7:57 A.M.
King’s Cross Station, platform 9 ¾


Reminder:  Staff and students are meeting here before portkeying to Siem Reap International Airport! For reference, please see the itinerary.

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With the abundance of energy associated with her these days, Shona stood beneath the sign, practically rocking on her heels as she waited with the other chaperones for the students to arrive. It was early still and would be when it struck eight, that even the smallest noise echoed easily and it was likely they probably weren’t going to see anyone for another ten at least (–save, of course, for the one or two early birds there always were)—but really, what did that have to do with anything? Anyway, all chaperones were supposed to be present and early.

The platform really was vacant, though, even of its usual shroud of steam. Shooting her colleagues a quick look, the werewolf drummed her fingers along an arm, both of which were folded, and offered a broad, unapologetic grin when her eyes caught on a friendly pair. Enthusiasm was never, ever a crime.

Staff and students were expected to arrive between 8 and 9 o’ clock, at which point they were all to portkey to Cambodia, from which they were to make their way to their lodgings and settle in for the next few days. Shona herself had come early nearly an entire fifteen minutes, dressed lightly in a loose, billowy shirt and fitted jeans, and had then settled down into a light doze until someone else arrived, tail curled around her, in spite of the large coffee she’d had on the way.

A student arrived now, all dressed up for travel and ready to go. Shona perked up, head swinging towards the sound of approach, and drew away from the other chaperones (–well, Maiko; of all the accompanying staff, she liked the guidance counselor the most and had bounded over with a coffee in one hand and a lurid yellow suitcase trundling behind her) with a shiny bright, welcoming grin. “Hello, hello!” she greeted warmly. “Glad you could make it~”

Verity had been looking forward to the trip since before school was out for the summer, and now that it was time to head out she felt nerves set in. She had packed and repacked her trunk at least ten times, and as she bid farewell to her parents and stepped through the wall to platform 9 3/4, the girl had a sinking feeling that she had forgotten to pack something, and tugged on her owl pendant absently while assuring herself that she had packed everything required - and then some. One could never be too prepared.

Looking around, she realized that she was the first student to arrive, and she walked towards Maiko and Professor Donovan while sipping her second cup of coffee. Mornings had always been the bane of her existence, and the caffeine thankfully was helping make her feel like less of a zombie.

"I was worried that I'd be the first person here," Verity quipped, as she had a habit of arriving early for everything. "How are you two doing this morning? I am well excited for this trip." It was true; she had nearly vomited from the excitement that morning.

“Oh, pfft.” Shona waved Verity’s worries away. She clapped the girl on the shoulder, giving it a quick, friendly squeeze before letting go. “The earlier the better, Bell!”

And it was true; the sooner people arrived, the sooner they get things moving. She herself was eager to get things started, to actually start the trip; she wanted everyone in Siem Reap and to watch their faces when they left the airport. Siem Reap was warm and beautiful and very, very different from England—or any place in Europe, actually. Worlds away from Europe. There were things that could only be attributed to cultural differences, rather than physical distance (though she didn’t deny the importance of that, either), and Shona liked to think it could be an invaluable learning experience.

Plus, sailing! Sailing. She loved sailing. And it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that her brother– her dear, sweet brother Rick –would be captaining their ship despite his own personal aversion to the very activity. Hell, they wouldn’t actually even see the ship for another few days!

“I’m excited too,” she said cheerfully, and totally unnecessarily, as she led Verity to Maiko. Though she was on her third cup of coffee that morning (not because she needed it, but because she was quite fond of the stuff), she probably wouldn’t have needed any; excitement had kept her wiiiiiide awake, but it probably would have woken her up early enough. “I have been there before–” Which was why she’d been appointed Head Chaperone in the first place. Well, that and her own sparkling personality, of course. “But it’s never enough. Southeast Asia is gorgeous.”

Maiko was not, nor had she ever been, a morning person.  She greeted Shona with a lukewarm smile and let out something between a whine and a groan. She was excited for the trip, it was something that Mai had been looking forward to for months. However, no amount of caffeine ever made up for a lack of sleep, and potions often gave her an awful crash later that she did not want to deal with when she actually needed to be awake to deal with the lovely students and staff on the trip.

"Shonnnnaaa." She whimpered just as Verity showed up, "My soul hurts."

Maiko sighed and straightened up, coffee in hand. She needed to get her act together, people were actually beginning to show up. "Would it be appropriate if I made the students carry me and my stuff while I sleep? Or would that be abuse of power? It's a slippery slope. First you start showing off your piercings, then you turn students into reluctant servants. When will it end?" She really wasn't talking to anyone in particular.

Ayla arrived on the Platform with her younger sister and her father who had come to see her off. It wasn't so much that she needed the escort but her Father had insisted. He wanted to make sure that she was actually heading off on the trip. The Ambassador wasn't too impressed with his eldest and how her last few holidays had seen her running off with her fugitive cousin instead of doing what she was supposed to. Dahlia was only there because she had been shadowing Joseph at the Ministry (where permitted) brushing up on foreign affairs - Ayla thought her little sister was being a little too ambitious for a thirteen year old.

She had a simple rucksack on her back and a pull along suitcase for the trip. She was worried she wouldn't be able to pack everything she needed without being bogged down with excess cargo. Thankfully her father had consented to putting an expansion charm on her suitcase to allow her to pack more than she normally would given the size of the luggage.

Ayla stopped a few paces from where Verity was standing with two of their chaperones, "Okay you can leave now," she said almost impatiently to her escorts.

"Ayla . . ." Her father drew out her name in a warning tone.

Ignoring the exchange Dahlia threw her arms around her sister, "Have lots of fun Ay, wish I could come with."

"You be good Dahl, don't let Erik destroy the house while I'm gone."

She gave her father a hug goodbye and waved them off, not relaxing until they were through the barrier. Then she joined with the small group near the train. She gave her fellow Hufflepuff a large smile, "Do we have to travel by portkey?" A small whine entering her voice, "I always throw up going by port key." The first field trip she had attended during her third year for Muggle Studies she had done just that and had a hard time living down the embarrassment, especially given the fact that Professor Frasier had been the head Chaperone for that trip.

Ambrose had been through the list a dozen times, though it felt like three dozen by the time he made it to Platform 9 3/4. With a pop, they appeared at one end, his father clasping one shoulder of each of his sons.

Tim, Ambrose's younger sibling was not joining his older brother for more than a few reasons. Firstly, he was rather more nervous of travelling than his older brother, and the thought of three weeks abroad was too much. Secondly, Ambrose and his girlfriend, Cyhirae were going and Tim had already seen enough of those two joined at the hip for a year, and finally, he wasn't quite old enough yet as an incoming third year. Instead, he'd be back and forth between his and his cousins and the rest of the family while Francis worked, hoping his brother didn't cause the boat to sink.

During the packing and planning for going, Ambrose had found an additional appreciation for Gabrielle and her international experiences with the Department. As such, he felt more prepared than he'd ever anticipated, though still incredibly nervous. Giving his brother and his father a last hug, he headed up the platform to join the other members of the trip, casting a wave backwards and swallowing down the butterflies in his stomach.

Ayla was already there, and he greeted his classmate with a broad grin.
"Mornin' Professor." He added to Shona, and gave a nod to Maiko, whose surname he was always a little apprehensive about expressing should he get it wrong.

Ariadne dropped her bag down on the platform floor and retied her hair. Her Grandmother reached for her wand with a gentle smile, charming the ponytail on seeing her daughter's frustration.
"Thanks gran," Ariadne replied, one hand up to feel how the ponytail felt secure.

They'd appeared a few metres from the Peppers, and Ariadne trailed Ambrose up the platform after leaving a kiss on her grandmother's cheek and shouldering her hiking bag. Behind the two, their families exchanged greetings, both a little nervous of the trip ahead, though trying not to show it.

"Knew it, early. I could have had that other piece of toast." Ariadne remarked, extending her arms out to either side, putting one arm around Ayla and the other around Ambrose a moment in greeting before stepping through and offering a hug to Verity. Six years at Hogwarts and now a summer.

"The trick," Ariadne suggested to Ayla, turning round to face her fellows again, "is to remember to breathe as you're going." Ariadne's portkey experiences were numerous with her dad's work as Ariadne had grown up. She had once been the puking sort, but with time she'd got the hang of it.

Maiko  greeted Ayla with a somewhat erratic wave. "Good morning!" She exclaimed, before chugging down the rest of the coffee. She'd need it to function. She could hang out with people and interact well while feeling cranky and sleepy, but it wasn't advisable.

Chugging the coffee wasn't the best solution. She had forgotten it was scalding.  In hindsight, Mai really should have used a cooling charm. It was post-coffee chug that Ambrose and Ariadne showed up. Maiko's greeting to them was not much more than a squeak as she felt a burning in her throat and tongue. Her eyes grew wide as she tried to conceal her sleep-deprived lapse in judgement. Instead, it gave her the crazed look of one who had seen something meant to be unseen.

She tried casually to dig through her backpack until she found her water bottle, but grabbed it a bit too eagerly before taking a large swig.

Before choke-coughing as it went down the wrong pipe. She had not meant to look like a giant pile of awkward in front of the wonderful people she worked with and around.

"I'm--" coughcough "al--right." She wheezed before coughing into the crook of her arm.

Evidently, this was not her morning.

Trips like this made Kelvin grateful that his brother had traveled extensively with his job as a curse-breaker.  He probably would have packed all the wrong things despite the list saying what to bring. So instead of showing up with all the wrong stuff in the wrong bag, he ended up with the proper stuff and a normal sized bag that held twice as much as it should.  And at least according to the sales pitch would expand to hold whatever souvenirs he wanted to bring back.

Patrick[1] apparated them both to the platform, which was much better than having to take muggle transportation, so long as his brother didn't decide to dawdle and try to embarrass him.  "Thanks for the lift,"  Kelvin said to his brother has he reached out for his bag.

"Have fun, Kel,"  Patrick said, starting to hand over the bag.  "Don't do anything I wouldn't do squirt."

Kelvin rolled his eyes and reached out for the bag, "Give me the bag, and get out of-"

"Oh look, Maiko.  You didn't tell me she was one of your chaperones."  Patrick gave Kelvin a look and started to step around his younger brother.

Grabbing the bag, to keep Patrick from continuing across the platform to the counselor, who seemed to be coughing quite a bit for someone about to go on a trip, "You said you wouldn't do this, please just go," Kelvin said in that voice designed to annoy older brothers.

"Fine.  Fine."  Patrick said.  He reached out and tousled Kelvin's hair.  Crack

Kelvin pulled back and swatted at the empty space his brother had disapparated from. Hoisting the bag over his shoulder and running his hand through his hair trying to straighten it, Kelvin made his way over to his classmates and the chaperones. "Morning!"  He said as he approached the group.

"I hope you're alright Ms.  Biladeau-Yukawa."  He'd have offered her water, but she already seemed to have some.

1.	Patrick Watkins, Kelvin's older brother.  Adoptable.

"The trick, is to remember to breathe as you're going."

"Where's thee fun in tha? It ainna trip witout Collins' boakin'" A wide smirk brightened the dark Slytherin's features. He could see a flush of pink come to the smaller Hufflepuff's cheeks. He tussled her Raven hair which just caused her eyes to grow impossibly wide and Xavier couldn't restrain the chuckle that burst from his lips.

Xavier was dressed comfortably with only a canvas rucksack on his back. Like most of the other students' luggage it had been charmed to be bigger on the inside. He ran a hand over his own tousled hair and scratched at the meagre beard he had been growing. As of yet there weren't any other Slytherins around though he knew he'd be bunking with Eli during the trip (for the days they were on the ship) He looked at the faces around him. A Ravenclaw, some Gryffindors and some Huffles, none of which he would have really called his friends but Xavier was on vacation and summer, far from Hogwarts, had always allowed him to shed his snake skin and enjoy himself.

"Yer lookin' radiant today, Professor." He said to Shona, one of the more neutral faces around him. He also gave a smile and a wink to Maiko, whom he had seen more often than he had ever let anyone know. The Slytherin was all kinds of messed up these days and the school counselor had been helping him through it.

As Shona led her over to Maiko, Verity smiled at her professor's excitement as it was rather infectious. Her attitude also put Verity's nerves mostly to rest, as she felt more at ease traveling to some distant land if the Head Chaperone had already been there. However, she hardly had time to formulate a response before several of her classmates shuffled through the barrier and soon the Hufflepuff was surrounded by fellow students. Verity returned Ayla's smile and hugged Ariadne, though she grimaced when Ayla mentioned how portkeys caused her to vomit.

"Ariadne is right, and disregard Xavier," Verity remarked, rolling her eyes slightly at the Slytherin. She rummaged through her bag, and pulled out a water bottle and handed it to Ayla. "Drinking water can help a lot, too. But don't stress too much, no one will tease you if the portkey makes you nauseous." She gave her a smile, assuring her that she would personally see to it that no one made so much as a peep if the younger girl did get sick.

The sound of Maiko choking drew Verity's attention, a look of concern on her face. When the counselor managed to assure everyone that she was fine through coughs, her worried frown evaporated slightly. As more people steadily arrived, Verity craned her head to keep on the lookout for her cabin mates, hoping that they would show up soon.

It had been a rather hectic morning for the two Augustines.

Nell had been awake before the sun was up, but her father had decided to sleep in rather than help her double-check that all of her necessary belongings were packed away in either her suitcase or backpack. Going through her list for the twentieth time, Nell checked everything off once again just as the coffee finished brewing, prompting her to pour some into two travel mugs for her and her dad.

Her eyes glanced at the red clock on the wall (whose minute and hour hands were a fork and a spoon – her father collected odd things), and she nearly spit out the swig of coffee she had just taken. According to the clock, they had to leave in eight minutes and her dad wasn’t even out of bed yet.

It took a great deal of shaking, kicking, stealing blankets, and banging pans together, but Nell’s father, Leo, finally rolled out of bed with a narrow-eyed stare at his daughter. He slowly got himself ready and put his shoes on to Nell’s shrieks of, “I’m going to be late!” and, “They’ll leave without me!”

“They won’t leave without you, Penelope,” Leo assured her as they got into the car and Nell set the two cups of coffee in the cup holders. Nell didn’t believe him, but turned the radio on and they drove to King’s Cross Station to the sound of The Who, both father and daughter singing along (both with the vocals and the guitar solos) loudly and badly.

Upon arrival at the station, Nell sprinted past the different gates but stopped short at the brick wall that led to Platform 9 ¾, throwing her arm out in front of her dad who had been about to dash through the wall with her. “I think I’ll just go in by myself,” Nell explained, giving Leo an apologetic look. As a Muggle and a magician, he always acted weird around actual magical people, and Nell did not want to be embarrassed in front of her schoolmates so early in the morning. Her father attempted to argue with her, but ultimately gave into her wishes. She gave him a tight hug and instructions on how to survive (he was not the best at fending for himself when Nell was gone) while she was away, before running through the wall, knowing that she’d worry about him the whole trip.

Many students were already gathered, though Nell was happy to see that she was at least not the last person to arrive – in fact, she had made rather excellent timing. She shuffled into the growing crowd of Hogwarts students, searching for the faces of some of her friends. Although Nell recognized many of the students, she found that her closest friends had yet to arrive, and so turned to look at the wall to the Muggle world, waiting for more students to materialize through it. 

When Juni and Nell told Nico that he should sign up for the summer trip, he had weighed the pros and cons. Ultimately, the con list greatly surpassed the pros, but his yia yia said that she didn't want to have to look at his mug all summer, and so he packed his bags and found himself standing in front of Platform 9 3/4. With a resigned shrug, he stepped through the wall and found himself in a rather bustling crowd of fellow students and teachers, though he didn't immediately notice anyone who the sardonic Ravenclaw found particularly pleasant company. He found himself perfectly content standing away from the rest of his peers until he noticed movement, and saw Nell waving towards him.

For a brief moment (truly if one blinked they would miss it), a sincere smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he made his way over to his classmate without making the whole ordeal seem like some great chore. He noticed that her dad wasn't around inspecting every centimeter of the platform for magic, and smirked.

"I must say, I expected your father to be here asking people how they managed to fit a month's worth of clothes into a single trunk," he remarked. "I have a sinking feeling about this trip. How many do you suppose will perish at sea? I have my fingers crossed for at least in the double digits, but my vision didn't confirm the exact number."

One of the few perks he had found about being a Seer was making foreboding comments in order to induce terror. Who was to know whether or not he had actually seen any vision of the trip at all? He always spoke in the same unaffected manner, so one couldn't easily decipher the veracity of his claims.

"But don't worry, Nell, you make it back in one piece. Now Ayla on the other hand..." He nodded his head towards the Hufflepuff currently stressing about traveling by portkey. "I don't know if I can even say it. I worry about the constitution of everyone here."

Ayla's cheeks were a brighter shade of pink than her cherry lip gloss as Xavier teased her. He had spent yet another year of practically ignoring her (though to be fair she had done her own share of ignoring people the past year) yet here he was teasing her and russling her hair as if he hadn't completely broken her heart once upon a time. She hoped there'd be enough students on the trip that she could avoid him for most of it. She didn't think she could handle of whole month of the brooding Slytherin finding excuses to touch and tease her.

She gave Verity an appreciative smile. She had always done well with bonding with the older Hufflepuff girls and Verity was no exception.

"Drinking water can help a lot, too. But don't stress too much, no one will tease you if the portkey makes you nauseous."

"I will."

She glowered at her ex boyfriend, "no one asked you Tawse." She absently touched the amber pendant at her neck, visible over the low cut top she was wearing. She turned back to Verity, "thanks, I'll be okay." She heard her name off to the side and smirked, "unless Nico's seen some horrible demise for me." She said loud enough for the Ravenclaw to hear.

"I wouldn't put much stock in a seer..." Kelvin said to Ayla after overhearing her and Nico's comment, not bothering to keep his voice down.  He didn't have anything against his housemate, he just didn't give much credence to seers and divination.  Even when it was real it wasn't accurate or discernible most of the time.

"More likely he had some bad beans for breakfast and his stomach has a horrible plan for him on the other end of the portkey."  And hopefully no one would tease anyone over their reaction to the portkey, it might be an easy way to travel in groups, but didn't actually make it easy.

"I just hope I manage to stay on my feet again."  He had no desire to return to face planting after every trip.  He rather liked not starting outings with grass or dirt stains on his robes.