Memories Of Them

Chapter 11- The Welcome Feast

The journey to Hogwarts had been long, in two and a half hours they were speeding over the English channel, spotting the massive muggle ferries slowly chugging along below. As they flew over England, where massive industrial cities gave way to lush rolling fields, Cassie couldn't help but think about her family and what they would be doing on a Friday afternoon. Once they finally crossed the Scottish border in hour five the landscape changed again, immense lochs and heather glens were peppered with tiny cottage hamlets. The air had certainly turned colder as they continued on their journey and the sky had changed from a bright crystal blue to a steel like grey.

The friends had spent the journey relaxing, chatting, reading and sleeping. When they had flown low over Hadrian's Wall Libby had insisted she start Cassie's makeup otherwise they would run out of time. Libby had kept it relatively natural, adding a bit of foundation, concealer and blush to her skin. On her eyelids she had brushed a beautiful silvery glitter that perfectly complimented her storm grey eyes and put mascara on to emphasise her long lashes. Next Odette had styled her hair, quickly curling it into tumbling loose waves and pinning it to the back of her head with a floral silver clip. Admiring herself in Libby's compact mirror she couldn't quite believe that she looked so natural yet pretty.

"You are both incredible, thank you" Cassie cried.

"I hope Glen chokes," Libby responded, referring incorrectly to Fred Weasley yet again. This caused the whole compartment to laugh.

"Right I reckon we've got half an hour, who's up for a final round of exploding snap?" asked Fabian, rubbing his hands together.

Their game was again interrupted by a gentle tap on the door, Cassie quickly jumped up, smoothing out her blue silk dress before rushing over to open the compartment door. Horatio stood there patiently waiting for her, when he saw her his eyes widened a smile playing on his lips.

"You look beautiful Cassie," he said, offering her his arm and leading her downstairs.

In the small entryway of the carriage stood Madame Maxime, stooped slightly so her head didn't touch the ceiling.

"Ah, there you are! Our leaders! We should be arriving in approximately 2 minutes. Madame Devereux is currently organising the students into year groups. They will follow us out in single file lines." she said hastily, fixing her hair in the reflection of one of the chandelier crystals.

Looking out of the tiny window in the door Cassie could see the rugged Scottish landscape. Below them appeared to be a vast forest, old gnarled trees appeared to be fighting each other to reach the limited sunlight. On the horizon ahead great grey mountains jutted out of the ground, their peaks hidden by the dense grey clouds. To the left a vast body of inky black water glinted as it caught the light. The castle loomed out of the clouds, a massive hodgepodge of turrets and battlements circling wide open courtyards. The small windows were ablaze with a welcoming orange glow that exudes warmth and comfort. Cassie knew that Beauxbatons was beautiful in a graceful, elegant kind of way but Hogwarts felt inviting, like returning home.

They swooped down quickly approaching the grass lawns below. The movements of the carriage had become so jerky that Cassie began to lose her footing, slamming hard into the chest of Horatio who was holding on tightly to one of the golden sconces to keep himself upright. He quickly wrapped a strong arm around Cassie's waist pulling her flush against his body, helping her stand. Madame Maxime was holding onto the crystal chandelier trying to keep her balance, her knuckles white from her harsh grip. They finally landed, the carriage bouncing to a stop. Looking out of the window Cassie could see that the entirety of Hogwarts School stood patiently waiting for them in a massie gaggle of black robes. All eyes were on the powder blue carriage. Gently pulling herself out of Horatio's tight grip she righted herself, running a finger through her hair to try and neaten it up.