New Year, New Self ((Cathy))

[katy]

Katy ran a comb through her messy blow dried hair while taking out a large handbag from inside the closet. She set it on top of the unmade bed. It had already been a day away from home and she was already homesick. Why did the King Cross Station have to be so far away from her home? It was tradition for the Hudson's. A couple days before the train were to be boarded for Hogwarts her father Shane would take Katy and Kyle down to London to stay in a hotel and just walk around. This tradition of there’s started in her first year, but it was getting quite boring for Katy. For one she had already seen almost everything there was to be in London and the next she could stay at the Leaky Cauldron by herself for a while. It wasn't that Katy didn't want to spend time with her dad and brother; it was just that she wanted to be alone by self for a while. At home there was always at least someone around in the house that was a friend of either Kyle or her father. That didn't really give her the kind of privacy she wanted. The kind of night she wanted was to lie about in bed underneath the covers with a big bowl of ice cream with her favorite show playing.

Once her hair was out of its untangled mess, Katy set the brush inside of the small handbag. Leaning down on her knees, she unclasped the top of the trunk and took out a new pair of robes. Folding the uniform up neatly she set it neatly inside of the bag so she wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of trying to go into her trunk to just change into a pair of robes. Grabbing her blue mini wireless, Katy set it inside the bag along with other things. Once she felt good about having everything needed for the train ride, she zipped the zipper up and than closed the clasps of the trunk. “Are you almost ready?” Kyle asked walking into the hotel room and plopping himself down on the bed while turning the TV on. Rolling her eyes at him, Katy tried to pick up the trunk to set it inside the little chart she had, but it wouldn’t budge. “This would be much easier if I could use magic,” she huffed under her breath. “Aren’t you going to help?” Katy asked running her fingers through her blond hair. He nodded his head and turned the off button on the TV. “Nothing’s good on anyway.” With one motion, he set the trunk on the wheels as Shane came into the room. “Ready?” he asked taking the handles of her chart as Katy set her bag on her shoulder. The three of them walked out of the room, down the elevator, and into the car.

It didn’t take all that long before the three of the Hudson family was standing in the middle of the crowded train way. “Send and owl if you need anything and here’s a little money for something to eat,” her father said as he gave Katy a hug and handed her some coins. Tucking them away in her jean pocket she looked back at Kyle. He did this weird sailor salute, “Nice seeing you.” Katy laughed at his stupid motions while giving them both one last hug before running into the brick wall that lead to the train. There were at least a dozen students in mobs as Katy made her way down the corridors of the train. Every sliding door she tried to open seemed to already be preoccupied. Finally reaching a compartment that was empty and toward the middle of the train Katy put her trunk above and took a seat. The red velvet cushions were as comfy as always as she took out her mini wireless from her bag. Putting the ear pieces in her ear, Katy leaned back into the seat bobbing her head to the music slightly.

[sammy]

Cathy looked about the hustle and bustle of Hogwarts students bading parents goodbye and smiled. Kings Cross. It felt so good to be back, even if she was alone for the very first time. Giselle was going to Durmstrang and her parents had decided to go with her and drop Cathy off at London with short and emotionless farewells. Seeing all the teary-eyed parents or the ones that had radiant faces - seeing it all made her want to puke. She wanted parents like that, parents who didn't fight, parents who loved themselves and their daughters equally. As she looked about the crowd she suddenly felt like everyone was looking at her, even though the commotion continued. It made her feel small and insignificant, as if everyone could sense how uncomfortable she was and how she yearned to steal their parents away. As if they could see right through her. Cathy shifted her luggage and hastily boarded the train to get away from all the eyes - eyes that she only imagined were on her.

Cathy found that the halls were just as busy as outside, for the train was about to start. Nearly all compartments were full, much to her dismay. She hadn't made any plans to sit with any of her friends - in fact she hadn't made any effort to stay in contact with them over the summer. So she was alone - in more ways than one. Cathy began to feel desperate as she approached the middle of the train and still found no one to sit with. Perhaps she should sit with someone she didn't know and make a new friend or friends? It didn't seem so bad of an idea, so Cathy soon began to search for someone that looked rather friendly. For her worst fear was entering a compartment and immediately being sent back outside, and in a shameful manner too. Especially if they were Slytherins. Everyone knew the Dumas family and how she had been Sorted into Gryffindor instead of the anticipated Slytherin. Cathy soon came upon a compartment that was empty except for a girl who looked to be a year younger than herself. Taking a steadying breath, Cathy opened the door and smiled a warm greeting at the girl.

"Uhm... hi," she said, feeling the heat rise to her face already. Damn it, couldn't she at least not blush like a fool? Meeting new people was always a challenge for Cathy, through after she knew them she was an open book, ready to be read and enjoyed. "Do you mind if I sit with you?" she asked, hoping that the girl wouldn't mind. She shifted uncomfortably; her shoulders ached from the heavy luggage, and waited for the girl's answer as patiently as she could.

[katy]

The earphones blasted music into Katy's ear as she crossed one leg over the other. Leaning the side of her check against the window pale her eyes began to close tiredly. She had barely gotten any sleep the night before. A mix of anxiety to get to Hogwarts and the sound of Kyle's snores kept her up all night. Even though she had already boarded the train and she felt homesick. Her father and brother meant the world to Katy, and being away from them felt like a part of her was missing. The sounds of students running around in the corridors could still be heard through the music. It was a shock that nobody had already tried to open the door yet.

When a familiar melody came to her ears, Katy's head snapped up, her blue eyes open. It was her and Cat's favorite song. They sang it all summer when her muggle friend's mother got deathly sick. It was their song of hope and light but it brought back such bad memories for Katy. Cat was her best friend but yet her friend showed her who she truely was. Katy had a crush on Cat and finally over the summer she finally broke and told her friend. Cat just stared at her wide eyed and than turned around and ran away from Katy. After that they had never said a word to each other. Katy wanted to keep it like that and she put it in the back of her mind to never come out again.

Pressing the next button on the crystal Katy sighed with relief as another song came up. The compartment door opened and in came looking quite uncomfortable. Maybe she was shy. Katy took one of the ear pieces out of her ear and than turned down the volume. "No I don't mind the least bit. Go ahead and take a seat," Katy said returning the warm smile. Uncrossing her legs she looked back out the window hearing the girl put her things away. The train had already started going and she couldn't wait to see the green landscape again. Looking back at the older girl Katy smiled once again. "I'm Katy Hudson fifth year," Katy began wondering what else to say. "Are you excited for the new school year?"