Chapter 2: The Impossible

As soon as West entered the train, and the doors of the train slipped shut, he felt
as deserted as he never had before. He wasn't likely to find somewhere to sit near
his brothers, and he would probably feel like a bother even if he did. He started
walking, looking into every compartment, hoping to find one that was nearly, or
entirely empty, not really thinking that he would. He caught his own reflection in
one of the glass windows showing him a group of slytherins talking and laughing. His
hair was frizzy, he would have to re-braid his long purple hair when he got the
chance to. The right side of his face was hidden under his fringe, that reached to
under his chin, while the other side was stretched into the braid so he could see.
He had to admit he looked a bit like a girl with the long hair, but he didn't really
care. His hair was his pride. His robes were a bit long for him, he didn't even
match South in the height he had been when he had been eleven. West sighed, and
continued walking. He looked distantly into every compartment, and didn't expect to
find anywhere to sit, so when he saw an almost empty compartment, he nearly walked
past it. He walked back a few steps, and looked into it. There were only two people
inside, none of them in their robes yet, and one of them seemed to be sleeping.
Carefully he slid the compartment-door open.

"Are... These seats taken?" West asked hesitantly, never trusting his luck with
strangers. The boy who was awake, looked up at him. He was skinny and a bit frail
looking. His hair was blonde with a red tint to it and it reached down to his
shoulders. His eyes were gigantic and blue, and he was wearing a high-necked thick
red sweater. West was calmed, and thought that if this boy ended up being an enemy,
he could probably handle him. "No, they're not, you can sit here if you like," the
boy said. West sat down opposite him, as far away from the sleeping boy as he could,
fearing what would happen if he woke him up. He was really strange looking, wrapped
in fabric from head to toe, the only thing showing was a tuft of turquoise hair and
one closed eye. "What's your name?" The boy asked, dragging West's eyes away from
the mummy-like boy next to him. "West Morris... What's yours?" West looked at the
boy. He seemed friendly enough, but he was still feeling uncertain. West's had the
strangest way of always falling out with people.

"Laurus Snisset" He said, smiling a bit. "You're a first year?" West nodded,
gripping his left hand with his right under his robes. "Me too... I'm really
nervous... You look kinda familiar, have we met?" Laurus tilted his head studying
West almost like his brothers had before. "Maybe you saw one of my brothers, they
have the same hair color as me," the answer came automatically. "That's right, this
prefect with purple hair knocked me to the floor when I came into the train..." West
shifted awkwardly. "Yeah that would be East, he-" "His name is East? Wait, you..."
West sighed. "Yes, West, East, South and North." Laurus looked at him with very
round eyes. He smiled, seeming a bit amused. "That's kind of cool I guess." "No,"
West said promptly. "It's weird."

Laurus just smiled at this, looking out of the window cheerfully. After a bit of
silence, he turned back. "Your brother is a Slytherin... Right?" West looked at him.
Some hint of concern was in Laurus' face, and West found it a bit odd. Granted,
Slytherins could be rather unpleasant... "Yeah." Laurus swallowed. "So.. You guys
must be purebloods then..." He said, looking down at his shoes. West felt a bit red,
and sharply he said; "Yeah, so? You don't think we're going to start slaughtering
people, do you? It's not like a Slytherin has to be a pureblood anyway, besides, our
parents were killed in the war, too, even if they were purebloods!" West's face had
become warm, and he leaned back on his seat staring angrily at the floor, gripping
his own hands so tightly together that his arms started to shiver. "I didn't mean it
like that!" Laurus sounded alarmed. "Please don't be angry, I didn't mean to offend
you..." West looked up, meeting a pair of eyes pleading with him.

West took a few deep breaths, and felt his face get less tight, and the blood slowly
drained from it. "I overreacted a bit, I'm just nervous to be going off to Hogwarts,
I have three older brothers to live up to, I didn't mean to shout." Laurus seemed
relieved at this and smiled carefully to him, leaning back on his seat. "I don't
think I'm Slytherin material," West continued. "My brother says I'm not nearly
cunning enough." Laurus smiled wider. "I hope I'm in Hufflepuff, I'm not really that
smart, or cunning, or brave. But I like to think that I'm nice." "My brother North
is in Hufflepuff. He's a Seventh-year." Laurus tilted his head. "Your brothers are
in different houses? I thought siblings usually came into the same houses." West
shook his head. "My oldest brother was in Gryffindor. I know I won't go in Ravenclaw
though, so I guess I'll be a Hufflepuff too." "Good!" Laurus smiled happily at him.
West blinked bewildered at this, what did he mean? West wanted to ask, but he found
it weird to do so, so he left it.