Though Waful did not particularly enjoy flying after a moving train, he was pleased to show off how great he was at it. Most owls could do it just fine, true, but not as well as he did.

Look at his majestic wings as he located the part of the train his recipient was at and flew down, keeping pace with the train. He pecked at the window to the compartment until it was opened for him to swoop in.

He set the letter and package he'd carried next to the boy person with a proud, "Hoo." Then he swooped back out just as gracefully as he'd entered.

Waful was going to get a load of treats when he got back to the owl post. He deserved them.

It sounded like the shouting randomly got louder and then quieter - or at least more distant - and when she looked out the window on the door, her suspicions were confirmed as it seemed to be coming from a boy running up and down the corridor. Eh, okay then, if that was how he wanted to spend his time? Rula couldn't really blame him for being excited.

As she sat down, having already put her luggage up on the rack above, she opened the door to her cat's carrier and let Isaac come out to stretch his legs. But then the door burst open and ExcitedShouting!Boy was recklessly pushing in his luggage, knocking everything over in the process.

Was he okay??

Apparently he was though, as he simply jumped up to right the owl's cage and then sit on his trunk. Seemed like it'd be more uncomfortable that the actual seats in here, but again, if that was what he wanted, Rula wasn't gonna force him not to.

"Yeah, I don't think I'd like my cage being on its side either if I was an owl," she replied with a grin.

Before she could say anything more though, there was a pecking at the window. An owl was outside! Oooo, whose package was that?

She quickly opened the window for it to fly it, but it seemed the delivery was for the boy, not her. Poo.

"Looks like you've got something," she said, closing the window again once the owl had flown back out.

Errrr...

Maybe Esme should have avoided entering this compartment?

She had wanted to ask the old man what he was doing here - and was pleased by his answer - but there were so many people coming around that it was getting a little hard to keep track of everything. "What subject are you going to teach?" she asked her soon-to-be Professor. He looked kind of nerdy, so she wondered what he specialized in. "What's your rat's name? She's friendly, right?" Because Esme didn't want to start off her term at Hogwarts by getting a rat bite; she liked animals but she had her limits.

...

Was that Azura she saw crying?

Surprised, Esme was going to step out and see what was wrong, but peeking her head outside the door, she saw that a boy (Torie) seemed to be calming her down. That was great and made her smile. She didn't want to see Azura cry, and it was nice that the boy was helping her. She turned her attention back to the others in the compartment.

Oh. Hi, Teddy!

She hadn't noticed him at first because so much had happened and he was quiet. She hoped he didn't mind. Esme sent him a smile and waved at him. He was the quiet type, so she wouldn't be surprised if he ended up leaving the compartment to find somewhere else to sit. "You're Ava, right?" she asked the girl sitting by him. "He told me a bit about you because I have a twin too - mine's a sister." So she thought it was cool to know someone who also had a twin!

Esme next turned her focus to the young boy (Jace) and sent him a smile too. "Hi."

Despite his normally mellow behavior, Garreth couldn't even begin to try to contain his excitement when it came to going to Hogwarts. Actually saying it out loud in an attempt to get Rachel pumped up nearly overloaded his brain with excitement, and he squirmed gleefully in his seat. "It's finally happening! We're actually going!" he squealed in response to Rachel. He was aware of her fondness of her Cactus, and imagined she would enjoy the herbology classes, but he himself was looking forward to Charms most of all. Or was it, Defense against the Dark Arts? Or was it Transfiguration? Or maybe Muggle Studies? He couldn't possibly decide!

That would have to be a decision for another time though, as they had drifted onto a very interesting subject. "Talks to inanimate objects?" he repeated, as if to be sure he heard correctly. The way Rachel worded it, it sure did sound a lot like Haddie was losing her marbles, but her defense made it much clearer. As he listened intently to her explanation, his expression morphed from a confused crunch of disbelief into an open smile of realization and understanding. "No, no, Haddie's explanation makes perfect sense." he began, basking in the glory of learning something new. "With what we know about Wandlore, it's entirely possible - likely, even - that wands and certain other inanimate objects, are capable of communication. I for one, find the idea of a wand having a gender absolutely fascinating!" he enthused for a moment before the attention was drawn to his own wand.

His face flushed with excitement once more as the opportunity presented itself for him to show off the wand, of which he was so proud.He reached into the messenger bag between his feet, and grunted at the nickname he'd received from Haddie. "Garry?" He smirked, still rummaging around in the bag. "My father wouldn't approve, but I kinda like it!" he smiled, finally finding and fishing out the leather carrying case containing his wand.

"Isn't it beautiful?" he giggled, opening the case and presenting to his friends an unusually long wand, made of Rosewood. Its form was straight and slender, but far from boring. The wood of the handle seemed to curve around itself to form perfect impressions of a young wizard's grip, and intricate, albeit very feint symbols and markings ran down the entire length of the wand. Despite the elegant appearance, the wood was incredibly rigid and firm to the touch. "Sixteen inch, Dragon Heartstring."The boy was obviously very proud of it, but Haddie's question still puzzled him. "You know, it's funny. I've spent a lot of time studying this wand, and getting to know it.. But it never even occurred to me to ask it for a gender." he shrugged.

Haddie huffed and glowered, then realized that because they were all on the same side and on opposite sides of Rachel, Gary couldn't see it. She hopped over to the other side, still by the window and huffed and glowered again. "There now we can see each other when we talk. And Wands are not its!"

But her mock annoyance was stolen by the sight of the wand, and she gasped. "Whoa..." Haddie studied the wand for a long moment. "Your wand is non-binary and prefers 'they' pronouns. They're very strong and they're name is.. Riley." She leaned back, smirking and put her feet up on where she had been sitting, looking as impressed with herself as she was with the wand. "You are very lucky Riley picked you."

Azura smiled up at Torie as he started to lead her back to a compartment and continued to talk to her. "I'm hoping for Ravenclaw actually." She said with a bit of a nervous smile. "Mmm, I guess you are right! I was just scared.. seeing as I knew everyone back in those compartment.. and I haven't really met many other people." She explained as he opened the door..

She nodded as he said it was mostly empty and she took a seat across from him and took a deep breath, this wasn't so bad! "Really?" Azura asked as she leaned back a little and she let go of her hair now that she was relaxing.. "What house did you end up in?" She asked him curiously. It was obviously not Slytherin!

Ailsa's mother, Brighid, had never been very much enamored with machinery. She left such things to the few hired hands who helped maintain the farm that had belonged to her muggle parents before her. At least, until she'd married a muggle of her own who dove into that side of rural farming with such aplomb that Brighid almost felt guilty about magically enhancing the machines' reliability. Almost.

Brighid's disinterest meant that when she'd regaled her daughter with tales of Hogwarts, the train had merely been a train. In Ailsa's practical imagination, that meant an unromantic but aerodynamic and efficient modern train, of the sort she'd ridden with her father on trips to the continent or the one she'd taken not long ago for the final leg of her trip from their little farm in Laurencekirk into London.

It hadn't prepared the petite ginger for the steam-powered wonder that hissed and gurgled before her on platform 9 3/4. A long period of silent rapture passed as Ailsa stood close, the boiler's heat seeping through her as she studied every rivet. "It's glorious..." she whispered to no-one but herself.

A shuffling behind her pulled Ailsa's attention back to the moment as, with a longing glance at the engine, the girl began dragging her trunk into the middle carriage. The trunk landed with a thump in the luggage area and Ailsa continued into the seating area, where the girl from earlier, in the bookstore was talking about someone named La Rue.

"Who's La Rue?" she couldn't stop herself from asking.

Haddie smirked, mischievously and opened her journal to jot down some prank idea or something equally likely to get her in trouble. This left the cover and its silver script visible to compartment door as a voice drew her attention.

"La Rue is the measuring tape at Ollivander's," Haddie answered matter-of-fact. She finished scribbling down her idea and then regarded the girl more carefully. "You're that creepy girl from the bookstore!"

"I knew he had a name!" The reaction comes unbidden and there's a moment of celebration at having been right. And then...

"Hey! I'm not creepy. You just have the same name as my cousin."

"Yes, she does makes sense. Especially since we know the wand is the one that chooses the wizard or witch. I enjoy provoking her into making it seem as though she were crazy,'' Rachel added in an undertone to Garreth.

There was the mention of Mr Kenway. The girl bit her lower lip to refrain from commenting about the dictator. She would always refer to him in that way. But the girl smiled when Garreth said he liked the name. "Haddie's good with names it would seem so Gary it is.'' This was another way to defy Mr Kenway and Rachel liked it. Already she could see Garreth being more comfortable with himself and being able to accept and do anything he wanted to.

She admired her boy best friend's wand. "It's beautiful,'' she commented but didn't have much opportunity to get more words out because her girl best friend was rattling off again. "Riley? That's both a boy's and a girl's name, isn't it?'' Rachel directed a question at Haddie who had moved to the opposite side of her and Garreth. "Why haven't you named mine as yet? He or she needs a name too.''

"Haddie! It's not polite to call someone creepy.'' Rachel turned to the other girl (Ailsa). "Excuse Haddie. She can talk before thinking sometimes."

Noel turned back to the new prefect while his crup got snuggled and what not. "I am great, and yeah - it's good to be back" And for the LAST time but yeah. "How was your summer?" Mundane talk on point.

Noel nodded with a smile when the little girl confirmed if Lamb belonged to him or not. It belonged more to Hayley if they looked back at his terrible-at-being-a-crup-owner record. "I didn't really put much thought into it, to be honest. He just kinda just gave that lamb-y vibe, y'know?" It made sense to him when he was eleven, obviously. Noel's gaze shifted from the girl to Henric when they asked the same qestion. "While technically I share custody of his many kids with my cousin Hayley, since she is the owner of his girlfriend" Noel eyed the not-so-innocent crup "And she has been giving them away to people who want one" he told them both, as he leaned forward and picked up the little guy on her head. "And who is this little guy?"

Jassie raised her eyebrow after realized someone in front of her compartment door. An Older boy. Did he just passed her compartment few minutes ago?

"Hello, Can I help you?" the girl mouthed her question.

The boy seemed like lost in thought.Jessie waved her hand and chuckled before decided to repeat her quetion again.

Jessie grabbed the handle of the door and opened it. She saw the boy clearly. He was cute. And obviously taller than her.Everybody looked taller just because Jessie has petite body.

That boy different from Henric, the prefect she met in the platforms. But Jessie felt something in that boy.

"Wanna join me? Or you prefer to standing in there all the time?"

Jessie smiled politely and unconsciously played with her curly-long brown lock.

"Wh.. what??" finally got his consciousness back after wonder why did he get here... a sudden regret appears ..

"Uhm..mmh NO! I'm here because... because i thought i saw something..." Obviously Raven cant hide his nervous.. this is more difficult than the Arithmancy lessons that he hated so much..

suddenly his pride and dignity as a Pureblood apprears.. " May i ask, who are you? are you a pure blood or a mud.. err.. half blood i mean, are you new? i never see you before, is your first time in here?" He almost smile... Almost..

he tries to calm down and show some conceit manners, but yet he ask so many question to the girl, without noticing it makes the girl giggles on how he tried to look cocky.. somehow, the girl seem not to be afraid with his look..

Aaah...pureblood freak? Her parents told her of this before. Some families must be proud of their bloodline.

"My bad. I will introduce myself first. You gave me so much questions to answer." Jessie went back to her previous position in compartment "My Name's Jeslyn Chambell. Always pureblood from my grand-grand-grand parents."

Jessie can't hold her urged to laughing after seeing the expression that boy made. Very nervous as if he met a wild werewolf.

"You can call me Jessie if you want. And yes, I am new here.Moved to Britain last year. The reason why my English is so bad.And i'm in first year. "

"i'm sure you're a pureblood as well..." Jeslyn teased the boy again.

Things didn’t process properly when Ava spoke, and asked the man things...he kept his eyes on the rat, that kept on squeaking. SQUEAKING. A real, live rat, making rat noises. Jace wanted to lose consciousness right then and there, because this man actually kept a rat in his person. The eleven year old could feel the hairs on his arms and back stand as the rat kept on squeaking.

As he kept his back plastered against the compartment door, Jace didn’t notice Azura pass by. He’d love to ask why she’s sad, and comfort her, but...seriously, the rat situation is just...too much for the young boy right now.

Greeting were postponed for now because he was too preoccupied—

AND WHY WAS THAT RAT ACTING WEIRD!?!?! Jace bumped the back of his head against the compartment door real hard, and at the same time, squirmed, thinking and praying to the heavens that the rat won’t touch him.

His prayer was...somehow granted when somebody opened the closed compartment door by an older girl. Jace lost his balance, stumbling back, and hitting the closed door in front of their compartment. “Yeeeeeeooooouuuuccch...” the eleven year old rubbed the side of his head, as he pushed himself up from the floor.

Okay, seriously. A hag...and a rat? This Hogwarts Express train ride IS intense!

Standing on the threshold, Jace kept on rubbing his head, and asked the man straight out, “Why do you have a rat as a pet?!?!” he said in full-blown Japanese. He’s too shocked to process everything in English. Sorry, mister.

He briefly looked around, and finally saw the newcomer (Esme), "Ohayo." he said with a bow.

Now...back to that rat.

Haddie was too busy regarding the new girl (Ailsa) to notice what Rachel was saying right away. When it did register, she playfully kicked her best friend's shin. "I say what I mean to say. Staring at people without saying anything is creepy. And your wand is a she, for the umpteenth time. She's just quiet and shy so it takes longer to learn her name."

Hadley turned back to the new girl, regarding her curiously for a second long. "Elsa?"

The spindly redhead studied the girl next to Haddie for a moment. "Oh, I talk before thinkin' too sometimes. Me mam says it runs in me da's family." Before Ailsa can introduce herself though...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callie

"Elsa?"

"Ailsa." The correction comes out automatically. "I'm no' an ice queen."

There's another moment of sizing up Haddie before, "You have the same name as her because you are her, aren't you." The words are less a question than a tentative conclusion.

Haddie gave her friends a confused look, as if asking them for help making sense of this. As if they could really give any. She looked back at Ailsa. "Uh, yeah... so, I'm not the only witch in the family...?"

This was weird. They haven't seen each other in years and now suddenly they were both witches and going to the same school. It was just, well, weird.

Hadley scratched the back of her head. She opened her mouth to ask her cousin how she's been, but instead it came out, "You're different."

"I know, right? Apparently, dad had it special made." Garreth beamed at Rachel, thankful that she liked his wand. The thought had crossed his mind that maybe it wasn't very pretty, and he was the only one who thought it was, but Rachel's comment and Haddie's 'Woah' had put those fears to rest. Thank Merlin.

"Non-binary?" The boy eyed Haddie, and then returned his attention to his wand. "Riley?" He scratched his head. He carefully wrapped his fingers around the handle and raised the wand to eye-height, inspecting it carefully. "I don't hear anything." he looked back at Haddie with a shrug.

He quickly turned his gaze toward the compartment door, as another person had entered. Of course, Haddie immediately proceeded to call her creepy, which Rachel objected to, but Garreth didn't. Sure, maybe Haddie just spoke before she thought, or maybe it was some inside joke between the two of them. "Hello, Ailsa! When I met Haddie earlier today, someone warned me not to take her too seriously." he smiled at the new girl. "So far, it's done me good to follow that advice."

Thomas looked up at the two yes he was tired, "Can't sleep on the train, afraid of crash. It's stupid but its a fear of mine." He sheepishly rubbed his head before looking over at Spencer again. "Well I had to be the hero of course, plus once she jumped into my arms I just couldn't put her down." He threw a smirk at Arista be mad at that Princess. He knew very well that she couldn't be cross with him after that, it was the truth in a way. He glanced over at Spencer and Hope and said "Ready to be sorted?" He chuckled as he looked over at Arista remembering when he was sorted...Arista almost punched him when she thought he was going to be in Slytherin like his brother haha she always was a fiesty one...A scary one when angry, he did not want to be on the other side of her wand. She had seen some of her hexes and they were not nice!

Thomas gave a grin at Hope she thought that ferret was cute and nice..HA!!! It wasn't that thing was evillll!!! He turned to glare at the thing and mumbbled something about it being evil before lifting his head and scooting far from the creature as well as Arista. "I don't know why you bring that thing why not bring Killian he is so much better than that thing." Speaking of which he would have to make sure to go check on his owl when they got to the school.

(For: My Lovelyyy, Sad-Drinking-Viking-Bear, SuperCALLIEfragilisticexpialidocious and Mirali-elicious)

Only Mason would get lost on a train.

She didn't even know that it was possible for someone to be stupid enough to do that. Well now you're one of those people.

Mason let out a frustrated sigh as she looked into yet another compartment filled with strangers. She had no idea where her friends were. They had been walking in front of Mason, but she had lost them. How? She didn't have a clue.

The shriek of delight left Mason's mouth before she even knew why. A wave of relief hit her as she looked into the compartment to see Haddie, Garreth and Rachel all sitting on the plush seats. There was another girl as well, one she had never met before. "Why would you be an ice queen? Is it some sort of spell?" she asked the girl with a tilt of her head.

She grinned at the rest of the lot and took a seat, "Sorry. Got lost. . ." Mason said sheepishly then asked, "What did I miss?"

Maybe she should go back outside.

Maggie had followed the boy's gaze back to the compartment door. This was ridiculous. Zeke was probably still looking for her. Yes, she'd seen him run after her after she'd stormed out their compartment. Which in that moment had given her all the more reason to hide. She didn't want to discuss it. She didn't know what to say or what he wanted to hear.

Stupid Paige!

Eventually dropping her gaze to her lap again, Maggie pushed a lock of blonde hair out of her face. No. She was simply going to stay in here until the train had reached Hogsmeade station. The quiet kid seemed like a suitable companion. One that wouldn't bother her or say annoying things or ask questions.

Only he DID in fact have questions. With a sigh, she looked back up and read the note he'd written. What? "I am." She WAS doing a pretty good job at hiding no? "I haven't been found yet." Which, she concluded, mean she was successfully hiding. As for the next question, "my boyfriend mostly." He was the only one who she felt bad for upsetting after all. Maybe she could go apologize at the feast. Apologize for what though exactly?

Trying to take her mind off it for a little while at least, Maggie tilted her head to the side a little and considered the boy. "Why do you use that instead of just saying the words?" She nodded to the notebook. It was a valid question no?

Ailsa grinned slightly at Haddie, "No. You're not. Me mam is too. You're going to love it." It's not quite an exclamation, but there's definitely a hint of excitement in the ginger girl's voice. And then a giggle.

"Different from when I was seven? Yes, a little bit. I'm guessing you are too."

Ailsa's smile was tentative now as she suddenly recalled her seven-year-old self. Oh god, please don't bring up my pink dresses and dollies phase...

The inner panic is blessedly brought to an end as there's a happy squeal behind her, coupled with the approach of a girl with dirty blonde hair asking why Ailsa would be an ice queen.

"I'm no' an ice queen. That's Elsa. Ah'm Ailsa." There's a couple of blank looks that prompt her into an explanation. "Character in an old movie, me da' liked old movies... Sorry."

As Ailsa looked away, the boy in the group, Gary, she thought she'd heard, pipes up telling her not to take Haddie seriously. "You couldn't take her seriously when she was seven eith--er" The last word gets stumbled over badly as her mind finally registered the boy as something other than background to the surprise of discovering Haddie.

And then he smiled at her as he said the advice had served him well and Ailsa's face went very warm. "Yeahh..." There was an extremely uncharacteristic absent quality to the response as she awkwardly tucked a wayward strand of hair behind an ear.

"Sorry. I, uh, it's just -- Um. I'm going to sitoverherewithmybook."

With an apologetic 'I-didn't-mean-to-do-that' look to the brunette girl sitting next to Gary, Ailsa plopped herself down in the nearest empty seat and hid behind her new copy of The Will, the Word, and the Wand.

Don't you worry, mister Prefect person, sir. Olivia had every intention on directing her attention (and sparkly gaze) back his way after some business was taken care of with the crup's human. Yes...because Liv really did want one. A crup, that was. Had for ages....and AGES. What a golden opportunity she'd stumbled across on this very special day!

It more than made up for her snack drama!

"He DOES seem very lamblike. I've been to a petting zoo before...and the ones I was allowed to touch were as soft as what I'd expect clouds to feel like." The small blonde was speaking with an excited sheen to her eyes...and ever-blossoming flush to her checks. "Are you especially attached to him?" This was asked just as Prince Charming plucked Gus from around her shoulders. Liv made a face, repositioning the crup currently in her arms. "You can't have him." Just so the pretty boy knew. Lots of people wanted Gus, of course. He was a MOST REVERED companion; best pet around. Better than any stinky owls and such.

...but he was also hers. And she most certainly didn't plan to trade him. Every princess needed their Gus.

Taking a moment to breathe, she looked back towards the first boy. He, too, had a very...pristine look to his face. And that badge...the boy from the food trolley had said it meant he was perfect. Olivia didn't know if she believed him or not, however. "What's your name?"

What was Hogwarts like? "Well, big, for starters." He gave a small chuckle. It was easy to get lost. "But after a month or so you start to get the hang of it." Hogwarts was more than that though. It was like a home for those who felt lonely, and it gave you friends where you thought you had none. "It's really more than that though. It becomes a second home. Plus you make friends along the way. And not just in respective houses. You make friends all over the school."

Plus the boy had Austin now. He may not be able to help much, but if the younger kid had any issues with potions, he could help with his eyes closed. "If you ever need any help with potions or whatever, I'm usually in the library, or behind a book." Speaking of books, the young boy had one open. "What's that?" He said, nodding towards it.