Lewis looked at her. He was kinda annoyed at being called ickle , but he gleamed with pride when she said he has guts. He loved being praised.

When she smirked though , Lewis didn't know if he wanted to pursue the topic.But he had too..."Umm...What happened last year?"he asked nervously.

Taylor silently chuckled at him gleaming with pride when she said he has guts. Her smirk grew a little as he took the bait. "Well... I dont know how much the public knows about this and how much will be hidden so you didnt hear it from me, kid." She bent down a little so that she could get close to his ear as she whispered, "Dementors raided the school and even killed at least one person, someone messed with the ice-cream to make everyone really really happy until we had to eat the antidote which made everyone depressed. Professor Lafay, the potions mistress, made a student hug a burning plant. It was dusty and you had to pay every time you wanted to eat or sleep and you had to wash your own dishes... and the dishes were solo cups, sporks, and Styrofoam plates. There wasnt much to drink besides water too..." She pulled away and straighten up, glancing at the kid to see what he would do or say... everything she had told him was true about the last term but whether or not he would believe it would be up to him.

Lewis didn't know whether to believe her or not. Hogwarts doesn't sound like a place that would let dementors into the school. And it certainly doesn't sound like a place where people could die. "Are you serious?" he asked her. He was certain , she was only trying to trick him , because he was 'an ickle firstie'. He knew that Hogwarts was a good place and she told him lies.

Taylor looked at him, "100% serious." She smiled at him. "Well... actually I think the groundkeeper didnt totally die... though he did have a worst fate than death... I mean the dementors did suck out all of his soul and left him... well..." She made the 'cookoo' sign. "Though everything else I said is true." Tay nodded, remembering the awful term. "If ya dont believe, I dare ya to ask about the groundkeeper." She smirked and laughed, wondering if he would or not.

Lewis gulped. He felt sorry for the groundkeeper...But then Taylor laughed. Lewis did not see what was funny about a groundkeeper loosing his mind. That could've happened to anyone....But he had no intention of asking the groundkeeper whether this story was true or not. Lewis already believed her."But...did the dementors attack any of the students?" he asked her.

Taylor shrugged, "I imagine so... I mean they did attack at one of the annual events... and I do believe some of the students did get attacked by them..." Tay trailed off for dramatic effect then finished with, "But I dont think anyone died or worse... got their souls taken... I mean the professors jumped in front of all of us with their patronus... but... if you want to be safe just in case..." She smiled at the boy, "Work on your patronus... and carry around chocolate, of course, because everyone knows that is the cure for the dementor blues." At that, she took out a candy bar and held it out to the boy. "Just in case you might run into a dementor or two in Diagon Alley, ya know?" Which wasn't likely, but eh, oh well the boy looked like he needed chocolate... and eh, it would be fun to see his reaction...

Lewis turned pale. A dementor in Diagon Alley? He didn't really want to go to Hogwarts anymore...Dementors attacking students? That sounded really scary...Lewis imagined 3 dementors just gliding towards him...UGH!! He quickly snatched the bar of Taylor."T-T-Thanks..." he stuttered. He was freaked out now..."And...are the d-dementors still at Hogwarts?"

She held her smile at how scared and paled he got. Tay silently chuckled at how quickly he got the chocolate out of her hands. Taylor shrugged, "Who knows... they may or may not be... I mean no one is around it seems during the summer so they probably left because of hunger..." She paused, "Though, they could just as easily come back... I doubt it though." Tay waved off the worry, "Most likely there wont be any..." Taylor loved how easily the firstie got scared.

Lewis wasn't convinced. He tried to say something but just wasn't able to. He thought about the dementors and just shuddered at the thought.It must've been scary..."Were you scared , Taylor?" he asked.

Taylor shrugged, "Eh, not really... I mean I have my patronus perfected..." Which she would have shown him right then and there, if it wasnt the fact that her birthday came at the end of the year so she was 16 right now and not 17. She looked at him, "Dont worry, kid. The professors will protect the students if there will be any." She ruffled his hair, teasing him.

He looked up at her and grinned. "If you say so , Taylor" he said. He hoped that the professors knew what they were doing though. But if they were teaching they probably did. He sighed in relief. Hogwarts will be safe afterall. He completely forgot about his mother , who was supposed to go after him in the Floo , and she still wasn't here. Ah well... What can you do...

Taylor gave one last glance at the fireplace before her scroll which was in her hand earlier, flew up and unrolled at her eye level. Tay read the message and sighed, rolling it back up after writing a message on it. "Well, kid, since my friend apparently cancelled on me and since your mother hasnt appeared and since I really have nothing else to do beside shop for school supplies right now, would you care to join me so you wouldnt be alone in the alley? Since it is dangerous for kids your age to be alone, regardless if there are any dementors out there or not..."

Lewis looked at the fireplace , expecting his mother to appear out of thin air and then sighed. His parents wouldn't be happy if they saw him walking around with a stranger , but Lewis seemed to like Taylor , even after all those scary stories she told him about Hogwarts. "Emmm...okay then." he said excitedly.

Shall we continue onto the shop?
 

Tay smiled as he sounded excited and nodded, gesturing towards the courtyard area, "The way into the alley is through the courtyard." She smiled at him, "What shop shall we go to first?" Taylor made sure the scroll was in her pocket and that her cloak was tied tightly enough. Tay left her hood down, since it was nice weather outside. Taylor turned and started to walk toward the courtyard after gesturing for Lewis to follow her. She kept an ear out for his answer to which shop though.

Lewis looked at her and said "How about Madam Malkin's?" he asked her cheerfully. He was happy that he wasn't going alone.He followed her towards the courtyard.

Leonard walked through the flames of the fireplace, the green tongues vanishing instantly. He wiped the ash off himself and out of his hair, he was going shopping alone this year. His parents had just split up, Dad back in America, his mom starting a new job. So he was doing this alone.

His backpack on his back and the coins in his pocket, he didn't really know where to start at all, never having been to Diagon Alley before. Hmm. He looked up and saw the girl there in front of him. "Sorry if i got any ash on you, i didn't mean to." He was a little shy, new people were well, just that and he had become far too used to his television and books, the people in those were never mean to him or judge mental so he had learned to rely on them.

Melek glance at the boy who spoke to her. "Oh you didnt get any ash on me." She smiled at him, liking how kind he was. "I am Melek... but I get called Mel a lot..." Mel held out her hand to him with a smile. "Are you going to Hogwarts as well? I am transferring there but I am going to be a third year... but Im kinda new to this place..." She blushed, "I'm from Turkey... are you from around here?" She tilted her head and looked at the guy before hopping in place.

Leonard grinned. "Oh, good.." He moved out of the way of the fireplace, holding his backpack close to himself. He would hate to lose something in a new place.

"Nice to meet you, Melek. I'm Leonard, but you could just call me Leo." He shook her hand and nodded at the question. "Yeah, i'm transferring as well. From Salem in America. My Mom and i just moved here, so i'm kinda lost.." He said and looked at the little map his grandmother made him.

Mel smiled at him. She liked him. He was nice... very nice which made Melek happy. She eyed his backpack. "That is such a good idea! Why didnt I think of that?" Mel gestured to the bag, "I mean it is going to be such a hassle to carry all the supplies without one." Melek gave herself a facepalm then laughed.

"It is nice to meet you too, Leo..." She smiled at him, "You could just call me Mel... if ya want... you dont have to add the Lek part if ya dont want." Melek beamed at him, "A fellow transfer? Yay! That makes me feel so much better." Mel nodded a few times and smiled at him. "Oh you are from Salem in America? What is America like? Is it true that Americans killed witches and wizards in Salem or is that just a story that people tell to scare their kids into behaving?" She looked up at him, curious. "You are lost? I am too! High five!" She held up her hand and laughed. Mel smiled at him though. Melek glanced at the map, "You got one? That is yet another good idea that i didnt think of..." She blushed.

Marcus knew he'd be arriving into the infamous 'Leaky Cauldron', the twenty-two year old remembered his parents talking about it once. Something about the best food or something. He wasn't quite sure, he always got confused whenever he used the floo network. He stepped out of the fire and saw the busy shop, filled with mostly adults, but a few young children hung around their parents. The wind hit him like a brick, and swept the dirt away. He quickly decided to get some food and then he'd be gone to find a new store. Maybe he should rent a room for a night, before he tried finding his old friend.

For LOUISA. and those other two boys eventually? hehe
 

*anticipates wicked EXCITEMENT* :D
 

London was good to her so far.

Louisa appeared after the green flames dispersed in one of the neat fireplaces. She stepped out and allowed herself a small smile since there was no one around to see that childish smile.

Joao's car keys were safely pocketed in her shorts, her wand in the holster at her waist.

Today was when she was supposed to return that extravagant car, aside from getting it muddy and filthy, Louisa was pretty proud she didn't wreck his outrageously expensive toy.

She took a moment to fix herself a good stern, diplomat look before heading for the door.

And the fires delivered.

Aspen was inconspicuous, but quick to slip her boots down and slip around the room to meet The Former and Flammable Head Girl. Aspen stepped right into her path.

Clearly, Louisa wasn't leaving without going through Aspen first. The first and only thing she offered to the new arrival was a slow.... wicked.... grin.