what we didn't have before (tagged)

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Comarth and Tontas were seen off from platform nine and three-quarters by their Father: both his Mother and older brother, Leythan, were absent this year. It didn't mean very much to Comarth who was watching him board a train, but as he glanced across the platform and his peers, he thought he should be feeling some kind of emotion. People were hugging, kissing, crying.

He felt nothing but the warmth of a good breakfast inside of him, which was plenty enough to keep him happy for a few hours.

Tontas had already buggered off to find his own friends, so Comarth made a start on finding his. That's right: this year he had actual comrades, so he already knew things were going to be slightly different.

Craning his neck high above the crowd, he only spotted Hector Burke. Was a Melanthius Burke there too, with the rest of his family?

@Melanthius Burke @Dahlia Travers @Bellona Lestrange

Smiling at her brother, she briefly moved her eyes to look ahead; Sakura hoped she wasn't being rude or impolite by doing so, but this train they were to go to school on was so humongous and marvelous. It was taking her breath away as it occurred to her how such a thing was supposed to be and transport so many people!

She turned back at Hector, her smile unwavering, and gave him an understanding nod. "It is no problem, Hector. We did find our way thanks to your mother."

And like that, Millicent had rejoined the group after letting her future daughter-in-law and her brother go first.

"There's so many people," she observed softly with a light chuckle. That just meant more people to learn the British customs from and more people to talk to as she adjusted to her new life here. Then Hector pulled out some kind of necklace, and her eyes widened. Sakura gently took the necklace box and stuck it in one of her carry bags so she wouldn't lose it. "This is very beautiful and thoughtful, Hector. Thank you for the gift."

Sakura then looked at Thius and Bel and said, "I am happy to be making this travel with both of you. Will you show my brother and me where to sit?"

She didn't want to hold them up!

@Hector Burke @Bellona Lestrange

”Its your toy, do with it what you will.” she said with a shrug of her thin shoulders. There was no way she was letting him live it down anyway, whether he threw it from the train or not. ”Don’t worry, darling, I won’t tell anyone about him if you decide to keep him instead.” she said with a certain purr to her voice that probably meant trouble… or maybe she was just trying to stay in character for their plan that would follow whenever they were on holidays or whatever.

A grin came to her lips as she pulled the correct vial from her bag, the glass vial neatly labeled as a boil potion. She handed it over to Comarth. ”maybe this will get him to stop pounding at the door. He is beginning to give me a headache.” she said, rubbing her temples after handing him the potion as if to ease the ache there.

@Comarth Selwyn

Relieved to be back on the magical side of the barrier, Millicent looked between the six of them. She nodded in approval at the crystals Hector was handing out; having another avenue of communication was certainly going to make wedding planning over the next few months much simpler. It was time for her to wave them goodbye.

"I've lost track of Cecelia, but you know exactly what I'm going to say Melanthius. As always, focus on your academics and don't do anything untoward. Your grandmother would have a heart attack. This applies to every single one of you, but I trust that you four will conduct yourselves just fine."

"I know, mother," Thius replied, feeling ready to finally board the train.

"Good. Now come and give me a hug before you even think about getting on that train."

Thius extended himself for a half-hug as he was in charge of pushing the trolley. "Love you, mother. I shall write to you once we're settled in for classes."

"I love you too, Melanthius." She was capable of being warm, but it was mainly in regards to her children. "Now you kids get on the train before you're left behind."

It was obviously not close to departing just yet, but she wanted the sense of urgency to hit them like bricks.

@Saburo Tokugawa @Bellona Lestrange

Were they just going to ignore him? He wasn't going to go anywhere until Selwyn knew what his brother did with his phone!

Vile horror, he thought bitterly, hearing the wishy-washy song of her voice and wincing as though it were nails down a chalk board. He wanted to tease her about how good she was getting at it, but then he remembered that under her potion, he had acted abysmally, and she could very well tease him about that in defiance.

Instead, he just made a sound like a grunting bull and whipped the potion clean out of her hand.

"And I," he concurred, uncorking the bottle before turning to the door and unlocking it.

Sliding it open, he faced the Hufflepuff boy and splashed the contents over his face without blinking. Then he shut the door again, locked it, and took a seat next to Dahlia. "I hope he's possessed too. He seems to believe my brother took something of his, when the only thing my brother has taken is my time spent in his company." He was under the impression Largo was talking about Tontas, not Leythan.

@Dahlia Travers

"See you soon, I hope, Mrs Burke," Bellona responded courteously, then glanced at the two Japanese siblings, then Hector. She nodded to him a farewell, which she got back in return.

"Follow us, Sakura, Saburo," she said kindly, already walking in front.

@Melanthius Burke

Sakura was leaving. As his Mother spoke to Thius and the others, he couldn't quite keep his cool. He was clearly dithering about something, almost bouncing around on the spot whilst arguing with himself.

She might be offended by it.

She might hate it.

It might be going to step too far for her.

But I shan't see her again for some time.

And we are to be married...

"Sakura," he said gently, then stepped forwards to kiss her on the cheek. It wasn't so much a peck as his lips lingered, but on retreat he did it quickly - turning pink. "Goodbye," he whispered, feeling as though a private farewell was more meaningful somehow. "I will write to you, and talk to you, once you get used to your crystal. Take care." He looked as though he might kiss her again, but thought better of it. Instead, he was just smiling sheepishly at her, turning steadily pinker.

@Sakura Tokugawa

Saburo didn't quite know what he was looking at, exactly. For a man to boldly kiss an unmarried woman in front of so many spectators was so frighteningly bizarre to him, he thought at first about challenging Hector in combat. Then, he had to remember, these British wizards may have seen a kiss goodbye as something tepid and not worth mentioning: common practice.

His kitsune was growling quietly at his heels.

"Shh," he silenced him, holding his hand on top of his head.

If goodbye was a kiss, did that mean he was expected, as a male of no relation, to kiss Mrs Burke? His eyes lingered on her shyly, then he flushed and looked away again. No - even if it were customary, he could never do it.

He went to Melanthius and Bellona instead.

She was just about to give her goodbyes when her betrothed came to her and gave a kiss on the cheek. Her cheeks turned as pink as her namesake as her kitsune stood there as flustered as she was. As her kitsune tried to hide its face, Sakura looked embarrassed; was that a custom here? Were the British just more bold than the people of her homeland? Whatever it was, she wasn't going to complain as she didn't want to be impolite, and that kiss on the cheek made her stomach flutter.

"Goodbye, Hector. I will write to you soon." She turned to Millicent and Minnie one last time. "Goodbye, Mrs. Burke, goodbye Minnie. I hope to see you both soon."

Smiling, her cheeks were turning into a normal blush tone as she joined her brother ro be led onto the train.

Thius wasn't paying attention to whatever Hector was doing as all he could think about was getting on the train, finding their compartments, and giving Bellona more affection now that Hector wouldn't be there to scrutinize them. He looked behind him as the Tokugawa siblings joined them one-by-one.

"Let's go, babe," he said before quickly nodding at both his brother and Minnie goodbye.

Then he began to push the trolley around the platform, telling each and every person they went by, "Excuse us, we have places to be!" Finally, Thius was able to push the trolley through the threshold of the carriage. Now he just had to find where Comarth and Travers were sitting.

@Bellona Lestrange @Saburo Tokugawa

As he was about to pound on the door to receive some actual acknowledgment, there was suddenly a large splash on his face. He stood there in shock as boils began to grossly form.

Down the corridor came the sound of wheels and multiple feet walking. He turned until he noticed Burke, who looked as if he had no hesitations to run him over.

"Get out of our way, Largo. You're blocking our path."

Cernunnos swiftly ran back to where he was earlier. He was going to find a prefect!

Seeing how they were both blushing at each other, Bellona had an overwhelming desire to laugh. She didn't, but she pulled a face that suggested it might crack at any given moment. It was cute, perhaps on Sakura's part, but Hector, really? He'd never really known him to blush unless he was being put on the spot about something.

Smiling at Melanthius and with Nightstar's carrier safely clutched in her hand, she made way alongside them.

"Do you like the train?" she was saying to Sakura and Saburo, unperturbed by her boyfriend shunting people out of the way. So he should! Saburo seemed to bow and apologise to everyone who he touched shoulders with, however, including the people Melanthius had dismissed. "It's split into compartments, and you'll have one next to us. It's unlikely that you'll be bothered by anyone, but there will be a lunch trolley selling snacks around one o'clock. We'll arrive in Hogsmeade station for around six, then we board the thestral carriages. With any luck we'll be eating around half past seven in the Great Hall, after the sorting."

While she explained, they were boarding the train and managed to get near the front. She gave Largo her own hostile look, but noticed he'd broken out into boils. She laughed derisively.

"This must be our compartment, then," she said, seeing Dahlia through a gap in the blinds. She went to open the door, but realised it was locked. "Ooh, already locking doors are we?" she chortled, sniggering as she tried to get a better look through the blinds. "He gave her a toy dragon!" she screeched, bewildered.

@Melanthius Burke

Like her brother, Sakura also bowed and smiled apologetically at the people she brushed by. She also apologized for her kitsune possibly getting in their way; she noticed that some were intimidated by her animal companion. If she didn't say anything to give them ease of mind, she'd feel nothing but guilt.

Sakura glanced around the train curiously, seeing various empty spaces, open compartments full of chatter, a closed compartment with strange noises. It was all so different from what she was used to! If she ever had to travel far within Japan, nobody let even the slightest noise escape their mouths. It wouldn't be respectful of everyone else's time and space to disturb them.

"The train is big and spacious, it is very nice, Bel."

From the looks of the open compartments, it appeared there wouldn't have been enough room for all of them and the kitsunes, so Sakura appreciated to be in the one next to them. While Bellona was looking through the blinds of the compartment, she petted her kitsune lightly and guided it over to the free compartment across from them.

"Brother, look, our kitsunes have lots of room to stretch during our journey."

Taking in the new sights, Sakura walked towards the window, setting her carry bag down on one of the seats. "There is so many people out here!"

@Saburo Tokugawa

Cackling as Largo ran out of their sight, Thius moved to the front of the trolley to see what his girlfriend was looking at. Ha! It seems his suspicions were totally correct for Comarth to have given Travers a plush dragon. One side of his mouth upturned into a smirk as Thius began knocking at the door to alert their friends of their presence.

"Look at you two lovebirds!" he snorted, his cheeks already manically red from laughter. "You should've been there when Travers tested her last potion, princess. Comarth was asking her for cuddles and for her to sit on his lap...."

@Bellona Lestrange

Dahlia smirked as Comarth took the potion and opened the compartment door long enough to splash the contents on the nuisance on the other side. "He actually stopped pounding and yelling, good one Selwyn." She settled back in her seat then before she heard another pounding at the door. "Can't he take a hint?" She said, rather drolly as she assumed it was Largo pounding at the door once again. Probably the shock had worn off. Then Burke's voice sounded through the door and his words caused her face to morph from a grin into her best scowl.

"Love birds? Is he bloody insane?" She said as she got up from her seat and stomped over to the door. "It would serve you well to shut your mouth immediately, Burke. If you know what's good for you." She threatened despite moving to the side to let him and Bellona enter through the now-open door. "Largo was being a nuisance but we took care of him." She said as she waited for them to enter the compartment so she could shut and lock the door behind them once more.

@Melanthius Burke @Bellona Lestrange @Comarth Selwyn

Giggling as the two of them taunted from the outside, she immediately cut off from her laughter to thump him mercilessly in the stomach. Her face suddenly clouded, darkened, and threatened an ice storm.

"That was exactly what entertained them when you'd taken that sodding potion!" she thundered, and the hand she had on the glass pane was making little swirls and patterns of frost in the direction of the handle. "Although it is funny to think of Selwyn being that way..." she countered, and the ice retracted somewhat, "But it wasn't funny when it was me!"

The handle glittered.

She realised Sakura and Saburo were still standing there, and pasted a smile on her face. "Apologies - Sakura, Saburo, please - this will be your compartment..." she started gracefully, shoving past Thius and showing them inside the one next to theirs.

@Melanthius Burke

After being praised and much of the female rage being directed at Melanthius now, Comarth sat back to watch it all unfold. He didn't even have to try rising to his defence, as the two girls were doing it for him. He was grinning at poor, poor Thius.

@Melanthius Burke

"I shall, Travers."

He'd rather not his drink spiked by whatever new concoction she made for torturing. Guess he couldn't have that kind of banter with her or Comarth yet.

Yep, it was going to be a while until they both could laugh over what happened when he took it, but that was fine. As he told her before, he'd do anything to make up for it. Although it was very sexy seeing her eyes fill with wrath. Being hit in the stomach, Thius flushed and replied, "My apologies, princess. I shall get your luggage up for you."

Nodding at her, he entered the compartment, pulling the trolley closer to the door. Comarth and Travers didn't need told to move their feet out of the way. With haste, he commenced storing her luggage.

@Bellona Lestrange @Dahlia Travers

What were they talking about? Was it normal for the British to speak so loudly in such a contained area? Who were the people in the occupied compartment?

"Thank you, Bel. You are very kind."

Sakura smiled at her while her kitsune was looking at Nightstar through her carrier. As she was going to be there for hours, Sakura slipped off her shoes and left them outside of the compartment door to keep the inside clean.

@Bellona Lestrange

Dahlia stomped back over to the bench she had been occupying when she was content that Burke had been properly chastised and seemed to take the warning to heart. She would forgive him of his indiscretions for now. She knew that they would probably have to endure the two blubbering all over each other most of the trip but she still called out to them. "Would you two hurry up and get in here before he comes back and I have to hear his incessant whining again." She said as she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them, something she often did when she was thinking or just annoyed. Her parents often scolded her that it was unladylike but she didn't care. "He was making me positively murderous and I don't want to go to Azkaban today." She murmured, though those inside the compartment would probably be the only ones able to hear her.

@Melanthius Burke  @Comarth Selwyn  @Bellona Lestrange

Her smile of seeing off the Tokugawa's dropped as soon as Dahlia's stern voice cut through the atmosphere, and Bellona furrowed her brow. They definitely weren't on good enough terms to start taking orders from one another, she thought bitterly, but nevertheless - she entered through the compartment and slid the door shut. Then she locked it behind her.

"Good enough for you now, Princess?" she scathed, with a smirk curling at the edge of her lip. If they couldn't be clear-cut friends, perhaps a friendly rivalry between them would be more thrilling.

Placing Nightstar's cat carrier on the floor, she opened it for her immediately. "Awwh - there we go, my lovely Nightstar!" she cooed, pouting, "Are you cross with me? Are you, baby? Well..."

She looked up at Selwyn, and smirked.

"There's a horrid boy for you to hiss at. Yes there is~"

But, almost in defiance at being stuck inside the carrier for that long, Nightstar went for Dahlia instead. She hopped up onto the seat next to her, and started rubbing her whiskers against her leg. Bellona frowned slightly.

@Dahlia Travers

"Hah - I am the exception for your pet, it seems. Perhaps she can sense my respect and care for all living creatures."

He said that as though he didn't strip through the dead bodies of animals and harvested their organs for experimentation processes. Or use toads and mice for testing.

In other words, he was quite full of shit.

"Thius - who were those people in the garish robes?" he asked his friend, deciding to help him with some of the luggage.

@Melanthius Burke

"I see you're taking on a man's job, Comarth," he commented, getting his suitcases up above his and Bellona's side of the compartment simply so that was out of the way.

"They're my future in-laws. This is their first year attending an actual school, so be patient with them."

As part of his Head Boy duties on the train, he'd have to ask them how they were finding it. At least he wouldn't have to go very far.  "Sakura is my brother's betrothed and Saburo is her brother. I honestly can't see either in Slytherin, and perhaps that's for the best considering the company my brother wants them to avoid... The four of us are some of the few Slytherins that have class.

@Comarth Selwyn

Comarth all of a sudden dropped the bag he was lifting to the rack, and it clattered back down onto the trolley. His eyes were widened with maddened intrigue. It looked as though he might start vibrating, or shaking, or scream: perhaps a combination of all of those. Instead, however, he merely bolted for the door and cursed at the existence of locks as he battled with it.

"Japanese - can't delay - have to ask them - back soon - maybe not - Japanese..."

And on that note, he sprung out of the door as soon as it was released, shut it, and rapped delightfully on the compartment next door holding the Japanese in-laws.

"Hello, I'm Comarth Selwyn," he said quickly, like a salesperson hurrying to a pitch. Entering further into their compartment, he regarded the two of them like they were newly discovered elements. "What are they? Foxes? I like them. Where do you get them? Anyway - another time. Are you at all aware of the Order of the Azure Dragonflight within your country?" He was hopping about on his heels and looking between them eagerly like a crazy person.

@Sakura Tokugawa

After the noises and shouts of the corridor beyond, Saburo was glad to be settling inside the compartment. It was comfortable, clean, and more importantly - provided them with a window to see the outside as they travelled. There was a musty sort of scent to it, but in a way that made you appreciate things that existed way before your time.

Then, there was an almighty clatter. A frantic boy appeared, and his kitsune retreated to the furthest point of the compartment, alongside Sakura's.

"Hello..." he said uncertainly, not wanting to appear rude but at the same time looking utterly bewildered. "I haven't heard of that, no. I'm sorry." He dipped his head in a light bow, hoping that would be the end of their conversation but feared there was more to come.