[Hogwarts Between] Kadyn, Cyrus, and Amber on the train

[Patrick McCartney]

> > >       > >  >
> > >       > > >While they were discussing money, there came a loud
> > > clattering
> > >       > noise
> > >       > > in the corridor outside. The door of their compartment
> slid
> > > open
> > >       > and a
> > >       > > plump, kindly-looking witch peeked in.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Anything off the trolley, ducks?" she asked the three
> > >       children.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"uhm... can you give me costs for "Bertie Bott's
> > >       Every Flavor
> > >       > Beans",
> > >       > > and chocolate frogs?" Kadyn had a fairly large
> collection
> > > of
> > >       > Chocolate
> > >       > > frog cards at home, but was still missing quite a few.
> He
> > > turned
> > >       > back
> > >       > > to Amber and Cyrus. "Do either of you need anything?"
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Yes." said Amber. She got up from her seat and looked
> > >       at the
> > >       > trolley.
> > >       > > Colorful wrappers overloaded the cart. Packages marked
> > > 'Cauldron
> > >       > Cakes'
> > >       > > and 'Peppermint Patties', 'Birdie Bots Every Flavoured
> > >       Beans" and
> > >       > small
> > >       > > cases of 'Chocolate Frogs'. Amber ordered all
> mentioned,
> > >       getting an
> > >       > > extra frog for Kayden, a small payment for the lost
> tips.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Anything for you, love?" the witch asked Cyrus.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Um, sure," said Cyrus. He purchased several Cauldron
> > >       Cakes and
> > >       > > Chocolate frogs, and put down his book to eat.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >The treats were priced so as not to break the budgets
> of
> > >       > > schoolchildren, so they didn't deplete the children's
> > >       spending
> > >       > money
> > >       > > too alarmingly. Most of Kadyn's Chocolate Frog cards
> turned
> > > out
> > >       to
> > >       > be
> > >       > > ones he had already, as usual, but there were a couple
> of
> > > new ones.
> > >       > One
> > >       > > of these was a witch with a mane of black hair, wearing
> a
> > > blue
> > >       > velvet
> > >       > > gown that matched her eyes.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Winifred of West-Mere-Land," the text read, "also
> > >       called the
> > >       > Witch of
> > >       > > the West-Mere-Land, was a well-known healer and
> Animagus of
> > > the
> > >       > 13th
> > >       > > Century. Her animal form was a black mare. The
> venerable
> > > wizarding
> > >       > > family of Windermere claims her as an ancestress."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Blimey, I've never even heard of her before..." He
> > >       turned the
> > >       > card
> > >       > > over, seeing that the witch had disapeared. "I'll look
> her
> > >       up in a
> > >       > > 'History of Magic' book, see if it says anything more."
> > >       He opened a
> > >       > box
> > >       > > of "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans" and dug in his
> > >       bags for his
> > >       > > "History of Magic" book, and then swallowed what he
> thought
> > >       was a
> > >       > > cherry bean.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Amber looked at the card. Nothing. All there was was a
> > > dark black
> > >       > > background. "So, what's so special about this? It's
> > >       just...blank."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Well of course its blank, you can't expect her to
> wait
> > >       around all
> > >       > > day? she's got places to go, just like any portrait."
> Kadyn
> > >       popped
> > >       > > another bean in his mouth, then spit it out.
> > >       "ugh...jalapeno..."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Her eyes widened. She grabbed her suitcase and
> rummaged
> > > through
> > >       > it,
> > >       > > scattering clothes and nick-nacks all around the
> > > compartment, until
> > >       > she
> > >       > > reached a glossy piece of paper. Amber stared at her
> young
> > > face and
> > >       > the
> > >       > > faces of two adults. One had long red hair and green
> eyes,
> > > the
> > >       > other
> > >       > > blond hair and glasses. They were still. Amber sighed.
> She
> > > knew in
> > >       > the
> > >       > > back of her mind they wouldn't move, they're a muggle
> > >       picture. She
> > >       > put
> > >       > > them back and started to clean up her stuff.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Just then the witch on the card popped into view
> again, as
> > > if
> > >       > coming
> > >       > > to look out a window. She waved and smiled...but she
> didn't
> > > seem
> > >       to
> > >       > be
> > >       > > looking at Amber or Kadyn. She seemed to be waving in
> > > Cyrus'
> > >       > direction.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Cyrus happened to glance up at that moment. His face
> > > flushed
> > >       > scarlet
> > >       > > when he saw the Chocolate Frog card, and he reached for
> his
> > > book
> > >       > again.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Do you know her, Cyrus? She certainly seems to know
> > >       you..." Kadyn
> > >       > bit
> > >       > > into another Berties Bott's Bean, and gagged.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Umm... yeah. She's a distant ancestor of mine."
> > >       said Cyrus.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Ancestor?" Kadyn exclaimed. "Wow, all my family i
> > >       Muggles." Kadyn
> > >       > >  knew that this was only mostly true, but he thought it
> was
> > > close
> > >       > > enough.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"My family is Muggles also. Well, my grandparents
> are."
> > >       said
> > >       > Amber.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"My mum's a muggle," said Cyrus. "All my
> > >       dad's family are
> > >       > purebloods
> > >       > > though. They were kind of angry with him for marrying a
> > > muggle."
> > >       > Kadyn
> > >       > > shook his head. "My parents are both wizards. They are
> just
> > > both
> > >       > muggle
> > >       > > born wizards."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Purebloods are...?" asked Amber.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"They're wizards with no muggle blood," Cyrus
> > >       replied. "A lot of
> > >       > the
> > >       > > older wizarding families pride themselves on being
> > > pureblooded."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Kadyn nodded "Almost all purebloods are related
> though,
> > > due
> > >       to
> > >       > their
> > >       > > being fewer of them then their were years ago."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >The cabin door suddenly slid open with a slap and was
> > > replaced by
> > >       > a 14
> > >       > > year old girl. She was wearing her school robes and
> holding
> > > a blue
> > >       > > balloon by a string. The balloon kept floating in and
> out
> > > of the
> > >       > >  doorway.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Oh, excuse me. I am looking for my friend Dagobert,
> have
> > >       you seen
> > >       > > him?"
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"No, I don't think anyones been in here, besides the
> > >       trolley
> > >       > lady..."
> > >       > > Kadyn shook his head. "Sorry."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"What's he look like?" asked Amber, "Maybe if
> > >       he shows up we can
> > >       > tell
> > >       > > him your looking for him."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >She looked up trying to envision him in her mind. One
> foot
> > > went
> > >       up
> > >       > > onto its toes.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"He has very dark straight hair, parted on the side.
> His
> > >       eyes are
> > >       > a
> > >       > > deep brown, and he has the cutest little bump on his
> right
> > > ear."
> > >       > She
> > >       > > paused and then looked down at them. "Perhaps you have
> seen
> > >       > > his younger brother, Childeric? He's about your age."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Amber thought. She could have sworn she had seen him
> > > before. He
> > >       > was
> > >       > > the boy she had fought with at the station. When she
> > > remembered her
> > >       > > face went bright scarlet, "No, I don't think I've seen
> > >       him before."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Kadyn thought too. "hmm..." He thought that was who
> > >       Amber had been
> > >       > > fighting with, but he couldn't remember. He assumed
> Amber
> > > would
> > >       > have
> > >       > > remebere if so, so he said nothing.
> > >       > >  >
> > >       > > >"Thank you." She slid the door shut catching a part of
> > >       the
> > >       > balloon,
> > >       > > making it look as if she had caught it on a nose. She
> slid
> > > the door
> > >       > > open and pulled the balloon free. As she re-closed the
> door
> > >       > > they could hear out in the hallway, "Sorry about that."
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Amber was so embarrassed that she had just met, what
> could
> > > have
> > >       > been,
> > >       > > the boy's girlfriend that she stole the book Cyrus had
> been
> > >       reading
> > >       > and
> > >       > > turned to a random page hiding her face behind it.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Cyrus noticed this, but chose not to comment. He had
> been
> > >       silently
> > >       > > watching the interplay, eating his Cauldron Cakes.
> Having
> > > not seen
> > >       > > Amber at the station, he was unsure why she was
> suddenly so
> > >       > > embarressed.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Kadyn saw Amber blush, and tried to figure out why.
> After
> > > a
> > >       sudden
> > >       > > revelation, he exclaimed "I was right! The boy she was
> > > looking
> > >       for
> > >       > was
> > >       > > that boy you were fighting with, back on the platform!"
> > > Kadyn
> > >       > smiled,
> > >       > > then began to think of why she was blushing over this.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >Amber shot Kadyn a dark glance then started to
> actually
> > > read the
> > >       > book
> > >       > > Cyrus had been reading both to distract her mind and
> also
> > > to lose
> > >       > some
> > >       > > redness of her face.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"What?" Kadyn frowned. "What did I say?"
> > >       Kadyn shook his head.
> > >       > "Girls"
> > >       > > he thought silently to himself. He looked at the book.
> "
> > > What
> > >       are
> > >       > you
> > >       > > reading? "Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them".
> Where
> > >       did you
> > >       > pick
> > >       > > that up, Cyrus?"
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >[OOC: What's in the book?]
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > > "Flourish and Blott's, in Diagon Alley." Cyrus
> > >       replied.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"Oh, I didn't actually get my books there. I got mine
> > >       back from a
> > >       > > local shop back in Hogsmeade." Kadyn peeked over
> Amber's
> > >       shoulder.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > >
> > >       > > >"This is brilliant!" said Amber "It's called a
> > >       'Thestral'. It
> > >       > says,
> > >       > > 'you can only see them when you've looked into the face
> of
> > >       death.
> > >       > From
> > >       > > those who've see this strange but terrible beast have
> said
> > > that
> > >       it
> > >       > > resembles a bony horse with black bat wings.' Also
> there's
> > > a
> > >       > rectangle
> > >       > > that looks like a picture should be there. Is this one
> of
> > > those
> > >       > strange
> > >       > > pictures where they walk in?"
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >"No, you probably just can't see it because you
> > >       haven't seen
> > >       > death."
> > >       > > Kadyn
> > >       > > shrugged and looked over where the thestral should have
> > > been.
> > >       > > >
> > >       > > >[OOC: It is there but Amber can't see it. She hasn't
> seen
> > >       death.]
> > >       > > >
> > >       > >
> > >       > > [OOC:  This train even happens in all the threads
> > > simultaneously.
> > >       > All
> > >       > > threads sync with this event.]
> > >       > >
> > >       > > They felt a thump followed by a sharp jolt in the floor
> of
> > > the
> > >       > train.
> > >       > > There was an unnatural silence – no train engine sounds
> > > were heard.
> > >       > >
> > >       > > A crack sounded as the train came to a sudden and
> complete
> > > stop.
> > >       > > Luggage, books, personal items, and students filled the
> > > air.  Those
> > >       > > students who did not fly out of their bench seats
> bounced
> > > off of
> > >       > the
> > >       > > cushions behind them and landed on the floor.
> > >       > >
> > >       > > Outside the windows the landscape was motionless.
> > >       > >
> > >       >
> > >       > "Ow..." Kadyn rubbed the back of his head, where
> something
> > > had
> > >       bumped
> > >       > into
> > >       > his head. "What's happened? I don't think we're there
> > >       yet..." Kadyn
> > >       > peeked
> > >       > out the window, trying to see if they were anywhere near
> > > Hogsmeade
> > >       > station.
> > >       >
> > >
> > >       As Kadyne looked out the window he could see the highland
> hills
> > >       trailing off into the distance.  Nothing was nearby but
> scrubby
> > > bushes
> > >       and a rocky stream.
> > >
> > >       He could also see that the train was upright and still on
> the
> > > tracks.
> > >       A bend in the track allowed a view of the engine several
> cars
> > > ahead.
> > >       It was sitting there, proper but idle.  No smoke was coming
> out
> > > of its
> > >       stack.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >       "Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow!" said Amber gripping her head.
> > > Cyrus's bag had fallen from the top shelf and fallen on her
> temple.
> > > "Are we there?" she asked as she joined Kayden by the window.
> > >
> > >     "Nope. Not even close..." Kadyn turned away from the window,
> and
> > >     opened the door to their compartment. "I wonder whats
> happened?"
> > >     Kadyn poked his head out the door, and looked up towards the
> > >     front of the train.
> > >
> > >     Barnaby's cage had slid off the seat. Cyrus scrambled after
> it,
> > >     knocking his head on a fallen bag. "Ow!" he said, rubbing the
> > >     spot. Barnaby was squawking shrilly, flying around and around
> the
> > >     cage in alarm.
> > >
> > >     [OOC: I'll probably be offline for a week or so. Just so you
> > >     know. -William]
> >
> > As Kadyn looked through the door, the hallway was empty.  The
> sounds of
> > the students in the cabins in the traincar could be heard.  Another
> > door opened near the front and a boy stuck his head out.
> >
> > An amplified voice echoed through the traincar:  "Please be calm. 
> We
> > have experience an unexpected delay.  Stay in your cabins.  Someone
> > will be by shortly to see if you need any attention.  Please stay
> in
> > your cabins."
> 
> 
> "Hey, any clue what's going on?" Kadyn called ahead to the boy ahead.

"I don't know," said the boy to Kadyn.  "We got tussled about right
well just now."

"It is funny," he continued, "I was demonstrating to my mates that I
really did learn levitation last year, and in the middle of the spell
my wand went dead.  My mates started to chuckle at me when the train
itself went dead.  Very strange."

Another boy stuck his head out of the cabin, pushing the first aside. 
"Yah!  And he has no chance on his OWL's if he keeps that up."

Both boys went back inside the cabin and closed the door.