The Hogwarts Express started off for Hogsmeade with a jolt. Eric settled into an empty compartment he'd claimed for the day-long ride. Other students passed by the bay, looking for friends to catch up with. Several Ravenclaw students waved hello, but otherwise moved onward. Although slightly put off that he didn't have any real friends to talk to, for now it was enough that they did remember him and were polite enough. Maybe this year he'd find some people to talk with.
Dorian Moon did stop by to talk for a little while. He wanted to know whether or not Eric's thought he should try out for the house team this year. He was a good flier, but Eric confessed that he wasn't sure – not being a quidditch player, he really couldn't say. He stayed on to talk for a while, but Eric could tell that he really wanted to leave without being impolite. Not wishing to be a burden, he suggested that Dorian check the cars up the train to see if Neville Longbottom had lost his toad again. Smiling, Dorian excused himself, promising to check back later. Eric didn't mind – while he wanted very much to make friends, an extended train ride was probably too much, too soon. He preferred to take things in steps.
As the train rounded out of London, the compartment door slid open. Looking up, Eric didn't see anyone until Naomi cleared the partition wall, a hooded cloak lending her the same noble bearing her father always seemed to keep with him. She stepped inside and examined the remaining empty couch, while Eric was left to wonder if she already knew a spell to move the door, if the door was simply loose, or perhaps something more sinister was at work. None of this, however, diminished the simple fact that she apparently decided to share the compartment with him, ending the possibility that this was going to be a solitary ride, for better or for worse.
Once on the couch, she postured herself with almost unnatural propriety, folded her hands on her lap, then closed her eyes. In a few minutes, Eric couldn't tell if she was awake or asleep, but he knew she wasn't in the mood for conversation, which in a strange way was better than either previous alternative – he was no longer alone in the strictest sense, but he didn't feel any need to have to come up with hours of idle chatter. Eric found this all very comfortable, and settled back into pre-reading his textbooks for the coming term.
It would have been preferrable this way, if their peace and quiet wasn't disturbed by a third visitor. "Excuse me. I just need a quiet place to sit." A phantasm of knick-nacks and oddities stood in the entrance. Eric recognized her from Diagon Alley – Luna Lovegood. She was an entertaining, possibly even sociable person except for the small detail that she appeared slightly, well, unbalanced. She had the most dreadful tendency to bring up wild speculations from her father's magazine as if they were the absolute truth. Other endearing habits included discussing non-sequiturs until everyone around her was lost, and performing some of the wildest stunts with the appearance of being perfectly serious.
Eric thought briefly of turning her away for Naomi's sake, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Something about the girl was as charming as a lost kitten, and had the same binding quality. No matter how annoying she could get, to do anything that would hurt her in any way would be the action of someone without a heart. Eric gestured her to sit down, but indicated that she was to be quiet. After all, as far as either of them could tell, Naomi was sleeping. Thankfully, she sank right into her magazine, smiling briefly but otherwise keeping to herself.
A third of the way into the trip, Fred and George Weasley stopped by. It seems that they didn't know the whereabouts of their brother Ron and Harry Potter, and were concerned that somehow they missed the train. Eric had to admit that he hadn't seen either of them, but he wouldn't worry: even if they were left behind, they were second-year students who didn't need to be sorted. Something could be worked out that would get them to the school before classes started.
Eric had to shush the lady with the trolley cart, not wishing to disturb Naomi or start Luna on any kind of conversation. Once the trolley went further, he pulled out a small case. The inside was sealed and lined, padded with leather at the joints to keep the case airtight. It was Eric's own design, and he was rather proud of how well it turned out.
A small cylinder of ice in a stoppered glass tube to keep the inside cold. Surrounding it was a reasonable selection of meats, cheeses, chopped vegetables and a small bottle of juice that Mrs. Peal prepared for the trip. Eric had tried to open it and prepare his lunch as quietly as possible, sharing the contents with Luna while trying to avoid any clatter, but to no avail. Either the sound of shifting items or the smell of lunch had aroused his meditating companion.
"You brought a lunch? Why didn't you just take something off of the trolley?"
Eric smiled slightly. "Trolley items tend to be more along the lines of wizardly confections. There isn't much anything of substance that I would call a lunch."
"I see." She turned back into her pose and settled in for the trip again.
Eric suddenly felt extremely awkward. She was clearly aware of her surroundings, even if she didn't seem to be paying attention. "Um, Naomi? It's a bit into the afternoon. As long as Luna and I are eating, would you like some?"
She looked into the case. "Perhaps a little; thank you." Her manner never changed, and her eating habits held as much nobility as anything else she did. However, Eric did note with some satisfaction that she ate as much as anyone. As Eric began to clean up, she looked up at him again. "So, have you thought about my question?"
Eric became incredibly uncomfortable. This wasn't something he wanted to answer in front of Luna. To his regret, he looked over to find that she had stopped reading her magazine and had become incredibly interested in the conversation. Secrets, it seemed, were very much an interest of hers.
He finished packing the materials and sat across from Naomi. "It's not really clear what happens, so I can't promise anything about what you may or may not be able to do. However, the best I can guess is that the hat picks up on what you want to accomplish at Hogwarts. Those who wish to learn in order to serve others end up in Hufflepuff. Those who are in it for personal glory, fame, or gain end up in Slytherin. So if you have a house in mind, concentrate on those goals which can be best served by that house's reputation."
She looked back to the wall across from her. "Thank you." She then closed her eyes and returned to her pose.
As Eric shrugged and tucked the case away, Luna turned to him, speaking very softly. "What do you think she has in mind?"Luna's eyes were snapping back and forth, trying to watch Eric while never looking away from Naomi.
"Whatever she's planning, I'm sure it won't hurt anyone." He decided to make room for her on his side, which granted her a little more space away from Naomi. She clearly decided that whatever was going to happen was contagious, for she curled up into a little ball, holding her magazine as a shield.
It was another two hours before the porter announced that they were arriving at Hogwarts. Eric excused himself while Naomi and Luna changed into their robes, then gratefully accepted the same courtesy from them.