Meanwhile, a short girl of asian descent, with dyed strawberry-blonde hair from around fifth-year strolled across the platform. Her parents are gripping tightly onto her hands, looking mildly singed and a bit bewildered by all of the goings-on around the station. A man, presumably her father, stumbled a little as he leant down and muttered something worriedly to the girl. [i]"Relax, dad."[/i] soothed the girl, whilst her mother detached from her child's arm and focused on leading the trolley, [i]"You did very well. I was surprised they let you two in, I guess the Ministry has a register of muggleborn parents to let you through the enchantment."[/i]

Tai didn't bother looking up at her father. She kind of knew the look she was getting right now - puzzled, wanting to know more, but isn't that what every university lecturer wants to do? Well, Tai didn't have time for lessons today, she had to get to the train. "They're dressed rather funny, aren't they?" pointedly commented her mother, to which Tai smiled.

[i]"They're meant to disguise themselves in public, but it's difficult when you've only had limited contact with non-wizards."[/i] gently explained Tai. She peered down at a few first-years and their equally as nervous parents with a calculating gaze. She started to classify them into blood statuses, gender, ages...until her father nudged her and muttered "You're doing that thing again." and Tai quickly stopped.

"We don't have to squat in the fireplace to go back, d-do we?" trilled her mother, unable to hide the note of panic in her voice. Well, based on the fact they were at the other side of the USA, Tai already knew the answer to that.

[i]"I believe you do. But just ask the witch by the fireplace how to do it, she's really nice. Remember, don't be scared, just say it very clearly."[/i] assured Tai, but she felt her stomach sink as she spoke. They could land anywhere...Tai just hoped they'd be careful. It took a few tries this morning to get it right, including (but not restricted to) landing in the log-cabin of a hermit wizard who tried to hex her own mother for being an intruder. Waiting around the door to the platform with her things was the most worrying moment in her entire life; she nearly broke down when her parents came shuffling over, smelling of soot and burnt hair.

Her parents helped her carry her things into the train, mainly because they couldn't resist a quick glance down the compartments in awe. "Who's that girl? She looks nice." asked her mother, pointing to Ailsa. Tai's heart sank again to the vicinity of her stomach as she glared daggers at Ailsa, her hand slipping to her pocket, daring the girl to try something stupid. After a couple of seconds, Tai relaxed and ushered her parents out quickly.

"Be safe, alright? Don't get into any fights, try not to get into too much trouble this year..." started her mother.

"Focus on your schoolwork, darling, keep your inhaler on you at all times..." continued her father.

"And just because you're 16 and legal, it doesn't mean you-" kept on her mother, but stopped after the look she received from Tai. She faltered a little...sometimes her daughter could be the sweetest girl, especially to her dear parents, but there are moments where she just...erases all kind of emotion from her face and looks at a person like a slab of meat. It was to do with her intellect, assured her mother to herself. Her brain runs off and leaves her body behind.

[i]"It's alright, mum. There aren't many boys here I want to make intelligent wizard babies with anyway."[/i] replied Tai, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards as her mother flushed a deep scarlet. She waved to her parents, who smiled sadly at her, and went into the train.

"She...doesn't have a lot of friends, you know." commented her mother, watching all of the younger kids rushing up to their friends, talking excitedly to each other.

"I don't think she ever really wanted many friends. It doesn't seem to hurt her that much. She'll be fine, trust me." firmly replied her father, leading his wife out of the way to wave goodbye to their daughter once the train moves.

[i]"Taken, taken, taken, BITCH, taken, taken...ah, here we go!"[/i] called Tai, yelling the insult at Ailse as she passed. She never liked that pureblood prissy prat, and preferred instead to make it known. At least she didn't stop this time; not with her folks around. For a flickering moment, Tai imagined what it's look like to her parents if she was slammed against the window by a curse just as the train took off. She went into an empty compartment, one of the few ones that were left, and let her cat Merlin out for a bit of a wander. She also locked the compartment door; she didn't want strangers in her space, and was certain that the people she wanted to see would have the decency to knock.

[i][b]"Avis,"[/i][/b] sighed Tai contentedly, as a handful of yellow, twittering birds started flying around the compartment, providing Merlin with plenty of amusement. Tai waved her wand lazily; it became almost a marker of where Tai is, to look for the birds, ever since she found the spell in her textbook on her second year and practised rigorously until she mastered it.