10:45am - 15 minutes to go.

Aoide's mouth hung open. Even though she had been on Platform 9 3/4 before, as her big half sister was seen off to school, to be stood before it, with her packed trunk, was different. There were butterflies fighting in her stomach, and she'd barely eaten breakfast. She'd been too nervous, and yet excited, before they set off from Godric's Hollow to London. The smell of coal and soot filled the air, mixed with the perfumes of mothers on the platform. The air around them was abuzz with voices, mostly young, cats meowing, toads croaking.

"Another seven years then," Aoide heard her father say to her mother behind her. The first year blinked and whirled around on the spot, but her parents were distracted at the moment by waving to nearby friends from the Ministry. Aoide's heart leapt as she hoped it was someone she liked and could sit with on the train. She was sure she'd make friends, but she didn't want to wander the train alone before she got there.

"Who is it?" Aoide asked, a little anxiously, haphazardly pushing the trolley with her trunk on, keen to be independent of her parents even on her first time. "Is it anyone I'll know?"



OOC: Anyone!

"Ugh.  Daa-aaaad."  Gwenna rolled her eyes, huffing as she dragged her suitcase behind her.  It was just like her father to have to say hi to everyone that they passed on the way to the Hogwarts Express.  Sometimes, it felt as if she couldn't get back to school soon enough.

"Don't be rude, Gwen."  Her father gave her a backwards Look. 

Gwenna pulled a face, rolling her eyes back  and grimacing horribly.  Looks didn't scare her now, not when freedom was finally within her grasp.  Her parents couldn't touch her at Hogwarts.  And it wasn't as if they would refuse to send her back -- she knew that Dad and Mum had been not-so-quietly counting down the days until she returned.  They'd even arranged for Artie to stay with her aunt and uncle all weekend.  If her dad tried to keep her off the Hogwarts Express for being rude, he would suffer for it at least as much as she would.

But her father had already moved on to greet the next person on his extensive list.  "Alright then, Pinn?" he was calling cheerfully to a witch and wizard that Gwenna didn't recognize.  "I didn't realize you had one heading off this year."

Just a few more minutes, and she'd be on the train to freedom.  Gwenna puffed out a loud, exasperated sigh, tugging on her suitcase as she followed in her father's wake.  Once she was on the train, she'd be free of her parents for months.  And there'd be magic, and monsters, and taking Care of Magical Creatures for the first time, and spending time with Noah, and visiting Hogsmeade, and --

His custom made trunk on a trolley and his back straight, his mother would not tolerate hunched shoulders, Emrys stood with his mother and father by the Hogwarts Express and they turned to him with smiles on their faces.  He'd woken early this morning and hopefully had managed to pack his favorite books and all of the journals he'd written his grandfather's stories in without being noticed by the house-elf who had been ordered to pack his trunk the night before.

"Have a good trip lad," his father said, not even looking at him anymore, but gazing at the rest of the parents who were bringing their children to the train station.  His mother looked like she might cry, but then again, the engine of the train had just let off some steam, so he couldn't be sure, "My darling prince, my treasured little boy, " she began and Emrys tuned her out.  He couldn't deal with all the embellished emotion in her voice, no doubt hoping it carried to listening ears of her pureblooded friends, "Have safe travels and be sorted into the right house." To the innocent bystander it would sound like she was wanting him to go wherever he felt would fit him.

But to Emrys' ears, he heard the feminine voice of his mother turn hard at the end, warning him to get into the house they wanted and not his choice.

Truthfully he hoped he'd get Slytherin, that would really tick his parents off, he'd dreamed of it actually.  Sorted into Slytherin, the Howler at breakfast the next morning, then the quiet letter later telling him he'd been disowned and all his things had been sent to his aunt's house and she would collect him from the train station for his first holiday.  He knew it wouldn't be that easy, but he could dream.

"I'll be fine mum..." he began, but quickly changed his words at his mother's raised eyebrow, "I will be very well mother, farewell father." He desperately wanted to roll his eyes, but couldn't do it safely until he was on the train.  He felt his father clap him on the shoulder as he turned from them and headed towards the train.  Maybe he'd get lucky and find a compartment with someone he knew in it.

“Another seven years,” Nadine agreed with Rex. “Well, it better be,” she wasn’t having her second daughter skip out early like the Pepper boy she’d seen in the lifts in the morning at the office. But it wasn’t the time to nag Aoide about decisions she’d take years away.

Rex nudged her gently and she looked round to spot Jonas Trevelyan on the platform too, nearby. The two families drew together.
“Who is it? Is it anyone I’ll know?” Aoide asked from beside her elbow.

“Alright then, Pinn? I didn’t realise you had one heading off this year.”
“Trevelyan, yes, it is Aoide’s time at last. All set for school. Hello Gwenna,” Nadine greeted Jonas’ daughter, who was carrying a suitcase. She tried to at least remember the names of the kids of other aurors, even if not the fine detail. They collectively looked out for families, after all. Not all of them got to retirement.

“Gryffindor, right?” Nadine asked Gwenna, reaching out to scoop Aoide to bring her to meet Gwenna. “This is Aoide, it’s her first year.”

Aoide glanced up to Mr Trevelyan, remembering he worked with her mother too. He was a nice enough man. There was a girl taller than her with him, and Aoide couldn’t quite remember if they’d met before when they were younger.
“… hello Gwenna..” Aoide was trying to remember while the adults talked, feeling a bit shy to say hello straight away, when she spotted another face nearby.

“Emrys!” Aoide suddenly exclaimed and waved, her trolley sliding sideways into the path of another family, just as her mother reached to encourage her to meet Gwenna.
“This is Aoide, it’s her first year.”

“Uh, hi,” Aoide smiled, grappling at the handle of the trolley to regain control of it. “I’m Aoide, er,” like her mother had just said… awkward. “Gwenna, right?” She blushed unsure if she should stick her hand out and offer it to shake, which was weird for an eleven year old. “What year are you in?”

A girl quickly rushed onto the platform, wearing a hoodie and jeans, both rather large and baggy to hide her form, or tried to she was rather small and as she got close to anyone it was obvious she was a girl, her hair was nice and short, not short short like a boys however it could easily be seen as that certainly, but it was longer then alot of boys would like. She slowed as she got onto the platform and then looked about, sighing. "I'm not late...i'm not late...good..." She straightened up and pushed her trolley towards the train, smiling at its red gleaming surface. For one person she had alot of travel cases, more then what seemed to cover clothes, then a broom at the side, wedged in to stand upright and an owl ontop of the mess.

As she walked through the crowd to head to the train the Owl would screech and thrash about in its cage, it made the girl yelp and then lose control. The trolley of stacked cases, cage and broom falling with a thud. The cage busted open and the bird would take flight, the top travelling case followed suite with opening, revealing some advanced transfiguration books, with creases at animagus pages to mark them and made them easier for the girl to access. Several bags of marshmallows flopped out, luckily not opening but the amount of them made a mess just as if it was one bag that opened up. Then finally it seemed she did have clothes inside as that then fell out onto the ground ontop of the stack of marshmallow bags, although the clothing themselves are likely ones she wouldn't want to be shown.

Although she didn't seem to notice the case opening, instead focusing on the escaped bird that was gliding along in the air with its majestic wings. Making a small screech as if it was taunting its owner to come get it. "Kūki! Get back here! Please!" The girl cried out at it, going to fumble about for her wand but seeming very hesitant, what spell could she cast to get the owl back safely? Her cage is open, would the lock even work now? What if someone stole her owl, even in this public place? Can she do magic here? She isn't in Hogwarts yet. She nevertheless pulled it out though and stared upwards at the creature. "Please...come back..."

A first year.  Gwenna eyed the younger girl, as if trying to decide whether to try to frighten her away or simply ignore her, when her father cleared his throat behind her.

Gwenna nearly sighed.  Just a few more minutes and she'd be on the Hogwarts Express, free of this overbearing tyranny.

"Yeah, Gryffindor," she said a bit sullenly.  "Yeah, I'm Gwenna.  I'm going to be a third year."  She couldn't help letting a trace of excitement creep into her last few words.  She had been waiting to become a third year for what seemed like ages -- at least since the very beginning of her first year, when she'd found out that she wouldn't be able to take Care of Magical Creatures until then.    Not to mention that she and Noah would finally be able to go to the school weekends in Hogsmeade, provided Noah's mum or dad actually signed his permission slip.

Which, she supposed, was one reason not to test her limits with her own father in these last few minutes before she made her escape. 

"First year's alright, though.  You get to take Flying," she told Aoide, trying to sound a bit more friendly.  "D'you know what house you want to be in?"

Emrys looked back to see if his parents were watching him, but noticed that they seemed to think he'd be fine on his own and had left him to his own devices.  "Hello Aoide." he told her as he stopped his trolley within inches of hers.  He didn't really know too many people his own age, unless they were important enough for his parents to be invited to their parties.

He ignored the other girl for a moment and then said, "I'm gonna go put my trunk up, be right back," and he left to go do that.  It wasn't as hard as he thought it was going to be, he reached the area of the train where some older boy was helping some of the younger kids with their trunks and in no time, Emrys was back, standing next to Aoide as she still was talking to that older girl.

"Finally free of my parents... at least until the holidays." Emrys said before pulling a fantasy book out of the inside pocket in his robes and opened it to the marked page.

“… I’m going to be a third year.” The other girl in Gryffindor introduced herself. Aoide glanced between her mum and Mr Trevelyan, who was another auror she knew of. Gwenna must take after her mother, Aoide thought, comparing resemblance of father and daughter. “First year’s alright, though. You get to take flying. D’you know what house you want to be in?”

“Err…” Aoide paused. It was a common enough question, but not one she could ever quite give a straight answer to. Her father was a Hufflepuff, her mother a Slytherin, her older half sister a Gryffindor. If Aoide turned out to be a Ravenclaw she’d be chuffed to complete the set, but she didn’t feel bookish enough, if that were a Ravenclaw stereotype.

She was saved from replying as another witch in a baggy hoodie and jeans, experienced a minor luggage catastrophe. Her owl cage burst open, the owl crashing out of it and up into the station rafters. Luggage spilled out onto the busy platform.
“Kūki! Get back here! Please!”

Aoide looked surprised at the scene and also a little sorry for the other witch. She wasn’t having much luck! Secretly, Aoide was glad she wasn’t the one making a scene.
“Oh gosh!” She exclaimed quietly, “should we help?” The young witch saw her mother’s attention was also drawn to the witch, wand in her hand already. She touched Aoide’s shoulder as she left momentarily.

“Hello Aoide,” Emrys approached, seemingly oblivious of the mayhem nearby. Aoide jumped lightly,
“Hey,”
“I’m gonna go put my trunk up, be right back.”

“Alright,” Aoide nodded, and looked back to Gwenna. “Yeah, I don’t know what house I’d like to be in,” she said, though secretly she’d like to be in Hufflepuff as it was her dad’s house. If you told people that they thought you had no ambition or courage. She would be proud later if the hat picked it for her. “I’m just stoked to go at last! My big sister’s just finished. She was in your house - Ariadne.” Her big sister was cool, even if they didn’t see that much of each other.

“Finally free of my parents… at least until the holidays.” Emrys said, reappearing.
“Hey again,” Aoide greeted, “Emrys, this is Gwenna, she’s in Gryffindor - third year, Gwenna this is Emrys, he’s a first year too. Do you think that girl’s alright? She’s lost her owl. Have you guys got owls?”

Aoide was awkwardly making friends with Gwenna while Nadine and Jonas looked set to engage in minor small talk of the adult auror kind, when another young student had a classic platform mishap of a trunk malfunction. From what poured out of her trunk, Nadine surmised it was an expansion charm failing, bursting the lid of the trunk, but she was no expert in them.

“Oh gosh!” Her daughter exclaimed quietly, “should we help?” Nadine squeezed Aoide’s shoulder, a silent indication to stay put and talk to new friends. This would only take a moment, if the girl’s parents were not there to assist. Maybe she was Muggleborn.

A flick of Nadine’s wand and the trunk and luggage trolley righted itself. A twirl and the marshmallows and other items began to repack into the trunk.
“Is it a new owl?” Nadine asked. Although she was being nice by her measures, her tone was a bit accusatory towards the young student. “They tend to find their own way to Hogwarts. Wouldn’t want to miss the train.”

Akira looked up at Nadine with an embarrassed look on her face but at the same time like she was some sort of super hero. staring up at her sheepishly before giving a nod. "T-thank you...so much...I just...um..." She scratched the back of her head, then looks at Kūki flying still. "N-new owl...only got it few weeks ago...I wanted to keep with me as well...She doesn't like me much at the moment..." Her hands hid in her hoodie pockets and pulled out some Freddo's. "U-um...thank you...would you like one?" She offered a Freddo cautiously, seeming a bit worried that her chocolate frog will be turned down as it isn't as good as the magical one.

Kūki would observe the crowd from the air, looking at all the peasants beneath her. She was queen of the skies, the others couldn't get up to her, she was free while the others were trapped on their ground. She flew over the scarlet engine and then gave a hoot before flying back towards the area where Akira is. Giving another hoot as if to taunt her. She could't be trapped again by her.

“… would you like one?” The girl extended a muggle-looking packet towards her. Nadine looked at it quizzically.
“No,” she replied, abruptly, as was her Slytherin nature. She read the expression of the young witch and added, “Thank you. You better get your trunk on the train.” She pointed towards the nearby carriage, and gave a sigh. This girl really didn’t have an adult with her, did she, and what a mess. Her owl was resolutely staying up and away from her too.

“Rex, we best get Aoide’s trunk on the train,” she spoke to her long-term partner, stood with Jonas Trevelyan and the small gaggle of children. The Westhaven boy who had met Aoide in the robe shop had joined them. Nadine felt encouraged! Perhaps Aoide would have some pureblood friends to go to school with, mix with some proper sorts and get invitations from them.

Gwenna had not had any interest in owning an owl until that very moment, when the Ravenclaw girl's owl had made a break for freedom.  Suddenly, she found herself longing for an owl of her very own, with a sharp beak and fierce claws that would savage anyone she sent a letter to.

"I wish," she said disappointedly, shooting her father's back an unhappy look.  He had turned to watch Mrs. Pinn's progress, as she assisted with the trunk.  "We live in a Muggle neighborhood, though, so my parents never let us do anything fun."

Making a face, she turned back to face Emrys and Aoide.

"Nice to meet you, Emrys," she said, giving the new First Year boy a once-over.  He had a book, which meant he was probably going to be sorted into Ravenclaw.  Aoide's admission that her sister had been in Gwenna's house, though, had suddenly made the new girl infinitely more interesting.  Ariadne Gamp had been cool.

"Rex, we'd better get Aoide's trunk on the train!" Aoide's mother called, interrupting before Gwenna could ask after Aoide's sister.

Gwenna's father cleared his throat behind them.  "Yes, we ought to do the same," he agreed, nodding to Gwenna.  "Alright, Gwen?  Or do you want some help?"

Gwenna's face flushed.  "Dad, I'm fine," she insisted, grabbing the handle of her very large suitcase again.  "See you at Christmas.  Do you both know where to go?" she asked, glancing at Emrys and Aoide.  "C'mon, we can find a compartment!"

And like that, his daughter's childhood was officially over.  There was no clearer sign that Gwenna was now entrenched in the brattiness of teenaged life than her dismissive non-goodbye.  Jonas watched his daughter start off for the train, half-disappointed at the lack of farewell and half-relieved that their summer trial-by-family was officially ending.

Sighing, he exchanged a helpless look with Rex Shacklebolt.  "Hope yours never turns thirteen," he said, sounding somewhat defeated.

He looked to the Ravenclaw girl that Nadine had been helping.  Unlike Gwenna, his fellow Auror's daughter would likely want a chance to say goodbye to her parents before departing for her first year at Hogwarts.  Since his own assignment had apparently ended, the least he could do was step in to facilitate.

"You alright getting your trunk sorted on board?" he asked, starting over to the girl.  "I'm sure your owl will make its way to school -- I wouldn't be worried about it."

Emrys wasn't too interested in all the commotion on the platform, he'd already stowed his trunk thanks to the help of an older student, but he was looking forward to actually getting on the train.  When Gwenna suggested they find an apartment, he made sure he had a tight grip on his book and looked over to Aoide, "I'll go find a compartment if you want to stay out here for a bit." He was glad he made a new friend, but was still kind of nervous.  He'd never been away from home at all and now he was going to a boarding school where he wouldn't be back home until the holidays.

"I mean, if you want." he amended, knowing that people didn't like decisions made for them, but then again, they were only eleven and some a little older, but he still gave them a choice.  Truthfully, he really wanted to just find a compartment and read more of his book.  It wasn't a school book or any book by an author that was famous, it was the journal he'd been writing his grandfather's stories in.  There was no way he was going to leave it at home for his mother to find, she would destroy it in an instant.