The train was impressive. Blake wanted to believe she had prepared herself for how she’d feel, looking at it but she still felt overwhelmed and anxious looking up at the large, red locomotive. She took a long, deep breath to try and calm her nerves when she felt a hand on her shoulder. The girl flinched slightly and turned and smiled nervously at the woman behind her as she smiled back reassuringly. The two shared many physical features, same wavy, brown hair, same hazel eyes and soft faces. The woman could only be her mother.

“Don’t be nervous, you’ll do fine.” She assured her daughter with a gentle, nurturing voice.

A man knelt before her, placing both hands on her shoulders, his look proud and strong. His hair was darker than the girls, his skin more olive and his eyes grey but some of their facial features looked similar. “Remember to practice and don’t let the other kids intimidate you.” He advised before giving her a firm hug.

The whistle caught the attention of the people on the platform and Blake quickly hugged her mother before she moved off towards the train. “Don’t forget to write!” Her mother called as she waved energetically. “Tell me what house you got put in, about your friends, your classes, everything!”

Blake nodded and waved back, moving inside the train and quickly moving to the closest carriage, opening the window and continuing to wave at her parents as the train slowly pulled out of the station, even when they were out of sight it took her a few minutes before she finally retreated into the carriage and stored her trunk below the seat, she was nowhere near tall enough to reach the top and set a covered cage carefully beside her, hearing a small noise come from within, but she knew to leave it closed so her bird could rest.

The train travelled swiftly across the countryside, once it got going, the click clack of the wheels on the track were oddly soothing. But otherwise it was quiet; she was alone now with her thoughts. Hogwarts. Honestly she had been waiting for this most of her life, her parents had been so excited when her letter had arrived and her mother had done her best to try and describe what it would be like, but she knew stories could only go so far and they wouldn’t compare to the real thing. And her house… her mother had been a Ravenclaw but she had read a lot on the different houses and what they represented, she’d be happy to join any of them. And friends… what if the other kids didn’t like her?

Johnna Kent was a normal eleven year old girl. She had lived in the wizarding world her whole life, so when the Hogwarts letter arrived she wasn't much surprised. But she was nothing the less excited. She had squealed for days, talked about nothing else and forced her parents to tell her every little detail of Hogwarts. To her own displeasure though, they had both only said so much and repeatingly said she would have to see on her own.
Johnna and her parents had arrived on the platform late. The train was already whistling for the students to get on it before it'd be too late. The eleven year old girl gave her older sister her best death stare. Nova had taken ages to get ready, the twelve year old girl had not packed her suitcase completely the day before.


"Stop it, Johnna. We didn't miss the train, did we?"
Johnna growled. She had planned on spending a lot time watching the train from the outside and have a look at all the wizards around. But now they had to hurry onto the train. Nova hugged her parents and gave her younger sister a nice punch on the shoulder before entering the train.
Their mother yelled after Nova. "Take care of your sister!" But Nova didn't look back at them.
"Mom, I'll be fine. I don't need Nova to help me." Johnna hugged her parents. There was not much time left to say goodbye, so they kept it short. Hopping onto the train, Johnna waved at them and hoped she'd do fine. The train took a curve and she lost her parents out of sight. Suddenly she felt very lonely. Shaking off the feeling she got into a department where a girl sat already, she just took a seat and left her suitcase on the floor by the window.
"Hello. I hope it's okay if I sit here. I am a first year. Are you new too?"