Where We Belong

Chapter 2 - The Arrival

Rapunzel and Hiccup laughed as Merida told them stories about her family; especially at the stories involving Merida and her mum. That the wild red-head had been stuck in a castle, learning about manners and rules, was hilarious. She was all over the place, talking with her hands. Her hair flew around, but, thankfully, it didn't get in anyone's face.

"-And then Hamish hid under the little table, with the tripwire. Maudie came running around the corner shrieking cause of whatever Hubert and Harris did. And right when she got there, he yanked the wire tight and she went sprawling! Too late, they realized she'd left the sweets in the kitchen!"

They all laughed again. Merida beamed, enjoying the company of her new friends. Then the door opened and a voice asked, "Anything from the trolley, dears?"

Merida jumped up. "Yes, please!" She came back in carrying LOADS of sweets.

Hiccup and Rapunzel's jaws dropped.

"What?"Merida asked through a mouthful of chocolate frog.

"Nothing." They dug in.

Hiccup reached into the pile and grabbed a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"You wanna be careful with those," Merida cautioned. "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor. At least, that's what my dad told me." She put on a fake gruff voice and said, "You've got all the normal ones, like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe." She laughed. "He reckons he got a booger-flavored one once." She picked up a green bean, examined it carefully, and bit the corner. "Bleh! See? Sprouts."

They had a great time eating the beans. Rapunzel got toast, coconut, grass, and sardine, while Hiccup got curry, coffee, and strawberry. He was even brave enough to nibble the end of a funky-looking grey one that the other two wouldn't touch, which turned out to be pepper. "Not bad, actually."

Soon enough, the countryside rushing past the window turned wilder. They left the neat fields behind for rolling, green hills and dark, twisting woods. Suddenly, the door opened and a boy with perfectly styled brown-red hair said, "They're saying all down the train that Merida DunBroch is in this compartment. That you?"

The Scottish girl said, "Yes...?" She looked at the other boys. Both looked big and strong, and they were standing on either side of the boy who'd spoken - like bodyguards.

"Oh, this is Grant and Chris Stabbington," the boy said, seeing where she was looking. "And I'm South. Hans South."

Hiccup made a small sound that South took as a laugh. "Think my name's funny, do you? Well, there's no need to ask who you are. My father told me all about the weak Haddock." He sneered and turned back to Merida. "You'll soon find that some wizarding families are better than others. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sorts. I can help you there." He held out a hand.

"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks," she said coldly.

The boy flushed. "I'd be careful if I were you, DunBroch. Unless your a bit more polite-"

She stood and chuckled darkly. "Don't lecture me about manners, South." Anyone could tell that something bad was about to happen, unless a distraction presented itself.

The saving distraction came in the form of an short, black haired girl. "Excuse me, but I'm trying to get through," a soft voice said, unknowingly softening the mood.

Merida smirked, unable to resist one last jibe. "Go on, South. Be polite, and let the girl through."

"No thanks," he sneered. "We don't feel like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food, but you still seem to have some."