As far as feasts went, this one wasn't the worst. She could appreciate that. There was no food she'd been accused of rotting. There hadn't been another dramatic takeover of the school. She wasn't miserable. She was kinda okay. And for Ashley Calder Fox, 'kinda okay' would have to suffice. Sure she was homesick, and her favorite professors(except for Kazmi, who'd probably leave soon anyway) were all gone. And there were new professors to replace them, and she might not like them. But Ash was currently pretending that she had never missed a single person in her life. Not her family, not the graduated students, and certainly not any professors. That made this feast a whole lot easier.

Ash took a seat at the Ravenclaw table, tapping her fingers on the table and waiting for the speech to happen so she could eat.

Fourth year already. Sometimes he was still shocked he'd made it back again after his second year, but also was grateful that he had. He felt a lot more at peace coming into the great hall, perhaps not excited like his first term, but at least not dreading it. He'd finally taken care of some things and had some conversations he'd needed to have over summer. No, he did not get his best friend back, but after everything that hadn't been his goal. He was just glad she had a home now and certainly hoped Ilvermony treated her well.

Making his way to the table, Evan could spot Ash and chose to make his way over to slide into a seat next to her. "Hey." This term was going to be good, better than the last few. He was uncharacteristically optimistic, for both of them. "How was the rest of your summer?"

What had been a weird summer was turning into an even weirder start of the year. Cece was emo, mum and dad were emo, and Sammy was, admittedly, also emo. But his reasons had more to do with changes. The changes in friendships, the changes in routines, the changes in his own emotions that he couldn't hide from. And it was only as he entered the Great Hall that he became a LOT more aware of it.

Mum cuddles would be nice right now.

Or Amabel kisses. But they were nice whenever.

The fourth year made his way towards the Ravenclaw table, silently hoping for some familiar faces to distract him. Luckily for him, there were two. Sammy veered towards Ash and Evan, instinctively smiling as he approached them. "Hey, guys," he said, sitting down opposite them, "How's your summer been? Up to anything fun?"

Speaking of distractions, when was the food coming? He was starving!

The train ride to Hogwarts had been anything but quiet. She preferred her train rides to be exciting and busy because it made the time pass by really, really quickly.

It had started out with a run in with Nemesis Upstead and Lucky (the Kneazle). Lisa had found intriguing and had made a note to ask Headmaster Trent about a particular lesson involving kelpies. She ought to write to her brother, Simon, about it too because he was here during that time. Then she realized that Pascal had run off so she had to find him. So then she had spent a good hour searching for Pascal before running into Jasper and Alfie, then Daniel, Stewie (too, of course), and then Lia. It had been an eventful train ride and she had hoped for some time with Jasper buuuuut that was okay. What she had to tell him could wait. Maybe. Hopefully she wouldn’t burst because of it. The weirdness she was feeling did make her tummy do weird flippy things.

“Hello friends! Ash, Brother, Housemate,” she said, greeting each of them individually before taking a seat next to Sammy (“Housemate”). “Good summer!” Lisa then raised an eyebrow when she noticed Evan’s demeanor was brighter than usual. “Something good happen on the train?”

Ilya waltzed into the hall with his perfectly ironed robes, deep brown satchel, and glowing turquoise hair (he did it on purpose this time!). He had it turquoise for the entire train trip, again on purpose, and felt it would make a grand entrance if as he settled on the Ravenclaw benches it faded back to blonde.

Yes, he truly believed all eyes were on him everywhere he went. He didn't care about the truth haters saying otherwise.

"Evening fellas, last time expecting an old person's speech before dinner, am I right?" Oh wait. He was literally the only seventh year here yet...

Although he was not a sociable person, Max did not mind attending the start-of-term feast. For one thing, unlike the previous year, he did not have to stand in front of hundreds of older students to try on an ugly hat. He took the empty seat next to Lisa, glad to see a familiar face after the long summer. Then he realised that he had unintentionally also placed himself near some of the popular older kids. He blinked, and smiled a bit awkwardly at everyone. "Hi."

So ... what were they talking about? Summer? Speech? He could give this socialising thing a try.

“You seem happy today, Evan. Sammy... long time no see. Hi Lisa!” Ash genuinely smiled. ”My summer was alright. I stopped running away from Dustin and Alex. I went to therapy. I saw my boyfriend. And... I had a tea party with stuffed animals and Devin’s family.” That was a simple summary of the GOOD parts of her summer. Y’know, the parts people wanted to hear about.

She glanced at Ilya. “I’ll never stop expecting old people giving speeches.” It was true. She had been to tons of rich people parties, and they all had speeches from old people too. At least her father wasn’t the type of guy who liked to monologue. Thank goodness.

“Hey Max.” If only she knew he thought he was hanging out with popular older students. Did he mean Sammy? Because Evan was pretty quiet usually, and she wouldn’t call herself ‘popular’ either. If anything, she was kinda unpopular in certain circles. Especially the more annoying of the pureblood circles... but that was alright. She was much more annoyed with how many good people didn’t like her. That stung. “How was your summer?”

If there was one thing that could be said about start of term feast, it always seemed to be the most talkative of the times for all the Ravenclaws. Not that they weren't for the most part civil to one another, but there was someone about being just right back into the castle again after the train ride and the sliver of excitement of seeing all your house mates, a lot of whom not over the summer.

Evan smiled at his dorm mate when Sammy made his appearance, giving a nod in hello. "Trip to Korea for me." Not for long, but it'd been really nice to spend time with his extended family that he didn't get to see very often. "And the DA celebration. What about you? What were you up to this summer?"

The next to appear was his sister, and Evan gave a soft snort at the hello's - Ash being the only one who got greeting by name. "How was the ride back? Did you like the carriages over the boats?" First term as a returning student which did mean a few things about the process were a little bit different. Hearing a question about the train, he was a little surprised and shrugged. Did he seem happier? Supposed that's what trying to be optimistic would look like on him. "The train ride was pretty normal. Ran into Jude from Hufflepuff and rode together."

An older student then joined him, and the fourth year's head swiveled when he asked if they were ready for the last speech from an old guy. "Technically that would be the close of term feast." And also, not for most of them considering the eldest at this table, outside of him, was the group of fourth years. Himself, Sammy and Ash still had quite a few terms to go before they needed to worry about that.

He didn't know the name of the other quieter student {Max}, but he looked around Lisa's age so he got a kind smile anyways. "Hey, welcome back. How was your summer?" He also would have been surprised if this boy had thought he was part of a 'popular' crowd. The only one that might have been able to apply to was Sammy, as Evan stayed pretty much to himself - well... HAD anyways, and Ash seemed convinced everyone did not like her. He knew it wasn't everyone since at least he and Lisa did, but had not really seen the evidence from other's for her claim.

Again on the happy? It was a surprise to him, but he smiled back and shrugged anyways. "Thanks." That was a compliment wasn't it? People didn't seem to like dreary and depressing. "How was therapy, Ash?"

Lisa gave Ilya a smile when he joined the table and then a confused look when he mentioned if they were all excited for hearing an old man’s speech. Wait. What. There were plenty more times when they would hear an old man’s speech. “You don’t mean to say that the Headmaster is retiring, Ilya?” she asked with eyes wide as saucers. If that were the case, she’d PROMPTLY have to go find Headmaster Trent right after the speech to ask him about the KELPIE lesson. It was MISSION CRITICAL.

OH. Hold up.

Her cheeks flushed as it all clicked.... “Oh.. Nevermind... It’s your second to last feast. Do you know what you want to do now that you’re grown up?” But seriously was Trent retiring? She needed to KNOW. Lisa looked at the rest of the growing flock and then turned her gaze to Max as he joined her. “Max! Hi!” she gave him a BIG smile. It was good to see him. Now he was someone she hadn’t seen all summer so she wanted to hear all about it. “How’s your summer? And how’s the rat?” she asked curiously. Maybe they could organize a play date for their familiars after the Feast.

Lisa smiled to at Evan. “It was different but the boats were fun!! I realize that i should have challenged Daniel to a race last year. Missed opportunity... but we get to go back over in the Boats in our seventh year, right?” she asked, tilting her head as she thought of it. She did raise both eyebrows when Evan mentioned his friend, Jude. That made perfect sense - those two were super close and always were off together. “Nice. He had a good summer too?” she asked before her eyes drifted over to the Slytherin Table. She could see Maya over there. Her sister got a smile and a pout too because she wanted her to be over here with them. Her eyes continued to wander down the table in search of Serena, V, and Ollie. OH! There was Ollie. She waved to her friend and then joined back into the conversation just in time to hear Ash talking about her summer. Dustin was a recent new fave of hers because he’d won the jersey for her (that she NEEDED to give to Jasper).. So she smiled and that smiled dropped quickly when she heard her brother’s next question.

WHAT. EVAN. WHAT THE-?!?!?!?

Did he know what HE WAS ASKING? How RUDE!!!!

“OH MY GAWD, EVAN!” she cried out, completely offended by her brother’s question. Then she quickly covered her mouth with her hand when she remembered that they were at the Start of Term feast and this was really unladlylike. And she had desperately been trying to work to be more mature or at least seem that way especially if Jasper or Aries OR V had looked over in her direction. She cleared her throat and then lowered her voice. “You can’t just ASK a LADY about her THERAPY!” .... Even if she, too, wanted to know how Ash would have answered that question.

Teddy James was dedicated to the art of living in the moment, but this evening, he couldn't combat his nostalgic thoughts. All those years ago, the six first-year Stark school kids had arrived here in the Great Hall together and been divided in pairs among three houses. Flynn and Yoyo, the Hufflepuffs, had left Hogwarts, as had Tavie, his fellow Ravenclaw. Fi and Cece were still here, which he was overwhelmingly, unquestionably grateful for, but for a fleeting moment as he headed for his own house table, he felt a sense of longing to be with the girls at the Gryffindor table. From first to seventh year, their number at Hogwarts had gone from six to three, and even though he knew Yoyo, Tavie, and Flynn were better off right now, his heart ached over the forfeiture of shared "lasts" at Hogwarts among the six of them.

Change was inevitable, he knew. All six of them had grown and changed and were thriving in their own ways, but... there was something uniquely wholesome about what they'd once had, and Teddy was anguished at the thought that they weren't all there to finish the journey they'd once started together.

But where there was loss - Merlin, they weren't dead, Teddy - there was gain. His arrival at the Ravenclaw table instantly brightened his spirits - there were faces he hadn't seen in several months, and the seventh year reunited with them like they were his own siblings. Some of them were, in a silly sort of way, having had the unique bonding experience of being in the school play with them last term. "Ash!" and "Lisa!" got his first enthusiastic greetings, then a "hey Evan!" by extension, because siblings and all, and as he stole the other empty seat besides Sammy, he wrapped both arms around Cece's not-so-kid brother in a bear hug. He loved his Ravenclaw Peter Pan friends - where were Ivy, Dahlia, and Misa? - enough to give hugs, too, but Sammy was as close to family as family could get without being blood. Or adopted, like Kiz. The Stark school kids were all like one pseudo-sibling conglomerate, barring the fact that some of them had decided to date each other at various points. Unimportant.

Nearby was the handsome-as-ever Ilya to whom Teddy gave a smile and a wave to upon catching his eye, and a younger boy whose name he'd remembered easily because it was his dad's name. "Max, hey!" Teddy liked to make himself familiar with the first years every term and had this innate big-brotherly need to look after the young ones, and it was nice to see this quiet one sitting in such close proximity to this rowdy bunch.

Upon getting reacquainted with his eagle friends, Teddy had taken a moment to scan the vicinity - looking for other familiar Ravenclaws like Quinn or Eden, as well as his dormmates Cobes and Heath. He was saving the other seat beside him for Cooper, but he'd have been pleased to find any of them joining the group. Then there was the glance back at the Gryffindor table - checking on his sisters (what was Nem doing there?) and hoping to peep the majestic mane of one Kale Trent - before giving a really good scan to the Hufflepuff table. Faye, hello? A silly boy wants to wave at you and make a funny face.

Teddy was torn from his thoughts at the outburst by Lisa and tuned back into the conversation in time to interject eagerly, "Therapy is totally normal and healthy. It's cool. I love therapy." And he DID.

”Hi Teddy!” Ash was SO impressed he knew her name AND even said hi to her. WOW. She kinda assumed he’d avoid her because of Cambridge and Kinsay, but... he was super nice to everyone. Everyone including her. She appreciated that.

Actually, she did not mind answering Evan’s question. She opened her mouth to eagerly tell him all about how her therapist encouraged her art projects and she felt much better now and how it was... and then she shut it again. Because Lisa was shouting to what felt like the whole table and they were probably all staring now and she kinda didn’t want to say anything anymore. She felt her face get hot and decided to stare very interestedly at a very interesting spot on the very interesting table. ”I- I... um... I-“ Uh. Um. Yeah, this table was very interesting. “I agree with what Teddy said.” Now could the earth like, swallow her whole or something? This was very very awkward and she was mortified. Uh. “You know what ELSE happened over the summer? I brought my... family friend... to zap-a-snitch and he was simply amazing at it. Right, Lisa? She saw it. It was crazy.” Now could they all forget whatever just happened?

Something told him it wouldn't have been allowed for Lisa and her friend to have a race with the boats, but the idea was entertaining and Evan gave a soft chuckle about it. Her question made it stop though because he realized... he had no idea what the answer was. He blinked at her a bit, a small shrug of his thin shoulders before he looked to the two Seventh years at the table, Ilya and the newly joined Teddy - who Evan had to admit was by far one of the nicest people he'd met at the school. He also thought similarly of Kinsay though, so he was assuming that must have just been a James trait. "Hi Teddy. Did you guys ride over in the boats this year too?" He remembered his manners enough to greet the older student after he had, before posing the question to both Seventh years.

At Lisa's question, he thought back to the train ride and the conversations. The day he got Pads was really the first time he'd spent any real time around Jude, and today on the Trains was the time they had most talked. But... from what he had shared it certainly sounded like it had been a good summer - so Evan went ahead and nodded in the affirmative. "Yeah, sounded like it." At that reminder too, he looked over towards the Hufflepuff table to see if he could catch Jude's eye and shoot a thumbs up his way. He'd noticed his younger sister had ended up in Hufflepuff, something that Evan imagined would have been a relief. Despite her shenanigans, or maybe because of her shenanigans, he was glad she'd been placed in the same house as him. Which also made him think of Maya, so his eyes then roamed to the Slytherin table where he could see her looking and he gave a smile and a slight wave her way, making note to go and say goodnight and check on his their other sister after the feast was over.

He jumped at the sudden shrill yell from the youngest Nam, head swiveling her direction. "What???" Ash had mentioned it, which he thought then made it fair game to ask a question. He hadn't realized it was something that shouldn't be asked about, especially since it had been from a place of caring and they talked about that stuff at home all the time given Eomma was a psychologist. One would think he would have been better well rounded because of that.

He was not.

Hearing Teddy affirm therapy was cool, but hearing Ash's get quieter and worrying maybe he had embarrassed her - Evan frowned a bit before apologizing. "I'm sorry if I offended by asking about that." Maybe he still wasn't great at conversing often, but he did consider Ash to be one of his closest friends. She was someone that was interesting to talk to, and she wasn't judgmental. These were important things to him. He took the hint to follow the subject change. "Were you all good at it?"

Then the speech happened and Evan turned his attention up towards the staff on the dais, namely their Headmaster addressing the masses. Hearing mention of a 'project' and the Board of Governor's hovering about, his face settled into a frown. Had they not learned from last term that their involvement was the opposite of helpful? He glossed over the other points that had been made, having stuck to the one thing that made him most concerned. But then speech was over, and food was on the table so he reached forward to start helping himself to whatever had been placed in front of him. "You think the Board of Governor's will be auditing all our classes?" The question was asked to the table, or at least those close enough to hear him.