Chapter Text
Her father had never looked more torn than on the platform.
“Are you sure ya’ve got what y’need?”
“I’m sure, pops.”
“Scarf? Coat? Gloves? Gets awful cold there in the winter, Ruthie, colder than in the States.”
“I know–” she stopped at his raised brow, sighing. “Okay, I don’t know, but I packed at least two of most things. I don’t even know if you’re allowed to bring half of what I’m bringing!”
“Eh, in my days–”
Her mother scoffed, “hun, in your days, they had to run bomb drills.” He got huffy at that, but Ruth met her mother’s eye. “We went through it three times, right?”
“Once to choose, once to pack, and once to narrow.”
“And your dad put the charm that makes it bigger on the inside, right?”
“The Expansion charm, yeah.”
“Then I think you’re ready and rarin’.” The two looked at her father once again, and his lip trembled.
“Oh, my darlin’ little girl.”
“Dad, stop. I said I didn’t wanna cry before I left.” Ruth’s own lip began trembling at the sight of her father’s rapidly wetting eyes.
“I know, I know, but you’re just bein’ brave an’ all. Readyin’ to board the train and be a right li’l terror for the professors in my own school–” He raised his hand and wiped his tears, hiccuping once he felt his wife’s comforting arm around his waist.
“Honeybee, you should probably get going. We got here early so you could snag a seat by itself, and it’s starting to get busy in here.”
“I know.” She stepped forward and hugged both of them, her father clutching her tightly.
“Now, you and Keshy stay safe, alright? None o’ that adventurin' y’did in Ilvermorny!”
Keshy, from his crate, meowed in annoyance. He would not be told what to do.
"Make sure to tell the kids I said bye," Ruth glanced down, a small flash of guilt crossing her face. "I just didn't want them to come and make a big scene out of it, y'know? Most of them probably won't even go here for school."
"Don't you worry, we've promised to bribe 'em with a proper breakfast." Her father ruffled her hair, and she swatted his hand away.
"You said you wouldn't do that!"
"G'way outta that, I never said anything of th' sort."
"The others will get over it, but I'm sure they'd appreciate getting letters." Her mother reached out and smoothed over the mussed hair. They paused, before Ruth stepped forward, hugging her mother once more. They shared a short, tight hug, neither letting themselves cry. Instead, they just squeezed as hard as they could.
“I’ll send as many letters as I remember to write!” Ruth promised, before letting go and grabbing her things, waving as she walked to the train. “See you for Christmas!”
“Aim for Gryffindor for your pa!” Her father called, and she made a face at him
As she faced forward, a toad sat on the ground in front of her. She hummed, kneeling down and looking it over.
“Where did you come from?” She looked around, and stood back up, looking for anybody who was, well, looking around.
“I swear, he does this every yea-oof!” Someone nearly toppled her over, and she scrambled to not step onto the toad.
“Careful, careful! Toad in the road here.”
“Toad in the–Trevor!” The boy who’d run into her immediately bent over and scooped up the toad. As he straightened, she heard him quietly scolding it. “Thank you for finding…him…..” as he looked at her, he trailed off, and they stared for a long second.
For the first time in multiple years, Ruth felt herself speechless. Not due to any unexpected situation, nor even from the boy’s appearance. His gaze locked onto her, full of confusion, hammered home that she was in a strange place, going to a stranger place, and would have no familiar faces to rely on for the foreseeable future.
This felt like it might be a bit much to lay on a stranger, so she gave a tight smile. “No problemo, hope you keep a better grip on him.”
She turned and headed to board the train, thoroughly embarrassed.
It had been a miracle that of all the students that sat with her, the one Irish one had found his way in. Luckily, though, he and his friend didn’t mind sharing the seats and were busy sharing the stories from the past two years.
“How did you manage to explode a feather, Seamus?”
“I don’t know! To this day it bloody well astounds me that I’d managed that over the Levitaiton spell of all things.”
Dean snicked. “He has a knack for explosives, wait ‘till you see him in Potions.”
Ruth groaned. “Assuming I’m in that class with you. Do they have the separate houses sharing different classes?”
“They do,” Seamus nodded, “and they share with random ones. Though I suppose Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff share more, since we share more with Slytherin.”
“Well that’s–” the train screeched to a stop, and the three looked at each other. “Is the journey usually that short? My dad said it’d take longer than that.”
“No,” Dean shook his head, “something’s off.” He stood and poked his head out of the carriage, but stumbled as the train itself lurched.
“What in the hell…?” Ruth muttered and Seamus squeaked as the lights went out.
“Y’don’t think we’re gettin’ attacked or anything, right?”
“Who would attack a train full of kids?” The train lurched again and Ruth caught Dean before he could fall down.
“Thanks, Miller.”
“No prob, though you should probably sit in case it does that again.”
“Uh, lads?” Seamus pointed to the window. “What is that?”
The windows had begun to ice over, and they all flinched as the train shook again. Ruth wasted no time and stood, stepping past Dean and Seamus to look in the corridor. She opened the door, wand in hand and saw a few brave other students doing the same. When she saw a dark mass of wispy rags, she wisely stepped back in, and shut the door.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know, but it’s freaky as hell. I’ll say that much.”
They watched, transfixed. That mass, nothing more solid than a floating piece of fabric with a head, floated slowly down the train, past them. Its shadow was only illuminated by the white glow from the ice covered windows.
“Great. Troll one year, weird monster the second, now this?” Dean complained quietly, and Ruth’s eyes widened.
“Wait, what?”
“Oh, yeah, there’s been like a huge monster or threat to the school almost every year we’ve been going.”
“Almost every…” She mentally blanks. “Why do you still go here?!”
The boys shrug. “Hasn’t killed us yet.”
Ruth wanted to argue, but she knew if something similar had happened at Ilvermorny, she’d probably be the same way. Must be the witch in her blood, telling her monsters were...somewhat normal.