|| and the day finally arrived!

[Isabelle Ine Iolani]

after long days of shopping at diagon alley, and boring days at her parents' home near croughton air force base missing hogwarts, the day finally came to jump onto the hogwarts express. isabelle's mother and father both came, ine's brown bob bouncing behind isabelle as she followed her daughter, whose hand held that of ine's husband's, kealoha, as the family made their way through king's cross station. in his other hand, kealoha held isabelle's new owl, pumpkin, while ine was blessed with the task of pushing her daughter's other miscellaneous items.

despite the owl in their possession, it didn't seem like they stuck out like sore thumbs in the muggle-crowded king's cross. isabelle hadn't put on a robe since she left diagon alley and her parents were in day clothes, too. the sea of muggles surrounding them didn't seem to notice, in a rush to get to get on with their days. men in business-suits constantly checked their wristwatches, walking above standard pace to make it to their proper platform on time.

finally, the small family reached the platform that stood between platforms nine and ten. isabelle felt her father's grip get looser, and she smiled. just a few years ago her father, a muggle, tightly gripped her hand, unsure of really just how to approach the platform; having been raised in a muggle community, she did the same. ine had laughed at them, diving into the platform first preceding isabelle's first year.

but now it was her fourth. "you first," isabelle heard kealoha whisper. she looked up to her father with bright eyes and nodded. isabelle took pumpkin from her father's hands, and ran into the platform, feeling the rush of energy circulate in her blood stream as she made it to the also-crowded platform 9 and 3/4. "we're almost there, pumpkin," she whispered to her owl as she took steps forward. isabelle's eyes glistened as she took each step, thrilled to see all the students and their families. though she did not recognize all of them, isabelle recognized a few, happily waving to some as her parents made their way behind her.

isabelle set pumpkin and her cage down carefully once she made it close enough to the train.

it was time for a goodbye. she turned to her parents, trying not to have such a big smile on her face. she was excited, and they knew it, but she wanted to show them she'd miss them, too. "bye! i love you!" she squealed as she gave them each a hug. kealoha embraced her tighter, not letting the fourth year let go. "a hui hou," he whispered in her ear. until we meet again. "hui hou, daddy!" isabelle giggled, "i love you!"

she stepped back from both her parents, pulling her belongings closer to her. "bye!" she said again. isabelle waved, then turned around, pushing her things into the train cart. now it was time to find an empty, or not-so-empty, compartment... "hmmm, where should we go, pumpkin?"

[Olivia Blue Hyde]

Olivia dragged her heavy luggage from her parents car, happy to be done with all the necessary shopping for the upcoming term. Her parents took their time making sure they were all dressed in the proper attire, much to Olivia dismay since she loved to be free to wear what she wanted. After she got on the train she was going to change out of elegant outfit to something more comfortable like graphic t-shirt and her plaid skirt with all her other accessories. She found this awesome hair clip that would move and glow once the user put it on, which she thought would be totally awesome.

Looking over, she noticed her siblings were fidgeting around, "I bet they feel just as uncomfortable as I do in this get up. I feel like were are dressed for the 1960s instead of modern times." she thought, trying to suppress her giggle which caught her mother's attention, causing her to narrow her eyes at her. Quickly looking away in innocence she asked her father if he would help her with her things which he kindly obliged and they all walked through the parking lot until they reached the hogwarts express. Inside the train station, students and their parents were all gathering together saying their farewells; some in tears and others getting stern warnings from their parents to behave while they were gone.

Olivia walked with her parents in silence until she reached her platform where she would finally have to say goodbye. Turning to her father, she gave him a really big hug, "Dad...I promise that I will stay out of trouble and make you and mom proud." she said, trying to stop the tears from flowing from her eyes. Her father was the sentimental type who could accept this behavior, but a stern cough stop her from continuing her hug as she turned to face her mother who was busy tapping her foot in patience. "Well, Olivia...I will expect to hear only good things from you as you attend this school. You are the oldest of your siblings so the example you set now will rub off on them. " she said, giving Oliva a hard stare too so she meant business. Olivia nodded her head in agreement with her mother, but could not bring herself to speak which seemed to satisfy her mother enough.

After the third degree from her mother Olivia was feeling the pressure so she turned her focus on her siblings who were trying to grab her attention the whole entire time. "Yes my little rugrats. I will miss you both the most of all because no matter how much you bug me to death, and mess with my stuff you always make me laugh whenever I feel down." she said, then she pulled the both in for a hug before whispering something in their ear, "Don't let what mom says get you down. She use to be a different person back then, but something happened in the past turning her to a very tough person. If I see something awesome I will make sure to buy it and send it to you. Now don't stand there crying..be tough I will visit you during the holidays." Her siblings held her in a stronghold grip so with the help of her father she managed to get free. "Well....I love you all. I will make sure I write you guys to tell you how I'm doing." turning away she pushed her cart filled with her belongings into the train which was now packed with students.

Once on the train, she turned around to wave back to her family who were now starting to leave. Last year, she found a compartment and managed to get it all to herself, but this year may prove to be different as each one she came to was getting full. As she was pushing her cart she noticed a familiar female that she had ran into at diagon alley, "Hey! Long time no see stranger." she shouted hoping to get the older girls attention.

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi's face lit up as the familiar column between platforms nine and ten came into view. Hera meowed up at her in a tone that clearly communicated that she was excited as well. The fifth year giggled at the feline, and bent down to scratch the soft chocolate point ears. "I know, Hera. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts either."

Mark and Angela walked up behind her, pushing the two girls' carts. Behind them, a sullen Megan straggled along. She looked so morose, Lexi couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She stood and walked over to her baby sister and draped an arm over her shoulder. "Are you excited to, Megs? You'll get to see all your friends again!"

Megan merely shrugged and muttered that she was excited. The girls' parents ushered them through to Platform 9 and 3/4, following behind and talking cheerfully to each other. The other side was busy as usual, witches and wizards ushering their children off to school.

Filled with excitement, Lexi dropped her arm from Megan's shoulder and rushed to give her parents a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before taking control of her cart and rushing off to the large red train. Her Siamese cat followed close behind, and jumped onto Lexi's luggage as soon as she got the chance.

Once on the train, the girl seer to finding a compartment with at least one of her friends. Approximately half of the compartments were still empty, and the ones that weren't didn't contain any of her friends, so she instead choose an empty one in hours that her friends might come to her.

[Isabelle Ine Iolani]

pushing her belongings through the tight hallways of the hogwarts express proved to be more challenging than walking through crowded diagon alley. isabelle cursed herself for complaining so much about diagon alley because as it turned out, she had been quite lucky to not be hauling so many items through the thin street. with other students trying to push their way around both with and without their luggage, isabelle wanted to just jump into the first compartment without space she could manage.

isabelle saw another cart coming in her direction, and at that sight she wanted to pull her brown hair out. how would they be able to squeeze past each other? but a familiar, peppy curly-haired ravenclaw popped from behind the cart and its luggage and greeted her. isabelle beamed, ecstatic to see a familiar face on the train so soon. maybe they could be compartment buddies! "oh, hello!" isabelle greeted blue, her voice's tone fluctuating into a high pitch. "these halls are so crowded," isabelle emphasized, throwing her arms in the air from exasperation. "are you looking for somewhere to go, too?" as she waited for an answer, isabelle peeked into the compartment to her right, slightly opening the door as quietly as she could.

sitting in it was fellow hufflepuff lexi knight, a housemate who isabelle also happened to play quidditch with during the season. "lexi!" isabelle squealed, relieved that lexi appeared to be unaccompanied. isabelle darted her brown eyes over to blue, and nodded her head towards the compartment where lexi sat. hopefully, they would be able to join lexi on the journey to hogwarts. but, isabelle felt comfortable with sitting with strangers, too...

"lexi, can we join you? it's so crowded in here and i don't think i can stand another moment of these tight hallways." her chin tilted towards her neck and she widened her eyes, managing the best puppy face she could with a frown. she felt so claustrophobic in this zoo!

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi sat in the empty compartment with Hera on her lap, after successfully storing her trunk. Looking out into the hall, she was glad she had boarded when she did, as it now looked like a madhouse out there. She didn't envy her classmates at all. Smiling down at the cat, she said, "It won't be long, then you'll get to bug the house elves again."

Just then, she heard a familiar voice squeal her name. A quick glance made her smile. "Isabelle!" she exclaimed happily. She followed her friends eyes to a younger girl, who she wasn't sure she recognized.

"Sure," she said, gesturing at the compartment. "I could use the company. Last year and the year before, Megan sat with me, but lately she doesn't want to be near me." She shrugged and changed the subject. "How was your holiday?"

[Isabelle Ine Iolani]

isabelle, relieved, turned her cart into the compartment. before she did, she looked over at blue at nodded her head in lexi's direction again. "let's sit in here, blue!" she offered as she pushed her belongings inside. "do you know lexi? lexi, meet blue!" isabelle turned to face the empty side of the compartment. she did not hesitate unpacking her things, lifting her light luggage in the overhead compartment and place her elf owl, pumpkin's, cage on the seat by the window. as she slid the pushable card under the seat, the handlebars conveniently disappeared and everything just seemed to fit perfectly. oh, how she missed life at hogwarts. that was only the beginning of the magical experience, too.

as she took a seat next to pumpkin, she realized lexi asked her a question. "my holiday was okay," she answered, eyes diverted out the window. "i'm so excited to be back! my mother wouldn't let hop onto a broom," she pouted, obviously unhappy with that decision made by her mother. isabelle's vernacular made it clear the fourteen year old was not british, nor did she hope to adopt british verbiage. her attention turned from the commotion of students saying goodbye to their family outside, and back to lexi. "i did enroll in this muggle sport called baseball. i got to work on my swing," she beamed. "how was your holiday, lexi? where is megan, anyway?" her head tilted as she asked this question, and along with the tilt, her brown hair fell with gravity to one side.

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi smiled politely at the younger girl Isabelle had introduced her to, not saying anything. She was shy by nature, and always worried about saying the wrong thing to people she didn't know. She moved her stuff from the seat next to her so the two girls could sit down.

Hera, Lexi's cat, had other plans. She hopped up onto the seat next to the elf owl's cage, and sat with her tail swishing back and forth. The feline's ears twitched as she stared at the owl, but otherwise she didn't move a muscle. "You leave Pumpkin alone, pest!" Lexi scolded, though she knew she would be ignored.

"It sucks that your mum wouldn't let you ride a broom, but we'll have plenty of practices before our first game, for sure." Lexi knew what baseball was, as it was one of her father's favorite Muggle sports, but she didn't share his interest in it; still, she nodded politely for her friend's sake. "Our holiday was pretty good. We went to Australia after last term, and we got to see their Quidditch team play." She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "As for Megan, I'm not sure where she is. Probably sitting with her Slytherin friends. She hasn't wanted to spend any time with me at all. Professor Charmant thinks it's puberty, but I never acted like that, all moody and stuff..."

[Isabelle Ine Iolani]

"i can't wait until quidditch practice!" a delighted, but exasperated, isabelle uncontrollably let words slip out of her mouth. "i wish i could skip the welcoming ceremony just to make it out onto the quidditch pitch again, but i'm actually excited to see all the new first years get sorted. do you know any of them?"

the anxious fourth year set her excitement aside for a few moments as she listened to lexi talk about her summer. australia! wow, isabelle had never even visited close to australia. she wondered what it was like; all she knew of australia included images of koalas and sugar gliders. oh, and of course kangaroos. "wow!" she took a genuine interest in the conversation. "was australia very different from here? what was it like?" isabelle had travelled around much of the united states, moving from station to station, but she hadn't visited very many other countries. she could only imagine the diversity of the surrounding environment in australia.

at the comments about megan, isabelle shrugged. she didn't really understand puberty even though they went over it in school sometimes. maybe megan just wanted to start her own identity, or something, with people who didn't really know lexi. isabelle shrugged again, leaning back in her chair and starting to get comfortable. oh, she was so excited for this ride.

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi giggled. Skipping out on the welcoming ceremony was something she would do. "We could skip the while thing and just catch a bite to eat in the kitchen. After that we'll have the whole Quidditch pitch to ourselves!"

She started getting excited, as she did whenever she was planning something that was against the rules. "Australia was way different," she said, momentarily distracted by Isabelle's query. "It was dry there, and they have a pretty strong accent. I had a lot of fun though! Ayers Rock was pretty; that's where they play Quidditch, and their Ministry is underneath the Sydney Opera House."

"So what do you say?" She asked, getting back to the more pressing topic. "Want to skip out on the ceremony and go practice when we get there?"

[Olivia Blue Hyde]

Olivia pushed her cart in the compartment following the two older girls finding a seat off in the corner. She set all of her things down and placed the cage containing Kilala right next to her,who was eying everyone in the room. "You were always such a curious ferret Kilala, " she said softly stroking her pet gently under her chin and than feeding her a treat she found hidden in her robes. The other two girls were going on about things that happened in the summer time leaving her feeling a bit left out. Since she was the youngest person in the room, she felt that if she added to the conversation it would be mostly nerdy stuff she would like to talk about.

Than the conversation of quidditch came up leaving her even more out of the loop. Flying wasn't a fun thing for Blue after trying to sneak away on her mother's broom one time and falling off mid-air to break her wrist. Even since she hates flying and anything else dealing with it, so she doubt anyone would be able to change her mind. Reaching over to the cage, she unlocked it and allowed kilala to hop up into her shoulders to rest for a bit. The smell of something sweet drifted through the air, as she heard the food cart clanking by, "Hey...I think the food cart is coming this way, does anyone want anything before it leaves."she asks.

[Deleted]

The day had begun with four of the five Bocklehurst children, waking up rather early and doing some last minute shopping at Diagon Alley for bits and pieces they didn't get to pick up at their last trip. While her siblings went to Merlin knows where, Hestia had mostly gotten some books to read on the trip to Hogwarts and read through out the term. Once they had everything they wanted, their next destination was Platform Nine & Three Quarters.

Fixing everything on her cart, Hestia smiled at her proud accomplishment. She had finally managed to get everything on there without needing any help from her siblings or from her father. "Very nice" she mumbled to herself. Looking over to see the rest of her siblings ready, she lined up behind her sister Venus. "Come on let's go, I can't wait to board the train!" she exclaimed happily. The girl was getting too excited to just stand there. Once her sister had pushed through, Hestia quickly went after her.

Grabbing her bag, that contained a few books, Hestia grabbed her sister's arm and grinned at her. "Sit with me?" she asked. Venus chuckled. "Sorry, already promised somebody else. But I'll come visit.' Venus had told her. "Okay then, see ya later." Hestia replied and dashed off to the train.

Walking in, Hestia had no idea where to sit down at. A lot of the compartments were already filling up rather fast. "Should have got here sooner" she mumbled. Walking past one, she paused to see Lexi Knight, Isabelle Iolani and another girl. Standing in the doorway, she waved her hand. "Hey is it okay if I join you guys?"

[Isabelle Ine Iolani]

The suggestion of skipping the Welcoming Ceremony certainly tempted Isabelle. She pondered on the thought for a few moments as Lexi described her visit in Australia and their accent, which as an American, Isabelle really couldn't tell the difference from the British one. When Lexi brought up the idea a second time, Isabelle still took a few moments to consider her answer.

"I dunno, Lexi..." Isabelle's voice trailed off at the end of the sentence as she darted her eyes downwards. As much as she wanted to skip the Welcoming Ceremony, Isabelle was really all talk and no play. Plus, she really did love the atmosphere of newly sorted students in addition to the exciting feeling of seeing all her classmates and housemates for the first time since summer.

Before Isabelle could say any more, Blue offered to grab snacks for them. Her eyes' focus shifted from the floor to Blue. "Oh, no, I'm okay, thanks!" she spoke with a cheerful smile. "Unless they have Swiss chocolate... I haven't had that in ages!" She was still in muggle-snack mode.

Another voice entered the conversation, and at the sudden unfamiliarity, Isabelle's eyes moved again. This time, her focus turned to an older Ravenclaw student, Hestia Brocklehurst, who stood in the doorway of the compartment with her belongings. "Of course!" an enthusiastic Isabelle offered, looking around the compartment to see if everyone else approved of her answer. "Yeah, come in, Hestia. We were just talking about --" Isabelle paused, her mind first focusing on Lexi's idea of skipping the Welcoming Ceremony. Not too excited about that, she instead said, "We were just talking about the snack cart! Do you need any help with your things?" Isabelle's face moved, pointing to Hestia's cart full of her belongings, with her nose.

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi cooed at the ferret the younger Ravenclaw girl had brought in. Lexi was a lover of animals, and it showed in her interaction with them. She offered Kilala a cat treat while Hera was preoccupied with Pumpkin. Her cat always got jealous when her master gave her treats to another animal.

When Blue pointed out the food cart, Lexi dug into her pocket and pulled out a couple knuts, and passed them over. "Just a chocolate frog, please and thank you," she said, accepting her snack from the attendant before turning her attention back to the ferret and cat treat.

Lexi had just gotten the ferret to accept said treat when a voice sounded from the doorway of the compartment. When she looked up, she saw her good friend Hestia. The two girls were neighbors, and their parents had been close friends for longer than she could remember, so naturally they were also friends. "Of course you can join us," Lexi piped up. "There's plenty of room!"

Lexi could tell by the way Isabelle was talking that the idea of skipping didn't appeal to her, so she decided to drop the topic and switch to something else. "What do you guys think we should do first once we get to Hogwarts?"

[Deleted]

Peeking over the food cart, Hestia could feel all of her saliva just gathering inside of her mouth. That morning she hadn't really had much to eat and all of the different scents coming from the cart was just a little overwhelming to the sixth year girl. "Some Droobles and some toffee and a Chocolate Frog" she said and began digging through her pockets for some spare change. Counting all of her money in her hands, she handed it over and grabbed her snacks.

"Oh thank you guys so much!" Hestia said happily and stepped inside the compartment. Rather than putting her bag on the overhead, she had decided to let it sit in her lap on the ride to Hogwarts. Tucking some of her loose hair behind her ears, Hestia listened to Lexi speak and began to open her little package of toffee. "Food." Hestia bluntly spoke out loud, something a little out of character for her. Hearing her stomach rumble some, she groaned. "Sorry about how I just forced myself into that question Lexi. I'm just really hungry right now" she stated and picked up a few squares of toffee and placed them into her mouth. That would keep her quiet for a minute or two.

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi smiled brightly at Hestia as she made her way into the compartment. She was glad she didn't have to sit with strangers. That wasn't counting the younger girl that Isabelle had introduced to her, but she didn't seem all that bad. Olivia was younger than her own sister, and in Ravenclaw, but that only served to make her more endearing. She felt a pang in her heart. Megan didn't want to share a compartment with her sister on the train; she had said as much this morning as the two were getting ready to leave.

She forced herself to smile now, though, because she didn't want her friends to know that it bothered her as much as it did. She would try her best to put on a happy face. Food, Hestia had said, in response to what their first task should be. "I don't suppose you'd want to skip the feast then," she said in a teasing manner, already knowing how her friend would reply. Hestia was the more well-behaved of the Brocklehurst twins, at least in her own opinion. Lexi admired that, though. At least there was someone to keep Lexi in check some of the time.