Cutting corners (open)

[EVAN FONTAINE]

Having travelled all the way from his home in France, where he had spent the summer, Evan hadn't been able to make it on time for the Hogwarts Express, so his parents had arranged for him to use Floo Powder instead. The fire place in the Three Broomsticks was satisfactory enough, and close enough that he would be able to catch the carriages up to the castle. This suited Evan fine, and he waited in silence outside Hogsmeade station as the giant red steam engine pulled to a slow stop.

The carriages were to his left, and it dawned on Evan as students began to pile up inside the train doors, waiting to be released, that he should probably find himself a carriage before he had to fight for one. Glancing around, he found a station worker and quickly caught the man's attention. "Excuse me? Would you be able to put these with the rest of the luggage from the train?" he asked, indicating to his trunk and other belongings which had been stood against the far wall in a neat pile. The man agreed, assuring him they would be sent safely to the castle, so Evan thanked him, and made his way over to the carriages.

Spooky things, they were. Spooky, yet fascinating. Pulled by creatures called Thestrals who were only visible to those who had witnesses death with their very own eyes. Such a horrible concept, and still, Evan always found himself curious to see them, himself. Maybe one day, wen he was much older and had more life experience under his belt. Not that he wished to watch somebody die, but he really was awfully curious. With a small shiver of adrenaline at his own imaginings, he climbed up into the nearest carriage, and settled in, wondering who would be joining him for the ride up to the castle.

[PHOEBE RAYNE]

Having spent the day with her whole family at her big sister's house in Hogsmeade village, there was no need for Phoebe to get the train this year. Last year and the ones before that, before Lyra had gotten her own house here, they had always gotten the train at King's Cross station, but visiting her sister was a really good idea that her dad had had earlier in the summer. It would make it much easier, plus, she wouldn't have to part with her younger siblings so soon.

Having had a wonderful family day in the village, Phoebe and her humongous trail of siblings made their way to Hogsmeade station with their parents. It was quite embarrassing, actually, since everybody else has those big long goodbyes at King's Cross, and now here she was, doing it at Hogsmeade in front of everyone. Oh, well. As long as she'd had a good day, that was what mattered, wasn't it? Hugging her little brothers and sisters long and hard, Phoebe made promises to write to them every single day, and they promised to send her pictures and other things in return. She knew they would stick to it, too. Grinning, she clung to her mum and dad for a few long minutes before finally letting go.

"I'll send an owl tomorrow," she told them, knowing it would comfort her mother to hear she was settled in ok on her first day. "Love you!" Blowing kisses to her family, she hitched up the bottom of her school robes and crossed the muddy path to the carriages, climbing into one at random, not really bothered if her brother and sister - who were in fourth and fifth year - followed her. They would see each other at the castle, anyway.

As it turned out, there was already someone inside the carriage. A tall-looking boy, with gorgeous dark hair and dark blue eyes. He was very handsome, and Phoebe found herself admiring him as she settled herself in on the seat across from him. "Hi," she said, offering a friendly smile. It would just be weird if she joined him and offered no greeting, wouldn't it.