Thursday, September 1st, 1994
Splash.
The sound of water hitting flesh reverberated in the small but luxurious lavatory. Percival's cupped hand stayed holding his face as he savoured the sensation. The Ravenclaw prefect felt the heat of his breath as he exhaled into his hands and then dragged his hands down. He held the position as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
The faucet continued to run while Percival continued to stare. A year had passed since the Dementors boarded the Hogwarts Express. Even with the summer without their presence, the feeling never left. They could feel it as shadows in the corners of rooms and prickles on the back of their neck. They had to learn to live with it.
After contemplating the events of last year, Percival turned the faucet off. Grabbing a tissue from the dispenser, Percival wiped his face dry. Straightening his robes and running his hand through his hair, the boy pulled the dangling rope to turn the light off. Turning around, Percival left the room.
As he exited the restroom, he felt the cool breeze rush past his face and ruin his hair. Someone, while waiting, had probably opened the window while it was occupied. There was a very short corridor between the prefect lavatory and the main train compartment. As Percival was about half way through the the short corridor, the door opened.
A girl stepped through the threshold. Naomi stood tall as she entered with her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun alongside her sharp piercing gaze. As she locked eyes with Percival, she understood what he was feeling. Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved a bar of Muggle chocolate and handed it to him.
"I do have my own." Percival said as he graciously accepted the chocolate in purple packaging and moved to one side.
"It's better to have someone else's chocolate. It surprisingly tastes better somehow," Naomi said as she walked past. "I'm taking the front half, and you take the back?"
"Somehow that doesn't sound like a question."
"Remember to check every compartment. Last year's handling was acceptable given the situation, but not this year," Naomi said as she waited for the head boy to leave.
Percival left the small corridor and made his way to the back of the train, making sure that he avoided the youthful ball of energy crashing into him. Entering the final carriage, Percival found Mrs Trolley Lady with an almost completely sold-out trolley. Feeling the effect of skipping breakfast and lunch, Percival bought and ate a simple cheese sandwich before he received the sign to begin. The Ravenclaw boy waited a few minutes before he saw a small red iridescent light bulb turn on in the corner of the room.
'Good afternoon, everyone. We are about to arrive at Hogsmeade Station. Please leave your personal belongings inside the Hogwarts Express. Your belongings will be taken to your accommodations once we arrive. First years are to remain at the station until the Keeper of Keys arrives, while second years and above are to take the carriages to the Hogwarts grounds. This journey has been brought to you by the Hogwarts Express Railway Authorities and Hogsmeade Railway. Thank you for travelling with England's premier railway and transportation service.'
After the announcement ran twice, Percival wasted zero time, got up and said his goodbye to Mrs Trolley Lady before leaving the carriage and started his rounds. Percival was methodical when knocking on the doors of each individual compartment, reminding students of their impending arrival, and noting down the number of first years. It was easy to spot the First Years. After all, they would gain their house colours after the sorting.
Percival made his way from the back to the middle. On his third carriage, the head boy ran into a small issue. With no response after the third knock, Percival entered to see the oldest of the Mitford Triplets, trembling with her eyes closed. Last year, the Mitford Triplets arrived earlier and chose to take the very first compartment on the train as their personal kingdom. When the Dementors came, they experienced the most despair. It took a few dedicated months of Madam Pomphrey's care for them to experience the wonders of regular life again.
Percival assumed the other two sisters were changing into their robes, and it was his responsibility as a friend and as the head boy to help her in this situation. The head boy approached her and sat next to her. From one of the many pockets, Percival pulled out the newest version of the personal audio device and placed it on the table. This new version was slimmer than before, and the stylus had moved to the underside to protect it from the elements. Percival replaced the vinyl with the Mitford triplet's favourite song, and the song gently played from the speakers underneath.
Every time the girl trembled, Percival wanted to shake her awake, but he knew better. When he used to have night terrors, his mother would wait beside his bed, gently humming his favourite lullaby until he awoke naturally. Young Percival once asked why she hadn't woken him sooner and saved him from the woeful dreams; she had responded by explaining why you should never wake them abruptly.
The Hogwarts Express gradually decreased its speed as it approached Hogsmeade station. The trembling became less frequent. When the locomotive came to a halt, the oldest Mitford opened her eyes as they darted across the compartment. Once they located a familiar face, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulder. Percival was in the process of opening his mouth when the two younger sisters entered the room.
Seeing their sister startled and sweating and listening to the song, they nodded with appreciation. Sensing the room, Percival left the girls to comfort their sister. Percival had entered the next carriage when he realised he left his audio device behind. He was stuck in two minds: whether to retrieve it or to let them have their moment. Ultimately, Percival continued his Head Boy duties.
By the time Percival made it to the next carriage, the doors had finally opened, and the corridors were almost instantaneously filled with tired and hungry students eager to leave the train. The Head Boy entered a recently vacated compartment as he waited for the initial rush to end. Once it had, Percival made a quick sweep towards the middle to ensure no sleeping student was left behind.
Stepping onto the landing platform, Percival was greeted by the cold Scottish winds and the sight of many, many young children gathering around the half-giant near the exit. By sitting with the oldest Mitford, the Ravenclaw boy realised he almost certainly did not have an accurate count of first years sitting in the back half of the train. Although he could extrapolate based on the data he collected, Percival thought it would be better to just count how many children were surrounding the Keeper of Keys.
Percival likened this activity to counting sheep when failing to fall asleep. In the midst of his third time counting, the Head Boy felt a sharp object poke him on his left side. Looking over, he saw nothing there. When he turned his head back, he felt another poke. Stopping his counting again, Percival took a longer and harder look around trying to find the source of the poking.
He stared into nothingness.
"Rawr."
A face appeared out of nowhere right in front of his own.
Startled by the floating face, he took a step back as his hand went straight to his chest. The floating head started to laugh when she heard the boy gasp. "You should really pay more attention to your surroundings. So … What 'cha doing?"
"Counting the number of first years. There was a situation on the train that needed attention," Percival replied to the head girl's question. "I see you're finally wearing your badge."
"Why are these badges necessary? They make me look pretentious," Naomi replied. "However, this does remind me of third year. Remember when you actually counted sheep on the way to Hogwarts. You were adorable back then, with your chubby cheeks."
"At least I didn't have random older students pinching my cheeks during that year. It was bliss. I thank Lady Magic every day for puberty," Percival replied.
"It was a shame. I liked the way you squirmed. How many did you count? And the situation?" The head girl asked.
"You and Isabel. No wonder you two get along. Seventy-three first years, and mostly. They're still on the train. Haven't seen them leave yet," Percival said as he glanced over to the train. Seeing the triplet exiting the train, Percival corrected himself. "They are leaving now."
"She looks shaken," Naomi observed as she waved a hello to them and they waved back.
"I'm guessing a trauma-induced nightmare from riding the train again."
"I went ahead to check the boats. A few of them are missing. I'm going to assume Hagrid forgot to tie them again. Can you get to the boat house and send some boats over?" The Hufflepuff girl asked.
"I don't want to. Can you not do it?"
"I'm going to take my three Hufflepuff girls to see Madam Pomphrey," the head girl said as Percival sighed. "However, as I am on boat duty, I can't be in two places at once. I know you Ravenclaws made it a tradition to see the waterfall on the carriage to Hogwarts, so I will allow, tomorrow during my patrol, for you and your friends to miss curfew."
"You don't have to do that. I'm sure they would understand when I explain the situation, but thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," Naomi said. "That does mean you have to fill out the procurement forms later."
"Ugh, fucking paperwork!"