Whimsical {James Potter}

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Once Again

Cressida crouches in front of Truffle's cage, petting the brown-haired cat's nose. Truffle calls to his owner softly, lifting the young woman's lips at the sound. The cage is temporary, she reminds herself; filled with a soft blanket and a bowl of water she enchanted to not spill. Once again, Cressida stands, leaving her beloved companion to the magic of the Hogwarts Express.

Leaving the carriage desolate of human life, Cressida, with her trunk in hand, ventures down into the main cabins. Her shoulders turn to the side, pressing closer to the outside wall of the train's corridor as students of all ages and house bustle around to find their friends – or make new ones. It's rather amusing to see how the train is laid out. Down the far end, in the open carriages, you will find the Slytherins. A remarkably social type of place considering who currently sits within it, but it fits with what Cressida knows about their common room. Open and cold.

The Ravenclaws tend to migrate to the larger cabins which still have doors, but occupy much greater numbers than ones found closer to the head of the train. They have long tables down the middle, and long cushioned chairs facing each side of the train. Thin and stretched.

This leaves the Hufflepuffs and the Gryffindors to share the small compartment like cabins. They each have a sliding door with a glass window but often enough you could find it pulled down.

Passing through the door separating the different carriages, the train begins to move. Cressida's eyes immediately dart to the closest window, searching for her mother's face. It doesn't appear at first, so she waits patiently until more of the platform passes by. Her smile grows as she passes the Potters. She hadn't been able to see them this time on the platform since she and her mother were running so late but after spending half her summer in their house, they likely hardly miss her. Then her mother appears in the glass, eyes darting back and forth over the carriage windows until she spots her waving daughter. Lips spread open, revealing the large smile that both women share.

As quickly as it came, the platform is gone, leaving a stone wall which would soon be replaced with the countryside of England and Scotland. Cressida turns her shoulders back forward, the smile not wavering from her lips as familiar laughter echoes down the long carriage.

A few compartments down, a blonde girl slips out of the door, shutting is quickly behind her. Cressida perks a brow, stepping to the side to let Marlene pass by. "Already on your way to see Davies?" she taunts.

Marlene squints at the darker haired female, though her eyes are filled with mirth and mischief. "Walters actually." Amy Walters, a seventh year with remarkable skill in potions. Known for her deals under the table. "Nicholas and I spent enough time together this summer to last us through a marriage." Cressida grins as Marlene passes her, both turning around to stretch out their conversation.

"Surely you're getting bored?"

"Not when things change every night." Marlene chuckles at Cressida's contemplative face. "Try not to hog the shower this year!" she calls down the carriage.

"As long as you don't hog the apple tarts!" Cressida cries back, laughing to herself as Marlene gives her a 'weighing the options' gesture before slipping into another compartment. Turning back around, she continues along, peeking into the carriage where Marlene came out of. Sure enough, Lily Evans and three other Gryffindor girls sit inside. Cressida waves inside, receiving a few waves in return. Well, barely waves. More so just lifts of the fingers. She doesn't think much of it really, not when she knows how Lily feels about her friends and the rest of them aren't sure what to think about her most of the time. But it isn't like they don't get along.

Cressida almost slams the door to her compartment open. "I'm surprised not to see you in Lily's cabin, James," she mocks before they even have a chance to look up. James' bright glint fades into a more serious expression. The boy has a squared jaw and a face to match, dark hair in a constantly ruffled state that he has a terrible habit of running his hands through. New, square-framed glasses are perched on his nose, accentuating his dark brows and hazel eyes.