A little over a month later, at a train station in the heart of London, swarmed many families with their children, hurrying to get boarded before their trains left. The Hogwarts Express at the cleverly concealed Platform 9 3/4 left at 12:00pm sharp. To reach Platform 9 3/4, witches and wizards must find their way through King's Cross Train Station and maneuver through the many muggles in order to find Platform 9, which they were to run straight into. First years were often frightful, as running full steam at a brick wall seemed like the type of thing they ought not to do. Muggleborn children typically had it the worst, as their parents were just as uneasy about the idea. Young Cassandra Thistle was a half-blood, but she was raised by her single, muggle mother. Staring at the platform, they both stood with their brows furrowed, wondering just how to make it work.
"You just have to run." A young girl's voice called out. She had caramel brown skin and big green eyes, though when the lights above reflected within them, one could mistake them for blue. She stepped away from her family, glancing back at them cautiously as she approached Cassandra and her mother. "I know it looks scary but I promise, if you're heading to Hogwarts, it's the way to go."
"Have you gone through before?" Cassandra's mother asked. The girl shook her head.
"Well, no, but I've seen a lot of my family go through." She glanced back at the group of people dressed in dark clothing, all whom had an unsettling vibe just radiating from them. "It's my first year." She said, turning back to the conversation.
"Mine too," Cassandra said. "I just found out about all this stuff."
"Oh, so you're a mu-ggleborn?" the girl asked, stumbling over the word. Cassandra looked at her mother then back at the other girl.
"Half. Apparently my father was a wizard." The girl sighed, almost relieved.
"Brilliant. We can go through together if you want."
"Really? That'd be great."
"Cool. I'm Kyra by the way. Kyra Burke."
"Cassandra Thistle."
"I'll grab a trolley and we can load our things on together." Kyra pulled a cart over and helped load Cassandra's things inside, then piled her own luggage on top. "Wait, is that an animal crate?" She asked, suddenly excited. Cassandra smiled, her anxiety briefly melting away.
"Oh. Yeah it is. That's Rupert. He's an orange tabby cat. Still kind of young."
"I love cats! I have one too. His name is Kuro. He's all black."
"Awesome."
"I'll sit them next to each other on the trolly." Kyra and Cassandra loaded their things up, and said goodbye to their parents. Then, gripping the bar of the trolly as tight as they could, they broke into a run straight at the brick wall. Cassandra squeezed her eyes shut at the last second, only to reopen them in another section of the train station where witches and wizards were clearly rushing about.
"Whoa..." they both said in a hushed tone as they looked around at the platform, clearly marked 9 3/4.
"This is it," Kyra grinned. "Our new beginning." The girls pushed the trolly closer to the train, still taking the time to admire the different faces moving past.
"I didn't realize witches actually wore pointy hats." Cassandra remarked under her breath as she saw an older woman guiding a young girl to the boarding area. Kyra laughed.
"I didn't realize there were so many new students this year. 1999 must've been a real party year." Cassandra giggled, covering her mouth trying to muffle the sound.
"Kyra!"
"What? It's true. There's more kids this year than there have been in a while." Kyra shrugged and parked the trolly, unloading her trunk and her animal crate. "Come on, we're going to want to board as soon as possible to get a nice choice in seating." Cassandra grabbed her things as well and followed after Kyra, grateful to have found someone who seemed to have some kind of idea about what she was doing.
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After finding an empty train car rather quickly, the girls sat down inside and began discussing Hogwarts. Cassandra didn't know a thing about Hogwarts and Kyra took every opportunity to educate her. The longer they talked, the more they noticed kids filing onto the train, looking for somewhere to sit. Eventually, one boy was brave enough to ask to join them.
"Room for another?" asked the fresh face of James Goodwin.
"I guess." Kyra answered, scooting just a hint closer to Cassandra.
"I'm James." He introduced himself with a dashing smile.
"Kyra." she said with a nod.
"I'm Cassandra."
"Wow, that's a mouthful." The boy blurted, then immediately blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean that as rude, it's a pretty name actually. Just takes a bit to say. Have any nicknames?" Cassandra laughed quietly."
None besides the ones my mum calls me."
"What about.. Cassie?"
"I dig it." Kyra said, acknowledging the name.
"Short and sweet." James smirked.
"Like me." Cassie grinned. Again James blushed, but more subtly. The three of them started talking and getting to know one another, and time seemed to disappear. The Hogwarts Express left King's Cross Station, and traveled all the way to Hogwarts -- in Scotland.
When the Express came to a stop in Hogsmeade Station, James, Cassie, and Kyra all waited until the other kids started leaving their compartments to exit theirs. They bled into the crowd of newbies and poured into the station after everyone else. The three of them, although practically strangers, sticking together.
"What about my stuff?" One girl asked. "It will appear in your dorms after the sorting.
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The students left the station and first years were taken to a dock on the large lake separating them from the enormous castle that awaited them. The half-giant that named himself Hagrid instructed them to load into boats: two students per boat. Suddenly there was a splash in the water and everyone turned around to see a lanky boy now swallowed in his robes, his curly hair plastered against his forehead, flapping in the water.
"Oy, bett'r watch out. Don't wanna go alertin' the giant squid w're here." Hagrid chuckled, heaving the boy out of the water. He spit lake from his mouth and tried to wring out his robes. Someone was going to have to ride with the soaking wet boy, and James volunteered.
"Hope to see you again." he waved to the girls as he hopped into a boat with the other boy.
"He does realize were all going to the same place, right?" Kyra snorted, causing Cassie to giggle. Kyra and Cassie loaded into a boat and began their float across. Cassie waved to James when he noticed them floating by in their boat charmed to self-paddle. James grinned and waved back, then turned back to conversation with the boy in his boat.
"Those friends of yours?" the boy asked, sniffling a little.
"I just met 'em actually," James explained. "But yeah, I guess so." He gestured toward the girls' boat. "The one with glasses is Cassie -- well her name is Cassandra but Cassie's easier to say; and the other girl is Kyra.""
Cool. I haven't made any friends yet."
"Well who did you sit with on the train?" James asked."
No one. I sat by myself."
"So I'm the first person you've really met?"
"Guess so. Besides Hagrid, I suppose."
"Well I'm James and I'm honoured to be your first friend."
"I'm Thomas." the boy smiled a bit."
"Thanks."
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