They arrived at Platform 9 ¾ by apparition.
Although this was not the first time Ambrosia had apparated it still left her woozy and caused everything to spin. Taking a minute to ground herself, she couldn't help but stare at all the people that had gathered. Parents and children were chatting and hugging around a scarlet steam engine. Smoke was drifting over their heads, owls were cooing and everything looked rather hectic. The carriages were filling fast, with students leaning out the windows to talk to their families.
Ambrosia's brother, who had already done this five times, was eager to be off, looking over the crowd to spot his friends' heads bobbing by.
"Well, I'm off. Thomas just got on the train, so I better go get a seat before they're all gone!" Before he could run off, however, his mum grabbed him into a tight hug, sniffling all the while.
"Take care sweetie, and be good! Make sure to look after your sister. Show her around a bit, and make sure she knows the right people to talk to!" She left the and who not to talk to off, but it was clear that by the 'right people' she meant pure-bloods.
Mrs DeLane gave her son a quick kiss before she let him join his friends. She turned to Ambrosia then, giving her daughter a hug before giving her the same speech that she'd just given her son. Her father, who was a man who believed in showing as little emotion as possible shook her hand and helped her carry her trunk into the train.
"Make us proud" was the only thing he said before he disappeared into the crowd. Ambrosia couldn't help but feel disappointed by her parents, even if she was used to this by now. After all it was her first time away for such a long period of time, the least they could do was look upset about it.
Giving a sigh, she went in search of an empty compartment. Finding one towards the back of the train she shoved her trunk into a corner before taking a seat next to the window. From there she watched all the families saying their goodbyes, hugging and kissing their children. A whistle started from somewhere, causing the last of the children to rush into the train, their parents waving and yelling last minute goodbyes. Before she could let another sigh escape, the door to her compartment opened and a girl with messy hair entered.
"Oh, sorry! I didn't realise someone was already occupying this compartment. Do you mind if I sit here?" Ambrosia gave the girl a once-over, before shrugging. She could tell by the state of her clothes she must come from a rich family, and was most likely a pure-blood like herself.
"I'm Margaret by the way" the girl said "but call me Maggie" she added in a haste.
Not wanting to seem rude to a possible future friend she immediately replied with a "nice to meet you" before giving her own name.
A silence seemed to fall as Ambrosia watched the scenery pass by.
The girl, Maggie, was shifting in her seat, unable but trying to stay quiet. She was often told by her mother that it was considered rude to be the first to interrupt the silence, even if the silence is an uncomfortable one. Seeming to decide to ignore the 'rude' that sounded suspiciously like her mother's sing-song voice Maggie blurted out the first thing that popped into her head.
"Do you know what house you'll get sorted into? Personally I hope I'll get into Slytherin. My whole family's been in Slytherin. I know I'd just die of embarrassment if I got into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw and don't get me started on Gryffindor. Blood-traitors and mud-bloods the lot of them." Having gotten everything out she visibly relaxed. Feeling the need to say something back, Ambrosia told Maggie about her own hopes of getting sorted into Slytherin and about her brother, before a commotion interrupted her.
Going out to investigate, the girls saw a group of boys crowding around a pale looking boy with black hair. They seemed to have arrived in the middle of a fierce dispute. Taking a closer look, Ambrosia was shocked to realise that she knew one of the boys. Tall and handsome with black hair and grey eyes, Sirius Black was easy to distinguish from the other boys.
"-where the scum of the school get sorted into. There's only one place I'll get sorted into, and that's Gryffindor!" Giving the pale boy a shove, Sirius and his group of friends began to walk away. Shocked at his words, Ambrosia couldn't help but call after him.
"Don't tell me you're proud to be sorted into Griffindor? Imagine, a Black in Griffindor, what a shame! Your parents will have a heart attack!"
"Oh yeah? And what's it to you?" Black eyed Ambrosia from head to toe. "I remember you. You're DeLane's kid… Ambrosia, right?" Here he turned to a brown haired boy wearing glasses. "Take a good look James. Her entire family's been in Slytherin. Pure-bloods the lot of them. They think that just because they come from a long line of wizards it makes them special somehow, better than the rest of us." With a sneer in her direction Sirius turned and walked of, his friends following.
Ambrosia felt like he had just insulted herself and her family.
"I know I'm better than the rest of you! I'm a Pure-blood and proud of it!" Without looking back she turned and walked back to her compartment, shooting a glare at anyone still lingering in the corridor. She was still fuming by the time the trolley lady came by. Maggie, feeling uncomfortable by the silence decided to cheer up her friend by buying a bit of everything on the trolley.
"Stop thinking about him Ambrosia. That guy was a prick! Now cheer up and have a go at one of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. I bet you can't beat me at picking weird flavours." Without waiting for a response, Maggie plunged her hand into the box and popped a green jelly bean into her mouth. "Yuck, cut grass!" The rest of the train trip was spent trying the grossest looking beans, laughing and talking!