they had talked...about stuff. Then, and only then, the two girls had felt a tension that you could cut with a knife in each other's presence. While Kurumi had hated it then, she was glad that the two of them were close enough that, even after all those words had been said, the two of them could go on being best friends. Just as it should be.

"You...ready for another term?"

Eva. ^__^
 

Elisabet Walther was incredibly bored. She had nothing to do and she didn't know her way around in England. But she also felt incredibly posh to have a name like Elisabet Walther. That was probably the ONLY good thing about England; having posh name. She had nothing nice to eat too no jelly babies!

She looked around at everyone. It seemed like it was packed full of muggle and no familiar faces. Though she didn't know too many people. Until she spotted a taller good looking boy that she had met at Florean Fostercues. Oh no! This was the boy that criticized her for being to loud. She was near to the boy so why not say something. "Did you eat your ice-cream in silence and peace?" she asked the boy.

For a moment Selina was really enjoying the nice hug moment that she and Kurumi were sharing. She tried to show all of the love she felt for her best friend/sister/lion in that hug. Then she felt an awkward pressure on her back and she pulled her head away from the hug to see what it was- a juice box. Perhaps, she should have double checked if Kurumi was holding anything before she attacked her best friend was a hug. Although, she had not seen the juice box to be fair and she also wanted to give Kurumi the hug regardless so to each his own.

However, just the sight of the juice box made Selina chuckle. It was so typical of them to be so awkward with even the most conventional and simple things like a hug. But she had missed Kurumi so much she did not complain. It was so brilliant to see her. Merlin, she did not even understand how much she had missed her until that moment.

Then Kurumi pulled away from the hug and asked the most tentative question. The girl was obviously still feeling the affects of what had occurred that summer, but she did not want to make it worse so she did not press the issue. Instead, she answered Kurumi's question with a quiet and calm air, "Yeah I'm excited. It's a big year, but I think I'm ready. What about you?". Code for, how are you?

Kurumi almost found it ironic that Selina was the one clinging to her more than she was to the redhead. Not that Kurumi wasn't returning the hug just as fiercely, because she was, but the reason behind the fierceness was a little different. Of course, Kurumi couldn't be sure that this was what Selina was thinking, but she assumed that a major emotion behind the hug was directly connected to her mother's passing. While it still stung and made the Gryffindor's eyes water right now, she had also found peace with it. Well, as peaceful as she could get seeing as a month's time hadn't even passed yet.

Big year. No kidding. That seemed almost like an understatement. Despite her OWLs already being done, which meant that there were less things for Kurumi to worry about it was things outside her studies that had her uneasy. OWLs...speaking of which. "You'll let me know if you need help studying for your OWLs, right?" Truth was she had already had a few fifth years approach her and ask for study sessions. While Kurumi was more than willing to help, she also saw it as a basic foundation for her studying for her NEWTs. Always thinking ahead.

"As ready as I can be, I suppose," Kurumi sighed. She still had a lot of things on her mind. Even without OWLs weighing her down, Kurumi still had no intention of trying out for Quidditch again. Quidditch was Selina's thing, not Kurumi's. She did miss sharing in the sport with Selina though, but that was really all she missed about it. "I more nervous for the start of this term than I have been for any of the others..." Meaning that she was petrified of the conversations she had to have with Lewis and Jonathan.

"Actually, Selina, there is something I want to show you," she whispered as she handed her best friend the journal she had been holding. "I...I want you to see what my mother wrote in her journal..." She didn't have to right this instant if she didn't want to, but Kurumi hoped that Selina understood the implications of what this meant. Not everyone was getting to see these words.

It was so nice to hear Kurumi's voice. Hearing her speak returned a sense of normalcy to Selina's life, being without Kurumi this summer was a very odd experience. Besides, knowing the reason why Kurumi wasn't around obviously made things a million times worse. She felt like she might go crazy with all of the worrying she had done the past summer. The two had left one another on a weird note, true they had made up after their disagreement, but leaving Kurumi in the wake of loosing her mother was one of the hardest things she had ever done. But the Hollingberry's needed their last moments together as a family; she was not going to intrude.

Kurumi swiftly pulled Selina from her thoughts when she brought up OWLs. The thought made Selina shutter even though the redhead had brought it up. Originally it was just a thought in passing, but when the Gryffindor prefect offered to tutor her Selina felt as if the testing was a reality. Merlin, she was REALLY taking those tests this year and that was a scary thought. Oh bloody hell, she was going to fail them all. She was a Quiddith player... Not a scholar.

So when Kurumi offered Selina nodded vigorously, "Please. There is no way I'm going to pass any of them, except maybe divination but only because I have an unfair advantage.". Unfair advantage was an understatement, but it was not like she was complaining. She didn't really love her ability, but she was fond of her grades in divination. THAT she could deal with.

Then the conversation transitioned into Kurumi talking about the upcoming term through her best friends eyes. She was not surprised when she expressed how she was nervous for the upcoming term. After what the girl had told Selina over the summer she had a feeling that this term was going to be interesting on the Kurumi front. Her friend had a lot to deal with and Selina would be there with a hug and a joke to help her the whole way, "Yep... This term should be... Interesting."

A book. Kurumi pulled out a book. A small book that seemed weathered, written in, loved. As the girl started to explain the book's significant Selina could not even fathom what handing the book to Selina even meant to Kurumi. With shock in her eyes she looked up at Kurumi and took the book. Her hands. Felt the bound- there was something about this book. Her eyes found Kurumi's and she nodded in understanding. She was honored, "...what do you want me to read?"

Kennedy placed his hand over his stomach as he walked over to the snack area. He was HUNGRY and his stomach wouldn't stop reminding him of it. It was his fault for not eating anything for breakfast, except for the cookie Beverly had slipped him on the ride here.

He stopped in front of the counter and order some potato chips. Those would do until he boarded the train and stuffed himself with what ever the trolley had. Oh yes, good ole sweets always hit the spot.

Evelyn was bored. She'd reached the station early and none of the people she knew had turned up yet so she decided to head towards the snack area. Not that she was hungry or anything. She was way too excited to be feeling hungry..but some water would be good.

She brought a bottle of water before she turned and bumped into someone standing nearby. Eeek. "Oh. I'm..uh..sorry." Evelyn looked at the guy, with a nervous smile on her face.

Kennedy had popped the potato chips bag open and was about to slip a delicious looking chip into his mouth when someone bumped into him and clumsily dropped it.

Awwwwwwww.

That was a yummy looking potato chip too. His lips did a sort of pout like a child would when they dropped their ice cream on the ground. Oh well, good thing he had more. Kennedy looked up at the person who bumped into him. "It's okay. I was in your way," he said with a sheepish smile. He had obviously been in her way when she bumped into him or else she wouldn't have.

He tilted his head to the side. He's seen this girl somewhere, but where? "Do you happen to go to Hogwarts?" he asked, timidly.

Oh. Evelyn felt bad when he dropped the chip that he was about to pop into his mouth although..she had to stop herself from smiling when she saw the pout on his face. He looked like a kid who'd dropped his candy..anyway. "I guess I..um..didn't see you." She gave him a small smile. She usually wasn't this clumsy. Sigh.

She took a sip of water when he asked if she went to Hogwarts. Evelyn looked surprised. "Yes. Yes, I do." He did seem a little familiar..yeah. "Erm..do you go to Hogwarts as well?" Most probably she'd seen him around at Hogwarts or..Diagon Alley.

He shrugged. "It's all right." It didn't matter. Most people didn't see him and he was used to that really. So he just gave her a smile.

So that's where he's seen her. Actually, half the population at 9 and 3/4 were most likely Hogwarts students. Meh, he had to ask. It'd be rude to just insinuate that she did go there. "Yes, I do," he said with a nod of his head. He rubbed his hand on trousers to clean it and stretched it to her, "I'm Kennedy Escalante." Finally! He remembered to introduce himself before the person walked away.

Oh, right. He went to Hogwarts as well. Evelyn's smile turned into a grin before she said, "That's what I thought." Heh. It was kind of obvious, wasn't it? Since, most of the people at the station today would be boarding the train. She started to sip at her water when he introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you, Kennedy." Evelyn gave another smile before she shook his hand. "I'm Evelyn Wellington..you could call me Eve though." She gave a light shrug. She didn't know why she bothered to tell people her real name since she preferred being called Eve anyway. "Um..so..what year are you in?"

"Selina Skylar, I personally guarantee that you will pass every OWL you decide to take," she said confidently, her face sincere and she even patted Selina's shoulder encouragingly. Sure, this meant that they were going to have to lock themselves up in the dorms on some nights...and there was the chance that Kurumi would have to deprive Selina of her snacks unless she studied. "And I promise you won't get a T in Potions." She wanted to promise that Selina would pass, but she wasn't a miracle worker.

Kurumi just nodded at Selina's comment. Interesting was one way of putting it. Truth be told, Kurumi knew what she had to do and she just wanted to pull both boys aside right now and get it over with. But...now was not the time. King's Cross was far too public a place and she had prefecting duties she had to take care of. She thought about finding a compartment on the train and locking it so she could have a private conversation, but that just wasn't her. It wasn't how she wanted to do this. She could hear Treyen in her head now though, reminding her not to wait too long because the longer she did the more it hurt.

Not that she needed reminding of that.

Swallowing, Kurumi's hands dropped to her side when the journal was in Selina's hands. "As...as much as you want to..." Kurumi replied, chewing on her bottom lip softly and swinging her arms limply. There was a lot there and there were still a few pages that Kurumi had not read the entire way through. She just couldn't. It was too painful. Too soon. There was one page that she had practically memorized though, and that was the last one. The one that she had read while in her mother's presence.

Kennedy nodded with a grin on his lips as his hands began to fidget with the potato chip bag in his hands. Then he realized that was too noisy so he stopped. "Would you like some?" he offered, a blush reaching his cheeks along with an embarrassed smiled. It was rude to eat in front of others without offering them some first.

"Same here, Eve," he grinned. Kennedy leaned against the wall behind him. "I'm a sixth year Slytherin," he said, releasing a sigh. It felt like just yesterday he was a scared little transfer student. Okay, he wasn't little he was a fourth year, but still. Apart from this year he had one more left at Hogwarts. It was too soon leave. "What about you?"

Hm? "Um. No, thanks. I'm not feeling hungry and I..uh..don't like chips anyway." Evelyn said, feeling slightly embarrassed. Yeah. Weird, right? For some reason, she never really liked them..although, according to Eli, EVERYONE liked chips. She frowned slightly when she noticed his pink cheeks. Err, why was he blushing? Was it something she said?

Oh, good. Slytherin? Evelyn turned to look at him, mild surprise registered on her face. For some reason, she would never have guessed him to be a Snake. Why? She had no idea. "Oh? That's cool." She grinned back at him before taking another sip of water. "I'm a seventh year Hufflepuff." Evelyn said, with a hint of pride in her voice.

A personal guarantee? Oh Merlin, did Kurumi even know what she was getting herself into? There was no way that she was going to pass every exam, especially with bloody potions in the mix of the exams she was taking. At first, the fifth year contemplated not even taking potions, but then her mother forced her hand and made her reconsider. The conversation was not particularly long. All she remembered was that her mother expressed that no daughter of hers was not going to take potions. It was one of the major subjects at Hogwarts and there were a few classes that her mother defiantly wanted her to take, which unfortunately had potions on the list.

So when Kurumi verbalized that she chuckled and crossed her arms amused, "Miss Hollingberry, I don't doubt your brilliance, but that is not a guarantee you can make. I'm going to fail my potions exam- you and I both know that." It was not like she was ashamed of the truth. There was very little she could say to defend herself when it came to potions. She was just that terrible at it; Potions was to Selina like fish are to oxygen. They just did not mix in nature.

However, the tone of the conversation started to dip into a more serious setting when the little notebook was introduced. As Kurumi spoke about specifics Selina turned it over in her hand to get a better look at it. It was odd to think that one little book could hold so much significance. To Kurumi, this book was the thing that kept her mother alive in spirit. It had to the woman's thoughts and feelings and dreams. Oddly, it was like a small part of her still left alive through the twists and turns of her curvy handwriting.

Then Kurumi looked up at Kurumi because she did not hear her friend speaking anymore. The girl had fresh pain in her eyes. As much as the journal meant to her best friend, loosing her mother was a new wound... it had barely scabbed over. There was a long road ahead to recovery. So Seilna reached out with her free hand and grasped tightly onto Kurumi's hand. "Hey," she said grabbing her best friend's attention, "when you are ready to read this... if you want, I'll be there. I'll be here every step of the way. You're my best friend."

And there he was, enjoying his peace. Actually, there was no peace. And he wasn't enjoying anything. So never mind. But he really would have liked to brood on his own, but a sudden girlish voice triggered his mind to remember....

NO.

Milton saw the girl and his eyes were automatically eyeing her. She was the loud girl from Florean's. Ugh. And here she was again.

"I did, after you were done having a fit about your ice cream," Milton said with a slight scowl. Was it really so hard to keep quiet while eating ice cream? Apparently for her it was.

Aurora wanted some food. Like, now. Please. She was STARVING. Well... she wasn't. But it had been at least an hour since she had had anything to eat. Which was AGES! As soon as they had got into Kings Cross Aurora had ditched her sister and run straight for some food. Like a croissant. That would be nice.

Or some chocolate... or crisps.

In all honesty, any sort of sustenance would do right now... mmm... food.

Still, she wasn't sure how to use muggle money really... she usually let her sister deal with it. But she had demanded to be allowed to go on her own - it was so uncool to look like you were being babysat. Right? Right.

She joined the back of the queue, admiring the little capes on the socks of the girl in front of her... when she suddenly realised who it was. "Delilah!" Aurora said, tapping her on the shoulder. "Excited to go back to school?" she asked. Because really, who starts a conversation with 'how are you.'? "Cool socks, by the way."

Delilah was picking the silver glitter from her nails when tapped her on the shoulder.

CAN'T THEY SEE THAT SHE'S BUSY?? Rude.

Oh.

"Aurora!" That was her name, right!? Oh, Delilah HOPED it was. What was it Aurora was saying? Delilah tried to calm her mind for a moment to understand what the red-haired girl was saying. "I suppose so... yeah. Are you?"

As Aurora complimented her socks, Delilah grinned happily. "They are cool, aren't they?" She twirled around to make the capes dance a bit. "Um. I mean. Thanks."

... Oops?

Aurora grinned as Delilah turned around. "Umm... yeah I guess. I'm not sure." she said, glancing down at the floor and twiddling the end of one of her curls. She was excited to get back to Hogwarts... but less excited that Kennedy, Milton AND Jonathan would be there... they might even be sharing the same common room if Milton got sorted into Slytherin. WHY, OH WHY DID BOYS HAVE TO BE SO.... GRR.

Oooh... pretty. "They're great... what um... what does the S stand for..?" she asked. She felt like she was betraying both Kennedy and Aaron with her complete lack of knowledge in this area... but at least she knew they were to do with a superhero right..?

Wait... they were to do with a superhero... weren't they?

Kennedy raised his eyebrows in surprise. She didn't like...chips? Was that even possible? Apparently, it was. He nodded. It was her lost.

Why was she looking at him like that?! Was it because he was a Slytherin? Hmm. Eh, he got that stare a few times. "Yes, and we're going to win the House Cup this year." he said, a smirk lifting the corner of his lips. He just wanted to put that out there. He felt real good for this year and he was pumped...and he couldn't wait to see who else - beside him - were the Slytherin leaders...Oh. Eve's comment stopped his thoughts. She was a Hufflepuff. Not that he minded it was just that...reasons. Kennedy gave a slow nod and said, "That's...cool. You guys won all three cups last year." He probably looked stupid for saying something so obvious.