Hogwarts; Year 2014

[blueeyess]

Hogwarts; School of Witchcraft and Wizardry


The train pulled into the station with an unholy screech, students bounced with excitement for the beginning of the new year or hung behind with worry for upcoming exams. The train stops, it's time to board, cases are being taken to the hold and students are starting to say their goodbyes. You are among them, here for your first year or returning for another. It's time to say goodbye to your loved ones and to step aboard the train.

​

A role play between myself and Jay Fox !

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


The train pulled into the station bringing with it a gust of wind as it screeched to a halt, Johan watched on until the train finally stopped. It was another year of learning ahead, and he wondered what it might hold. His studies were coming to an end after all... it was time to decide where to go next. Johan looked to his parents standing beside him, their faces full of pride. His siblings were scattered around them, all looking on in wonder as students passed by to get to the train. It would be their time soon enough, not for another year... if they got a letter, which he knew they would. But it was also dependent upon if they wanted to attend, magic wasn't for everyone... and Johan knew it was stupid to think such things now, but maybe it wasn't for him. The changes at Hogwarts he was most glad for were the classes in Muggle studies; being taught Math, English and Sciences on the side would help encase they changed their minds later down the line. There was also the option of a side subject, Johan had opted for Art.


Saying goodbye to his mother, father and then his siblings, he made way to the train, giving them a wave and boarding. His father had said he'd get his case down and onto the train for him, leaving Johan to just find a carriage and take a seat. Spotting an empty one, he moved inside and closed the door before putting his rucksack at his feet and sitting down. Johan pulled open his bag and rooted for his art book, taking out to read it for the journey. The bleeping of his phone caught his attention as he tugged it from his coat pocket, good luck sweetheart, stay safe x. A message from his mother, Johan smiled sending a short reply to promise he would. He tugged off his jacket and placed it on the seat beside him, fiddling with the collar of his jumper for a moment. Johan glanced to the carriage door and watched students pass by, before turning his attention to the art book resting on his light blue skinny jeans.


Colette Crawford


Without her siblings to see her off, Colette was left to take her bags down to be placed on the train herself. She waited silently, standing alone, before the man noticed her. Colette thanked him for taking her bags, said goodbye to her cat, Pandora, and headed to find a free carriage. Heels clicking against the concrete of the station, Colette stepped carefully onto the train and wandered to the first empty cabin. She sat, putting her bag beside her, eyes moving to the window. Parents hugged their children warmly, families all bidding goodbye to their children, Colette felt an anger warm in her stomach. She turned away and took out her phone, scrolling through the first app she opened. Mindlessly scrolling through images of animals, landscapes or the odd selfie, Colette started to feel as though the best idea she could have would be to leave the train. To skip out on this year... she didn't hold much promise for it after all.


Dina Jones


The young girl hugged both of her father's, before bouncing onto the train. Dina waved a final time and skipped off to find a carriage, most were already full, or filling quickly. She didn't see anyone she recognized and opted for the easiest choice.. a carriage to herself. Sitting down, Dina peered out of the window looking as her dads spotted her and waved. Smiling brightly she waved back, her excitement for this year outweighing how much she'd miss her parents.

 

[Jay Fox]

Declan Baker





Dec tucked his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, sitting in the corner of a train compartment and looking thoughtfully at the condensation on the window. Another year, and he still wasn't sure what he was heading towards. He stuck an earbud of his iPod into one ear and went back to the book he was reading. Other people were running up and down the corridors, or chatting with friends. He felt a sudden deep wistfulness, that he had somebody to care about how his summer had been, but... that wasn't the case.





Electra Zabini


Electra preferred robes. A lot of these children, especially those from Muggle families, wore Muggle clothing at every opportunity, but not her. She liked the feel of robes, how they swished imperiously when she moved, how they made her look when she caught her reflection in the mirror. It wasn't as though she felt the same way as her father did, that there was no place for anything to do with Muggles. He wouldn't let her get a mobile phone, wouldn't let her do anything that came from Muggle technology rather than magic. But she did have a certain... respect for the traditional. Robes just looked good, that was the simple truth.


She kissed her father goodbye and swept onto the train. A tiny first year was staring at her, and she smirked. See, that was what it was about. The presence. The majesty. It might also have something to do with the four foot snake that coiled around her neck like a living scarf.


Teddy Lupin


Teddy and Victoire had been inseparable all summer. During the Quidditch World Cup, Victoire's parents had seemed annoyed that they spent so much time together, but could they help it? He thought he might love her. After all, his godfather Harry had met Ginny when they were still at school. Ron and Hermione had met at school, and they hadn't even got together right away, so obviously Teddy and Victoire were already one up on them. And they would be fine, he knew it. They were Teddy and Victoire.


He threw himself into the seat of a compartment where another Hufflepuff boy was sitting, humming to himself. His hair was a shade of bright pink, which might be mistaken for a garish hair dye for those who didn't know him, but it was the colour that he got in his hair when he was thinking of people he was attracted to. And that had only been her, recently.

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


His attention was pulled to the carriage door, and away from the art book in his lap, when a boy entered and sat down. A Hufflepuff, just like Johan, but with the brightest shade of pink hair he'd ever seen here. He smiled at the boy and looked toward the window, his mind wandering to his friends. Johan rooted in his pocket for his phone and tugged the device out, texting a couple of them to see how they were. His finger lingered over the send button, wondering if it was a little silly to be texting them just as everyone got on the train. Johan ignored the voice and sent, his eyes scanned the names to make sure he'd not missed anyone. Ingrid, Chloe, Jake, Sanjay, and Declan.





Colette Crawford


Watching the busy bodies of people pass by the carriage door made her feel comfort. At least all of them knew not to sit with her unless she allowed it, a few rouge students had attempted to sit with her but it was easy to send them running. Colette spotted a fellow Slytherin moving past her carriage, Electra. Already dressed in her robes, Colette didn't mind the robes the school provided, but she hadn't put on her own yet. Spotting the snake around the girl's neck, she smiled, that would help to keep people out. Colette stood and opened the carriage door, calling out to Electra.


"Hey, Electra. There's space in here" she said, politely.

 

[Jay Fox]

Declan Baker





His phone beeped, and Declan assumed for a moment it was one of his Dads, telling him he'd left a book at home, or even just being soppy and saying they missed him already. He smiled to himself when he realised it was actually one of the few people he counted as friends- he'd only really got to know Johan at the end of the last year, but liked him. He honestly hadn't expected a message so soon, though. Maybe the other boy actually wanted to talk to him. Declan always just kind of assumed that people were in conversation with him to be polite, not because they actually wanted to get to know him. He didn't think of himself as that interesting a person.


He quickly tapped out a reply, and then deleted it, and then tried again. On the fourth attempt at sounding casual, not desperate, friendly but not needy, he managed to word something that sounded halfway okay, and sent it.





Teddy Lupin


Teddy was absorbing himself in flirting with Victoire over text, barely looking up at anything around him. As he glanced at the latest message from her, the tips of his hair turned bright red for a moment, which was how Teddy blushed.


Electra Zabini





Electra was a little surprised at being asked, but, deep down, pleased. Not that she needed the company, of course, she was just fine on her own. But sometimes it was more interested to have somebody to speak to rather than simply being lost in her own thoughts.


"Colette," she said with a smile, charming as always, the smile she had been taught from an early age was the way to get what she wanted.





It wasn't even a deliberate attempt to manipulate at this stage. It was just how she associated facial expressions. Each one was deliberate, each one was a means to an end.


She sat down on the seat opposite her fellow Slytherin, absently allowing her snake to twist from her neck and coil around her arm instead.

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


His phone bleeped with the alert of a text, Johan wondered who it was from as he picked up his phone from beside him. Declan. Although the two had only met at the end of the previous year, Johan got on well with him. It had been an accidental meeting. Johan was late for class, still half pulling on his robes - not his greatest moment - when he bumped into Declan. He was a nice guy, he helped him pick his books up and Johan had thought that would be it. Then they met again, finding each other in the same section of the library. Despite not admitting it to Declan, Johan had been glad. It wasn't the first thought he had when he met him, but it was there after... maybe he'd watched too many muggle movies, but he liked Declan. He was kind, good looking.. Johan shook the thoughts from his head, they were silly, and Johan knew he shouldn't look for romance. He had exams, and besides, Johan lived too far for anyone to visit. Stupid, he told himself. Opening the text he typed back, yeah break was good, thnx! How was yours? x he stared at it. Removing the smiley face, then the kiss, then putting them back. Over and over. He reworded the text, but then went back to the same. Finally hitting send as a second message popped through from Ingrid, meet at the hall door! So much to catch up on, Jojo Can't wait to see you xx he smiled brightly, texting her back a reply. Johan looked up from his phone at the boy across the carriage, he blinked twice, certain the red tips had not been in the boys hair before. Shaking the thought off he looked to the window, staring at the boy's re-flexion in it. Had they been there before? He could not remember.


Colette Crawford


"How was your break?" she asked, sitting down beside the window. Colette tucked some loose hair behind her ear, eyes focused on the snake as it coiled around Electra's arm. Snakes had never bothered her, it was spiders that made Colette's skin crawl. Yuck! Colette tucked her phone into her pocket and rooted in her bag for her book, pulling out a fantasy novel she'd been reading. Although her parents frowned upon her for it, she enjoyed Muggle fiction. Even if at times their descriptions of witches were ugly old hags.

 

[Jay Fox]

Declan Baker





His book laying forgotten on the seat beside him, Declan gazed at his phone screen and bit his lower lip. Nobody took this much time over a text message, he was sure, but he agonised over every detail. How did everybody else make this seem so... normal?


Not bad. he typed, and then Where are you?





He hadn't seen Johan on the train so far but he must be on there somewhere. Declan wasn't necessarily saying that they should sit together... maybe Johan was with other friends and wouldn't want that anyway. If he said he was with friends, maybe Declan could just seem like he was asking out of curiosity and was sitting with people himself.


He rarely ever used kisses or smiley faces in texts himself. On rare occasions, he did, when he truly wanted to show he cared. Somehow, for some reason, it was a big step for him.


Electra Zabini





"Oh," she shrugged and yawned "Dull, you know. Father seems to think I should try and get myself a husband, but that's only because his mother was married already by my age, seven times in total, and he seems to think that's the norm."


To be honest, she had always assumed that was the most likely possibility, that she, like her father, and his mother before him, would just marry whoever could provide them with the most security. Not that they weren't wealthy already, given that the family fortune had been made by her grandmother's marriages. Electra was convinced that her grandmother had killed all her husbands for the money, but her father had always denied it. Still, Electra wasn't quite planning on doing that sort of thing herself.

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


He smiled as another message popped onto his phone, Declan again. Where are you, he had asked. Johan realised he wasn't quite sure himself having not looked for the carriage number when getting on, he glanced around for it, spotting it above the door. Carriage 5, with another Huffleputt that I don't know! Where are you? I'll come find you, rather not sit in silence for the journey haha x he text, realising be probably should have read the message before sending. He decided it was fine, knowing he and Declan were friends, it didn't sound odd to want to sit with a friend. Besides it would be better than sitting in silence with a stranger, Johan liked conversation, he enjoyed listening to other people. Glancing out of the window, the last few students were saying goodbyes and the station was becoming calmer. Two strangers wandered into the carriage he was in and took their seats, a girl and boy, first years from what he could tell.. Or they simply looked young to him. Closing his art book, he waited for Declan to answer wondering if he should get the gang together that might feel less strange. He had never spent a lot of time alone with Declan, sure they hung out but usually with others. Ingrid was always there, she was practically glued to Johan's hip.


Colette Crawford


Nodding as Electra commented about her home lift, Colette half listened in, more interested in the book before her. Hearing about the idea of marriage, her brows raised in confusion as she looked at the other girl. "Seriously?" She asked, "my parents freak out at the slightest mention of someone I fancy, and yours are already trying to get you married" she gave a small laugh. "Strange world" she said, looking out to the platform and back to Electra. "You ready for this year? Exams and everything?" She asked, trying to keep some sort of conversation going.

 

[Jay Fox]

Declan Baker





Carriage 2. Sounds good! he sent, fiddling anxiously with the earbud in one of his ears and pulling his legs up under him. He was a small, slight boy, who sometimes got mistaken for younger, but he'd had a growth spurt over the summer and was now... still small for his age, but less likely to be mistaken for a first year. He was also used to wearing clothes that didn't really fit, since he'd spent his life in foster homes and rarely had anybody spend money on him. It hadn't been until he'd started living with his adoptive parents that he started getting things like new clothes, new phone, new laptop.


It still felt strange, like he didn't quite deserve it.





Electra Zabini





"Oh, it's not really got much to do with who I fancy," Electra rolled her eyes "Daddy sees it more like... a career option."


She knew that her father didn't think she would be happy getting a job and having to work for a living, which sort of annoyed her. It wasn't like she wasn't perfectly capable. She'd inherited his flair for Potions, and she could get good grades when she wanted. True, there was no particular career path that called out to her, but that didn't mean she wouldn't find one.


"Ugh," she pulled a face "I suppose so. I hate exams."





Written tests, at least, were one area in her life she couldn't simply charm her way through.

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


At the reply text message, he stood and collected his belongings. Johan passed through the door as two students eyed the carriage, entering once he had made his escape. Heading alone, he made way to Carriage Two. On my way he text back in reply, passing students in rushed frenzies to find their friends. At least he knew where his were... well, one of them at least. Johan reached Carriage Two and glanced in the window's of the doors, looking for Declan. Finally finding the cabin he was in, Johan entered. He shuffled into the cabin and took the seat opposite Declan, "hi" he said with a soft smile. Johan placed his bag at his feet, holding onto the art book he had taken out earlier, as well as his phone.


Colette Crawford


"I understood that" she answered back, slightly irritated. Colette hated the snobbery that oozed from Electra, sure, she got on with the girl at times.. but the way she spoke about marriage and what Colette had heard about her home life, girl had it easy. "Exams suck, we can all agree on that" she said, leaning back in her seat as the train started up. "Finally, it feels like we've been in the station for ages" she uttered, mostly to herself.

 

[Jay Fox]

Declan Baker





"Hi." Declan smiled a little shyly and curled up into a tighter ball on the seat.


He could do this, he knew how to speak to people. Or, well, he knew how to speak to people on the internet, anyway. Speaking aloud somehow seemed much more difficult. He forgot how to form words, his mind went blank, or he stuttered. At least Hogwarts seemed to be moving a lot closer to modernity. When his Dads had been at Hogwarts, there was magic in place that meant anything electrical had immediately broken! It wasn't until recently that this had been fixed and wizards were at last embracing the fact that there was a place for muggle technology in the wizarding world.


A good thing, too, because Declan couldn't imagine trying to survive without his phone or his iPod, not these days.


Electra Zabini





The strange thing was, Electra was nowhere near as snobbish as she allowed people to believe. Well, she was privileged, she knew that: her family had money, and that made a massive difference. But a lot of the Elitist Typical Slytherin vibe was deliberate. Mind you, after all these years, she wore that mask so well that she wasn't entirely sure what she thought underneath. It was easy to fall back into acting like people expected her to act.


"They're utterly pointless," Electra mused "I mean, apart from those subjects that are all theory, I suppose. But how well does memorising facts actually help somebody perform spells?"

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


"Looks like we're off" he said watching as the station passed by the window, the train edging it's was out of Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Johan looked toward Declan, watching the boy, it looked as though he was trying to sink into his chair. Disappear almost. "You ready for this year?" he asked trying to keep a flow of conversation, and keep Declan comfortable. He was a good guy but a quiet one from what Johan could tell. "If I'm honest.. I'm kind of freaking out" he uttered looking out of the window as the train continued to move. Johan messed with the edges of the pages of his art book.


Colette Crawford


"Electra you're in for a big shock if you think it's just remembering facts. There's essays, sure.. some fact questions but a lot of essay writing, reporting" the thought of the exams made Colette's stomach churn, she wasn't a stupid girl but nor was she the most intelligent in her class. She could already feel the pressure from the exams building up, just thinking about them. You fail these and that's it, you can resit of course, but no one wants to do that. "Don't forget about the muggle exams we have to do as well... English, Science, Math.. those have me just as worried" she stated.

 

[Jay Fox]

Declan Baker





"Freaking out why?" Declan asked, and then looked away, out of the window "Uh, if you don't mind saying."


Of course, he could sympathise, because he felt like a tightly wound ball of anxiety at the best of times, and thoroughly miserable at worst, but he never thought that other people, especially ones with lots of friends, who were good looking and friendly, felt like that as well.





Electra Zabini





"No, that's what I mean," she said, twisting one of her long braids around her fingertips "It's still all writing. How does that help in the real world? I mean, for people who don't want to do writing all their life. Some people just don't perform well under those conditions, and this grade affects the rest of their life? It's ridiculous."


Secretly, she quite enjoyed some of the Muggle subjects- Science in particular, had many applications across to Potions, and she felt like there should be much more experimentation done between the chemicals used in Muggle Chemistry and the Potions she was more familiar with. But that was the thing: she knew how things worked, how to mix a Potion, how to perform a spell, but she couldn't write anything about it. Even when she knew the answers, she still seemed to get them wrong. For example, how was she supposed to know that the question "which plant is used in a sleeping draught"? required the answer "valerian" rather than, as she had answered in her Potions written OWL, an incredibly detailed and accurate drawing of a valerian sprig but not using its name. Why did she need to use the name? She knew what the plant looked like and what it did, so how was her answer wrong? She was still annoyed about that.

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


"I just... I don't know if I'm ready for the exams, everything like that. Making a decision of where I want to go in life" he chuckled, shaking his head. "The usual fears I guess" Johan looked up at Declan and gave a half smile. "Sorry I know you don't want to hear my complaining" rubbing the back of his neck, Johan placed his art book beside him and took a picture of the passing fields from the train. He glanced at Declan with a cheeky smile, "say cheese, Dec" he laughed, getting ready to snap a picture.


Colette Crawford


She nodded listening to Electra, "I see what you mean.. I think it's more to test if we were actually paying attention, that the information sunk in" Colette shrugged softly. "Either way, if you find a way to get out of them let me know" she laughed softly, turning her attention back to the book in her lap. The story had been pretty decent so far, although she was already beginning to guess the plot lines.. or so she thought.

 

[Jay Fox]

Declan Baker





"Oh, yeah. I know that feeling."


Less exam anxiety, since exams were one thing Declan had always been good at. He had always been able to study hard and he actually enjoyed revising. But the thought of what was coming next after Hogwarts... well, he had no clue.


"I don't mind!" he said quickly, when Johan apologised "So, uh, do you have any ideas? I haven't a clue. My Dad said maybe be a journalist, but I dunno, I feel like that would mean a lot of... being in people's faces, and that."


He looked towards the camera, awkward as he always was in photos, especially since he hated smiling in them.





Electra Zabini





Electra ran a gentle fingertip along the coils of her pet snake, thoughtfully. For all that she went along with lessons, and enjoyed some of them, she wasn't sure she saw the point a lot of the time. But, what else was there to do? At least there were people at school- and that was something she would never admit aloud, as she had cultivated a persona of perfect self-reliance- whereas at home, it was even more lonely. There were parties, sometimes, and not everybody was detestable, although she still didn't have many people she could consider 'trusted' friends.


"That's a strange book," she commented airily, gesturing at the dust jacket "That photograph is completely still. Is it a Muggle one, then?"

 

[blueeyess]

Johan Grace


Taking the picture, he then put his phone aside. Johan listened as Declan spoke about what his dad had suggested, for after Hogwarts. "I think you'd make a good journalist" he commented with a smile. "I'm not sure.. maybe something to do with art.. I don't know if my parents would approve" Johan shrugged and glanced out of the window at the passing sights. "It's a tough thing to decide though, and how quickly they expect us to decide.. I'm wondering if a gap year will help or something" he commented glancing back to Declan.


Colette Crawford


"It is" she answered, looking up from the page. "I.. I know most people look down on it, but there's some interesting muggle literature" she said with a smile, Colette closed the book on her book mark and offered it to Electra. "Take a look if you want?" she said, "you'd be surprised how good some of the literature is". Colette had never been ashamed of liking muggle things. The world was changing and if the wizarding world wanted to keep up, things had to change. She knew some pureblooded families looked down on anything to do with muggles.. she wondered if her own would have been the same.