I plopped down onto the seat beside the window as Thorn stalked across from me and Dakota sat next to me. With a wry smile, I began to pet Dakota's fluffy black and white husky hair to calm myself down. I was on my way to Hogwarts. The Hogwarts. The one where Harry Potter had just fought with Voldemort. The one where the Chosen one and his friends would be going to as their Eighth year to make up for their seventh. The one where the best wizards have come from, and some of the most dastardly. That one. I was a train ride away from entering its stone walls and the mysteries which lain inside. In one more hour, I would finally be at the place where my parents met each other. And the place where they last stood with life.
Putting aside those thoughts, I quickly changed into my school robes and began to groom Thorn and Dakota. As I was brushing Thorn's wild main, the door to the section slid open and a mysterious boy slid into the room. He smirked at me as he pulled the door closed and leaned his back against the cold metal. "Hey. How would you like to go on an adventure?" the boy asked as I stared at him with wonder. Dakota growled at the stranger as Thorn stared at him with his head up.
"Who are you? And why would I join a stranger on whatever endeavor they want?" I reply staring into his grey, stormy eyes. Dakota stood between the two of us, baring her teeth at the intruder protecting me.
He extended his hand towards me, over Dakota's head and uttered, "Jay Peol. First year at Hogwarts. Do you mind telling your dog to calm down? I actually have a, uhm, slight fear of dogs."
As he begins to blush, I tap Dakota's head to calm her down and she walks over to the opposite seat across from me. I take his hand, and with a firm pull, I pull him closer and set his hand on Thorn. Before he has a chance to back away, I grab his other wrist with my left hand and stop him from leaving. His face flashes with panic as he glances from me to the dog.
With a smile, I gaze into Jay's eyes and slowly help him pet Thorn's fluffy head. "Jay, this is Thorn. Thorn is a very light brown fluffy chow chow, and has been in my life since I was four. He loves meeting new people and is my little baby. My new mission this year is helping you get over your 'slight fear of dogs'".
