The train ride toward the castle had been long and boring, not least due to the fact that Felicity had elected, or rather, tried to spend the journey alone - Skylar had made that difficult, but at least she hadn’t pressured her to talk. After everything that had happened the previous summer, the slightest word from her friend was sure to get under her skin, even if Felicity’s emotions weren’t particularly rational; Skylar hadn’t done anything wrong, after all.

But what was it Flynn had said, right before he’d dumped her?

Oh yeah, Felicity Harrington was the Queen of Being Irrational.

Or at least words to that effect.

And after the year she’d had, who could blame her for her insecurities? Junia didn’t. Hell, Junia shared some of them, never judged her and that was part of the reason they’d become so close. If there was anyone she’d wanted to spend a quiet train ride with it would be her, but after spending time with them over summer Felicity was pretty sure that the Botros family was tired of having her around.

After the train, she’d slipped into a carriage with a few third years she didn’t know, perfectly timed to be one of the first people into the Great Hall and to therefore claim at seat at the end of the table near the doors. This was the perfect spot: not only did it mean she could be one of the first out of the room and down to her dormitory when the feast was over, but she also had a great view of everyone coming into the room. And that was Felicity’s entertainment for tonight, she decided, resting her elbow on the table and her chin in her palm, people watching. Or, more specifically, attractive people watching - she needed to be distracted, otherwise she knew her eyes would be drawn to Flynn, and she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to deal with the emotions for her ex-boyfriend just yet.