[center][i][h2][color=#addfad]Piper Ward[/color][/h2][/i]
10:32AM
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It was that time of the year again. Piper yawned as she pushed her stroller along the busy platform. People were swarming on the platform like it was a beehive, concerned parents of the rookie first years hurrying their children along so they wouldn't miss the train that wasn't leaving for at least half an hour. In the middle of it all was Piper, who didn't seem to have a rushed bone in her body. She was used to this by now.
Hair a positive mess as usual, still in her civil clothing and trademark long cardigan, Piper tried to drown out the noise by thinking to herself. She hadn't encountered any of her yearmates yet, but that was probably because the platform was so darn busy. This year her parents had had to drop her off in front of the station instead of accompanying her to the platform, but Piper didn't mind. It was her fifth year now, she already knew the drill. It had been probably harder on her overbearing parents anyway.
It did make her wonder, though. Was Halle somewhere on the platform, or had she been wise and came early to get the best seats of the express? Summer had been long and boring without her friend, and Piper had a thousand things to catch up on. Well. More like, she had a thousand things to ask from Halle of her summer vacation. What did muggles even do during the summer? Piper was positively curious.

[color=#addfad]"Relax, Barnaby, we do this every year,"[/color] Piper hushed at the big-eyed tawny owl sitting in a cage on her luggage. The bird was making off-note hooting noises, feathers on his head as messy as the light brunette's own hair. [color=#addfad]"I can't promise us the best seats since we're a bit late, but I'll make sure at least you're comfortable, okay?"[/color]
Silly bird. Barnaby the Bumblebee was the only animal - magical or otherwise - Piper knew how to handle. And even Barnaby sometimes nipped at her hand if she wasn't careful. That spoke mileages on how incompetent Piper was at handling magical creatures.
[color=#addfad]"What? The lot of you can smell fear,"[/color] Piper defended with a mock offended look at Barnaby, who had simply been blankly staring at Piper while she'd been lost in her thoughts. As if Barnaby could understand what she'd been thinking. The bird barely recognised his own name half the time.

Boarding the train, Piper noticed it was already rather full. She walked among the aisle, trying to spot a cabin with some familiar faces or at the very least some open seats.
Finally Piper recognised some people from her year. A group of Gryffindor girls were sitting in the express, already mid-conversation. Opening the glass door to their cabin, Piper smiled with more confidence than she felt.
[color=#addfad]"Hey! Mind if I sit with you? Everywhere else seems to be full,"[/color] she explained. The answer from the girls took a beat too long, but their expressions already told Piper she wasn't welcome. They must've known her, her [i]house[/i]. Piper felt a sinking feeling in her stomach, but stronger than that was the flash of irritation she felt.
"If you don't mind... We were kind of saving this seat for..." one of the girls began, clearly trying to cover what seemed to be open distain towards Piper. She never had the chance of finishing, however, because her clearly more courageous friend shot a glare at the Slytherin at the door, stating: "We'd rather not associate with the snakes."
Swallowing her feelings, Piper nodded curtly and closed the glass door with a little more force than necessary. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the girls picking up conversation again, only to hear a muffled "isn't her brother in Azkaban, too?"
[color=#addfad]"What's the point in trying to prove people wrong if they're going to judge me anyway?"[/color] Piper muttered to herself as she pulled her luggage behind her in the aisle. If she was branded evil even before people got to know her, maybe she should just give in and prove them right. Piper was so sick and tired of the certain people who still thought all Slytherins were to become evil. Her brother wasn't a Slytherin, yet he was the one in Azkaban, not her.
Soon Piper had reached quite literally the end of the train. All the cabins were more or less full, and Piper didn't fancy the idea of sitting next to people that weren't on her year level. As she reached the last seats, her eye was caught by a vaguely familiar Ravenclaw boy from her year. Damian, the keeper of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. She had played against him numerous times.
And somehow, his cart was basically empty save for him.
[color=#addfad]"Hey, were you saving seats for your mates or can I come here? I'm desperately tryin' to avoid having to sit with the newcomers,"[/color] Piper joked with a cheery smile despite her earlier downfall. Barnaby chirped loudly in unision, seeming as tired of walking around with luggage as Piper was.