Ilya kept only one piece of luggage with him when he mounted the train. He didn't need like clutter and the other students already take, like, HALF of their trunks with them like mongrels. He walked briskly in the small, tight corridor to an empty compartment. He proudly lifted his trunk up and slid it in the upper shelf. He didn't have to climb on the chair or wobble with the trunk's weight. He was getting taller and stronger without even doing anything. His grandmother would comment something about his ancestral lineage.. so thank merlin, she was not here to see this.

It was just a liiiittle bit embarrassing how tall he was getting already. It wasn't nearly as embarrassing as having your hair and eyes constantly changing colour and confusing the heck out of people, though, so he wasn't completely upset about it.

Now that he was all settled down, he lifted his feet to rest on the seat across and opened the book he was supposed to finish before next month. His grandmother got him a personal tutor for his metamorphmagus thing. It was fun to train with him in the summer, but now it was just reading. Pretty much like, well, school.

Bernie wasn't up to anything, not at all. She had already changed into her school robes and had then walked through the entire Hogwarts Express (except for the prefects' compartment) from back to front, looking for someone. But she hadn't found her yet, so she was going to stop here in the front for a bit before she got up to go walking again.

She was nervous, a little bit, for this school year, and not just because she was on her absolute last chance with the Headmaster. Okay, it was just for that reason. Bernie slid open the door to the compartment and sighed in RELIEF as she spotted a friendly face.

"Ilyaaaaaaaa!" the Gryffindor called out happily, plopping down across from him to rest her feet for a few. "HI. How are you? What did you do this summer? What are you reaaaaaaaaaading?" He would be the PERFECT DISTRACTION to her nerves for now.

Ilya didn't flinch when Bernie basically barged in, his hair changed at least four colours from the jarring surprise before it turned blonde again. "You can say Ilya without the shouting at the end, you know that, right?" He actually preferred his name un-stretched. Knowing Bernie, though, she was always going to be this dramatic.

He closed the book and kept his thumb in for when he could go back to reading. "I'm good. Just reading." He was actually getting really into this instructional book which was why her entrance caused him to get a little flustered. "Summer? It was okay. We went to Spain for a week. You?" He left out the part where he learned how to keep his eye colours the same for the longest time (his record was 6 days!).

LOOK. AT. THAT!

Bernie would be forever amazed by some of the magic of the wizarding world, and Ilya Belrose's ever-changing hair colour was one of those things. She stopped gaping at him long enough to grin at his reprimand. "I can? Hang on, let me try." She took a deep breath, winding up to shout, -"ILYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Ope, nope, his name really didn't work any other way. And then she remembered that she was supposed to be keeping a low profile for this train ride, and hastily threw her own hand over her mouth to shut herself up. This was an old tactic she'd used when she was in trouble with her mum, which Ilya reminded her of sometimes. AnYwAy.

"Spain, wow, that's cool. Which part?" Bernie had only ever left the country to go to France that one year of school....that terrible year..... "I didn't do anything." Shrugshrug. "I bought some stuff for school, and it's supposed to be delivered here soon though, so if you see it..."

She leaned forward to glance out of the compartment, in case Claudine was passing by.

Ilya braced himself for the real shouting. He didn't blame her, he blamed himself. He walked right into that one. "Fascinating. You're hilarious." He added, switching between his legs that were locked and stretched up across the seat. "Why... are you acting..." What was the word he needed here? "Shifty." Clapping a hand over her mouth? Yeah, that was textbook Bernie the shifty.

"North." of Spain. Why did she ask? Did she know Spain that well? Ilya watched her lean closer looking at the students in the corridor. "Bernadette. What are you doing?" Did she really want to test the headmaster this EARLY in the term? Not that he cared, he was totally nonchalant as to who stayed in school and who didn't. It was just a loss that someone he knew since day 1 would be expelled he totally cared.

She was, wasn't she? Bernie was proud of that one, and her self-satisfied grin (once she removed the hand from her mouth) showed it.

"Shifty?" Her? Noooooooooo, never. Bernie knew jack about Spain but it seemed like a good, distracting topic to get stuck into, if only---if only Ilya didn't read her like the book that was sitting in his lap.

She sighed, particularly since he was calling her Bernadette and not Gernie, and sat back against the seat, closing her blue eyes for JUST A SEC before popping them open again. "It's just, after the Forbidden Forest STUFF last term, and when the groundskeeper's dogs died..." Well anyway, she'd said she wasn't going to go into details, and so SHE WOULDN'T. "I'm making it right, that's all."

That's all, making it right, yes yes. This was Bernie's temporary mantra.

He wouldn't say he was exceptionally good at reading people but that Bernie was such an expressive girl--probably one of the easiest to read people he knew. At least she was taking his question seriously, sighing and sitting down. Ilya shifted slightly in her direction, trying to focus and give her the proper attention since she closed her eyes. Ah, the dead dogs thing. Right. Very tragic.

... make it right? "Uhm. Are you... going to resurrect the dogs?" He asked dumbly. Okay, sorry, but he didn't really see any other way she could fix it than resurrect the dogs into ghosts. "Because I'm pretty sure this is way above your wand's pay grade."

Also, "No offence, but it seems to me every time you try to fix something, you get detention." Just saying. He shifted back in his seat, not really facing her completely as before but also not shunning her.

Aboli had left her tearful mother and very serious-looking father and led her veeeeery quiet brother onto the train. It was his first year, after all, and part of the reason she had decided to give the boarding school another try.

Plus, she was awfully lonely being home-schooled at 15. Like, where were the boys? OR girls to gossip to? Or anything to set on FIRE? She promised she was only joking about THAT one. But the day had arrived, and with her stomach bubbling with excited anxiety, the Slytherin (since she HAD attended for a MONTH back in first year) showed her brother a cozy little compartment, made sure he was okay, and tried to spot anyone she might know. Noah? Skeet? Cute Christian? James? Her artist friend Cillian? Reyna? ANYONE?

Alas, though, she didn't see a familiar face soOOOoo with her little tank filled with garden snails tucked under her arm, she looked for an empty (or NEARLY so) compartment to call home for the next few hours. Her brunette hair was laced in a messy plait down her back, and as she attempted to slide into a compartment, it caught ONTO SOMETHING.

"OW--OH---SOGGY MORGANA'S SOCKS" she nearly said something not ladylike, but she caught herself before she could make a bad impression on anyone.

And proceeded to struggle to get her hair untangled. -_______-

Holly had said her goodbyes to her Mum and Dad last night before staying with Cameron and Liam. It had been weird interesting to leave from their place this morning. Since she still wasn't 17, Cam had shrunk her trunk for her to a much more manageable size and off she had gone.

Picking up a coffee along the way had been a delight, and now here she was. In a compartment towards the front of the train on her way to start her sixth year. The curly haired girl didn't know much, but she knew that this year couldn't and wouldn't be as stressful as last year - since she didn't have any major exams and she hoped to get a good head-start on her NEWT studying so that she could hopefuly maybe not be any more stressed next year.

Stress and her? They didn't go very well.

Right now though, she was relaxed with a book in hand that she had picked up a few days ago on her last trip to Diagon Alley.

He had only been sitting in the compartment for maybe five minutes after settling in and digging out his favourite book from his backpack. He thumbed the next page, heavily invested in the narrative. Would the scarred investigator find evidence in this shady place perhaps? The scene grew darker and darker and then...He was expecting something to happen. Noah turned the page and then...

"OW--OH---SOGGY MORGANA'S SOCKS"

WHAT THE-!?

Noah JUMPED - no BOLTED (kinda gracefully but still nonetheless) out of his seat. Mind and heart racing at light speed (well light speed was dramatic - way less than light speed - but anyway ...) as he turned to find a girl (a pretty girl) caught in the door. What... What. Oh. She was stuck. Was her hair in the door..?

OUCH. That looked painful. He tossed his book to the side and immediately went to go help her. "Umm here I can help too," he said as he slowly before adding, "only if you want, of course."

What an entrance....

Excellent timing for the exclamation to happen for a cloaked figured and lunged himself at the protagonist, he thought. Noah could have almost chuckled at the situation (perhaps part of the reason for chuckling was that he was nervous?) but thought that highly inappropriate at the moment.

His chauffeur had driven him to King's Cross like every year. Because like every year, his parents were too busy with work and could not see him off. That did not mean that they hadn't said goodbye last night at the manor or good luck for he was starting his exam year help!. He liked his chauffeur, considered him a friend actually but for once he wished his parents would come with. Maybe next year though.

After placing his luggage away, Minjae moved to the front with a small backpack hanging over his shoulders. He still needed to find someone who was willing to carry his things when going to classes. There was payment involved of course and he wondered if he should give a Galleon a day or more? He did not care, he just wanted someone to hold his books for him. Maybe when a new first year got sorted in to Hufflepuff would he get his chance.

For now though, the fifth year had found a nearly empty compartment and opened the door without knocking first. "What ya readin'?" he asked and plopped himself down on the bench opposite the girl .

Phoebe was looking for her people, all of whom seemed to be hiding from her, and she came barreling down the corridor with her robes only half on and a cat clutched under her arm like a quaffle. The cat was meowing loud protests, Phoebe was telling the cat off, and SHE WAS NOT DEALING WITH ANY NONSENSE.

"Don't sass Bernie. She knows everything. Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen... anyone? Like anyone? I can't find anyone." Not even Teddy. NOT EVEN HER TWIN WHO SHE HAD A MYSTICAL BRAIN LINK WITH. "I mean, you are probably anyones, and I like you very much. Hello, Other Momma. But I think the train is literally eating people?"

SPOILER!!: MY FRANZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magical Soul

He wouldn't say he was exceptionally good at reading people but that Bernie was such an expressive girl--probably one of the easiest to read people he knew. At least she was taking his question seriously, sighing and sitting down. Ilya shifted slightly in her direction, trying to focus and give her the proper attention since she closed her eyes. Ah, the dead dogs thing. Right. Very tragic.

... make it right? "Uhm. Are you... going to resurrect the dogs?" He asked dumbly. Okay, sorry, but he didn't really see any other way she could fix it than resurrect the dogs into ghosts. "Because I'm pretty sure this is way above your wand's pay grade."

Also, "No offence, but it seems to me every time you try to fix something, you get detention." Just saying. He shifted back in his seat, not really facing her completely as before but also not shunning her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Phoebe was looking for her people, all of whom seemed to be hiding from her, and she came barreling down the corridor with her robes only half on and a cat clutched under her arm like a quaffle. The cat was meowing loud protests, Phoebe was telling the cat off, and SHE WAS NOT DEALING WITH ANY NONSENSE.

"Don't sass Bernie. She knows everything. Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen... anyone? Like anyone? I can't find anyone." Not even Teddy. NOT EVEN HER TWIN WHO SHE HAD A MYSTICAL BRAIN LINK WITH. "I mean, you are probably anyones, and I like you very much. Hello, Other Momma. But I think the train is literally eating people?"

Bernie was definitely expressive, that was for sure. Ilya...maybe Ilya didn't know about her drama in the Forbidden Forest? If so, that was an episode she didn't care to repeat, so she'd just let it....er, sleeping dogs lie? Was it wrong to use that expression here? Either way, she remained quiet for a beat, looking out the window and remembering last year with a somber face.

"I know," she answered Ilya in a small little voice. It was true; she was one of those do-gooders that overdid things and ended up causing more trouble by accident than anything. Bernadette just hadn't learned how to avoid (or NOT do) things....yet....

Sigh. She looked up as an interruption --- a happy one! With a cat! YAY! --- came barreling into their compartment. "Pheebs!" She beamed at her co-parent, as frazzled as she seemed. "I haven't been successful in finding anyone yet either, but the train just took off." So. It was early still. And by anyone, she really only meant Claudine, but she wouldn't be mad about seeing Blake or even Isla or Cece. Good ol' Cece. Bernie beckoned to her housemate to sit down beside her by pat-patting the seat.

"Who's your friend?" The cat, obviously, she was asking about the kitty cat. COULD SHE HOLD IT???? Pleeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase?

Seventh year, seventh year, SEVENTH YEAR!!!!

Chloe couldn't believe it as she bounded into the train, it was finally here. She was finally a seventh year. As she found an empty compartment and sat down her eyes ventured out the window thinking about the summer and all the fun she had and even some of the not fun, but mostly the fun. She just knew this was going to be the best year though she said that about the last three!

This year though she was going to make sure it was all about fun. Her feelings were in check, she was feeling super confident, and she was ready for hard work and fun. NEWTS were on her mind, but she forced them out, at least for the train ride. This was for excitement and she was not going to think about stress.

Now her biggest concern right now, to get up for food or just hang here for awhile.

Phew, Curtis was now in a compartment. He wasn't all that enthused to be on the train back to Hogwarts. Only because he knew O.W.L's were incoming among other things. But he wasn't here for negative thoughts. Not now. Not checking where he entered exactly until he shut it closed and looked to see.

Oh.. He blinked before a soft smile was on his face. "Hey Chloe. You alright?" He didn't say anything else, instead sinking himself into a seat. He didn't think it was possible but this girl grew even more hotter over the summer.

While she was still in thought a click of the compartment made her turn to the door, she wasn't expecting anyone, so seeing Curtis she gave a warm smile. 'Hey, yeah, everything is great. Just settling in for the long train ride and enjoying the quiet before the crazy starts." It was Hogwarts after all, she knew things wouldn't be fully smooth, a portrait or ghost was always around to annoy.

"So, how was your summer?" Turning in her seat so she could fully focus on him and taking him fully in for the first time. A thought crossed her mind, but she quickly threw it out as just something dumb. "Looking forward to anything this term? " With his dad as a professor, maybe he'd know the answer of the question that was the biggest on her mind.

"Did your dad mention anything about Quidditch for this term?"

Ilya watched Bernie remain quiet, underline that please, and look out the window. She didn't get excited at the thought of dog ghosts or anything, she didn't ask him a million questions either. He sat upright, letting his feet touch the ground and almost asked if she was okay.

Okay, next time he was choosing the back cars because what was with the loud people coming in here one after the other? Although he did like and enjoy the company of those two in particular, so maybe he shouldn't complain about every single thing that happened today. After his hair settled to blonde, again, Ilya frowned in concentration at Phoebe's... tangent? "Uhm. I don't think you're going to find anyone if you don't know who you're looking for." He was not being lame, he was being correct. Thank you very much.

The cat did seem in distress over there, though. "The train eating people would be the least of our problems this year. I actually think Gernie over here is turning into a mature old woman." He smirked at Bernie. Was this mean? He was just trying to cheer her up.

Had Aboli been in a bad mood, she would have snipped at the boy. However, she was in a decent mood...and her nerves were much too high for her to just snip at an unsuspecting helpful person! She nodded. "Yes please! I can't see the back of my head - I can't see how it's stuck!" she sighed and felt a little embarrassed at the awkward stance she was forced to stand in...her neck lolled to the side, forced there by her !!!trapped!!! hair.

She examined him a bit. He had kind eyes. She knew what her brother's remark about him would be... You don't trust anyone, Aboli, not even kind-eyed people. She and Koko had always been a paranoid duo, but Aboli was sliiiiiightly less so than her younger brother. Even for an eleven year old, he was still completely silent to most strangers.

"Can you get it?" she asked desperately.

Noah nodded when she asked for his help. Stepping closer, he focused on the hair that had been ensnared and wrapped around the door's locking mechanism. Hmm.. It was tightly wrapped and he could see how knotted it was.

"Yeah, I think I can see how I can untangle it," he said, as he started to move the strands away from each other and the door that it had gotten stuck in. He thought he could see how to get her unstuck. He took a deep breather and gently reached behind her to start to untangle her hair. His touch was gentle. He was used to helping out his younger sister's with brushing their hair when they asked him to help.

"Almost there... Let me know if it starts to hurt.. or if your neck needs support." One knot down, one more to go. Noah kept his focus on untangling her hair but couldn't help but steal a glance at the pretty girl to make sure she was okay.

He didn't realize how close he had been standing to the girl so after he finished helping her, he took a step back. "I think you should be in the clear."

His proximity didn't much bother her because he did smell very nice. Thankfully so. "I won't hurt---and if I do, it's fine--I like pain--" she smiled. Was she joking? Was she not? The world would neeeever know. OR AT LEAST..this boy wouldn't. She laughed a bit at her own response and patiently waited for him to finish. It felt like aaaaaages before the tension began to ease up.

Once he was backed away a bit, she stood up straight, and to her glee her hair was FREEEEE. Aboli flashed him a smile. "Thank you! I suppose that's one way to get acquainted with someone. In my home, biting someone is our way of showing thanks, so ---" and she made like she were ACTUALLY going to bite his arm before she stopped and laaauuuUUughed.

"Just kidding." She WAS kidding about that. She just enjoyed priceless reactions. "Were you sitting in this compartment, then?" Because they were now awkwardly standing in the train corridor, and they should probably move soon so they weren't becoming a ~blockage.

"This is Beans," Phoebe placed the cat gently on the floor, and Beans darted for the closed compartment door. Destined for disappointment, that's right. "You can pet her. She's a good cuddler, in spite of the fact that she acts so rotten." Maybe she wouldn't be so rotten if not carried around like a football, but whatever. Phoebe sunk into one of the seats and crossed her arms across her chest.

"I know who I'm looking for, Ilya, but I can't find them. We're supposed to sit together." And it wasn't like she was going to cry over it or anything, although her chin felt dangerously wobbly. "I know I interrupted you guys. Sorry." Not sorry. "You can talk about whatever you want and I'll just sit here and be a pest. I promise I won't interrupt anymore."

SPOILER!!: elf and beans

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magical Soul

Ilya watched Bernie remain quiet, underline that please, and look out the window. She didn't get excited at the thought of dog ghosts or anything, she didn't ask him a million questions either. He sat upright, letting his feet touch the ground and almost asked if she was okay.

Okay, next time he was choosing the back cars because what was with the loud people coming in here one after the other? Although he did like and enjoy the company of those two in particular, so maybe he shouldn't complain about every single thing that happened today. After his hair settled to blonde, again, Ilya frowned in concentration at Phoebe's... tangent? "Uhm. I don't think you're going to find anyone if you don't know who you're looking for." He was not being lame, he was being correct. Thank you very much.

The cat did seem in distress over there, though. "The train eating people would be the least of our problems this year. I actually think Gernie over here is turning into a mature old woman." He smirked at Bernie. Was this mean? He was just trying to cheer her up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"This is Beans," Phoebe placed the cat gently on the floor, and Beans darted for the closed compartment door. Destined for disappointment, that's right. "You can pet her. She's a good cuddler, in spite of the fact that she acts so rotten." Maybe she wouldn't be so rotten if not carried around like a football, but whatever. Phoebe sunk into one of the seats and crossed her arms across her chest.

"I know who I'm looking for, Ilya, but I can't find them. We're supposed to sit together." And it wasn't like she was going to cry over it or anything, although her chin felt dangerously wobbly. "I know I interrupted you guys. Sorry." Not sorry. "You can talk about whatever you want and I'll just sit here and be a pest. I promise I won't interrupt anymore."

Like a cat named Beans, Bernie's ears pricked up a tiny little bit when Ilya used her old nickname, and she smiled the tiniest bit. But, sorry friends, her attention was mostly on the cat. Bernie LOVED cats and had ALWAYS wanted one but had NEVER EVER had a pet due to allergies in her family.

"Beaaaaaaaaaaaaaaans," the third year sing-sang, leaping off her seat and diving for the cat at the compartment door. Regardless of its protests, she scooped it up, and gave it the best seat in the compartment (the one by the window). She began pet-petting the cat studiously, half-holding it in place with her pets. "Pheeeeeeeebs, don't be glum. I'm the glum one. Did you bring Beans to school because you missed our baby Finneas so much?" Heehe, only joking. She WAS curious who her friend was looking for, but was also trying her best to be good and quiet and somber and not at all troublesome.

Wait... What did she say? She liked the what? He quietly BLUSHED. “Oh…” he chuckled softly. Noah didn’t know what to say back to that. Should he joke or just be awkward? He chose the latter of the two, biting his lip to prevent him asking her if she usually got herself caught in these situations.

Noah chuckled when she mentioned that it's a way to get acquainted with someone. He ran a hand through his hair as he chuckled – it was a nervous tick of his. “Oh 100% agreed. I was going to say that it was certainly an acquaintance to make,” he explained with a smile before watching her make an attempt to go bite his arm in a joking smile. He raised his eyebrows an offered her an amused smile. Heh. He knew she was joking around.

“Aw I’m disappointed,” he joked, running a hand through his hair again. She was pretty… He paused and then remembered that she had asked him a question. “Yes, I was sitting in there. You’re more than welcome to join me, if you’d like. Oh. I’m Noah by the way. New Pukweudgie transfer to Hogwarts.”

Beans was actually quite the cute cat, Ilya couldn't help but smile a little at the small creature, he was yet to learn not to get annoyed at the shedding (??) they do in time, but meeting a cat briefly in Hogwarts Express was the good amount of cat love he was going to give. Also, Bernie didn't really leave any room for others to pet the cat...

Did she really know? "Okay, good. You don't seem like you do, but okay." He tried not to smirk, he failed. It was fun being mean sometimes, but he still loved Phoebe!!! Which was why he was being mean. Was this normal? Did people do this? "Oh you didn't really interrupt anything." He commented after Bernie, closing the book his transfiguration tutor gave him on metamorphagus and giving up on doing a quick review before the feast. Ilya reached out to pet the cat with Bernie, or actually scratch her belly a little.