Soooo Kalla had slipped out of the train station when Garrick arrived... and she had made it all the way home and insisted her parents take her to Hogsmeade on their own. MHM. She didn't like being new. Or ignored. So she had taken matters into her own hands.

Now...

She slipped quietly into a carriage and waited on someone or some people to join her for the ride to the castle. And no, she was not as excited as the other kids would be. She actually sat inspecting her fingernails with a rather bored air about herself.

Asher stepped off the train, ready to have his feet on the ground. Glancing up and down the stretch along the side of the train, he tried to see if any of his classmates were near. The carriages were new to him and he was a bit uneasy about boarding one alone. Especially if he ended up surrounded by much older students.

Figuring he would end up with someone friendly, he boarded and waited to take off towards the castle...and the feast.

Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of de-training she'd lost Lottie. Boo. Just when she was starting to feel better. It wasn't all bad though. Through a bit of shoving through the corridor she'd managed to run into Cassia who'd kindly agreed to get her luggage while she saved them a carriage. If she found Lottie that'd have been a plus but if not then it would only be two to this carriage, no questions asked, no guests allowed.

Lex flopped down in an empty one, knowing it wouldn't start moving just yet. Felix took the spot across from her, saving it while she kicked her feet up. Soon they'd be back at the castle. Food then sleep. That sounded like the best combination ever.

First there'd be that speech thing. More depressing news about the broke castle and filthy rooms. Quite expected, so she wouldn't even grumble when the time came.

After five minutes of sitting there she got impatient Big surprize there. After another ten she was ready to send a search party for the snake. Seriously. Where was she??

Minerva had watched as Ariana got up. They were at the station.. At school. Emotions and nerves filled her yet again. It was time to start the term. Start her year without one of her comforts around all the time. She nodded slowly at her friend and got up. Picking up Fluffy and placing the puff on her shoulder Min turned to see Ariana's hand and she froze for a second. She was wanting to hold her hand. Min bit her lip as a few tears fell. They were in this together and she took her best friends hand. I have to make sure first years get off and get my things from the prefect compartment, but then we can go to the carriage.


After making sure all the things were done that needed to be she walked to the carriages with her best friend. She was feeling numb inside from all the different emotions. "This is really it.. We are really here." She shook her head. Summer went way to fast or maybe it was because she had only had half a summer. She put Liesel's cage in before getting into the carriage herself. Turning to help Ariana up as well. Looking out at the carriages she shook her head as the thoughts of previous years hit her. "Why does this seem like it is going to be so hard? Every where I turn he's going to be there in my head. Every class that seat is going to be there.. Every spot." She looked away as she sat there trying to keep it together. She had duties to fill this was not going to do if she was a crying mess.

Best friends help each other out. Best friends do tiring stuff for each other knowing they'd be repaid and appreciated. Best friends---
this WAS so exhausting OKAY?!

Dragging TWO trunks plus clutching her owl's cage wasn't an easy thing to do! Not. At. All. When they were about to get off the train and Lex asked Cassia to get both of the trunks, the snake didn't even think about it and agreed. How could one forget the size of the trunks? HMM? Though, Lex was kinda looking not like she always did. So Cassia was too focused on that to think of how on Earth she'd get to the carriage at this pace.

There were no more gentlemen who saw a young lady trudging with two trunks and a cage. She was very close to abandon the cage, you know. Except people kept telling her she left a bloody cage behind! Well, someone bloody help her THEN! Nope. N O O N E. She was on her own.

Her only thought was that she'd be too late and the carriages would take off leaving her here. Maybe she should have asked Scuyler about that cardbox. She might need it this night.

Luckily, no such thing was needed. She..finally. …saw…the …carriages.

Non-gracefully, Cassia dumped the trunks onto the station and chucked the caged owl above them. Yeah, hoot, whatever!

Then she climbed the carriage and plopped down on the seat opposite the lioness, took a couple of minutes to PANT and fill up her lungs again. Maybe she'd start feeling her arms again? That'd be a cool thing. And she was too tired to wipe the beads of sweat on her forehead. But then, she remembered.

Since she and Lex didn't come across each other on the train, that meant the fourth-year was with someone else. She needed up dates.

"So, had a nice ride?" But now Lex would answer with 'yes' or 'no'.

"Please start from the second your foot was on the train to the second it was off it." She was all ears.

Ella was smiley as she climbed into an empty carriage and got comfy. It was good to be back here and though summer had been brilliant, she was eager to reunite with friends and for Quidditch and for classes too. She'd missed it all except for the food.

...The food would be better this term, right?

Taking a notebook out of her favorite elephant tote, the blonde began doodling as she waited for the journey back to the castle. It shouldn't be too long now.

Her fingers tapped impatiently against the side of the carriage. If things continued this way she would hop out and go looking for the girl herself. Even the thestral seemed to be getting impatient. It had other rounds to make and she could understand that. It was getting dark and she was ready to collapse at the Gryffindor table.

The noise of something dragging against the ground caught her attention but the fact that Felix didn't move an inch told her it was welcomed company. She waited for the noise to get closer and found her Best Friend panting as she came along. Way to make a girl feel bad about asking a favour. In future, she'd simply get her own trunk and save her the hassle.

"You can go now." She said to the creature after Cassia had taken the seat. She settled in as it began moving. No Lottie then. Okay. Hufflepuff table it would be.

She was about to thank her for her trouble when she asked THAT. A nice ride? "I wouldn't say that." She said choosing her words carefully though really, worst and most embarrassing day ever. "It was loud and...er...shocking I guess." Her eyes widened a bit. "I really don't think you wanna hear how my whole ride went. Why don't you tell me about your ride instead?" She leaned forward, indicating her interest and desire not to say.

Uh no. Not empty. Kalla was just sitting at the very edge and it was kind of shadowy. HMPH. And yeah, she watched the girl for a long moment... Why was she carrying an elephant ANYTHING. How odd. And childish.

But Kalla kept the scathing remarks to herself.

For now.

"Oi. Saving a seat for my troll cousin if he makes it here in time. Just... so you know..." And no, she was not offering her name first. And what was she writing? Kalla leaned a little closer and very brazenly looked at the notebook.

Doodles.

How useless.

Great, the blood started flowing through the veins in her arms and she was feeling them again. Her heart wasn't beating SO hard, either, so she was feeling better. Thanks for asking. She gathered her strength and raised her hand to wipe her forehead. She only hoped she had retrieved the bottle of water from her trunk. She obviously needed to TALK to get everything out of Lex. Who was answering vaguely. BAD timing to test the Snake's patience. BUT Hold on! she had a bag looped around her neck. Look at how stupid she looked. Cassia slid the bag's string over her head, fished the water bottle out. Uncapping it, she gulped all what was inside.

Now she talks.

"Alexa," Yup, answer vaguely again and there'd be last-name usage. "I want to know those loud and shocking events. In detail," She was talking slowly both because she hadn't yet recovered and because it was more dramatic.

Pffft, tell her about her ride. As if Lex was a fan of the people in Cassia's year. The snake totally ignored the question and kept looking at Lex. And since she assumed it'd be quite a long and interesting story, she pushed herself a bit up and brought her legs beneath her. Getting comfy and all.

Story time.

"You may start," Or there was going to be shoving someone off the carriage.

Then bringing them back up.

O___O

How in Merlin's beard was there someone in the compartment already? Ella had sworn it was empty but then again, it's not as if she'd really looked that well. She would have expressed how impressed she was at the girl's stealthiness had it not been for her tone. Wow, grouchy much?

"I have an ogre brother so I don't mind trolls." Yup, that was all the girl was getting from her for the moment. Ella was in a good mood and she didn't want anything to ruin it. Seeing as this girl seemed less than pleased by her appearance, it was best to keep quiet.

Except now the girl was invading her personal space and eyeing her doodles. Ella casually shut the notebook and looked up at the stranger curiously, eyebrows raised. She didn't mind that she was looking but it was unexpected. "So...new to Hogwarts?"

This was a PLEASANT surprize. The carriage ride had started. They were on their way to the castle and everything but Cassia wasn't bombarding her with questions when she'd refused to answer. Perhaps the snake was learning to mind her own business. That was apparently something Lex would need to learn to do, so says him and she would. Much like Cassia was minding hers and drinking water--expected after lugging both their trunks out of the train in the crowd. Of course she was prepared to enjoy said silence but Cassia broke it.

-___-

"Why can't you leave it at loud and shocking?" She asked, suppressing a sigh. They were doing so well just now. "Loud...loud was Aidan practically yelling so the entire compartment could hear. Shocking was the things he yelled like a mention of a certain letter and stuff on said letter and eh and just a really awful time andnowhehatesme." The last bit was rushed. It was the worst truth all day.

Lex made a face at her eager friend.

"Don't look so excited. If I could have gotten off the train then and there I would have. There's no way I'd write a whole letter full of feelings." Ick and EW. "But he said I did and now anyone who heard will think so too." More icking and ewing and CRINGING.

Not grouchy at all.

Matter of fact.

Common misconception there. Heh.

"Witty retort. I approve." And Kalla gave her a rare half smile. Yeah. Even the half ones were rare. Benjy said she looks weird when she smiles... But he's also very rude.

And speaking of RUDE! Kalla had been looking at that. Hmph. Scooting back over into the shadowy part of the carriage she nodded once, half smile coming back. "Yep. Sixth year student, though." Clearly she wasn't a first year, but if the girl felt the need to ask was she new... when by all rights if she WASN'T they would have seen one another sometime... well let's just say Kalla was questioning her intelligence.

But she kept her tone light and sweet. Hehe.

Between seeing Garrick at Kings Cross, and then having Garrick's parcel to open as a distraction on the journey, Benjamin had conveniently managed to forget about his other cousin. He'd figured that she'd just find her way back to bother him eventually...but here he was in Hogsmeade, and she hadn't.

Weird.

Which meant he really should check that, well, she was actually here. He didn't seriously think she wouldn't be, especially if her being here was Uncle's wishes, but one never knew what Kalla had planned.

He'd promised Garrick he'd look out for her though, and he wasn't about to let his best mate down on the same day if he could help it. Not after what he'd found in the package. That photo really was a special find.

He glanced between the carriages sat at the station, and sighed. There was seriously no sight of her. Except...had he just head someone say 'troll' and 'cousin' together? He backtracked a little, and gave the carriages a closer look.

"Did I hear there was room for trolls in this carriage?" he asked, stepping on up, and the edge of his lips curled upwards in a smirk aimed at Kalla. "Because this one needs somewhere to sit."

If you can't beat'em, join'em?

And with that, he sat and gave Ella an apologetic look.

Ella smiled back and shrugged. It was true, Edric was a total ogre. She enjoyed it, though. He'd even taught her a thing or two which the blonde learned to use against him. Grin. She missed him.

Sixth year, eh? "I'm a sixth year too." So they'd be seeing each other around and such. "Where did you go before?" The blonde wasn't trying to be nosy but she also didn't like to sit in silence. It really wasn't her thing.

And then there was a troll and Ella watched the interaction between the two with mild interest before offering him a smile. "Hi. I'm Ella." And her eyes wandered from him to his cousin and back. See? Introductions.

Kalla watched as Benjy climbed in the carriage. He was a troll sometimes, but right now she was kind of glad to see him... mixed with an urge to punch him for forgetting about her and clearly not noticing she hadn't been on the train.

HMPH.

"Of course I had the forethought to save you a seat.[/b]" Her voice was quiet, mildly injured sounding, and full of contempt. Well not FULL of CONTEMPT. More like accusation. Mhm.

And attention back to the blonde. Mhm. A Sixth Year also. Interesting. "I didn't go anywhere before. I have been homeschooled. My therapist thought it was time I interacted with more kids my own age, though." She may have failed to mention that to Benjy, though. Oh well.

And look the blonde had a name! Ella. "Kalla." She pointed to herself as she spoke. Just in case there was any confusion.

"Maybe you should have had the foresight to tell me where it was too," Benjy said, speaking generally about both this seat and on the train. Because how was he meant to find her if she insisted on sitting in the shadows? GAH. It was only due to luck he'd overheard her, really. And his promise to Garrick that had made him actually look properly. But she didn't have to know that.

He turned from his cousin, at the moment, and gave the other member of their carriage a pleasant smile. "Benjamin." Just because Kalla called him a troll, didn't mean he was ugly and unpleasant. He could do niceties as and when he chose. "Fifth year. Not a transfer." Or home schooled. He'd been here the whole time. Yup.

And then he stared back at Kalla. Hang on. Her therapist had said she should come? He wouldn't comment on it right now, but that wasn't what she'd told him over the summer. He'd just hang on to that little snippet to make something of later. If that was the truth, then she couldn't blame ALL of this on HIM any more.

She really was hoping that Lex wouldn't insist on not telling since the snake was really drained and she could barely move. And she really wanted to know VERY badly. She tried not to look as tired as she was so Lex wouldn't take advantage of that. Cue why Cassia pushed up a bit and propped an elbow to the seat's arm. Totally, relaxed and could carry a bunch of other trunks.

Did it work?

And she was talking! Woot!

Cassia listened making sure not to let any emotion show on her face. She needed to hear this out and know everything then and only then would she say what she should say. Which she wasn't very good at!

Although internally, Cassia was only thinking of a way to sneak inside the fourth-year's dorms in the Ravenclaw's common room. She might want to drop a gift there for the boy. How dare he speak of the letters aloud?! He should have totally swallowed up his feelings, reactions and opinions. Who cared about them anyway? Yeah? Oh, probably Lex did. But like, he should have stuck to the script and NOT said it aloud. Everyone knew that rule.

He had a locker, too, right? Juuust gathering info here.

"He can say WHATEVER he wants," She said sitting up straight too enthusiastically. Bad move. Don't make a big deal of it or Lex would feel worse. Stupid, Cassia.

She tried again with a shruuuuug. "He just wants to pretend that he received one,"which he kinda did Pffffffft. Dreamer boy. Telling the truth and breaking girl's hearts. This needed to be stopped.

And now he hates her? What was Alexa Cambridge saying?

"Why would he? And who cares, Lex?" NO ONE! RIGHT! "Listen, it's nothing, ignore it. Leave it behind you. It's history, now!" And they were kinda doing so by approaching the castle and getting away from the train. Geddit?

This wasn't awkward or anything. Ella just kind of stared down at her shoes as the two talked about who couldn't find who and wondered if she had time to switch carriages. That would probably be really rude though, right? Yeah.

Homeschooled. Ella's mom had wanted to keep her home before magic and things happened. She always thought it'd be quite lonely, though. "Oh. Well, welcome and I hope you like Hogwarts." And all that jazz. Mhm.

"That's a nice name." Ella said thoughtfully, giving Kalla a small smile. She'd never heard it before, actually. Eyes on Benjamin now, the sixteen year old offered him a smile as well. "It's nice to meet you." Nodnod. "Both of you."

Kalla gave Benjy a blank faced stare and leaned up in her seat a little bit. "Well seeing as I never got on the train the only chance I would have had to tell you where I would be... I reckon I never got a chance, did I?" Since he had forgotten about her when Garrick showed up.

She had expected it, but it didn't make her feel any less wretched about it.

But whatever. SMILES ON.

"It's highly probable that I won't like the place, but thanks for the sentiment. That's really nice of you." And no, that was not sarcasm. She was being GENUINE. She appreciated the expected comments even if they were... expected.

"Like the Lily. Only spelled different. And Ella sounds somewhat similar so I won't be likely to forget your name." And that was a compliment. Sort of. Kalla didn't make it a habit of remembering people's names since she never gave them a chance anyway. Heh.

But then she said it was nice to meet her. Kalla thought this was a bit of a stretch. She preferred honesty... "I would say the same, but I am not entirely sure that's the case just yet."

HANG ON. Benjy stared at her, completely deadpan. "So...how exactly DID you get here?" Because clearly the train was FAR too much EFFORT, and simply wasn't GOOD ENOUGH for Princess Kalla over there.

Ella was hoping Kalla liked Hogwarts? A loud snort from Benjamin accompanied Kalla's answer. Fat chance of that happening, Ella. We're sorry. But it was the truth. All Benjy hoped was that Kalla was sorted as far away from him as possible, namely: Slytherin. He reckoned there was a good shot of it too.

C'mon, have you HEARD the girl?

He shook his head at Kalla, who clearly need to work on the social side of things, which was saying something coming from Benjamin, and turned to Ella. "You play Quidditch, right?" He thought he recognised her, anyway.

You know that eager look that Cassia sometimes had that made Lex want to smack it off her face? The same look she had that time they had that talk and Lex nearly walked out on her? Yeah, she was seeing it on the girl's face again and was tempted to step from the MOVING carriage and WALK the rest of the way.

Yes Cassia, that's how much she would have preferred not to see you looking so eager for what was actually really bad news. But of course she kept the scowl from her face because the girl didn't know any better. How was she to know? No need to get annoyed at her...unless this giddy headed business continued. In all honesty, it wasn't that obvious this time, that didn't mean she never realized.

The sudden outburst was one thing but her expression definitely brought the scowl this time. "He most certainly can NOT. There are other people involved and he's not making himself look bad." A rational thought. If he was only smearing his own name she probably wouldn't have cared.

"He can pretend if he wants so long as he does it quietly." Seriously. He could have cussed all he wanted, it just went downhill when he brought up the letter. Her scowl deepened. "I care." How couldn't she? "It's like what we talked about with that other thing and friendship being the most important thing. That kinda died when he told me I was a rubbish friend."

This...wasn't making her feeling any better at all. Thinking about it...not what she was trying to do. "And it can't be history because whenever he walks by I'll remember he hates me." Kinda hard to put that behind you.

This was like a tennis match of sorts. Every time Kalla said something, Benjamin seemed to have a quick retort. For the second time, Ella wondered if the two needed privacy but she was sort of stuck at this point. She remained quiet and fiddled with her hands a bit, also kind of curious as to how Kalla ended up in Hogsmeade.

So...she'd suggested something ridiculous, apparently. The blonde raised her eyebrows slightly but otherwise kept smiling. "You're welcome, I guess." She was feeling all sorts of unsure right now if they couldn't already tell.

Like the Lily, right. Ella's Gran would have known that but Ella wasn't exactly an expert on flowers. Just like she wasn't an expert on how to respond to the things Kalla was saying. "That's good, then." Maybe.

... ... "Okay." Kalla was allowed to make up her mind about people anyway she wanted but Ella had never had anyone say anything like that to her before. She supposed she respected the girl's honesty, though.

Quidditch? Thank Merlin! The blonde turned her attention to the boy and smiled, grateful for the subject change. "I'm the Hufflepuff Captain, actually. I love Quidditch." And she was itching to fly again. "Do you play?" He did look familiar but that could have been from classes and such too.

How had SHE gotten here? "Your mum and my mum got me to the train station here. I was a bit overwhelmed as it was. They saw fit to respect my wishes not to be on the train." Truth. TRUTH. There were so many people around.

And was Ella uncomfortable? How sad. But as she was opening her mouth to respond to the you're welcome I guess bit... she heard Benjamin SNORT. She cut her eyes to him, narrowing one slightly more than the other. He was being brattier than normal. She would have to put a stop to this. As soon as there were no witnesses.

And this girl was NOT a conversationalist. That was becoming abundantly clear.

And then Quidditch.

Kalla let her head fall back against the seat, rather dramatically, and let out a loud, pointed SNORE. They were boring her to DEATH over here.

Hand in hers Ariana walked beside Min up to the carriages. This would be the last time they ride they carriages. On their way out they would be on the first year boats. Ariana bit her lip once again as Maddy jumped onto her head. Silly puff. She let min help her up though she didnt need the help but she took it anyway. She put her backpack on the floor of carriage and Maddy on her lap "seems surreal huh? Our last year." she kept an eye on the creature pulling the thing. She found them fascinating since she began to to see them two years ago. Such beautiful things really."dont think about it. We'll be fine we have each other." that they did. The best slytherpuff pair around in her opinion.