Going home
Saturday, December 14th, 1991
Alex pulled her backpack harder against her back and made her way onto the train. It was 7:52 A.M. meaning that the train was leaving for England in just 8 minutes, so Alex figured she needed to get onto the train within the next five minutes. Hence she was now closing the door behind herself and turning to walk down the hallway.
Alex was...nervous. She had no reason to be, not really. But, she was.
Who was she going to sit with? Damian was coming out to his parents today....Would it go okay? Would the other United members be safe over the holidays? Would anyone want to be part of United after the holidays? What if Dumbledore said they couldn't do United anymore, he had the power? Or what if he made her start using the boy's bathroom? What if something happened to her parents and/or Mathias over the past few months? What if Alec's parents forced him to come home or came to visit? What if the closeted members of United got outed to their parents before they were ready?
Suffice to say, there was a lot for the eleven year old to be anxious about. So, maybe she did have a reason, or ten, to be nervous.
In for 3, hold for 4, out for 8. In for 3, hold for 4, out for 8. In for 3, hold for 4, out for 8.
Alex took a deep breath and opened the compartment door before her. Inside was Kat and Blaise, who were both sitting on the left side of the compartment, as well as Theodore Nott, on the right. Despite being the only person on the right, Theodore was sitting in the middle instead of next to the window, so he was across from Blaise. This was just fine for Alex, however, as she preferred the window seat. Making these observations in merely a second or two, Alex quickly walked over and sat in between Theodore and the window. She didn't bother asking for permission to sit in this compartment as no one in it had any reason to deny her, and they didn't bother trying.
"Hey, Al!" Kat exclaimed once Alex was settled.
"Hello, Alex." Blaise stated, calmly.
Theodore just nodded at her.
"Hi, Kat, Blaise, Theodore." Alex nodded towards Theodore at the end, mimicking the boy's reaction to her. "Can I sit here?" She asked, just to be polite.
"Of course!" Kat immediately assured, swinging their legs.
"You already are." Theodore commented, but didn't seem like he was about to kick her out.
Alex gave Theodore a sideways glance, raising her left eyebrow. "I think that might be the first thing you've ever directly said to me."
"Not true," Theodore began, with a small smile "I've definitely asked you for a pencil before."
"Right. And I gave you a quill." Alex agreed.
"Why, by the way? You only use pencils, hence why I asked for one."
"Because you use quills, and it would be unfair of me to try and force you to use pencils just because I prefer them."
"Haven't you said, on multiple occasions, that it 'makes no sense to use quills as a pen does the same thing, but more effectively and pencils are even better because you can erase mistakes?"
"Definitely. And I stand by that, but whatever. To each their own."
"Careful, Theodore." Blaise butted in "If you keep at it like this, you might actually make a friend."
"I have friends." Theodore shot back.
"You do not." Kat laid out plainly, this time Theodore just shrugged.
"Does it matter? I don't need friends." Theodore claimed, defensively.
"You would get along with Mandy." Kat decided.
"Who?" The blonde Slytherin questioned.
Blaise answered in place of Kat, probably deciding that it had been too long since he had said something. "Mandy Brocklehurst. She's Kat's roommate."
"Oh."
"I'm bored!" Kat suddenly exclaimed after a minute or so of silence.
"Wanna play Exploding Snap?" Alex questioned.
"I know for a fact that you still have no idea how to play that game." Blaise stated laughing.
"Is that a no?" Alexandria questioned in a taunting voice.
"Now, I didn't say that." Blaise claimed, smirking.
"Fine then." Alex agreed, and pulled out her deck of exploding cards.
"Why do I feel like we've gotten ourselves into something dangerous?" Theo asked, only half-joking. Kat only smiled back.
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Petunia pulled Alex into a hug, while Vernon hugged Gracie. "Oh, baby. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, mom. Both of you." Alex responded, and Gracie nodded.
Alex eventually let go of her mom and picked up her five year old brother. "Hey, Mattie. I missed you baby."
Mathias hugged her back strongly, not even protesting that he wasn't a baby. "You came back!"
"Of course I came back. I'm never going to leave you alone forever." Alex assured.
"Are you leaving again?"
"Yes. But, don't worry about it. Me and Grace are going to be home for a few weeks, just think about that."
"Will you come back, after you leave again?"
"Of course. Remember what I said?"
"You'll never leave me forever?"
"Exactly."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Just a few months. But, then I'll come back home and that time I'll be staying home for three whole months!"
"Really?"
"Really."
"Okay."
Alex looked up at her parents, and her mom nodded at her that it was time to go. So, Alex, still holding Mathias, followed her parents and sister to the car.
Once home, Alex and Gracie went to their rooms to unpack their stuff. Alex was finished around 5:00, but decided to take some alone time. She had nearly three weeks to spend with her family, and she had already had so much social interaction that day. So, she figured it would be okay to take a couple hours to herself.
Being who she was Alex decided to reread The Iliad and The Odyssey. Because what was more relaxing then some Greek poems about death and revenge?
Alex took a dinner break at 7:00, but was quickly drawn back to her book. In fact, Alex didn't stop reading until 9:30. She was supposed to start getting ready for bed thirty minutes prior....Oops.
Once Alex was in bed she fell asleep almost immediately.
Well, it was a stressful day.