So this was a first. Instead of waiting with her like he always did until the train pulled out he just...he gave her her trunk, a hug and kiss, her galleons for school (and some for the ride to school because he knew her so well) then he just...left? How rather curious. She had no idea what to make off it and it concerned her even more when she realized it didn't bother her as much as it might have a year or two ago.

Lex took one look at the barrier and decided she'd grab something to eat first. Might as well, hiding was a taxing activity!

With Felix tucked safely in one arm she pulled her things along and made her way over to the Western Concourse. Nothing ever happened there and Alice wouldn't really see her--assuming the girl headed straight for the barrier, only...this assuming was more like HOPING.

She got herself some cookies then plopped down next to her trunk and things with Felix stretched across her lap lazily. He didn't have much to do when there were no other people's pets around to be chased. Speaking of...wasn't she meant to meet up with Lottie...?......Ooops....

Benjamin had managed to escape from the grasps of his mother, who was currently doting on his cousin with an array of baked goods for the train, and now wound his way around to the Western concourse on his skateboard. He'd left his luggage behind with them, and was now after some Muggle snacks for the journey - more to annoy his mother by 'running off' than anything else.

He whistled lightly as he wove through the crowd, glancing along the shop frontages every now and then. He wrinkled his nose, unsure of what he actually wanted now he'd made the skate for freedom and was here. Ah well. He did spot something else, however. Or, more like, someone else.

The trunk and cat were a dead giveaway for her destination. Apart from the fact he recognised her face: Gryffie; in the year below him. His own challenge to Garrick in mind, Benjamin decided to try and catch her attention, attempting to do a heel kick on his way past...

...and promptly wiping out in the middle of the walkway.

Lex glanced down at Felix who had by now curled up, prepared to ignore the world. This was a step up from getting her in trouble so she left him to that. Right now her mind was torn between NOT having Alice finding her and her actually getting up to find Lottie. They had to meet up 'cause they were sitting together and she missed Lottie--nevermind that they hung out over the summer.

She leaned against her trunk and bit into another cookie. For muggle stuff these weren't half bad. Nothing like the ones the elves made but they were alright. If her dear kneazle wasn't sleeping she might have offered him a bite too.

Quite suddenly the feline jumped away. Blink blink. She gave him a curious look before turning her gaze in the direction he was now looking. There was a guy...riding a skateboard, while she was there on the floor. Merlin help him if he ran into her. Muggles. Very irresponsible when they got let loose on anything faster than their regular speed. Oh but wait. She'd seen him before. He most certainly was NOT a muggle.

Her eyes stayed on him, watching him twisting and shifting and FALLING?

"HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA!!!"

It was only because she remembered that loud laughing attracted unwanted attention that she stopped laughing and settled with silent giggles. This. Him. She hopped up, dislodging the kneazle in the process and made her way over. "You okay?" EPIC FAIL.

That...most certainly did NOT go to plan. He meant to do an uber awesome trick and flash her a winning grin; maybe even get to talk to her a bit. He had no intention of face-planting, and subsequently hearing her laughter ringing in his ears.

And when he didn't think it could get much worse: just as he started to get up to skulk away without his very red and embarrassed face on public show, she came up to talk to him. Oh, the humiliation. At least there wasn't any blood. Just a couple of raw friction burns on his knees for his mother to scold him about on his return to his luggage later.

"Fine," he replied, running his fingers through his hair in an attempt to look cool. "Just a little mistiming, that's all..." Nothing to do with being distracted trying to show off. Nothing at all...

She supposed she was meant to stop snickering now, wasn't she? Okay, one last snicker. Sniiiiicker. There. She was done now and could properly focus on the one who had nearly broken his neck in the middle of King's Cross. "Major mistiming if you ask me." Lex offered him a hand, unless of course he preferred the ground. It had been the better option just now when she was enjoying her cookie.

She looked him over. Nothing seriously damaged on him. "What were you trying to do anyway?" It looked like he was trying a stunt...but then he also looked like he was either trying to fly without a broom or attack the floor head on. Really, these things were hard to tell.

Lex felt something rubbing against her leg. Looking down she saw that her rather disgruntled kneazle had made his way over to her. In one motion she scooped him up before looking to her source of live entertainment once more.

"And haven't I see you before...? Almost sure I have." Just trying to confirm her earlier suspicion was all.

Had he asked for her opinion? No. He hadn't. His face turned a shade redder, and he scowled as he scrambled up to her feet. "I'm okay thanks," he added, as he disregarded her offered hand and instead turned on the spot as her looked for his skateboard.

"A kick flick," he answered somewhat irritably, as he scanned the local area. Turned out, it had rolled off to one side and got hidden in a bunch of commuters looking at the destinations board. He sauntered off to get it, sour mood lifting as his realised that despite his idiocy, she was still talking to him. As outcomes of this episode could go, he'd take it.

...and hence the smirk on his face as he returned with his board under one arm.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you had..." he replied with a wink. See, it wasn't just Garrick who could get noticed by the ladies! "You're a Gryffie, right?!"

Well wasn't he just in a bad mood. It wasn't her fault he thought his face would look better planted in the walkway. Boys, honestly, they want to do the stupidest things and the moment they failed they declined a hand that she didn't need to offer but did anyway out of the goodness of her heart. Pffft. Didn't matter. Felix was now occupying her hands anyway.

She blinked when he just walked away.

How. Very. Ruuuude.

This was to be her cue to go back to her cookie munching; she was fine with being ignored but then he was walking back with his skateboard. Oh right. He might have simply wanted it back. He was lucky some kid didn't come across it, grab it and run. That would have been problematic because they weren't actually allowed to use spells to hex stop the little buggers.

Where as he wouldn't have been very surprized if she had, she was. Lex wasn't one to notice most things and people. Most times she was moving too quickly or thinking too many things at once. This meant she had definitely seen him before. That and he knew she was a Gryffie. "Sure am!" BEAM. "I'm willing to bet you're a 'Claw, right?" That's the only way her mind would place him. "You remind me of another one I ran into. He was a Claw too but I didn't know him much because he was always with his cousin or something like that?" Also...he was winking...

"You've got me in one there," he said, holding up his hands guiltily with a grin. "Benjamin Barton, at your service." And...maybe another wink for good measure. The grin soon disappeared at her next words though.

He had a horrible suspicion he knew who exactly she was talking about, and wasn't just some random Ravenclaw. Did his cousin always have to pre-empt him, to get his charm in there first? He rolled his eyes, and pursed his lips. "He wouldn't have gone by the name of Garrick by any chance, would he?" There was a hint of acidity in his voice at his cousin's name.

Shaking his head, Benjy found his manners once more. "So, who might you be?"

At your service. Heh, careful Ravenclaw, that was an awfully big statement that you might have to follow up on later during the term. Smirk.

But more to the point. She had gotten it right. He really was a Ravenclaw. Maybe she wasn't as oblivious as she originally thought she was. A winking Ravenclaw. There couldn't have been many of those running around. This one she'd remember too.

Her brows knitted the moment his grin left. Did she say something wrong? In any case it was true. He did remind her of that one she ran into down in Diagon Alley...kinda looked like him too...just kinda...sorta...in a way. Ah and there was the eye rolling. Probably didn't like getting compared--HEEEEY "He did actually, um...Garrick Odgen I think...? Yeah something like that. You know him?" If he did it couldn't have been for good reasons 'cause the dude seemed bitter.

With his sudden mood change then change again she almost missed his question. "The name's Alexa Cambridge." And she added a smile hoping he'd stop that being upset thing that he was doing.

Benjamin forced a smile. "You could say that..." he said, somewhat cagily. Wow wow, Gary had been busy in Diagon Alley, hadn't he? He rubbed the nape of his neck, before running his fingers through his hair - unknowingly fluffing it up. Or, at least, fluffing it up more than his wipe out had already done. Really, he was considering the pros cons of revealing quite how he knew Garrick. Though curiosity got the better of him in some ways. "As in the firewhiskey?" he asked, wondering if he'd got the heir thing in there yet.

Yup, there was cousin rivalry going on here. Even if, underneath, he and Garrick did actually get on quite well. In fact, though Benjamin wouldn't admit it, Garrick made his family bearable.

"Charmed to meet you, Alexa Cambridge," he said, taking a leaf out of his cousin's book. Anything you can do, I can do better...right? "What brought you to this side of the station?"

Lex just stood there, stroking Felix's fur while she watched him do a number on his hair. Didn't make much sense to make it any messier but she wouldn't question it. He didn't seem to do very well whenever she asked questions. Just listen to the answer he gave her. So yeah, they knew each other, probably hung out once or twice then too. Whatever it was she didn't think she was curious enough to pry any deeper into that.

She tilted her head ever so slightly and gave him a curious look. "I don't suspect I'd know now would I? I'm not very familiar with the brands of firewhiskey, I just know I'm not allowed to have any and it probably doesn't taste very good." Why in Merlin's beard would anyone want to share a name with firewhiskey anyway?

Quite expectedly, she disregarded what he had just said. Lex was one to wait until the social exchange was over before deciding whether she was charmed to know anyone. Standard rule and she wouldn't change it. She would answer his question though!

"I'm actually trying to avoid someone for as long as I can. It won't be for very much longer but I'm still trying. Problem is I'll run into her at least at the feast so I'm trying to stay away 'til then." That question got her thinking. "What brought you to this side?" Crashing and epic failing at stunts and whatnot.

So, this is how Hogwarts students reach their school, by magical train?

This would be her first time going to school by train. Christina was.. excited, yeah. She'd never traveled everywhere by train before, but she was very much familiar with airplane since her family often moved from one country to another. She didn't use train when she was in Beauxbatons. So, this was kinda new for her.

Ugh, Christina was bored. She just wandered around the Western Concourse. Wow, they sold so many snacks here. What a coincidence, she was kinda hungry too. Maybe some snacks and drinks could cheer her up. Stopping at one of the convenience store, she grabbed a bottle of soda, chips and hot dog. After paying them, the 14-year-old girl sat at the bench with her bunch of luggage while she was busy eating the hot dog. Yum, it was delicious. But she was still hungry and she didn't have muggle poundsterling left. Argh! She should have prepared it more if she knew if the situation would be ended like this.

Daichi had not forgotten his food for the train ride this year. His father had made sure his lunch box was in the bag before he had left home. So he wasn't at the west concourse to get a snack but because he saw someone who he had seen a few days ago in Diagon Alley.

He wheeled his trolley around and with big steps he walked towards the girl. "Hiiiii~!" he said the moment he was behind her. "What'cha eating?" he asked as he picked up a fallen bag off the ground and placed it back on top of the trolley.

He kicked his foot lightly against his skateboard, and considered what she said. "Fair point," he admitted, with a light shake of his head from side to side. "But Ogden's is the main brand out there, for future reference." As for it's taste, well, Benjamin would exactly be an advocate for the stuff. He'd snuck some when he was younger, and he throat did not appreciate the burning sensation. Nor had his nose, when he'd end up coughing it up too. Regardless, he was now pretty convinced that it was Garrick the Gryffindor was talking about earlier, and was slightly relieved to know that his cousin hadn't played the 'heir to the family business and fortune' card just yet.

She was avoiding someone? How interesting. Benjy tilted his head. "It's none of my business to ask why you're avoiding someone, but...did you need an ally in this cause?" He could make up for his wipe out disaster by lending a hand to a damsel in distress, or something like that? "I could...be a sort of distraction, if needed."

Why was he here? Hah. "For snacks. And to get away from my mother." Because it was his mother's fault that he wanted to get away from his cousin too. "The whole falling flat on my face bit was just a side effect..."

Oh? Was that how it was?

"Interesting..." She mused. "Any chance he's got some legit connection too?" It was only a question. There were plenty of people going around with famous names but most of them were just coincidences. For all she knew it might not have even been spelt the same.

She looked him up and down for the second time. An ally, huh? "Well that all depends really." Her eyes shifted to take in a portion of the station. Still no sight of her. This was good. "How well would you say you handle being bitten?" It was an entirely serious question. Where as she was sure Alice would never bite her she wasn't sure her resolve proved the same for him too. It was even worse considering the news she would have to receive. "It probably wouldn't end well for you. You know Alice right? Alice Fischer?" The name should have said enough.

His reasons seemed legit enough. "The cookies they have here are good, you should try them. I had the turkey sandwich thing once as well. It was alright." You know, because he came for a snack. More interestingly. "Why? She giving you a whole bunch of last minute rules before you head off?" She could see how that would get annoying real fast. As for the falling on his face thing, that got another snicker out of her.

Hmm, Wade was a little thirsty. As he nearly passed the stand that sold some food and drinks. Ahh, why not. Wade turned his trolley cart in that direction before getting himself a bag of crisps and soda bottle.

After paying and getting the stuff, he stood by his cart drinking his soda, looking somewhat lazily at the crowd of people walking by..

Quote:

Originally Posted by CassiopeiaAKTF

Daichi had not forgotten his food for the train ride this year. His father had made sure his lunch box was in the bag before he had left home. So he wasn't at the west concourse to get a snack but because he saw someone who he had seen a few days ago in Diagon Alley.

He wheeled his trolley around and with big steps he walked towards the girl. "Hiiiii~!" he said the moment he was behind her. "What'cha eating?" he asked as he picked up a fallen bag off the ground and placed it back on top of the trolley.

Well, she assumed that there would be food cart at the train so it wouldn't be a problem for her. She now enjoyed her hot dog without any hesitation. Yum yum yum.. While she was sitting alone, somebody walked toward her and say hi. Wasn't he the guy at.. Okay, she didn't remember the shop name. Urgh! But both of them had met at the stationary shop. He was the Slytherin prefect, as he introduced himself.

"Hey, Prefect." She smiled to him. She did remember his name. Daichi right? But she preferred to call him Prefect. Because, he was introducing himself as prefect, right? "Hmm? I'm just eating hot dog." She said as she wiped her mouth with handkerchief. "What are you doing here?" She asked. Because he seemed to be here not because he need to buy some food.

Daichi chuckled when she called him Prefect. What? He still found it weird and funny to be a leader in his House. Though, he had to admit he was slowly getting used to it. People seemed to respect him more when he wore his badge, especially the little first years.

Without asking if he could, the Slytherin sat down next to Christina and eyed her hotdog. Mweh, he wanted one as well but his father already packed his food for in the train and...he didn't have the money to buy one anyways. "It looks good.." he mumbled and his stomach started to growl when the smell filled his nose. He wasn't going to ask if he could borrow money though. That was just sad so he signaled in his mind for his stomach to start growling harder.

"I saw you standing over here and thought i'd say hi" he shrugged and leaned back, watching the sky for a moment before he turned his head to the girl. "You said that you traveled alot, where have you all been to?" trying to sound not TOO curious.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CassiopeiaAKTF

Daichi chuckled when she called him Prefect. What? He still found it weird and funny to be a leader in his House. Though, he had to admit he was slowly getting used to it. People seemed to respect him more when he wore his badge, especially the little first years.

Without asking if he could, the Slytherin sat down next to Christina and eyed her hotdog. Mweh, he wanted one as well but his father already packed his food for in the train and...he didn't have the money to buy one anyways. "It looks good.." he mumbled and his stomach started to growl when the smell filled his nose. He wasn't going to ask if he could borrow money though. That was just sad so he signaled in his mind for his stomach to start growling harder.

"I saw you standing over here and thought i'd say hi" he shrugged and leaned back, watching the sky for a moment before he turned his head to the girl. "You said that you traveled alot, where have you all been to?" trying to sound not TOO curious.

Huh? What's wrong? Did he not like being called as Prefect? Then, why did he introduce himself as prefect? Christina preferred to call him Prefect rather than his name, because her father said that calling someone by his/her position meant respect for him/her and she respected him as Prefect. Well, she still didn't know if she would be in Slytherin like her father.

Christina just pay attention to her hot dog and she didn't realized that Daichi sat next to her. Well, it wasn't bad, right? It meant that she would have friend to talk. Sitting alone here like strangers was boring. "Oh, you don't buy something to eat?" Suddenly she asked. He looked.. a bit hungry actually. So, why didn't he buy food since here was the place for buying them. Hmmm..

"I saw you standing over here and thought i'd say hi"

So, he just came here because he saw her and wanted to say hi? How sweet, huh? Christina just smiled at him. Being a new student sometimes was uncomfortable, and she said like this because she'd experienced many times. Could she say that even before the school term officially started, she'd already gotten a friend and he's a Prefect? Proud Christina was proud. Hehehe. "Hmm...." Why did he really want to know about which country she had visited.. "I was born in Australia." She said. "Then my father moved back to Korea, his hometown. When I was five then he asked us to move to Japan, then France... Then here!" She grinned. Yeah, she had traveled to many countries even she was just fourteen. Thanks to her ambassador-father.

When Christina asked why he didn't buy something to eat he shrugged his shoulders. "Don't have money" and then he realized what he had said and felt that his cheeks began to blush "i-mean-i-don't-have-it-with-me-right-now!" he said in a hurried lie.

Born in Australia? Wow! The Slytherin had thought that she was from Asia. Because of her appearance but then again, even Daichi was born and raised in England. He listened to which countries she had been to and his mind traveled to his mother who had been a Korean as well. "My mum was a Korean too" he mumbled before the topic went to France.

"I've been to France last summer for a vacation!" he said,rather excitedly and could just stop his arms from flailing up and down. He was a seventh year now! "We went to the eiffeltower! You've been there as well? And we've been rafting in Gorgie du veson or something (gorge du verdon)" he liked that vacation.

Ronnie pushed her trolley along when she noticed a familiar person standing by the stand drinking soda. She smiled. It was Wade!

She waved over at him to get his attention and then made her way over to where he stood. "Hey, Wade!" she said. She then looked at the stand at all the snacks and drinks. Hmm...eh. She'd wait until the train ride to buy food. They had tastier treats anyways.

She turned her attention back to him. "How was your summer?" she asked.

He was just looking around, as he was drinking, before he heard someone. Cool.. It was Ronnie. The sight of her brought a smile to Wade, as he waved back. "Oh hello, Ronnie!" Watching briefly as it looked like she was thinking about getting something."Good to see you again."

His Summer? Wade shrugged. "Pretty good, spent time with my family back in Norway." It was a little odd, visiting where he didn't live anymore.. Ah well. "How about you?"

Benjy gave a wry smile. "There was a reason why I mentioned firewhiskey in the first place," he said with a shake of his head. "The company is named after the founding Ogden, and Garrick is the great-great-great-something or other..." And why was he saying all this? He really didn't need to talk Garrick up. Garrick could do that himself.

He tilted his head to the side, a look of curiousity on his face. "It does?" That begged the question...why? She soon gave a hint, and a frown flickered across his face. "Depends what by, I suppose." Like, a mosquito bite was just annoying, whereas something with big long fangs was a completely different matter. He didn't fancy being poisoned by a creature's fangs. Alice Fischer...the name did ring a bell. "Gryffie Captain?" he confirmed. "Why would she want to bite us?" And for that matter... "Why are you hiding from her?"

She was offering him snack advice. "Cheers, I might take a look at what they've got." Though, really, as distractions went, he'd accidentally found quite a good one. He chuckled. "Something like that. Rules for me, baked goods for my cousin." Funtimes. "I've had a whole summer of that. A guy needs a break."

OHHHHHHH!

"Very interesting indeed..." This got her thinking, but only very briefly. This would mean his family got rich off something that was possibly the worst drink ever? Pfffffft!! That meant that she and Lottie might as well had gone ahead with their own drink. It tasted much better and never burnt a hole through your bloody throat. "So how do you know him? Family friend? Old school mate? Kid who tripped you and took your candy?" Maybe stranger who said 'hi' one day? Lex knew a lot of those.

"Umm..." That was actually a good point. Bites did vary after all. "I mean like fangs. Really sharp ones belonging to a 5th year girl." She suspected those hurt a lot more than most bites, yeah? She gave him a nod when he confirmed that he did in fact know Alice. "Yeah her. She uh...gave me her pet chocolate frog to take care of for a bit but um...there was a bit of an accident..." She bit her lip, just remembering that horrible day and just how disappointed Alice would be. Still. WHO KEPT A CHOCOLATE FROG AS A PET??? It was MADNESS!!! "It probably wasn't my fault though." She added quickly.

Lex made a face. "That's terrible. I suppose breaking your cousin's leg would have only gotten him more attention too, huh?" So that wouldn't have worked very well. "Shame you didn't have any polyjuice on you. Could have come in handy."