"Daddy hurry up!" Alex practically screamed to her father as she ran into the station. She had been waiting for this for months!!!--Years even!! He had all time in the world to be slow but he would not be slow today; not when this was the most important day of her life!!

Clutching tightly to her feline companion she took long, quick strides in her haste. It just seemed like no matter how fast she walked she was still walking slow.

Her head flashed around and she saw her father making his way through the entrance with her trunk and other important things. She grinned before continuing on. Nevermind that Amanda was trailing behind him,this was much too exciting for her to really care. She wondered if anyone else had arrived as yet. Maybe she would run into some of the people she had met in Diagon Alley, then she could probably ride with them on the train!

"This is it Felix."

--"Platform 9 3/4? There ain't no such thing. You are the 700th kid to asked me that!"--

Felicia Alexandra Vincent was on her own. Well, it was her and Neyiri. With a sideways glance at her owlet, the muggleborn pushed forward, blinking towards the girl who was walking- quite noisily, she might add- along behind her. The soon to be first-year stopped, giving a bright smile to the family behind her. "Hey!" Alex called, knowing it would be good to make some friends before the start of the year, and also knowing that these people had to be headed the same place she was trying to go. I mean, for a race trying to keep their existence hidden, it was amazing how obvious they were being simply getting to their school. Not their school, it was hers now as well. "You're going to platform nine and three-quarters, right?"

Adeline kept a grip on her trunk and bird cage, she had a backpack with snacks that resided on her back, she set the cage down and adjusted the backpack so she knew that it wouldn't fall off of her shoulders while she was running. Adeline picked up the bird cage with her new barn owl in it, she had named her owl Ariel.

Adeline kept a steady but fast walk she wanted to get back to Hogwarts as fast as she could. No more muggle world, no more family, only her school work, teachers and her friends. And the beautiful castle of course.

Addie reached the walk between the platforms and looked around she must have left Asher in the dust but oh well he would find her soon enough. Adeline frowned but turned to the wall again. Just and her owl now. Adeline waited a couple of seconds.

"Here I come year three."

She was early?!?

For once, Ari didn't need to rush and catch the train last minute, she had plenty of time. How'd this happen? Well, for one she didn't sleep late, because she couldn't sleep at all the previous night! Her excitement had been far greater than when she was about to begin her first year. After a whole year of being stuck at Beauxbatons, the girl felt giddy about returning to Hogwarts-the Gryffindor common room, her dorm, the grounds, her friends...

Daydreaming again. So typical. In a place where she shouldn't be lingering, no less. Ari's Gran was right behind her and asked if the girl wanted her to accompany her on the platform. 'No, thanks, Granny, I'll take it from here.' She was fifteen years old, for Merlin's sake. The older woman hugged her granddaughter and told her to have fun. That's all? Nothing like be careful not to chop your fingers off while slicing Potions ingredients, like her mum would undoubtedly say?!

Grabbing her trunks and the cage in which Pluto was sleeping and purring rather loudly, Ariadne waved at her grandmother one last time and made her way towards a new exciting year at Hogwarts.

In all her power walking Alexa had failed to notice a girl that was just ahead of her. She would have continued to not notice her too were it not for the fact that she stopped and called to her with a big smile.

She didn't looked much older than her but she did seem as excited so she figured she must have been a first year...wow, she was officially a first year heading off to school. That actually had a very nice ring to it. She could have said it over and over and smiled at hearing it each time.

Alexa nodded with her own smile when the girl asked her if she would be going to platform 9 3/4. THat was exactly where she was headed and they could head there together. "Yup, that's where Felix and I intend to be." She walked faster so she could catch up to the girl. "I'm Alexa and you are?"

Ariella! Stay close to me I don't want you to get lost!"

The young girl rolled her eyes at her father and gave her cart a little extra shove and walked a bit faster to keep up with her father. He had gotten extremely protective lately, probably to scared to let his little girl off to school by herself.

"Relax dad, I'm not going to loose you," Ari sighed, then eyed her fathers bright orange bow tie and muttered to herself, "Your really not that hard to miss..."

Her father put is hand on her owls cage and let them both into the station....

"Hurry up" Sarah called over her shoulder; "James, stop dreaming and get a move on kiddo". Her mother gave her the hairy eyeball look,, still placing the keys of the family's old minivan into her bag. "Listen Sarah, that is not the way to talk to people". Sarah tried to protest "But he is slowing us down! We are running late as it is". Her mother looked out her again and said slightly exasperated "Look, the train won't leave with out you and besides, we are not late, infact you insisted on us leaving early. Yet if it makes you happy run ahead". Sarah took that well andgripped her trolley tight, telling Angelina to hold on and sprinted ahead.

"Okay, bye guys,'' Jory said cheerfully to his parents and sister. He gave his mom and dad a tight hug each but when he tried to give his sister one she just wrapped one arm around him and let go quickly without looking at or saying anything to him.

The boy collected the trolley containing his trunk and owl and pygmy puff cages. "Bye, Mom and Dad,'' he called as he started to walk towards the Wall. "Bye, Grace,'' he called waving. He looked sadly as his sister waved for a second without smiling at him but both of his parents were waving.

Jory sighed. He hoped she would be back to her old self when he got home. For now, he was looking forward to his fifth year.

"I'm Felicia, I usually go by Alex though," she said, tucking a strand of curly light hair behind her "Think that could get confusing?" she opened her hand slightly to make sure her cricket was still there before closing it again, just a bit so he could still breathe and move.

Alexa smiled; just one of the many ways she learnt to be polite afterall. Pssh, confusing, nothing was confusing this 11 year old...except maybe math...and those things called boys... "Nah, I think I can remember that, especially since it's so close to my name!" It would have been easier and she would have been much less likely to forget it. So simple, Alex...Alexa...Alex...Alexa--yup she could handle that! Her eyes glanced down to the girls hand for a second when she saw something move. "Oh neat, you have a cricket! What's it's name?" She gripped more tightly to Felix as she looked down at the little guy. Felix had a tendency to chase small things....

Silvia quickly climbed out of the car. She was so excited to be going back to Hogwarts that she had a small smile on her usually neutral face. The summer had been rather uneventful, except for one morning when the Daily Prophet arrived, confirming the names of the Hogwarts professors who, like Headmaster Tate, would not be returning. Her father retrieved a trolley and loaded her trunk onto it. Ptolemy was resting quietly in his covered up owl cage, which Silvia placed on top of her trunk. Mr. Talbot locked the car and started pushing the trolley towards the station, with Silvia walking just ahead of him.

Emeilia walked in to King's cross station wide-eyed. She was off to school for the first time and she was nervous about it. She bit her lip and looked around as she pulled her rolling trunk behind her, with her bag and and purse on her shoulder and her kitten Mittens in her cage, Perched atop her trunk. Emeilia followed other kids toward the platform.

Awarlesta could of taken off at full speed if it wasn't for her mother's hand clamped around her's. "Mom!! You don't have to hold my hand so tight!!" She tugged at her arm. "Honestly, woman, you weren't even this protective of me when it was my first year." Awarlesta's older recently graduated brother, Manolo scoffed. "That's because your father was here or else I'd be as frantic as now." Their mother breathed. They all became quiet. It's been a year since their father passed away. Manolo broke the silence, "He taught you well, Mom, you don't have to worry. You're practically part of the wizard world now." Mrs. Black smiled faintly as Manolo put his arm around her. Awarlesta was now the one holding her mother's hand tightly and together they proceeded on to Platform 9 3/4.

Okay, so Garrett wasn't really a wizard yet, even though he had all the stuff, right down to the housecoat robes. He'd seen a flying measuring tape, and a girl blow up a set of bookshelves and look pleased about the result, and he'd taken a walk down Diagon Alley that lasted five hours because he had to stop and look at everything... but at the tender age of eleven, he still understood that he barely knew anything about the wizarding world.

He was learning more and more every day... as was any Muggle in the train station who actually took the headphones out of their ears and listened. Heck, any Muggle who wasn't blind didn't have an excuse either. There were people dragging trunks with owls on top everywhere, and he'd already heard a few talking about being wizards or witches.

How has no one ever made a blog posting about this before? If I can hear them, why can't they?

Since he was fairly certain he wasn't allowed to go up and ask them why they were being daft about magic, Garrett simply let his parents continue to steer him towards this solid brick wall that he was apparently supposed to run through. If it works it'll be the coolest thing ever. If it doesn't... maybe someone will take a video and it'll go viral.

"Hurry!" Marigold shouted to her parents.
"We're coming honey!" her mother said, though not speeding too much up.
"Well," Marigold said as they approached Platform 7, her voice trembling a little, I-I guess this is it?" Her parents smiled and nodded, and then they were at the platform. Platform 9 3/4.

Annabelle was on her way to go into her 6th year of Hogwarts. She couldn't believe that next year she was going to graduate. Her years all seemed to whiz by. She was wearing her typical stylish muggle clothes, she could even see her tan lines from being outside on vacation all summer. When she saw the familiar brick wall, she breathed a sigh of relief that she was early. Her brother and sisters were with her. Her twin brothers were causing a ruckus as usual. Her little sister was getting antsy and was excited to go to Hogwarts in one more year. "Belle why can't i go on the train with you?" she pouted. "You are to young and besides enjoy being a kid for a little while." Belle smiled.
Belle looked at the wall and decided to go."Well i am off." Belle said. Her parents gave her a hug and wished her luck. "You will do amazing as a prefect!" her mom said with sense of pride. "Good luck my bellie pie." her father said and kissed on her forehead. "Hey what about my two favorite little bros?" Belle asked. They shrugged and ran up to hug her. "Aww thanks you two little devils." Belle strangled them into a bear hug. After the goodbyes, they were all heading back to the car and Belle took a deep breath, she knew the train Platform 9 3/4 was waiting for her where her second home awaited her.

Arabella-Marie made her way into Kings Cross alone and sighed she hated her father being away but she had to stay strong because she wanted to enjoy her last year at Hogwarts and hopefully she would make some new friends this term she made her way towards the barrier that would take her to platform nine and three quarters for the final time looking about to see if there was anybody she knew arriving

It wasn't exactly a short walk, but Cassandra had good cushioning charms on her shoes and she was up for a walk. It helped that she had Anj there to chat with. Or to walk in companionable silence... whichever.

Who was NOT sharing her butterbeer. Let it be noted.

When they arrived at the train station, Cassandra pressed her fingers to her face to make sure she wasn't doing anything as unsightly as perspiring. Not when she was about to make a grand appearance in front of students and parents.

"Why did we walk again?" she hissed at Anj, hoping the dear Headmistress didn't hear her.

Lainey licked the rim of her butterbeer, cleaning it of every last frothy drop.

Then she spent the next few minutes trying to figure out she could use her empty mug for.

"Hmm....? Walking? Didn't you suggest it? Or one of you. We aren't frivolous apparationers. No floo to King's Cross. And I have yet to grow wings or perfect levitation. Last I heard, flying carpets were still frowned upon and uncool. I don't know why they're uncool though. We could ask one of the students."

Since they were riding the train with them and all. Maybe she could use her mug as a miniature bongo drum.

He chuckled at VP Lainey. He liked her.

"I like the UK, I'm sure it's very different from Italy, though I can't be sure, as I've only gone there on Holiday, but I can tell you with certainty the UK is much better than Romania..." He said laughing.

"So are you excited to go back to Hogwarts? I am. Greingoth and I had amazing times there." He said and then he heard the Branxton woman.

"The VP made a command decision and we followed... Literally. Which seems she is now taking back." That's why they had walked. "It's not so bad. A little exercise never hurt anyone."

"I would definitely suggest asking one of the students," Annie spoke up. What, she couldn't help overhearing Lainey every now and then. The woman still spoke like she was delivering an anti-House Elf lecture or something. "I'm sure they'll be fawning all over you two."

The legends. Rae & Lainey. Hopefully they would... interact with the children and allow her to read in the corner of the train in peace. Was that too much to ask? Really? Was it?

Directing her attention back toward Amoroso, Annie's brow furrowed some. "Romania... hmm. The Daily Prophet must have their sources wrong...again." No surprises there, but she didn't care. Syllie had already written a flattering piece about her promotion so the rest of the paper could down in flames for all she cared.

"I am excited to return, yes. I do hope the castle has been kept up in terms of maintenance." She frowned, knowing that the groundskeeper she had worked with in the past was long gone. "So you know the Minister from school, I take it?"

Trouble. Battering Ram. West. Whirlwind. Take your pick. With new broom over his shoulder (because he was NOT letting go of it no matter what. All the rest of his stuff was already loaded on the train except his NEW BROOM), West hurtled toward the gaggle of adults.

Not without purpose mind you. "Aunt Cece, Aunt Cece, did you see where Aspen went? I don't know where she is. Did you see my new broom? This is my broom." He hefted it. "I don't have any money for the food trolley. I lost my dad. And my sister. Can you make Vivi buy me stuff? Can you buy me stuff? I'll be the ONLY one on the train that can't get stuff." Here he inserted the well practiced puppy dog look. "Where's Mo? How come Mo isn't here? Can Mo come here next year? I'll show him around and everything."

Seemingly only just noticing other adults, West looked them over curiously, noted first the pretty hair of that one (it was red and glowy) and then the empty mug of Missus Lainey, which he got all interested about. He could use that to collect donations! Food trolley donations!

Also.

"Hi."

And also also, "Just so you all know, you're probably all too big to go on the roof. You'll get knocked off or squished in the tunnels." Just so they knew.

"Are you mad?" Cassandra certainly looked at Anj as if she was mad, if she thought it was possible that Cassandra would suggest a walk. She was willing to walk. She was not opposed to the act of walking. It was just that it wasn't her natural inclination to turn a day out into exercise.

"I'm in favor of frivolity in its place. And flying carpets are illegal, which makes them automatically cool, doesn't it?" Heck, the Branxtons had a flying carpet, although they were only permitted to use it abroad. Mo, in particular, was a fan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

"I would definitely suggest asking one of the students," Annie spoke up. What, she couldn't help overhearing Lainey every now and then. The woman still spoke like she was delivering an anti-House Elf lecture or something. "I'm sure they'll be fawning all over you two."

The legends. Rae & Lainey. Hopefully they would... interact with the children and allow her to read in the corner of the train in peace. Was that too much to ask? Really? Was it?

Directing her attention back toward Amoroso, Annie's brow furrowed some. "Romania... hmm. The Daily Prophet must have their sources wrong...again." No surprises there, but she didn't care. Syllie had already written a flattering piece about her promotion so the rest of the paper could down in flames for all she cared.

"I am excited to return, yes. I do hope the castle has been kept up in terms of maintenance." She frowned, knowing that the groundskeeper she had worked with in the past was long gone. "So you know the Minister from school, I take it?"

The little Treasurer man got a sideways glance for talking about Greingoth so... informally. She liked the Minister (especially since his last name wasn't Cooper), but Amoroso REALLY liked the Minister. They were, apparently, BFFs.

"No fawning to speak of." Really, it was enough to make a woman just feel... old. Irrelevant. Did Anj ever suffer from feeling like her most important work was behind her?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

Trouble. Battering Ram. West. Whirlwind. Take your pick. With new broom over his shoulder (because he was NOT letting go of it no matter what. All the rest of his stuff was already loaded on the train except his NEW BROOM), West hurtled toward the gaggle of adults.

Not without purpose mind you. "Aunt Cece, Aunt Cece, did you see where Aspen went? I don't know where she is. Did you see my new broom? This is my broom." He hefted it. "I don't have any money for the food trolley. I lost my dad. And my sister. Can you make Vivi buy me stuff? Can you buy me stuff? I'll be the ONLY one on the train that can't get stuff." Here he inserted the well practiced puppy dog look. "Where's Mo? How come Mo isn't here? Can Mo come here next year? I'll show him around and everything."

Seemingly only just noticing other adults, West looked them over curiously, noted first the pretty hair of that one (it was red and glowy) and then the empty mug of Missus Lainey, which he got all interested about. He could use that to collect donations! Food trolley donations!

Also.

"Hi."

And also also, "Just so you all know, you're probably all too big to go on the roof. You'll get knocked off or squished in the tunnels." Just so they knew.

And then she almost got a broom to the head as West Odessa appeared as a miniature tornado-child. It took a moment to sort out all the many many thoughts/feelings/questions/concerns/issues that were flung at her, and she put out a hand to rest on the top of his head as she worked on a response.

"West, I just got here and haven't had time to see anyone but the Headmistress, Mr. Amoroso, and Professor Lainey. I'm sure Aspen is waiting for you on the train." Aspen was responsible and level-headed, and that was exactly the right place to be... therefore, that was where Aspen was. She admired the broom, especially once it moved away from her face. Boys and brooms. Sigh.

She fished a Galleon from her pocket. "One Galleon for trolley food, and you can ask Vivi yourself for more. Have you seen her? She wanted to bring herself today."

And that roof thing? It was disturbing. She gave the Headmistress a side-long glance to see if she'd picked up on it.

Truebridge -or Truebridges, really, as the elder was carrying the wriggling younger- was, as usual, quiet in his approach. It had taken all of six seconds to spot the wife. His Annie. With her flaming hair a beacon that still, as always, pulled him in. Gravity and such.

Likely he would have remained perfectly silent and unnoticed if it wasn't for his son also immediately noting red hair and calling out for his mother in a thoroughly gleeful burble of a voice.

Zan cleared his throat.

They had come to see Annie off, obviously.