Platform 4 & 4/5

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

It had been two days since her eleventh birthday. Two days since she had had confirmation of her place at Hogwarts New Zealand. As per tradition, the day previous Geo had been ready and packed to move house, and it had been decided that once she had recieved her letter, the girl would be on her way to settle down closer to her new home. The orphanage had supported her throughout her entire life, and the staff had been kind in reassuring Geo that she would be able to cope in her new environment. Despite the nerves of change, Geo had made it to the Leaky Cauldron without too much trouble. She was now halfway to Hogwarts, and had the chance to settle in to the country she would be calling her home for the next eight years.

It had been agreed that Geo would be renting out a room at the Inn for the following months to come. Here she would be absorbed gracefully into the magical world, moreso that she would have the opporunity to if she were to stay in Brighton. Her small room was on the fifth floor of the Inn, and overlooked the train line that would one day take her all the way to her new school. For now, she would be content with finding her own way, and familiarising herself with the shops, people and culture.

Her clothes were scattered across her bed, as Geo was intent on finding the best outfit to take her first trip outside in. She wanted to explore, and see what was ahead of her. Picking out a pair of thick leggings, and vest top and jumper, she slipped on her black trainers before locking up up, and heading downstairs. As soon as she approached the lower grounds, the sounds of chatter greeted her, and she suddenly became very aware of her isolation. There were men and woman of all ages, shapes and sizes, gathered around the bar and restaurant. Trying hard not to show it, Geo pulled her hood up over her bright pink hair to conceal herself, and headed on over to the counter. She hadn't eaten all day, and didn't plan to go exploring on an empty stomach. Ordering herself a Bubble Juice and Pumpkin Pie, she waited patiently for her food, her eyes darting around the room eager to see the type of folk she would soon be involved with.​

<i></i>

 

[Leila Walden]

Leila was more than happy to take advantage of the fact that her parents had been increasingly busy the past couple of months which had led her to have a lot of freedom and she found herself spending a lot of it around Obsidian Harbour, more often than not, accompanied by her best friend Jessica. This day was no different. The two young girls decided that they would meet in the Leaky Cauldron and from there they would go to their favourite place, the ice cream parlour.

She walked into the inn and looked around for any signs of her best friend but it was quite busy that afternoon and she couldn't see anything. Leila decided to make her way to the bar to try and find somewhere higher up so that she could find her best friend in the throng of people. She found an empty seat next to a person who had tried to cover up their pink hair but failed. They looked like they didn't want to be disturbed so Leila apologised in her head for what she was about to do. She jumped up onto the seat and took a deep breath and shouted "Jess! Jess!" while also waving her arms about so her best friend couldn't miss her.

 

[Sophie Wilson]

Once again, Sophie had been dragged along with her parents to go shopping. She hated it, but her aunt was busy and her parents still refused to let her stay home alone, even though Sophie knew she was definitely responsible enough for it. But enough sighing and rolling her eyes had at least annoyed them, so they had allowed her to go sit at the Leaky Cauldron and wait for them to come pick her up. She was sitting in a corner with a book, a cup of tea in front of her, glad not to be dragged from store to store.

Over the top of her book, she occasionally looked at the different people coming in and out. She liked watching people, especially if they were interesting. Not many were today, though. She spotted a girl nearby, she was standing near the counter. Sophie thought she saw a flash of pink under her hood, but she was probably mistaken. Either way, she looked to be around Sophie's age, and she wondered if she was here all alone. But before she could ponder it for much longer, another girl started shouting and waving her arms. What an idiot. Sophie rolled her eyes and tried to go back to reading her book, but she had completely lost her focus. Instead of blaming herself for daydreaming and looking around, she mentally blamed the very loud girl. She shot her a dirty look as she lowered her book. Shouting like that was so childish.

 

[Jessica Cade]

Jess still couldn't believe how flexible her mother was being with her when it came to how much time she wanted to spend in New Zealand. It helped that her mother was working a lot more and her father was always away playing Quidditch and with both her brothers now at HNZ and it not long before she would be joining them, her mother was actually happy she had made a friend that would be going to school with her. Thankfully her mother had time to apparate her to Obsidian harbour before she went back to work so at least she didn't have to suffer the dreaded floo network again. Given the amount of time Jess had been spending in New Zealand she was tempted to ask her mother if she could just stay there until she started school. It would save her having to be dropped there most days.

She and Leila decided they would meet up in the leaky cauldron, it was one of the easiest places to spot from a far and it was usually where they would meet. Though it seemed they had made a mistake when Jess showed up and the bar was packed to the rafters. Some kids, some adults drinking at the bar. Jess was inside for maybe five or ten minutes when she suddenly heard someone shouting her name. She looked up and saw Leila stood on a seat waving her arms around. "Leila! Leila! She yelled excitedly waving at her best friend. Jess pushed her way through the crowd to where Leila was stood and once she climbed down from the chair Jess flung her arms round Leila.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

</COLOR>

<COLOR color="#8C1717">As Geo's order arrived, she sipped at her Bubble Juice. She was partially aware of someone taking a seat beside her, but had no conscious intention of finding out who. That was, until they began shouting right next to Geo's ear. She may have only been eleven, but even Geo knew it was rude to shout, especially so close to others. She turned her head slightly, in the hopes that the girl would catch sight of her narrowed eyes and quieten down. After a moment, "Jess" and "Leila" embraced, and in doing do almost knocked Geo off her bar stool. They were certainly very pleased to see each other, maybe they were long lost sisters?

Geo tried once more to soley focus on her pie, and stabbed her fork into it. While she was a very social person, it was a very overwhelming thing to move from one country to another, and Geo wanted to explore the city. As much as she wanted to make friends, feeling pushed into the corner by such excited energy was a little difficult to bear.

Geo's eyes continued to glanced around the rest of the bar. It would appear that majority of people in here were adults, but there were the occasional students around her own age. She supposed, since it was almost the holidays, there would be more people in the Inn during this week than usual. Hopefully over the next few months, Geo would begin to learn the regulars, and possibly even find some others that attended Hogwarts before she started there.​

​

<i></i>

 

[Leila Walden]

Leila was very aware that she was disturbing and annoying the people around her, she even felt the person next her glare at her but she didn't care that much. She had to find Jess and this was the only way to do it and her plan seemed to have worked because her best friend came running towards her, shouting Leila's name as she did so. Leila climbed down from her seat and ran to embrace her best friend "yay! I'm sooooo glad you're here. I thought that you would never be able to find me!" she exclaimed, gesturing to the busy inn. "Shall we get out of here? I'm craving ice cream!" she squealed.

 

[Jessica Cade]

Jess was a bubbly person on a normal day, but Leila brought something out in her that made twice as excitable. She was so happy to have found her best friend before even setting foot in Hogwarts, it was just so strange that their siblings knew each other, even stranger that they didn't get alone. Jess didn't understand how anyone wouldn't like the James she knew. She beamed at her friend as she returned the hug and said how glad she was she was there. "Me too! It's been like days since I last saw you, thats toooo long," Jess giggled as she looked around the pub. Leila suggested that they get out of there and mentioned ice cream, Jess's eyes lit up at the suggestion, "Oh Merlin, cookie dough, but what's the rush? We should sit and have a drink, there is an emptish table over there," She said motioning her head to a table that had only one occupant on it. "She looks to be our age, maybe she'll let us join us?" She suggested.

 

[Sophie Wilson]

The annoying excited girl was joined by another annoying excited girl and Sophie sighed deeply. They were so loud, how weren't they embarrassed? She glanced at the quiet girl again, curious about her. If there was anyone she wanted to to talk to, it was that girl. She wasn't sure why. The strange urge passed and Sophie decided she was fine here with her book, she didn't really need to talk to anyone.

Which made it doubly annoying that the second excited girl seemed to be motioning to Sophie's table. Sophie tensed, where they talking about her? Or worse, were they planning to sit here or talk to her? She frowned a little and hid her face behind her book, hoping it would show them how much she did not want them to approach.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Miss Volt wasn't entirely sure what to make of the situation going on beside her. While she didn't like to pry, there was a small part of her who perked up at the knowledge of hearing there was an ice cream parlour nearby, and she was sure she would one day visit it. There was a small movement in Geo's jacket pocket, and carefuly breaking off a piece of the edge of her pastry from the pie, she brought it down inside her pocket. Hopefully no one would realise she had an animal at the bar, but as long as she stayed quiet in her jacket she would be fine.

The girls decided instead to have a drink, and Geo sighed at the thought of not yet being able to follow them around town for good places to visit. Her dark blue eyes followed one of girls arms towards another, who sat alone at a table. The girl was incredibly absorbed in her book, and Geo didn't get the impression she wanted to make friends. She was frowning as she stared at the pages. What book could possibly make her so angry?

Geo watched eagerly as the girls proceeded to advance, curious to the outcome of approaching a stranger in these parts. ​

<i></i>

 

[Leila Walden]

Leila was a little disheartened that Jess suggested that they should stay at the Leaky Cauldron for a bit longer first because she was dying for the ice cream but she agreed to stay in the end and followed Jess over to the table she was gesturing to. The table already had a girl sitting there who seemed determined to read her book and not look at the two of them which amused Leila. She bounded up to the girl and smiled widely "Hi! Can we crash?" she asked the girl but sat down without waiting for an answer anyway. The girl appeared to be the same age as Leila herself and she was always excited to make new friends, even if the other party seemed a little reluctant at first.

 

[Jessica Cade]

Jess could tell that Leila was eager to get some ice cream but there was plenty of time, she first wanted to relax with a drink of something. They had all day to get ice cream after all. Jess smiled at her friend as she followed her to the table. Leila was very polite to the person already sat there and asked if they could crash, Jess wasn't quite so polite, "Of course, she doesn't mind right," She grinned and took a seat next to the girl. "I'm Jess, this is Leila, what's your name? Are you going to Hogwarts in the upcoming year as well?" She asked brightly, not stopping to consider that she might be annoying the girl. After all, why would anyone not want to be social?

 

[Sophie Wilson]

Sophie had sighed quietly in annoyance when one of the girls had approached her and asked if she could crash. She had wanted to say no, but she knew there wasn't a lot of room inside the Leaky Cauldron and that it would be rude. But before she could do as much as give a noncommittal shrug, the other girl thought it was a good idea to make the decision for her. Sophie lowered her book and looked at her. "Oh yes, of course I don't mind." She said, a fake brightness to her voice that quickly soured as her expression morphed into a frown. "I'm clearly sitting here with a book in my face because I just love to be approached by strangers and asked trivial questions. Yes, you have me all figured out." She rolled her eyes and looked at the book again, wondering if it would be enough to make them leave but not really caring either way. If they wanted to stay, Sophie would just show them how good she had become at ignoring people by practicing on her sister. She knew exactly what these girls were like, only pretending to be interested in being friendly to her so they could make fun of her later behind her back. She knew better than to let that happen. It was better to keep them at a distance, make them leave her alone.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

As Geo watched the girls approach the the grumpy looking third, and help themselves to her table, she couldn't help but wonder if they were already a friendly trio by the way they just met up together. Thinking back to her friendship with Riley, she missed having a friend she could truely trust around her. She'd grown up with the girl, but now they had been seperated and were to attend different schools, and Geo would do anything to have a close group of friends at Hogwarts. Shaking the idea out of her head, she concentrated on her next move. Regardless of whether it would result in anything, the pink haired student was determind to get to know someone in these parts, so why not them? Afterall, it would be a bonus if it turned out they'd also be attending Hogwarts.

"Four Apple & Lemon Grass Shots please" She ordered at the bar. She had at this point long finished her Pumpkin pie, and was more energised to be social. She couldn't stand being on her own for too long, and her company would drive her crazy. She picked up the four non-alcholic beverages between her hands, and hopped off her bar stool. "Excuse me" she muttered every few seconds to the oblivious wizards and witches around the room, and eventually she made it to the table of girls she'd been observing so closely. Wiggling her way between the two that had just approached the third, she plonked down the four shots in the centre of the table, and took a seat on the edge of the stool that one of the blondes was currently accommodating. Sharing was caring. She grabbed one of the bright green sour drinks in front of them, and lifted it to head height, before glancing around at the trio before her. "Ever tried an Apple & Lemon Grass shot?" She asked, showing off her pearly whites. "Well go on then" she replied when no one moved, encouraging them to all try it with her. Geo had never had one, but she'd heard about them and how sweet and sour they apparently tasted. "On three?" She added, before drinking it down in one. Instantly her eyes squinted up and began to water. It certainly lived up to it's name. She coughed a little, before loudly placing the glass back on the table. "Wow", finally the hint of apple was coming through, and it was turning into something a little more pleasant. At least they wouldn't be left with a sour taste in their mouths. It was quite refreshing really. "I'm Geo." She announced proudly, not really caring whether they didn't want her here. Afterall they were sat in a public place, so one had to assume they'd be be open to conversing with strangers.

"Oh my god" She looked straight at the book that the dark haired girl opposite was reading. She didn't believe that she could be frowing so deeply at the contents of Tales of Beedle the Bard. "You actually have your own copy of that?!" she exclaimed, before standing and leaning over the table to take the book out the hands of the girl. She riffled through the pages, before stopping at a particular story called The Fountain of Fair Fortune. She'd only ever been told this one story, and only by memory. It was amazing to finally have the book in her hands, and she knew it off by heart. With the story on one page, Geo's hands rested on it, and she looked back up at the girl from whom she taken it, "Is this borrowed or your own?" She asked, her eyes fixed on her, impatiently waiting for an answer.

 

[Leila Walden]

Leila was a little taken aback by the rudeness of the girl opposite her, didn't the she want to meet new people and potentially new friends?! Leila wanted to make as many friends and meet as many people as she could before she went to Hogwarts. At least then she was guaranteed to have friends already at the school with her which would be half the battle when going somewhere new. She was lucky enough to have found Jess and they had become such good friends in a short space of time, the two young girls were inseparable. She whispered to Jess "maybe we should leave her, she doesn't seem very friendly" glancing at the girl with the sour expression. Some people just didn't really like to be bothered and Leila just couldn't understand it.

She was about to leave when another girl approached the table and sat right next to Jess. She was even on the same seat as her! Leila instinctively hooked her arm with Jess's and watched as the girl also put down four shots of something that Leila had never heard of before. Leila looked at the girl and realised it was the one who was next to her when she was looking for Jess. She picked up one of the shot glasses and looked to the girl for instruction. Leila waited for the count of three and she knocked back the whole drink in one and coughed everywhere. "That's horrible! Are you trying to poison us Geo?" she spluttered, half coughing and half laughing. "I'm Leila and she's Jess" she replied pointing to her best friend. "And we didn't catch your name?" Leila asked the girl who didn't want to be bothered. Suddenly, the girl who introduced herself as Geo grabbed the other girl's storybook out of her hands and Leila winced, she didn't think that it was a good idea to do so. The girl proved that she was in no mood to talk or to be disrupted so Leila braced herself for the argument that would ensue between the two girls, all she wanted was ice cream.

 

[Sophie Wilson]

Sophie felt a little bit bad about her outburst but she really didn't like these types of girls. It was better to keep them at a distance from the start. At least they wouldn't be able to stab her in the back later. The dark haired girl seemed disgruntled by Sophie's reply and she felt glad. It wasn't polite to just assume others wanted you around.

She was about to cover her face with her book again and wait until they left when another girl interrupted the group. Sophie looked up, startled. The newcomer had bright pink hair and sat down in the seat the blond girl was occupying. She placed a shot in front of each of them and Sophie was not at all inclined to drink it. It hardly surprised her that the other girls seemed not to think it was weird, they both did what the pink haired girl said. As soon as she saw the other girls' reactions, Sophie was glad she didn't do it. She pushed it away slightly to be safe. "No thanks, uh, Geo." She said awkwardly. This wasn't a situation she often felt herself in, and being surrounded by strangers made her feel weird. Did they all know each other? Was this a big joke they were playing on her? She glanced at each of them. It didn't seem like they had known each other before, but that didn't mean they were friendly. The other girls introduced themselves as well, and Sophie felt obligated to do it as well. "I'm Sophie." She said curtly. "And I'd like to-"

She wanted to say she wanted to be left alone but was cut off by Geo talking to her about her book and taking it from her hands. Sophie just stared at her, not sure how to react. Her first instinct was to get mad and grab the book back from the other girl. But she was halted by the expression on Geo's face. She looked so happy to see the book. Again, she wondered if she was making fun of her, but eventually she decided was too genuine to be fake. "It... it's my own." She said hesitantly.

 

[Jessica Cade]

The girl opposite them didn't seem all that impressed by the appearance of Jess and Leila. Jess smiled at her in an attempt to make her feel comfortable. Jess turned to Leila, who had suggest that maybe they leave her alone as she might not be too friendly, Jess shook her head. "Nah, she just needs to get to know us," Jess stayed in her seat looking over at Leila, who just wanted ice cream. Suddenly they were joined by someone else, a girl about their age, who edged onto Jess's seat, which made the girl blush, and she got a face full of her pink hair as she sat and produced four shots on the table.

Jess look quizzically at Leila as she hooked arms with her after the girl who introduced herself as Geo sat on the edge of Jess's chair. Was her best friend feeling a little threatened. "Leila, relax," She smiled at her and kissed the back of her hand before she turned her attention to Geo and the shots she had placed on the table. Jess took it and downed it, her face screwed up in disgust but the taste soon changed and it was rather quite pleasant. "Hey that's not bad," She grinning at the three girls. Jess turned back to Geo and couldn't help but admire her hair, she slowly raised her hand and ran it through her pink hair. "It's so soft," She whispered.