Back Cars
 

Hanna was ready to start the new term. Since everything seemed to have righted itself before going home, the anxiety of this moment wasn't there. Lena was starting this year, too, but she was spending every possible second in a cuddle with their mother, so Hanna chose to find herself a compartment. She passed one with Taddy in it, and doubled back to say hello.

"Hi Taddy," she said as she poked her head through the door. "How are you? Did you have a nice Summer?"

Open!!
 

First year. Wow. She was finally off to Hogwarts. She was super nervous and also super excited. How was this year going to be? She had, for long, heard stories about Hogwarts from her sister, dreaming and hoping for this day to come as fast as possible. Now that it was here, she really had no idea how it was all going to be.

As she waved goodbye to Papa and Amma, she boarded the train with her luggage and started searching for a compartment. She peered through the window and found two students, both of them looking older than her. She wondered whether to go and sit with them or search for an empty compartment. Maybe they didn't wanna be disturbed.

She went ahead and found an empty compartment for herself. She unloaded her bags and sat there, looking outside at the mountains as the train started moving, and then it occurred to her that this was indeed symbolic of her moving towards a new destination in life.

*snags* but also Taddy and Hanna
 

Okay, first of all, Harri was NOT crying. She just had something in her eye. Something that had started to be there since she waved goodbye to her Ma, Pa and brother. Second of all, she did NOT forget to brush her hair. Rather, she didn't just brush her hair, period. She simply did not like the task.

So here she was, clad in her first set of Hogwarts uniforms, messy hair and all, dragging her trunk across the train aaaaaaaaaaaaall the way to the back because cool people sat on the back. Right? RIGHT.

Reaching one compartment, Harri slid the door open and saw two people already there, a girl and a boy. Hmm. They didn't look that cool though. Putting on a wide smile on her face, she waved at the two of them. "Hi! I'm Harri, with an i. Bye!" Well, that was definitely nicer than telling them they weren't very cool-looking, no? Quickly shutting the door before they could say anything else, Harri moved on.

...to a compartment occupied by one single person. Who didn't look that cool either but honestly, she was already tired from having to pull her things up to there soooo...She began to pull her things inside and gave the other girl a slight smile. "Hi. Mind if I join you?"

Oh there was someone. Kaira turned her head away from the scenery to look at...oh, was she crying? She definitely looked a mess.

'Oh..sure..feel free,' she said.

Should she ask her about the messy hair and red eyes? To be honest, she would have liked to, but something told her that this girl here did not like intrusion into her personal life. She smiled t her and said : 'Hi..I'm Kaira..You alright?' Woah, oops, that JUST SLIPPED OUT! She sort of regretted asking.

o p e n
 

Penny <3 (And imaginary first-years, not any of you darlings!)
 

A new year. Another train ride. Would this year be better than the last? Benji certainly hoped so.

All in all, he was hesitant. Apprehensive. After all, he'd expected last year to be good, and it had been... Well, what it was.

What if something went wrong again this term? Another new regime of terror? More scary dark creatures roaming about? There was much to be anxious about, it seemed, but Benji did his best to push those thoughts out of his mind.

After all, last year he'd made it through for one reason: Penny Lane Goodman. She had been like an anchor for him through the crazy.

They'd spent time together over the summer -- and it had been wonderful, of course -- but he had to admit that he was looking forward to a school year where they wouldn't have to hide out. He was a little bit elated at the idea of holding her hand through the corridor where everybody could see. And sitting with her at meals. Yes please.

But right now, what he was most worried about was sitting with her on the train. They'd agreed that whoever boarded first would try to snag something in the back. He hadn't seen her yet, so he figured it was up to him to pick a car. He crept through the long corridor, searching for an empty compartment. A few first-years seemed like they were heading in the direction of one of the only ones that didn't have anyone in it, so he kind of just... Swooped in before they got there and slid the door shut. Heh. It wasn't his fault that, at 5'10", his legs were, like, two feet longer than theirs. (You'd probably be hard-pressed to find another 14-year-old his height, and he knew logically that he'd more than likely just hit his final growth spurt early, but a part of him refused to believe he was done growing.)

He settled into the comfy seat, spreading his things out across from him and propping his feet up. Ha. Now there was only room for Penny, so those first years couldn't get any bright ideas about trying to squeeze in with him.

It was brilliant.

bit of Harri too
 

As the train began to move away, Tad could see the silhouettes of his family disappear. He gave them a last wave before facing the seat in front of him. He wondered. Would many of his friends return? What about the Quidditch team? Stuff had happened so Auntie Helena wasn't even allowed to start her first year because of it. Hm.. Well, no use worrying about that. He was heading there now and he would soon figure that out.

Taddy turned his head at the door sliding open, he smiled. "Hey Hanna. I'm good and you?" There, at least one friend returned. "My summer went alright, I got to practice some Quidditch and traveled to watch my dad play a few games. How was yours? Hopefully she had a good one too. "I hope Hogwarts is fun this year."

Suddenly he heard the door open again. Hmm, he didn't recognize them. Must be a firstie. "Hi Harri..." And then she was off. Welp, that was quick. She must've had other places to be.

"I'm pretty good, actually. One of my sisters is starting this year and I'm a bit nervous for her. The sorting and everything." She wondered if she'd be welcoming Lena into Ravenclaw or if others would be doing that in one of the other three houses.

"Wow, your dad is a Quidditch player?" How did she not know that!? That was so cool! "It was a bit tiring. My baby brother has colic and spent most of the holidays screaming." To be honest, it would be nice getting a full nights sleep at Hogwarts. "Yeah... me too. But. Well, everything... came to an end. All the bad things." She didn't feel so sure though. Something always seemed to happen at Hogwarts.

"Hi Harri, with an I," Hanna said, but before she had a chance to say anything else the young girl was gone. Huh. She looked to Taddy. That was weird, right? Hanna doubted she was a Ravenclaw, with that much courage.

YAY. She could sit now, which she did, jumping onto the seat opposite the girl who was asking if she was alright. "I'm fine," Harri replied, using the back of one hand to rub her face. Did she look miserable? Pathetic? It was most probably the hair. She should smile just a biiit more. "Nice to meet you, Kaira. I'm Harri." And I'll be the coolest girl ever at school. "Are you also going to be a first year like me?" She asked, distractedly rummaging and emptying her pockets into the space beside her.

A boiled egg, a half-eaten licorice wand, some sickles, her slingshot...

Where was Hohenheim?

And that was when the compartment opened yet again, this time to a boy. Harri got to her feet, brow furrowing. "Have you seen a toad?"

Sure her summer had been filled with lots of Benji, but being back at school meant she'd see him EVERY DAY! It was that fact that sent her nearly running through the train corridor to find him. After she had waved her brother (who had taken the day off of work to see she and their sister off) and mum (who had ALSO taken the day off) away she had made a beeline for the back cars. With Cassiopeia's cage held tightly under one arm she grinned and peered into every compartment as she passed. This was the BEST part of her day!

And just as she pushed through a group of first years she finally laid eyes on her prize. The cutest boy on the planet! HER boyfriend! Oh man... it caused her stomach to lurch just a tad as she ripped the compartment door open and stepped inside, BEAMING.

"Sorreh if M'late. There's firsties ev'rywhere," she explained as she set Cassi's cage down and opened the door. And then, wasting no more time, she perched on the seat next to Benji and leaned against his side. "How many days has it been since i last seen ya? Feels like forever."

And to a teenager, she suspected it did... feel like forever, that is. Or maybe it was just her? What if Benj had decided he was done with her? Hahaha. She had almost forgotten about the gripping anxiety that came along with being a teen. Wonderful.

But at least she could hold his hand now, right?

And that is precisely what she did. Reaching over she slipped her somewhat sweaty hand into his and gave it a small squeeze. He did still fancy her, yeah?

Two girls who he didn't know was kind of intriguing, but Józef wasn't sure if they were cool or not, so he was about to back out of the compartment and continue on his search (maybe he could find Jackson and show him his broken arm?!) when one of them stood up and spoke to him.

"Yeah, I've seen plenty of toads," he answered with a shrug, leaning his none-slinged shoulder against the compartment door and adopting a cool stance. "You'll need to be far more specific."

Odaline was no longer alone.

And the person with her was not Ingrid or a parent.

The girl that had walked in looked strange.. she smelled like food... and she had a lot of questions... Odaline hated questions. With a slight raised eyebrow, the 11 year old assessed what else she could see from this girl. Red hair. Seemed like a bright colour. Was going to be a nightmare. Did not want to be friends with. Those were her initial assessments from first look.

Her name was worse. Cordelia. Sounded like a sunshine flower.

"Hogwarts." She said simply.

She didn't know if this train stopped anywhere on the way. Maybe this Cordelia kid would leave.

Fingers crossed.

Oh crumbs.

She was coming to Hogwarts too. This was going to be the worst. At least, as far as Odaline was aware, there was only a 25% chance that they would be in the same house. Even less if you thought about the traits that they shared. None, if you had to know. None whatsoever. Odaline's mouth curled downwards into a frown and she shrugged. "Fun." It wasn't.

She spared a glance towards the sketchbook that Cordelia had and took it into her own hands, flicking through the pages without a care about the other girls feelings.

Taddy and Hanna
 

This girl was full of surprises. Kaira smiled nevertheless. 'Hello Harri..Yes, I'm gonna be a first year too,' she said.

Kaira searched her backpack for her box of homemade cookies, that her Amma had made for her. She opened the box and found chocolate chip cookies, her favourite.

'Want some? My amma made them..,' she said, grinning. 'By Amma, I mean mom,' she added, her mom being Indian, insisted that she be called 'amma', which translates to 'mom' in her mothertongue.

Kaira looked up as she heard another person talk. He looked taller than her, so her best guess was second or third year.

'Hi..sure you don't wanna sit down?,' she asked.

"Hey!" Benji replied, beaming in return. His GIRLFRIEND was heeeeeere!! "And hey to you, too!" Benji greeted Cassiopeia, sticking a finger gingerly in her cage to say hello.

"No worries, you're not really late unless the train leaves you, right?" He smiled as she leaned into him, grabbing his hand. He quickly pulled it away, but not for the reason she might be thinking -- he brought his arm up to put around her shoulders instead, pulling her even closer. "Mmm, dunno," he said, nuzzling his face into her hair and smiling. "Feels like a million. Probably more like... Four? Five?" He pulled back, looking at her face. "Too many, anyway. But hey," he grinned, "that's over now, right? We get to see each other every day."

He couldn't imagine anything better than that. So... Yeah, he was pretty happy.

"So good news... You like me in glasses, right?" He cracked another smile. "I realized a few minutes ago that I forgot to pack spare contact solution. I've only got a little left, gonna have to wait for my mum to send me more once I can get an owl to her. And she's working for the next couple weeks... So I guess you'll have to get used to having a nerdy boyfriend."

He would have asked her for some when she dropped him off, except she hadn't dropped him off. He had, as per usual, been sent off with no fanfare. His parents hadn't even been home when he'd set off, via the Muggle public transport system, for the station. He was used to it, but he didn't want to upset Penny, so he didn't mention it. He just smiled at her instead. He couldn't believe he actually got to hang out with her EVERY DAY!!!!

"Oh really? Wow! That's cool. Next year one of my sisters will get to join." Well, assuming something bad doesn't happen to close the school. "How many siblings do you have? I have 2 younger sisters and one brother." Taddy had no idea what house they could be sorted in with their family being a mix of each house.

"Yeah, he's a Chaser for the Tutshill Tornados." Tad was really proud of his dad and hoped he could be just as good as him. "Aw, that's too bad. I bet now it'll be easier to sleep at Hogwarts." If he had to spend another year waking up at 4 in the morning he didn't know what will happen.

This was great, Taddy had thought just as he heard the compartment door open. "Hey Bettie!" He grinned at her. "I don't mind if you join us. Did you have a good summer?" They had plenty of room after all. "That's a cool ring."

Barely even able to begin her search, Harri paused and looked at the boy leaning against the door with a sling on his other arm (she was willing to bet three sickles he was just wearing that for some dramatic effect, boys are such BABIES, except for her brother, he was her hero) and told him, "My toad. Have you seen my toad?" And now the search resumed as the eleven year old scoured the compartment for said amphibian, turning on the spot as her eyes took note of every nook before getting on her knees to check under the seats.

Nope, nope. Nuh-uh.

She was still in that position when the other girl, Kaira, offered some cookies by her Amma who apparently was her mom? Uhh, right. Well, she couldn't have any of that yet when she was on the floor and still without her toad, now could she? "What? No, I don't want your cookies." Okay, that wasn't true. She wanted some cookies. She just had to find Hohenheim first. "I meant, maybe in a while, later." There. That sounded better.

...Recommence search!

Kaira was slightly taken aback by the outright rejection of her cookies, but okay. Maybe the girl was too pre-occupied with her toad, she had said hi to her, so she probably wasn't the extremely rude type

However, Kaira could tell that she was one of the extremely confident, I'm-gonna-rule-the-school types, but she wasn't gonna judge someone that fast. She put her cookies back in the box and put the box into her backpack and decided to help her find the toad in question.

'Here..let me help..,' she said, as she joined the search. 'Umm..any..umm.. particular identification mark that we could look for?,' she asked. 'Maybe..umm..he jumped out of your hand and is in umm..some other platform?,' she suggested.