"I suppose so Arabella. Well good luck in making the team," because Amelia was nice like that see? Even if this girl was from a rival house and would have to be good to make the team, or even the reserves. "What else is there to do around here?" she asked, wondering if there were clubs like gobstones at Hogwarts. She hadn't really done much research before deciding she'd wanted to come here.

Micheal Sits next to this guy who seems to have a depressed look on his face.
"Hey, I'm Micheal and this is my first year. How are you?? seem a little in thought."

Hmmm, talk to the Creatures Professor? Ha-ha. She could never do that but maybe Daisy could. "I'll accompany you so you'll be the one to ask," Tennessee's eyes darted to the sorting again then back to the people she was talking to. It'll be over really soon she thought for it's almost coming to an end. "I hope the giant squid would also be invited to one of the term banquet."

She wondered if she'd see the Little ball boy again and Anna. She had a great time at the Ice cream parlor though like always she had to leave unexpectedly.

"Yeah, you're right. That wouldn't be no fun at all," she commented at her own thought. "What classes are you gonna take this year?" she looked at Daisy, she knew she was a year older than her but they can still have classes together. Not that she's looking forward to classes but only for the fun.

"Yes," she nodded eagerly. "Just keep it well hidden, it might eat all the food before we could," she joked as they continued to watch the end of sorting. Finally it's over, she told herself. "Do you happen to know any first year from the other houses?" she queried. She was just asking anyway for the girl seemed to be engrossed on some of them when the sorting was on.

"Don't be," she told the girl. Tenn answered with a nod to Anya's question about the number of first years. "I am sure you'll be able to adjust soon enough." She understood her feelings about still being uncomfortable around other people especially those whom you barely know.

"I'm in my fifth year now so that's five years," she counted with her fingers. How she hated math, and the same way Math feels about her. "But never ask me anything about the happenings of past term, i could barely remember them," she pouted.

"It's Tennessee," she said flashing her smile at the first year. "Nice to meet you Maya. Your name reminded me of someone. A friend of mine." She did remember her and she missed her for she haven't seen her in ages plus she even had no news about her. "Just call me Tenn, hope you won't forget it," she said starting to feel a little hyper again. "but if you all you have to do is to count until ten."

There's just a lot of fuss right now at the Gryffindor's table especially that sorting is over. Tenn could feel her stomach rumble and she hated that feeling. Could you serve the food now? she begged inside her mind. There's a food cart inside the train but that wouldn't suffice for a long ride. It's all sweets. She even grew hungrier when Daisy mentioned some chicken legs and Bangers. Oh! How much long do they have to wait? She just preoccupied herself by listening to what Daisy and Maya had been talking to.

*faints*
 

"They are when in the company of Professor Vindictus," Kurumi grumbled. That lesson had sent her and Hugo to the hospital wing with Hugo looking like a purple people eater. Honestly, what HAD the man been thinking leaving them all unsupervised in the greenhouse to tend to those plants? Kurumi knew that the man was...getting older...but that wasn't really an excuse.

Kurumi glanced back up at the staff table and furrowed her brow. "There are a lot of new professors this term, so I am not sure what they are like..." Although they certainly looked like an interesting bunch that came as packaged friends already. Should prove for an interesting year, right? Her eyes flicked towards Professor Scary Face Scabior and she sort of shivered. That man was frightening. "I think you will also really like our Charms professor. She is brilliant as well. Actually making the subject become one of my favorites despite always having a bias towards Care of Magical Creatures and Transfiguration."

Kurumi simply smiled back at Maxwell as Jordan found him at the Gryffindor table. Boy talk most likely. Best Kurumi stayed far away from all that.
Kurumi laughed. "Well, if you find that nickname unsuitable for you, then I guess you cannot call me Prefect." Hehe. See what she had just done there? Logic and wit had amazingly just won her a small battle. She would have to thank her brothers in a letter later. They would be so proud.

"Convincing? You certainly didn't need any of that at last year's pep rally," Kurumi said with a small pout on her lips. In fact, hadn't it sort of been August, Carter, and Josh that had started the whole shirtless lion display? "You saying you don't have enough lion pride to do it for your house?" She leaned in just a bit to whisper to him. "Although, there might be some cookies in it for you if you did."

"That's good," Kurumi smiled. Still, with all the magical things in the wizarding world, Kurumi couldn't help but wonder why they had settled on owls to deliver their mail. Surely there was a more efficient means of doing so that didn't require straining an owl to fly around the wold and back for the sole purpose of correspondence.

Kurumi nodded and pointed at the Slytherin table where Jonathan was talking with Daichi. "It's...perfectly fine," she squeaked. "And....yes...he is. Been almost a year now."
Kurumi couldn't help but laugh again. So young, so naive. Anya may be more naive than her when she was a first year. "Of course," she nodded. "Everyone has friends in other houses. My boyfriend isn't even in Gryffindor." Surprising how easily the word boyfriend slipped off her tongue this time. But, she was trying to put the mind of a first year at ease. All of Kurumi's insecurities usually went out the window when this happened.

She simply nodded when Anya mentioned about not walking around during the Headmaster's speech. It was part of the reason why she hadn't gone up to the staff table yet as well. After the speech, that was when she would make her move.

"Nothing your brother did was ever normal," Kurumi laughed. "And you are right, the Seeker is the one who chases the little gold ball." She smiled, remembering being a part of the team and seeing everyone's smiling faces in the locker room. She was going to miss those days.

"I think you are going to be just fine, not without a few bumps and wrong turns here and there, but everything will turn out alright," Kurumi chirped. "And if you ever need anything, anything at all, you feel free to come and talk to me, okay?"
Kurumi smiled and bowed her head again to the new lion. She seemed to have found plenty of people to talk to, so there was no worry on this prefect's face. "Enjoy the feast. I imagine the Headmaster will be making his speech soon and then there will be food on the table and..." she tapped her box. "...a few surprises."
Then Kurumi saw the familiar, yet more mature face, of Ari. "Ari!" Kurumi called, waving frantically at the now third year. It had been far too long since they had been in the Transfiguration practice room working on spells. "How have you been? I've missed you."
Kurumi giggled. Probably best not to mention that she was bursting at the seems about those as well. "OWLs and NEWTs are just two small little bumps in the road. I am sure you will do fine when it comes time for you to take them."
Kurumi shrugged and waved a small white handkerchief in the air to signal defeat. Best thing to do when Selina was in crazy zone. Just smile and nod and hold on to something. "Whatever you say, Captain," Kurumi replied with special emphasis on the captain bit.

Jezz hoped she would never have to experience what ever it was that made Kurumi grumble just a little. If it was that bad then it wasn't worth it all that much was it? She shrugged mentally and let it go.

She looked back at the staff table at the group and could see how some got along with others pretty well. "Well, it'll all make for an interesting term if they're as close as they look." She smiled again, "I'm so nervous for Charms and Transfiguration. As for Care of Magical Creatures it doesn't sound like it's be too complicated but a good teacher is that's really need." She had tried to look through her textbook for that class but ended up giving up in the end. Her Herbology book held her attention a whole lot more anyway.

Tiffany was getting really anxious with that gossip thing. Well...she shouldn't be that nosy, especially for senior student's stuff. But this time she just wanted to know more about her house prefect, her adorable sister and it was just her first time so it would not do any harm, she guessed.

"Well...I haven't met him before but I guessed he is a nice and friendly person and somehow handsome,"she chuckled. It was certainly Kurumi's boyfriend since as Kurumi mentioned his name, her cheeks turned even red-er. If he was truly Kurumi's boyfriend, he would certainly be a nice one since it was her choice. "What did you two do within that few weeks?"she giggled. Maybe she was asking too much, maybe she shouldn't bother her life that much. But Tiffany really wanted to meet him right away to see if he was really a friendly person.

Ali walked quietly to the gryffindor table, he sat down and started to eat some food. Looking around for people he knew.

Micheal looks down the table, and sees a young girl looking through a book and is a little intrigued. Herbology is his least favorite subject, but hopefully he can find some help from a fellow first year Gryffindor. He approaches her and puts his hand out for a hand shake "Hi, I'm Micheal, I see your getting a head start in your studies. I hope you will be able to help me. I kinda suck in Herbology. Hoping the friendly gesture is returned, Micheal flashes a friendly smile.

Nikolas was hungry too, but he could wait a little longer...or so he thought. He chuckled at Jade's comment "You should have asked her to give you a piece of it" he suggested "Don't worry, the food should be here in no time" he said a bit unsure, Tate hasn't given the speech yet. And there was Sel again in their conversations, "Yeah...I heard about it" he nodded "She is gonna talk about it all day long I can imagine that in the common room" which was not a good thing. "Excited to see her?" he asked sarcastically.

Good news? He didn't know what to expect and was excited to hear them. "Really? What is it about?" he asked. No divorce? Perfect. Now everything was working for them. "That is perfect! Now let's hope they don't change their mind" about the divorce of course.

and to ALL LIONS
 

"Both professors for those subjects are brilliant," Kurumi said with a smile. Although, she was beginning to wonder if Professor Schirmer was going to go all soft and mushy on them since she had seen her snogging the Astronomy professor on the train. Or...she THOUGHT she had seen them doing so. "Professor Schirmer is stern but fair and Professor Magnus is always a lot of fun." Kurumi clapped her hands together. Thinking about classes was making her too excited. To think...a PROPER Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Maybe Walnut would finally get that anger management therapy he was desperately needing?
Kurumi blushed. Handsome...yes...Kurumi found Jonathan very handsome, although that really wasn't what had attracted her to him at first. In fact, she wasn't entirely sure WHEN she had made the switch from seeing him like a big brother to something...more. Chances were that he was unsure himself. It had just sort of happened. "He is over there, in Slytherin house," Kurumi said as she pointed in Jonathan's direction. "We...went shopping, he showed me around...just enjoyed spending time with each other away from school. It was nice to relax together since most of last term we spent studying together for his OWLs."
Then Kurumi hopped back on her feet when she saw Ali make his way to the Gryffindor table. It had been so long since she had seen him. "Ali!" she waved. "I've missed you. How was summer?"

Erm...and now this was slightly awkward, but Kurumi put on her best "I am not awkward" face.

Just then, she saw the Headmaster stand up and she looked around at her lions. "Gryffindors, could everyone please take their seats? The Headmaster is about to give his speech!" she called out for all to hear.

Taking her seat, Kurumi listened to the Headmaster as he gave a...very short speech this term. Surely that meant that there really was a delicious meal waiting for them at the end of it.

New staff, that much was obvious by looking at the table, but Kurumi ought to let the first years and new students know just who it was that was new so that they wouldn't embarrass themselves by saying welcome to the wrong professor. Dragon Lady would probably set them on fire if they did that.

Nimma? Nimma was coming back? Brilliant! Kurumi rather hoped that she would get the chance to speak with the house elf and ask if she really did need help checking up on the baby house elf. Kurumi was pretty sure that things had changed over the summer and that perhaps her services wouldn't be needed.

When the speech had finished, Kurumi clapped and her eyes brightened when food appeared before them. About time for her cookies to make an appearance as well, right?

Kurumi stood up and opened the lid to her box, waving her wand over it as an ERUPTION of house pride shot forth from it, covering all those present at the Gryffindor table with glitter and streamers in crimson and gold. Following soon after was a parade of Gryffindor cookies danced in the air around the table, free for anyone to pluck and nibble on if they so desired.

"Welcome new and not so new lions," Kurumi chirped, clapping her hands together loudly. "Enjoy your meal and remember, just like the Headmaster said, eat your vegetables!"

"Nice color!" he said smiling. "Mine? I really like orange." he said smiling. "Makes me think of sunsets...I love sunsets." he said.

Ali's head snapped up as he heard his name and only one person yells at him like that, his best friend Kurumi. He jumped out of his chair and ran over to her "I've missed you too, and my summer was great, how was yours?" but before he could finish the head master gave his speech so he held his questions for kurumi. Once it was done he laughed at all the decorations "Kurumi you always go over board and give me one of those cookies!" he said while he wanted more food and her cookies were the best.

"Well I can't wait to meet all the Professors and learn their names, " especially a certain someone who she already had the misfortune of meeting on not so polite and well mannered terms. "I just want to learn something new from someone who isn't unwilling to teach," Jezz said thinking about her parents/

Just as Jezz was about to say something else she fell silent because of the Headmasters speech. She had been up there and had tried to say hello to Professor Bentley already that night but was sent away by a certain grumpy Professor, she would never forget him as soon as she learned his name. At the end of the speech the table in front of her filled up with food and she smiled in joy.

Then, just as she got ready to say something else AND start digging in to the food, she was covered in glitter and streamer of Gryffindor colors and couldn't help but laugh as she realized that it had all been Kurumi's doing. She grabbed a cookie and found it was really hard to bit into it because it looked more like a piece of art. Her stomach protested at the lack of food and she caved, biting into it. The cookie was just as amazing if not better than the first one Kurumi had ever given her. "I love your cookies! Who needs vegetables when you have these?" She polished of f the cookie and moved on to some chicken and green beans. Veggies.

"Finally we can eat!!!! being careful not to make too much noise, Micheal begins to grab food. "A little here, a little there" It has been hours since he had anything, other then the little bit of candy that he had on the train. He was so excited to see the variation of food that was before him, it was more then he had seen ever in his life. He grabbed for a dancing cookie, his mother would never let him eat a cookie before he finished his meal. "I know I am going to pay for this later, but it just looks so good" He says out loud. He takes turns listening, then eating, eating then listening. "I hope I don't miss anything important" but the food has his full and undivided attention right now, and he wasn't about to let it go to waste.

Anya laughed. "That's because I only do good things." she teased sticking her tongue out at the boy. Really it was because Alec was the nicest guy ever. She wasn't even sure if he was capable of a negative thought. It was just one of the things she liked about him.

Liked... as in friendship liked. She was tired of specifying.

Her eyes widened at the nickname. She covered her mouth in a half-laugh half-mortified expression. "Rilez? Here?" she said in a voice to match her expression. She wasn't sure whether to hit him or to laugh. Maybe she could do a bit of both?

She gave him a little nudge. "Quiet you." she giggle hissed. "Fine. I get it. No nicknames in public." Blakey. Hehehe.

She giggled. "Anya the Brave and Alec the Just. We should get shirts made." she said. They sounded just like they were from the Middle Ages. Which... given that they were magical, it was practically the truth!

Good for her? "Yeah..." she said slowly. She'd leave out the bit that they all only talked to her because she looked as if she were about to cry.

"Possibly. I'll meet them tonight when I check out the dormitories." She still had all night to play nice with her fellow Gryffindor first years. Right now she just wanted her Alec.

Anya nodded. "Thank you." she said sweetly. "It's reassuring to hear that... things get better." She wondered if Alec and Asher were having as much trouble with the sorting as she was. But, they probably weren't. They were both incredibly nice and probably already had loads of friends.

"Fifth year? Wow. That must mean you know all sorts of things about the castle!"

Anya giggled. "Boyfriend?" she asked. She didn't know why, but the word always made her giggle. Like crazy! She giggled a bit more. "Which one is he then?" she asked looking around. She stood on her tippy toes to get a better look, then she realized she had no idea who she was looking for.

She hid a laugh behind her hand as the conversation turned to her brother... and his lack of normal. "That is too true." He was her crazy older brother that she loved. "You play quidditch then? Is it fun? It looks like it would be scary."

She smiled brightly at the last bit. "Thank you Prefect Kurumi." she said. "I will. If I ever need something." Which, she hoped she didn't. She wouldn't want to be known as a whiny first year.

From the time Tenn had found her seat at the table, she had noticed a big box who seemed to have belonged to Kurumi but she didn't paid much attention to it. Whether it be full of mad and hairy creature or whatsoever. But then as the headmaster finished his speech, which was kinda shorter than what she had expected, Tenn watched Kurumi open the big box she had been keeping all along.

To the surprise of Gryffindors there was a pouring of cookies. Not just regular cookies but Gryffindor cookies.

"Awesome," Tenn excitedly said as she picked a Gryffindor cookie and started nibbling it. She even managed to say, "You're the best Kurumi. Did you made these?"

Things about the castle? She had no idea. "Too bad i don't." She felt a bit disappointment about herself. That made her thought she'll have to know all the castles secret this year. Probably not just this year but before she graduates. Maybe she should do a little bit of rule breaking things this year as long as she's not caught and she wouldn't get Gryffindor in any trouble.

"I don't even know what last term had," she put her left hand in her head while nibbling another cookie. "These cookies are really delicious," she said feeling a bit full. "You should taste it, Anya."

Kacie, Tate, Elektra and Violet as well
 

''I guess they are.''He said thinking about it.''Hopefully I will.''He said grinning.''Abit of change in staff this year.''He said looking up at the table.

*dies again*
 

Kurumi poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice and picked up a piece of roasted chicken before sitting back down and looking back at the younger boy. "There certainly are a lot of new faces this term," she nodded in agreement, sipping on her juice. "Even in regards to our Head of House. Professor Bentley has taken up the post now."
Placing her wand back in her pocket now, Kurumi looked over at Tennessee and smiled, a faint blush once again rising in her cheeks. "Just performing my duties to the best of my ability," she mumbled. Kurumi had been delivering cookies to her fellow Gryffindors ever since her first year. The gesture came with the Japanese custom of always having a gift whenever you went some where new or were going somewhere where you would have to be looked over. Hogwarts certainly fit the bill. "Baking is a hobby of mine. I spend most of my time in the kitchens really. Well, there and the common room and the library."

Oh Merlin...she had broken a first year! o___________O

Kurumi sort of flailed as Anya giggled her head off beside her, but was able to make out her question. "He is in Slytherin." Cue gasps? Shocked expression? Some sort of outburst? Or, perhaps the little first year would simply stop bouncing all over the place from laughter.

"I did," Kurumi nodded. Did being the key part of that sentence. "I really enjoyed it. The team is great and we have been lucky to have some fantastic captains, your brother among them. This year, my best friend is the captain." Which was sort of frightening to think about. Kurumi had the feeling that there was going to be more than golf balls being thrown around this term.

"Just call me Kurumi," she said with a wink. Really, there was no need to say prefect each time. It was a mouth full, especially if you tacked on her last name as well.
Kurumi giggled as one of the new lions reached up and grabbed a cookie from the air. Good, that is what they were there for. She laughed a little harder as his comment about paying for it later, and shot Selina a quick look. Maybe the red head should put the entire house through a training program of some sort. Evening work out routines in the common room or something?
"Well, you certainly won't have that problem here," Kurumi nodded. Even if Professor Scabior was always looking as though he hated the world, he was teaching for a reason and knew a lot about the subject. Surely that meant that he was enjoying it and willing to share, yes?

Just to tease the little first year, Kurumi pushed a tray of freshly steamed vegetables towards her. "You wouldn't want to hurt their feelings or not listen to the Headmaster."
"Summer was fantastic," she replied with a bright smile. "I did a lot of traveling. I've hardly ever been outside of Japan, with the exception of school, so it has been nice to see other parts of the world." And there he went, snatching up cookies...or trying to anyway. Kurumi reached up and plucked one out of the air, handing it to him. "Here," she laughed.

Watching her eat he replied''I know right.''He said smiling.''Yeah I like her alot,She's one of my most favourite Proffessors.''He said looking at her.''You like her.''He asked.

"I'm starving," Kacie said, as she reached for her goblet of pumpkin juice in front of her first and drank nearly all of it. Since she had squeezed between Gideon and Selina without a care in the world, it was Gideon's juice she was actually drinking. If she had been at home her mother would have surely stopped her, knowing how much sugar effected her if she ate or drink something that contained to much of it. This was going to be a very crazy night if she kept this up.

She turned and looked up at Gideon when she felt him get up. Where did he think he was going? She was about to ask him when he made a sudden announcement to the whole Gryffindor table, trying to find her a friend. Oooooo.... she really wanted a friend really really bad. She wasn't embarrassed in the slightest, instead she looked around excitedly for any takers.

"Giddy, your a genius. That a GREAT way to make some new friends," she said, looking around for some possible candidates. There was a couple of people she had saw get sorted, so someone had to be willing to be her friend. "Oooohhh.... I should introduce myself. That way everyone knows my name."

"Hey Selina," Kacie replied, grinning broadly when she was congratulated by Selina and her brother. "Thanks!!! I'm soooo excited to be in Gryffindor. The same house as my mom, but I'm sure Giddy has already told you that."

Love stories. Well...it shouldn't be something that Tiffany longed for since she was just too young to think of those sweet fairy tales. But it wouldn't do any harm to her, only by admiring and imagining those lovely moments right?

She looked at the boy whom Kurumi was pointing at. And he was actually the boy whom had stumbled her on the train but indeed he did cared a lot about her condition and was really worried about her. Yes...he was really a nice and friendly person. His name was Jonathan."Good choice, Kurumi,"she replied with a wink."That was so sweet indeed!" Tiffany started having a bit admiration with this love story of Kurumi.

Well...would she get one for herself when she was the same age as Kurumi? She had no idea. Now all she knew was that her tummy was calling her. She took one cookie which Kurumi made and took one little bite of it. "That's was yummy,"she said, smiling splendidly.

Arabella-Marie smiled at Amelia and said "Well we can play gobstones and just basically study for the classes and sit down at the lake which is awesome"

"I'm not sure asking a first year to have a bite of her sandwich would go so well. I've heard that kids get vicious about if you ask to have a part of their food." Jade smiled. It sounded ridiculous but it was probably true. Before she could say anything else the Headmaster stood up and said his speech. Then Kurumi, one of the Gryffindor prefects, sent out cookies once all the food appeared. The sixth year grabbed one of the Gryffindor cookies and took a bite out of it. Mmm, they tasted really good. "You should try these, they're delicious." She nodded, grabbing one of the cookies and handing him one.

Then discussion about the weird girl continued and Jade still wasn't looking forward to seeing her. "Psh, yes, I'm totally excited to see her." She said, sarcastically. Dreading to see her was the correct answer. She smiled as he seemed to be excited that her parents weren't going to divorce. It seemed luck was really going their way. "I'm pretty sure it had to do with my dad's friends, Samuel. I think Sam talked to my dad about it and changed his mind." She nodded.

"Anyways, I'm sorry I didn't write to you over the summer, I tried-but it was really hard to." Jade said, thinking about what exactly her letters were about. She started easily on the letters and then it came to the ending of it where she threw the letters away. She couldn't figure out if she would put 'Love, Jade' or 'I love you.' or 'Sincerely, Jade'; stuff like that. Jade really wasn't one to say I love you or any of that mushy stuff first and she didn't know if it was the right time to say it. "I'll make sure to write to you everyday next time." She nodded, taking another bite out of her cookie. That is if she could figure everything out between them.

Amelia eyed the strange girl who'd spoken to the whole table before turning her attention back to Arabella. "Gobstones sounds fun, I'm not sure the studying does though," because Amelia would do whatever she could to avoid doing that until the very last minute. Unless she decided to actually attempt to start doing her work early for once.