Kings Cross Station: Intros

[Jennie]

Grand opening tonight guys =)

When you're ready, post your intro in this thread. Your character should be at Kings Cross Station, and you can include them meeting up with friends, saying goodbye to family, their observations/feelings, etc. Show them getting on the train.

Later, once people start posting their intros, we will have separate threads for each compartment. It'll be clearer how many compartments we'll have and who's in which compartment once people finish their relationships pages and post their intros.

Sooo yeah, post your intro here any time today, but no back-and-forth role-playing until we officially start tonight. In the mean time, finish up your relationship pages and special positions stuff (if it applies to you), and just wait for the start =)

[Ace Salvatore]

Ace looked around King's Cross, trying to find somebody that she knew. Her mother and father were both running behind, effectively getting on her nerves. Being purebloods didn't mean they got to move as quickly as the Queen of freaking England.
Rey sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Be careful at Hogwarts, you spazz," he muttered. She glared at her cousin through her bangs.
"You suck, dude." He just shrugged and pointed at Aero's cage, telling her in Rey-speak to let the stubborn little bird out of his cage before he tried to ram into the door. She obliged Rey, and Aero hopped up on to her shoulder. In annoyance, the little red-tailed hawk poked at her hair. She was lucky she had so much or that might've hurt.
"I'm sorry, Aero," she cooed, stroking his head. He nodded thoughtfully, getting a laugh out of Ace. Sometimes, Snow's replacement acted more human than she did.
Fey and Jaydin finally made their way over to Ace and Rey. Ace hugged her mother, letting Fey fuss over her. Her mother still got a little over-emotional when she was seeing her eldest daughter off.
Finally, Ace's family left, leaving her to wander around in search of her few remaining friends. She hoped she found them soon...
Hearing the elder of her two younger sisters calling out a goodbye, she turned around to smile as she waved. Her sister's curly black head disappeared from Ace's sight after that, so she turned back to her search for friends. There was one particular person she was hoping to see, but she doubted she'd see him until they were actually on the train. For an instant, she wondered if she'd see her friend Marisol would be there, then she remembered that Marisol had gotten married and moved to Romania with her husband. Ace had been in her wedding, now that she thought of it; she'd been the Maid of Honor. It had been a whole lot of fun.
She shook her head. 'Focus, Ace!' she mentally chastised herself. She'd been paying so little attention that she accidentally ran into someone. She looked up with an apologetic smile.
"Hey, sorry about that," she apologized.

[Aisu Oki]

Aisu walked with confidence, he had much more confidence in his ability to walk straight and not clumsily tripping over his own two feet, as he wasn't wearing shoes, so his steps were fairly light and soundless. How he was allowed to go anywhere without shoes, was a mystery in itself, and one that Aisu wasn't quite sure of. The barefooted male kept pace easily with his family. He had already told him he was a perfect, and they had already had their celebretion last night. As the young male walked, his wand was hidden in his robes, yes he had gotten changed before they had left to the station. It was just easier that way, and at least that way, he wouldn't have to bother changing when they closer to hogwarts, like many of the other students did.

Aisu was stuck listening to his parents ask him several things. All of which he answered none the less, even though he didn't want to. His grandfather, Souji Karasu was with them, to see him off at Hogwarts. He listened to his parents talk, but at was at the tap to his shoulder. that made him look at his grandfather. The white haired old man smiled kindly at the blind teenager. "Don't give those first years a too hard of a time in flying class." Souji said calmly, a good-natured laugh escaping his pale lips.

Aisu wanted to roll his eyes for the millionth time since the beginning of his first year off to Hogwarts. "I'll try not to." He answered. However he knew that wouldn't happen, with the first years being so bloody cocky,(Aisu was surprised that he hadn't killed one of them yet) Aisu had to set them straight and stop all the mockery and teasing he got, from stupid annoying, gitless 11 year olds! No one but those first years who had been in his class, had known how much a jerk he could get to be at times, and how rude first years could be, which was enough to make anyone understand why the blind wizard used such force in getting the respect he deserved from the first years of Madam Hooch's flying class.

Aisu suddenly felt himself getting hugged by his mother, and he couldn't help tensing up. It was a habit, an innate reaction, one that was so hard to break, it was too hard to break. Being hugged and touched, body touching, made it easier to tell just who he was talking to. But voices told so much for about a person than his sense of touch and feeling did. Aisu hesitated before he hugged his mother back, and released her. His father was more intune with Aisu, and he also didn't want to embarrass his son. He gave his son an awkward hand shake, before he too pulled the teen into a hug. Shocking the blind teen and once again Aisu hugged his father, and once the man released him, he dropped his arms to his side. His grandfather was different, the old albino man ran his fingers through Aisu's ponytailed hair, before he rested his hand on Aisu's shoulder. "Have fun at Hogwarts, Aisu-kun." The old albino said lovingly.

With the last of the sappy goodbyes, Aisu listened to the loud thumps of the footsteps of his parents disappearing into the crowd. Aisu had stayed still, for he knew he would have to run into the brick wall to get to the train. He had remained still to hear that tiny little 'whoosh' or 'ripple' sound that meant someone had gone through said wall, it was so much more easier to listen and find it, then to ask someone for help, when he had been doing this for several years already. His Grandfather was the only one left who had stayed. The old wizard told Aisu where the wall was, and had lined him up to it. The old man coughed into his hand once the muggle's looked away, which gave Aisu the Que to run through the wall.

Once on the other side of the wall, he was bombarded by voices and screeches, meows and ribbits of animals, and of course the deafening ear-splitting sound of the Hogwarts Express. Aisu had made it obviously. Aisu shook his head and sighed to himself. He found himself getting bumped into. "Watch where the hell you're going, BAKA(Moron)!" He snapped out loudly, as he stumbled back a few steps, struggling to keep his balance. He failed and tripped over his own two feet and fell onto his butt. He glared up at the person. White milky eyes narrowing into an angry glare. It was amazing the male could glare as accordantly as he could at another person. He wasn't sure who had bumped into him, but couldn't sighted people be more careful? He may have been blind, but he was much more careful than sighted people were, and sighted people, seers as he called them, took so much of their sight for granted. It pissed him off, how sighted people even with sight, tripped over things that are right in front of them. They had no right to act so blind when they had sight, or use the words. "I'm so blind." Those words he hated, how sighted people used them so damn easily, without even any consent from those who really were blind! Sighted people really were idiots and arrogant people at times.

Aisu continued to glare at the person who bumped into him. His sightless glare didn't lesson even as she apologized to him. That voice, that tone she used... The person who had bumped into him was.... Acrecia Salvatore, Gryffindor, starting her 4th year. He had met her in his third year of Hogwarts, when he had to take Madam Hooch's class for a third time. That had been their first meeting, and he probably acted like a jerk, because several first years had pissed him off to the point of where he had used Levicorpus on one of the Gryffindor students, and it had gotten them to shut up for a time, at least before he had gotten in serious trouble for using it, by Madam Hooch. Long story short, he had met the girl, and somewhat liked her attitude, although at times, she did mange to get on his nerves. Such as when she stuck her nose into his business, or helped him out with something he could handle on his own.

Even after finding out who she was, that didn't mean he was going to be nice to her. Sable gave an angry and fretful squawk from her cage, as she looked at her friend and owner who had luckily landed on the ground next to his cart, instead of on top of it. The black barn owl clearly wasn't happy with what had just happened to her friend and owner. "Easy Sabes, no harm done." Aisu soothed the angry owl as he got up to his feet. He still had his dignity in tact, and would help himself to his own two feet. Aisu got to his feet and stuck his finger, feeling the bars until he came into contact with the lock of the cage, which he unlocked and allowed the beautiful black barn owl to come out of her cage and land on his arm. Sable was very good when it came to listening to commands of Aisu, and she was also well trained so that Aisu didn't have to worry about her flying off in a panic. "I'm sure you remember, Sable, as you have met her before." He said calmly, clearly his anger had faultered when he was getting Sable out of her cage, and had the owl in his hand, where his free hand, gently stroked the owl's soft breast feathers.

[Gia Parker]

The usual confusion of Kings Cross Station on September 1st brought a smile to Gia’s face the second she became a part of it. She loved being around everyone again, and feeling like she was finally starting the regular Hogwarts routine after this past –painfully long- summer. She was mostly by herself at the moment, unless you count her brother Ethan, who hadn’t stopped talking for what felt like hours. Gia didn’t see her mother the second half of the summer, and even though she’d been staying with her father this half, he had something important to do for the Ministry and couldn’t make it.

So Gia was stuck with Ethan. She thought that maybe he would’ve made this a little easier on her, considering their relationship had changed over the summer because he graduated Hogwarts and was working on his Auror training. The only thing that changed was that instead of giving her the quick lecture and then heading off to meet his friends, Ethan was giving her the long version, because he unfortunately (ha) wouldn’t be able to bug her about anything at Hogwarts anymore.

“I mean it, Gia. I don’t wanna hear any rumors about you sneaking off with any guys this year. Or of you being at a party where there’s drinking, or boys, or boys and drinking. Are you even listening to me?” he asked, sounding slightly annoyed. She glanced over at him and rolled her eyes. “Yup, I’m listening. No boys, no drinking, no fun…” she muttered. “I’m serious. I still have friends at Hogwarts who’ll be 7th years, and trust me, they’ll be keeping an eye on you,” he threatened.

“Right. Because a bunch of seventeen year old guys in their last year of school are totally gonna have nothing better to do than babysit their older friend’s little sister. Seriously Ethan,” she said. “Well someone has to! And since I won’t be around this year-” “Thank Merlin,” Gia cut in. “Come on, Gia, I’m serious,” he said. “I’m serious too, Ethan. Stop freaking worrying, I’ll be fine. I’m sixteen, I’m not your stupid baby sister anymore. I don’t know why you keep telling me all this stuff because you know I’m not gonna listen to you,” she reasoned. Ethan couldn’t stop a small smile from reaching his lips. “I know, I know, you’re gonna do whatever you want, this is your first year of no-over-protective-brother freedom. I get it. But I just don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret-”

“Oh please. We both know you’re just trying to protect me from guys who would do exactly the same shit you did when you were in school. Don’t be such a hypocrite,” she snapped. It was Ethan’s turn to roll his eyes. “Whatever Gia. Maybe you’re right, and maybe now that I think of it, I wouldn’t want any of those girls or whoever to be my little sister to another guy, ya know?” he said. “Yes. But you’re being so obsessive about this. It’s not like you never drank or did anything stupid at Hogwarts. And if you don’t stop bugging me, I’ll seriously tell dad about all of your little activities that I’ve kept secret for you.” “Fine, I’ll stop. Just be careful, okay?” he asked, sounding serious in a genuinely caring way. “I know, I know. Don’t worry. I’ll send you an owl every single day to update you about all the trouble I’m not getting into. But I have to go, the train’s leaving in like five minutes,” she said, glancing at her watch.

“Have a good year…I know it won’t be nearly as fun without me,” he joked. “You’re right, I don’t know what I’ll do without you,” she said dramatically, then added in, “But I guess I’ll have to manage.” He smiled. “Yup, I guess you will. Maybe it’s a little over the top writing to me every day…but just keep me posted, alright?” “I will, I promise. I’ll see you in the summer,” she said, hugging him, knowing that she’d actually miss him even though he annoyed her the majority of the time. He embraced her back, hardly able to believe she was already in her 6th year at Hogwarts. Gia walked away from him after they said their last goodbyes, a smile on her face and ready to take on whatever this year had coming for her.

[Scorpius Malfoy]

“Oh Draco, look at that one, see what she’s wearing?” a woman’s voice hissed quietly.

“Just think, that lady’s kid could be going to Hogwarts with our son,” Draco replied.

“Can you imagine?” Astoria wondered outloud.

Scorpius rolled his eyes. Some things never change he thought to himself, knowing perfectly well that his parents would never get over their favorite game, Muggle Watching. Yes, he understood that Muggles wear weird clothes. But after hearing Draco and Astoria talk about it for years and noticing the weird Muggle clothes, it all sounded the same to Scorpius. Lately he had started just tuning them out. He couldn’t understand how the topic was still so interesting after so many years. Maybe it was just because they were easily entertained, but he mostly thought it was because they would never get tired of slipping in a nasty comment about Muggles every change they got.

Like he said, some things never change. You could turn a Death Eater good, but you couldn’t make them like a Muggle. Scorpius thought this was more of a Pureblood thing than a Death Eater thing anyway. But still. He was sick of it.

“Hey mum?” Scorpius muttered, trying to sway his mother away from her staring. She was too busy snickering behind her hand next to her husband, who was smirking. Scorpius rolled his eyes.

“Father,” he said firmly, and a little bit louder. But Draco was looking in the other direction, and Astoria’s snickers were close enough to his ear that he didn’t hear Scorpius either. He raised an eyebrow in their direction. There was no doubt that he loved his parents, but sometimes they got too carried away over things like this. It was annoying, and it was true that Scorpius had been trying to get their attention, more than once.

“I have to get on the train, it’s leaving soon,” he said, glaring at both his parents, whose backs were nearly completely turned now. Scorpius rolled his eyes again and turned his back on them, starting to walk toward the Hogwarts Express. “Love you too, see you over the holidays,” he muttered sarcastically. He hoped he would be out of sight by the time they turned around, which would probably make them feel bad. He wasn’t sure if that would actually work, or if they would just turn around and walk out, smirks still on their faces and whispering about the absurdities of Muggles. Either way, Scorpius didn’t want to listen to them anymore, and he didn’t want to miss the train.

His eyes scanned the station for watching Muggles, and as they looked away, he slid through the barrier onto the platform. The Hogwarts Express was in front of him, with students, parents, siblings, pets, and luggage crowding around it. He kept his eyes open for his friends, somewhat sad to leave his parents, yet also relieved that he had months before he had to really deal with the way they acted sometimes again.

[darkangel480]

Aspen walked through the train station. She had just left her parents. They were being utterly ridicoulous so she'd left them to their 'muggle' watching. Her brother had already left. He had left this family way before she did, to talk with his friends. He was too 'old' to be around their parents. She watched the muggles, being careful to watch and see if anyone was looking, before she made her way through the portal, and looked at the train that would take her to Hogwarts.

She side stepped around a set of younger students, whom where running around playing tag. She frowned, her eyes flashing with annoyance. She hissed under her breath, as she ran her fingers through her hair, and shook her head. Her gaze landed on Scorpius. She quickened her pace, so that she could walk beside him. "We're your parents 'muggle' watching too?" she questioned him. She was more then happy to stay beside a friendly face, someone who was safe, for the rest of this journey to Hogwarts. This year was going to change everything. She had a hunch it would anyway.

Aspen offered him a sly, slightly seductive smile. "So how has your vaction been?" she asked curiously, her light green eyes gazed up questioningly. She broke into an easy grin. Her and Malfoy, had always been at least civil to each other, with the occasional playful, arguments. They were friends, and it helped that they, had 'weird' parents just like she did.

It didn't mean she didn't like her family, she loved them, but sometimes it was just that they were always busy, or distracted, and they never paid them much attention once she'd reached the age of about five years old. Her and her brother were really close, compared to her relationship with her parents. It hurt sometimes to realize that she'd distance herself a lot more after the last year, she'd distance herself from everyone, that was important to her. For what? To protect them from what she knew that could perhaps get them killed? Yes that was her reasons. It didn't mean it didn't get lonely, keeping this secret all to herself. There were times when she longed to tell someone of the skeletons in her closet, but she always held back.

[Rose Weasley]

It was the usual chaos of the morning of September the 1st; books being collected, robes being shoved into the trunks, and a bunch of last minute sweeps of rooms to make sure that all quills, parchment, and summer homework were safetly where they were supposed to be. After finally exiting the Weasley household, they piled into the back of the Weasley car, where Ron proudly got into the front seat and drove them towards Kings Cross Station.

"I can't believe you change into your robes so early," Albus scoffed at his sister. Rose, however, ignored his taunts, her mind completely other places. School work, friends, teachers were among them; this year, her sixth year, was bound to be tough, especially with all of the N.E.W.T classes she was continuing after her very successful O.W.L. Year.

When they finally arrived at the Platform, Rose felt the usual exhilaration as she saw all of her friends for the first time, and her cousins flanked around, discussing rapidly about this year at Hogwarts, and how it was going to be. She blinked towards the train excitedly, and after saying her goodbyes to her parents, promising to write and keep up her grades, and also making Aunt Ginny promise to write her to tell her any big news at the Prophet, she boarded the train, head reeling with the anticipation of the coming year.

[ggcarter]

"Grayson, get out of the bathroom already! It's not like you have anyone to look good for!" GG scoffed calously at her brother through the bathroom door, resenting the one "teen bathroom" that her parents had designated, segregating them from their own bathroom in their bedroom. Grayson slammed open the door and rolled his eyes at his sister, knocking her aside slightly as he shoved past her.

After finally getting into the bathroom, GG anxiously did her hair four different times in four different styles, finally settling on wearing it just plain down and brushed out, because her mother was now pounding on the door, shouting about how they were going to miss the train if GG didn't get a move on. GG rolled her eyes, knowing that it was completely Grayson's fault; the only reason he'd stayed in the room so long was because he knew that it would peeve GG, so he was holding the entire family up. Feeling gipped out of the appropriate bathroom time of a fourteen year old girl, she grudgingly left the bathroom and got in the car, next to her oldest brother, as far away from possible as the dreaded Grayson.

They rode to the train station in silence, an occassional sniffe escaping her mother at the impending departure of her two youngest children, and GG would say, "It's okay, mum, really...Christmas will be here before you know it..." prompting an evil mutter of "shut up" from Grayson, and a warning comment from her father. This cycled for about fifteen minutes until they at last reached the station.

As they went through the 9 3/4 barrier, GG felt herself greeted by the prescense of hundreds of other teenagers, and immediately felt lifted up by the social scene. She threw back her shoulders confidently, and smiled seductively at at least three different boys before her mother snapped her back into reality.

"I'm just going to miss you so much Glend--"

"Mom! Do not call me that here!" GG inturrupted her angrily, glancing around anxiously to see if anyone had heard; it appeared that she was safe, at least this time.

Her mother sighed defeatedly. "You think you'd be proud of the name I gave you,"

"Oh, don't worry mum, Glendora dear knows she's very lucky to have that name," Grayson sniggered sadistically, "she knows alright."

"Grayson! Shut your mouth, or I'll curse it shut for you!" GG threatened menacingly.

"I'm so scared of a puny little fourth year like you,"

"Honestly, could we just not fight for one day?" Their mother glanced between them, and then slumped defeatedly. "Of course not. Well, come here and give your mother a hug before you don't see her for months and months," GG, being an obliging daughter, went right into her arms, although Grayson sulked in the corner before reluctantly giving her a halfhearted, one armed hug.

After also saying goodbye to her father, GG rushed onto the train, glanced back once and sent her mother a kiss, glared at Grayson full on for what she hoped would be the last time in a year that she looked at him (not very likely), and bounded onto the depths of the Hogwarts Express, looking for an adventure to start the year off right--an adventure in the name of a boy, at least.

[Diana Dolohov]

Diana Dolohov checked her watch for what seemed like the hundredth time since she arrived at Kings Cross Station. She hated being late. Her mother was standing across from her, on the verge of tears.

“Oh Diana, I can’t believe you’re already in your seventh year. Your father and I are so proud of you. He’s sorry he couldn’t be here today, you know how busy he is…” she said. Diana rolled her eyes. “Mum, don’t cry,” she muttered. Her mother wiped her eyes, the same blue eyes that she passed on to her daughter. “I’m sorry Diana, I’m not trying to embarrass you. I’m just so proud of how far you’ve come, you’ve grown up so fast into such a beautiful young woman,” Anna said. Diana cracked a smile, simply because her mother was acting so pathetic. Anna laughed quietly. “Oh look at me, I’m being so emotional right now,” she said with a smile on her thin face. Diana shook her head, still smiling.

“It’s okay, Mum,” she told her mother. “Have a wonderful year, darling. Write me as much as you want, I want to hear all about your last year at Hogwarts. Don’t leave anything out, especially the boys,” Anna said seriously. It was times like these that her mother made Diana wonder; for a rich Pureblood woman, sometimes Anna didn’t act like it at all. She was just a mom, interested in her teenage daughter’s boy drama. Diana’s father was different; he could care less about her love life, as long as Diana was doing what she was supposed to and not getting into trouble. Although she was always happy to make her father proud, Diana wished he would care a little bit more about her as a person, and not just a Death-Eater-to-be whose only purpose is to hold up the family honor and keep the Death Eater views alive.

“Don’t worry mum. I’ll write once a week and keep you updated on everything. Just don’t get worried if I skip a week every once in a while; you know I’ll be busy,” Diana told her. “I know, I know. Goodness, you’re so grown up. You should get on the train, dear, I expect it will be leaving soon.” Anna embraced her daughter and kissed her cheek. “Goodbye mum, I’ll see you at break,” Diana said, walking away as her mother said her last goodbye. Diana could barely hold in her excitement. She felt different this year, for some reason. She could feel that something was going to change…something good.

[Shayne Lestrange]

And so the first day back at Hogwarts had arrived, for the last time. Seven years of taking the familiar black cab across the streets of London, might bring back fond memories for some witches and wizards who looked to experience normal muggle culture. Due to the ban on apparition within two miles of the station, there were snaking lines of black cabs taking various witches and wizards the last distance to the station. Of course, floo powder was an option, but it was seen as much more distinguished to take a black cab. So back to the black cabs, as I mentioned before, for some normal people, it was a highlight of the journey, excluding the train itself of course. For this particular family it was the worst experience imaginable, but the Lestrange’s weren’t exactly your typical family. In fact, they were the total opposite. They were not insane, merely power mad, but there’s a thin line between the two and sometimes the line blurred ever so slightly.

The ride in the taxi seemed to be taking an age. Three boys were sitting in the back of the cab in complete silence. Their mother had bid them farewell at the apparition boundary as was tradition. The one at the left hand window, was the middle child, at sixteen in age. The one in the middle, was the youngest, at fifteen. Both of these boys had dark hair and dark eyes, the traditional Lestrange looks. The oldest of the boys was the one staring blankly ahead of him at the taxi driver’s head rest. He was the one who, if you had to say one of them wasn’t related, would be the obvious choice. His hair was almost platinum blonde in colour, the exact same shade as his mother’s but he was in no way a follower of the traditional blonde stereo type. His name was Shayne. Shayne Regulus Lestrange to give him his full name and he hated muggles with every fibre of his being. This was one of the main reasons why the taxi journey was hell, being pureblood supremacists and all.

Finally the taxi pulled up outside King’s Cross Station. Shayne got out and immediately began to get the trunks out of the boot, whilst Rodolphus paid the muggle. Shayne brushed himself off as if to rid himself of any traces of muggle. He nodded to his brothers and the three made their way into the station, cutting paths through the muggles who were running between the various platforms. As they reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten, it became obvious which of the new students were muggle born, by the looks on their faces as a person disappeared through the barrier. Filthy mudbloods. He resisted the urge to deal with them there and then, instead pushing to the front of the little crowd of wizards and witches waiting to go through the barrier. No one protested and even students convinced their parents that they should let the boys go ahead of them. Shayne had a reputation to say the least, one built upon fear and outright arrogance.

Once through the barrier, the familiar sights and sounds of the first day back at Hogwarts really did come into their own. He watched his brothers clamber onto the train, preferring himself to remain on the platform for a short while. He sniggered at some of the horrendous outfits on display as he looked around, searching for his familiars who he had met up with over the summer. As the engine stirred, light clouds descended on the station before they rose up into the air. He stepped onto the train, lifting his trunk behind him, the gold lettering of S. Lestrange catching the light. It was almost time to go. Time to start his final year at Hogwarts. Time to bring the school and the wizarding world, to their knees.

[Albus Potter]

King's Cross Station. The point where two different worlds meet, divided only by a portal that took the appearance of a brick wall.

"This is ridiculous." Albus Severus Potter muttered as he followed his siblings and parents through the throng of people. The level of the noise was getting to his ears, and if they didn't board the train in the next 5 minutes he was going to throw something! In her cage, Tace, his lovely Tyto Alba - a Barn Owl, for those uneducated - cooed sadly at his agitated mood. In response, the sixteen year old sighed and caught up with his family, James who had already gotten on board and Lily who was being fussed over by their mother.

"Do you need any help, Al?" his dad asked. Albus shook his head as a negative.

"I'm fine dad." and as if to prove his words he hoisted his trunk up and away, along with Tace and her cage. He smiled at his dad.

Harry Potter laughed lightly in response at his youngest son's actions, and put his right hand on the teen's shoulder. "Stay safe, Asp." He winked a green eye.

"Yes, dad." Albus winked back with a grin, and boarded the train, waving and saying goodbye to his mother, as well as his aunt and uncle. It was the start of a new year at Hogwarts.

[Briony Cauldwell]

”Darling, are you all right, do you have everything you need?” A mousy haired middle aged woman directed towards the girl behind her.
“Yes mom.” Briony Cauldwell said, her eyes busy scanning the crowd for a potential reason to bid her mother farewell early.
“Do you have extra money?” Her mother asked for the third time.
“Yes mom.” Briony replied, not listening to the question. Her father had opted out of going with them to King’s Cross, preferring the less hectic atmosphere of the third floor of St. Mungo’s; the Potion and Plant Poisoning Department, where he worked.
“What about your cat, what’s her name?”
“Pandora. She got hit by a car last summer.” Briony said, with a glare directed towards her mother.
“Oh yes. Real shame. I liked that cat.” A frown danced across her mother’s face.
“You did not. She bit you all the time and you hated cleaning her litterbox.” Briony pointed out.
“Well you don’t say that you don’t like things when they’ve passed on, dear. It’s simply not in good taste.”
Briony sighed. She hadn’t liked the cat either. It had reminded her of her mother; it was stupid.
“Well, mom, I’m going to get on the train now.” Briony said with a final kind of tone in her voice.
“Oh! Alright then.” Her mother said with a sad look. She wrapped her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace. “I love you darling.”
“Love you too mom.” Briony said weakly, her mother was crushing her lungs.
“Remember to write weekly.”
“Yes mom.”
“I’ll send you lots of treats so you can make friends.”
“Kay mom.”
“Try really hard not to get kicked out.”
“Yes mom.”
“And remember that this year is your O.W.L.s so you have to work hard.”
“Yes mom. I know mom.” Briony said as she started to turn away.
“Have a good year!” Her mother exclaimed loudly after her.
“Kay mom! Bye mom!” Briony said exasperatedly with a small smile on her face.
“Goodbye! I’ll miss you!”
“I’ll miss you too!” Briony waved.
“I love you!”
“I love you too, mom!”
“I love you more!” Her mother said, clearly not intending to stop this anytime soon.
“Mom! Go home!” Briony said with a chuckle. She knew from experience that this would go on for hours if she didn’t put an end to it.
“Okay! Have fun! Don’t get in too much trouble!”
“Go home mom!” Briony said exasperatedly as she walked away from her mother, her luggage dragging behind her. Her mother had done the majority of the packing, that was clear in the sheer amount of the luggage. Briony probably had more useless crap in her luggage than anyone else in the whole of Hogwarts.
It was also clear that her mother had made the family take a few pictures before Briony left. She was wearing a floral patterned dress, something that she didn’t really detest, but nonetheless that she wanted to rip off her body and get some jeans on quick like. Unfortunately, that was not possible since she didn’t know where her mother had packed her normal people clothes and public nudity was generally frowned upon. Briony would assume that her mother had planned this if she didn’t know that Alicia Cauldwell was more scatterbrained than her daughter and therefore not capable of such a diabolical deed.
At least Briony could take off the ridiculous floppu sunhat that her mother adored on her so much. Making sure that she was out of the parental span of vision, Briony took of the hat and put it on some first year’s pile of trunks for good measure. Hopefully they liked hideous floppy hats.
Before the first year could turn around, Briony sprinted off towards the train with her luggage in tow. Sprinting from the scene of the crime was necessary in Briony’s case, as she could always be found again due to her rust colored hair and her (some people called it obnoxious, Briony preferred the term audible) voice.
Briony spotted the first year looking at the hat with a puzzled expression, and a small giggle escaped through her lips. In general, Briony tried to keep herself from giggling because her giggles were punctuated with snorts. In her opinion, the giggle snorts were not only extremely unattractive but the made her sound like a pig that was dying a very slow and painful death. This time, however, Briony couldn’t help herself. The lighthearted feeling that flooded her the instant she stepped onto the train was too much to control. She supposed it was due to the fact that she would be completely free from her mother’s tyranny for the next 8 months and the independence of being a 5th year was overwhelming. Luckily only a few snorts came out and no one was around to hear them, save a few third years that were given a glare after having laughed themselves.
As the third years skulked away after having received the bird, Briony began loading her luggage onto the train. She noticed that her luggage was heavier than her mother usually packed it. As the last suitcase was lifted on the train, Briony peeked inside it. There, to her delight, were several cases of her favorite muggle chocolates. Not as good as chocolate frogs, maybe, but she had a galleon or two lying around to buy some of those for herself. With a squeal of glee, Briony tore open one of the packages and shoved several chocolates in her mouth at once. A grateful sigh could be heard from behind the mass of half masticated chocolate, and a sixth year looked at her oddly as he passed by. Briony’s face flushed a brilliant pink, she didn’t like being seen pigging out like this, especially by an older male. Her mother had once said ‘You are what you eat, darling.’ Briony had replied ‘Sweet?’ her mother had corrected her. ‘No, it means you’re going to get fat.’
Briony looked down at herself and shook her head. She wasn’t fat and at this point she probably wasn’t going to be. She was a little chubby perhaps, but fat meant something else entirely. She shook her head again and daintily picked another chocolate out of the package and put it into her mouth. She then proceeded to zip up the bag and put it into the luggage compartment, along with most of her other bags. Briony kept one bag with her, having inspected it and found a nice pair of baggy jeans and her newest robes. It also had some more chocolates and a muggle fashion magazine manually transferred into it, so Briony was prepared for anything as she walked through the crowds of other students, trying to find a suitable compartment.