Blackthorn Academy - 1 - In progress

7 - Try not to get lost

After a few minutes, there was a knocking on the compartment door, and as the door slide open, a slightly dishevelled boy stepped inside. 

"Sorry, is it alright if I join you? Everywhere else is full." His brown hair was in a messy style, and his jade eyes twinkled as he smiled. The corner of his lip hung up crooked in a charming way.

"Oh yeah, that's all good." Aurora smiled back, her dimples showing.

"Great. I'm Finley, Finley Chapman." He introduced himself, sitting down opposite Aurora.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Rory. Rory Moody-Walker." She hated the name Aurora, it sounded like a princess who would dance around in frilly pink dresses with golden blonde curls.

"As in, related to James Moody-Walker?!" Finley's eyes widened, as Rory stared back, slightly surprised.

"Yeah, he's my dad." Rory carefully studied his face, waiting to be told that he was probably dead. But theres no proof to that, the hopeful voice whispered in the back of her mind. 

Nothing flickered across his face, as he sat across leaning forward slightly.

"Anyways, what house are you in? I'm in Emberflame, just like all the other Chapman's" He gave her that crooked grin at her again.

"Oh yeah, same, the house with the like cherry red coloured stuff?" Rory hoped that she had the correct house, not wanting to already embarrass herself.

"Yup, that's it. What house did you think you were gonna be in?" His voice was laid back and friendly.

"Um, truthfully, I didn't exactly know that this place even existed." Rory cracked her knuckles again.

He stared at her, almost waiting for her to continue. Not wanting to sit in silence, she decided he would be trustworthy enough.

"My mother's dead, father's missing. I'm at an orphanage now." She scowled slightly.

Finley looked at her with a kind, understanding expression. Not pitying her in the same way the adults did, but in a way that let Rory smile to herself.

Another short knock tapped on the door as it slid open again, revealing a pair of boys, the shorter one with slightly overgrown black hair, the taller one almost hiding behind him, his sandy curls tidy. A sort of familiarity washed over Rory, almost as though she recognised him but where from?

"Sorry to disturb, but everywhere else is full. Can we join?" The shorter boy asked.

"Sure" Finley responded in a relaxed tone and Rory nodded. She pulled her satchel slightly closer to her, making room.

"Crikey, they're gonna need a bigger train soon," Rory spoke up, looking through the door as a few students walked pass.

The taller boy looked at her as he sat down next to Finley. 

"Are you Australian?" He asked in a quiet, curious tone.

"Yup, and what, wait, aren't you the dude from that post office thingy from like a few weeks ago?" She responded, and after realising she blurted out, she felt her face redden, and awkwardly, said 

"Oh sorry, didn't mean to respond like that, I don't think that much." The taller boy responded with a quiet laugh.

"Oh my days, when is this train gonna take off?" The shorter boy sitting next to Rory complained.

"It's not a plane you genius, it's not gonna take off." Finley responded, grinning that crooked grin at him.

Everyone laughed in their compartment, and then suddenly, the door opened, revealing a slightly chubby, short, pale boy with flushed cheeks, breathing heavily as if he had just ran.

"Sorry, sorry, don't mean to intrude, I overslept. Is it fine if I join, the train is about to leave." The boy looked worriedly at them as the boy sitting next to Aurora moved slightly closer to her.

"Anyways, I'm Finley." He fired up a conversation.

"Rory." She backed him up, looking up next to the boy sitting next to her.

"Well I'm Liam." His grey eyes twinkled mischievously as he turned to the new boy who was sitting next to him, regaining his breath.

"W-William." His pale white skin was slowly turning less red, as his short blonde hair stuck up at random angles.

"Oh, I'm Oliver." The boy sitting next to Finley responded in the same quiet tone.

"How much longer do we have to wait?" Liam questioned impatiently.

Almost on cue, the train doors closed with a slight ping, and the train whistled loudly.

The train moved forward, then started rolling out of the station, the Platform moving out of view as Rory stared out the window.

The 5 new Blackthorn Academy students chatted for ages, about sports, family, hobbies, favourites and other stuff, even quiet Oliver.

The sun was shining in the afternoon light, as a knocking on the door interrupted the compartment.

An older boy wearing the long black Academy robes opened the door. He had many badges, but 2 badges pinned on their own side, both in an emerald green shade. 

Oliver looked closer, reading Silverglade, across the first badge.

He must be one of the Wardens, Oliver realised and straightened up, ever so slightly, but enough for the boy he had entered the compartment in to notice.

Liam gave Oliver an almost questioning look, as Oliver gave a slight shake to the head, and gazed back up at the Warden.

"Are all of you first years?" He spoke with authority in a British accent, and they all nodded.

"Ok, just letting you know, it's know 14:00 o'clock and it's now time to get changed into your robes. This compartments bathroom is to the left. Once the train stops, your house Wardens will direct you all in the correct direction. Try not to get lost."   He spoke to the 5 as though they were 4 year olds speaking a different language.

Rory and Finley glanced at each other as the Silverglade Warden left. Without hesitation, they both burst out laughing.

Mostly laughing at the 2, Liam joined in, and William, almost as though he didn't want to be left out in the humour, started laughing.

Even Oliver pulled out a shy smile, laughing very softly.

"He-he sp-spoke to us as if, if we were, 5, year olds!" Finley choked out, laughing hard. 

Rory's face was red from the laughing, as they all settled back down.