The remainder of the train journey had been a pretty uneventful one. He'd eaten his pumpkin pasties... made sure to show Bel his appreciation for acquiring said pumpkin pasties.... and then a nap had happened.

It had been a great nap. But great naps came with not so great consequences and it had been a very groggy Max who had 'helped' Stasya with carriage supervision duties. And it was a very groggy Max who now arrived at the Slytherin table.

Rubbing at his eyes and stifling a yawn, he found himself a spot and proceeded to rest his head on the table.

Maybe he could fit in another quick snooze before food happened.

Her face was full of the same level of enthusiasm as there had been during her sorting. (Spoiler alert: none) Odaline was one of the first, if not the first (she'd know if she had been paying attention), to join this table tonight and so she had first pick of the seats left empty by the older and returning students. None of which she chose, for Odaline was not one to do like others her age.

No, no.

Odaline went and sat on the floor at the end of the table and kept her arms firmly crossed.

She belonged to no table and no house. She was already itching to scratch off any branding the hat had put on her body. No and thank you.

Patrick slipped into the great hall. He had a relatively tame train ride and hadn't had to take care of any rowdy housemates thankfully. He still wasn't sure what to expect this term because there was a change in leadership he was pretty sure and he was fairly certain that students may not return. He was curious to see what the term would be like.

He sat down and saw his fellow house leader Max, nodding his head at him before taking note of the first year who was sorted into slytherin, but watched her walk to the table and sit on the floor...okay. He sat in the middle of the table and waited for food to appear because he was always hungry and could really go for some food.

Sixth year was meant to be easier, wasn't it? Vita had survived her first term at this school relatively unscathed aside from a minor heartbreak of sorts, taken her O.W.L.s, passed them. Actually, she'd done better than just pass, so she should be feeling relatively confident about the new year, and yet...

There was that Vita urge to find a quiet place of her very own and avoid the crowded, busy, noisy event that was the start of term feast.

Would anyone even notice if she slipped out?

...

Before she could talk herself into such an escape, the sixth year noticed the first year who was staging some sort of protest on the floor by her seat. Aside from the fact that it must be incredibly dirty what with all the major foot traffic that had just occurred, the brunette couldn't help but imagine a professor might have to come over and persuade the kid off the floor so that she didn't get stepped on, meaning she would have a tougher time slipping out.

"You know, there's a much better view from up here at the table. Besides, I'd hate to think someone might spot you and accuse you of pouting like a little kid down there. Not a great first impression to make, not that I think that about you. You seem very mature..."

After rushing from the train to help lead the carriages to the school (though she didn't really have to do much), Natalie walked into the great hall with the rest of her classmates. Her blue eyes took in the hall as a strange and unfamiliar feeling settled in her stomach. This was her last year. It was already starting differently than she had expected and she wasn't sure what to make of it. She had been a good mood all summer and now... Well, she just didn't know how she felt. Everything felt up in the air and uncertain.

There were a couple things that were certain, though. 1) She had good friends to keep her grounded and happy. 2) she was a PREFECT and that was something that she was very proud of. And 3) she was going to do everything in her power to make her final term a GOOD one.

Oh, also, Vita was there!

"Vitaaaaaa!" Natalie picked up her pace upon seeing her friend at the table. Sliding onto the bench beside her, Natalie wrapped her arms around her in a squishy hug, then noticing the first year on the floor who seemed quite grumpy.

Did she have to deal with that? Did Prefects have to do that? If she wanted to eat her dinner on the floor, like... Natalie didn't really care.

Back again.

Zachary wasn't pleased about it, but no one would know - because his expressions spoke otherwise. Wearing his best fake smile, the sixteen year old made his way to sit by Vita. He didn't forget to give nods of greeting to the house prefect or the captain, of course.

He had also noticed /Natalie/ but - found himself ignoring her altogether.

"good summer?" he asked the fellow sixth year, before looking over at the kid on the floor - and not feeling interested at all in finding out what even was this about.

Skyler was NOT looking forward to another year at Hogwarts. With what happened last year? Yeah. She almost begged her mom to not send her back (she never wrote home about the abuse, she was too afraid.). But then she saw Patrick as she walked inside. She gave him a small smile. "Hey, have a good summer?" She asked. Her voice was barely audible. Nope, not taking any chances this year.

.....their last year.

It was their LAST year at Hogwarts.

And honestly, at this point Cameron was ready to graduate. The only thing dampening his excitement was the fact that he wouldn't be seeing Holly as often anymore but that was, frankly, the only thing. Other than that he was just looking forward to life after Hogwarts. Living with Liam. And Nat.

BUT he still had a whole school year ahead of him and he was going to make the best of that too. Plopping down onto the bench next to Max, Cam reached over to liiiiiightly (okay, maybe not so lightly) tug on a strand of the boy's hair.

Was he sleeping?

Bettie still is sporting the black pleated skirt, over the knee black sock, and vintage 14 eyelet Dr. Martens. Attached to the tags on the back of her boots are small glittery silver bell with green snake painted or charmed on. Tucked into her skirt is one of her white school uniform shirts with that she has her Slytherin house tie. On her tie is a Slytherin shield tie tack and above that is a snake pin up by the knot of the tie. She is also wearing her cardigan and on her left hand second finger there is an old looking snake ring and on her right pinkie is a snake ring that looks like the Slytherin shield with a green stone on each side from the train but now she has her robe over her outfit.

While Bettie was jingling her way into the Great Hall and toward the Slytherin table she noticed something going on at the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables. Plus the Staff table was almost full. And when Bettie arrived at her table there was a girl sitting on the floor.
“Are you all right?” Bettie asked her and to the others at the table “Do you know what is up with the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables? And I see that the most of the professors are here plus what looks like a new headmaster.”

He wasn't REALLY sleeping.

There was way too much hustle and bustle and chitter chatter going on around for actual sleeping. And that was saying something for someone who could mostly sleep just about anywhere.

Nope, he was just........ resting his eyes. And avoiding all responsibilities. The usual.

Or at least he HAD been.

When he felt the tug, Max immediately darted up to face the culprit, ready to go all Prefect Carden on their backsides. Except.... oh, hey Cameron. ".....thought you were those annoying little kids," he started apologetically, absent-mindedly moving to smooth his hair back into place. "You alright?"

And speaking of weird, annoying little kids. Was anyone going to explain why there was one sitting on the floor? Where was Natalie? Oh, right there! Max gave her a look across the table. A look that basically said 'I'll leave you to deal with that one'.

Did people not understand that by removing herself from the table she did not want to be involved in the table? Was that difficult? Clearly. It was just bearable being looking at.. but then there were words coming her way and Odaline felt her stomach turn. She was not prepared for conversations with these people and therefore she glared at both of the people that had gone out of their way to talk to her. (Vita and Bettie)

And then both girls got a growl and a chomp of her teeth in their direction.

The message: don't come closer.

WHOA!

Cam leaned back quickly, just in case he had startled Max enough for the other boy to lash out or hit him or something. Which, fortunately, he didn't. That would have been a bad way to start the new term. "I'm not." One of those annoying little kids, that is. Cameron gave his friend a tentative grin. "I'm good. Are you?" Considering HE was the one napping on the Slytherin house table.

Following Max's gaze, he found himself looking at...a girl sitting UNDER the table. Okay then. If that was where she felt more comfortable....once again, Cam was glad he was NOT a Prefect and thus did NOT have to deal with any of that. Good luck, Nat and Max?

Torii's first train ride had been kind of uneventful. She'd tried her best to put forth an even mix of 'making new friends' and 'not trying to seem too desperate'. She thought she'd done a pretty good job. She'd even made time to get to the food trolly and get some sweets, too. Even still, she was still starving from the super long train ride. Why they didn't just use portkeys was beyond her.

The sorting had been kind of exciting, too. She'd had no idea what to expect, so when she'd been sorted into Slytherin, she wasn't surprised in the least bit. She was still so used to Ilvermorny, and she really had no idea what it meant to be a Slytherin. She missed her old friends and couldn't help but wonder what they were up to right now. She found a spot at the house table and tried not to look awkward as 'the new girl'.

Ahem.

Um.

Okay, she drew the line at small children gnashing their terrible teeth and rolling their terrible eyes. We'll be leaving you alone now, little wild thing. All set getting bit. The badged snakes could deal with this one.

Speaking of...

"Natalie, hi!" To say she was excited to see the familiar face was an understatement. She felt instantly more at ease, her expression relaxing as she leaned into the hug. She had a friend who liked to hug her. She was getting friend hugs. This was all very new. "'M glad you're here. I was hoping for some company." Not entirely true, she'd been hoping to escape, but now that she had some, she'd stay. "Hey, if you have to deal with that one down there, maybe just stay back. I think she bites."

The arrival of Zachary was equally pleasing because now she'd have two people to chat with. It was nice, knowing people. Maybe it was the start of Hogwarts feeling more like home. "It was good, yeah. Better than expected. You?"

Her gaze shifted then to the Ravenclaw table, as something seemed to be grabbing their attention. Hmmm.

Bettie giving the girl an annoying look and asked "Is that your way of say I am fine. Leave me alone or do I need to go find the healer because you are having a fit?"

Somehow, Liam had gotten separated from everyone on the way up to the castle. Blame his lazy walking pace, probably. It wasn’t that he wasn’t excited to be here, because he was. Mostly.

Probably.

But the seventh year did make it to his table eventually. Fashionably late or whatever. He spotted a few unfamiliar faces, most seeming younger than him. He also saw familiar faces and gave them polite head nods when eye contact was made. But his main focus was Cameron Tamesis. Hi, boyfriend.

Liam slid onto the seat next to the other boy. Leaning forward, he greeted Max on Cam’s other side first. “Hey, Max.” Was the badge new for him? Liam couldn’t remember. It was probably best not to mention it.

... speaking of badges, though. Liam finally caught sight of Nat, who seemed preoccupied with something under the table. Liam glanced under it, saw a small body, and immediately straightened up. Nat was a prefect. She could deal with it. She’d always wanted to have prefectly responsibilties, after all.

Toddles' boney elbows and knees now brought him to the underside of the Slytherin table in desperate pursuit of HIS Fluffsies. Once again crawling over all the feets of studentsies, Toddles not-so-quietly called out for HIS beloved lost pet. "Fluffsies...Fluffsies...where are you Fluffsies? Come backs to Toddles!"

A couple of more crawls later and Toddles let out a GASP as he saw something PINK sticking out under the footsie of one of the studentsies (Samia), prompting Toddles to crawl even FASTER and SHOVE the shoesie off. "FLUFFSIES? FLUFF....oh." No. Frayed not.

POUTING, Toddles continued his crawl until he spotted another studentsies on the floor too (Shanners), though Toddles had a ways to crawl before her reached that studentsies. Why was this studentsies on the floor? Was she looking for something too? Had SHE stolen HIS Fluffsies and was now grumpy like Argyle because she no finds him too? Toddles big round eyes narrowed as he crawled more quickly over studentsies feetsies and pointed one of his long elf fingers towards her with a sudden change of elfsie heart. Toddles must find Fluffsies on his own! Studentsies would only wants to keepsy Fluffsies because Fluffsies was too cute to ever EVER part with! "Missus shall not take Toddles' Fluffsies!"

Natalie was glad to see her friend, too. She had lucked out to find such good friends in her own house. She gave Vita a good squish before giving her personal space back, but there was some definite beaming going on. "I'm glad YOU are here. I like seeing your face." You know, and the rest of her. And being in her presence. Vita was a good person and a good friend and and over all a comfortable person to be around.

When Vita whispered and gestured to the first year on the floor, Natalie shot a quick glance at the girl who was baring her teeth as a threatening gesture. Uhhh... "Yeah, I'm not... gonna deal with that." Perhaps it was her job, but really, she looked quite scary.

The blue eyes of the new Prefect moved when another student joined the table and Natalie's stomach did... something when she saw it was Zach. Flipped? Sank? Jumped? Lurched? Things had been... weird, to say the least. And he was clearly ignoring her. So Natalie decided to be the better person, sat up a little taller so he could see her badge perfectly and greeted him.

"Hello, Zachary." Totally innocently.

She had noticed Max taking a nap on the table and wasn't really surprised - his lack of enthusiasm for the job (at least compared to her own level of enthusiasm) had made her come to conclusion that he probably wasn't going to be the BEST role model. But again, he was better than Flynn Kowalski. Much better.

Watching their interaction, Natalie caught Max's eye after he noticed the first year on the floor and then gave HER that LOOK. What did that mean??? SHE wasn't going to deal with her. She looked like scary little first year. So she just gave Max a whole face wrinkle that said 'Heck no.'

And THEN she noticed a new face (Torii). There were lots of new faces of course, because of the first years, but this girl was definitely not a first year. Now this was something that Natalie could handle as a prefect. Perking up when she arrived at the table, Natalie waved at her a bit to try and get her attention, then offered her a smile. "Hi there."

Yes, hi, hello.

Then, Liam, her twin brother arrived. Her best friend. She beamed when he finally joined them, wondering what had taken so long for him to arrive at the table. She saw him sit next to Cam, who was next to Max, which meant they were all in a close distance from each other, so she reached under the table with her foot to nudge his (hoping it was actually his). That was her way of saying hello.

She didn't have time to greet him anyway, because Natalie suddenly heard the voice of one of the house elves talking about... Fluffsies? Blinking and looking around, Natalie looked for a short bald thing with big ears, but she couldn't find one. But wait a minute, it sounded like he was... under the table?

Ducking down, Natalie spotted the house elf just as he was approaching the grumpy first year. What on earth was he talking about???

"Umm, Toddles...? Are you okay?"

Bettie getting really hungry and some what tired she had enough of the girl sitting on the floor. She just seeing if she need help. What ever she tried. Time to find a seat. The speech and food should be soon.
Bettie jingled her way to the other end of the table and sat down.

The student body hadn't been seated long, but it was starting to feel like an eternity to the solemn brunette. The speeches always took too bloody long, even though it was the last opening school speech she’d hear. Her ears were over it and her stomach was throwing a tantrum. The train ride had been very....interesting, and all she wanted to do was have some food and sleep off the weirdness of the day. Hopefully, there would be no more pillow incidents today, she didn’t think she could handle it.

While perusing new faces, a strange sight met her acid green eyes. Of course, it was bloody Hogwarts so if it wasn’t a strange start she’d be concerned. Still, it looked like a fluffy pink squeak toy over at the bird box.....The senior snakette was debating if the little squeak toy was here to consume the souls of children. Pretty sure that there would be some blue denizens getting eaten alien style before this thing was done. Why? Because it was Hogwarts and 6 out of 7 of her years here had some dramatic life imperiling ordeal. It simply wouldn’t be this bloody establishment if there wasn’t a disaster.....she just hadn’t anticipated that it’d be pink....and so fluffy.

Oooh hi, Liam.

Cameron grinned at him and reached over to squeeze his hand when he sat down next to him. Yes, they'd just seen each other on the train and all but still. "I saved you a seat." Sort of. Nobody had tried to sit down yet but Cam would have defended it WITH HIS LIFE. Or something like that.

His attention was caught by Nat talking to someone under the table again and, after leaning back and taking a look, he realized that the feisty little girl was NOT the only one under the table anymore. Apparently it was the place to be. At least for first years and house elves.

Also what was a fluffsies?

Before he got a chance to ask, the new Headmaster stood up, however and gave his speech. Lot of new staff. Hmm. His eyes wandered over to the staff dais, taking in each new professor when the Headmaster introduced them. Okay. This was going to be an interesting term for sure. Cam was looking forward to some new professors, to be honest, some more competent ones. And less bootcamp-y.

When the speech was over, he spotted Zoryn casually getting up and walking over to the Ravenclaw table. Okay. He had promised her to help with this and they were teammates after all. They had each other's backs and all that. "Oh, food! Finally!" Cam exclaimed, standing up and reaaaaaching over to get some chicken while casually and inconspicuously dumping the contents of a small vial filled with a love-at-first-sight potion into the pumpkin juice.

Now, he just needed an excuse to go over to the Hufflepuffs..."Bel!" He was being way too loud, wasn't he? He was NOT good at this at all. But be that as it may, Cameron was OFF to go say HELLO to his FRIEND. Nothing more.

Skyler peeked over at the staff table. She saw a different head master, which made her even more scared. What was this year going to bring? Not trusting any professors, not going to be trusting the new head master either nope nope.

Patrick smiled at Skyler she looked at little uneasy to come back to Hogwarts. He couldn’t blame anyone this year for not wanting to come back. It had been wild every year since he had been there. He wanted her to be at ease, “yeah. I had a great summer. Spent a lot of it playing baseball and quidditch. What about you?” he tried to keel his voice calm as to not scare her off.


Patrick tried to contain his laughter at the two girls who had tried to interact with Odaline. He never understood why people tried to push those who didn’t want to interact... not everyone is a social butterfly.


Patrick watched the girl join the table and figured since she looked closer in age to him he’d introduce himself. He wondered how she ended up at Hogwarts. “Good train ride? Also, welcome to Slytherin.” he blushed cause there was no easy way to ask the next question. ”what year are you in? Oh I’m Patrick by the way.” his southern accent coming out as he had spent his last two weeks of summer in the states with his grandparents.


Patrick’s eyes followed his housemates movements wondering what he was doing. He wasn’t so sure he liked their running around the tables like the we’re up to something. He kept them in his sights as he took a sip of the pumpkin juice before placing it back on the table unsure of what they were doing. He felt a little tingly wondering if the house elves had changed the pumpkin juice recipe or not he shrugged and kept eating.

After all that with the sorting hat and finding a spot at the table and listening to the Headmaster talk. FINALLY Igor could eat. He was having a good time just watching how everyone interacted or well the prefects looked alright. Everyone else he would just have to get to know. And guess her name was uh wait he forgot it already. But Odaline was just as weird. So ...that's all he had on that.

Was the house elf, ok?

Seemed like it was looking for something. Or was he lost at this table. He had no idea

Weird...but he was finally going to eat now. He piled his plate high with food and well started drinking some pumpkin juice laced with the love potion watching Oda trying to hide at the end of the table

♥__♥

He got out of his seat and made his way over to Odaline and sat down right in front of her. Nothing else mattered right now.

"Your eyes are beautiful!"