The Journey To Hogwarts (Open To All Students)

Maya opened her eyes after she had traveled through the magical brick wall at a run. A smile formed on her lips as she was immediately welcomed by the familiar sight of the Hogwarts Express. With a gleam in her bright green eyes, she pushed her trolley on towards the back of the train, not glancing around to stop and chat. She was intent on getting a free compartment and it was evident that she was struggling to control the weight of the trolley and she was putting all her effort into not crashing into nearby people. Maya weaved her way in and out of estranged people, the atmosphere thick with excited students.

She greeted some students she recognised with a smile, not stopping to talk as she knew there would be plenty of time to catch up with people later. She stopped outside one compartment near the back of the train and glancing in through the window, spotted that it was empty. Unloading her trolley and gripping her trunk tightly she planted it into the compartment, deciding to tuck it away once the journey had started. She jumped back down off the ledge onto the platform trying to ignore the hoards of people and their family outings. She had come alone as her parents were busy back on the farm in Ireland. She grabbed her owl cage, containing a striking black owl and was delighted that she had some company with her. The noise of the vicinity was deafening, with panicked parents hugging their children goodbye, owls chattering away to one another and then students running up and down greeting old friends. She averted her gaze and her eyes rested on a nearby family, obviously muggles she thought to herself as they were standing awkwardly, staring uncertainly around. She looked at the little girl accompanying them who looked terrified, smiling encouragingly at her she continued to scan the crowds for someone she recognised. She nervously twisted a strand of hair around her finger, but soon told herself that there was plenty of time to see people on the train.

Maya was glad of the peace and quiet the compartment provided after the hustle and bustle of the station as she hopped off the staton and made her way into the room alone as the whistle blew to signal the last few minutes before 11 o' clock. She looked down, disheartened, at the site of her trunk, knowing she would have some trouble trying to lift it onto the overhead rack.

Spoiler:

Maya began attempting to heave her trunk into the overhead compartment with little success. She was slightly embarrassed when she heard the compartment door opening, glancing up she, wondered who it was. If someone was going to join her in the compartment she preferred that it wasn't when she was busy failing at lifting her trunk. She kicked it in anger, cursing her weakness and then cursing the fact that she stubbed her toe. Pain etched her face as she danced around on one foot.

Maya's head swiveled up when she heard someone calling out to her from the compartment door. She had got distracted by her trunk, but ignored it as soon as she recognised the owner of the voice. A smile automatically spread across her face when she realised who it was and her cheeks flushed red as she was still hopping around on one foot. She had spotted Kynan on the platform, but his parents appeared to be fussing over him so she didn't approach. She was having a hard enough time getting her owl to stay silent as he hated being locked up in a cage. "Of course," Maya replied, gesturing to the empty seat across from her and automatically wondered who us was. She was quite glad to have the company and Kynan always provided some relief and fun and the long trip to Hogwarts was bound to get arduous if she traveled alone.

Maya stood up to help as Kynan had his trunk in tow, it looked quite heavy. "Need some help?" She inquired. Looking on past Kynan she spotted Aylee. She should have known that Aylee was there too, the siblings appeared quite close and probably wouldn't get to spend much time together once they arrived at Hogwarts. "Hey Aylee!" Maya gave her a friendly wave.

Kynan smiled back at Maya, and replied, "Thanks." Then he noticed that she seemed to be having trouble with lifting the trunk on the rack. When Maya asked if she could help with his trunk, he said, "Sure, but it looks heavier than yours..." while frowning. Then, realizing that he had probably angered her, he exclaimed, "Not that I am saying you can't lift it, it's just-" but Maya was already greeting Aylee. He let out a quiet sigh of relief- he really didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Maya. You already did, Kynan thought to himself. More than once, idiot. "Hello, Maya!" he then heard Aylee's voice say.

Aylee entered the compartment and exclaimed, "Oh, cool, you have an owl, too? They can be friends!" she gestured towards her own owl, Julia. Slowly, she set down her pet's cage on the empty seat. Luckily, the cage didn't take up too much space. "How are you?" Kynan asked Maya while Aylee then attempted to lift up her own suitcase in the rack.

Maya was too busy greeting Aylee to overhear what Kynan was muttering, but when she turned back to him he had a frown on his face and looked confused. Maya stepped aside, allowing room for Aylee to pass through comfortably.

"Yes," Maya lit up at the mention of her owl. "I just bought him, Shadowfax. He doesn't seem to make friends easily though." Maya turned away from him, still angry at the amount of pecking's he had recieved from him when trying to stroke him. There were obvious marks on her fingers and Maya hid them quickly, embarrassed that her owl hadn't taken to her yet. "Good thanks, you?" Maya turned to Kynan, quickly picking up on his conversation topic. "Anything exciting happen over the summer? Did you see anyone else from school?" Maya perked up at the conversation topic, glad to be able to talk about school again with ease. She had to thread carefully over the summer as she didn't want her father overhearing her talking about Hogwarts to her brothers for fear of enraging him.

Maya noticed Aylee's owl nipping her and immediately felt better about her own owl's lack of discipline. "Wow!" You seen a lot of people, she supposed that was the advantage of living near where the school was situated. Maya watched Kynan depositing the trunks smoothly, something she would never have managed. "Thanks. Could have done it myself, if I wanted to." She joked offhandedly.

Maya felt the train jerking to life and took a seat opposite Aylee, next to the window. She enjoyed watching the different scenery blurring by and felt more free when she could have a clear view of where they were going. Maya felt her heart drop as parents waved their children off, some with upset looking faces. Other students leaned out the windows as they neared the corner, trying to get one last glimpse of their families. Maya suddenly felt a feeling of loneliness wash over her as there was no one to see her off.

Maya's thought began to wonder as she felt the train picking up speed and students passed by the compartment in clusters chatting loudly to one another. "If you's are from Scotland and Hogwarts is in Scotland is coming to London for the train really just a waste of time for you's?" Maya questioned, struggling to see the logic of having to travel from Scotland and then return hours later.

Maya was fascinated, her eyes fixated on the scenery that whizzed by at top speed as she listened to Kynan. "Yes. We do" Maya remembered, her eyes still focusing on the picturesque scenery past the window. She was glad that Kynan had reminded her and a bit taken a back at his enthusiasm. She didn't think that he had seemed particularly interested in flying last year, maybe the summer had changed his mind? she wondered silently to herself, deciding not to voice her opinion. She turned her gaze back towards Kynan, who also appeared to be staring outside, and smiled at him, happy that they were going to go flying together. That was, if Kynan got the hang of flying as well as she fully expected him to.

Maya turned her attention back towards Aylee, who appeared to have gotten the best deal and was comfortably sprawled out across the seat. Maya listened to all the options Aylee mentioned when it came to travelling to Hogwarts. She struggled to keep up and remember what she was listing, never mind fully taking it in. Maya had never even heard of a Night Bus before, but was glad that she had paid attention to flying lessons last year as she knew what floo powder was now.

Maya's head was still reeling when Aylee went and started explaing the concept of flying to Hogwarts. She tried to catch up on the conversation, but was left feeling dumbstruck. After Aylee's explanation Maya nodded politely at her, but discreetly turned towards Kynan and raised her eyebrows in a confused manner.

Maya chuckled to herself and at their incessant rambling, not too bothered by it. "You think this is bad? You should see me and my brothers when we really fight!" She exclaimed, trying to shrug their bickering aside, showing that she wasn't offended.