"Sweetie, we're going to miss you so much." Lexi's dad said, hugging his little girl tightly. "I promise that we'll write as much as we can. You just wait and see." He let go of Lexi, and stood proudly, looking at his daughter who had seemed to grow up so very fast. To his left was the his sister-in-law, who was fussing with all of Alice's belongings and making sure her daughter was all set.

"Dad, why didn't Mom come with us?" Lexi asked curiously. For the past few weeks, it had seemed that Mrs. McGee had wanted nothing to do with her daughter, the 'disgrace' as she had often said. Ever since Alexandra had been turned into a werewolf, her mom avoided any and all situations that would involve her daughter. Just a little while ago, her mom had rudely walked out of a meeting with the Hogwarts Headmaster because they were discussing Lexi's future.

"That's a good question honey, I don't know why she didn't want to come. I think she just had some work to catch up on." Mr. McGee said softly, trying to think of a way to get out of the current topic. "You have everything you need right?" He asked.

"Yes I do! I'm all ready!" Lexi said excitedly. "I've got Jet right here." She said, lifting up her owl's cage. "And my wand, my trunk, my clothes, and everything else." She set the owl's cage down gently on the platform and heard the warning whistle go off, signaling that it was time to get on the train. "I have to go Dad, I'll be back for holidays and you better remember to pick me up!"

Lexi's father laughed, "How would I be able to forget. Go get 'em kiddo. Don't hurt anyone, no fighting. Got it missy?" She nodded and mock saluted her dad. "Go catch up with your friends, I think it's high time you trouble makers get going." He waved as his daughter and her friends climbed up into the train. He saw his daughter poke her head out of one of the windows. Franticly, she waved at her Dad. "Bye!"

After the train had pulled out of the station, she sat down in her seat by the window. Turning to Alice, she realized her friend had dissapeared. It was just her and Dessa alone in the compartment. "Wierd, Dess... Where'd Alice run off to?"

Dessa glanced up from the window, where she was waving rapidly to her father, who looked rather lonely standing alone on the platform, his glasses slightly askew.
"Hm? Oh uh....I'm not sure." She replied distractedly. This wasn't the first time shed be away from home. She'd been to summer camps. But this just felt different more absolute. "Maybe she went to say another goodbye to her family."

"Dessa, darling. I love you, but sometimes you can be so clueless. The train has LEFT the station. Literally. That means Alice is on the train but not in here. I'm giving her fifteen minutes to show up before I organize a search party." Lexi leaned back into her seat, yawning. She grabbed her bag and pulled out a little black bag. Unzipping it, she pulled out a bar of chocolate. "Want some? I always have some when its... this time of the month."

Nobody knew about Lexi's condition. Actually, everybody knew there was an incoming student infected with lycanthropy but nobody knew which student it was. Hopefully, it would stay that way for at least a while. "Dessaaaaaa, I'm tired." Lexi complained, handing her friend the piece of chocolate.

Dessa rolled her eyes and chomped on the chocolate. "Don't you think you could be overreacting just a tad?" She asked. "Alice is probably just going to the bathroom, or changing into her robes or something. Besides, she left her stuff here, so its not like she's left us forever." She glanced at her friend's vacant expression again and reigned. "But if you're really that bored, I suppose it wouldn't be a terrible idea to go look for her." Dessa rose and stretch he'd, tucking her wand into her pocket. She hated to be anywhere without it.

"No, don't stand up." Lexi said, tugging on her friend to sit her back down. "Fine, I give her half an hour. Fair enough? Now, I'm going to lie down, seeing as our favorite little brown headed bookworm just dissapeared and no one is sitting in her seat." Lexi stretched out on the seat, pulling a key chain off of her bag. Tugging on the chain turned the small key chain into a penguin shaped pillow. Lexi put it underneath her head as she relaxed.

Seeing her friends confused stare, she explained the plush bird. "It was a present from my little brothers. They thought it was cute and I take it everywhere. It's got a special charm on it that makes it grow and puff up when the chain is pulled a certain way. Cool right?" Reaching down, she pulled the bag onto her stomach. She put the black pouch in and brushed her hand against an unfamiliar book. She pulled it out, it was a dark blue book with the insignia for the US Navy on it. "What's this?" She opened the cover and saw her dad's name written in it.

This is for you. My thoughts and words and ideas, all for my little girl. Good luck! Love, Dad. "That's so neat, it's from my father. I geuss he slipped it in there when I was packing." Putting it back in the bag, she said "I'll read it later." She put the bag back down on the floor and turned to Dessa. "So, what is new in the life of Miss Dessa Share?"

Dessa grinned and pulled herself up into proper sitting position, crossing her legs, clasping her hands, and affecting her most proper and posh voice. "Well," she began, "I've just been so busy, what with curing the common cold and writing the.greatest novel all time. I've had so little free time. Mostly I spend it donating to charities and building houses for the poor. Oh, and knitting sweaters for my teacup pig, froufrou."

"Oh darling, don't you just lead a most stressful life. And poor froufrou, at the bottome of mummy's list of things to do. What a shame that is. And pray tell, your hair just looks so done up today. What did you do to make it look so gorgeous?" Lexi said, giggling as she slipped into her most proper english accent. Which wasn't that hard, it just took a little bit more enunciating and such.

"Oh poor froufrou, I feel I've so neglected him as of late." Dessa sighed and glanced around. "I really wish Alice would get back here. I'm almost starting to worry about her. You know how shy she is and all...." Dessa paused and considers. "Gimmee some more chocolate."

"It's in the bag," Lexi said turning back to her normal voice. "Small black pouch." She propped herself up onto her elbow, "But if you touch my chocolate covered bacon, I will kill you in your sleep. Silently. No evidence. Like my aunt showed me." She paused for dramatic effect and flopped back onto her pillow.

Dessa pouted. "But...I like bacon." She turned the full power of her puppy fog face on the unimpressed Lexington. "Pleeaassee. I'll love you forever! I'll give you all my money! My firstborn child! If you don't, I'll just...I won't let you Horowitz my NCIS box set!" It was an American show that they'd all become hooked on during their long hours of summer boredom.

Annette had made sure to triple check her suitcase and trunk, satchel and her owls cage. She even followed the man who took her trunk and owl, asking lots of questions, until the wizard told her to go away.  When the train started moving, Annette panicked. She ran through the boxes looking for Alice or Lexi or someone she knew.

Annette ran past a group of third year Ravenclaws. She pushed past a couple Gryffindors and spotted a flash of red hair. Annette almost ripped the door off its hinges. "Whoo!" She sighed, "Thought I would never find you guys" Annette said to Lexi.

"Is that chocolate?" Annette said grabbing the bag from Lexi's hand and shoved a couple pieces in her mouth. "Yup, that's chocolate," Nette said as she sat down. She realized there was another body in the car. She turned. A curly topped girl sat looking at her strangely. Nette stared quizzically at her, her lips covered in chocolate. The girl said nothing. "Hi! I'm Annette, but you can call me Anni or Nette! Are you a friend of Lexi's?""

Alice busted into the small cabin, eyes puffy and tear stained cheeks. She just went to the corner and took out her notebook, out of the small backpack she had with her.

Inside, she dated the page, and drew a picture. She kept this picture to herself, not wanting to anger anyone.

She wanted so badly just to fade into the background.

"Jeez Alice, what the hell happened to you?" Lexi asked, concerned about her friend. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from the salty tears that were currently running down her face. Ignoring her friends, Alice had taken out a notebook and buried her face in it.

Lexi grabbed the book from Alice, "Hey, what's wrong?"

At that moment Alice burst in, red eyed and puffy. She sat down with a plop! And buried her face in her notebook. Annette went into full mom mode. "Oh my god Alice what happened?" She sat down next to her friend, putting a protective arm around her shoulder. Alice clutched her notebook closer. Obviously not wanting anyone so see. Nette hugged her friend and in a very calm voice, "Alice, calm down for a second. Did some one hurt you, are you cursed, WHO DID IT I'LL TEAR THEM TO SHREDS!?" As she pushed Alice's hair out of her eyes. Anni realized she was being a little loud and people had stopped in front of the car door. " Sorry!" She waved them on.

After having her notebook pulled away from her face, she saw Lexi, and right by her collar, the beginning of her scars. She began to sob once again, this time into her knees. She was hugged by Annette. She lifted her head to say, "Lexi, I am so sorry. It's- It's all my fault. I'm a terrible friend. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME!" She yelled, sobbing once again.

"I AM PATHETIC! I AM A PATHETIC LITTLE FIRST YEAR, WITH NO ONE TO TURN TO!" She yelled. She continued to sob.