Richard nervously shook Astrid’s hand and gave Terra a polite nod. “I’m Richard,” he said, lugging his trunk inside and stowing it on the compartment’s rack. “You can call me Richie though. This is my first year as well,” he replied. He took a seat across from the two girls and sighed. So here he was, on the train and already meeting the first of his fellow students. He glanced between their faces and tried to figure out if there was any way he’d be able to distinguish the girls, but there didn’t seem to be many differences, if any, between the two.

Silence. Richard didn’t know what to say. He looked down and played with a loose thread hanging off his jeans. “So, do you know anyone at Hogwarts?” he asked. He was somewhat hoping the answer was no and that they were in the same predicament he was.
~

Jeff watched the crowd from his position on the platform and was satisfied when it had appeared that most of the first years had made it onto the train. He noticed a few first time professors also board the train and a made a mental note on each of them. Things had been tense in the weeks leading up to the first day and it was noticeable on the face of each parent and student who passed through the barrier. It was going to take a serious adjustment period before things stabilized, but on the whole, magic’s revelation was going to be a positive. Of that, Jeff was certain.

Neither of his parents had made it out to see him off, which was fine. Both had been incredibly busy over the last few weeks and Jeff had needed to arrive early anyways. He had given out instructions, along with the Head Girl, to the prefects before patrolling the platform, but for the moment, things looked to be under control.

He recognized so many faces. They smiled, waved, and called out to him, and Jeff acknowledged each in turn as he passed by several compartments. He wanted to go meet with a few friends, but whenever he encountered a brief lull in his chaotic schedule, he mostly wanted to spend it relaxing. He had moved his stuff from the prefect’s compartment and had placed it one of the more isolated compartments towards the back of the train. He’d meet back up with the others an hour before their arrival, but for now he’d rather sit down and get into his new book. It was a strikingly relevant piece recently published by Hermione Granger muggle and wizard relations. He found it somewhat comedic that recent events had likely made it prematurely outdated.

As he was walking, he noticed a Ravenclaw girl in his year just ahead of him. He wasn’t extremely familiar with Cleo Bones, but if you go to school with someone for six years, then you’re bound to at least know a little. “Trouble finding a compartment?” he asked. “If so, there’s an open one a few carts down,” he said. “If you don’t mind sharing with me,” he added, the barest of grins on his face.