A/N: So, I didn't get very many reviews last chapter. :( I'll keep writing, though. I'm not writing for reviews, they just make me really, really happy. So (different subject,) it's really hard to write before they start hanging out a lot, but those pre-chapters have to be written. I just hope they don't feel too much like fillers. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Celestia dragged her trunk which was much lighter than the last time she'd carried it.
"Hurry up! The train leaves in fifteen minutes!" A tall thin woman with her daughter's dark hair looked worridly at the clock. Her daughter sighed.
"We're in the station. We've got plenty of time."
"Go easy on your mother. You know how jumpy she gets around Muggles." Her father put a hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe I could go easier on her if you'd carry my trunk."
"Of course. Why are you always trying to give me all the work?" He asked. She looked at him with the big eyes that had gotten her whatever she wanted since she was two years old when she first discovered the technique. "Oh, alright." He took the trunk from her. She skipped up to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.
"I never understood why they call it platform 9 and 3/4. It really should be platform 9 and 1/2. It's halfway between the two."
"Honey, could you please philosophize about it later? Like on the train? When I'm not carrying your bag?"
"Alright, daddy." She went through the barrier and quickly spotted Emily's blonde head and tried to pretend she wasn't looking for a different dark one. She waved at he friend and turned to her parents. "Well, I'm going to go now." She kissed her mom, hugged her dad, and took her trunk back from him.
"We'll write you often!"
"Mom." Celestia rolled her eyes. "I'm in fifth year! You don't need to write me every week."
"Alright, once a month?"
Celestia stared into her mother's concerned eyes and almost laughed. "Alright, mum. Once a month. Love you." Another tearful hug.
"I love you too! See you at the winter holidays."
"See you. You too, dad."
"Make good grades."
"I always do." She turned and hurried off to the train, meeting up with Emily on the way. "Let's hurry and get a good compartment this time!"
"Yeah." Her friend agreed. They rushed onto the train, dragging their trunks behind them. They rushed into one almost as soon as they got on. As soon as they'd secured their spot and stowed their luggage, Celestia asked her friend how her summer had been.
"Bipolar. We went and visited my relatives in America. The first was my aunt and uncle in Florida. It was sooo hot and humid there! And then we visited my cousins on the east side of Washington. It was so dry I thought I would set the trees on fire just by looking at them! And then we went to see my other cousins on the west side of Washington. Cold and wet, that's all I can say. It rained like, every two days!! How was yours?"
"Mostly boring. Everybody was gone and we didn't take that trip like we'd planned. But I did take a Muggle art class. Here, I've got one I think you'll like." Celestia pulled a sheaf of papers from her trunk and began riffling through them.
"Woah, that parchment looks weird."
"Yeah, that's the thing. It's Muggle paper. Who knew they'd even have different paper, eh?" There were quite a few drawings to go through. The class had had an entire section on drawing people. Of course, she'd done one particular person for most of them, but when they'd done charactitures she couldn't help but draw Emily. "Ah-ha!" She extracted the drawing and passed it over. Emily took one look at it and collapsed in a fit of giggles.
"This is brilliant! How'd you explain me in robes? And with a wand!"
Celestia found herself giggling as well. "You see, there's this Muggle game. I think it's called... Dragons and Castles? No, no, Dungeons and Dragons! Anyway, it's got wizards in it. I told them you were a fan. It's got a bit of a weird reputation, though, but nobody seemed to think it was too weird." Emily only laughed harder.
"What kind of game is it?"
"It's what they call a roleplaying game. Their lives are so boring they have to pretend that they're someone they're not!" By this time Emily was bent over, clutching her stomach. After a while the two girls' laughter subsided. They passed the rest of the train ride trading stories and jokes and playing games. When the lunch trolley came by they both got plenty of pasties and licorice wands. Celestia munched on hers and stared at the countryside. "It's good to be going back to Hogwarts."
"I know what you mean. Sure, being home is great and all, but at Hogwarts we get to do... so... much! We get to do magic. I mean, we're made to do magic! It's not fair that we have to wait until we're seventeen!"
"Yeah, well, those are the rules. You got a problem with them, take it up with the Ministry. Or become the Minister."
"Maybe I will!"
Celestia couldn't help but laugh at this image, and Emily soon joined in. Eventually the skies darkened and they approached the school. The two girls changed into their robes and Celestia put her drawings away. The train lurched to a halt and they lugged their trunks out to the carraiges. The managed to get one with another Ravenclaw that they knew rather well and a Hufflepuff. The trundled off down the road. As they made their way to the castle a light rain began to fall. By the time they arrived it was falling rather steadily. Celestia and Emily murmured quick repelling charms before they exited, glad to be able to do so once again. They hurried into the Great Hall, seating themselves at the table with the other Ravenclaws. The Sorting passed by quickly; Emily's brother had come (and was sorted into Ravenclaw, much to his sister's approval) but other than that they didn't know anyone coming in. They spent a few moments catching up before the headmaster stood up to the podium.
"To our new students, welcome! And to our old students, welcome back! This is going to be an exciting year for us all. You all will get busy filling up the heads that you've emptied over the summer, and we've got to get busy giving you the stuff to fill them with. Our care taker has asked me to inform you that dungbombs are officially on the list of banned items. On a more serious note, we all know that the dark wizard Voldemort has been gaining power for some time. So I would like to remind you all to keep a strict watch, report anyone who may be acting odd, and to remember that the Forbidden Forest is strictly, strictly out of bounds. In the mean time, let us feast!" He clapped his hands and the golden platters filled with all sorts of delectable foods. Celestia immediately grabbed three chicken legs and a helping of potatoes.
"Did'ja hear?" asked their classmate Julia Hawthorn. "They say the Death Eater attacks are getting more gutsy. They say it won't be long now before it's all-out war." Celestia couldn't help but glance around worridly at this. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named... it was a subject she liked to avoid. So far none of her family had been attacked. Or her friends, for that matter. It was like she was in a little bubble, with this storm raging around it. As long as she didn't leave the bubble, she'd be fine. After all, it was well known that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers mainly went for Muggle borns, as long as you didn't defy him. So she should be safe. Right? The Grey Lady drifted solemnly past, not at all stilling Celestia's feelings.
The feast wound down and the students were dismissed. Celestia wandered up to her dorm, happily full and letting Emily's chatter take her mind away from unsettling matters. She sank onto her bed, her eyes halfway shut before she even lay down. As she lay on the soft sheets and drew the beautiful blue curtain around her bed she sighed in satisfaction.
"It's good to be home."
A/N: Why yes, I do realise that there was no meeting between them this chapter. I know, le gasp, right? But there were a few things in this chapter, and if I'd combined it with the next chapter, it would have been WAY TOO LONG. So, this is what you get. Please review. See you soon!