Minerva finally made it into the common room. She was so happy to be away from the loudness in the hall. As she looked around the common room at all the students chatting and relaxing she spotted a chair near the fire place that was empty. Minerva quickly took it and was so happy to be sitting on something that was so comfortable.

Mickey rolled her eyes and smiled, 'Just like Adam' she thought. "I'm from Salem... Well technically Beverly but they're right next to each other." She said trying to explain where she lived so people not from Massachusetts would understand. "About half an hour away from Boston."

He grinned as Mickey rolled her eyes, she seemed like a cool firstie.
'Witch town.' Aaron thought out loud at the mention of Salem. 'Cool. So what do you think of the awesomeness that is Hoggiewarts so far?

Justin watched as the pretty little girl curled up on the chair and decided to go over and introduce himself. Though he was a bit shy around girls. " Hello, there. I'm Justin. I'm a first year. So, what's your name ? " said Justin nervously as he smoothed back his wavy blonde hair.

"I don't know why they call Salem that. The trials happened in Ipswich." she said in responce to his comment. Mickey bit her lip and furrowed her eye brows in concentration trying to find the right words to discribe it. "It's old." She stated and then started messing up her uneven shortened lengths again. "I mean I like old buildings and trying to think up of stories that could have possibly happened in them.* I try to give them life ya know? My imagination kinda goes a wee bit wild."

Jesifur had just drifted off when she heard someone. She jumped and sat up right, "Oh, hello. Justin did you say? Hi," she rubbed her eyes and shook her head to clear the fog that had settled.
"I'm a first year as well. My name is Jesifur Hitchens, pleased to meet you Justin."she said as she offered her hand.

Aaron shook his head in disbelief.
'Muggles...' He joked, surprised that it was only now he had discovered it wasn't actually Salem where it had happened. 'I suppose old buildings are cool, yeah. Unfortunately I never stay awake long enough in class to hear the actual stories about them.'

" Nice to meet ya, Jesifur. " Justin said as he took her hand and shook it. " Sorry if I startled ya ."

Amethyst slowly and quietly entered into the Common Room. She was scared. She didn't know what to expect. What if the others teased her? What if they didn't like her at all? She didn't like assuming, but she couldn't help it.

She laughed, "True, I always fall asleep when it comes to history lessons and lectures. Stories aren't always necessarily true, but what ever little facts I pick up here and there always go somewhere in the plot to make it seem real." Mickey sighed at the thought of going back to one of the old house back home. "Back home I couldn't stay awake for what ever my Meme would tell me about our family history. Except for when she brought up the trials."

"Hey! So, the prefects lead us to the common room! That was good! It's so nice in here!" Katie said as she sat on the floor.

As soon as the feast was over, Josephina headed down toward the kitchen level rather than up to her office. She had some official Head of House business to attend to down there. Walking briskly, she stopped outside the portrait which guarded the Hufflepuff Common Room and reminisced for only a moment, imagining herself as a second year with young first year Bethy. Oh those were the days. Who'd have thought that several years down the line, she would be standing here again, but this time as Head of House.

Enough lingering though, Hadley murmured the password and slid the portrait aside as she stepped in. Pleased to see so many new faces who were acquainting themselves, Fina just lingered near the door for a few and observed. As neither of her prefects hadn't made it yet (presumably still helping first years find their way), she didn't want to start the introduction without them . . .

Justin noticed another girl who he had seen sorted this evening and walked over, " Hi, I'm Justin Wellheart. I'm a first year too. Gee, you look as scared as I felt a few moments ago, but everyone is super nice so far. " he said as he stretched out his hand.

Mickey figured she should introduce herself to some people her age, so she decided to inntroduce herself to the boy who seemed to be running around intoducing himself to everyone. "Haha, hi I'm Mickey." She said to both the boy and the girl he was with. "One question for you both... Where ya from?"

"Oh my goodness this place is so pretty. It is so nice to just be out of that busy hall and into a nice quiet place."

Daphne turned around to find someone talk to her. She looked new? Was she THAT obvious? She smiled back at the girl who seemed to be about her age. "Hey. I'm Daphne Green. Starting my sixth year this term.." Oh..just to clarify.. "...and yeah, I'm new. Moved here from Beauxbatons"

Daphne gave a smile towards the younger girl. "Hi there. I'm Daphne. Daphne Green."

Oh, great! Daphne was starting to meet new people. The sixteen year old felt really excited.

" Well, hi, there! The name's Justin Wellheart, but you can call me Just. As to your question I'm from ... well I'm not sure really. Mum and I move quite a bit depending on where she's working. But the last two years or so we've lived in London... before that we lived in the U. S. . My mum was in charge of finding stray witches and wizards there after the Great battle years ago." " What about you? "

Ronnie came into the common room. She was defeated, she didn't want to live anymore, she didn't understand how the world could keep turning with her dad gone. It didn't seem fair, the world wasn't fair and Ronnie was tired of it.

She sat down in her favorite arm chair by the fire and stared into with tears streaming down her face. Would anyone even noticed her?? She couldn't image ANYONE wanted to be near her right now...including Simon. Would Simon even want to date her anymore like this. She was different, changed some how...

Jesifur was going to say more but a moment later Justin ran off introducing himself to other first years. She watched thoughtfully for a moment and then settled back down in the chair. She could let her ears work while her eyes rested she thought. She'd wait til she heard the sounds of an older kid nearby and then ask where her room might be.

Daphne was about say 'hello' to the girl who just took a seat on the opposite chair when she noticed that the girl was actually crying. Oh gosh.

"Um, hey. Are you alright?" Daphne didn't want to say anything more. That would be rude considering the fact that she didn't know the girl at all.

Minerva saw a girl that seemed really sad. She walked slowly over to her not wanting to startle her. "UMMM Are you ok? Do you want to talk about it? I am a good listener. Hi my name is Minerva I'm a first year."

Mickey's eyes turned as large as saucers, another yankee woohoo! "I just moved to France from Beverly you know right next to Salem, my Ma has some business over there... France that is so we had to move over there."

Emma walked into the Hufflepuff Common Room and her mouth dropped. It was so cozy in here. She smiled. "Hey Mickey!" she said when she saw her friend. She wandered around and headed for the Girl's Dormitory

Nessie giggled a little not so embarressed anymore."Well nice to meet you too Casie" said Ness smiling. She was happy she had already made more friends. She wondered what year Cassie was in. She looked like a sixth or seven year but you could never be sure.

More and more badgers were coming in one by one and Nessie noticed a rather tall looking person enter. The tall looking person was Professor Hadley which taught Arithmancy and was now the new Hufflepuff head of house. She was one of her favorite Professors, she was just always so kind and was never too strict. Ness smiled at the Professor. "Good evening Professor, how was your holiday?" She asked politely.

She tried to figure out what the Head of house was doing the common room. They didn't usually come to the common room unless they had good reason too. Looking at the doorway, she still didn't see any prefects and she wondered what was taking them so long.

"Nice to meet you Daphne." Said Ness as she turned to face another new face. She guessed the girl had heard her name from before. There were so many Transfers this year especially in the third year. Which suited Ness fine, because some of the transfer boys were pretty good looking and they were the perfect age for her.

"So where you from?" She could see the girl was also a transfer and Ness wondered from which school she came from.

" Yeah, I know where that is. Mum and I used to go to Salem quite a bit; tracking down Strays. We lived in the Adirondacks ; actually in the foot hills. Upstate New York. " Justin said excitedly. " Know where that is ?" Inquisitively looking at Mickey Justin asked " What type of business your mum got there? "