And a New Life Begins... (semi-advanced)

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    Danny Cooper waved one final goodbye to his parents and turned to face the magnificent maroon train. The Hogwarts Express. Well, he thought to himself, this is it. The next seven years of my life begins here.
    He dragged his trunk and owl cage onto the train, struggling to life the heavy luggage with his scrawny eleven-year-old arms. To be honest, he wasn't excited at all. He was nervous. Eleven years with his parents had not prepared him for this life; in fact, it had probably done the opposite. His parents, cast out and scorned by the rest of the pureblood elite, had raised him in near isolation from other children. That was fine, though. He would start over here, at Hogwarts, where he didn't have to play by the rules.
    But first things first. Where to sit? He had no friends to reunite with. He caught a flash of white-blonde hair as he walked down the aisle and assumed it was Scorpius Malfoy, the one his father had always warned him about. He steered clear of him, instead finding a deserted compartment. He closed the door behind him and hefted his luggage to try to store it in the rack, but his trunk was too heavy and the rack was too high. He sighed and let it drop onto the floor, and sat in the corner amusing himself by shooting sparks out of his wand.


    Sign-up thread is here!!
    http://warriorcatsrpg.com/index.php?topic=1316627.new#new

    The post was edited 1 time, last by Creator ().

    Jana E. Swan


    I gave my mum one last hug and waved at my dad before bouncing toward the Hogwarts Express, even if I was tall for 11 years, the huge maroon train still loomed high over me. I hefted my heavy luggage up onto the train, keeping the cat carrier close to me. I heard my calico kitten, Tony, mewling with fright inside, I attempted to ignore her as I climbed aboard.
    Standing in the train corridor, I walked down the long line of compartments, seeing a flash of blonde hair as I went. Scorpius Malfoy, most definitely not sitting with him. I found a compartment that was empty besides a boy, I knocked lightly on the door and smiled at him, hoping he would let me in.
    And now, my 7 years at Hogwarts begin.

    Danny heard rather than saw the door open, and abruptly stopped playing with his wand. He looked up with a mask of indifference, which quickly turned into a gape when he saw the girl standing in the doorway. She had to have been at least twice his height. He closed his mouth -- couldn't seem too impressed -- and gave her a cool once-over.
    "If you're looking for someone, he's not here," Danny said. Inwardly he cringed -- that wouldn't go over too well. First impressions, Danny, he chided himself.

    Jana E. Swan


    I smiled to Danny and shook my head, my long, dirty blonde hair swaying in front of my face. I pushed my bangs behind my ear.
    "Um, no. I'm not looking for anyone, just a place to sit..." I murmured, averting my gaze from the boy so they wouldn't travel to unnecessary places.

    "You're in the right place, then," Danny said with a charming grin. He patted the empty seat next to him. "Don't worry, I don't bite." The girl looked like a fourth or fifth year, especially given her height, but she looked so lost, as if she had never seen a guy with a wand.

    With a crooked smile etched awkwardly across his face, Lukas bent down to give Sammy one last hug.
    "I'll see you guys later!" He stood up and waved halfheartedly to his parents.
    "Come here, dearie, just let me give you one last hug!" His mother broke out into emotional sobs and rushed over to embrace her son. His father coughed, and gently pried his wife away from Lukas. "Now honey, everyone's staring, he's not going to be gone forever."
    The boy mouthed a silent thanks to his father and stepped upon the giant, maroon train. His cat complained loudly as her carrier bumped against all his other luggage.
    "I'm sorry, Alice, but be quiet for now." He huffed as he searched for a fairly empty compartment. He stopped at one where there was just two other people, a boy and a girl. Not paying much attention to them, Lukas settled down in the corner farthest away from the couple. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he set down all his belongings in a neat pile. The blonde boy opened the cat carrier, letting Alice to come bounding out onto his lap. She glared at him with her grey eyes and curled up into a warm ball of fur.
    "I know, I know, I'm sorry." He murmured, stroking his beloved cat. Her fur felt so soft and comfortable between his fingers and he leaned back on the chair, closing his eyes.

    "Is that a cat?" Danny spat suddenly, sitting up and narrowing his eyes at the newcomer. "What's it doing out of its cage? Don't you know cats have fleas?" All thoughts about impressing the girl gone, Danny whipped out his wand and pointed it at the cat. "I hate cats. Scourgify!"

    Lee Wood hugged her mother and father goodbye, then raced the moving train. She grabbed onto an outside rail on the train as it began gaining speed, waved one last time to her parents, then jumped inside as the train left the station. Her luggage was already on, she just needed to find a seat now. Aero squeaked and ran from shoulder to shoulder, not appreciate the sudden, energetic movements. "Oh, you hush now," Lee told her pet with a grin. She began pacing down the isle, searching for an empty or partially empty compartment. She grimaced as she saw the Slytherins seated together. She hadn't liked them since her first year, since the day she stepped foot onto this train for the first time. A dazed look came to her face as she walked down the isle, accidentally running into a compartment door.

    With his icy blue eyes narrowed, Lukas glared at the boy who had basically just insulted him and Alice. What happened next was totally unexpected, however. The boy had just pointed his wand at Alice and cast a spell on her. Lukas didn't hear what the incantation was, so he grabbed his wand and said urgently. "Protego!"
    It was a spell that could protect against minor and moderate and causes the effects to be reflected at the attacker. His father had taught it to him in case he met any bullies. There was no way the blonde boy would let anyone harm his precious pet. It was too late though; Alice had jumped up screeching, her fur suddenly sodden and soapy. Setting his wand aside, Lukas tried reaching out to his cat, but she lashed out, claws extended and bubbles flying everywhere. He drew his hand back, barely noticing the little buds of blood welling up, and dug through his luggage for a towel. Finally, after messing up his clothes, he found one and wrapped Alice in it, rubbing her fur dry.
    His mind raced to find a way to get revenge, but he focused on his cat for now. She was shivering, pupils dilated in fear and shock. Lukas bit his lip, unwilling to start a fight, and tried his best to ignore the other boy.

    Danny grimaced. "Whoops. That was a bit too strong. What a mess." It was too bad he didn't know any cleaning spells. He only knew Scourgify because his mother would use it on him all the time, when he showed up at home after playing outside and tracked mud all over the ground. Hopefully it didn't have any side effects on cats.
    He noticed the death glare the boy was giving him. If looks could kill, he thought to himself. As it was, the glaring was scaring him a little. "...At least it's clean?" he offered with an overly cheerful grin.
    A thump outside the door provided a timely distraction. "I think that was a person." He got up hastily and opened the door to find someone standing there, looking dazed. Closer inspection revealed the person was a girl, despite the short cropped hair and boyish build. He gave her his most charming grin and stepped aside. "Perfect timing, too. Why don't you join us?"

    The post was edited 1 time, last by Creator ().

    "Oh, hey!" Green eyes snapped to attention. Lee suddenly realized she'd just ran into a compartment and her cheeks slightly reddened. "Sorry to bother you," She stated, spotting the fluffy and angry-looking cat, "I was just looking for an empty seat. I'll look for another one if you two are busy." She began to back up, glancing up and down the hall as she did so. Aero poked his head out from behind her neck and looked at Danny curiously. Upon seeing the cat, he squeaked in fear and hid himself again.

    "Oh, we just cleared up a misunderstanding," Danny said with a slight smirk. "We're not busy at all. If you're just looking for some interesting company..." He gestured toward the compartment. "Welcome to the party."

    Lee's eyes and expression brightened immensely. "Great! I love interesting and parties!" She bounded inside and plopped down onto a seat, looking out the window as she spoke. "I'm Lee Wood. Second year. I don't remember you two, so I'm assuming this is your first year?" She asked in an energetic tone, returning her gaze to them. Aero poked his head out and looked at Alice and the two boys nervously.

    "Danny." He stuck out his hand to shake. Now that he was back in the spotlight, Danny was noticeably more cheerful. "First year, but I know where I want to be Sorted. What House are you in, anyway?"
    Then he noticed a pink nose sticking out from behind Lee's neck, and his hand twitched. "Please don't tell me that's a rat. It's a rat, isn't it?"

    ]"Really? Where?" Lee asked, curious. "I'm in Gryffindor. Best house ever!" She exclaimed, pumping her first in the air. Then, her expression turning very offended, she stated, "Aero is not a rat, he's a mouse." She put her hand up to protect him, as if Danny might try to hex her pet.

    "Oh." Danny wrinkled his nose. "Mother told me that Gryffindor was for the people who are all brawn and no brain. Slytherin's where all the great people come from," he quipped, "like me." Then he rolled his eyes, "Rat, mouse, same difference. Just keep it out of my line of vision and maybe I'll forget it's there."

    Lee jumped to her feet. "It is not!" She declared hotly, although her appearance alone solidified Danny's statement. "Gryffindor is brave, noble, and just! And we had Hermione Granger, and she was all brain." Lee sat down again, her emerald eyes still blazing, but her expression calming. Without a word, she stuck Aero into a pocket in her jacket, where he curled up and fell asleep. Maybe this first year boy was going to be a pest... He should go hang out with Scorpius Malfoy. If anything, Lee guessed the Malfoy boy was going to be just like his father. He and Danny would go well together.

    "And a Mudblood," Danny muttered under his breath. Louder, he said, "Well, she married a Weasley of all people, so she must not have been that smart. And Gryffindors are just glorified divas." Honestly, he didn't know what Gryffindors were like, seeing as Lee was the first one he had met, but from he'd heard, they seemed very much like glorified divas. He noticed the icy expression on Lee's face and wondered how he'd gotten on the bad side of two very angry people before he'd even arrived at Hogwarts.

    This guy... Lukas thought with disdain, looking away with a small snort. He honestly wanted to leave the compartment, but all the others must already have tons of people. Deciding not to risk his seat being stolen, the blonde boy got out the cat brush instead, untangling Alice's hair.
    Alice, on the other hand, was more interested in Lee's mouse, her messed up pelt forgotten. Her pink tongue darted out, barely wetting her maw, but to her dismay, the mouse's owner had stuffed the delicious looking rodent in her pocket.
    The talk about houses aroused Lukas's attention and his blue gaze flickered up at the two bickering people. He lowered his head once more as he realized both of their opinions are biased, and that they probably exaggerated a little bit too much. He blew up his cheeks and let the air out slowly, clearly bored. Alice looked up at him with saucer-like eyes and meowed, as if saying "Yeah, I feel you. These people are idiots."

    "Just wait until you get to Hogwarts," Lee replied, her tone cool, "You can't even say yet. You've never been there! All you've heard is from your family, who are probably a bunch of Slytherins. Slytherin and Gryffindor go go way back, but not in a good way." Her expression seemed to brighten a bit as she spoke, as if she knew Danny would change his mind once he actually got to Hogwarts. Slytherin was full of slimy little tricksters, but GrYffindor was home to fearless, strong people like her. The latter was obviously the better one.


    [That was so hard to write, I'm a Slytherin myself. XD]