Finally the day had arrived, it was the day to take the train to Hogwarts. Euphemia was excited, more than she was physically showing. Euphemia had arrived promptly to the station and what felt like hours ago had said goodbye to her parents and had boarded the train storing her luggage, with some difficulty. Effie was pleased to be alone so nobody else saw the unbecoming actions of hoisting her trunk into storage. Now, by the way she sat nobody would assume she had such difficulty moments ago.

Effie’s good by to her parents had been cool, emotions were not shown in public and even then hugs and kisses were limited while at home. Effie also had the good fortune of seeing the last of her nanny, her ninth this summer. Not a record but a number to be proud of nonetheless. Euphemia hoped that her parents would find new help when she returned for the holidays because the last one was just not good enough, hey maybe they could even ignore that particular help all together Effie was old enough now.

Effie looked to her side where her dear kitten lay asleep sprawled out over the portion of the bench she sat on. Wolfgang seemed to really enjoy taking up so much space. A slight smile snuck to her lips as she watched the kitten, but it quickly faded. It was as if it faded upon Effie realization that she was smiling and that it was just something that wouldn’t do.

Her mind drifted to the thoughts of Eirene wondering when her friend would come along and disturb the peace. She stared sullenly outside looking at the platform before she decided she might as well crack the new book she had purchased. She smoothed out her pinafore before opening the book upon her lap, The Draught of Living Death a Study. She smirked as she flipped the page and started to read the printed words, completely content to be along with her kitten.

Outfit

"21...22...23..." Keegan muttered to himself as he counted the silver coins given to him by his benefactor. Some were, as she said, for various things throughout the year, like quills and ink and replacements for his potions gear. But a couple were for the train and what she described as the biggest and most plentifully stocked candy cart he would ever lay eyes on. It was for this event that Keegan was so wrapped up in counting and dividing his money that he failed to notice he walked right past the compartment with his two best friends in it. Nor, unfortunately, did he notice that he turned into a compartment 2 doors down, where his worst enemy (thus far) resided in her all of her prim and proper and evil glory.

"Oi Ad... I gah about 10 sick..." He started as he barrelled into compartment five, fading off when when he saw who was sitting there. It wasn't Adley or Mai, that much was clear. The hair and dress were far too neat to be Mai... and as far as he knew, Adley wasn't the type to wear one. Getting a better look at her face, he felt a grin spread across his. Normally one would turn and leave when they realized they had interrupted someones privacy. Not Keegan.

No, instead, Keegan tossed his tatty duffelbag on the bench across from her before tossing his own gangly frame onto it. Leaving his legs spread lazily apart, he slouched and let out a loud belch, before saying to his 'companion' "When's ya decide to dress like sum tightass scanger Ads?" He squinted at her before snickering "Oh... wait... it's you Eeeewwwfie..." He grinned before lifting one leg and letting a fart rip that should have left a huge hole in his already ripped up jeans. "Whooo" He said, fanning his nose "Better open a window... tha un was a doozy"

Eying her, his grin stayed firmly in place (despite the smell) as he waited for her to make her move. Whoever ran gagging from the compartment first was the loser, and he was an old hand at this game.

What a rack it, Effie thought as she looked up from her book. Merlin, Effie wish she had not just looked up. Her eyes landed on the disgusting filth of a boy, Keegan. Where as Adley was just vile and annoying, this boy was actually quite vulgar. What someone of the class like Adley was doing associating with the likes of Keegan she had no clue? Already the boy had made a stench of her air.

For a moment she had a hope that he would leave, but how could she have been so stupid? She was looking back at her book when the duffle bag dropped and it was followed by Keegan’s grimy behind. Effie’s nose turned up but her eyes did not list from the page, yet the words went unread. He was really quite distracting. At the loud belch she could not stop herself from looking up, almost gagging in disgust. His posture, or lack there of, and his exposed crotch of his pants made her cringe. It was actually quite painful to look at someone such a disregard for personal class.

“Yes it is me,” she sneered not at all appreciative of his pet name for her. “You know that is not at al” she didn’t get a chance to finish her statement before the loud and vulgar fart filled the compartment. Effie closed her book as she started to gag. How could boys be so disgusting? Effie attempted to breath through her mouth rather than her nose but she could taste it, which made the gagging so much worse.

Bile started to build as she continued to gag trying with all her might to remain seated and keep a straight face. “Original.” She said with a sneer before she looked towards the window as her eyes began to tear from the stench. “You truly are vile and unoriginal to boot.” The need to vomit was mounting and she knew if she had to what direction she was going to lean to.

Pax was passing by the compartment, trunk in tow, in time to hear this last statement. He glanced through the doorway out of instinctive curiosity, then stopped, any thoughts as to what the other students' conversation was about stowed away to the back of his mind. This compartment had space in it!

'Hullo!' he said as politely as he could, poking his head in the compartment. 'Sorry to interrupt. Mind if I--' Pax had been about to ask to join them (goodness knew how much farther down the train he would have to go to find another empty seat) but suddenly frowned a little, nose wrinkling. '--open a window?' he finished.

Quickly he crossed to the window and tugged it open. Surely they wouldn't actually mind. He couldn't be the only one to notice that smell, could he? Still, it wasn't the sort of thing you actually talked about, so he hurriedly added, 'Trains can be so stuffy sometimes, it's, uh, nice to have a little fresh air.' He turned around and smiled to the two of them hopefully.

Euphie's response to his faux-pax was perfect. The green pallor to her skin... the stifled gags she was trying to disguise... the way she barely managed to spit out at him spitefully “Original. You truly are vile and unoriginal to boot.”. "Thank you, It's a gift..." He said, smiling with his teeth clamped firmly shut to filter out the smell. Thank go--Merlin that he had long since learned how to fart by will. She looked like she was going to puke now and any second she would be running from the car in tears. Excellent... he thought to himself, about to steeple his fingers in malicious glee when the compartment door opened, releasing a good deal of the stench.

'Hullo! Sorry to interrupt. Mind if I----open a window?'

Good, the smell is still strong... Keegan thought to himself as even the darker skinned boy turned a bit green. Ah the wonders of the gastrointestinal system and its reaction to beans and rice. He now knew what to get Miss Euphie for Christmas! He would have to bottle up all his farts for her... Maybe even toss in a stinkbug or two. Now that that pressing question was answered, Keegan addressed the newcomer "Yeh... I mind..."

But the new boy had already made his way to the window and was on his way to shoving it open while Keegan was mentally choosing what color of ugly ribbon he could tie the gift with. When he succeeded, a whoosh of cool and unfortunately clean air filled the compartment, nearly wiping away all his hard work. Keegan glowered at the boy. Had it been anyone else that he was sitting with, it wouldn't have been a big deal. But he was in the middle of a life or death psych out with his worst enemy. You didn't just traipse in and take away the heroes edge like that. Unless you were working for the bad guy... Which he automatically assumed this new kid was.

'Trains can be so stuffy sometimes, it's, uh, nice to have a little fresh air.'

"Bloody bang on mate...." He said sarcastically, still glowering at the interloper, though there was a hit of a smirk forming as he added "...Cept no amount of fresh air'll clear this room with miss manky scanger 'ere." Turning back to Euphie, his smirk curled into a sneer as he retorted "... Like tha' air bisquit Ewwwwfie? I got more where tha' came from."


((10 points to anyone who can deduce the two obscure cartoon references I made ))

Effie was screaming “please” in her head as the new boy asked whether he could open a window. Merlin she never thought a stench could be so vile. Despite all the gagging she was doing she was going to sit it out, admitting defeat was not an option. She also would never utter a thanks to this child either for admitting thanks for help was nearly as bad as admitting defeat. The breath of fresh air was delightful and with that she finally felt capable of breathing. Effie flipped open her book again and attempted to read.

Effie fumed beneath the mask of being emotionless. He really was anything but pleasant to associate with. She was no manky whatever it was he said in that almost unintelligent drawl of his. “You are a disgusting little creature,” she sneered without a glance up.  “Why would I enjoy the scent of you in any shape or form. “ She looked up at him. “How you live being as unintelligent you are is beyond me.”

Euphemia looked at the new boy sizing him up and deciding she didn’t like the look of him, who ever he was. Then again when did Euphemia like the look of anyone? She glanced to her kitten, which was still draped dramatically over the space next her and there was no way he was going to move without a fight. “Who are you?” Effie asked plainly to the new arrival.

Pax only just registered the other boy's objection to the window being opened after the air had been let in. 'Oh! Sorry,' he said, and quickly closed the window again. Thankfully, however, the smell had been pretty much dispelled by the brief breeze.

Looking with confusion between the boy and the girl, Pax wondered what on earth he'd stumbled in on. He wasn't the best at reading people, but this was obviously not just playful teasing; the other two students quite clearly couldn't stand each other. So what were they doing sharing a compartment? Was the train really that crowded that neither of them could find a seat anywhere else?

'Hm?' He was startled out of his train of thought by the girl's question. 'Oh, I'm Pax. Pax Wintergreen,' he added, to better indicate that Pax was his given name rather than his surname. Hearing a plaintiff mewling coming from the door and remembering he had left his kitten with his luggage, he prompty went back to the corridor to rescue her. 'And, uh, this is Vesper,' he added as he picked up the grey tabby. 'Who are you?' He felt it only polite to return the question, and he got the feeling she didn't appreciate being called 'Ewwfie'. He glanced uncertainly at the other boy as if to let him know the inquiry wasn't exclusively for the girl.