It was early, and the place wasn't busy yet. YET. But Dot (Charlotte Anka-Dot) wasn't fooled. The place would be bustling pretty shortly, and Dot didn't want to deal with the jostling and shoving and smelly little kids who were made of 14 elbows and something sticky.

That's why she was here plenty EARLY, early enough to look at snacks and magazines and novels, and to cry by herself over leaving her brother behind. That's what she was doing right now. Crying.

Early was on time. On time was late. Late was unacceptable. Father had certainly said that enough this summer and it was now permanently engrained in Thornton's mind.

And so he was "early" to King's Cross, for several reasons.

Standing on the concourse, he looked around, wondering if any of the people he hoped to see were there just yet. Family had been properly said goodbye to and and he was anxious to get back to his friends. It was as he looked and wanderd, though, that he heard it. It wasn't terribly noticeable. Just a sniffle here and there.. but he turned and saw Dot. Crying.

Head tilted, he approached tentatively. "Are you ok?"

Oh, a Thornton! Dot threw her arms around him and nestled her face against his shoulder. It was probably a little wet and warm, but not snotty because she was a lady. It was so nice to have a friend, even if she was in the process of being clingy and awful.

"I'm okay." She let him go and righted her dress and bag and hair and Merlin, was her mascara smudgy? Dot glanced at herself in the mirror and wiped under her eyes carefully. Not bad. The waterproof nonsense really worked! "Just thinking about leaving my Bubba again, and he keeps getting bigger without me. I hate it."

Well, that was certainly one way to answer a question. Thornton instinctively wrapped his arms around Dot, too, hugging her, though he craned his neck a little to try to catch a glimpse of her face. He didn't mind the wet.

He watched her though, not necessarily convinced, as she fussed with her dress and her hair and whatnot. The Ravenclaw nodded, though, as she spoke. Leaving a little sibling was hard, and even though Mairwen was much older than Bubba, it still caused Thornton a little pang in his chest when he said goodbye to her each fall. "Well, it'll be holiday break before you know it and you can see him..." Poor consolation, he knew, and he slipped his hands in his pockets.

"You're right. I'm being stupid. But he gets taller and smarter and..." She wibbled again and spent a long moment adjusting her shoes and tights so she could compose herself. What started out being a little silly was now a full blown wibble-fest.

"I'm fine. Look, I'm a sixth year! Aren't you pleased to know me? I'm practically famous!" And she'd had a primary role in a ballet over the summer, but of course, no need to mention that because Thornton got exultant owls from Dot about it. "And you're taller!"

Oh. Oh dear. "No, no... not stupid." Thornton pulled his hand out of his pocket, bringing his handkerchief with it. Offering it to Dot, should the wibbles turn tearful, he watched her. "You're a good sister. Of course you miss him."

But if she wanted to change the subject, then change the subject they would. He laughed a little. "I'm quite pleased to know you, yes. I'm counting on you to help me figure out all this... fifth year stuff." Among other things. Thornton imagined he'd be... checking in with Dot somewhat regularly this term. For all sorts of reasons.

His small chuckle turned into a full laugh. "I am. I am. I had to buy all knew uniforms."

Dot accepted the handkerchief and then immediately regretted it, since... now she was responsible for said handkerchief. She dabbed helpfully at her cheeks before offering it back to him. What a very good boy person friend Thornton was.

"I'm the best big sister ever. But... let's talk about Thornton. ALL new robes? Did you get new shoes too? Anything interesting, or just the standard ones?" She tucked an arm through his and gave him a side hug. "I want to hear all the other Thornton things too. D'you think I should buy this Muggle romance novel for Paigey?"

Taking the cloth back from Dot, he folded it and slipped it back in his pocket. He nodded, chuckling a little. "All new everything, but just the standard. Well.. sort of... " He pulled his hand out of his other pocket, badge in palm, and turned it toward her. He'd told Paige over the summer, but had waited on everyone else.

But that question... merlin. Thornton's cheeks flushed just a bit and he cleared his throat. "Muggle... romance novel? I.. suppose if you think she'd enjoy it..."

Just the standard but...? Dot stepped back to take a look at Thornton's shoes. Men's shoes weren't as fun as women's, usually, but maybe they could bedazzle the tongue or some... thing... oh. SHINY. Thornton had a shiny!

"WHY aren't you WEARING that, you SILLY?" Dot threw her arms around him again, this time in excitement and with no waterworks. He was PREFECT, so they could hang out together and do rounds and it was perfect and... that might make Kyroh and Paigey feel bad, though. Not being chosen.

Sad.

Dot let him go. "Paige and I like to read novels together. It's just a funny thing we've been doing for a while now. I haven't tried a Muggle novel before, but I bet they're similar."

Torrance 'Wildcard' Spades could practically smell Hogwarts! The excited lad was on the balls of his feet looking around the concourse trying to figure out who here was Muggle and who would be coming to Hogwarts.

THIS WAS TOO HARD TO FIGURE OUT.

surely someone like him would have a Luggage cart with an Owl Cage on top their suitcases and trunks, or at least toads on their shoulders or weird looking cat kneazles.

He slung around his backpack in the meantime and opened the top zipper. He was rummaging through it to see if he could get something of his...instead he caught a faint red glow and pulled out his Remembrall. The Orb glowing red. "Uuuuuuh....Uncle Saul?" Tory said sitting the Orb back into his backpack. "I forgot my Wrist Holster."

Saul had Torrance all summer long. He was put in charge after his Older Brother had him, and to be honest this was the best Torrance had been with him yet. His Nephew was actually great with his Daughter Kendi, and the Twins. So for all the Help Tory was, Saul figured he'd reward Tory with a special Gift.

The Remembrall would hopefully be extra helpful to Torrance since he would tend to become terribly unfocused at times. It would keep him on track.

Then he heard Tory call him up. "You forgot what?" his Wand Holster? The one he had worn since getting his Wand 2 months ago. Saul would just tell the kid to wait and he'd have it Owled to him at Hogwarts, but he seemed extra attached to him.

Torrance would think if funny to jump around the house wearing the Holster yelling 'Wildcard!' out of no where at himself and Charlie. Wait...he had just finished saying how good Torrance was...."I won't be long, then. I'm sure I know where you left it." He pointed to a bench not to far off. "Go sit there. Keep an eye on your Owl."

Tory nodded, a worried look on his face that maybe he wouldn't get to go to Hogwarts with his most prized possession, but Uncle Saul complied. "Ye-yesir!" Within seconds of responding Torrance hurried over to the Bench with his luggage and watched as his Uncle turned the corner somewhere to leave.

Please delete!!! brain child is in ka

It had been a few minutes now. Maybe Uncle Saul didn't know where he left his Wrist Wand-Holster. By now Tory was sitting upside down on the bench his legs pointed at the ceiling. He starred at Spitfire his Owl. Who starred back down at him. The small Elf Owl turning his head probably curiously at Tory, wondering about this strange position that the boy was sitting in.

He was nervous. This Wrist Holster was the one thing he needed if he were to become Wildcard Spades; The Outlaw of Hogwarts.

He kicked his feet in the air impatiently waiting for his Uncle return when suddenly a girl sat beside him. OH OH IT WAS THAT GIRL!
The one from Diagon Alley, THE WET GIRL. Wow what luck. He couldn't spot anyone who could be remotely magical like him then she sits beside him! "Hi Hi Wet Girl!" Torrance said with a smile on his face.

Thornton laughed brightly as Dot hugged him again. THIS hug he'd been expecting. "Well, I thought I'd wait until I was on the train," he said rather matter-of-factly. Though, if Dot thought he should have it on sooner, well... "You're going to have to help me out with this Prefect thing," he said, as she let him go. "I'm not so sure I'll be able to manage." Clearly, Kitridge had more faith in him than he had in himself.

But back to the book. "Right." Thornton had seen a page or two of one of those books months ago. And had tried to put it squarely out of his mind. "Well, can't hurt to try one..." he glanced at the books, considering. "If anything, you'll see what Muggles find.." he cleared his throat.. "Appealing."

It wasn't reasonable to be so so so proud of someone when you had nothing to do with their success and happiness, but Dot was. SO SO SO proud of Thornton, to the point where she kept hugging him and was probably making him very uncomfortable. Ahem. Decorum.

"You'll be brilliant, don't be a silly. And if you aren't, then I'll give you a wink and you can straighten up and be brillianter." She practiced an exaggerated wink, designed to make him laugh, more than for actual effect. "And Muggles..." He was looking uncomfortable about this too. "Muggles are like us when it comes to affairs of the heart."

After four years, Thornton was used to the excessive hugging that seemed to happen. And so his discomfort was markedly less than she might have assumed. The exaggerated wink did indeed draw a laugh and Thornton nodded. "Ok, ok. I'll keep that in mind."

He shrugged, though, at her comments about the book. He wouldn't know what muggles did or didn't like or dislike.

"You can sit by Norah and I in the prefect compartment. We're the nicest... although there are loads of new ones this term, so maybe we're not the nicest anymore. I suppose you're now the nicest, and I'll have to be the most of something else." Dot was babbling juuuust a bit, but she was also processing new ideas. Out loud.

"Where's your beautiful girlfriend? Did she tell you we bought makeup this summer?"

"Thank you, Dot, really." Thornton smiled and slipped his hand back in his pocket. "I don't know if I'd be the nicest, but you're definitely the most encouraging." Thornton found himself a bit distracted, processing through her babble, and getting just a little caught in her mentioning that there were many new prefects. Rather than see that as encouraging in that he wouldn't be the only one new, he worried a little about whether there was enough experience on the team.

But the word 'girlfriend' snapped him right back to reality. Smile on his face, Thornton looked around. "She should be here soon...." He turned back to Dot. "I.. don't think she mentioned it, no."

There was the slightest wrinkle to Thornton's brow, and Dot wished she knew how to read him better. Some people were easy, but Thornton always seemed to be playing it very close. Worry, maybe, or concern? Unconsciously, Dot matched his wrinkle.

"Let's ditch the prefect compartment when we can, and we'll sit with her. And Kyroh too." Dot gave Thornton's arm a pat. "D'you two want to go on a double date with us to Hogsmeade this term? It'll be fun... I hope. I've never done a double date before."

Part of Thornton thought that Paige might object to his leaving the Prefect's compartment to sit with her, but, well, he'd cross that bridge when they came to it. So to Dot's first suggestion, he nodded his assent.

To her second suggestion, he hesitated. A double date? He and Paige hadn't actually been on a proper date on their own. Not really. But it would be rude to say no, wouldn't it? "I'll ask her," he said deferring the need to make a decision. "I don't want to presume to speak for Paige..."

Dot chewed her lip a bit at Thornton's hesitating. She shouldn't, since chewing her lip generally resulted in chewing off her carefully applied lipstick, but it was a mostly unconscious gesture that she was still trying to get control over.

And he was being so Thornton at the moment.

"Well, just let me know. You like me and Kyroh, and we like you and Paige, so it isn't like it would be terrible and awkward and strange. But dating is weird, and I don't want to presume on your... time." Even if it hurt her feelings a bit for him NOT to want to spend time with her. "We ought to get to the train."

He nodded. "I will. We've just.. " Thornton looked a little sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. He could tell Dot, right? "We've just not been on a date yet. Not a proper one..." He looked over at his friend to try to read her reaction. Was it terribly odd? They hadn't actually had much in the way of opportunity so maybe he wasn't terribly botching the whole boyfriend thing? "Would it be weird if the first one was a double-date?" He trusted Dot to be honest.

But she was right. Time for the train was drawing nearer. "Yes.. we should. Walk over together? Or were you waiting for Kyroh?"

Today was also, technically, his first day as a university freshman. He ought to be on his way now to his new apartment near his school to get settled for tomorrow’s first day of classes, but, took a last minute decision to wait...and see off a very special girl.

University can wait.

Ethan eyed the clock, and saw that the train going to Hogwarts will be there soon. He made a quick sweep of the platform inside 9 and 3/4 and didn’t see Josie there. He assumed that she was still on her way to King’s Cross, so he made his way out again and waited for her there.

Will he be meeting her father today? Ethan was undecided whether he would like to meet the man or not. What he knows is that, it wouldn’t be wise to tell him that...well, his and her daughter’s summer turned out to be an eventful one.

She made her way into Kings Cross station pushing the trolley with her luggage in front of her & a Sebastian perched on her shoulder. The SEVENTEEN year old seemed to be in a state of disbelief at the moment. Was she really entering Kings Cross for her last term at Hogwarts? Was she a really a seventh year Ravenclaw now? Honestly, where had all of that time gone by? She couldn't even wrap her brain around these known facts.

...

But before she could even think of anymore of her racing thoughts, she stopped dead in her tracks suddenly. 'Wait a moment.' Josie quickly whipped her head around towards the entrance of Kings Cross to where she had believed her father had been with her just now when they had arrived together. But the strange thing was...he wasn't anymore.

....Wait...but wasn't he going to see her off one last time?

Was he still cross with her for the things that had conspired a few months ago after his letter he had sent to her? But why would he still be upset about that though? She thought he had said he had forgiven her?

...Well truth be said, he did not really say it but it was more so in his actions of continuing to still practically watch her every move..which must have meant that he still cared...right?

Unfortunately her & her father did have another disagreement when she had returned home this passed summer about returning to Hogwarts for her final term. He was telling her that they were going to be moving to a new country because of her father's work, but she begged & pleaded with him for days to let her finish her final term at Hogwarts. He was displeased about this, but she thought that they had to come an agreement that he would let her attend school? Clearly it seems he was not alright with the idea, because he had suddenly vanished & left her there. She knew that she didn't really have much time to search for him because she knew the train would be coming soon & also there was a very special someone waiting for her that she knew wouldn't just disappear without saying goodbye.

And words could not begin to express how happy relieved she was to see him standing there waiting.

Ethan paced around the area, wondering what he will do if her father did come. What will he say? Hi? Hello? I’m happy to finally meet you, sir? Merlin...how in the world will he reveal to the man that he’s dating his daughter? Ethan got the impression that Josie’s father is someone not to mess up with...and that he is an overprotective parent. Mordred had warned him about it. His cousin even gave him pointers on how to win his heart...but there’s just something amiss. Why would Josie’s dad break her heart? Even Josie could not answer that question.

Grunting, he looked up at the huge clock and then back to the entrance way, where people kept coming in and out of King’s Cross. Amid the chaos, he saw her.

Ethan probably melted right then and there when he stared at her with a smile. He immediately approached her and gave her a hug. Was it okay to kiss her now? Like...now? The former Slytherin gently released her, and quickly scanned the area. “You came here all by yourself?” Again? Was...her father hiding from civilization or what?