Socializing and Torture Are One and the Same (Saryana)

After an enjoyable Christmas break with his family, where Humphrey spent every second of it with his little sister Casey he'd missed terribly, the young wizard found himself standing on Platform Nine and Three Quarters waiting for the Hogwarts Express to arrive. He was painfully aware that he would most likely be forced to share a compartment with somebody. To him, forced socializing and torture are one and the same and he knew it would be hard for him. One of his resolutions for the New Year though was to make more of an effort to make friends though, so this time he would try to talk to the people who joined his compartment instead of ignoring them and writing in his notebook.

When the beautiful scarlet steam engine came to a halt, equally impressive as the first time he'd seen it, Humphrey lugged his trunk onto the edge and dragged it aboard. Luckily the compartments were for the most part empty since a lot of the kids had people to say goodbye to. Like the first time he'd boarded the train, his mom had simply dropped him on her way to work and they said their goodbyes in the car. The boy chose a compartment at the very back of the train in hopes that if somebody came back there, it would only be one instead of two or three others. Before he'd had time to take out his notebook, ink, and quill to start working on his story that he was writing a soft knock on the compartment door brought his head up. "So, it seems I won't be alone after all for this trip." he whispered to himself.

Walking over to the door, he quickly opened it and found himself staring into the face of a girl who was either a first or second year from the look of it. Putting a smile on his face even though he was kind of bummed he hadn't had the opportunity to write, he did his best to sound cheery as he ushered her in. "You're welcome to come in if you like. I'm Humphrey Williams." he introduced himself, holding out his hand for the girl to take once she'd gotten her trunk stowed away.

Saryana had an awesome Christmas! She had meet with her best friend Nick, they had some fun, she did all her homework, she hanged out with all of her old friends, practiced fighting... Overall, awesome! But now she was back to Hogwarts... Well, not yet, She still had to travel with the train. Her favorite train! Until now she had always traveled alone - in her first year she had no friends, plus she had stayed at Hogwarts. At the end of the year one of the people she was friends with... Well, Saryana and him weren't much friendly at the end. Not that she cared. Better now rather later. So now the girl decided to go and search for someone to be with - she had looked out of the window enough, now it turned boring!

So here she was, searching for someone to be with. Which was unbelievably annoying! Why was everyone with friends of their own? Or older students? This was just impossible - no one would accept her in such a way! And not to mention that she just couldn't go to some random group of already made friends and try to be one... She sighed when she noticed that she was near the end of the train. Great... But the girl finally noticed a compartment with only one person! And he seemed to be around her age! Great! She knocked softly on it, wondering who he was.

The girl noticed that he was more likely trying to sound cheery rather actually being such. But she shrugged it in. "Thanks!" Saryana said and walked inside. It was a nice compartment. But all were the same, so all were nice. She positioned her trunk when he introduced himself to her. Taking his hand, she spoke. "Nice to meet you! I'm Saryana Greenwood!" she smiled slightly. Than she sat down on one of the seats. "Your a first year, right? I think I saw you at the Sorting..." she asked, hoping she hadn't messed up. The girl did think she saw him. "Ravenclaw, weren't you?"

Listening to the girl as she answered and introduced herself with hardly a pause for breath, Humphrey found himself genuinely smiling now. Even though she talked much more than he probably ever would, one advantage was that she would be able to help keep the conversation going. "You're quite welcome, it will be good for me to have somebody to talk to. Usually it's just me and my notebook." he told her, chuckling a little at himself and holding up the notebook as proof. "A pleasure to meet you as well. Saryana's an interesting name. What language is it?" Humphrey found himself asking, curious. Languages, etymologies, and books had always interested him, he found it interesting to know where words derived from and what they meant. Part of the reason he loved writing his own stories is it gave him an opportunity to try to make his own voice something unique, something people one day might be interested in reading.

Upon the girl mentioning his sorting and what house he was in Humphrey's eyebrows raised slightly. He hadn't thought people had been paying that close attention, most probably wouldn't have remembered. The girl must have a better memory than most people. "Yes, I am a first year Ravenclaw. Good memory. I believe I may have seen you sitting at the Gryffindor table, correct?" Humphrey asked her. "Not sure what year, but if I had to hazard a guess I'd say second. You don't seem much older than me, really." he said, sort of thinking out loud. Oddly enough, he didn't feel the need to run away or stop the conversation with her, like he usually did around people. It was a rare feeling for him, but for some reason he had a feeling that she was...to put it simply, a kind person. Why he got that feeling he wasn't sure, but it was what his gut was telling him.

Saryana chuckled slightly. "And I am usually with some book in the library. You know you have been too long in it when the librarian wants you to go a socialise, so she bans you from the library for a week..." she joked slightly. Man, did it suck having to be away from it... The girl loved that special book place and loved reading just as much - putting in the peace and quiet that it gives, away from all her noisy house mates, it's almost like a heaven to her. In other words, she spent half her time being there. The rest was with classes, eating and sleep. Well, and occasionally sneaking to to practise her fighting, though this year she wasn't as active with that as last. Not that it matter, she probably won't need it that much. That is, unless the world is attacked or something but kinda unlikely to happen, thinking of it.

Than the most favorite question of all followed. With a sigh, she began to explain. "It's not from any, actually. Mum mixed up two names - I have no idea which - and after that named me such. I doubt it really has a meaning or something. Trust me, I've searched! I often make name researches for friends of mine and I've tried to look myself but it doesn't show...." she shrugged. Why did her name have to be so abnormal? She just couldn't have some more normal one, like Suzanne... The girl always hated to say her name but hat is with what she must introduce herself so he just got used to it after a while or so. But it doesn't mean that it stopped sucking, of course...

She smiled. "Thanks. I tend to be good in memorising faces and such. Not much good with names, though I tend to try and remember them as well. Of course, it doesn't mean that I always remember correctly." She shrugged. It was true. Once she called a girl named Clarissa Clara instead. It wasn't much of a fun experience. Or any other time she mixed names up. Though usually the person would laugh and make it into a joke, Saryana always felt horribly when she did that and no joke could really heal it. So all she really tried to do is remember them correctly. Hopefully she will remember his right.

Saryana nodded. "Yep, I'm a second year. A second year Gryffindor! You also have a good memory! " she complimented him back. It was true, after all. The girl positioned herself to sit more comfortable, as the train had just began to turn. "How are you liking Hogwarts for now? My first year was great, though it seems that most people aren't the most kindest to them. Some, at least. Well, I'm pretty much talking for Gryffindor, can't say anything for the other houses..." her voice trailed off. How would she wish to say something for the other ones! The girl could have almost been put in a much different house - Slytherin. But she thought that they were evil and such and refused to. But now, looking back, how much did she want to actually be sorted there... Never mind now, the past is the past.