Pacing the platform, Alistaire Firth suddenly stopped and snapped his head to the left. Yes, that was a train whistle for sure. It was time.

Within five minutes, the gleaming scarlet steam engine had come to a complete stop. Well, here goes nothin'! Ali prepared to perform his first official duty as Groundskeeper as students began to pour from the carriages. He cleared his throat and put on his best commanding voice.

"Firs' year students, o'er here! All firs' years bring your things and gather 'round me!"

He continued repeating his call. He would wait for several minutes until he was sure he had everyone.

Minerva got off the train, they were pretty much here. Back to school, her fifth year. Wow, she just couldn't believe it.. Thinking about the past few years and all the changes Minerva couldn't help but smile a bit. Some changes were good, others were bad. Looking around her eyes fell on a new person and she frowned a bit, even when she knew Gibbons wasn't coming back it still made her sad. She had gotten to know every groundskeeper that had come to hogwarts while she was there and to think about it, there had been many changes. Not sure why that was she walked over towards the new person.

Checking over her robes she stopped in front of him and smiled, "Hello, just thought I'd stop and introduce myself before going to the carriage. I'm Minerva Wheatborn, Hufflepuff. I hope you are liking Hogwarts so far." Nothing wrong with showing a nice welcome to the new Groundskeeper, she hoped he was nice.

Christmas got off the train and fixed her uniform so it was smooth and made her way towards the exit so she could get on a carriage to get up to school

When the train stopped at the platform in Hogsmeade, Daichi lifted his luggage out of the train and placed them on the stone platform. It didn't matter how many times he had been traveling with the red train behind him, it was always tiring and he longed for the food at the feast at the moment.

Getting off the train himself, the sixth year Slytherin checked if his Prefect badge was still correctly pinned on his shirt. He then looked around in the hope of finding the Groundskeeper who usually stood waiting for the first years.

Spotting a man he had never seen before he raised an eyebrow and waited, not knowing if he was the Groundskeeper or just a random person who lived in Hogsmeade. But when he heard him calling for the first years he knew that he was the newly appointed Groundskeeper. With a small smile, Daichi decided to greet him first before he continued his Prefect duties.

Reaching the man, Daichi bowed 90 degrees like he had learned from his parents to do and when he looked back up he....was....was that man..wearing some kind of skirt?

O_____________________________O

"Eh..." he began as he stared at the man's *clothing style* and truthfully, he had to keep in his laugh. He was a Prefect after all so he shouldn't laugh! "Hi sir, my name is Daichi Katharos and i'm one of the Prefects in the school" his eyes were still staring at the *skirt* though.. "Uhm...if you need any help you can ask me" or any other student leader of course.

Sierra stepped off the train and began the walk onto the platform. THIS. This place RIGHT HERE was where she almost lost her job as prefect last year. She kept a look out as she moved across the platform en route to the carriages.

...and that was when she saw him. Yes, HIM. The new groundskeeper. HOLY MERLIN with a staff position! How old was he anyway?! Surely he was close to her age...or at least in the same ballpark.

She found herself coming to a stop next to him. "Excuse me?" she asked, trying to sound as mature as possible. "The new groundskeeper, I'm assuming? I'm Sierra." ...and I'm SEVENTEEN.

Just Sierra, and that's he could call her. First name basis and all. "I'm a seventh year and one of the prefects, so...if you happen to find yourself in need of any help," as in the WORKING TOGETHER kind, "I'll be around."

She skipped the part where her mother worked at the school, as well. Admitting she had parental guidance every second of the school year would have made her sound like such a baby.

Text Cut: Min

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

Minerva got off the train, they were pretty much here. Back to school, her fifth year. Wow, she just couldn't believe it.. Thinking about the past few years and all the changes Minerva couldn't help but smile a bit. Some changes were good, others were bad. Looking around her eyes fell on a new person and she frowned a bit, even when she knew Gibbons wasn't coming back it still made her sad. She had gotten to know every groundskeeper that had come to hogwarts while she was there and to think about it, there had been many changes. Not sure why that was she walked over towards the new person.

Checking over her robes she stopped in front of him and smiled, "Hello, just thought I'd stop and introduce myself before going to the carriage. I'm Minerva Wheatborn, Hufflepuff. I hope you are liking Hogwarts so far." Nothing wrong with showing a nice welcome to the new Groundskeeper, she hoped he was nice.

By Rob Roy's sword, here they come! But this one... either the first years were much bigger than he remembered, or this girl wasn't a first year. "Pleased ter meet yeh, Miss Wheatborn." He stuck his hand out. "I'm Al-- Er, that is, Mr. Firth to yeh." Students didn't call faculty by their first names, right?

Text Cut: Duck Boy

Quote:

Originally Posted by CassiopeiaAKTF

When the train stopped at the platform in Hogsmeade, Daichi lifted his luggage out of the train and placed them on the stone platform. It didn't matter how many times he had been traveling with the red train behind him, it was always tiring and he longed for the food at the feast at the moment.

Getting off the train himself, the sixth year Slytherin checked if his Prefect badge was still correctly pinned on his shirt. He then looked around in the hope of finding the Groundskeeper who usually stood waiting for the first years.

Spotting a man he had never seen before he raised an eyebrow and waited, not knowing if he was the Groundskeeper or just a random person who lived in Hogsmeade. But when he heard him calling for the first years he knew that he was the newly appointed Groundskeeper. With a small smile, Daichi decided to greet him first before he continued his Prefect duties.

Reaching the man, Daichi bowed 90 degrees like he had learned from his parents to do and when he looked back up he....was....was that man..wearing some kind of skirt?

O_____________________________O

"Eh..." he began as he stared at the man's *clothing style* and truthfully, he had to keep in his laugh. He was a Prefect after all so he shouldn't laugh! "Hi sir, my name is Daichi Katharos and i'm one of the Prefects in the school" his eyes were still staring at the *skirt* though.. "Uhm...if you need any help you can ask me" or any other student leader of course.

Before he could continue, there was an older boy bowing to him. A bow, eh? That's a good Gryffindor style, that is! Alistaire bowed right back, then dutifully memorized this young man's name. "I can see why yeh made Prefect, lad. Good manners an' all." He appreciated that in a young person. His own chivalrous tendencies had finally swayed the Hat to place him in Gryffindor those many years ago. This is when he noticed that the Prefect Badge on the boy's chest wasn't scarlet and gold. Ah well, not ALL the good ones could be in his House. "'M good at the mo', Daychee, why don' yeh jus' round up yer own House? I'll hold down the fort here."

Speaking of which... where were those first years?

"Firs' years, this way, please!"

Text Cut: Lover Girl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Sierra stepped off the train and began the walk onto the platform. THIS. This place RIGHT HERE was where she almost lost her job as prefect last year. She kept a look out as she moved across the platform en route to the carriages.

...and that was when she saw him. Yes, HIM. The new groundskeeper. HOLY MERLIN with a staff position! How old was he anyway?! Surely he was close to her age...or at least in the same ballpark.

She found herself coming to a stop next to him. "Excuse me?" she asked, trying to sound as mature as possible. "The new groundskeeper, I'm assuming? I'm Sierra." ...and I'm SEVENTEEN.

Just Sierra, and that's he could call her. First name basis and all. "I'm a seventh year and one of the prefects, so...if you happen to find yourself in need of any help," as in the WORKING TOGETHER kind, "I'll be around."

She skipped the part where her mother worked at the school, as well. Admitting she had parental guidance every second of the school year would have made her sound like such a baby.

Eh, another one? Where were all the small children he was supposed to be shepherding?

"Tha' I am, lass. Alistaire Firth at yer service, but yeh can call me Mr. Firth." It should've been obvious, given that he'd just bellowed for first years. "Sierra the seventh year... Slytherin!" he finished after noting the second silver and green badge of the night. "Shouldn' be tha' hard ter remember, eh?" Word tricks and more would be needed to learn hundreds of students' names. "And as I were tellin' your other Prefect, the Daychee boy, I'd rather yeh help ge' tha' lot up to th' castle," Ali said, gesturing towards the mass chaos that was students unloading. "Bu' I'll keep yeh in mind, Sierra!"

New nickname for the term, Purple Face. Renesmee was almsot one hundred percent sure people would start calling her that once her bruise turned purple. Right now it was still bright red, but it's colour was slowly changing and thankfully the ice had stopped the pain from being so unbareable. She could cope now and getting of the train made her excited.

Puffles places on her shoulder, the red head zoomed out the train carrying Aya's cage in her right hand and her luggage in the other. She then immediately began walking towards the thestrals would be realizing she had a few duties she needed to do first. She looked around for a groundskeeper and almost froze when she saw a man wearing a skirt???

O_____O

Staring was rude...and Nessie knew that which was why she quickly looked away before she walked over closer to the man and other student leaders. "Renesmee Dixon, Badger Captain, or Captain Lochnessie." Yes new comers needed to know she had a Lochness side. "Need help, Sir?" she assumed he was the new Groundskeeper with what he was shouting out loud and breaking Nessie's ears with.

The train ride was over already??

Oakey stepped off the train, his Owl, Valentine still fixed on top of his head. "All right bird, go on ahead, Hogwarts isn't too far now."
Valentine hooted, and did nothing more, "Go already!" Oakey yelped at his Eagle Owl who just ignored his orders, the yelling hurt too from all the scratches his owl left on his face earlier in the train ride. "Dammit, fine."

Owl rudely resting where he should not, Oakey hurried his way over and stood beside Renesmee."Sorry, sorry. My Owl doesn't want to leave me, and won't listen" He apologized, and rolled his sleeves back down to hide the cuts and scratches going up his forearm"Oakey Gunter, new Badger Prefect, do you need help Mister...?" He was the new Groundskeeper yeah? A name would be great, to start this friendship.

Yeah friendship, The last two Groundskeepers were definitely friends(even if they weren't around now.What's gonna make this guy any different from the rest?

He gave the man a cheesy smile

Ellura couldn't believe that the train was already coming into the station that was their final destination before Hogwarts proper. She had almost thought it was just a stop along the way but the actions of those students more knowledgeable of the situation around them told her otherwise. So leaving her trunk and pet carrier with the train as directed and took her bag with her as she made her way down from the train with the rest. The castle was already within view high up on the hill and after stepping away from the train steps to allow others to leave the locomotive behind her, Ellura couldn't help but look up at it, her gaze somewhat staring at her new home for the school year.

As Belle was off the train and all in her dress clothes, she even shined her badge a little bit. She noticed the groundskeeper walking over. She noticed his booming voice. Belle smiled. She remembered when she became a first year. Her little brother was coming here next year. She was excited for him to experience this.

As Belle saw him, she waved to the fellow Groundskeeper. Belle smiled and introduced herself. "Hi i am Belle Lecium! Hufflepuff Prefect. I just wanted to introduce myself and i am sure i will see you around."

Jake was... incredibly glad to be in Hogsmeade. Really, he would be even happier when he got to the school. His stomach was already growling - he hadn't had the chance to go to the food trolley. He could practically already smell the mashed potatoes...

Looking around the platform, his eyes caught the carriages. Should he just... get in one? Or... maybe he should wait until everyone else was situated. That might be the good option.

So he backed up out of the way and slid his hands into his pockets. He was trying to look mature and trustworthy and important... but it might have just come off as lonely.

Finally able to take her eyes away from the luring castle, Ellura looked around the train station platform. Was there something specific she needed to do? Someplace they needed to go? She heard the man yelling instructions for first years to follow him but that was far from what she needed to listen to. Nope...no first year here...just a random lost girl debating her next action.

Maybe she should have tried to follow the older boy, Alex, from their compartment. Oh well, too late to do that now because she would have to find him again first.

The third year continued to pan her gaze around the gathered students already off the train. It was then Ellura spotted another boy standing off to one side. She almost didn't give him a second look until she noticed something on his robes. Moving closer she recognized it as a badge of sorts and it was then that she realized he just might be able to help her in her dilema.

"Excuse me?"

Oichi was surprised just how fast the train ride to Hogsmeade went. She felt the train come to a screeching hault and before she knew it she was heading off the train and lost track of the girl she shared a compartment with. As she got off the train she caught sight of her through the crowd, "Hey Christmas, wanna get a carriage together?".

Text Cut: Ness

Quote:

Originally Posted by ortalismusicoh

New nickname for the term, Purple Face. Renesmee was almsot one hundred percent sure people would start calling her that once her bruise turned purple. Right now it was still bright red, but it's colour was slowly changing and thankfully the ice had stopped the pain from being so unbareable. She could cope now and getting of the train made her excited.

Puffles places on her shoulder, the red head zoomed out the train carrying Aya's cage in her right hand and her luggage in the other. She then immediately began walking towards the thestrals would be realizing she had a few duties she needed to do first. She looked around for a groundskeeper and almost froze when she saw a man wearing a skirt???

O_____O

Staring was rude...and Nessie knew that which was why she quickly looked away before she walked over closer to the man and other student leaders. "Renesmee Dixon, Badger Captain, or Captain Lochnessie." Yes new comers needed to know she had a Lochness side. "Need help, Sir?" she assumed he was the new Groundskeeper with what he was shouting out loud and breaking Nessie's ears with.

Renesmee. That was an odd name. Perhaps fitting, though, for this girl. Her face had multiple shades of red and hints of purple. "Blimey, what've yeh done to yerself, Miss Dixon? I don' think I'm the one who needs the help!" He ruffled around in his pockets. He'd brought a few assorted creams and remedies for just such an occasion, because he remembered from his days on the train that there always seemed to be a few injuries. "Here yeh go, lass," he said, as he swirled his fingers in a small tub of orange paste and began to slather it on her bruise.

To ease her, he began to speak in a conversational tone. "So, Lochnessie. Where'd yeh ge' tha' name, then, eh?" Because anything with 'loch' in front of it was bound to be Scottish.

Text Cut: Oakey AND NESS

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ ExpelliarMOOSE

The train ride was over already??

Oakey stepped off the train, his Owl, Valentine still fixed on top of his head. "All right bird, go on ahead, Hogwarts isn't too far now."
Valentine hooted, and did nothing more, "Go already!" Oakey yelped at his Eagle Owl who just ignored his orders, the yelling hurt too from all the scratches his owl left on his face earlier in the train ride. "Dammit, fine."

Owl rudely resting where he should not, Oakey hurried his way over and stood beside Renesmee."Sorry, sorry. My Owl doesn't want to leave me, and won't listen" He apologized, and rolled his sleeves back down to hide the cuts and scratches going up his forearm"Oakey Gunter, new Badger Prefect, do you need help Mister...?" He was the new Groundskeeper yeah? A name would be great, to start this friendship.

Yeah friendship, The last two Groundskeepers were definitely friends(even if they weren't around now.What's gonna make this guy any different from the rest?

He gave the man a cheesy smile

This was starting to be a Student Leader Parade. "Lochnesseh, this be a friend o' yers?" Ali asked. He saw that they were both Badgers, so it was probable.

He focused on this new student named Oakey. He had said something about his owl not wanting to leave. "Yer owl alrigh', boy? If they don' wanna take off after a lon' ride like tha' it could be a bad sign." Not that he wanted to scared the new Prefect, but if there was a problem then it should be addressed sooner rather than later. "Firth, Mr. Firth," he said cordially, extending his hand. "New Groundskeeper, I am."

The kid could sure smile, he'd give him that.

Text Cut: Anabelle

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpfan18

As Belle was off the train and all in her dress clothes, she even shined her badge a little bit. She noticed the groundskeeper walking over. She noticed his booming voice. Belle smiled. She remembered when she became a first year. Her little brother was coming here next year. She was excited for him to experience this.

As Belle saw him, she waved to the fellow Groundskeeper. Belle smiled and introduced herself. "Hi i am Belle Lecium! Hufflepuff Prefect. I just wanted to introduce myself and i am sure i will see you around."

Ali smiled. "Miss Lecium, is it? Well m'name is Mr. Firth. At your service," he said, taking a small bow. "A nice young lady such as yerself? It would be an' honor to see yeh around the Grounds, 'twould." He smiled warmly at the girl. "I expec' yer eager ter get yerself up to th' feast, so don' let me keep yeh!"

At her service?!

Sierra liked the sound of that. Anybody who lived to serve her was surely a fine person. She flashed him a confident smile. What about Alistaire? Could she call him that, too? "Well, it's good to meet you, Mr. Firth," she said. She did a slight schoolgirl giggle over the whole 'Sierra..seventh year...Slytherin' line. "Seventeen starts with an S, too," she pointed out.

She just thought she was so grown up.

So he just wanted her to help the other students to the castle?! ...but they had legs. They could walk! Or ride...even better! BAHHHH! "Of course..." Alistaire," she said. Looking toward the carriages, she cast one last glance (for now) toward the groundskeeper and then turned to walk off. "I'll see you at the feast," she said, and then she disappeared onto a carriage.

So. Sooooo... Marcus Orion lingered on the platform, eyeing the boats up to the castle with no small amount of suspicion. He sorta wanted to try them out, especially because his sister had informed him that they were special and he'd only get this one chance, but he didn't want to go sit in them and look like a baby.

Plus he might be able to catch a carriage up with the new friends he'd made, or with West and his other friends, or with anyone that he already knew, rather than going and sitting with some firstie in a boat.

"Excuse me, sir," Mo sidled up to the Groundskeeper and waited for the man's attention. "Do we hafta take the boats if we're new? I'm new, only I'm going to be a third year. I don't wanna be the only third year in the boats, see?"

Well, she was smiling, so that was a good sign. And apparently it was good to meet him, so that made two good signs. Maybe he could still relate to teenagers after all? But the giggle... the giggle was too much. Yes, it threw him off. "Seventeen, eh? That's right impressive, Sierra." Because sometimes staying alive that long at Hogwarts was an accomplishment. Especially after the rumors he'd heard about last term..

"Well thank yeh, tha's right kind of yeh, it is." Or she was just doing her Prefect duties. He could never tell with Slytherins, even in his own days as a student. "If we make it 'cross the Lake!" he said cheerfully as she retreated. It was a calm night, they should have smooth sailing the whole way.



Once again, he was relieved from this awkward unique conversation by a civilized sane second student. "'Ello, lad. Wha' can I do fer yeh?" he said politely. Ah yes, the old transfer student question. "No, not if yeh don' wan' to." He lowered his voice and bent down a bit. "Bu' if I were you, I'd take th' carriages. Faster, warmer, an' much more comfy," he finished with a wink.

Okay, this was starting to feel weird. Jake was pretty sure everyone knew what they were doing, since the older guy was yelling at first years to follow him... and everyone else was going to the carriages. Well, he supposed it made his job easy, right? Especially since he still wasn't sure what exactly he should do...

...Talking to this girl in front of him was a good start, though.

"Yeah?" he said, relaxing his shoulders a bit and giving the girl an easy smile. "You alright?"

Ellura was inwardly relieved when she was answered with a friendly smile and an actually inquiry. Thank goodness for that since she had had the thought that she might just be greeted with someone to busy to really help. So far she had only met the nice people. No doubt that would change at some point and she was prepared for that inevitability.

"I'm okay," she assure him returning the smile with a polite one of her own. "Just a little lost, or rather unsure of what to do next. Its my first term here."

Oh! She was lost! "Great!" Jake said brightly, grinning. He could help her! A split second later, though, he realized how that might sound, and he immediately backtracked. "I mean. Um." Blink. "Yeah, I can help." That might not have been so obvious, since he was apparently so over-joyed that the girl was lost...

"You're not a first year, I take it." If she was, she would have been smart enough to follow the groundskeeper. Probably. He'd assume the best. "The rest of us take carriages up to the school. Right there." Looking over to the carriages and crowd of students, Jake waved a hand.

"There's four to a carriage, I think." He looked back down at the girl and put his hand back in his pocket. "I'm sure nobody would mind if you joined them. Or... you can ride with me, if you want." He glanced around the platform again before nodding. "Yeah, I think I'm okay to leave now."

"Thanks," Mo wrinkled his nose, although he was still undecided. The man had a REALLY GOOD point, but he wondered if hit would upset his mother if he didn't arrive on the boats. She'd know, after all.

"Is everyone on the boat a first year, though? 'Cause I wouldn't mind so long as I wasn't the only one. Y'see, my mum is up at the castle and she might want to see me come in like I'm supposed to."

"Yeh're welcome, lad." The darkness likely swallowed the smile that crossed his face. "Eh, uh.." He glanced around. "S'far as I know, they all are. But if yeh're tha' worried abou' i', yeh can ride with me in mah own boat, jus' the two of us." And.. why was this boy's mother up at the castle? Was she one of the Board candidates? Merlin... What have I gotten meself into?

Ellura raised a slight, curious eyebrow at his emphatic exclamation about her status. Though when he calmed down, it was clear to see his reaction had come out wrong which relieved her. Great...so he wasn't happy she was lost.

She shook her head negative. "No...third year," she remarked, hoping she didn't give off the appearance of being a first year other then her newness to things. Carriages...right, that made sense and her grandfather might have even mentioned something of that sort but there had been a lot of information and she could only remember so much.

As she listened to the older boy explain the situation to her she paused to weigh her options. She could head out alone to find a carriage and hope that who she met would allow her with them, or just tag along with her current companion in front of her. Both worked for her but when he seemed to decide he was ready to leave the platform himself, Ellura nodded making her decision.

"Then I think I'll go with you. I'm Ellura by the way," she said in answer, introducing herself in the process as she awaited his departure and lead.

Third year. So, he'd guessed right. Sort of. Jake nodded, smiling lazily now. The platform was clearing out and he was one step closer to the feast... just a short carriage ride and a couple minutes of conversation with this girl... he was happy.

"Jake," he replied with a nod, taking his hands out of his pockets. He lead the way toward the carriages, chattering easily as he did. "Jake Keller. I'm in my fifth year. Gryffindor." He nodded a little, lifting himself into a carriage and offering his hand to Ellura. "I was a transfer, too. Last year. I'm sure you're going to love Hogwarts, though. I do."