Raine Almasy woke up with a start.

The Hogwarts Express had stopped moving and the consistent, mechanical throb of the train that had lulled her to sleep was now absent. She blinked several times before running the back of her hand across her eyelids sleepily... the cabin was empty. Who had she been sitting with? Nobody, perhaps. There had been little sleep the night before and she must have fallen into dreams as soon as their journey began. How odd. She never fell asleep on train rides.

Students were hurrying past the cabin, all of them eager to get off at Kings Cross and begin their vacations. Raine reached behind her neck as she stood up and cracked it with one sudden jerk. The sound almost startled her. The witch looked down at herself, dressed smartly in a white day dress, and brushed down the wrinkles. She picked up the little case she always brought on this trip-- a black vanity case with her initials in gold. It was still full of the snacks and books she had packed this morning. Taking a deep breath, Raine exited her cabin and joined the throng of youths making their way out of the train. It was loud and noisy and people could be heard yelling out their goodbyes to each other with what Governess McGregor would have called a severe lack of decorum. Personally, the Gryffindor liked their enthusiasm.

Kings Cross was enveloped in its typical shroud of steam and smoke coming off from the train. Raine stepped off the car gracefully and then to side, to avoid being pushed ahead by the group of Hufflepuffs streaming out from behind her. She paused to watch them and then turned around to look for the Governess. It was tradition, whenever they she rode the train, for McGregor to greet and take them her home to Oxfordshire. Only, where was the Scottish witch now? Raine stood on her tip toes to look over the heads of her schoolmates and then dropped back down to her heels with a loud click. It was uncharacteristic for McGregor to be late. Unprecedented, actually.

"Don't look so disappointed, dear." A deep, sombre voice prompted Raine to turn around-- and as soon as she did, she found herself having to look up at the pale, weathered face of her father. His beard was a little longer now but the wizard had not changed much since spring break. Still tall and wonderfully wise-looking. She smiled gently at her father and extended her case, which he took from her. "Papa."

Roman Almasy returned the smile, though his was mostly hidden under a tidy mess of grey hair: "Raine," he leaned down and pecked her on the forehead in fatherly fashion before straightening: "I brought the car. Muggle business in town." There was a concise, efficient manner to the way her father spoke. Explanations were usually implied, not uttered. It drove Mama crazy sometimes. Raine nodded her head and then followed him towards the end of the platform to collect her luggage. They walked beside each other silently, neither inclined to small talk and both safe in the knowledge that they were glad to see each other. She could smell the tobacco off his coat-- that scent of home. Though for some reason she would had rather preferred the smell of chalk.

- End -

(ooc: not sure if this belonged here or on the Kings Cross general board, seeing as how it isn't the trip but only her arrival)