Devin felt like he wasn't on solid ground. The platform seemed plenty sturdy, but he was still shaken up over the whole running through a wall to get to said platform. It seemed the perfect example of how the magical communities he knew acted. Here in England there was an almost deliberate wall built between the magical and the muggle. In the case of Diagon Alley there was a literal wall. At home there was nothing more than a fence or bundle of trees blocking a vantage point. In his homeland of the pacific northwest there was an almost seamless transition between the two worlds. The abrupt division found in England was something he was still getting used to despite having been around it for nearly a month. 

As his grandmother joined him along the side of the tracks she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hurried the young wizard towards the trains compartment. "I already packed you a lunch but you have a few coin for a snack if you fancy a sweet." She said with a warmth that showed her love and excitement. Had it not been for his grandmother Devin was sure he would have been even more nervous then he already was. She had continued to talk nearly the entire month about what he might run into or out of at Hogwarts. The whole thing proved to be equal parts exciting and intimidating to hear. Devin honestly wanted to hear his mom and dads voice, but had done so just before he left for the Hogwarts Express. He bit back the need and instead focused on what his family had told him. 

[i]Be happy. Be friendly. Be fine.[/i] 

It was a family motto of sorts in the Coal household. The warmth he got from this was enough to get him to take the first steps up the trains carriage. He turned to let his grandmother give him a big kiss on the cheek and forehead before hurrying him onto the car. "Just remember to grab a window seat. The view as I recall is simply divine." Her last words were incredibly normal considering just behind her a boy had chased a dark coloured frog and then proceeded to bite its head off when he caught it. After turning to find a seat Devin was repeating his family motto in his head several times over.

Turning to his left as he walked towards the back of the train Devin saw the first compartment was already half full with two kids talking about something. On the other side there was a young girl who seemed engrossed with her drawings. Viewing the two rooms as unapproachable Devin continued to the back where he saw one compartment free of anyone. Quick to jump on the chance to grab a window seat without being a bother to anyone he pulled the door open and tossed his messenger bag onto the seat next to the window. Sitting down (Seat #11) Devin reached into his bag and pulled out a few things. the first was his headphones which soon enough were playing music in his ears. It was loud enough that he barely heard the other people outside going this way and that. The next item was a magazine from home his parents had sent him in his last gift basket. It was the newest ESPN magazine with several articles on baseball, american football, and basketball. 

Within minutes the young first year was completely engrossed in his own little world with music in his ears and sports on his brain. Devin would often travel to his own little world through the assistance of music; however, it was sports that was the true hypnotic force. Having become a fan through his dad Devin was somewhat of a prodigy athletically speaking. Recognising this at a young age his family got him involved in several sports camps and though he hadn't ever found one sport that he wanted to focus on Devin thrived at any sport he played. The only thing that surprised his ability on the field was his ability to draw up strategies. He enjoyed the feeling of solving a problem an opposing team was presenting. 

The sound of the train blowing a horn to warn of its departure drew Devin out of his little zone out. He looked at himself through the window and saw that he wasn't presenting himself that great. He could hear other kids boarding and figured he was going to have at least one cabin mate for the trip to school. Devin could hear his mothers voice in his head from the conversation they had earlier. "Remember how well you got along with Michael. All you have to do is make the first step and say hello." Michael was a friend of Devin's from the magical community he had made during his time at the after school program. At first Devin had been 9 and beyond shy when around the magical kids, but after he made friends with Michael he grew a lot socially. 

He felt the train lurch forward and decided to put his headphones back into his backpack. If he was joined by anyone he would try to say hello. If not he always had his magazine and fantasy football drafts to review. After that he had something much bigger to deal with. The impending date with the object called the sorting hat was never far from the front of his mind. From what he had been told it basically decided what the rest of your school life was going to be like and even choose your friends for you. The complete lack of control and infinite possibilities of the unknown were scarier then facing a major league baseball pitcher. 

[i]Be happy. Be friendly. Be fine...[/i]