Chapter 14: Hogwarts Express (2)
The compartment door slid open, revealing two new faces.
The first to enter was a girl with long, golden-blond hair that shimmered even in the dim light of the train. Her gray eyes, cold and piercing, scanned the room with a calculated detachment that made me sit a little straighter. She carried herself like someone accustomed to getting what she wanted, her movements precise and deliberate.
Trailing behind her was a boy with tousled brown hair and bright blue eyes that practically radiated warmth. His smile was open and disarming, the complete opposite of the girl in front of him. He looked around the compartment as if he'd stumbled into the company of long-lost friends, though we were strangers.
"Is this compartment taken?" the girl asked, her voice calm and clipped, as if she didn't care much for the answer.
Ember leaned forward, her grin as fiery as her hair. "Nope! Come on in! Plenty of room."
The boy's smile widened, and he stepped inside, dragging his trunk behind him. With ease, he lifted it to store it on the luggage rack. "Thanks. I thought I wasn't going to make it. Do you need help with your bag?" he asked, glancing at the girl.
She shook her head, her movements brisk. "No." She carried her own trunk as if daring anyone to question her capability, then settled into the seat nearest the door. Placing a leather-bound notebook on her lap, she flipped it open and began reading without acknowledging the rest of us.
"I'm Alaric," the boy said, sitting across from me and holding out a hand. "Nice to meet you all."
I shook his hand, nodding. "Nero. And that's Ember."
Ember gave a little wave. "Hey there!"
The girl finally glanced up, her gaze cool and assessing. "Lilith," she said simply, before returning her attention to her book.