"Thanks, I really hope not. I'm half blood so I haven't ever really fully been introduced to magic. Just the floating tape measures at Ollivander's gave me a shock! It'll probably take me years to get used to Hogwarts." Valerie smiled, Elsie was nice. Maybe they'd be friends. Well they would be spending a year sleeping in the same room so hopefully they would be. "Yes, same! I'd only ever read about the houses though. My mum went to Beauxbatons, so she didn't know much about Hogwarts. Gryffindor sounded like the greatest house. Oh, classes. Wow. Um, charms, transfiguration and defence against the dark arts. I'm so scared for potions because I am shocking when it comes to cooking! How about you?"

Right after Valerie finished speaking, Mirabilis all but leaped from her arms and looked up at Elsie. He seemed to be sizing her up. "Miri!" Valerie gasped, not expecting the sudden movement. She bent down, too lazy to get off her nice comfy bed and scooped him up. "Sorry about him," Valerie said, gesturing towards the kitten.

Selina wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them close to her chest after she finished her story. Tears still were flowing down her face in a fashion that Selina was not accustomed to- she did not cry, ever. It was not in her nature to break down in front of people the way she just had done. Although she could still count on one hand how many times she had cried in her life. It was few and far between and two of the times had been because of Danielle.

However, finally Kurumi parted the silence with her attempt at comforting words, but Selina knew it was hard to even say something comforting to her story. In all honesty, Selina was to blame for the death of the little girl in the photo. Danny would never get to go to Hogwarts, make friends, grow up, get married, have her own children and whatever else she would have done with her life. Selina had stunted her growth at a year old, not much of a life at all.

Then Kurumi said something that puzzled Selina- A weak man is just by accident. A strong but non-violent man is unjust by accident. What did she mean by that? Was she saying that Selina was the weak man or the strong man? Or did it even matter when it all boiled down to the facts. Regardless of what Kurumi meant Selina was unjust, no one could dispute that. Murder, no matter how it came about, was not something that was worthy of pardon. She was just what she had done and knew that she must pay for what crime she had committed on an innocent child, her sister none-the-less.

But Kurumi did not stop at the quote from her father. She continued on to say something else to Selina about her living her life in Danielle's memory. Her blue tear ridden eyes looked up to meet Kurumi's violet eyes and replied, I can't do that. I don't deserve to live my life in her memory. The only people who deserve to move on are those who did not commit the crime. Murderers deserve to be plagued with their wrong-doings everyday for the rest of their lives. If that is the expectation we hold others to, why not me?"

Arianna was surprised to recieve a reply. "Oh, I'm Arianna!" she replied. "How was your trip?" Arianna asked.

The shared dormitories had made Ariadne very unhappy at the beginning of her first year, but she got used to that eventually, and even grew fond of her four-poster bed in a shared dormitory. Today, she didn't even mind the chatter and general background noise.

Ari was checking if all her possessions had been unpacked, while Pluto the cat was playing with her Sneakoscope. 'Pluto! Leave that!' the girl yelled, when she finally noticed what he was doing. Retrieving the object, she placed it safely inside a drawer, where she had already put the box of Bertie Bott's brought from home. 'Bertie Bott's...' she realized. 'I'd have one.'

Opening the box, Ariadne placed it on her bed and asked loudly:'Does anyone want any Bertie Bott's Flavoured Beans?' thinking sweets could be a cute way to befriend someone new, especially since she wasn't good at starting a conversation with strangers otherwise.

"Not Bad. I met with friends." Anna smiled and asked, "You First Year at Hogwarts, right?"

"Oh! I would not have refused!" Anna Said coming up to Ariadne. Anna knew what she learns in the second year, but personally they were not familiar. "You're Ariadne right?" Anna Asked smiling. "I'm Anna Phoenix. So, here we are." She said holding out his hand for a handshake.

"AAAHHHHH!" Emily jumped up and down, screaming back at Tiffany. Her cat fell off her lap and landed on the floor, looking furious. It stalked off under the bed to rest. "Amazing! Let the fun begin! .. Here, there's a spare bed next to mine.."

All of a sudden she noticed the owl by Tiffany's side, "Wow," she said, "your owl is so pretty!"

Emily's ears pricked up and she stopped unpacking her clothes from her trunk. "Yes please!" This girl could eat a whale. She had already eaten everything in sight at the great feast. Looking around to see who had offered their sweets, she noticed a dark haired girl who looked a little out of sorts.

"I love Bertie Bott's" she said, smiling at the girl. "I have some chocolate frogs if you'd like them in return?"

Ronnie walked into the Girls' Dorm. She smiled and walked to her bed. It had been a long day and she was very tired from all the excitement. She got into her bed and lay there, thinking. Thinking about the new year. What would happen. Would friendships be broken? She was very worried something bad would happen. She shrugged it off and then got out and looked through her suitcase. She was in the mood for a chocolate frog. After searching and searching, she found one and pulled it out. She tore it open and looked at her card. Ron Weasley. Again, she had gotten her grandfather. "Grandpa Ron again. 10th one I believe...or I've lost count." she said with a slight chuckle, while placing the card under her pillow. She then began eating her chocolate frog.

'Aw! Sweet! Ah, awesome! I went to a Muggle school. Got bullied terribly... Why was she kicked off of the team?' Rose asked.

Josephine smiled "He is so beautiful! A friend has a phoenix and it's awesome too, I wanted a phoenix but mom wouldn't let me so I got Winged" she caressed her owl "He's my best friend" she giggled.

Nika skipped towards the dormitories and looked around. It was pretty busy in here, well it was normally like this early in the term. Most new people hung around in the dorms until they became comfortable with the other students and the other places in the big castle. Nika had been the same way her first year. It was always easier making friends with Gryffindors first, they understood her. The third year slowly made her way towards her bed and didn't lay on it, but instead she jumped on it.

And continued jumping. It was tradition now, jumping on her bed. It was the best way to make friends. Because normally by the end of the night someone else always ended up jumping with her. Easy icebreaker. Aaand it eliminates all the awkwardness that comes along with shaking hands. Yeah, jumping on beds is definitely the way to go, or talking about Lafay because that always makes for an easy conversation. Nika noticed that most girls were having a conversation of their own so she decided that instead of continuing to jump in silence she'd just give them all a general greeting.

Eh. Someone will probably respond anyways. "Hiya everyone! I'm Nika." She smiled widely as she looked around the room. She was able to spot some familiar faces, but a few were new and Nika needed to meet them.

"Not at all I love cats!" Elsie looked down at him and smiled"
I don't think I will have the patience for potions! I am looking forward to charms and defence against the dark arts! I am a pureblood and both my parents went to Hogwarts so I knew all about it already. My mum was in Ravenclaw and Father in Gryffindor and they were having bets over what house I would be sorted into!

Elsie was settled now, she was sure Valerie and her would be able to become friends. She continued to look around the room to keep finding people to talk to.

"Hiya Nika!" Ronnie called, her mouth full of chocolate frog. How embarrasing.

Genuinely surprised that someone actually wanted to share candies, Ari smiled softly and pushed the box towards the girl. 'Here. Help yourself. The only catch is that you MUST tell me what flavour you get. I'm trying to make a list of all possible flavours of Bertie Bott's.' the second year explained.

'Err--yes, that's right. I'm Ariadne Marchbanks.' she replied, wondering how the older girl knew that, since they had never been introduced before. On the other hand, Gryffindors were bound to know each other from the Common Room if only by sight. 'Pleased to meet you, Anna!' Ari said, eventually, shaking the girl's hand. 'Sooo...Tell me something about you. Something to remember you by.' Ariadne asked of Anna.

And yet another candy person! 'Great! Come over here and take as many as you want. With one condition.' the second year grinned, repeating what she had just told Anna: that she was trying to make a list of all possible Bertie Bott's flavours. 'So far I've reached 187.' she said, with a hint of pride. 'The weirdest by far was the tree bark flavoured one.' Ariadne chuckled, remembering the moment she ate it, in her first year at Hogwarts.

'Chocolate Frogs you said?' Though she was full, Ariadne could not refuse such a treat. First of all, it was chocolate! Secondly, the second year liked to collect the cards, which brought her unexpected joy. 'I'd like one, please.' she replied. 'Oh! And I don't think we've met. I'm Ariadne Marchbanks, or simply Ari.' the girl introduced herself.

"Something about me? So let's think about that." Anna Said reaching into box of chocolates. "I am the student of the fourth year. My parents purebred, but the mother of Russia, and the pope of England. And I guess that's why I have such a mixed nature. Three years, while I was studying here tried not to stand out from the crowd. But recently noticed that go to strangers and learned how to quickly get acquainted." She said sending the candy in her mouth. "Now, this doesn't taste strawberries of course! It reminds me of dried tea leaves. Yes, I think this tastes exactly like that!" She said and smiled "Well, you share any secret about yourself?" Anna Asked with a wink to Ariadne.

By hearing how loud that Emily shouted, Tiffany knew that Emily was so excited as she was. She laughed when Emily finished shouting. She took her suitcase and along with her owl to the side of the bed that next to Emily's. Smiling, she said,"It is the best thing I have ever had!"she looked around and continued,"You don't have to be that serious, just relax and have Fun! And besides, your cat are pretty and cute too!"she grinned, looking at Emily's cat as if it was glad with this compliment. Tiffany unpacked her suitcase and noticed that she had brought a bag of snacks from the feast a few days ago. She took it out and said," I hope it can still be eaten. Hey would you like some, the one who loves to eat?"she giggled.


Tiffany walked around to different bedrooms just to check them out and met others. She opened the door and took a peek. She saw someone familiar and so she ran to this girl from behind and covered her eyes. She said,trying not to speak in her usual way,"Hey Ella! Guess who I would be."she giggled.

Ella who was suddenly plunged into darkness by someones hands was wondering who it was. It diddn't sound like anyone she knew, yet if she diddn't know them how would they know her name? But her name was on her trunk so it could be someone she diddn't know. In the end she decided to just ask the person who they were although they had told her to guess. "What? Who's that?" She asked while her owl, Kyra was hooting and probably sitting on the intruders head by now.

Emily sat up at this. "You were bullied at your old school?" she asked concerned. "Me too. People thought I was wierd 'cause I love school and to read." Something she didn't want to think about again.
"Oh, she punched someone in the face." she said casually nodding. "By accident she claimed, and who am I to not believe her?" That's the lesson her children - Don't punch people in the face!

"Yes, it is. I haven't made any friends yet, in saying that i met one friend but she was put into another house. It was a shame because we got on really well." Arianna said, with a smile on her face. "I want to go find her and see how she is, so i should get round to that. Any tips for making new friends and for surviving your first year of Hogwarts?" Arianna, let out a little chuckle after she spoke.

"Don't worry and special advice don't need." Anna smiled amiably "Despite the fact that your friend assigned to another house, you can often see each other and communicate." Anna looked out of the window, but continue say "You quickly find a lot of friends here, " She again turned her head to Arianna "Never be afraid to get acquainted with someone. Any person in this school are ready to help, support and listen to you. The more that another friend of you already have! And it is I, " Said Anna, smiling and extending her hand for a handshake.

"Thanks!" Arianna said, already feeling much better. "I really needed that. You know what i'm going to go down stairs now and intorduce myself to some others." Arianna got up off the bed and grabbed her jumper that was sitting at the end of the bed. "Talk to you later, it's been good." Arianna said and then she left the corridor waving goodbye to Anna with a big smile on her face.

"Good Luck!" And only managed to shout Anna following this lovely girl. The girl ran out of the room quite sured. Anna was sure that Arianna had everything will work out.

'Yeah, we were all Muggles at my school, they were freaked out at what I could do. It's because of them I'm scared of heights!' Rose said. 'Aw, I love reading, our mum's an English teacher!' Rose saidenthusiastically. 'Punched someone in the face? Why?' Rose laughed

Emily took the beans and threw a frog over to the girl. "Hi Ari, I'm Emily, or Em, or Emma. Whatever you prefer really." She took a bite of the first one and spat it out straight away with a look of disgust. "Mud."

Eating the Bertie Botts one by one, she recited each flavour to the girl.. "beetroot.. ear wax... honey... rubber... broccoli... strawberry... feet... cheese..." As she finished the final one, she breathed a sigh of relief, "Well I think I've had my share of those for the next year." She said, taking a large swig of some pumpkin juice she'd brought in a plastic bottle.

"Hey which card did you get in the frog? I got Merlin again. I've got so many of those..."

"Oh man, you guys know me too well. Sure, why not?" she said, peering over at the snacks Tiffany had brought.. "I'm pretty sure I should feel sick by now from all this food.."

She watched her cat crawl out from under the bed and settle back onto the covers, keeping its distance from Emily. "Hey, come on. Don't be like that. I just forgot you were on my lap," Emily said to the cat, who remained silent and still on the other side of the bed. "Fine," snapped Emily, looking over at Tiffany's owl. "Why can't you be more like that pet?"

Tired of unpacking, Emily gave up and went at sat by Tiffany's suitcase so they could chat whilst eating.

Kurumi frowned and furrowed her brow. What was she supposed to say now? Not only that, but how could she say anything that would make her best friend feel any better about what had happened. "Selina, how can you say that? You were a child, a child who was unable to control their abilities. If my abilities made me lose control and...hurt someone...would you be telling me the same thing? Would you tell me that I had no right to continue trying to live a complete life?" She paused to let that sink in not only for the red head in front of her, but for herself as well.

'Part Russian. That does the trick, I will definitely remember you, I don't think they're many Russians around. At least, I haven't met any. How interesting! How's Russia like?Does your whole family live in Britain now?' Ari wondered, thinking that it would be hard for her to go study in another country by herself, without family around.

Being quiet for three years was something Ari couldn't do, and she was the farthest thing from sociable. Anyway, it was a good thing that Anna decided to mingle more, life at Hogwarts was so much fun amongst friends. 'Dried tea leaves? Maybe it's a sign. Maybe you'll be brilliant at Divination.' the second year Gryffindor chuckled, writing it down on her list.

A secret about herself? She kept many, but most of them weren't the type of thing you'd share with someone you've just met. Like her family drama. Or her plans for the future. But there was something she could share, nevertheless. 'Well...I am a great chocolate addict. I can't let a day go by without eating chocolate. My favourite place in the wizarding world is Diagon Alley. I live in a typical English town in Yorkshire, where my mum owns a bookshop. I practically grew up in that shop, so that's probably the reason why I love reading.' Hopefully that would do.

'Pleased to meet you, Emily. Em. Emma.' Ariadne repeated, chuckling. 'I was just trying to see which sounds better.' the girl explained, fearing that she might come across as a lunatic otherwise. 'I'll go with Em. Short and practical.' she decided eventually.

'Uncle Tristan swore he found a mud-flavoured one once, but I didn't believe him. I guess he was right, though, so I have to apologize.' Ariadne replied, slightly surprised. The second year quickly scribbled down the new flavours as her new friend recited them. 'Beetroot. Rubber. Feet. The other ones I've had before.' Just then, she took in the meaning of the words. 'Ewww...feet! I'm sorry.' she said dramatically, accidentally dropping a bean on the floor. Pluto the cat hurried to get it and ate it in no time. 'That must be fish, he loves it.' Ari chuckled.

'I have a few Merlins myself, yes. But not this time! I've got Bridget Wenlock, the Arithmancer. Wicked! I've had none of those before. Can I keep it, or do you need it?' It was only polite to ask, since it had been Emily's frog in the first place. 'So Em, how do you like Hogwarts so far?' Ari asked, conversationally.