Tay listen to them talk and then chuckled at what Damon said, "I have the pleasure of calling this handsome boy, my love." She smiled and kissed his cheek.

Tug pull tug pull tug pull...

To be entirely honest, whacking one or both of them over the head with something would probably prove to be more effective than what she was doing. Shock to the system sort of thing. Or ham on their faces! Maybe she should try that... it worked on Walnut after all...

Eventhough Professor Williamson said that she should not reveal this technique lightly...not to mention that seeing the way Aspen was gnawing on Elijah could mean that she was hungry and that throwing ham on their faces might encourage a snog fest of sorts....

Gnawing on arms and stuff she could handle...snogging all over each other's faces not so much...

Just as Kurumi was about to shift positions....LKJFSJSJJDOSNLSNDLS

"KYAAAAAAAAAAA" Kurumi squeaked!shrieked as Elijah bit down on her arm. Her other hand came off Aspen's face and promptly smacked him right across the cheek. Pure reflex, nothing more.

Meanwhile...a little further down the corridor, a certain stubby leg feline came BOUNDING towards the trio with his golden kitty eyes ablaze. HIS MISTRESS WAS IN TROUBLE! Time to pee on someone! *gleam*

Vee smiled at Harlan, albeit a bit hesitantly. The girl's gaze as she eyed Berry wasn't all that friendly, and Vee wished again with a mental groan that Viola had thought twice before giving her the cat last Christmas. Even though she'd had Berry for months, and before that he had spent his time with her elder sister, Vee still clearly had trouble controlling the cat.

"First year," she replied to the girl's last question, feeling slightly more uneasy when she realized that Harlan was also older than her. But she was also new, which put them on slightly more even footing, Vee thought.

"Yeah, I know collars are usually for dogs, that's where I got the idea," Vee explained when Harlan looked surprised as she mentioned the collar for Barry. "As you can see, he's not the easiest thing to control, so I figured it might be easier this way to keep him closer to me and stop him from getting into so much trouble all the time, especially with other animals around. My sister charmed the collar and attached lead - she's the one who gave me Barry, because she couldn't cope with him, so I figured it was the least she can do. With it on Barry can't move further than a metre away from me," she explained, talking fast and matter-of-factly, as if putting leads on cats was the most natural thing in the world.




"Thanks a lot," Vee accepted the lead from Terry with a satisfied grin, momentarily slackening her grip on Berry with one arm only to slip the magical collar on with it. "There! All safe and under control now."

Or so she hoped.

Vee moved over to the seats by the doors and sat down there, letting her bag fall into the seat between her and Terry. This way, there was the safe metre between her and the boy, so even if Berry did manage to jump out of her arms, he'd be unable to reach Brie. Or Harlan's owl, for that matter.

"You should be safe from this little terror now, and Brie too," she smiled, scratching the grey cat behind the ears. His luminous green eyes lost some of their staring quality as he enjoyed the petting.

"Oh, really? Yeah, I'm just a firstie, but I was homeschooled until now too. Absolute nightmare if you ask me, I'm so happy to be getting away from home. It'll be great, spending time with people your own age without having to pretend you're someone you're not, don't you think?" she sighed a bit wistfully, memories from her childhood in her mind's eye. "I'm the youngest in my family by far, you see, and we lived in an area where there were mainly Muggle children, so you can see why the idea of Hogwarts makes me happy," she explained briefly.

"So, any idea which houses you're going to be in, or which you'd want to be in? Do you guys have family here? How come you're only coming to Hogwarts now as opposed to having started from first year?" she bombarded them with questions. Vee never was one for being shy or quiet.

Maxwell nodded. "I get that..." He said and then wasn't sure how to answer her question about bouncers. "Well...If that is bouncers, than i think he used to be long to somebody that i used to know...someone important to me." He said spacing out a little thinking of Min.

Damon smiled at Maxwell and came in and looked at him puzzled for a second, "I didn't even know you and Ariana had a thing... Then again, I was gone most the summer, that might be why." He shrugged and looked at the little puff, "It does look a lot like Min's Bouncers... and the same name, that's convienent..." Damon looked at Alexa again, pulling out his own puff, Pixel. She instantly shook herself free and her golden fur sparkled practially. He chuckled as she squeaked with joy seeing another puff. He looked at Taylor with a small smirk, "You're only saying that because I'm here now, bet you anything," He kissed her forehead lightly in return.

Alexa saw the sadness in his face and felt bad, "Well I'm not really sure who his owner was before me. My mom got it from her friend Mrs. Blaze. Her cousin was moving and wasn't allowed to take him with her so I got him. He seems to like you and know you though, so maybe he is the same puff." Just then Bouncers pulled from her arms again and jumped in Maxwell's lap whimpering. Bouncers then saw the other puff and took interest, but didn't leave Maxwell's lap. "She is pretty. I haven't seen many with gold fur." Alexa leaned down and pet the new puff.

Maxwell felt a lump in his throat at the mention of the name 'Blaze'. "He's the same one...we spent some time together last year..." He said trying to hold it together, but looking down at Bouncers, one tear slipped from his eye. He wiped it quickly, it was the only one he'd let himself shed over her, he wouldn't shed another. "Sorry...we had a bit of a past, she and I.."

"Meh, her natural pink or purple's under there somewhere... Poor thing got the bright idea of jumping in between my dad and step-mother during one of their joking fights... Pixel, here, was hit by one of my Dad's hair dying spells and now she'll be gold for the rest of her life probably." Hearing the story about Min he died down slightly as well with a slight sigh... Still slightly hurt, seeing how Minerva had been his best friend and said nothing to him about moving... leaving actually was a better word to use for it.

Of course she was right, Dora was polite enough to give him a small nod though. It was good that he knew she was right, something for him to remember in the future. "The train ride's only a few hours, and the feast isn't much longer. You can sleep after all that," She supplied. Lady? No one her age, or around her age, called her lady. It was weird.

He was weird she immediately decided. But that was cool.

"Isidora. Dora for short." And absolutely nothing else. "What's your name? You new to Hogwarts?" Had to be if he was gonna SLEEP on the train.

Her eyes turned to the door when it opened and she saw that gryffindor girl that didn't know much about anything. But Dora was sooo accepting that she smiled at her anyway. Probably wasn't her fault she didn't know much. "Nah, you can join us. Get anything good at the trolley?"

The older redhead had to refrain from letting out a laugh when the younger girl fumbled over to the seat across from Selina. She was such an adorable little thing; although Selina thought that rather ironic that she was calling her little. The sixth year herself was not much taller than most of the average second years. After her fourth year, Selina had resigned herself to the fact that she was not going to be exactly tall. Besides, it was not the bark that made a dog scary- it was the bite. And boy, did Selina have quite the bite.

"You're not intruding," she affirmed, "Please take a seat." She wasn't exactly saving the seat for anyone in particular. And the little girl looked very nice, so she could have it. AS LONG AS SHE DIDN'T PULL A CRAZY. Selina was NOT in the mood for a crazy. All Selina wanted to do was just innocently hand out flyers to have people help her find her missing beater bat. Nothing nuts.

McKenzie. What a pretty name. "Pleasure to meet you McKenzie. And I'm honored to be the first person you've met." Hopefully she didn't do anything to negatively affect the way that McKenzie thought of Hogwarts students, "You excited for school?"

*Squeezing his way past countless excited children Jacen finally found an empty compartment. Making sure he hadn't lost his cousin Cece he waved her over.*
"This ones empty."
*Once he had helped her inside he sat down across from her with his arms crossed. Yes he was counting down the minutes until he could get away from his cousin. It wasn't that he didn't like her, even though he acted like it, he just found it embarrassing to have a family member hover over you.*
"So I still don't understand why you like all the houses but the Huffalump one. What's so bad about it?"

Hearing them talk about the classes was causing Awar to fall into a deep daydream of Hogwarts. She shook her head to get her mind back in place as Ariella squealed. "My family usually is sorted into Slytherin, except my brother. He was sorted into Ravenclaw. I dunno, maybe Hufflepuff." she shrugged. "Yes, older. His name is Manolo. He just recently graduated from Hogwarts. Oh really?! How old?"

"Well, you won't have to wait long. You'll be learning your first spells within a week, probably even on the first day." Even Silvia, though she already knew a decent number of spells, was excited to learn new ones, and couldn't wait to start trying a few spells from her third-year books on her own. Now that she was older, she hoped that she could pick them up more quickly than before, and improve upon the ones she was already familiar with. "And Charms and DADA are almost always fun."

"That's cool that you already have a brother who graduated from Hogwarts. I have a younger brother too. He'll be starting Hogwarts soon."

Ariella nodded toward Lesta, she was sure that the sorting hat would place her in the right house regardless of what house her family members had been sorted into in the past. "He's only 8 years old, but he'll be turning 9 soon, I also have a younger sister!" Ari listened to Sylvia as she also added that she had an older and younger brother, Ari always wished she had older siblings, "Do you guys have any other brothers or sisters?"

It was really interesting learning about Hogwarts, and just the thought of learning Ari's first spell in only 7 days or less made the butterflies in Ariella's tummy flutter around even more than it already was...

Wishing she could know what Gwen was thinking, Ariadne looked at her intensely. But she was no Legilimens so she dropped it. Her bestie could have her secret thoughts and not voice them if she so chose. At least she said she was fine.

'It isn't terrible, honest! It's just...special.' Unique. 'Ariadne might sound stupid to some people too, because it's Greek. But I just couldn't care less.' People were free to think what they wanted, Ari was pleased to have a rare name like that.

More hesitation followed. Ariadne had cornered Gwen into agreeing to talk to the boy eventually. 'You're my best friend in the whole wide world!' the Gryffindor said dramatically and hugged her until she turned blue. After that, Ariadne decided the Ravenclaw needed some peace and quiet, so she exited the compartment....and mayhem started.

She returned about half an hour later, all out of breath and looking worse for wear. 'I've had enough cats and rats for a lifetime.' she breathed. 'Don't ask.' Though it was pretty obvious that she wanted to be asked.

'I'm glad you found it useful.' Ariadne could already picture her bestie doing some of the more complex potions in the laboratory. 'I might join you, though being so close to Lafay doesn't really appeal to me.' Ari was sure that even if Tate had left, the Potions mistress would still be there.

Gwendolyn could talk your ears off provided the topic wasn't love, Ari realized. Give a Ravenclaw a scholary topic and they can go on and on. 'I'm happy you're not worried. I can't say the same thing about myself.' She didn't exactly excell in Potions, but wasn't terrible either.

Even the thought of Gwen getting a Troll in anything was just plain ridiculous. Ariadne laughed out loud. 'You could never get a T, don't be silly!' She wasn't even thinking about Divination. It wasn't important.'I suppose I'm not rubbish at it, but I'll leave it last. I can start worrying one week before the exam. Anyway, if you don't have the Inner Eye, you're not likely to grow one during the year, are you?' she reasoned and waved it off. Plenty of time...

The only exam she felt prepared for was History of Magic. She could get some tips from Gwen when it came to Potions, Jory could teach her Muggle Studies...See? She was quite prepared, considering it was only September.

Gwen couldn’t believe how Ari was taking this. The whole story with the middle name had been something she had been avoiding for years. And for what? Her bestie didn’t even laugh! And that was something… ‘Thanks, Ari’, she told her bestie with a small smile on her face. She really appreciated the way the Gryffindor had been handling it.

In the next moment, she heard Ari say she was her best friend. Awww. ‘You too’ She had always considered Ariadne her best friend. Gwen hugged her back. As she saw the Gryffindor stand up and heading to the door, Gwendolyn wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to leave. Instead, she just sat there, eventually drawing her attention back to the window. Ari may have figured out that she really needed some time to process the new information. She was almost certain that the talk with Jory would be terrible for her, but still… there wasn’t something she wouldn’t do for her best friend. As much as she tried to, she couldn’t say no to Ariadne.

Hearing the door shut behind Ariadne, the girl was still eyeing the landscape. Not really paying attention to where the train was going, since she was just thinking about all the news Ari gave her. Leaving the Hufflepuff to the side, Gwen decided to focus on the diary. She slowly drew her attention away from the window and started examining the first page. What if the code wasn’t written using Arithmancy? Gwen continued to flip the pages of the diary, hoping that some idea would cross her mind. Taking a quill and a small piece of parchment out of her bag, she began writing. Since she wasn’t able to concentrate very well with all the students zooming around the train corridor, she placed the diary back and closed her eyes for a second.

. . .

But then the door opened again, and a voice started mumbling something. Gwen opened her eyes and saw Ari there, who had probably caused some damage outside… ‘Ehh… what cats?’, she said, a bit puzzled concerning what was going on. ‘Wha…’ What happened, she wanted to ask, but since Ari told her not to, she stopped herself. That look on her best friend’s face… Hmm. So Ari really wanted to tell her what happened on the train corridor. Even though Gwen had been willing to leave it like that, and act nonchalantly, since Ari told her not to ask… she was too curious to be able to stick to this plan. ‘Do tell’, she told her bestie, waiting to see what the Gryffindor had done.

After waiting for the girl to tell her what had happened on the train corridor, Gwen glimpsed at the Potions book. ‘That would be great!’, she told her bestie, hearing that she may be joining her at the Potions Laboratory. Hmm? But what was she saying? Lafay wasn’t… that bad. At least Gwen wasn’t one of the students who feared her. Mehh.

Oh well. At least Potions was something she was actually good at. Unlike Divination. ‘See… I made even this prediction wrong’, she told Ari, referring to the fact that she had just said she was going to get a T in Divination, something her bestie didn’t agree with. She was indeed a bit worried about OWLs, but the thing Ariadne said next made her laugh. ‘I suppose not’, she said, still laughing about the Inner Eye comment her bestie just made.

Gwen gave a quick look around, her eyes finally stopping upon the window. ‘Not long before we will arrive’, she said with a grin. She was eagerly waiting to get back to the castle. ‘I’m so curious to see what has changed around there… not really looking forward to the sorting ceremony, though’ Meeehhh. Just because it involved all the firsties. Hmph.

Cece happily let Jacen be the one to push through the crowded train corridor. It saved her from hexing some kids out of her way.

Stepping into the empty compartment she couldn't believe he actually found one that wasn't already occupied. Once she was seated and about as comfy as she was going to get she looked at her little younger cousin. "You can stop looking so grumpy mister, it's not the end of the world." Things could have been worse for him. His mother could be the one accompanying him to school.

BAHAHAHAHAHAH!

HUffalump house. Cece loved that one. She was so going to be calling a few of those annoying Pufferkids by that name now. "Who said I like all the other houses?" Truth was there was only one house she was rather fond of... Slytherin of course. But to answer his question. " Those Huffalumps as you call them are nothing but an annoying bunch of sniveling, whiny brats who think they're going to die with every little bump or bruise they get. Not to mention the few who also think they can do whatever they want and not have to be responsible for their actions." Yes, she had a few HUffalumps in mind right now. "For your sake you best hope that's not the house you get put in. You don't want to be know as one of... them for the rest of your life."

Yes...Dylan was OUT of there...

He'd just been sitting in a compartment with the Headmistress...and hadn't known it. Ugh...Not to mention some Board of Governors lady and a weird guy that was calling Greingoth "Ladybug". Pfft. He obviously didn't know Sierra if he was calling that...

Besides...the Slytherin had a rule about personal space and it was in clear violation in that crowded compartment...

Moseying through the train, he stopped in the back and spied the Healer...Kinsley...and other craziness...Gah, whatever. He just wanted to sit down. That's all. And relax, maybe. Had Rich followed him back?

West was on his way to the Food Trolley of course. He DID have an extra galleon to spend after all. It was clutched in his fist and he had his concentration face on. The one that he used in Quidditch. This was almost as important and the first year SECOND year would NOT let any Ravenclaws thwart him in THIS.

So what would he get?

...

...

What did they even HAVE? CHOCOLATE FROGS? there had to be frogs. Had to be. FROGS were on the agenda, and then finding his friends and then maybe sharing and then going to check on his broom which he'd been forced to abandon in the luggage car. AND THEN things could BEGIN. THE PLAN! Him and THEO WOULD TOTALLY RULE EVERYTHING.

Or, you know, at least the first years.

So busy was he thinking about all of this that he walked SMACK into his captain.

It wasn't quite a headbutt but sure was head first.

QUICK!RECOVER TEH SWAG!

"Oh. 'SUP Dylan." Yeah. SUP. He did the head nod!lift thing. He was so SECOND year right now.

Dustin had never really been the type to ever know what to do with himself. He just kind of WAS. Is? Whatever. He was the kind to just BE. Like...existentially.

Somehow, he managed to find himself just kind of....standing outside of one of the cabins toward the back of the train. And while he was playing the role of the wallflower, he witnessed a determined and focused boy - about his age - walk straight into a much older boy. He couldn't help but snicker. Especially after witnessing some sort of...mmm...how do you say neck convulsion?

If this is how people meet each other at Hogwarts, he thought to himself, then I am going to fit right in.

And for whatever reason, the scene in front of him reminded him of just how hungry he was.

Feeling restless, Alex wandered the train corridor. She was determined to meet new people and make new friends this year....or else. Peeking into the various compartments, she spotted a girl sitting alone. Opening the door carefully, she peeked inside. "Hi, do you mind if I come in? My name is Alex."

Dylan was standing there...eyeing the occupants of the compartment and available seating...when he felt something hit him. In his chest. It hit him rather hard, too. Giving his offender a nasty look, the Slytherin Captain dropped it just seconds later. Odessa!

...Well, had it been anyone else...

Clapping the younger boy on the back, Dylan forced a smirk. "Just my hatred for Ravenclaws..." Eyeroll. Yes. Everyone hear that! "How does it feel being a year older? You even look more fierce..."


Then he heard a faint snicker...

Looking past Odessa, he eyed the boy that looked to be about Odessa's age. Really, guy?

The Captain figured the boy was jealous. He did look quite alone...

...And this unknown boy didn't want to tangle with his prize Chaser. West was a tough kid...

West looked confused and suspicious. "What did they do now?" You know, aside from STEALING THE QUIDDITCH CUP. Yeah he was still totally bitter about that, but more determined than ever to have it in its rightful place.

A year older? So it was NOTICEABLE? Awesomesauce! "It feels awesome and I got a BROOM." Yeah he did. But also... he wrinkled his nose, about to say about what he had to do for Vindictus when he noticed Dylan was looking at someone else. West turned to look TOO all curious-like.


"Who're you?" No for reals. WHO? We don't know you. West tried out the mean look that Dylan had just exhibited, but his nose started itching and twitching and he ended up going cross-eyed trying to examine it and he settled on being swag!awesome instead. He totally had that look down.

'SUP.

In all his existing (nb: staring), Dustin happened to notice the older boy giving him the lookover. CLEARLY an invitation to be friends, right? Naturally, Dustin, being the friendly guy that he is (poor, poor child), smiled a toothy grin and waved a little too excitedly in their direction.

And, PERFECT TIMING, don'cha know? The other kid even addressed him! Not an hour away from home and he was already making ~*friends*~

Bucket list, entry number six hundred and thirty-one: become popular and charming. He mulled over his status on this particular item. After a probably-too-long pause of blankly staring into the distance, he decided, CHECK.

But just in case, he looked around and pointed to himself. "Me?" he mouthed, just as he noticed the kid's eyes cross. He seemed to be...confused. Or itchy? Or maybe he needed to sneeze.

Seeing as he had a thing about hands (i.e. THEY ARE GROSS LIKE HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THEM?! What even are fingernails?), he figured this was the perfect opportunity to solidify their already-blossoming friendship. Unfortunately, two thoughts ran through his mind simultaneously: "Do you want me to scratch that for you?" and "Gesundheit!" Instead, it came out as, "Do you want me to scratch that gesundheit for you?"

Friend-making masterrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Kate sighed in relief as she found a compartment. Okay, it was at the back, and yes, there were other people in there, but she supposed she might as well start socialising now. Unfortunately, for her, talking to strangers was easier said than done. Glancing timidly at the two girls occupying the compartment - well, one girl really, the other seemed to be standing outside- she spoke; "Um, m-my name's Kate. Can I, er, come in? I'll understand if you say no, but..."
She trailed off nervously, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear, as she awaited her answer.