Relief poured over Elmund as the Hogwarts Express began to slowly rock forward. The motion lulled the nerves that had remained his constant companion over the past three days. Maybe he would even be able to sleep in his small train compartment that was empty until three boys loomed into the doorway, leaving him no escape. "Hello cousin" Elmund said amiably, trying not to let the disappointment fill his voice. Joren Ruthsfeld was a third cousin whom Elmund found particularly distasteful. Joren was a Slytherin to the core. "How are you?" Bitterness filled Elmund's voice despite his attempts to quell it and keep his disdain out.
"Elmund, what a surprise! I half-expected you to remain cooped up at the Grindalwood Manor, since you didn't come to the summer soiree back in July." Joren's lipped curled nastily. It was practically unforgiveable to miss out on the party Joren threw every year. All the cousins of the Grindalwood family who attended Hogwarts were expected to go. In the past, Elmund only went to the cabin where it was held in fear that Joren might decide to make him his punching bag for the year if he refused. Joren had always taken a special interest in Elmund for reasons he did not know of.
"You know how my Father is. This year it was all about training during the summer." A dark shadow filled Elmund's face to the surprise of the three other boys but they did not question him. The only happy reprieve Elmund had received all summer came from being forced to remain home to study. Distractions were not welcome during his last summer of training.
"While it has been quite some time since your father allowed himself to be seen in public, I do recall his overbearing persona. Pity, you missed quite a good bash this year. I had to make sure it was extra special as it was the last I would be throwing. Kitten will be the next soiree mistress. I heard from her about next year and it is supposed to be quite good. We'll be adults though and no allowed to attend so it doesn't matter in the end of she does well or not but I'd hoped to pass my legacy on to someone with skills." Joren sniffed, taking the whole bench opposite Elmund for himself, leaving his lackeys, Summer and Colter, to join Elmund on the opposite side. Summer plumped his beefy body on Elmund's left next to the window and Colter slid in like a cat onto Elmund's right. Panic was rising in Elmund's throat but he couldn't very well leave or he'd attract more unwanted attention. Summer tended to use his weight to body check younger kids into submission while Colter particularly excellent at stinging hex's.
While Elmund caught Joren's attention quite frequently, Joren tended to leave Elmund alone. It took the rare occasion where he was in the wrong place at the wrong time when Joren was in a bad mood for him to try something on Elmund. His often foul moods would catch anyone in his path. If it weren't for his stature, Elmund believed that he might have been the target of Joren's mood more than he was. He wasn't blind to the annoyed expressions that ran across Joren's face when he glanced at Elmund.
"Yes, Father has been a bit reclusive as of late. I will have to speak with him about it. The leader of the Grindalwood's should never be thought of as shirking his duties in any circumstance." Elmund left off with the rest of what he'd planned to say when Joren snorted. He didn't want Joren to think he was threatening him to keep his mouth shut.
As Elmund remained quiet, the other boys began talking. He looked for a good opportunity to escape but none arose until half of the train trip was completed and the trolley was making its rounds with snacks. "Shall I get you anything from the trolley? I'm going to pick up a couple of pumpkin pasties." Elmund volunteered as soon as he heard the creaking of wheels.
"None, thanks. I've decided that Summer was retain a diet this year and Colter and I do not eat sugary snacks. Quidditch players should never really eat sugary snacks as a whole. It's in bad health." Joren spoke for all three of them to the sad face of Summer. It was obvious he wanted something which gave Elmund an idea as he left the room without plans to return until the train was almost done with and he'd have to change into his robes.
Wandering the hallway, glancing at all the laughing children returning to Hogwarts and the nervous faces of the new ones, Elmund looked for anyone he knew just so he could make conversation and have an excuse to stay out for longer. There were a couple of people he greeted along the way, asking about how their summer gone. Half of them were cousins of his in some way or other and it was his duty to greet them all. He managed to talk about the Quidditch World Cup results with a few of the 7th year boys in Ravenclaw who were on the Quidditch team even though he hadn't been able to attend. His plan was working quite well and he returned with two pumpkin pasties as planned in time to change into his Ravenclaw robes.
Changing with Joren, Summer, and Colter was a bit akward as they were bulky and took up a lot more space then the slender Elmund. Colter wasn't in the way as much but the fact that he was being pushed into Colter by Summer made it just as terrible. He could feel Colter's hot breathe on his neck as he attempted to pull a sweater over his head. Letting out a cry as he fell forward at an emerging bump on the track, he was thrown face first with the sweater over his head into Colter, knocking them both down. Red faced, he profusely apologized, trying to stand up.
"Apologizing on your knees is a good look for you Elmund." Joren laughed while Colter and Summer smirked. Embarrassment and humiliation were often felt in the presence of Joren and today was no different. Elmund didn't know why he hoped it would be. He'd just felt that maybe his 7th year at Hogwarts would be a lot more magical and it certainly wasn't starting off that way.