September 1, 1992
King's Cross Station, Platform 9³/₄

Cody Frost

"It's fine, Mum, just go." Cody said, waving his parents off with an annoyed look. His mum was cramping, or something, he wasn't actually paying attention to what she was saying, so his dad was going to take her home. Not that they'd have stayed anyway, they dropped him off at the station early and left. It was routine now. He left them without saying goodbye, barely registering the sound of car doors shutting behind him as his parents drove off.

Cody was looking for his friends, and while the platform had plenty of the out of place owl cages, wizard robes, and oddly colored cauldrons, he couldn't spot them among the Muggle and Wizard crowds. With a discrete flick of his wand a trolley rolled over to him, allowing him to place his twin trunks on it. One contained his many school books and equipment while the other had clothes, parchment, and other trinkets. They weren't very heavy, but he'd rather have his hands free than carry them around.

Cassius, a black and white cat, now three years old, hopped up the trolley to sit atop the trunks. "Let's go Cass, I know you miss them." Cody said grudgingly. He may own the cat, but in the end Cassius always ended up spending time with everyone in Gryffindor except his owner.

He passed through the barrier easily, not even flinching as he walked straight into a wall and out the other side. Platform 9³/₄ was just as full as the rest of the station, only there were no Muggles here. Recognizing the familiar mop of hair in the window of a compartment he just passed, Cody spelled his trunks to float after him, Cassius leaping down to run ahead of him. Up into the train and down the hall he quickly found the place his friend had claimed. "Hey Donny!" He cried, grinning.

Donovan Dunbar

Donovan sighed, looking up from his book to give the intruder a glare. "Cody, you know-"

But Cody interrupted, laughing, "You hate that nickname, yeah, but that just makes it all the better to tease you with." He fell into the seat opposite Donovan unceremoniously. Eyes immediately looking outside at the still full platform. "Seen the girls yet?"

"No." Donovan said shortly, already reading more of his book and ignoring Cody.

Donovan was his usual disheveled self, too busy reading to straighten up his appearance. Cody on the other hand was naturally well put together. His hair was a bit messy, but he liked it that way. Neither boys knew quite why they were friends, Cody was outgoing and Donovan was definitely not. Donovan was well read, and Cody couldn't care less about books. They were very different people and while they didn't hate each other they didn't exactly have much in common, so it was no surprise that the compartment fell into silence as they waited on the girls.

Holly Elizabath Rhodes

Holly arrived at the train station. As usual it was a family field trip, or so it seemed. Her younger brother, Toby, was starting Hogwarts this year. Her Mother, Elizabeth, fussed over her 3 children; Holly, Toby and Alex. Alex was going into 6th year, Holly 3rd and Toby 1st. "Now, behave yourselves. Take care and keep in touch. I'll send you all gifts, you know that." She said before hugging her 3 children. Holly's older brother had finished last year and was now working for Olivanders. Holly grinned taking her bags and looking down at her brown tabby "come on then Tabitha." She said before taking her brothers hand and heading to the Hogwarts platform. She walked through the train looking through the compartments. "Hi." She said once she reached the compartment. "Sit down Toby." She said before sitting down next to her brother.

Holly felt nervous to be around Cody. They had kissed during the Summer, but equally they had spent the majority of the Summer arguing. They lived close enough to one another to see one another everyday. Holly focused her attention on the small curly haired boy next to her. "Toby, you look like you're going to be sick!" She said to her younger brother. Toby shook his head "I'm just nervous.. And scared that I'm going to be in Slytherin." Holly laughed "you won't don't worry!"

Rose Elm Charmers

Rose arrived at the station with both of her parents and her younger sister who was due to start Hogwarts. She received some money from her parents, as did her sister. They then headed through to the Hogwarts platform and onto the train. Rose dragged Willow along the train until she found her friends. "Hey!" She said excitedly when she reached the compartment. She thumped herself down on the chair.

Cody Frost

Cody frowned, leaning forward, "What even is that? Is that supposed to be Latin?" He examined Donovan's book closer, snatching it away when the other boy didn't answer. He flipped through the pages as Donovan shouted at him in dismay, but Cody didn't pay attention to what he was saying. "This is probably illegal." He finally said.

Donovan Dunbar

Donovan paused at that, "Really?" Was altering spells illegal? He'd have to check...

"Good job Donny! you little rulebreaker you!" Cody teased. He stood and handed his book back to him. "Now, I've got a girlfriend to find, see you." Donovan frowned at his back as the taller teen left. Eventually he just shrugged and continued reading, who cares if it's illegal? he grumbled to himself mentally.

Cody Frost

Cody stopped short just outside his compartment, surprised when the train slowly began moving. He hadn't realized how long they'd been waiting. He was distracted again when he spotted the lady with the trolley full of sweets. "Oh chocolate frogs, here I come." He grinned to himself. Maybe he'd even grab something for Holley too. And wasn't her brother starting this year? He should grab something for him as well...

Holly Elizabeth Rhodes

Holly looked at her younger brother. "Toby, there's no need to be scared. Wherever you end up is where you belong but I somehow doubt that you are going to end up in Slytherin. Maybe Ravenclaw, that would suit your personality. Or you'll end up in Gryffindor but there is no way you're a Slytherin." She said reassuringly. "Everyone knows the good looking people end up in Slytherin." She said jokingly and laughed. Toby laughed too "no, the ugly ones end up in Slytherin." Holly grinned "yeah, the good looking people with character end up in Gryffindor. I can't wait for this year I'll get to my chosen subjects. I am so excited to start Care of Magical Creatures!" She said excitedly.

Rose Elm Charmers

Rose sighed and looked out of the window. She so badly wished that she could be back on her Summer break. It had been fun to be in her own company. She loved her friends but she also loved her own company. She had spent many an hour in her Summer break just walking along the white sands, splashing around in the waters. It had been calm, peaceful and serene. She looked at her friends who were talking away. She had missed them but she hadn't missed the noise that they all created. She had also heard from Holly that all she had been doing with Cody was a bunch of arguments. Great. She was sure that this was not going to be the quiet times that she had grown accustomed to.

Cody Frost

Cody suddenly appeared in the doorway, not bothering to knock. "Hello mademoiselles!" He greeted cheerfully. "You should have found us, I had to leave poor Donny all by himself." He slid into a seat beside Rose, deciding not to provoke the beast by sitting next to Holly. Somewhere between leaving Donovan, buying a load of candy from the trolley, and arriving here at the girl's compartment Cody had ducked into a bathroom and changed into his school uniform. He flicked his wand carelessly, sending a box of chocolate frogs to each person in the compartment from where they had been stashed inside his robes. He'd bought plenty, but he saw no reason to tell the others he had extras. "And the little firsties too! Are you excited for Hogwarts?" He grinned easily.

Donovan Dunbar

Donovan glared at the cat. "Cassius." He said, finally addressing the black and white menace. "You are evil." The cat purred, seemingly pleased by the accusation. He was doing that annoying feline thing where he sat in Donovan's lap and leaned into his line of sight so he was unable to read and continue ignoring the little beast.

He was just about to try to shoo him away again when the door opened. His hand immediately strayed to where his wand lay beside him when a Slytherin ducked his head into the compartment. The snake eyed him critically for a moment before leaving, deciding it wasn't worth sharing a compartment with the lion. Donovan sighed in relief, but immediately felt guilty. He didn't want to follow house prejudices, but at the same time Slytherins were kind of scary.