Crossing a Bridge (Train; OPEN)

[Deleted]

September 1, 2025

The King’s Cross station hadn’t seemed very different from the train stations that she had seen in Russia, although Dasha couldn’t recall the last time—or any time—that she had been to a train station without being there to beg or to elicit sympathy. It hurt her to have to say goodbye to Dmitri, but boarding the Hogwarts Express cemented that she was really going to school.

Dasha had noticed that there was no seat specified on her ticket, which made everything much easier. She didn't have a pet of her own, so she didn't have to think about where to sit to keep it from interfering with any of the other animals. She had her trunk, of course, and her requisite school robes and a few books in a separate bag for the journey. As other students wrestled with their belongings to get them onto the train, she boarded the nearest carriage and down the corridor to an available compartment.

While she had hoped to find a window seat on the side of the train nearest to the platform, she wasn’t so fortunate. More and more students were making their way onto the train, too, and Dasha was careful not to be so choosy. She was one of them because she was going to be a Hogwarts student, but she felt more like some of the eleven-year-olds—determined to make something of herself but not quite knowing where she fit… and certainly not among the students of her own age yet. Making her way into a compartment where she didn’t think she was intruding on anyone’s conversation, she wound up with a middle seat, sandwiched between two other students once she had put her trunk away.

It wasn’t exactly as she had pictured it in her daydreams, but it was about the destination. Quickly, she pulled out one of her books, a book on runes that was written in Russian, and began to skim its pages. It wasn’t a new book, and she’d read it before, but it gave her something to do that would hopefully keep her from bothering anyone else.

OOC: Open!

[Deleted]

You never think through what you're gonna do or say We don't worry 'bout tomorrow We just hope for some kind of change

After spending her first three years at Ilvermorny, and only one year at Hogwarts, one would have assumed that young Yvette would be excited to head back. And a part of her was. She was ready to see what the new school year had to offer. And since there was no chance of her returning to Ilvermorny, due to her parents' death, she would have to get used to Hogwarts. At least, for her last few years there. And seeing as her graduation date was years away, she knew she would have plenty of time to cope with the change. But once Ilvermorny opened once more, deemed safe by the government, she knew sadness would wash over her.

She and her siblings had been forced to transition to Hogwarts close to the end of her third year, due to the sudden death. Their grandmother hadn't been one to want to stay until they finished, ripping them from their home and school and thrusting them into a new life. Those last few months plus her entire fourth year, it had been an interesting one. At least she had her sisters by her side, even if her twin had been placed into a different house. Something she was still not used to, even as they gathered their things and headed to King Cross Station.

Arriving on Platform 9 ¾, the siblings were separated; thus, Yvette was left to wander around the Express searching for a seat. Perhaps Yvonne would find her and sit with her? She internally shrugged her shoulders, knowing that she had to find somewhere to sit. And she found a semi-empty car, slowly knocking against the wood with a timid smile. She had realized the girl was reading the minute she hit, "Sorry...I don't mean to interrupt, but are you waiting for people? Or is it okay for me to sit?" she questioned, her voice almost squeaking out of her lips.

@dasha

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

September 1, 2025

There was still some space in the compartment, and the next person to approach was a girl who must have been about Dasha's own age. Dasha heard her knock against the wood before she saw her, but she looked up from her book at the sound. "Sorry… I don't mean to interrupt, but are you waiting for people? Or is it okay for me to sit?" The girl sounded as though she must have been one of the Americans.

Unless the students beside her were waiting for anyone and hadn't spoken up about it, Dasha didn't think that they were waiting for anybody. After a brief pause during which one of them could have jumped in, she shut her book and answered on behalf of the carriage. "No," she replied and shook her head, her Russian accent thick as she continued to speak. "We are not waiting." (Aside from waiting for the train to leave, they weren't. They weren't waiting for anyone, and it looked like the students who were already beside her might have been young enough that they didn't know anybody, either.)

In turn, the other students who were already seated spoke up to reiterate what Dasha had said before them; they weren't waiting for anyone else to join them.

"Sit," Dasha offered with a little smile, motioning towards the available seat across from her.

@yvette

[Deleted]

You never think through what you're gonna do or say We don't worry 'bout tomorrow We just hope for some kind of change

It hadn't been that Yvette was ignoring the fact that there were others in the compartment beside the girl reading, it was more so because the open seat was across from that very girl. Once she asked, the girl looked up from her book, and quickly told her no, that they weren't. Her attention slowly slid to the others, smiling as they agreed with the Russian girl that no one else came. Of course, the minute the girl told her to sit, her attention snapped towards her. Her Russian accent was thick, almost booming; she had to stop herself from jumping a little. She knew that the girl meant well, especially with the smile on her face.

Yvette found herself smiling back, though much wider than the other girl had. And slowly found herself entering the compartment, excusing herself if she had to slip past feet to get to the spot across from the girl. With Yvette now inside, slipping her luggage above the seat, she slid down. This was her second time on this train, and still, it felt like the first. Her attention drew around each person, noting that she had seen the others before, but the Russian was new. She smiled, nodding towards her, "I don't think I've seen you around before...are you new?" she questioned, her voice soft before she held out her hand, "I'm Yvette."

@dasha

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

September 1, 2025

The other girl who had just approached gave her a wide smile, though it seemed to Dasha that she had been surprised to hear her voice—probably because it wasn't a British or American accent. Slowly, the other girl entered the compartment and made her way over to the seat across from where Dasha was seated. It took her a moment, as was to be expected as she avoided the other students' feet, but she made it without incident. "I don't think I've seen you around before…" she said, addressing Dasha herself, "are you new?"

"Yes, I'm new," Dasha answered, reaching across the book in her lap and taking the other girl's hand in hers when she extended it for a handshake.

"I'm Yvette."

Shaking Yvette's hand firmly, Dasha offered her a polite smile. "Dasha."

@yvette

[Deleted]

You never think through what you're gonna do or say We don't worry 'bout tomorrow We just hope for some kind of change

The brunette had been correct with her assumption; her thoughts that she had never seen the girl before were true. She had confirmed it, though, it didn't take much to guess due to the Russian accent. Wasn't there a school in Russia? Or one that many Russian's went to? She couldn't recall the name...it was on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to groan at the fact that she had failed to recall. She barely knew the other schools, besides the main popular ones like Ilvermorny and Hogwarts.

She watched as the girl placed her book down, her palm stretching out to place itself in Yvette's, and they shook. Formalities exchanged, and she smiled back at the girl, her eyes shining brightly with happiness. "It's nice to meet you, Dasha," she said, her tone holding the truth. Yvette was always down to meeting new people.

@dasha ● i am so sorry for the wait!

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

September 1, 2025

Yvette told her that it was nice to meet her, and Dasha nodded her head in response. "It is nice to meet you, too," she said, not having any reason why it wouldn't have been nice to meet her. The other girl seemed nice, at least; she smiled at her in an obviously friendly way. It seemed, too, that she was one of the American students.

Dasha hadn't bothered to ask any of the younger students in the carriage with them for their names when she'd gotten herself and her things situated, but there was time for that. Yvette, on the other hand, looked to be closer to her own age, and Dasha presumed that they would be more likely to interact with one another on that basis. "You are in which year?" she asked her then, wondering if they had that in common.

@yvette

[Deleted]

You never think through what you're gonna do or say We don't worry 'bout tomorrow We just hope for some kind of change

The introductions between the two girls was short and sweet, not that she had minded too much about it. Though she should have asked for the other students' names and introduced herself, it seemed like they had busied themselves in other forms, leaving her and Dasha to talk. However, she wasn't sure if the girl was interested in talking to her.

But as she got more comfortable in her seat, Dasha spoke once more, asking her what year she was in. Her attention moved towards her, smiling before she responded, "Fifth. You?" The girl looked about her age, maybe younger. But for all she knew, the girl could in her upper years, holding a young face.

She had seen a few people like that, learning they were almost eighteen and looking like they were twelve. Her mother always joked and said it meant that when they were fifty, they'd look like they were in their thirties.

@dasha

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

September 1, 2025

"Fifth," said Yvette, and immediately Dasha was relieved to know that she had met another person who would be in her year with her at Hogwarts. There must have been many more students entering their fifth year, too, but it made for a good start. Even if they didn't have much in common, it meant that she knew someone, so that was advantageous, Dasha knew. "You?"

"I will be in the fifth year also," Dasha replied to her, nodding. She was glad that she had learned years before how to interact with others in ways that would match how they interacted with her, even when she was put in situations that were unfamiliar to her. Then again, most of the people she had encountered in her life up until that point hadn't stayed in her life for very long at all. Her siblings—not even their father—were the exception, so actually forming friendships with people that weren't based on some sort of transaction was new to her.

@yvette

[Deleted]

You never think through what you're gonna do or say We don't worry 'bout tomorrow We just hope for some kind of change

The minute the female revealed that she was in the same year as Yvette, her smile grew bigger. She was attempting to hide the excitement that she felt, having another member of the same year as herself. Though, it made her wonder what house she was in, or at least, what house she would be sorted into. Seeing as she was new to the school, she would likely be sorted with the first years or maybe have a backroom sorting like Yvette, and her siblings did from the way it sounded.

Wanting to make more small-talk, though somewhat scared to be annoying the girl, she remained quiet for a few beats. And then came the questions; Yvette was not someone that could keep silent. "Do you know what house you are in yet? Have any guesses?" she questioned. She knew the female wasn't from Ilvermorny, and she wondered where she came from. Should she ask now? Should she wait? She was nosy.

@dasha

MADE BY VEL OF GS