The train platform brimmed with a mystical vibrancy, as if the air itself buzzed with excitement. Smoke curled lazily from the scarlet steam engine, weaving through the chatter of students and the shrill calls of owls. Laughter and farewells echoed, mingling into a symphony of departure at the platform 9 3/4. 

Sorrel Goldfinch stood amidst it all, her honey-blonde hair catching the morning light like spun silk. Her wide, mismatched eyes, one a bright, curious green and the other a warm hazel shone with a wonder that seemed to spill into everything she touched.

Nestled in her arms was Mr. Sheaf, a tiny white kitten whose eyes mirrored Sorrel's own in a curious twist of fate. It was as if the little creature had been born to match her spirit, soft and unique. Sorrel scratched behind his ears gently, earning a contented purr. "You're going to love Hogwarts this year, Mr. Sheaf," she cooed in her airy, melodic voice. "We'll have so many adventures, I just know it."

Her gaze drifted, catching sight of a small first-year struggling with an unruly trunk. Without hesitation, she flitted over like a sunbeam. "Oh, dear, let me help you," she said, her voice soft but brimming with sincerity. The younger boy's face lit up with relief as Sorrel took one end of the trunk, guiding it onto the train with surprising strength for her slight frame. "There we are! First time can be a little tricky, can't it? You're going to have the most magical time, though. I'm Sorrel, by the way."

Once the first-year had been settled, Sorrel made her way onto the train, her kitten perched delicately on her shoulder. She found an empty compartment and slipped inside, settling Mr. Sheaf on the seat beside her. Opening her satchel, she carefully withdrew a small tin of cat treats and a little notebook adorned with hand-drawn flowers. She offered Mr. Sheaf a treat, his tiny pink nose twitching with delight.

"I've been saving these for you," she murmured. Her notebook fell open to a page filled with doodles and cheerful notes, and she began to sketch absentmindedly, humming a lilting tune under her breath.

The door slid open abruptly, and in strode Cleo MacTavish, her long black hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Cleo's sharp eyes softened the moment they landed on Sorrel. Without a word, she plopped herself down across from her best friend, dropping her bag unceremoniously onto the floor.

"Cleo!" Sorrel's face lit up as she all but launched herself across the compartment, throwing her arms around Cleo in an unabashedly clingy hug. Cleo smirked, ruffling Sorrel's hair affectionately.

"Alright, alright, sunshine. Let me breathe," Cleo teased, though her tone was warm. She pulled a chocolate frog from her pocket and handed it over without prompting. "Here. Thought you might want this."

"You're the best, Cleo. Truly." Sorrel took the chocolate frog with a delighted gasp, her eyes wide. "You always know how to make everything better."

Cleo leaned back, stretching her legs out with a casual confidence. "And you always make everything... brighter," she said, her tone teasing but fond. Sorrel beamed, settling back into her seat with Mr. Sheaf curled in her lap.

As the train lurched forward, the two fell into easy conversation. Sorrel's soft words were met with Cleo's blunt remarks. The contrast between them was striking, but their friendship was seamless. Cleo's actions spoke volumes: the way she glanced around to ensure no one bothered them, the way she reached for Sorrel's trunk without being asked, and the way her sharp gaze softened whenever Sorrel giggled at her own jokes.

Sorrel, for her part, clung to Cleo's presence like a sunflower to the sun. She leaned against her shoulder as the countryside blurred past the window, chattering about everything and nothing. And Cleo, gruff and guarded with most, listened with an indulgent smile only Sorrel could coax from her.

..........

Chapter 1! Wohoo!!

What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!

Izel 🦋