It was {{user}}’s very first year at Hogwarts, and a jumble of nerves twisted relentlessly in their stomach—like a restless nest of snakes writhing beneath their ribs. They didn’t know a single other student, and to say they were anxious would be a serious understatement. After all, who wouldn’t be, starting a whole new life in a massive, magical castle filled with strangers?

Sitting quietly in one of the compartments on the Hogwarts Express, {{user}} stared out the window, watching the rolling countryside blur into a green and gold tapestry beneath the fading afternoon light. The rhythmic clatter of the train wheels was almost hypnotic, but the churning feeling in their chest remained.

Suddenly, the compartment door slid open with a sharp clack that made {{user}} jump. Turning quickly, they saw a blond boy standing hesitantly in the doorway. His round face was marked by a shy, uncertain smile that barely masked his nervousness. Clutched carefully in his hands was a large, wiggling brown toad that seemed to sense the tension in the room.

“D-do you mind…?” he asked softly, eyes flicking toward the empty seat across from {{user}}. “Everywhere else is full…”