Here We Go Again (Hogwarts Students & Staff Train to Hogwarts -- Sep 2024)

The new school year had arrived for the students of Hogwarts. The first of September fell on a Sunday this year, leaving Kings Cross Station less crowded than normal for the students to pass through the gateway. As always with the Sunday arrival of the students, the Auror division had been put on patrol in plain clothes in case the Muggles started to get a little bit jittery over all the unusual persons suddenly disappearing from the platform.

The morning was relatively warm for this time of year, the end of August had not seen the end of the beautiful summer of the British Isles. The appointment of Mr Goshawk as Minister of Magic only last month was still sinking in for many households, wondering how the man would fair in a job that had seen the demise of a long standing politician fourteen months ago.

Platform Nine and Three Quarters was busy with many and more wizards readying the great steam engine for departure. Loading the supplies that would be needed at the castle for the first few weeks of term, making sure the students carriages were ready, ensuring the machine was ready to go. Many of the workers could be heard querying why the train still departed from London when the students could be Floo'd to Hogwarts, or Apparated to the gates, but the school board still deemed it necessary after all of these years.

Steam filled the station by the engine, the smell of burning coal present in the air as parents bid their children farewell until the Christmas holidays.

This was it, another school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardary was beginning.

Another year, another term at Hogwarts, but this time, it would be different, Nerisei was sure of it. The past two years, the witch had been met with various surprises, some good, some  bad, but her life had been all over the place. How had she managed to do well in her O.W.L.s, Nerisei didn't know, but she was glad nonetheless. Hard working people got rewarded for it, that's what Nerisei understood from the letter she received last month.

Being a Prefect had never crossed the witch's mind, mostly because she was too lost in her sorrow, lessons, or Dimitri. But it seemed that all of her hard work had paid off, and the Headmistress found it appropriate for her to carry out the duties of a Prefect. Nerisei felt honored, to say the least, and had promised herself to do her best. Helping the first years would be the first thing she would have to do, the moment they arrived, and even though the young witch felt nervous about it, she was also very, very excited.

Pushing her trolley through the Wall, Nerisei's lips turned up into a smile. The Hogwarts Express was waiting for all the students just like every year, but Nerisei wasn't smiling because of the train. Oh no, the reason behind the girl's smile was the amount of First Years that were scattered around, proving that there was going to be another busy year at Hogwarts. The Ravenclaw Prefect would have lots of work to do.

Checking her watch, the witch noted that she was, thankfully, on time, and quickly made her way to the train, not wanting to waste more time. All she could think of was Dimitri, and how she needed to find him in order to share the great news. With her Prefect Badge shining bright, Nerisei made her way past the compartments, discreetly checking for the Moreau heir. He had to be here, somewhere...

Another year at Hogwarts. She really hoped this year was a good one. Elena walked beside her mother and father. Her siblings had gotten sick and could not come of course. It was insane how quick the summer went by when you were having so much fun. Elena loved school don't get her wrong but she also loved being home. She had her one cat with her since her dog had to stay home.

After giving her parents a hug and a kiss on the cheek, she walked on the train with her cat. She loved animals and was so happy she had the chance to bring at least one. She found an empty seat and opened the glass door before closing it. Elena didn't mind being alone with her cat. She loved being alone sometimes and hardly anyone really talked to her because they had their own clicks and all that.

Dominique was excited about her second year at Hogwarts. And it was because she would get to see all of her friends again. She even had a sleepover planned out. Dominique knew that Mercy and Mimosa would come to it. But she knew that Mimosa had been always busy with quidditch. Which that was something that Dominique was going to try for. But Sterling said that he would work with her once school started. Her parents were with her to see her before she got on the train. She smiled as she gave them a hug and told them she would write.

That is when she got on the train and was going to try and find an empty car. Hoping that Mercy and Mimosa would find her. She was sure that Sasha would be busy. As last year she was a prefect for the house of hufflepuff. Something that Dominique was going to work for once she was that age. Now she was ready to start her second year off with style. As she was carrying the purse her mother got her for her birthday. And she even remembered to pack Mimosa birthday gift. As the sleepover was a way of celebrating both of their birthdays.

Someone would have thought that it would have taken the witch quite some time to find her fellow Ravenclaw, but thankfully that was not the case. Nerisei had passed a couple of compartments, discreetly checking inside in case Dimitri was there, but had been met --mostly-- with overexcited First Years, instead of the Moreau Heir. A moment later, though, just as she was about to sneakily use her mobile phone, hoping that Dimitri would carry his, the handsome face of the Ravenclaw male came into view, making Nerisei's heart skip a bit.

Not wasting any time, Nerisei opened the compartment, walking inside and practically throwing herself into Dimitri's arms. She had missed him incredibly much, and to be able to feel him close to her again was a relief. Dimitri had grown to be the closest thing to a... boyfriend Nerisei ever had, even though they still hadn't actually talked about their relationship. Nevertheless, in Nerisei's eyes, Dimitri was her boyfriend, since she wasn't really interested in any other guy.

"Dimitri! I missed you so much!" The witch mumbled into the crook of his neck, unwilling to let him go just yet. First, she would enjoy the warmth of his embrace for a moment longer, and then she would share the great news she had been wanting to share with him all along.

The triumphant return from India had left Mimosa exhausted for the first two days, so much so that the child had barely noticed she was at Furz Croft in the UK rather than back home in California. All Mimosa had done was sleep off the trip once she had reached home, barely having time to give Grandpa a hug before going to change and then having him tuck her into bed. The next time she woke, it was in the middle of the night but midnight snacks were part of the fun when Clara wasn't around. The little girl had eaten a giant bowl of ice cream and then gone back to sleep, waking up the next morning feeling as if she'd slept for way too long.

Once her sleeping pattern as back to somewhat normal, Mimosa immediately made use fo the large swimming pool at her English residence. Over the summer, the little witch had acquired quite a healthy tan and she rather liked it. Maybe if she stayed by the pool for the final week, the tan would remain for her to show off when she returned to Hogwarts. What time wasn't spent swimming and playing with her gifts (the palace had forwarded all her birthday presents here, and a sizable chunk had arrived from America too) was spent catching up on correspondence. Mimosa hadn't managed to keep up with as many people as she liked over the summer an the child made up or it now.

Chief among the people Mimosa wrote to were her grandparents in France and Mercy, though Mercy was more texted than written to. Mimosa had missed her friend terribly and wanted to see her as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the earliest they could meet was on September first itself. So naturally on the day of her departure, Mimosa was so excited, she appeared to be vibrating where she stood. Jacques and Clara had taken her to the station in a long town card with a uniformed chauffeur to get her the full experience and then left her safely with Mercy's mom who had had treated the girls to ice cream at Ruby Violet's before seeing them safely on the train.

Ever since she'd reunited with Mercy, Mimosa had made sure not to let go of the older witch's hand. Things just felt really okay when her best friend was around and Mimosa didn't intend to let that good feeling go. Talk of Quidditch and summer catch up stories saw them all through their impromptu ice cream season and then curiously inspecting new, frightened children for signs of first years saw them safely on board the Hogwarts express.

And that was the first time Mimosa had to let go as seams of people dawned on both of them, Mercy being greeted and jostled about by her Quidditch team and Mimosa by... everyone else. Bushrah immediately took advantage of the confusion to position herself firmly beside Mimosa, something the Slytherin witch would have noticed if she ever noticed Bushrah.

Once the pleasantries were over, the girls set about hunting for Dia who would have been on the train. Well Dia and Gaspard, Mimosa couldn't wait to see him, and get Owl back. Gaspard must have loved taking care of the tiny, noisy, untrained creature, who wouldn't when it came from Mimosa? With that in mind, the two young witches set about finding a compartment, chattering excitedly non stop all the way. Bushrah followed perhaps a reasonable distance behind, not joining in the conversation but definitely hovering in the event she was asked to join.

Being in Dimitri's arms once again felt like heaven. The young witch had missed Dimitri a little too much, someone could say, even though they had been texting one another. The days they had spent together, before her trip to France, had not been enough for Nerisei, who couldn't wait to see him again. Dimitri had become... and inseparable part of her life, and for the young witch, that meant a lot. She couldn't imagine her life without him, and the worst part was that she had to. Because despite all this, she knew that there was no future for the two of them.

After Dimitri helped her into the seat next to him, Nerisei waited for him, in case there was something he wanted to share, before she told him about the great news. But the moment he finally looked at her, it was obvious that Dimitri had figured out the good news she wanted to say, without her having to voice them.

"You got Prefect?"

A giggle and a nod escaped the witch, who leaned in to Dimitri to steal a quick kiss, after making sure no one was looking. They weren't a secret per se, but that didn't mean that Nerisei was walking around, drawing attention to herself and Dimitri. No, on the contrary, the Moreau heir was the one attracting the spotlight. "When the letter arrived, I was ecstatic! Honestly, I didn't believe I would get Prefect. You know how hard last year had been fore me. But.. here I am, officially a Ravenclaw Prefect!"

Pausing to take a good look at Dimitri, Nerisei finally noticed that even with a smile gracing his lips, the wizards was still... tense. A year ago, Nerisei wouldn't have been able to figure this out, but after spending a year with him, it had become easier to understand when something was wrong. And despite Dimitri trying to hide it, Nerisei knew. "Dimitri? Is something bothering you?"