Hanna was trying very hard to appear ready for this. All summer she'd been getting things ready, packing her trunk, re-packing it, double-checking she had everything, going back over her list, re-washing her clothes just in case she only imagined having done it, and telling her cat that it was all okay, they were going on an adventure. She thought perhaps Gigi was showing signs of feline anxiety. But, perhaps she just thought her owner was leaving her. Gigi was safe in Hanna's arms now, giving her something to do to keep from expressing her feelings. She'd never left her parents for any significant time before, and now she was going home for just over 3 months. She'd see them in December for Christmas, of course, and Owl them almost every day, but it was still a long time.

Lena and Mikaela were with her grandparents, because her mum and dad didn't want to be worrying about them running about. But baby Elsie was wrapped up and her mum was wearing her. She smacked her lips together in her sleep, oblivious that her biggest sister was LEAVING. Did she not care? No, Hanna suspected she wouldn't.

"Well, I should pack my things on the train," Hanna said, in a hopefully very grown-up way.
Luckily her father, Adrian, walked with her onto the train to store her trunk. Because Hanna had been looking at it for a while, wondering how on the GREAT EARTH she would be able to heave it into the storage areas.

Once that was done, she stood with her parents. She swallowed a few times before she was able to talk. "I will see you in Decem... December," she said, but as she looked up and saw tears welling up in her mother's eyes, she started to cry.

How as she this old? How was she bringing her first born to the platform already? This just didn't seem real and Minerva was struggling with this. She kept it together though, no embarrassing Gunnar. She kept hold of Morgan's hand and watched over Chloe as they walked.

"Did you remember everything sweetie?" She glanced at her son with a sad smile. She thought about the last time she was on this platform coming back from her seventh year. How things changed since that long ago.

Once through the platform, she stood looking at all the people and the train, so many emotions running through her.

The time has finally arrived!!! Aaron was finally heading off for his first year at Hogwarts!!! Yes, while he was leaving his mom and his two little sisters, there were no tears from him! The firstie was too excited to cry. While the whole situation was a bit sad, he was just too caught up in the happy moment to actually feel the sadness. Plus, he would see them soon anyways. It wasn't like they were leaving each other forever.

Suitcases and luggage being pushed in one hand, his mother's hand in the other, the Valentino family had finally arrived at the Platform that would lead a lot of Witches and Wizards to one the most prestigious school's in the world for the craft: Hogwarts. It was a dream that was finally about to come true for the young one and many others as well! And with all the friends that Aaron had already made, he knew this was gonna be an amazing year filled with all sorts of adventures that would take him all around the castle.

The only thing that remained a true mystery was this; what house could the boy possibly be in? He liked to think himself brave like that of a Gryffindor, but he was also wise like the Ravenclaws. And on the other hand, the kid was pretty loyal to himself, his friends, and his family members, a trait seen in Hufflepuffs, and then there was his ambition, wittiness, and charismatic like a Slytherin student is. The only way he would ever find out is by boarding the train, and putting on that well known hat. In that moment, his house would be called out, and in all honesty, he would like any house that he would be put in.
Aaron didn't really have a preference onto which house he wanted to be sorted into.

Smile lighting up his face, eyes open wide, he turned to his mother and said. "Well mom, looks like this is it! I'll see you and my sisters in a few months! I love you." And with that being said, Aaron faced towards the train and was all set to board.

Exiting onto Platform 9 3/4 had to be one of the strangest things Emmalyn had ever done. The past month had been a strange blur of firsts. From the moment her letter arrived, her world had been turned upside down. She wished, more than anything, that her parents could be with her. She knew that there was no way possible for that to happen, but her already homesick heart wanted what it couldn't have. She wondered how she was going to make it the entire school year without seeing, or hearing, from them. "No. I can't do this right now. I can't lose it before I get on that train."

Straightening her luggage on her cart and brushing away a single tear, Emmalyn slowly pushed forward towards the very train that would shuttle her to her new life. "Excu.." she paused to choke back the tears that were strangling her voice. "Excuse me? Would anyone be able to tell me where I should board the train?"

In the midst of her tears, Hanna heard a voice asking for help. She looked over her shoulder and saw a girl she guessed to be her age. She stopped crying, though didn't wipe her face, and did a big, wet sniff.

"Mum," Hanna said, putting her arm out to grab her wrist. "Mum there's someone who needs help." Hanna dragged her mum over to the girl and said "Hello. What... d-do you need some help?" Hanna's tear-stained face looked... friendly? She hoped, anyway. But HER parents were here, so the least she could do was offer them up to help someone else.

While wondering weather or not she should just climb aboard and figure it out from there, Emmalyn noticed a girl about her age approaching with her mother. Her heart fluttered a bit with relief. This girl, or at least her mum, must know something about where she was supposed to go, and how she was supposed to get her heavy trunk and caged owl on board.

With the most confident smile she could muster upon her face, Emmalyn greeted the girl. "Oh, yes, I do need some help. Thank you." She noticed that the girl had been crying too. Exhaling a bit more of her nervous energy, Emmalyn fiddled with the bracelet her father gave her that very morning before speaking up again. "I'm Emmalyn, this is my first time going to Hogwarts. Is it your first time too?" She paused to look at the girl and her mother and giving them a small smile. "I'm not exactly sure where I'm supposed to go from here. Do you know which train car the first years are supposed to board?"

Hanna was very glad she could offer some assistance, even if she HERSELF wasn't able to help. She gave another grin when the girl introduced herself. "Hi Emmalyn, I'm Hanna. I'm a first year too! I've met Rylee, who is also a first year, but I don't know whether she's here yet." Hanna also remembered that Rylee had met some other friends, and wondered if Emmalyn was one of them.

Hanna listened to Emmalyn's problem, and immediately knew what to do. "I'll get my daddy to help. He put my stuff on the train too, he's pretty strong." Well, Hanna thought so anyway. But she didn't want to leave Emmalyn by herself, so she waved her hands until her father came over. "Daddy can you put Emmalyn's things on the train too?"

Adrian listened to his daughter's request, and looked to the other little girl before nodding, clapping his hands once, and took her trunk. "Did you want to hold onto your owl?" he asked. Hanna had her cat, so perhaps the kids all wanted to keep the pets with them. He took the trunk onto the train, stowed it, and went back to his family.

Hanna was curious by nature, and her mind was itching to ask a question. Lowering her voice, just in case it wasn't a nice answer, she asked "W...where are your mum and dad?"

Emmalyn stood with her hands on the cart that carried her things. She looked down for moment when her fingers started to tingle. She immediately realized that she white knuckle gripping the handle. She let go and shook her hands to let the blood start flowing again.

She looked back towards the girl as she introduced herself. "It's very nice to meet you, Hanna. I'm not sure if I've met Rylee or not, remembering names isn't one of my strengths." She giggled a bit as she spoke. She wasn't very good at remembering names. But faces, faces she always remembered. "Are you sure your father won't mind? I would really appreciate the help."


When Hanna's father approached, he appeared to be a kind man. He had that fatherly look to him. "Yes, sir, I would like to keep my owl. If that's okay for us to do. I would worry about her if she was left with the trunks." She flashed him a big, thankful smile. He had picked up, carried, and loaded her trunk on the train faster than she could have wheeled it over. "Thank you for the help, sir."


When Hanna leaned in and whispered her question, Emmalyn wasn't sure how she was going to respond. She loved both of her parents so much and didn't want Hanna to think she didn't. Leaning in and whispering back she said "The day I received my letter was a good day and a bad day. My mum was over the moon excited for me. However, my father felt...well, he felt the exact opposite. They argued for hours and a few days later, my dad left." Emmalyn took a deep breath to steady her words. "About a week after he left, he came back. My mother and father decided that I could attend Hogwarts, but only under the condition that they would have no contact with me while I was at school."

Hoping to change the subject, Emmalyn spoke louder "Do you have any older brothers or sisters at Hogwarts?" She thought it would be neat to hear some inside information about how school would be.

"I still can't believe it. The family troublemaker a Prefect!" exclaimed Simon Holden as he examined his younger sister's badge. He held it up into the air just to see the reflection of the light's above them.

"Yes, Si. What can I say? Hogwarts changes people."

The Ex-Slytherin raised both brows and then shook his head. "Hardly." He paused. Though the school had changed him. Well not the school. More so the people.... But didn't the people make up the school? Now he was just getting lost on a different point. "I suppose." The two Holden siblings looked away from each other briefly, watching the other families wish each other goodbye. Silence. Simon was the first to break it. "Er... well good luck." He nodded awkwardly before taking a step away from Olivia.

"Thanks Si. You too. Don't overwork yourself or I'll be calling Bianca."

The mention of Simon's girlfriend made a smile appear on his face. He could only imagine what Adler would do to him if she found out how much he worked. Though she, herself, was a slight workaholic too. "Right. I'll try not too."

"And Simon?"

"Yes?"

"I need my badge now."

Her brother glanced down at his hands and saw the badge. He chuckled. "Oh yes, that's right." He handed the badge too her. "Good luck, Vi. You'll be fine," he spoke as Vi took the badge and then hugged her brother. "Stay out of too much trouble."

"No promises there."

With one final hug and a wave, Vi ended up on the train with her Prefect badge clipped onto her purse.

Final year... Ready or not. Here I come.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too," Hanna said. She nodded, whilst chewing the insides of her cheek. "Well, I'm not always good with remembering names either. But that's why I say names out loud when I first hear them, that just helps me remember." It did, it was a trick her mum had taught her. So it was now a habit of hers.

Her father didn't mind at all, and Hanna said as much. "He is strong, and he likes to help people. He's a researcher, he learns about things to help others. Like... like with cancer and stuff. He researches and helps to develop new medicine. But, well... not really cancer. But I don't know what he does." His father had explained it to her once, but she forgot. "He works with muggles." Not that it mattered, but it meant that it was muggle medicine, and not wizarding medicine.

Hanna listened animatedly as Emmalyn told her tale. She smiled, and then she stopped smiling. And her eyebrows rose in surprised, until she learned that the fight turned into her father leaving. That got a gasp out of Hanna, and she covered her mouth with her hand. "How horrid," she whispered. But once her story was over, Hanna felt that if it had happened to her, she'd have been distraught. "But... why?" she didn't want to pry but... the story was very sad.

Hanna shook her head, "No, my sisters are all younger than me. That's Elsie, my baby sister. She's only six weeks old! How about you? Oh... n-no, pardon me. D-do you have younger siblings?" Or DID she have older siblings that were squibs, or muggles perhaps?

Taking a breath and composing her thoughts into something that flowed more evenly than the whirlwind of emotion that was just waiting to burst from her body, Emmalyn closed her eyes, counted to five, then continued with her story. "Well, you see, both of my parents are non magical. Muggles are what you seem to call them." She brushed her long dark hair out of her face, "When I got my letter, my father thought it was some sort of horrible joke. He just refused to believe that any of this could be true." Emmalyn shook her head. How could he not believe. Maybe that's what happens when you grow up. You stop believing wonderful things can come true. "He said he refused to be part of such nonsense, and that's how I ended up here alone."

Emmalyn listened eagerly as Hanna told her about her family, she thought her fathers work was fascinating. "So is your entire family witches and wizards?" That was strange for her to think that way. Entire families that were magical. How wonderful that must be. "My mother is a nurse at the neighborhood school. Nothing too exciting happens there, but she loves taking care of the kids." She smiled brightly that they might have something, even little, in common.

Finally noticing the small baby, Emmalyn's eyes lit up. "Oh, what a beautiful baby! Is it just perfect having younger siblings? I always wanted a brother or sister. Always having someone around to play with." She bent down and made silly faces at Elise.

Standing back up, she gave Hanna another big grin "So, we are both brand new to Hogwarts. Let's be friends and then we will both know we have at least one person at school we can go to if we get lonely."

This wasn't the first time, Rylee had stepped foot on Platform 9 3/4. She had been here ever first of September for the last eight terms now... only this time it was HER turn to board the Hogwarts express. It was both exciting and scary. She had waited years for this moment, dreaming of the day that it would be her getting on the train. Now that the day had come, Ry hung back a little.

First it was a hug from her daddy and than her mummy where she was squished in the middle of them but that was okay. "I'll be alright, I know where to go. Rian made sure I wouldn't get lost.. and if I do I'll look for Miranda or someone else I know." She assured both her parents with a soft smile. "I love you both and I'll be home for Christmas break." She was eleven now and it was time to do things for herself. "I'll write home every week." Or more than that. Probably more than that.

"Do you really think I'll be okay, Ri?" she peered up at her big sister as she hugged her next. The words of encouragement from the older girl exactly what she needed to hear right than.

As strange as it might seem saying her 'See you soons' to her parents and sister were the easy part. It was what was next to come that broke the small girls heart into pieces. Rylee turned her sad blue eyes onto the matching ones of her younger but taller should be twin brother but really isn't. There weren't any words at all that could explain the sudden overwhelming sadness that came upon her and without any warning at all she threw her arms around Reese and hugged him tightly. Nothing at all needed to be said just than as she knew he would know what she was feeling. The tears were already streaming down her face no doubt soaking into her brothers shirt as she clung to him. She didn't want to go to Hogwarts anymore... couldn't she just stay behind more more year until he was eleven and then they could both go together? The world was so cruel in splitting them up like this.

All to soon she felt her daddy pulling her away from Reese to give her one more hug just as her mummy did too. It was time to board the train but her feet wouldn't move. A hand that could only be her daddy's found the small of her back and gave her a gentle push forward and words of encouragement filled her ears from her family.

With a sniffle and tears still streaking her freckled cheeks, Rylee pulled her trunk along behind her, her pet rat in his cage, as she turned to board the train.

Hanna nodded to the first part of Emmalyn's continued story. "Oh, I see," she said, trying to be wise. Her face scrunched up in empathy, imagining what it would be like for her own father to think of her as a horrible joke. "That's positively awful," she breathed. Hanna, acting on impulse, stepped forward to embrace Emmalyn. "That's an awful story, and I feel sorry that you had to go through it. But nobody here thinks of you that way. Nobody! You're... you're around people who are the same!"

Hanna nodded her head, and then, thinking, shook it. "Well my parents and my grandparents are, but my great-grandparents were muggles. My grandpa and his three brothers are all wizards, and all of my other family. But most of them work with muggles, anyway." Not all of them, of course. "That would be a wonderful job! My great uncle was a healer, which is a wizard kind of doctor, but I've always been fascinated with the muggle way of healing people. Did you go to that school too?"

Hanna thought about the question and shrugged. "It's okay, I mean I have to take care of them a lot, but they're nice sometimes. I get to read to them some nights, too, and I love reading." But they often bugged her, especially when she wanted to be alone. Hanna giggled at Emmalyn's interactions with Elsie, who she admitted was very cute.

"That would be wonderful!" Hanna loved to make new friends, and knowing someone else made things a little bit easier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Hanna nodded to the first part of Emmalyn's continued story. "Oh, I see," she said, trying to be wise. Her face scrunched up in empathy, imagining what it would be like for her own father to think of her as a horrible joke. "That's positively awful," she breathed. Hanna, acting on impulse, stepped forward to embrace Emmalyn. "That's an awful story, and I feel sorry that you had to go through it. But nobody here thinks of you that way. Nobody! You're... you're around people who are the same!"

Hanna nodded her head, and then, thinking, shook it. "Well my parents and my grandparents are, but my great-grandparents were muggles. My grandpa and his three brothers are all wizards, and all of my other family. But most of them work with muggles, anyway." Not all of them, of course. "That would be a wonderful job! My great uncle was a healer, which is a wizard kind of doctor, but I've always been fascinated with the muggle way of healing people. Did you go to that school too?"

Hanna thought about the question and shrugged. "It's okay, I mean I have to take care of them a lot, but they're nice sometimes. I get to read to them some nights, too, and I love reading." But they often bugged her, especially when she wanted to be alone. Hanna giggled at Emmalyn's interactions with Elsie, who she admitted was very cute.

"That would be wonderful!" Hanna loved to make new friends, and knowing someone else made things a little bit easier.

Emmalyn couldn't help but hug her new friend back. She was sure that the year was going to be great now. "That's fascinating that so many in your family are witches and wizards." A flood of images ran through her mind as she pictured growing up with magic all around her. She figured most of what she was picturing was wrong, but it was thrilling nonetheless. "So most of them work with muggles? How do they keep them from finding out?"

Thinking about her old school made her smile. "I did go to the same school my mum works at. It was great having her so close...well, unless I got in trouble. Then she was right there." The new school year was getting ready to start and she wondered what her friends would be up to and if they would be missing her. Emmalyn had no idea what her mum was going to tell them. She hadn't been allowed to tell them about Hogwarts.

"I like reading too. My mum didn't let me bring any of my books with me. She said Hogwarts would have a library and my trunk was getting overstuffed." Emmalyn looked over at baby Elise again and made a few more silly faces. "You must be the cutest baby I've every seen."

"I keep hearing others talking about houses. Do you know what house we will be in? How do we find out? Is there a test or something?" Emmalyn hoped it wouldn't be a test. She hadn't studied her new books yet and she knew she would fail a test over the material.

"Well, we've all sort of grown up with a mixture of muggle and wizarding things. My grandpa and all of his brothers were raised as muggles, pretty much, and my dad was raised like that too. I went to a muggle school until I finished the year, and... I think we just learned how to mix. We live in a muggle neighborhood, too. So, it hasn't been very difficult." She'd always just known that she couldn't talk about her magical life with muggles, because the risks were so dangerous. "The partial truth of completing school at a boarding school abroad worked well." She loved knowing that her parents LIED to people sometimes. Well, stretched the truth.

Hanna laughed, "I would think if you got in trouble, your mum would be MORE angry at you." Hers would, anyway. "What was your favourite subject there? Do you know, I really loved maths and my mum told me that there's a subject called arithmancy, and that's sort of a magical maths." Hanna thought she might miss maths the way they did it at the old school, but after learning that she knew that wasn't necessarily the case. "What did you tell your other friends at school, about not coming back?" The curious eleven-year-old was trying to hold back from asking so many questions that could trigger sadness, but she was so CURIOUS.

NO BOOKS? Hanna was outraged for a moment, before realising that Emmalyn's mum was right, there WAS a library, and... Hanna knew something about an overstuffed trunk. "I have lots with me. You can borrow some of them if you want. I wonder what books the library will have." Hanna grinned up at her mum, seeing her new friend seem to relax a little.

A pang of anxiety creeped into Hanna when the house discussion came up. It had been on her mind for most of her life, but more lately. "There is a sort of test, I think. My uncle told me the kids put on a hat that can read their mind or something." That thought was a bit awkward. What if it spoke her thoughts to everyone? "My family were mostly Ravenclaws, but there have been a few Gryffindors. I think I might be in Ravenclaw, but I'm not too sure. Have you read up on them at all?" Hanna wasn't sure what knowledge muggle-borns would have of Hogwarts, although in Flourish and Blotts there was often a lot of historical writings on the castle.

Listening to Hanna speak about her family was nice, until she said that they even lived in a muggle neighborhood. At those words, Emmalyn took in a sudden quick breath. A mixture of excitement and anger filled her. What if her neighborhood had magical folk living there? Why wouldn't they have come to see her after she learned she was a witch? She could have talked to someone about what was happening instead of keeping it all a secret. Not wanting to seem rude, she quickly pushed away those feeling. She would have to sort them out later. "Maybe I'll get to visit you this summer and meet some of your family. They sound like a great bunch."

Emmalyn nodded as Hanna spoke about school and how math was her strong subject. She would miss her friends, but not Mr. Smith. He was the worst teacher possible. She only hoped the professors at Hogwarts were nicer than he was. "I really did enjoy being at the same school as my mum, but I'm excited to be learning new things. I've always been good at science. I did look through the potions book a bit, and it looks quite interesting." She glanced towards where her trunk at sat only minutes before Hanna's father carried it away. She sort of wished she would have kept some of her school books out for the train ride. "I didn't get a chance to tell my friends anything. Mum said she would talk to them after the school year started. The boarding school story is a great idea, and mostly true. I hope they aren't too sad."

"Oh, I would love to see what books you have. I'm also very excited to see the library. I can't even imagine what kinds of books are in there. Did you see all of the books about magic at Diagon Alley? I could have spent all summer going shop to shop and discovering new things." With her mind flying in distracted circles, Emmaly noticed her owl and realized she hadn't let Hanna see her. "By the way, this is my barn owl. Her name is Cinder. She's very friendly if you would like to pet her." She gestured to her owl. "What's your cat's name?"

When the conversation turned to the school houses again, Emmalyn could feel the butterflies zooming around her stomach. "So, there IS a test. A hat reads your mind? That doesn't sound comfortable at all." She wondered if the hat would say they had made a mistake and she shouldn't be at Hogwarts. "Maybe we will be in the same house."

At least now she wasn't small enough to be mistaken for a first year, right? Bel was pretty sure of this, being so very almost fourteen and about to start her third year. She had only done this whole Kings Cross station thing once before, given she and her brother and sister had only moved across the world from her home of Australia the previous year. It was quite different too, everything about it. The best part was how busy the rest of the station was, the muggle part, even if her dad had told her not to wander, and to go right on through to platform 9 and three quarters.

Why it wasn't called platform 9 and a half was a question she still hadn't quite managed to have answered to her satisfaction.

Having left her trunk with her dad to handle, Bel (staying in sight as she had been told), skated along the length of the platform on her pennyboard, making the most of the opportunity to zip around before she would be confined to a train for several hours.

Why they didn't all just go straight to Hogsmeade was beyond her. It was a wizarding village after all. A train couldn't be that necessary for statute stuff? It would be MUCH cooler if she could go to Hogwarts on her motorbike. Much MUCH cooler.

Ren had already got on board to sit with her friends, and Eli had said goodbye back at home now that he was graduated and didn't need to be here, so Bel felt free to start looking for her own friends, or interesting other things and people. And failing that, more skating up and down the crowded platform (careful not to hit anyone of course).

Anywayanywayanyway, where was everyone? Meaning the non-first year everyones. Not that she had a problem with them! But they were everywhere and she could see them and couldn't see anyone who she was specifically looking for. Oh well, she'd see them all soon enough, and be stuck in a dusty cold old castle with them soon enough too! Back to school, back to Hogwarts!

Ethan had to work today, but there was something special about his first born son going off to Hogwarts that he just had to take the morning to help send him off. He had offered to help Gunnar with his trunk, but the eleven year old had insisted on doing it himself. He supposed that was good for the boy, considering he'd be doing a lot of things for himself now that he would be going off to boarding school for the next few months. He did carry Gretchen's cage though while Minerva tended to the children as they stepped onto the platform. Such a bittersweet moment; he wasn't completely sure how he felt about sending Gunnar off.

Morgan looked around at everything as he clung to Mummy's hand. He was very tempted to run forward, free from any hand-holding, but for now his attention was very much captured by all the sights on the platform.

"Look, it's the train!" he exclaimed, pointing at it with his free hand. He wanted to go on it too! He tugged on Mummy's hand and looked at her expectantly. Would she let him get on? Just for a minute?

Dragging his trunk along behind him, Gunnar kept careful watch on everything going on as they stepped onto the platform. He was excited to be going to Hogwarts, but he was nervous too, and a little scared deep down, but that was one feeling he wouldn't readily admit. It was an exciting new adventure, yes, and he was sure he'd make some new friends and learn all about how to make his own magic, but he was sure he'd miss his family, especially his siblings. He had never been away from them for that long.

He looked at Morgan pointing out the train, then looked up at the large Hogwarts Express himself. Wow.. it was really time to be going. Gunnar looked up at his mother then tentatively nodded. "I think so, Mum," he answered her in German. He knew he was supposed to be speaking English more, now that he would be going to the Scottish school, but subconsciously he felt closer to home speaking German for now. He wasn't quite sure he was ready to say goodbye and leave yet though. At least not right this second.

She had many feelings today, MANY FEELINGS! Chloe walked with her hand in her mother's and didn't protest. She had been quiet all morning and just stayed that way as they walked. There was no fighting it, she wasn't going with Gunnar. She had tantrumed all summer, but not really because she wanted to go okay yes she did but because Gunnar was leaving her. She was his big brother and who she played with daily or went to hide in his room when she was scared. Who would do that now? He was not only leaving but taking Gretchen with him so two family members were leaving.

She stopped and looked at the train as Morgan pointed it out. Could they go on it? She could maybe hide behind a seat if they did. No one would notice until they go to school, right?


Her eyes fell on the younger two, they were being so good and she was grateful at the moment, but was it the calm before the storm? She shook her head to Morgan's question, "Not today sweetie, this is Gunnars big day and he'll be the only one going on the train." Though if they all got on the train she could be with her oldest a little longer. No, she couldn't embarrass him that much, her hugs and kisses that will last for days would be plenty to embarrass him.

Smiling at Ethan she couldn't help but feel the memories creeping up. "So many trips on this train." Her husband hadn't been there his entire time, but he was there for the best parts of her time. Looking at Gunnar as he answered back in German she didn't mind, she knew he wouldn't be speaking it often at school so she answered back the same way, "If you didn't just send Gretchen and we will get you what you need." She let go of the other two's hands and walked over to him putting her arms around him. "You are going to have so much fun there. So many friends, remember Hudson will be there so you already know someone." She wondered if Max or Elliot were around to send him off yet. "Daddy and I are just a letter away if you need us. I can be in Hogsmeade in a quick minute." She might be showing her overprotectiveness, but being a stay at home mom for as long as she was with Gunnar she couldn't help it.

Wonder. There was no other word to describe the turmoil of feelings. There she was, little Mara, tiny Mara waiting for the transport to her new school. Before her Portuguese family had relocated to the United Kingdom, her siblings had been accepted at Beauxabatons.

The girl felt the excitement and the pressure. And the mild fear was slowly setting in... At least Leonor, Rafael and Diana all had each other. Well, not Leonor when she first started.


Next to her, her father held her hand. He squeezed it lightly when he felt Mara tense up at the sight of the Express. He too was overwhelmed, weighted by the sense of the passage of time. Her last daughter was finally old enough to properly learn magic. The memory of her first charm assaulted him, as he recalled how his older children had tried to teach Mara... something. And quite a something it was; it had only destroyed half the stables.
"Time to go, sweetie." He announced with a sad smile. "In no time, you'll be enchanting a lot of feathers!" He was at a loss of words and, yet, still trying to sound like a comforting father figure. Her tight hug came as a surprise, and he welcomed her gently.


A few steps in front of them, Constança Neves watched her husband and child. She would too miss Mara, but she was quite confident the girl would have no problem settling in. After all, her youngest had always been fond of adventure.
"Write soon, my love." She hugged her daughter too and looked around to the platform filled with Hogwarts students.

Mara too looked around, as the Platform filled with families or eager students.
Now... What?

Ethan noticed how uncharacteristically quiet Chloe had been and he thought he knew what she might be feeling. It might be a tough year for her, but she'd be going off to Hogwarts with him next year. And she would be okay.

"I bet Gunnar would really like it if you and Mum made some cookies to send to him after he gets to Hogwarts to remind him of home," he told Chloe, hoping that would help her feel like she could still be involved with her brother and help with missing him. He almost added that maybe they could help Gunnar get his trunk to the luggage compartment, but he stopped himself as his eyes fell on his oldest child. He knew he'd need to do this himself.

At last! Mummy let go of his hand. Morgan looked towards the train, but there were so many people around, making him a little shy. He still wanted a peek at the train, but he looked over at Mummy giving his big brother a hug. He knew he was leaving, even if he didn't completely understand for how long and everything. "I want hugs too, Gunnar!"

Gunnar was already starting to feel homesick and he really didn't like that sad feeling at all. He wanted to be excited - which he was! - but the sadness of leaving his family behind was starting to creep up on him. Normally he loved being the oldest, but this also meant that he had to go, by himself. Still, he was going to do his best to act grown up.

"I know, Mum," he said with a small smile, again in German. He let go of his trunk momentarily once she put her arms around him and he gave her a hug back. Nodding, he pulled away after a moment. "I saw Hudson in Diagon Alley. We said we'd sit with each other on the train." He smiled a little bigger thinking about it, happy to already know someone who'd be going there too.

"Okay..." He was sure he'd write a lot, to all of them. "I want lots of letters back, okay?" This was for all of them, but he glanced at Chloe especially. Well... he supposed he was ready to give hugs to all of them now.

Staring around at the crowd of students, parents, and other miscellaneous people who were among them watching their kids, nieces, nephews, cousins, siblings, whoever may be heading off to Hogwarts, Aaron had spotted a, somewhat older, student. A girl. She seemed as if she was looking for someone to talk to. It just so happened that this firstie could talk your ear off if he was ever given the chance to do so.

Gliding over to her, the boy had greeted her with a huge grin. "Hi! I'm Aaron. You seemed like you were looking for someone to talk to, so I came over to talk to you." Aaron laughed a tad after saying that. Hopefully, she was nice and wouldn't turn him away. So far, making friends turned out to be relatively easy.

Hanna grinned, excited at the thought. "Oh that would be wonderful! We have a spare bedroom! My parents were able to charm the house and we have lots of extensions." It was sort of like the magical tents you could get. It appeared tiny, but was really VERY spacious. Plus, it was something to look forward to.

"It would be good, you could go to school with her, and come home with her." Some of Hanna's friends had to get to school early or stay back late to be taken care of by other teachers, if their parents weren't able to pick them up. Luckily for her, her mum had mostly been a stay-at-home mum, which she LOVED. "I hope you get to write to them." Obviously not by Owl, that would take a lot of explaining, but maybe there was a way at Hogwarts to send muggle mail. "Science is interesting, I think it's a little bit like chemistry." From what she gathered, all the precise measurements and things.

"We can go to the library together when we get there if you like." Which would be even better if they were in the same house. Hanna's mouth opened, "YES! It's just fabulous. I wish I had all the money I could stuff into my pockets, and I'd buy all of them!" She was SO happy her new friend was also interested in reading, because Hanna loved talking about books. "Aww hello Cinder," Hanna said, reaching her hand out to pat the barn owl. "She's lovely. My cat is Gigi," Hanna said. "She's also friendly."

"Well I... I THINK so. I hope we don't have to answer any questions in our heads or anything." Hanna felt nervous at the thought of what the hat would do, but SO MANY people had gone through before and were okay, so that was something to think about. "I hope so!"

Harriet was really excited to go back to school. She didn't have exams to worry about this year, so she knew it was going to be good. Of course she was going to be still studying hard, but it wasn't like she had to stress about exams at the end of the year. She also wasn't taking that many classes, so it was going to be good. Both of her parents were, once again, at the platform with her. This year was more special though, because she wasn't going to be the only Paton at Hogwarts. Her little sister was joining her this year.

"Yes. i'll remember to look after her Mama" Hattie smiled as she looked at her mother. She was sure Cora Paton could look after herself but she would try to keep an eye out for her. She wondered what house the girl would be in. Maybe a hufflepuff like her? That would be nice. The blonde now turned to look at her father and beam. "Daddy.... remember to write more this term" Because it seemed to always be her mother that wrote

Vanessa Paton laughed as she watched her daughters interact with their father. She couldn't believe Hattie was a sixth year now, and that her youngest child was going to Hogwarts. Time really did move so fast. "They grow so fast..." She murmured, glancing up at Seth as they walked. Since when were their kids so old. "Don't worry Hattie...." She spoke again, smiling at her daughter. "I'll make sure he writes to both of you"