Finally! At long last, Aaron had arrived at the school and got sorted into his house! Slytherin! This was going to be a blast for Aaron! On the train, the boy had met a handful over others in the house, so at least he wouldn't be going in completely unaware of who else would be in his house. Which was a good thing. But then again, Aaron would have just made said friends now or later on once they got back to the common room. Either way, this was his house now.

He didn't mind it in all honesty. Coming here, Aaron knew that a lot of the students had a preference on which house they wanted to be sorted into and everything, but not him. Aaron knew that whatever happened, happened, and whatever he did, he wouldn't be able to change it. Either way, he was content with the house that was chosen.

The moment Skylar had left the train, in lieu of taking the carriages led by what she knew to be thestrals, the sixth year had skipped that all together this year. Because she was the proud owner of a Bluebottle C, so why would she sit in a carriage for more small talk when she could fly?? Yup, that's right, the sixth year had carefully mounted her new broom, holding it one-handed, while she held her other broom alongside and flew alongside the carriages (well just above) and right into the castle once the doors opened for her...

Flying right past Zoryn confronting the Bloody Baron, latter of whom the Slytherin Captain would officially greet once she got settled. But flying.... which the snake hovered by the Slytherin table for the briefest of seconds as she glanced up at the staff dais for missing faces. Kalen Kennedy was indeed back, which while she hadn't done anything for that mission, she did feel a sigh of relief in knowing she'd have an Astronomy Professor for more than one term. But no C Stewart. No Rose Newton Marchand .... wait, was she pregnant???? Making a mental note to speak with Gaston soon about the involvement of charms in cursebreaking aspirations, she might subtly ask him. But then... the sixth year's heart sank. No River Reed. And it felt completely disrespectful to continuing hovering and staring at the staff dais because she never got to say goodbye. She would write; make sure he was at least okay. And maybe ask Hirsch later too if he knew of Reed's whereabouts, because the two were close, right? Least that's what Noelle had seemed to let onto her two years ago. Or was it three? Merlin, time really flew.

Dismounting off her broom, she grinned just in time to see a first year she'd met on the train be sorted into Slytherin.

"Hey, Aaron!! Welcome to Slytherin!" She grinned at him, sliding onto the bench next to him and propping her two brooms up next to her.

Waful was on FORM today with his sweeping and soaring -and he didn't even NEED a broom. He flew through the double doors of the great hall, and then flew around in a few impressively aerodynamic circles above the heads of the hoomans gathered below.

Get on his level, hoomans.

There was a certain one he was delivering important mail to, but they all deserved to see how good he was at flying.

When he spotted his target he banked left and descended with a self-important "Hoo."

He dropped the package and the letter in front of her. Treats? Did the girl hooman have treats? He deserved SO many treats for this.

After a very long train ride and not that long carriage ride, she's back at Hogwarts.

Start of term feast...

It's official her fifth year has just begun. Well, at least this year they finally bring Quidditch back to Hogwarts. That's something she's looking forward to. Speaking of Quidditch, it looked like someone decided to make a grand entrance with her broom. "Nice broom, Skylar." Yup. A very nice broom indeed. Alyce was just about to sit down onto the bench across Skylar when she noticed an owl dropped something in front of Skylar. Wonder what's inside that package? Hmmm...Oh well...

Alyce turned her attention to the kid who's sitting beside Skylar. "Hi, Aaron. We meet again. And welcome to Slytherin." She gave him a small smile.

Now, where's Nathan Hale?

Clank.

Clunk.

Rattle.

Was the very loud sound coming from the Bloody Baron's chains as he floated into the Great Hall and over to the Slytherin table to hover next to the only boy at that time present. Turning his pale gaunt face and black staring eyes onto the boy Aaron he greeted in his usual grumpy hoarse tones. "Welcome to Slytherin, young Valentino!"

Casting his eyes over to Skylar first his bloodiness asked suspiciously."Was the carriages out of commission since you've felt the need to bring two brooms to the feast Ms Diggory?"

The baron then turned to Alyce that was still standing and grumbled impatiently. "Take a seat Ms Lefrique or maybe the seat you've got your eye on will be stolen by another student."

While he was sitting down, wondering were everyone else was, a familiar face had walked over- well...in this case...flew over to the table. It was none other than the Quidditch Captain for the Slytherin Team, Skylar. "Hello again!" Aaron replied, with his normal, perky tone. "I forgot to tell you this on the train, but nice brooms! I'll be trying out for the Quidditch Team this year. Do you think it's hard to make the team?" Aaron had wondered about that. What would his competition be like to get onto the team itself? How hard would the games be? Were practices intense? All of these were the questions that the boy had, but he decided to wait on asking them so she wasn't completely overloaded by just him alone. Also so if there were any other first years, or any students for that matter, who had the same questions, she wouldn't have to repeat herself.

After asking Skylar that, another familiar person had arrived to the table. It was the one girl he met at the trolley. The one who couldn't decide on which sweet to buy. "Hi Alyce! Nice seeing you again!" A pause, not of hesitation, but just a regular break in between the sentences. "And thank you both for the welcome to the house! I can't wait to see what's in store for these next 7 years here at Hogwarts." Aaron had said to both of the girls at the table. He did so with much enthusiasm and excitement. Truly, there was never a moment when this boy wasn't smiling.

Ahhhh yes.

And now one of the famous ghosts of Hogwarts had decided to join trio. It was the ghost of the House, the Bloody Baron. This wasn't something unusual to Aaron. I mean, while the boy had never personally seen or spoken to a ghost, but he knew that they existed. Either way, although the ghost seemed a bit melancholy, that didn't let it crush Aaron's positive spirit.

"Good day Mr. Baron! My parent's told me a lot about you, and the other ghosts here at the school." The boy said, his own dark eyes peering back at the spirit's.

Did she want to be back here? Well, not entirely. There was the whole being cursed thing and then the memory of what happened to Abey and on top of it all, the fact that this was Sam's last term. He'd be busy with studying and saying goodbyes and she'd need to watch him move on from Hogwarts. And maybe from her? It was a lot to internalize and she was doing just that. Letting anyone, especially her family, see her upset simply wasn't an option. She had to keep it together for them.

Head held high, the sixth year smoothed her skirt and made her way to the Slytherin table. Her eyebrows raised at the sight of the brooms-yes, plural-and she fought off the urge to roll her eyes. Rubbing your captain status in much, Diggory? It seemed like it. Was Junia jealous? Of course she was. Was she going to try out anyway? Perhaps. She hadn't decided. With Healer Reed gone, she wasn't sure she'd get the opportunity to spend her time volunteering in the hospital wing and another extracurricular would look good on her uni applications...It was just having to listen to Skylar's orders--and Vivian's when she was acting as prefect--it was hard. As much as they were her friends, they were her competition, too, and they were very clearly winning at Hogwarts. They had the badges to show for it. It made the brunette want to scream.

Again, internalizing here, she put on a smile instead.

"Hello everyone." It came out more cheerful than expected and it surprised even her as she sat down across from her dorm mate. "Everyone had good summers, I hope." As for the Bloody Baron, he got a respectful nod of the head in greeting. His mood, like hers, seemed to be rather unpleasant, though she supposed when you were dead, you didn't feel the need to hide such things anymore...

Patrick walked into the great hall. It was totally different arriving as a second year. First of all he wasn’t herded in like cattle awaiting to find out which house he had been sorted in. This time he got to arrive and sit right down. But he would have to wait to eat until the Headmistress gave her opening speech as usual. He noticed Skylar had her brooms with her, he did need to talk to her about trying out for the quidditch team. He missed out on the play last year, but he was pretty sure that wasn’t all bad considering the wild things that were going on.

He sat down and noticed Aaron a few seats down sorted and ready to start his year apparently. Ah, the Barron had arrived at the table too. Tonight was shaping up.

Glancing up at the owl, Skylar frowned in confusion ... owl mail already?! It was only the first night? Had a first year forgotten something super important? Usually it at least waited until the next morning before mail delivery started. That was when the owl dropped a package and letter in front of her and before opening the parcel, or giving treats to the owl, she glanced at the label. Captain Skylar Diggory ... OKAY. Could she cry? Like legit cry? She had of course heard of West Odessa, seen his name mentioned in Quidditch Brochures - he played for the Wigtown Wanderers - but she never met him. So how did he know her?

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out some granola and held it out for the owl as a brief reward before opening the letter. The previous owner of the Slytherin Captain badge, from before Quidditch got cancelled, which must have been from like ten years ago?! He had played for the Under Seventeen too? And currently wasn't even playing for the Wigtown Wanderers, but now the Magpies, where her father had played?? Breathe, Breathe. And yet despite it, it wasn't sad tears at all, but she did feel all the emotions welling up inside of her. That the previous wearer of her badge and held onto this for so long and had written HER. Skylar Diggory. Daughter of Savannah Mae and Curt Diggory. That a famous professional quidditch player and Dead Kneazles band member would still remember Hogwarts and think to congratulate someone he never met and care about the team he left behind. And provide strategies and training tips and diagrams, stuff she can add to her own notes she'd already begun planning when she received the dragon leather bound captain planner from Zinnia near the end of the summer. It just felt so surreal and had it not been for the sound of Alyce's voice, Skylar might have hugged and kissed the playbook from previous captains.

But no, the sound of Alyce's voice definitely brought Skylar back to the present. "Oh? Thanks, Alyce. Birthday and badge present?" Also, did she have a broom? Was she a flyer? Did she want to bid on her Firebolt? Eh, she'd make the flyers and post them tomorrow.

That was when she looked up at the rattling sound that she knew to be her house ghost, who'd been speaking with Zoryn when she flew in. Apparently he had noticed her flying? "Not at all, Sir Baron. But why take the carriage when I have this GORGEOUS broom to fly on that works quite well." And the other, well, she wasn't about to lock a broom in her trunk. That would be sacrileges. "How are you doing tonight?"

And Aaron was inquiring about quidditch. "Thanks Aaron! I'll be selling this one," She indicated of her firebolt. So if he made the team, he should consider buying it? "I look forward to seeing you at tryouts then. I think that Hogwarts has some great flyers, but since this is the first time Quidditch is back since I've been here, I couldn't say about the competition. I will say, if you've got the right attitude and are willing to put in the effort, than it will be worth it. Have you flown before?"

And there was one of her dormmates, who seemed to be ... well, lost in thought? For lack of better terminology. Where was Felicity? With Flynn? Or Vivian who was probably pretending to help out some first years, but really found a fun niche to snog Chase. Not that Skylar would judge of her, but eyes back on Junia Botros, because the girl seemed ... to have a lot on her mind and it was at this moment that Skylar really wished she knew legilmency, as the girl eyed her brooms. No need to give her that look? She wasn't keeping BOTH, but it was definitely easier to sell the older one at Hogwarts. She did appreciate the smile and cheerful greeting, even if her initial looks hadn't come across to match; even if she hadn't noticed much, because emotions from the West Odessa parcel and letter. "Hey Junia. Yea, I did. Quite eventful, and your pool party was fun too. It's good to be back though. How'd you do on your exams?" Cause she hadn't really seen the girl since her party. Kind of made her sad that she wasn't as close to the Botros girl as some of her other dormmates, but it was what it was? She was grateful though that they all got along so well; or at least on the surface?

Oh hey again Patrick. A smile at the second year, she studied him a moment, trying to mentally figure where he might be on her lineup....

It was hardly a new phenomenon for Abey Abra to gravitate towards the Slytherin house table, especially during a feast. In fact, he had spent every single one of his Hogwarts feasts there ever since the Sorting Ceremony in his first year. Despite this, he still felt a little uneasy as he approached the table in question, and tried to blend in amongst the sea of green.

Junia was easy to locate, because she was Junia and Abra always managed to instinctively find her even in a crowd. He was still a little cautious as he approached and joined her (giving the Bloody Baron a wide berth, seeing as he never took too kindly to Abra sitting at the Slytherin table during the feasts, even though there was technically no rule against it) because he was, as always, worried that he would bother her with his constant hanging around, even though he knew he wasn't supposed to fret over things like that because they were rarely actually true actually. Apparently. Or something. But he had either kept to himself or sought out his non-relative friends through the duration of the train ride, to avoid the possibility of his presence being at all suffocating during the feast.

But the thing was, after so long of being with his family and at home, he sort of needed to be with them now - with Junia, namely - because being back at school was sort of starting to... well...

It was just a lot to have to readjust to.

Trying to draw as little attention as possible from everyone else, but obviously make himself known to his cousin, Abra joined the table, slipping into the space beside Junia. Quite close, actually. Close enough that he wondered if she could feel his his thundering and anxious heartbeat just as keenly as he did. He hoped not, because it was making him feel a little queasy and that was not a feeling he wished to pass along to someone else.

"Hi Junebug," he said softly, and with a light smile, clasping his hands on the tabletop and then wringing his fingers together, twisting them around each other in a subtle and unintended display of nerves. For just a moment he glanced over towards the Gryffindor table, and then the Hufflepuff table, but it was hard to say exactly what was going on anywhere else, and so instead directed his eyes down towards his empty plate and watched the night's sky reflected in it.

Patrick smiled and waved at Skylar, “congrats on making captain Skylar, you deserve it.” Patrick was glad someone he knew got it, not because that guaranteed him a spot but because he could cheer the team on if he didn’t make it more passionately.

He looked down at Aaron, “welcome to Slytherin. Glad to have you Aaron. You’ll love it I promise.”

Zarina finally made it to the feast table. She saw her fellow slytherins already seated. Man how did they get here so fast? Did they bewitch their trunks to fly? Anyways back on track. She smelt the familiar smells of the great hall with the delicious food that was about to be served after the sorting. Zarina was starting her fourth year. Where did the time go? Zarina saw a tag on one of the robes of her fellow slytherins and it was the Quidditch Captain. This slytherin and beamed and waved at her. Hopefully she could do tryouts this year. She hadn't flown in a while.

She found a seat and began to look up and down the table for familiar faces but no such luck. Maybe she was early? Zae started to adjust her new robes and relaxed before the food.

OHHHH it was beginning to feel a lot like nap-time!

Flynn, having finally changed into his Slytherin robes, strolled into the Great Hall with both of his hands stuffed into the pockets of his robe. After having dealt with Torrance for what seemed like forever in the Prefect Compartment, he was ready to get a little shut eye before having to lead the smelly first years to the Slytherin dome.... which was his JOB now.... well, one of his JOBS, at least. He had responsibilities, which he was sure to push some (if not a majority) of them on to his co-prefect, Mayfield Fairfield.

He noticed a new face, Aaron, as he approached the table. He gave him a look, which was probably more intimidating than anything, because did he know any other look??? He ignored the lion cub (Abey) that had welcomed himself to the table and began walking further down, passing Patrick, Junia, and Zarina, as he made his way to the end of the table. HIS SPOT, thank you very much.

However, he did stop when he spotted Skylar and eyed both her brooms. "You just had to be a show off, didn't you?" ... and he thought he would be the one putting all the spotlight on his new badge but Diggory had beat him to the punchline on that one. His eyes drifted over to Sir Bloody Baron, and he only had one greeting to give the ghost: "Sup, Bloody? We're going to have a good term. You and I." Mhm.

Instead of walking to the end of the table, as he originally had planned, he took a seat next to Skylar. And of course, he was saving the seat next to him for Felicity, who would hopefully be arriving soon.

So.. this seemed to be it. His last start of term feast. Occasionally looking to the firsties being sorted Oliver felt a bit of nostalgia but also concern. His nephew was about to find his house, his friends and go on his own little seven year journey.

Hogwarts was a wild ride and anyone who denied that would be a fool. And while the ride wasn't always a fun one it was something he was proud of. This term would be the last chapter of a book he was ready to close. It was time to start the next one. An apprenticeship at Ollivanders awaited him and nothing made him quite so impatient.

But one thing at a time and right now it was the feast. So he took his seat and looked around for the blonde hair atop his best friend's head. Hopefully she'd sit with him.

If not maybe he'd strike up a conversation with a random.

Vivian may have been a bit late as compared to the other students, but she had arrived just not too long after the sorting ceremony started. She totally had been helping a few firsties off the Express and led them to the castle like the good prefect she was. Not that she stole a few minutes to snog around, definitely not. Psssh. The blond applauded as more Slytherins were sorted and slipped into a seat across her dormie, Skylar. She knew she had used the broom, of course. This Slytherin would have done the same, had she gotten such a great model like Sky's Bluebottle C. "Heeeey," Vivian said with a beam. "You ready for the term?" Because this blond was! And she looked at the letter that Sky was holding, very curious as to what her dormie looked very emotional about. She'll check on that later, but first... prefect duties.

"Hey, everyone," Vivian greeted pretty much everyone present. That included Alyce, Patrick, Abey (the prefect didn't mind him being here at all), Zarina, and Oliver. "I hope you all had a great summer." The sixth year was hyped to no longer have a major exam to worry about at the end of this year. She had conquered her OWLs, and her NEWTs weren't until next term. This was what she considered a grace period for her, which she was grateful for.

The Bloody Baron didn't go unnoticed. The familiar clank of his chains was too obvious and distinct to not notice, anyway. "Good evening, sir Baron," Vivian said, and offered a polite nod and smile towards their house ghost. "Did you have a lovely summer, too?" Small talk and all, Vivian was an expert at that as long as it kept the Baron happy and... not scary to first years. And speaking of, there was a first year! The blond smiled at the him, and was quite glad he looked comfortable in just the first few minutes with the rest of the house. "Hello. Aaron, isn't it?" she asked to make sure. "I'm Vivian. Welcome to Slytherin." Also known as the best house? No bias at all. She had friends and family from other houses, but you know.

And Flynn was here already. Wow. Vivian never thought of it, but he seemed to be doing decent for his first night with the badge. Fingers crossed it would last until their final year. Hopeful, remaining hopeful. "Hey, Coleslaw," the blond said with a small salute towards her co-prefect. "I'll let you take that nap after the sorting ceremony." But for now, he might as well help her with the new first years, yeah? Would be a sort of win-win situation for them, she liked to believe.

Back to Skylar and that letter. "I hope you don't mind buuuut...." Vivian snagged the letter from her wifey's hand and brought it towards her. And... that was when the blond understood why Skylar looked like she was slapped so hard that it made her cry. A good slap on the face. That was a thing, right? Quietly folding the letter and returning it to Sky, the blond felt a tiny bit of jealousy because she had JUST gotten a letter from the last Slytherin Captain (she made a mental note to ask her auntie about that) who was a member of the DEAD KNEAZLES. What was this luck, and how could Vivian have the same? "I'd hug you but you're on the other side of the table... but... wow." That was all she could say.

But Vivian couldn't help but just notice how awfully down Junia was. Seeing her friends sad affected her mood as well. She tilted her head and smiled a bit at her dorm mate, hoping it would brighten up her day even just a little. "Hey," she said. "You alright? I have marshmallows if you want." It helped her throughout her downs and the prefect was willing to share if it meant helping out a friend.

Nathan wasn't feeling too excited this term, knowing this would be his OWLs year. He would need to hit the library after school just to catch up. Urgh...just the thought of it makes him want to puke. He cursed under his breath. Nathan Hale wouldn't hear the end of it from his mom if he were to fail any of his subjects again. He wondered if someone was willing to tutor for an extra galleon. Maybe Prefect Vivian could help? He doubts she would want to, of course. And speaking of the devil, there she was...being all friendly and what not. Nathan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Hold on one minute. Is that Flynn wearing a prefect badge?! His jaw dropped. No bloody way. How? What? Eh? What's happening? Nathan stared at the odd sight.

Merlin's beard how was she already back? This was actually probably the most excited Kye had been since her first year if she was being honest... She had decided her direction for the year, and it felt like New Year's Day. She was energized! Well, the feast wasn't a bad addition either of course. She had a seat at her beloved Slytherin table with just a minute before the Sorting Ceremony began.

Kye watched as the tiny ones entered the Great Hall, the mixed emotions shown on their faces. As the Ceremony started, Kye looked for the familiar faces arriving at the table. Ah there was Sky! Ahh it was pretty exciting to be friends with the Captain!

"Congratulations Sky!!" Kye enthused, joining in with everyone else.

And Vivi! Ugh and her lovely Prefect badge shining up the room.

"That badge looks great on you Vivi!" Kye remarked as Vivian arrived. The memory of being a first year and getting to hold the Prefect's badge... Dot, right? Sounded right.

The group waiting to be sorted started to dissipate, and Kye could feel the inevitable hunger that comes with being minutes from the feast.

It really wasn't much of a surprised to see Abey Botros joining them at the Slytherin Table; he was practically an honorary Slytherin himself with how consistently he sat there every year since his first year. A brief smile at the younger Gryffindor, she hoped he was feeling okay and had a good summer, but his attention was on his cousin and his empty plate.

So instead, the sixth year drew her attention back toward Patrick who was congratulating her, with similar comments to what Apollo had said too when she informed him of her captaincy. You deserve it and while she was ecstatic with emotions and feelings and confidence boosts from her housemates and family members, she also felt incredibly anxious. What if she didn't live up to these expectations? What if she let them down? They all seemed incredibly confident in her abilities and while she knew she was an incredible flyer and a fair beater, she had doubts too. Like any teenage girl, of course, that what if she DIDN'T meet these great expectations. None of that was voiced of course, but instead she smiled at the younger snake. "Thanks Patrick! Hope I'll see you at tryouts?" Because the more at tryouts the better the possibility of a great team.

That was when she noticed the staring of one fourth year at her badge and the wave from Zarina. A confident smile and finger wiggle back at the younger Slytherin. "Hey, Zarina!" She'd be trying out too, yes? Cause Skylar wanted ALL the people at tryouts; obviously they wouldn't all make the team, but they could at least have a blast trying? And knowing they contributed in someway to help give Slytherin the best possible team? "Good summer?"

And there was one of fellow house leaders; the one she was slightly surprised about and yet simultaneously, not. "Don't be so jealous that I thought of it first," Skylar retorted back at Flynn. Because yes, she was aware how big-headed he was and yes she might have been gloating a little that she managed to make that grand entrance.

Speaking of other student leaders, there was that wifey of hers and Skylar had to eye her curiously to wonder if she'd gotten distracted with snogs from leading the first years, but not questioning it because surely Vivian would be spilling later. There was young impressionable new Slytherins here and they had to be positive role models. Or something like that anyway. "Hey. Finally. I've been ready since about two months ago when I received this," she grinned, pulling slightly at the badge on her robes. "But now I'm extra ready." Because support from Zinnia and West, well, it just it made one all sentimental to know that someone still cared who graduated years ago.

"Heyyy!!" Skylar was about to complain when Vivian snagged the letter, but of course not really, because if ANYONE could snag it without permission, obviously it would be the wifey. And while Vivian was reading and Skylar was still feeling the weight of the words on the parchment, she made eye contact with Oliver Lupin and Nathan Hale, giving them brief smiles, and then her eyes even wandered to the Ravenclaw Table, as she searched for a face that she knew wouldn't be there anymore. No, she was officially the oldest Diggory at Hogwarts and it felt all sorts of surreal. When the letter was returned back to her to bring Skylar's attention back to Vivian. "Yea. Wow indeed." She sniffed a little, reaching her hand across the table to grab for the prefect's hand. "I'll settle for a hand hug for now."

Which was interrupted by another one of her dormmates making an entrance and Merlin was Kye excitable. "Hey Kye! Good to see you again! Thank you!" The enthusiasm from the girl with gorgeous eyes was definitely contagious. "Can I count on you to come tryout? Or at least cheer on those who are trying out?" Cause honestly, she had no idea if Kye played quidditch but a Kye!Sky duo on the team would be fun, right?

There were finally enough people at the feast that Zita felt she could make her entrance. Did it take from the first years and transfers getting sorted, probably, but who wanted to see them when she was walking in any way? Looking around she did hate that her group was not all in the same house, maybe they would have to just make a part of a table just for them. It would become the most wanted to be part of table in Hogwarts when she was done.


"Hello everyone" giving her biggest grin and wiggle her fingers to all that were looking. Now, who would be lucky enough to have her sit with them? She had to pick the perfect place or it would ruin the entire term. Her eyes moved to the other tables, maybe she'd go find Juni, Chloe, Magnolia, and Soraya. She'd just pull Andi with her, she wouldn't want to stay over here when her group was together somewhere else.

"Hello Baron sir" she wiggled her fingers at him before placing her hand on Abey's shoulder. "Well hello there" smiling she knew he was close to a certain Hufflepuff and had his own popularity that could be good for her, plus Abey seemed sweet. "Glad to be back?" She knew he had been pulled last term like so many, but they were all alive and back to have some fun and probably learn a little.


Her eyes kept moving back to a certain table and a certain person and she made a decision... "If you excuse me for a second there is someone I need to talk to."

.... and off she went.

Cam had somehow lost Liam on the way into the Great Hall but wasn't too worried about finding him again. If not at their table then definitely in their dorm after the feast. Which he was kind of looking forward to already. The dorm, not the feast. Although, the feast, too. Okay, both sounded VERY appealing.

Food AND sleep. Somehow he was constantly hungry lately.

He thought he'd seen Skylar's badge earlier on the train but hadn't been entirely sure until passing her again just now. "Congratulations." Cam commented, nodding down to the Quidditch Captain badge on her robes. While she wasn't necessarily one of his people, he figured with her being the CAPTAIN he should be on his best behavior with her.

Talent often wasn't everything.

Seeing as he could neither spot Liam or Julie he sat down in the empty seat next to Zarina instead. "Hi. How was your summer?" Smiling he got comfortable before taking another look around. Eh. There was Zita. He hadn't even bothered to reply to that invite she'd sent for that pool party of hers. Honestly, had she honestly thought that he would-

...

What?

For some reason Cam's eyes had followed Zita when she'd gotten up from her seat and had walked over to another house's table. Hufflepuff to be exact. And then she'd done something.......surprising to say the least. What?

Teddy sat in an empty space at the Slytherin table. She was a little late. The 17 year old spent quite a while in the bathroom, afraid to face...well, to see Lucy. She hadn't made any contact with her since Leaky Cauldron....and she planned to keep it that way. This was for the best. She was sure of it.

She kept her head down, sending occasionally smiles to anyone who addressed her, but kept quiet herself.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Joy, there was that guilty feeling. Yes, Skylar had been at the pool party Ast and Sam had planned in her honor. She'd come and she'd had fun. Her dorm mate had shown up for something meant to cheer her up, and here she was being a poor sport over a badge...She was a monster. SIGH. "Seven Os, two Es, three As." She rattled her scores off with a shrug. She'd done as well as could be expected considering what had happened last term and while she knew she could've done worse, she also knew that she could've done better. That Sky might very well have done better. Was it wrong not to ask about her scores in turn? Maybe she could stick to an equally squirmy, but easier to navigate topic change. Yeah. "Congratulations on the badge, by the way." There. Discomfort over now that that was said, hopefully.

She felt him next to her before seeing him and Junia instinctively reached an arm around Abey's shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze. He was a welcome presence with everything going on in her head and she could tell by the way he was wringing his hands that this feast wasn't easy for him, either. They could face it together, at least. "Hi. I'm really glad you're here." He earned himself a genuine smile, one reserved for Abeys only, and then the sixth year followed his gaze. "Bet the food will be here before we know it. I want a bit of everything," She offered in an attempt at cheerful, food being one of the only things she was genuinely looking forward to.

And now she was surrounded. Flynn had gotten a badge. Flynn. Junia tried very hard not to stare at it and gave him a nod in acknowledgement. Was Felicity not with him, then? The brunette wondered momentarily where she might be when Vivian approached, making the slytherin student leadership showing complete.

"I'm okay, but thanks. Just anxious to get this feast over with." Junia offered the blonde a small smile and turned her attention back to Abey as more congratulations were passed out around her.

"Hold my hand?" She glanced at her cousin and offered hers, hopeful. He'd understand, yeah? They'd had the talk about not being the best at anything many times and this was just..a bit much.

You know what a wind charm, new heels, and a carefully times and slightly late arrival got you? If you were a seventh year snake queen called Katherine Marielle Toussaint, it got you a diva moment entrance right down the middle of the Great Hall, hair tossing and shoe strutting and everything. You only got ONE last first entrance.

"Lupin." Katy winked at her mate as she settled gracefully into a seat. She gave a few nods of acknowledgment to those sitting around her, but she was not engaging in conversation right off the bat. It broke the mystique. She wouldn't even have said hello to Oliver, but he'd go off and sulk and that was tiresome.

Although he had spent the last six years at Hogwarts making sure he and Char weren't a package deal (so she could have her life and her friends, and he could have his life and his friends, but they would always, always, always, be there for each other), her departure from Hogwarts was unexpectedly difficult. It hadn't been at the end of last term, nor had it been over the summer, or even on the train, since they usually went in their separate directions once they reached the train to catch up with their friends they hadn't seen over the summer anyway.

But here, now, stepping into the school without his sister, making his way into the Great Hall for a feast, a feast he had never endured without his "big" sister there in his company... it had suddenly all dawned on him, the reality of the situation, and his eyes were glued to the doorway, wishing his cousin, Katy, would hurry the heck up get there.

He had his other sister, Chloe, too, but she was over at the Ravenclaw with her people. And there was Jael, but he had seen just as much of her as he had seen of his family over the summer, and she needed her time to catch up with her friends. No, right now, he needed... someone who was, perhaps, feeling the same way he was - a bit nostalgic for days past, a bit apprehensive about the future, and looking to embrace every opportunity to make a memory.

Katy's entrance didn't faze him in the slightest - he wasn't surprised, he wasn't alarmed, he didn't think anything of her flashy entrance - and he made quick work of hurrying over to her as she went to find an empty seat.

"Hey," he murmured, slipping into the seat beside Katy, undoubtedly appearing uncomfortable being at the Slytherin table. It was a first for him for these big feasts to be over here, and he was certain that he looked like as much of a fish-out-of-water as he felt. But he was here, he had his cousin, his best friend - and he could breathe a little better now, as uneasy as he still felt.