FOURTH YEAR!

Sophie was actually excited as she made her way to the carriages. Fourth year sounded so much cooler than first, second, or third year. Plus, school was more fun now that she had a group of friends rather than just random people that she knew. ALSO, she had her eye on a certain special someone, and she kind of hoped he had his eye on her, too.

So classes and homework were the last two things on her mind as she approached the carriages. She decided to choose an empty one, so three other people could join her. She did a little wave to the thestrals she couldn't see (just so they wouldn't toss her off or something) then boarded a carriage.

Okay, other people come NOW...so she didn't look like a loser sitting by herself.

Abby had made her way out to the carriages and entered the first one and fixed her robes as she took a seat and hoped that somebody would join her soon

Cinna could see the castle from here. Yay. Fourth year Not a baby anymore but closer to being one of the older students. And it was her second year of Attending Hogwarts. What a huge change from being homeschooled two years ago. In the past year she had made new friends, gotten a boyfriend and so much more that she never thought she would never get to being home schooled. She was glad to be back.

She tried to push the finding out she was going to be a big sister thing out of her mind as she approached the carriages. Not really wanting to ride alone or wait on her friends, one she was hungry and two she wanted a good seat for the feast. Spotting another already in one, she knew of her. One of the Newell twins, Sophie was it? " Hey... mind if I ride too?" She asked. If she didn't mind a totally stranger riding in the same carriage as her.

When Adi had felt the Train jerk to a halt, he had immediately stood up. Great! One step closer to home and another awesome year. Before he had exited the compartment, he had replied to AJ's question. "Nothing. Just talking to my self.'' And with that, he led his friends from the compartment to Hogsmeade Train Platform to an empty carriage.

On his way to the carriage (which he still found fascinating to look at because it looked like they were being pulled by themselves but he knew better), Adi spotted Sophie. He waved to her, pleased to see her.

Adi climbed into the carriage and waited for his friends to join him. Hurrrrrrry, so they could all go to the Castle. This Hufflepuff was for once, impatient.

Sophie watched as a few others passed by. She knew one or two of them but not really that much. Where was her huge group of friends now? Ethan? Simon? GRAYSON?! Even Caleb! Cutty, too. Those were the ones Sophie knew the best. She didn't even see any of them in sight. She was started to nervously adjust her position, when a slightly familiar face came into view.

Ohh, Sophie thought she knew this girl! She was a fourth year, too, and Sophie had heard she was dating Bart. "Oh, yeah, cool," Sophie said, scooting over. "I'm Sophie, by the way. You're..." Hold on--she knew this! "Cinna, right?" Because Sophie had heard a few others call the girl by that name. "I'm glad you came along. I hate waiting on people to join and looking like a loser." Heh.



She caught a movement out the corner of her eye and saw Adi waving. Sophie smiled at him and waved back. Adi was a pretty awesome guy.

There were a bunch of boats, which Dot supposed she should ride over to the castle, since that was what Dima had done last year. But she didn't want to. She wanted to ride in the carriage with the weird skeleton horses and sit with her friends and pretend to wave at commoners like a queen.

That's how she was going to do it. Dot climbed up into the very first carriage she found empty and hung right in the door, watching for more people to come along. She'd invite someone to be a queen with her. Or a king. Whatever.

Having disappeared from the compartment for peace of mind, Benny made his way back when he noticed certain scenery changes marking the time near the end of the trip. The fourth year returning just in time to add his robes and retrieve Conrad and the potted plant before the rush to leave the train began. He had still not spotted Angel, even in his walking and couldn't help wondering if she had missed finding them or was simply avoiding them. Or rather him.

The latter truth what Benny feared.

He followed Adi out almost on autopilot, his belongings returned to either hand once more. The lion instinctively shivered spotting the thestrals, trying his best to not be too concerned about them like always as he climbed aboard behind the Hufflepuff.

Lux couldn't believe that the train had already arrived at Hogsmeade. She was now officially a Fourth Year. Hopefully this term would be better than the last where her boyfriend had almost died. Speaking of boyfriend, she hoped that he would be here to share the carriage ride to Hogwarts with her.

Approaching said carriages, Lux spotted a few people she knew. They got friendly waves. And haaaai, bestie. "Hey, Cinna! Sophie!" Smiling, she joined them, taking a seat. Hopefully Bay, Emmy, and Kace would be joining them.

No boats this year. It was all about the carriages. And while Kyroh was super excited about that he was also kind of put out. The boats were where he had met BODIE and Candice! And where he had ALMOST met the squid. Making his way over to the closest carriage, Kyroh's eyes landed on the harness which was attached to.....nothing?

Oh he KNEW what it was!!! They had learned last year!! "Hi Mister or Miss Thestral!" Kyroh said happily waving at the invisible creature. He hadn't seen his friends on the train which wasn't really cool at all but he WOULD see them at the feast so the sooner the carriage moved the better! He was about to enter the carriage when he noticed a familiar head of hair poking out of the one in front. "DOT!" Running, over the second year grinned.

LOOK! A friend. "Hullo!! May I come in?"

Oh, a KYROH. That was perfect. Dot stepped back into the carriage to let Kyroh climb inside, but she got impatient after a minute and hauled him up by his arm. This was now their carriage. Royal Freckle Brigade in action.

"Hi. This is my carriage. Have a seat." She may have helped him bodily into the seat, actually, but Dot was an impatient little thing today and she wanted to get started. Or not get started yet, since she was hoping that Dima and Maddie would make their way to the carriage too, but started with the being royal and important.

She sat across from him and spread out. "I have a kitten."

Was that a yes, or a no? Kyroh started to climb and looked up, blinking, still not entirely sure until Dot yanked him up by his arm.

OKAY so, had to be a yes.

"Hi Dot's carriage!" Kyroh patted the cushion as listened and took a seat. "Does the Thestral leading your carriage have a name too? Or is IT's name Carriage as well?" That would be confusing.

Kitten? "You got it!? Was it one of the ones that we looked at? Is it a girl or a boy? Does it bite? Is it invisible?" 'Cause like, where was it?

These carriages were awfully weird. Chance still couldnt get over the fact that they pulled themselves, but he could swear he always heard the hooves hit the ground. He listened to it the past two years. And now, he was a fourth year! He gave a little invisible tap on his back for becoming a fourth year.

Chance's smile was plastered on his face as he slide into the carriages. He looked around, draping his arms on the sides of the carriages. His fingers slightly drummed on the sides as he waited to get to the hospital. Come on!! The castle was his home! He was ready to get there!

Dylan ran as fast as he could to the carriages with his kitten Ginger in his arms, his long dirty blonde hair practically flying behind him. He was eager to get into the carriages and get to the feast. His stomach kept growling from his intense hunger ever since the train ride.... He hadn't quite eaten all day because he woke up late AND had forgotten to bring money for snacks on the train because he had been in such a rush. Ugh.

The fourth year saw some of his fellow fourth year friends in a carriage but it was full, so he found himself one with two other students in it he'd never quite met before. He smiled at them as he climbed on. "Hello!" he greeted. "You guys don't mind if I sit with you, do you?" he then added.

Ian had enjoyed his game of exploding snap so much he didn't realize that they had arrived in Hogsmeade. He hurriedly gathered his robe, cards and wand and smiled at his friends. great fun! AJ. Thanks so much for playing with me. he seemed to remember winning more than he lost and he grinned at AJ. He followed Adi and the rest of the students out toward the carriages and headed toward the one Adi had gotten into. He waited to see if AJ wanted help up to the carriage, sice this was her first time.

Ian and AJ didn't even get to finish their game of exploding snap before the train was coming to a halt. "You're lucky Ian... you were spared a huge loss. We will have to finish our game at the castle." That's right, he wasn't going to get out of it that easy. "I had a lot of fun playing with you too." The lion hopped up and tugged her robes on. She was all set to go.

The four of them followed the leader, which was Adi. Then AJ snorted to herself about the irony. Adi really was a leader. Adi said that he was just talking to himself, but AJ didn't believe it. "Right." There was no need to push him about it, but she wasn't convinced.

Benny seemed to be lost in thought, and she gave him what she thought was a sympathetic smile. Where was Angel? Her not sitting with them was definitely unusual.

Hold the unicorns... "What's going to pull that carriage?" Why couldn't she whatever it was? Could everybody else see what or who it was? AJ walked up to the open space and started flailing her arms about. Wait. Maybe nothing needed to pull the carriage because magic!!!

As Kyroh greeted her carriage, Dot wiggled back into her seat in delight. Kyroh was always happy, always always, so it was hard to believe that he'd been having a sulk on the train. Did his mouth even make frown lines?

"Is that what that thing is? A thestral?" she leaned out of the carriage to look at the bony butt of the creepy horse there. "His name is Thackery Thestral. He's Grand Duke of Bony Butts." Obviously. She settled back into her seat and crossed her arms across her chest.

"It was the little gray one. He's a boy, but he doesn't have a name yet. What should we call him?" She fished around in her pocket and drew out the fluff of kitten.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

Dylan ran as fast as he could to the carriages with his kitten Ginger in his arms, his long dirty blonde hair practically flying behind him. He was eager to get into the carriages and get to the feast. His stomach kept growling from his intense hunger ever since the train ride.... He hadn't quite eaten all day because he woke up late AND had forgotten to bring money for snacks on the train because he had been in such a rush. Ugh.

The fourth year saw some of his fellow fourth year friends in a carriage but it was full, so he found himself one with two other students in it he'd never quite met before. He smiled at them as he climbed on. "Hello!" he greeted. "You guys don't mind if I sit with you, do you?" he then added.

Oh, stranger danger. Even though Dot had spent so much time spreading out on her side of the carriage, at the sight of this stranger, she immediately scooted over to Kyroh's side and squeezed in next to him. This boy had a lot of hair and was running and was just a LITLE overwhelming to the second year.

"O... kay." She pointed to the seat across from her.

Was it just him or did the train ride go by rather quickly this time around? Or not. Well it went by quickly AFTER he had managed to escape from a crying Hufflepuff, she-who-must-not-be-named. But now that the whole thing was over... Sort of. He made his way down to the ever-so-familiar carriages. Right. Looking around curiously, he tried his very hardest to spot Simon or Kevin, or anyone really. Where were all his friends? Had last term been too good to be true? The time where he finally made friends... And now they were just... Poof? Were was everyone?

And that's when he heard the tapping again. Man. What was going on? Was the noise just following him everywhere he went?!! MERLIN. Walking towards the noise, he let out a small sigh in annoyance. Was it just stuck in his head or something? And he couldn't even help walking to the beat. MERLIN. GAH. Then, looking up he realized it was that kid again. The same one he had tapped with in line. Oh. Well that made sense. "Mind if I--?" he said motioning to the empty seats in the carriage.

Oh right...it was AJ's first time in the carriages.

That would explain the younger lion seemingly all confused and wandering near the front of the carriage like she was trying to find something. Eventually she likely would feel something since just because they weren't seen by all didnt mean the skeleton-like horses couldn't be felt by all. Or even heard, since what most people did notice a lot of the time was a snort or a whinny or just the breathing of any of the creatures.

"A thestral will pull it," he simply stated breaking his relative silence. The fourth year briefly trying to remember what had been said in the flying horses class last term about them. Benny himself knew about them of course since he could see them, but he was working to pull up something to refer AJ to.

At least her reaction meant she had never seen someone die. Always a good thing.

Adi took a seat, staring out of the carriage as he looked for other familiar faces. He was quite looking forward to seeing Zander, Lux, Simon, Cutty, Hazel, even Agatha...and the host of other friends.

It took him a moment to realise that Ian and AJ had not yet gotten in with him and Benny. There was Ian standing by the carriage entrance but AJ... oh there she was. Adi spotted her as he stood at the entrance. WHAT was she doing, flailing her hands at the thestral?

"Oy! AJ! Leave the invisible unicorn alone.'' Hehe. The Hufflepuff and his habit of making up stuff to tell AJ. He hoped she would be too distracted by the word 'unicorn' to notice Benny said Thestral.

She...huh? Brown eyes widened just slightly but Kyroh nodded along. "You....can see the Thestral?" His voice came out no louder than a whisper. Thackery Thestral. But...she could SEE his boney butt?

His thoughts of creatures of death and probably impending boom disappeared for a second though, because KITTEN talk!! And AND KITTEN!! The boy reached for the tiny creature, taking it right from Dot's hands and snuggling it. IT WAS SO CUTE!!!!! It made Kyroh wish even MORE than his papa had let him bring his cat to Hogwarts. "We should call him Fluffy!! Like the three headed dog that used to live at Hogwarts. It was ferocious-" He tried to snarl but it was hard with the kitten right against his cheek. "-and it liked classical music." SO THERE! "Unless you don't want to call him Fluffy. Then you can call him Lancelot." But THAT was always a good name. Right up there, next to Bruce Wayne.

As he continued to cuddle Fluffy Lancelot Bruce Wayne the kitten another boy entered the carriage! "Hii!! I don't think we mind. I don't mind. But I can't read Dot's brain to tell if she minds. Though there's no such thing really as mind reading." Mind reading to tell if someone minded. But look! Now she was over on his side!

"You have lots of hair. Are you a musician?"

It seemed that his tapping had attracted the presence of the boy that Chance had met on the train. Chance had been looking around when he had heard a voice rather close, and looked up to see the boy, and his eyes fixed on his fingers, a look of annoyance on his face. "Oh hi! Yes, no bother. Come sit!" He said letting one of his arms drop from the side of the carriage. "Sorry about the tapping. Im rather excited to get back to Hogwarts. It is rubbish to have to wait all summer just to go back!"

Chance put a hand out for the boy to shake. "I'm Chance Coeur." He said, his chest pressed out as if he was proud of the name. It wasn't like the boy would know who he was, but he had gotten into it with a 7th year Slytherin last year, and he had the scar to prove it. He had been holding his own when the boy slash him across the eye. Now he had a lined scar right across his eye. He was proud of it though. Battle scar. Besides, it would give him brownie points with the ladies.

"Thanks," he said, taking a seat across from the two. "I'm Dylan, by the way." he added after the silence that followed. Heh. As he sat there, he noticed the kitten in the boy's arms. OOOH it was so cute! Dylan LOVED cats...hence the orange cat sitting in his own lap. "What's the cat's name?" he asked, gesturing to the adorable lil' fluffball in the guy's arms.

He did indeed have lots of hair. And he was a musician. "You sure you can't read minds?" Dylan asked with a laugh as he nodded. "Yeah, I am a musician. And I do indeed have quite a bit of hair..." he smiled.

Benny was speaking. AJ turned her head in his direction while her arms were still flailing about. Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, her hand made contact with something solid. She jumped back. There was something there. There was something there that she couldn't see. Oh right, Benny brought her back to planet earth. "A thestral, right. I remember learning about them last year." Did that mean that Benny could see them? She was pretty sure that you had to see somebody die in order to actually see the creatures, and that made her curious. It was something that she wouldn't bring up though. Not now.

Adi was joking with her again, and that brought a goofy grin to her face. Without hesitation AJ hopped into the carriage and sat practically on top of Adi. He was just going to have to forget about ignoring her. AJ wasn't going anywhere. She lifted her right hand and ruffled his hair. "Are there even such things as invisible unicorns?" Her nose was just inches from his, and her eyes were bright. "Cause if they exist I REALLY want one of those too. I mean they have to be super cool." Could she have one? Pretty please!!!

Kyroh didn't see Duke Bony Butt? Dot leaned again, just to make sure there was something there, and then pulled puzzled faces at her friend. Was it a joke? Was she crazy? Or was... it something else? "I see a Thackery."

It made her just SWELL with pride that Kyroh (and Dylan) were impressed with her new kitten, and Dot sat up a little straighter and shoved back her red hair to watch the kitten-love happening. "Doesn't have a name yet. He can visit you when you need someone to hug, ok?" She hoped her kitten allowed hugging, 'cause it was going to happen. There were Kyrohs and Dimas in her life, it was GOING to happen.

That big orange cat was pretty interesting too, and Dot eyed it. And Dylan. Bot of them. "M'Dot. That's Kyroh. What... do you music?" Okay, wait. That was wrong. Try again. "What do you play?"