First day at Hogwarts - Success. Lee managed to avoid the meaner people and had been quite happy when she realised that this year was going to be a lot less hectic than last year, due to the fact that they had finally finished with OWLs. Grinning to herself, she slowly made her way to the Great Hall, intent on picking up some food before taking her broom out for a little practice.

After all, she thought as she sat down by herself at the Hufflepuff table, if I want to make the House team I have to make sure I'm up for it. Happily, she piled a few helpings of chicken wings onto her plate and added about a ton of sauce to it. Pulling out her wand, she cast a few nonverbal spells to make sure that no matter what, her face and hands will always remain clean. Ahhh... I love Hogwarts.

Collin rushed to the Gryffindor table, sitting down and eating quickly without noticing anyone. But he was finished soon and so he looked around for a familiar face. He saw Sonja, but she was busy reading a book. He sighed.

Then he remembered his homework. Crap. What was it again? Ugh. He had to get it. So he went to the Slytherin table and went to his good girl friend. Friend that was a girl. Ahh, whatever.

"Sonja? Do you know what our homework was for Transfiguration? I completely forgot it," he laughed, blushing slightly. Always absentminded, he was.

Ethan sauntered into the Great Hall after his morning classes, with his Potions textbook tucked under his arm. It was the only class he truly liked and one that he was proud to say that he really excelled at - not that he went around advertising that fact. As he made his way towards the Slytherin table, he deliberately and conciously kept his eyes away from the Hufflepuff table. The Seventh Year got an earful about some apparent flirting on his part - all he did was hand a girl her bag that he happened to be stepping on! - and he did not need that hassle again, nor did he need to be wrongly accused of staring at girls when he was merely being aware of his surroundings. Certainly not when he only had eyes for Taylor.

He lowered himself onto the seat next to Kat, first saying 'hello' to her then to Sonja as they were the only two in his vicinity that were somewhat recognizable to the boy. Putting his book on the table, he began to fill his plate starting with chicken and potatoes, and briefly wondered if Sonja would act a little more mature today and not start anything with Taylor. He didn't feel like dealing with any combativeness between the two girls today.

Sonja glanced up from her book long enough to see Ethan sit down. He said hello but all she responded with was a polite nod. With everything that had happened yesterday she was in no mood to deal with him or his prissy girlfriend.

Turning to the next page, she did a quick scan of the Hall. There still weren't very many people here. Vaguely, she wondered where Collin had got to. Shrugging, she went back to her lunch and her Transfiguration book.

Collin looked at her. "Sonja? Hello?!" he laughed. Too engrossed in her book, was she? "Honey, are you even in the world right now?" he laughed.

Giggling, she scooted over so that he could sit down. "Sorry. Lesson was a little more then I had anticipated. Just trying to get ahead." However, with his presence all need to study feld from her mind. Closing her book, she refilled her plate.

"So, how is your first day going?"

Collin sighed and sat beside her. "Oh, it's so--I dunno. I knew seventh year would be horrible, but not this horrible. I forgot all of my homework and I don't understand what we went over in Transfigurations. It's horrible," he said. He looked at her. He felt oddly calm. "But it just got better," he said with a smile.

Edward walked in to the great hall and saw that the Slytherin table was rather busy he spotted Sonja and Ethan and smirked he walked over to Sonja and sat down "good first day?" he asked, he pulled his DADA book out of his bag and started making notes, he quickly picked something to eat and drink and continued with his book.

Sitting at the top table looking down at the students as they went about on their first proper day, Becca sighed and looked down at her plate. Not feeling hungry, she scratched her neck casually and leant back, keeping an eye on those who seemed quiet. Quiet ones were always the ones you had to watch. Wondering if going to see Sarah would seem a little wierd, Becca glanced over at the house tables and decided to stay where she was. Hoping that someone would come up to her and Brian to ask something about the dueling club, she put her elbow on the table and leant her chin on her palm. Wondering why Brian was being so quiet, Becca turned her head a little to look at him, she smiled and then turned back to look down at the house tables again.

The Night Before

"That would be pretty exciting. That might be an idea for next term. I don't really know that much about North America anyway. I've not really ever been there," Stephen said. Actually, he hadn't been to either Canada or America before, but he had certainly heard good things about both. "And I'm not judging anything until I see it firsthand," he laughed.

"I'm ready to go to the common room, how about you, Helion?", he asked, standng up from the table.

That morning

Stephen appeared in the Great Hall once again, having slept pretty peacefully. This was the first actual day of classes for all of them, and he was looking forward to it. He was taking a few extra subjects this year, most notably Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies, and wanted to see how they would work out. He thought Muggle Studies should be fairly easy, after all he already knew something about muggles, being half muggle himself. The Ancient Runes he wasn't so sure about, but he was willing to give it a go.

Chuckling, Sonja took out a small piece of parchment and work the Tranfiguration homework on it and the handed it to Collin. "If you still need help understanding, I can explain it to you after Dueling Club." Shaking her head she picked up her glass only to put it back down again when Edward made an appearance.

"Hey. Yeah mines going pretty good. Yours?" Smiling, she tried again and succeeded with her tea. This time she poured herself some water and then filled her plate with more french fries. She loved the taste of them and couldn't get enough.

Returning her attention to Collin she tried to analyze his last statement. What had he meant by 'if just got better?' All he had done was sit down. Next. To. Her. The realization dawned on the Slytherin with a warmth that stole up her face. Looking down at her plate so that her hair covered her face she waited for the blush to pass.

What was wrong with her? Sonja McCreed is blushing over a guy?! Whoa. Okay, well in his defense he isn't like other guys. He's different and different is good. Right? Right.

Smiling like a fool, Sonja kept on eating her food but couldn't help stealing glances at the handsome Gryffindor from under her lashes. What a day!

With Becca sitting by his side again, he glanced over the students who were busy signing up and chatting as usual. He wanted to make them silent, but he ziped his mouth since it was their Headmaster's duty and he and Becca were new to them.

"I hope they understand your bite word, and will come up to learn someting new," he whispered with his mischievous smile. Letting the students had their own time, he was thinking of the spells what they were going to teach them in the first class.

Kat looked up and smiled briefly and said a quick "Hey." before turning her attention back to the annoying book on Runes. Finally she slammed the book shut and stuffed it angrily in her bag. "UGH! I have no clue what it means. The book doesn't help, and for once, I didn't write it down. Infact, I don't even think he taught us it."she mumbled, glaring at the corner of the book that was peeking out of her bag. Ancient Runes was one class she had never gotten the hang of yet some how always came out with passing grades.

"...oh, and don't forget to owl the shop in New York to get those shoes I told you about here ASAP, Emily, I need them. Oh and about that letter I wrote yesterday, you need to get that to the owlery to be sent to Mummy and Daddy today. Got that? Today!" Taylor gave the tiny house elf running slightly behind her, trying its best to keep up with her mistress' stride, a rather anticipating look. Had she understood everything and would she remember it? Well, she probably would, Emily was a clever house elf. Rather clever house elf, that is.

With a swift hand gesture Taylor ordered her house elf away before entering the Great Hall, her blonde hair reflecting the light of the floating candles. Letting her hazel eyes dart around the hall, sometimes resting on a familiar face, Taylor presented certain people with a smile, until she finally spotted the person she most longed to see at the moment: Ethan. He was sitting at the Slytherin Table along with Kat, who had been very nice and helpful the day before, and Sonja. Oh no, he DIDN'T. He had seriously taken a seat next to her again?! This time she wasn't going to give in, though, she so wasn't going to talk to that...that person ever again. Duh!

Pouting slightly Taylor gracefully took at a seat at the veeery other end of where Sonja, Ethan and Kat were seated at and fumbled around with the straps of her pink bag trying to retrieve her Muggle Studies textbook. Now, let's see who he prefers, me or that Sonja-girl. Well, duh. Of course it would be her.

Collin looked at the piece of paper she handed her. "Thanks," he said. He grinned. Even if he did know it, he might just tell her he didn't just to hang out with her. He looked at her and smiled. She had realized what he meant. That was great. He chuckled and glanced at her as she did him, playing some sort of flirty eye-game.

"So does that mean you're free after Dueling Club?" Collin finally asked with a smile.

This was getting ridiculous.Was there no-one she knew still at the school? Were none of them coming to have lunch?! Steph was in half a mind to go over to the Slytherin table,where all the action seemed to be,and talk to them.Glancing round,however,she saw the girl that had given her the stink eye the night before.She had no idea why she'd done it at the time,but with further thought Steph had come to the conclusion that the girl...Taylor or Miss Prissy,whatever her name was...must have thought the Slytherin boy was over at the Huffie table for her.Although anyone with a brain could see that it was Kat he had been talking to.
Sighing loudly,Steph sloshed some soup into her bowl and broke her bread roll over it.She was in no mood to study for the afternoon's lessons,if she didn't know it,then...she would have to fail.Fail the exams....fail at life.
Yep she was in a really crappy mood.

Slightly taken aback by his quick inquiry, Sonja took a minute to orient herself back to earth. The fact that he was asking her to hand out had sent her on a tailspin. Her heart had kicked up several notches and her breath had left her in a rush. It had left her dizzy and giddy.

Shaking her head, she smiled up at Collin. "I don't have anything planned. What did you have in mind?" Placing her face in her palm she waited for his answer. Scanning the hall she noticed another seventh year sitting at the Hufflepuff table and she looked like she was in a sour mood.

For a moment she frowned but then gave a sly grin. Tearing off a piece of parchment she wrote a note and then charmed it to fly over in front of the her.

Quote:

Steph,

Quit being anti-social and come have lunch with us!

~Sonja

And then her attention inevitably turned back to Collin.

Collin smiled and shrugged. "I dunno," he grinned. "Maybe just hang out and walk around," he suggested. He wished there were more interesting things to do at Hogwarts. He could take her to Hogsmeade--but that would be risking it too much. "So would you like to?" he asked with a smile. "Hang out, I mean? With me?"

Running her hand through her long dark hair, Sonja smiled. "I'd like that." Her heart did a funny little flipflop. It did that alot when he was around. Odd.

Sighing, she giggled nervously and then took a drink of water. When did she get to be so awkward? Slapping herself internally, she fished around for something else to talk about. "I can't wait for dueling club. I hope they teach us advanced DADA and such." There. Something they had in common and could talk about for a while.

I hope.

Collin grinned happily. "Oh, I know! It's going to be so much fun. They should teach us advanced DADA. I mean, why not? We're old enough to take it. Well, most of us," he looked at the first years and second years and then back to Sonja. "I think it will be fun," he said. "I know I'll have fun," he winked. Mostly because he was learning it all and he would be near this lovely lady.

Becca grinned at Brian's little joke and shook her head "I don't think they will" she winked at Brian and then leant back, thinking about all the useful spells that she used. Surely she could teach them more than defensive magic, she could maybe teach them stuff like how to tell if an object has been cursed. Tilting her head to the side slightly, she stared at the door and kept thinking.

Frowning as a girl came into the hall, Becca took in her personality by the way she walked and accessorised things. Sighing slightly, she turned to Brian "Watch out, this is gonna be hard" she mumbled to him before turning her gaze back to the girl with a pink bag and watching carefully.

Edward smiled at Sonja she was really the only person that spoke to him and he was fine with it, "yeah mine was good thanks" he replied half closing his DADA book, "what are you looking forward to the most here?" he asked her Edward was just about to say something else when Taylor walked in....


that poor house elf Edward thought "Taylor there is a polite way to ask for things not demanding" he rolled his eyes as she sat down and looked like thunder what is with Ethan anyway? he wondered he's not exactly special???

Steph was just about to put another spoonful of soup into her mouth when a piece of parchment landed in front of her.Slightly puzzled,she picked it up and read the message.

Ahhh it was from Sonja,the nice Slytherin she'd seen at their table when she came in.Grinning inwardly she gave a small laugh.Was it really that obvious she was in a bad mood?

Grabbing her bag from under the table,and finishing the last dregs of soup as she stood up,Steph made her way over to the crowd at the Slytherin table.
Putting her hand on Sonja's back to let her know she was there,she glancing down at her and smiled. "Did I really look that grumpy?" she asked,plonking herself down in a vacant seat.Whispering so that only Sonja would hear,she added, "I was slightly worried about coming over,actually.That Taylor girl seemed to be giving me the evil eye last night...."

Ethan had been far too involved in his lunch and the opened Potions textbook his eyes had been scanning as he ate that he became completely oblivious to his surroundings. Until Kat loudly slammed her book shut next to him. Startled slightly out of his thoughts, he turned to her to see what had gotten her upset. Eyeing the book as she shoved it into her bag, Ethan gave her a smirk and a shrug. "Sorry, Kat, can't help you there," he told her. "I don't take Ancient Runes." He had dropped that class after getting an Acceptable on his OWLs - a decent grade, but it was difficult enough and never interested him all that much.

As he spoke to Kat, Ethan slowly became aware of his surroundings - and who else had seated themselves at his table since he first sat down. He briefly wondered if Edward would be in a better mood today. Probably not since he looked to be doing his best to ignore him. Whatever. And that Gryffindor boy that was seated there last night. Seriously, there needed to be some kind of rule about table-swapping. Maybe there was some sort of anonymous suggestion box outside the Headmaster's office... At least Kat managed to keep herself at the proper table today.

Now aware of who was seated around him, Ethan looked to his other side. Where was Taylor? Surely her classes were over by now and he hoped she didn't get lost trying to get off the moving staircase again. He looked towards the Great Hall doors just as he heard her voice making it's way ahead of her. Giving her a charming smile as she walked in, his eyes followed her as she... walked past him? The smile faded from his face and his face took on a slightly incredulous expression. Oh, right. Duh, Ethan, if she didn't like your choice of seats yesterday, what makes you think she'd like it any better today when you sit in the same spot?

"I'll catch you later, Kat," he said, leaning to the girl next to him as he got up and picked up his book and plate. Let's try this again. He walked over to the far end of the table and seated himself next to his girlfriend, matching her small pout. "I missed you," he said, his mock-pout turning back into the charming smile he offered her earlier. Of course his Potions class had to be right when her Muggle Studies class was, so he hadn't seen her most of the morning. And now they had this lame dueling club to look forward too, but at least they were both forced to go. "I hope you're feeling better today," he added with a significant glance to her plate. Surely she hadn't lost her appetite already?

Sonja smiled at Edward and thought over his question. "I think I'm most excited about Charms. With all the spells I saw in the book, it looks to be an interesting year." Her fingers nearly itched with the need to pick up her wand and practice her charm works. "What about you?"

At that moment, a voice sounded over head and it made her giggle. Nodding her head she turned her full attention to Steph. "Yeah. You looked a good deal perturbed."

When the Hufflepuff started whispering it took everything Sonja had to not laugh out loud. Leaning over she whispered just as quietly, "Don't worry about her, she's all bark and no bite. Don't ever be afraid of her." At the mention of Miss Priss, she glanced down the table where she had seen Ethan escape to. And of course there was her Royal Pain in the Backside. Rolling her eyes she thanked Merlin that Taylor had had the good sense to sit away from her.

Shaking her head, she returned her attention to those she considered friends. People who weren't vain and arrogant. Smiling wryly, she checked the time. She couldn't miss her next class as it was charms her favorite subject.