The Fox In A Snake Pit!

Apollo and Daphne~ July 2025

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Jade found herself at the train station once again. This time, however, it was filled with a bustling crowd of people. Most of them appeared to be ordinary Muggles going about their daily routines. However, amidst the crowd, she noticed an interesting phenomenon. She saw a group of oddly dressed individuals—witches and wizards—vanish mysteriously into a seemingly solid brick wall. Intrigued by this peculiar sight, she decided to investigate further. She discreetly followed two dirty blondes who confidently made their way toward the enigmatic wall. 

With every step they took, her curiosity intensified. She wondered what lay beyond the hidden entrance. Without hesitation, she gathered her courage to follow them. As she got closer to the wall, excitement surged through her veins. Taking a deep breath, she moved forward, crossed the threshold, and disappeared into the unknown. 

When Jade opened her eyes again, she found herself standing on Platform 9 3/4 for the first time. Her heart raced in her chest as the realization hit her: "I truly am a witch! This isn't just a dream. I'm actually going to Hogwarts!" 

The platform was a whirlwind of colors and noises. Steam engines puffed clouds of mist, students chattered in a mix of languages, and parents waved goodbye with teary eyes. The Hogwarts Express was a majestic red train with a black smokestack, and it looked as if it had been plucked straight from the pages of a storybook. 

After she had calmed down, Jade noticed a group of four red-haired boys and a girl nearby, all of them gathered around a boy with glasses. She could hear them clearly asking him if he was 'Harry Potter.' She was confused by their excitement and wondered what was so special about his name. She couldn't understand why it was such a big deal, but she knew it had to be significant. With that thought in mind, she dismissed it and went to find a good place for her things and board the train. 

Once she finally stumbled upon an empty train compartment, she cautiously positioned the owl's cage to her right, allowing for an unobstructed view of the window. She nestled into her seat and eagerly anticipated the train's departure. However, as time passed and the train continued to sit idle, boredom began to seep into her mind, prompting her to voice her annoyance. 

"Ugh, this is so boring." Her sweet-sounding voice was tinged with the slightest hint of impatience. The quiet of the train compartment only heightened her feelings of boredom. To her surprise, however, a voice answered her complaint from her right side. 

Startled, Jade turned her gaze to the source of the sound. In the owl's cage was the owl Lucius had given her, the source of the strange voice. "You're bored? Try being cooped up in a cage all day," the bird replied, its tone laced with sarcasm. 

She was taken aback by this unexpected turn. She was astounded by the bird's ability to speak in human language. It was odd enough when she discovered that she could talk to a snake, but a talking owl? That felt like something right out of a fantasy story. She couldn't help but think that there might be more to this unusual situation. "No, it couldn't possibly happen with anything other than snakes... could it?" she thought to herself, skeptically eyeing the bird. However, as she turned to look back out the window, the bird's voice broke through her thoughts. 

"Do you have a staring problem, human?" the owl quipped, tilting its head and blinking its amber eyes at her. 

Jade turned abruptly, startled by the bird's unexpected question, as she had never anticipated it would speak to her directly. A moment of hesitation passed before she said, "Wait, you can actually talk to me?" She had always dreamed of the ability to talk with animals, and it appeared her dream was coming true in the most peculiar way possible.