Layla knew she had cut him off guard and she smirked in response. She and Sammy had an interesting relationship. It was full of banter, almost as if they were the siblings in the family and not she and her older brother Bradley. "And those lovely people ain't payin' any attention to you" she winked glancing at the groups of students who were speaking amongst themselves rather than talking back to Sam.

He started taking pictures and she watched him with an eyebrow raised. Until he explained his reasoning behind the weird behaviour. "I think I read somewhere that muggle technology don't work in the castle.." she spoke simply. Maybe? Who knew, this place was weird. "So good luck with that." Layla's parents had been through it all before with Bradley. They'd seen the street and waved him off at the station. They weren't excited in the slightest.

And then he took a photo of her. Layla rolled her eyes but smiled knowing that her aunt would like to see photos of her too. "Ain't ever been somewhere like this before.." she thought out loud, looking towards the castle as she spoke. "Not sure I want to either." Was kinda spooky. And old. Urgh, very old.

"The horses are there stupid" she pointed at the invisible space before them as the carriage then started to move. "And they're called Thestrals. They're invisible. You can only see them if you've seen someone die or somethin'. S'kinda creepy if you ask me." Urgh this school was turning out to be a creep-fest.

Abby smiled at Samantha and said "Hey there Samantha" Abby was glad to have some company

How many unicorns did she want? That wasn't something that she thought about because "the limit does not exist." Now that she could make them invisible there wasn't anything to keep the lion from unicorn hoarding. "I guess I'll just see how it goes. I mean, I have yet to even get one yet." She needed a constant supply of babies though... so at least a male and a female to start out.

"Well I am." Maybe not super famous, but a lot of people did know her at hogwarts, and that was kind of the same thing. Adi was ever helpful. "I know you will." The smile would not leave her face.

Jealous? AJ laughed at the comment that Adi made. She knew that he was only joking, and she hoped that Ian knew that. There was nothing to be jealous of... they were just three friends having a good laugh.

Then AJ heard a voice outside that could only belong to her sister. She hopped up and hung her head out the carriage. "Angel, in here!" They were already moving, but they hadn't made it that far. She could jog and catch up with them. AJ gave Benny a smirk. His woman was here.

Samantha tightened her hair ribbon so that her hair was now in a high ponytail. "The train journey certainly was quick!" she exclaimed. Samantha had a calm demeanour on the outside but inside she was jumping up and down eager to attend the start of term feast. She gazed in the general direction of the Thestrals though she couldn't see them as she had been fortunate to not have witness the passing of someone she loved.

Samson looked around. Layla was right. But it was probably just as well given the lameness of his question teamed with the even lamer giggles. How was Layla so calm and collected about this? They were magical. They could DO magic! It was the single greatest thing in the history of EVER.

“Well they should be.” He murmured, his pride dented a little. “Do y'ever get sick of bein' reet?” He looked up at Layla in the carriage.

But he HAD read a few things about what to expect at Hogwarts and he knew fine well about magic and how it interfered with technology.. or something like that. After he'd climbed into the carriage, he showed Layla his camera. A vintage, clunky old thing. “Me da gave it me. Been in the family for years or sommat. It's propa old.. an' it takes propa film.” He dug into his bag and took out one of the many rolls of spare film he'd brought. “They need to be developed in a dark room. It's really cool. Everything comes out allll atmospheric an' artistic.” He grinned at his cousin. No luck needed here, pet.

He looked towards the castle again. “I've been to Edinburgh castle. Weren't a soddin' patch on this place, like.” No way! This was all completely mental. “Cheer up, Lala. We're gonna be livin' in a castle. Like royalty.”

Wayhey! They were moving. And there were no horses. Or.. there were according to Layla here. How'd she know so much? What? “You can only see them if you witness someone die?” He repeated flatly. He had to agree that, although it was cool, it was also creepy. “So if I hoyed ye over the side, they'd mysteriously appear to me?” Ah man, he wanted to see them.

Abby nodded in agreement and said "Yeah the train journey was quicker than i expected it to be i cant wait to get back to the castle"

"I can't wait to befriend students from all houses. Maybe I'll mingle instead of just sitting at our house table all the time. I don't have a definite plan as of yet and to tell you the truth, I am kind of nervous," Samantha told Abby as her fingers fiddled with her necklace.

Abby nodded and said "Yeah i am going to mingle too and i can say to you that it is okay to be nervous"

Samantha breathed a little sigh of relief and smiled at Abby. "Thank you. I needed to hear those words," she replied. "I find it a bit hard to socialise because I can at times be very shy. Sometimes I see a group of people talking and I have to walk away because I feel like if I do talk to them they'll get angry at me for interrupting them," Samantha got lost in the thought of a past incident from her childhood.

Ian nodded as Adi heard him mention the hill giants. Aye. I like them. I think too many wizards write them off as dumb, brutish creatures but I consider them misunderstood. And who doesn't like a fwooper?

Ian looked at his feet at AJ's question and Adi's mention of jealousy. He felt a twinge of regret in his belly, but he stood firm nonetheless. Regardless of professors being around. You guys are kind of close to one another, and I don't know how others might perceive that. It could be miscategorized as PDA. Just don't want my friends getting in trouble when they could avoid it.

Ian took a deep breath when he heard AJ call for Angel. It was a welcome distraction and a moment for him to be able to collect his thoughts. What was wrong with him? AJ and Adi weren't doing anything wrong. It just made him feel that way. He smiled at his friends, waiting for Angel to join the carriage.

''You'll be the most famous girl with all those unicorns then. Somehow, I can see you having a thousand.'' Hehe. Maybe more. "Well, there's still loads of time. Plus I'm here. I'll get you those unicorns.'' Er...hopefully. LOL. Maybe he shouldn't give her hope in case he disappointed her but it was AJ. He would always do whatever he could for her. Still, he was curious about it. "If I don't get you one, would you hate me?''

''Yeah, you're right, Ian.'' Adi settled back in his seat. It was AJ who had started it all again and Adi just couldn't figure out what she wanted. Maybe she liked being close to him but hated him snogging her. Ugh! It was so confusing.

Angel? Did AJ just say Angel? Adi hurriedly shoved his head out of the carriage. "Yo, Angel! You can still catch up with us. Come on! Benny needs cheering up.'' Hehe. There would be just enough room for Angel. She was only a second year and still sort of small.

Abby nodded and said "Yeah i feel that way too but i am going to try my hardest not to be shy around people i have not met before"

Samantha slightly raised her eyebrows. "You are doing a good job because you don't appear shy to me. You seem very friendly and confident." she said smiling.

Angel was just about to sit down on the station floor and wait for a taxi, the bus or whatever it was when suddenly AJ and Adi was shouting at her from a moving carriage, now she had a choice to make stay here standing on the spot or go and try and catch up with them.

"Oh bother, why did she have to speak so loud." Angel had been avoiding all her friends because she had been in a mood lately and now AJ and Adi was calling at her.

"I'll meet you at Hogwarts." Angel shouted back at her sister, but you could tell she was in a mood, she knew if AJ was there Adi and Benny would be there as well and well she didn't want to speak to Ben at the minute.

She got into a free carriage, wondering who would join her and show her how to make the thing go, was it like Santa did with his reindeer or was it some other way like a secret button that needed to be pressed. "Okay how does this thing work?" Angel sighed as she looked around the carriage for secret buttons that would make jet skies or something appear."

Abby smiled and said "Thanks i can't wait to get into the common room again it is nice to spend time away from my parents"

Samantha looked at Abby curiously and asked, "Don't you get along with your parents?" She got along with hers so well that at times she did forget that not everyone's family gets along.

Abby laughed and "I get on with my parents great just enjoy being away from home"

All AJ could do was blink and stare at Ian. Was he lecturing them? She knew that he came from a good place, but AJ hated being told what to do. Her and Angel had several fights over just that. "Good looking out Ian." He meant well, and AJ was not about to have any more issues before she even arrived at Hogwarts. It probably was better that she kept her space from Adi, even if she didn't want to. Why did she push him away when he kissed her again?

The laughing continued. "I can give out unicorn rides." The unicorns probably wouldn't like that at all. She would just have to train them well. "I'll have to charge more for the boys considering unicorns don't really care for them." It only made sense. "Pinky promise?" AJ held out her pinky expectantly. There would be no take backs if they locked fingers. Hate him? "I could never hate you." No matter what happened between them, she couldn't see that happening.

Why didn't Angel want to join them? Oh right, Benny. Well... this was awkward. She was sure that this would do absolutely nothing to improve her fellow lion's mood. AJ had half a nerve to jump out of this carriage and drag her sister to them. That would only cause problems though, and AJ wasn't in the mood for another fight. Instead of answering AJ just waved. Angel was going to get interrogated when the feast was over. IF she even gave her that long. AJ sat back down next to Adi. She was still sitting close to him with her leg touching his. The only difference this time was that her face was not in his.

Ian felt a 'little' guilty for his statement to AJ and Adi. Why did it matter to him that they were close together? Isn't that what friends did? Be silly when they could. Of course she was a girl, but what did that matter? Ian sank a little into a mood. It was weird, and he wasn't particularly fond of it. It seemed things had changed for him when AJ had mentioned his strong arms in the candy shop. She didn't mean anything by it, but it had made him feel good. He kind of liked that. He didn't like this feeling. Especially since it involved his buddy Adi.

AJ started talking about unicorn rides and Ian almost felt bad for Adi. Here he was promising the world (or at least a unicorn farm) to AJ and Ian knew that wasn't going to happen. The wizarding world would NEVER stand for a unicorn farm. How do you hide a blooming unicorn farm from muggles? Of course muggles as a lot were blind as bats when it came to magical things, but still. That really was flaunting it. THEN AJ mentioned charging more for boys for unicorn rides. Not that HE wanted to ride a unicorn. That would be silly. If you want to ride something, ride a thestral, that was cool. Not any silly unicorns.

Ian looked out the carriage, but didn't see Angel. He wondered what happened to her and how that made Benny feel.

Samantha nodded in agreement and replied with, "I understand what you mean. I find that my parents are usually so busy that I don't see them much at home. I am a bit of a...homebody." She had difficulty trying to find the right word.

Adi poked AJ. "Don't be mad at Ian, AJ. He was only looking out for us.'' He could hear a bit of the edge in her voice and he knew very well she hated being bossed around. He looked at the other Hufflepuff. "Don't want to get into trouble. Prefect and all.'' He mumbled that last bit, not wanting to seem as if he were showing off.

The Hufflepuff stared at AJ's pinky. How could he promise that? It might never happen. So, in a gentle voice he said, "I can't promise anything. The most I can promise is that I will try my best.'' He was being very much honest here. But he couldn't help but laugh at her idea with the fees. "You'll get rather rich too.'' Oh goody. She wouldn't hate him. That made Adi feel relieved.

Adi just stared out in disappointment at Angel. He did miss the crazy Valentine girl and he did want Benny to cheer up but he knew they all would see her in a short while. Benny just needed to keep his head up for a while longer.

Abby nodded at Samantha and said "Yeah i can understand where your coming from, i kind of like to stay at home myself and read"

All of a sudden Ian went quiet. There wasn't anymore laughter and he seemed, like Adi did earlier, to be lost in thought. Since when were boys so moody? "Everything okay, Ian?" Did her words come out too harsh? She really didn't intend for that to happen.

Apparently she had been a bit snippy because Adi was commenting on it as well. "I'm not mad at Ian." She didn't like to be bossed around, but she wasn't mad. A snort escaped her lips before she could control it. "Not going to take points away from me are you, Mr. prefect?" She was only joking of course. "Do you have that kind of power?" She knew that they could tattle on you, but could they actually take points?

He totally left her hanging on the pinky promise. Her hand slowly fell to her lap. "Oh." Was all that she could say. How disappointing. AJ would be getting a unicorn with or without help from anyone.

Ian was grateful his friend was sticking up for him. Of course, his intentions were NOWHERE near as altruistic as Adi was making them out to be, but even Ian was trying to work through why he was reacting this way. He listened to Adi try to lower AJ's expectations about unicorn farms and Ian nodded in agreement.

Listen to him. Unicorns don't just go prancing about for our amusement. Plus, there's loads of other magical creatures that are better than unicorns. Ian kind of knew this would get AJ's dander up, and for some strange reason, he was ready to pick a bit of a fight. Her flippant response to his trying to separate AJ and Adi had wounded him some bit and he wanted to wound her back. Of course unicorns were majestic, noble creatures but that didn't take the need to wound back from him.

Having said that, Ian folded his arms in front of him and pouted in his corner of the carriage.

"I love my quiet time as well. My cousin Serena may look like me well... except for the fact that she's a brunette but she and I are different in terms of personality. Serena's a bit of a social butterfly/party girl. That type of thing doesn't interest me," Samantha said.