The Fox In A Snake Pit!

Second Chance!~July 2025

Interested in Apollo's insight, Jade looked out the window, her focus drawn to the flowing clouds. "What could it be?" she pondered, her voice barely a murmur. She reflected on Apollo's words, knowing that there was likely more to the story than she knew. This left her to ponder the hidden motives behind the secrecy that shrouded her past. After a while, she grabbed a bag of Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans. After trying a few, she hurled the bag as far as she could without spilling them. She swore to herself that she would never eat those again. 

Outside her window stretched a beautiful scene of woodlands, winding rivers, and deep green hills. She watched as the clouds shifted, creating shapes that seemed to whisper secrets just beyond her grasp. Jade felt a sudden jolt of determination. "I will uncover the truth," she vowed, her voice firm. "And no one will stand in my way." Her eyes narrowed with a firm resolve that was reflected in the way she tightly clenched her fists. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her compartment door. When she opened it, she found a boy with a round face and tear-filled eyes standing before her. "Sorry," the boy said. "Have you seen a toad?" His voice trembled, and his eyes searched the compartment desperately. 

Jade shook her head after asking Apollo if he had eaten the toad, and the owl gave her a knowing look that said he hadn't. 

The boy cried, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!" 

"I'm sure he will show up," She replied, offering him false hope, but she wasn't going to go out of her way to help him. 

"Well, if you see him..." the boy sniffled before shuffling away, closing the compartment door gently. 

After the boy left, a look of contempt flashed across Jade's face, and she let out a scoff. "The closest I'll get to touching that revolting toad is by feeding it to Apollo or finding a starving snake," she murmured under her breath. 

Apollo chuckled before saying, "I wouldn't say no to a toad snack, but I suspect that young man will find his pet soon enough." 

Jade just rolled her eyes at the thought of the toad. "Some pets people have," she grumbled. The idea of being anywhere near that vile creature made her shudder in disgust. 

Tired of the solitude, she decided to explore the train. She hoped to find someone more intriguing to talk to than Apollo, who was currently busy preening his feathers in his cage. As she stepped into the corridor, the gentle swaying of the compartments lulled her into a rhythm. She felt the warmth of the wood-paneled walls and the plush carpet beneath her boots, while the chatter and laughter of her fellow passengers grew louder. She passed by groups of students, their conversations a mishmash of excitement and nerves. 

Jade couldn't help but overhear snippets of their discussions about spells, something called Quidditch, and the latest gossip. When she reached the end of the corridor, she saw a group of five boys chatting. Among them was the unmistakable redhead she had noticed earlier from her window on Platform 9 3/4. She also recognized the boy with dark hair and glasses to his right from her visit to the zoo. Curious, she approached them, drawn by their inviting demeanor. She understood that the only way to gauge their true nature was to interact with them. 

"Hello, I'm Jade," she said, introducing herself with a courteous smile. 

"Ron Weasley," replied the red-haired boy, extending his hand for a shake. 

Jade's expression twisted with distaste as she stared at his hand, her eyes locked onto him. "Nothing personal, but I'm not shaking your hand." At that moment, she caught the sound of three boys snickering to her left, and she shot them a fierce glare, but her hood kept them from noticing. Dismissing them, she continued, "It's just that I don't know you, and I have no idea where your hand has been."