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Hogwarts Express
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Carriage 3: Compartment A
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[Enter Juniper and Dillon Frueuff from Corridor 3, message 3]Juniper huffed as the trunk plopped with a thud onto the floor. She was out of breath from having to drag the heavy thing, and Dillon just sat there and chuckled, his long legs stretched out in front of him. It was hard to believe he was only 13—he looked so much older. Juniper settled next to her brother and crossed her legs. "Did you make sure you had everything. Last year you left three books. Three!" She said, giving him a stern look that was faltered as she grinned. Dillon chuckled and gave her a one-armed hug. "Yep." He said simply, popping the 'p' and leaned back in his seat. "Wake me before we get there." He muttered and then he was asleep. Juniper shook her head and let out a sigh. So much for a meaningful conversation with Dillon. Pulling back her long hair, she pulled out a book on Defense Against the Dark Arts,a class she struggled in. Fighting the urge to throw the book out of the window, she began to read.
[Enter Caleb Romanovich-Nyström.]Still sulking somewhat to himself, Caleb pushed open the door to the compartment and walked in. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice it was already occupied. Setting his shoulder bag down, he froze, seeing two other kids on the benches and finally, finding his voice, he said, "Uh... sorry, I didn't realize there were people here." Looking down at his feet, he turned around then to leave.
Juniper startled, nearly dropping the thick book balanced on her lap. "Oh, it's fine. You can stay in here. It really is no trouble." Juniper said, smiling up the boy. He was maybe a year or two older than her, and wasn't from Gryffindor House. He wasn't a familiar face, not that Juniper minded. She made friends pretty easily, and Dillon would enjoy having someone besides her to talk to.... If he ever woke up.
Caleb paused, unsure if he should stay or leave. The girl seemed nice enough and she was reading so... maybe that meant that she would be okay with just sitting silently. Although would that be awkward? Shaking his head forcefully, Caleb told himself not to overthink things and to just be normal. Giving her a curt nod, he replied somewhat roughly, "Alright." He took a seat on the opposite bench and exhaled in visible relief as he set his large shoulder bag down on the bench, running a hand through his dirty blond hair that was already messy from not having been brushed when he rolled out of bed this morning.
Juniper glanced briefly at the boy, a small smile on her lips, and then went back to her book. But no, she found she could hardly focus on the words. She glanced up slightly, looking at him over the edge of her thick, study book. Nibbling her lip, she was unsure what to do. Should she say hi? That seemed to be alright to do.... "Hello," She blurted, a slight blush on her pale cheeks as she realized how fast that came out. "I'm Juniper." She said closing the book, but allowing her finger to hold her place.
Glancing up at the sound of the girl's voice again, Caleb replied, "Uh... hi. I'm Caleb," he said to her. He wanted to give her a small smile to tell her that he didn't mind talking but something stopped him and so he just glanced back down again at his hands. Raising his eyes again, he saw what she was reading and said, "Do you like that class?" He wasn't sure why he asked but he was trying to be friendly and having watched his sister, Val, speak to strangers for so many years had made him realize that when you asked people questions, they tended to appreciate that. Just don't ask super personal questions, Caleb reminded himself.
Juniper glanced down at the Defense Against the Dark Arts volume and nodded slowly. "It's an interesting class, not to mention useful," She added in a bit of a whispered voice, "But, it's one of my harder classes." She sighed thinking of the mountains of scrolls she would surely need to write this year.... "Do you?" She asked suddenly, "Like this class, I mean." Juniper added with smile.
Caleb nodded. It was one of his favorites. "It's one of my favorites," he remembered to say out loud. You're always in your head, he heard Val's voice say to him. And this time he managed to give Juniper a smile, one of his rare, dazzling ones that lit up his sea green eyes. "I like the technique it takes to master the defenses," he elaborated.
Juniper was nearly awestruck by his sparkling smile, which seemed to bring a certain brightness to his face. Quit starting, you'll freak him out! She shouted to herself before nodding. "It's definitely challenging, but I love the knowledge and skills you can learn." Juniper agreed, shoving her brother off her as he rolled over. "But my favorite would have to be..." She trailed, nibbling her lip. "Astronomy." Juniper said at last. "I know that not many like Astronomy, but I enjoy putting myself in the stars, so to speak. I love studying something that is so far, and unique, yet so close to us." She looked up and blushed. "I probably sound like a babbling idiot. Sorry you had to listen to that."
Caleb shrugged. He didn't mind. In fact he preferred it when others spoke because it meant he had to say less to keep the conversation going. "I don't mind," he remembered again to say out loud. "What House and year are you in?" he asked, wondering if that was too personal of a question. Sometimes he wished that Val wasn't a Prefect so that she could sit with him on the train and do all the talking.
Juniper smiled as she answered, remembering the beautiful bedrooms and the cozy common room Gyffindor offered..."I'm in Gryffindor." She said, smiling as she though of the day she was sorted. She was so proud of herself for becoming a Gyffindor, not that she ever really had a preference. She was just happy enough to be able to go Hogwarts.... How she pitied those who couldn't. "And I'm a fifth year." Juniper added, coming out of her reverie.
Caleb's dark brown brows arched in pleasant surprise. "My sister is in Gryffindor. You probably know her," he added, because what Gryffindor wouldn't know their Prefects? "Her name is Val. Valentina Romanovna-Nyström," Caleb clarified.
Juniper nodded—everyone knew Val. "Yeah, who doesn't?" She said with a smile. "So, what House are you in?" Juniper asked, shoving the book into her nearly-full trunk. She pulled her long hair back afterwards, and rested her chin on her knees as she looked intently up at him.
"I'm in Slytherin," Caleb replied, trying to get used to the girl's friendly persona. It wasn't like he could just get up and leave, right? That would be rude.... "I'm a Seeker," he told her, his smile breaking out again. He did like to talk about Quidditch, so if Juniper liked it too, then maybe he would feel less uncomfortable.
Juniper nodded enthusiastically. "My brother plays Quidditch, and has taught me everything." She shook her head and smiled, thinking of all the times he would become so upset with her if she couldn't answer his questions on the sport correctly. "He's a Chaser, and he's petty good." Juniper added, glancing over at sleeping Dillon.
Following her gaze to the sleeping boy, Caleb realized then that he recognized the back of that head. "Your brother is Dillon Frueuff, third year Gryffindor?" he asked, his meticulous mind retrieving the name of the file he had compartmentalized in his brain.
Juniper nodded, "Yeah, that's him." She said, wondering of his sudden interest at the back of Dillon's head. "He was so excited to finally be on the team last year... Oh the look on his face." She smiled and looked back over at Caleb.
Caleb nodded at her words, remembering back to his own tryouts and the excitement he felt when he had made the team. It was always nice to be recognized and acknowledged for a talent you possessed. "He plays for a good team," Caleb told Juniper, not taking into consideration that she probably knew that already. "My sister doesn't cheer for them though," he added, although he wasn't sure why he brought it up. It's not like this was the next obvious thing to say. Feeling embarrassed, Caleb descended into an awkward silence.
Juniper nodded, being in the same house with Val for three years had taught her this. "Yeah, I've noticed. I imagine she's cheering you on?" Juniper asked, not taken aback by what he had said. She knew that if Dillon was in a different House (or vice versa), she would cheer for him.
At her question, Caleb nodded. "She does," he replied. "But she is a good Gryffindor," he added, feeling the need to defend her actions in case the girl didn't understand. She was in the same House as her brother after all.
"I know." Juniper smiled. Everyone on the Gryffindor House seemed very loyal... As much as Juniper had observed. "Houses don't define us, anyways. They can't tell us how to feel or act." Juniper added, looking up at Caleb.
Caleb shrugged, not sure if he agreed with what she said but not enough that he wanted to start an argument over it. He leaned back in his seat then, crossing one long leg over the other knee as he exhaled a small sigh. He wasn't quite sure what to say now, hoping she'd either return to her reading or be the one to move the conversation forward. If only Val was here....
Juniper opened her mouth to ask his opinion, but was interrupted by Dillon letting out a long yawn, and sitting up. His eyes were still glassy from sleep, and his hair stuck up haphazardly around his face. His blue eyes narrowed on Caleb in a questioning gaze. "Ummm, hi." He said, voice thick with sleep.
"Hi," Caleb replied, giving him a small nod. "Dillon," he added, to let the boy know that he remembered him on the Quidditch field.
"I know you." Dillon said with a grin. "Quidditch." He said simply, his eyes bright. "How have you been, Caleb?" He asked, proud that he actually remembered someone's name.
"Good," Caleb replied automatically, giving the boy a small smile. "And yourself? Been practicing?" he asked, remembering to make conversation.
At this Dillon grinned. "Of course. And I've been doing good, too. My dad's been helping perfect some skills on the field." Dillon said, while Juniper just smiled. Dillon always got so excited, and Juniper couldn't help but be happy, too. His grins were infectious.
"That's good to hear," Caleb replied, although he wasn't sure Nathan would feel the same way. But his friend did like real competition so perhaps he would also agree. "I have a feeling it'll be a good season this year," he mused, running a hand along his messy dark blond hair.
"I hope so!" Dillon exclaimed, his eyes taking over a glossy look as the Quidditch field and excitement flooded into his head. "I'm really excited for this year." Dillon added as Juniper reached down and grabbed her book.
Caleb gave the boy a small grin again. "You seem like it," he mused ruefully, not meaning to sound rude and hoping that he didn't. "Do you mean just for Quidditch or Hogwarts in general?" he asked, remembering to speak out loud instead of keeping everything in his head.
"I guess both." Said Dillon, "But mostly Quidditch." He beamed, reaching down to grab to stuff... "It looks like we're almost there." He said excitedly, bright eyes scanning the scenery. Juniper placed her book back in her trunk and was glad her robes were already on.
"Are we?" Caleb asked. "That was fast," he mused. He stood up then to take a peak outside the window but it was too dark for him to make anything out except the familiar scenery of London. "Uh... we're still in the city," he informed the two excited Gryffindors.
Juniper let out a groan, and shot a look over to her brother. "Way to go, Dillon." She mumbled, before leaning back on the seat and closing her eyes. She was exhausted, and Dillon had only gotten her hopes up. Dillon only shrugged and chuckled. "Whoops." He said with a grin.
Caleb couldn't help but grin back and leaning back into his seat, he remained silent for a moment as he thought about what to say next. He had no idea what to do in a situation like this and normally he would have just walked away but this was a train and there was nowhere else to go. Hopefully one of the other kids would say something because he was out of ideas.
Dillon let out a sigh, and glanced back over at Caleb. He seemed stiff somehow, as if he wasn't entirely comfortable. But Dillon wasn't going to pry--where would that get anyone? Just then, Dillon remembered he had snagged a few chocolate frogs. He leaned over and grabbed two from his trunk. "Would you like one?" He asked Caleb, holding out a frog.
"Oh, uh... thank you," Caleb replied as he took the frog and gave Dillon a small smile. He ate it in uncomfortable silence for a minute, trying to think of something to say, when he asked, "So do you guys like being in the same House?"
September 1st: The train has arrived at Hogsmeade Station and all students have unloaded onto the platform, dressed in their robes.
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The first compartment of Carriage 3. It can seat eight, but for comfort's sake, usually seats no more than six.