Going back for a new term

[alexis]

Alexis made it early to Kings Cross station so she would be able to get a good seat on the Hogwarts Express. Her father got a trolley and put her trunk, new owl and the rest of her school things and began walking toward the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Grabbing the trolley from her father, she faced the barrier and started at a fast pace and went through the wall and right to platform 9 3/4. She saw the scarlet steam engine and at once felt happy that she was going back to Hogwarts.

Her mother came up to her and embraced her in a tight hug. "Ve vill miss you so much! Take care of yourself!" Alexis, trying hard to breath replied, "Don't vorry I vill be just fine. After she let go, she hugged her father and then when to her little sister, whom she was so happy was finally out of the hospital. "Take care of yourself and be careful." After she let go, her sister shouted, "Mama, can I please go vith her please!" 'You vill be able to go next year." she replied. Alexis, taking all of her things, waved good bye to her parents and set off toward the train.

She went into the train and went to find an empty compartment. Seeing that she was about 25 minutes early and people either didn't show up yet or they were saying good bye to their parents. Finding a compartment that was empty, she went inside, put her trunk on the overhead shelf and put her owl's cage next to her. Then she sat down wondering when everyone else would show up.

[Gail Lawrence]

Gail gave her parents one last hug and proceeded with through the barrier onto Platform 9 3/4, her trolley trailing behind her. The platform was full of wizarding families saying goodbye to each other. Carefully maneuvering through the crowd, Gail finally stepped up to the Hogwarts Express.

She unloaded her trolley with a great deal of effort. Baldwin, her owl, complained noisily about being moved, and her trunk was heavier than she remembered. However, eventually, she got an older student to load her trunk onto the train. Picking up her robes and Baldwin's cage, she boarded the train at last.

As she began to look for a compartment, Gail gave a great sigh. She was relieved to be returning to Hogwarts. If she thought summer had been tense, Christmas had been more so. She was more than ready to escape and get back to classes. She just hoped she didn't get Professor Doggerel angry at her again.

The compartments had filled up rapidly as she had been lost in her thoughts, and all now had at least two people. Finally, she turned her head and found a compartment with only one person inside. It was a Hufflepuff, from the robes. Gail thought she was a year or two younger, but couldn't be sure.

Pulling her belongings through the doorway, she sat down across from the Hufflepuff, Baldwin giving another "tu-whit" at the sudden motion. The two students looked at each other for a few moments, before Gail finally said, "Hi. What's your name?"

[alexis]

Alexis had been staring out the window until she heard the compartment door open and a girl with an owl entered. Alexis looked up at her for several seconds until the girl asked her what her name was. Alexis smiled, "I'm Alexis Linden. Fourth year Hufflepuff. Who are you?" By the looks of this one, Alexis thought it was a Ravenclaw but she wasn't quite sure on the age.

[Gail Lawrence]

Gail mused over the girl’s response, nodding slightly. She wasn’t the best with names or faces, but it was nice to know that she had made at least a vague recognition. And she was right about the age. The girl – Alexis – seemed to be watching her closely. She was waiting.

“Gail Lawrence, Ravenclaw. Fifth year.” She paused.

The engine blew a long whistle. They would be leaving soon.

There was something else in that short answer, but Gail couldn’t put her finger on it. Baldwin let out another noise, pulling her from her thoughts. He was good at that. Suddenly, she knew what it was.

“You’re from the Mainland. Germany or Austria.” She paused again, as another thought went through her mind. “How’d you end up at Hogwarts?”

[alexis]

Alexis was a little shocked to see that Gail knew where she was from. "I am from Germany." she smiled. "I moved to England because my father found a new job for ze Ministry of Magic. My parents sent me to Hogwarts zinking it vas ze best place." as she spoke she looked out of the window again to see some kids running onto the train, since it was about to take off any minute. "Looks like ve are going to leave soon." she told her. "Zat is good. I can't vat until ve finally reach ze school."

[Gail Lawrence]

Gail saw Alexis watch the last students boarding the train. She had been in that position more than once, when her mother alone brought her to King’s Cross. Her father was a little stricter about punctuality. She thought he was a little excessive, but it was nice to not be running onto the train for once.

“I can’t vat until ve finally reach ze school,” Alexis said, breaking into her thoughts.

Gail nodded. “It is nice, isn’t it? Feels almost like going home.” Almost, she thought.

The whistle blew one last time, and Gail could see a child running across the platform. She smiled. “How do you like living in Britain?”

[alexis]

Alexis lurched forward slightly forward as the train began to move. When Gail asked her how long she had been living in Britain she had to think for a second. "Hmmm, lets see. I zink I 'ave lived here for about a month or a little more than zat. I am not to sure. Have you lived here for your whole life?"

[Gail Lawrence]

“Have you lived here your whole life?”

The train jerked forward, and Gail expected Baldwin to make another complaint, but he was silent. Gail turned back toward Alexis. “Yes,” she replied. “I’ve lived in Plymouth my whole life. It’s in southern England.” She paused, thinking.

“I never grew up in the magical world, and I’m always a little jealous of those who have. But, yes, Hogwarts is lovely, isn’t it?”

A short silence passed over the compartment. With the train on its way, Gail reflected that surely there could not be many still looking for a place to sit. It nearly guaranteed that the two would spend the trip in peace.

Shaking her head, Gail asked, “Where did you go to school before you came to Britain?”