Josette noticed she was there was a bit of a pep in her step as she approached closer to him. She could feel her heart begin to pace rapidly the moment she caught sight of that smile & it only quickened more the moment he wrapped his arms around her. Her arms immediately wrapped about him in response bringing herself closer to his frame. In the process of doing that, she felt Sebastian hop off of her shoulder & onto her trolley where he sat on top of her luggage.

She looked up at him with still smiling & noticed him scan the area. He then had asked if she had come by herself. Josie took a scan of the platform herself & sighed running her fingers through her hair. "I-I wasn't alone when I arrived here." She shrugged a little bit. "M-My father was with me at the entrance..And I turned around..t-then he was gone.."

....Or was he?

“Disappear?” Well, that’s weird. “Was he...always like that?” he asked, wondering what the man was thinking. His daughter’s about to leave for Hogwarts one last time, and he’s gone missing. Ethan got the hunch that the man can’t be trusted. Why, why would he do that to Josie? To his own daughter? With his arms still wrapped around her waist, Ethan thanked the heavens that he didn’t kiss Josie right away. Overprotective parent must be somewhere, hiding in the shadows yeah? But he ought to make himself known now, because Josie was in a signature Ethan hug of some sort. Did that remind her of the blanket incident? Ethan bit his lower lip at the memory and instead, kissed her forehead.

“I’m going to miss seeing you everyday, Jo.” He whispered as he rested his forehead to hers. He didn’t want to leave, now that things are...sort of official between them, but just like the rest of the senior students in school, she must go and close her final Hogwarts chapter, just like what he did last term.

Disappear was the better term. Josie had to think about to that when Ethan had asked if her father was always like that. She took a moment before she nodded slowly, "I-I suppose so? But h-he's only done it when he's been upset by something. Most times he's closes himself i-in his study at home.." Perhaps he had just done that again? Or was he lurking from a distance...still watching her. Was that his way of trying to find out that she was secretly seeing a boy without his knowledge?

She couldn't make sense of it, but it seemed as if she was soon becoming to not really mind that her father was here at the current moment because she knew that he would certainly have something to say about Ethan having his arms around her. And not to mention, she had really become accustomed to liking his arms being around her like a sort of protective blanket, like he had done over summer. She felt his lips on her forehead and she couldn't help but smile warmly at his gentle touch.

Hearing his words made her insides hurt at the thought of not seeing him every day. "I-I'm going to miss you." His whole presence made her feel a number of things on the inside & she truly cared for him. Why couldn't they have been this way sooner? This time she bit her lip as his forehead rested against hers. It was now her this time who really wanted to kiss him, regardless of her father possibly watching or not. Especially since she wasn't going to have the opportunity to do that at school the whole year, so she at least wanted one kiss before she left him. Josie slowly lifted her hand to caress his face staring into his eyes. She took a moment before slowly standing up on her toes until so that she might reach his lips better. And that was the moment she softly connected their lips for a gentle kiss.

Much better.

Teddy was still in two minds about whether to be excited or upset about going back to Hogwarts. Excited because of everything he would be able to see again, but upset at leaving his parents again. They had already left, and he was in the middle of concentrating on his anxiety. He just needed a little bit of quiet away from anyone before he boarded the train that would be taking him far away from his family...

Ethan shook his head, not understanding the man one bit. If he’s upset...then why hide? Sure, confrontations may not be his thing, but...hiding just makes things worse. “Is he...upset now? Is that what you’re trying to say?” Ethan asked, trying his best to connect the dots. Josie hasn’t told him the whole story yet since...well, she’s as confused as he is.

The former Slytherin sighed as he closed his eyes and enjoyed his moment with the girl he loves. He should have made a move sooner, because if he did...then his time right now with Josie won’t be bittersweet. He hated the feeling, but what can he do? Ethan could hear Mordred telling him to be careful, but...he just can’t right now. He’s being a reckless 18 year old, and he didn’t care. SO WHAT if overprotective daddy-o showed up? What mattered to him was the present...and he’s just have to deal with the consequences later. "Promise me you'll stay safe in school, okay? If something weird is happening, let me know right away." Like...please, no more giant spiders? Because he won't be there to fetch her from the Ravenclaw tower down to the Great Hall.

With his eyes still closed, he could feel Josie’s hand cupping his face. Ethan could feel the tingling sensation run down his spine. He embraced the wonderful feeling. The former Slytherin did not expect Josie’s next move. Ethan caught her by the waist...and gently kissed her back. Clearly, he was winning and loved every second of it.

Azura had already left her parents behind and she had dried her tears from her purple eyes.. She wasn't going to cry anymore! She was going to be brave and go to Hogwarts!

She sort of had friends! At least she had people she talked to.. Jace, Torie, Blaise, Owen...

Yes! She was at least going to have people to talk to! She wasn't going to be alone!! She bit her lip a little as she looked around and she could see an older couple snogging!!

Her purple eyes went wide as she quickly averted her eyes.. but the distraction had proven enough to throw her balance and she tripped right over her cart and landed smack dab on her face!

"Owwwwwwwww." She muttered softly as she pushed upwards.. Merlin! Not again!!

Teddy was half way through his routine of de-anxiety-ing himself, when an angel fell on her face... quite near him actually. Well, no, not an angel exactly. She was just a girl. "Are you okay?" Teddy asked, walking up to her and leaning down to offer her a hand. That surprised him, but... service called for him to be a man and help a woman out.

Of course she would fall in front of a boy! Some of her most spectacular falls had been in front of boys! What was with her and her luck lately? Why couldn't she meet people normally?

Azura dark head rose up at the sound of the male voice and she slowly nodded. She wasn't going to say that her nose hurt like crazy, Nope! "Yes I'm okay." She said as she took his hand, and slowly got up.

"Thank you." She said softly as she gingerly put her fingers up to her nose to make sure it wasn't bleeding.. Though.. she did feel something wet, and she pulled away red stained fingers!

Flying Fwoopers! A bloody nose.. in front of a boy? She was doomed forever wasn't she? She thankfully pulled out a hanky and pushed it up to her nose.. trying to play it off like it wasn't a big deal.

"Thanks again. I'm Azura by the way." Sparkling purple eyes were turned towards the boy.. trying to make it seem like she was all right.

Teddy was glad he was able to help her, after taking a nasty fall. But one look at her face had Teddy's own in a state of alarm. His eyes were wide as saucers, and his mouth was set in a hard line. He could smell the blood, he just knew he could. "Um... I- You- nose... here," he stuttered, pulling a clean cotton handkerchief out of his pocket. "It's clean. My mother gave me some clean ones. No... boogers on this one."

He just said boogers in front of a girl?

"Azura. That's a nice name. Hi, I'm Teddy." He was glad she hadn't offered a hand. He didn't want to touch a sticky, bloody hand. No offence Azura.

Uh oh... Azura had caught the boys look as he saw her nose and she bit her lip a little bit.. Great.. just great.

"Thanks." She said softly as she took the handkerchief and pressed it up to her nose. It didn't feel that bad, so perhaps it wasn't broken? She pinched her nose a bit, even though it hurt to get the blood to stop!

"It's nice to meet you Teddy." Azura got out as she pulled the handkerchief away from her nose.. she turned her head away from him for a moment, so he couldn't see the blood and she nodded, it looked like it was stopping.

"I'm sorry about this. She said softly as she motioned to her nose. She could just leave?

Teddy was glad to see Azure cleaning her nose and the blood. It wasn't... disasterous. At least he didn't think so. He gave a smile as she said thanks.

"It's nice to meet you too. Azure." He stood there, not sure what to say. He wasn't going to leave her alone though, not after she had taken a tumble. And it had taken his mind off saying goodbye to his parents, which was a positive.

"Oh... th-that's okay. N-not really your fault... what... what happened though?" Did she trip over something? Or.. was she always a little bit clumbsy? His older sister was clumbsy.

Hope walked around the station. She wasn't quite ready to leave yet. She missed her cousin something fierce and wished she was here with her.

Where are you Noelle Hope thought as she walked around the place. She spotted an empty bench and sat down. pulling her luggage with her. She wondered where everyone was at.

She opened her bag and rummaged through it until she found what she was looking for, her bag of brownies. Taking a bite she physically moaned. This was a great brownie. She needed to pat herself on the back for a job well done. But then it brought back memories of her and Noelle baking cookies and other goodies together. Immediately putting her mood back into the dumps. She nibbled at the brownie as she watched the people around her.

Azura felt like maybe since the blood was going away, Teddy was better? She hoped so! She never liked to make anyone uncomfortable, especially since it was because of her own clumsiness!

She smiled a bit as he said he was nice to meet her.. and she bit her lip. "Is this your first year at Hogwarts?" She asked him, hoping to take his mind off of what he had just seen! And the blood! Her nose was still killing her.. but as long as she could keep her self steady and there wasn't any blood, she would be okay!

She hoped!

"Oh.. uhh." She bit her lip a little as he asked what had happened.. "I uh..well there was an older couple snogging.. and so I looked away really quick and then well.. I tripped over my cart." Her face was bright red as she spoke and she started to wind some of her hair around her finger..

"That's what happened."

From the looks of it, Ethan wasn't too pleased to her that her father had disappeared without a word. She wished she could helped Ethan to understand her father more, but it truthfully was difficult. What easier way was there to describe to Ethan that although he was ever-watchful of her & strict for his reasons, that he was a good man? She looked up at him & blinked before shaking her head, "I'm h-honestly not sure..."

She continued to watch as he sighed & closed his eyes. Josie just continued to admire his face silently as they stood so close to one another. The seventeen year old wanted to make sure that she remembered every inch & detail of his face in her mind while they were separated from each other for the next year. His cheeks, his cute nose, his eyes, his hair, his lips...even his ears! Everything was worth remembering. Just as she was finishing her mental note of his face, he began to speak again asking her to stay safe this term & to let him know right away of anything weird. Although, she can't fully guarantee that seeing as to how she has no control over what goes wrong in the castle or what could possibly break into the castle again, she did at least nod in response. "I promise." And she meant it, she certainly would let him know if something were to happen, although she would have let him know regardless even if Ethan hadn't said it just now.

The kiss was sweet & she fully enjoyed it very much. Josie remembered once more how soft his lips were & this moment alone was something she truly did not want to end. She could have continued to kiss him, that was until she heard-

"Josette."

She felt her heart jump & her eyes shot open. Knowing immediately whose voice that belonged to, she broke away from Ethan's lips & her eyes looked behind Ethan to see her father standing there. He stood no more than a few feet away from the pair. Josie could feel her face turning white at the mere shock & surprise of seeing him stand there. How long had he been standing there? The entire time? Before the kiss? After the kiss? Better yet where did he come from? Josie blinked & just stared for a few moments before realizing what she was doing then shook her head to gather her thoughts. "F-Father-I thought y-you-"

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back standing very regal. Although, he did not dress as if he were someone with all the fortunes of the world, you could certainly tell that he was someone with plenty of knowledge to act as such especially by the way he presented himself. Or maybe it was that he had been raised by a wealthy benefactor to teach him the ways of someone with a proper title?

His face seemed relaxed & oddly pleasant. Speaking in an assertive, yet gentle tone with a very strong French accent, "Zere you are love, sought I'd lost you." A kind smile, that showed his true beauty & manly features, was soon show on his face. He hadn't even taken his eyes off of Josette as he stood there. Taking a step closer towards her trolley was when you could clearly see his towering stature over them. "You'd forgotten one of your books, can't forget zat now can we?" His piercing blue eyes still focused on her as he placed the book with her things.

..

Not even asking he spoke once more, "And zis-" His gaze finally breaking from Josette to look at this unknown boy standing so close to his daughter. Taking two steps forward, he extended a hand out towards the boy introducing himself, "Gérard." Although his eyes might have seemed to look through your soul & make you want to cower away, there was a still a smile on his face. He came across as the most perfect gentleman, yet there was something off with him, but if there were any kind of imperfection about him you'd have a very difficult time figuring that out.

Because he was the most the perfect gentleman.

Even if he wasn’t close to his own father, Ethan knows his dad’s reasons why he’s distant. He understood the man, and he helps him be, by minding his own business...and just speak whenever spoken too. Of course, he would love to have a good conversation with his dad, but being the busy man that he is, Aldred couldn’t be bothered. This...made Ethan turn to his cousin most of the time, or to good older friends, such as Professor Cosgrach. Ethan has accepted the fact that his father will not be a father to him anytime soon, but that’s okay. He was sure that he’s not the only one who has got that issue anyway. Perhaps, others have a worse situation. “I would like to meet him some time, Jo. I’m seeing you now, and...I’d like to let him know personally that I’m dating his daughter.” He was an honest young man, after all. Even without the guidance of a father, he grew up with the ways of a Mordaunt man, all thanks to Mordred.

Ethan doesn’t need to remember her features. Josie’s face is pretty much part of his long time memory now. Instead of looking at her, he took the opportunity to enjoy the moment of being so close. Being able to breathe her in and feel her. It was something that he won’t be able to do in a whole year, because he’s going to have a very busy schedule, as well as Josie. NEWT year and all.

He wanted the kiss to go on forever of course, but all good things must come to an end somehow, but not necessarily as unexpected as this one. Ethan opened his eyes as soon as Josie pulled away from him, and heard the voice. The former Slytherin took note of Josie’s colour turning pale, as she did so.

It looked like he was going to get his wish after all.

Ethan smoothly turned to face the man squarely; his jaws clenched trying to assess the situation. He or he may not have seen what happened based on his actions, so he was going to keep on looking and not make a sound. Surprisingly, he wasn’t as flustered as he expected he’d be. He was naturally calm, exuding the confidence and charm of a Mordaunt pureblood. Perhaps, it was his defence mechanism all along? He noted the man’s accent...and he was surprised that he didn’t sound like an English man at all.

Still with a calm expression, Ethan has a hunch that this man is not to be trusted. “Oh you will lose her, alright.” He said to himself, swallowing the bile in his mouth and biting his tongue in the process. He can’t make a sound. He can’t butt in unless spoken too, that, he was fully aware. He has enough experience with his father, especially his grandfather when it comes to such business as this.

Breathing in, Ethan pulled back his shoulders, and expanded his chest as he prepared himself to introduce himself to the man. All along, he made eye contact with him, watching his every move while not backing away from Josie. He was going to face him like a true Mordaunt man. “Ethan Mordaunt, monsieur.” He said with perfect confidence, and shook the man’s hand firmly. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” Finally.

If this man meant business, Ethan was more than welcome to tackle it once and for all.

The older man's lips thinned into a straight line, if his features were not so handsome it would have been an ugly grimace. As it was, his eyes were dark and serious as he took in the young man standing too close to his Josie. With only a brief flicker of acknowledgment, a nod of his head at the boy, he turned back to his daughter. All of his attention solely focused on her now, "I sought you were going to ze train, dear. I was looking for you zere. You know how I feel about you....wandering off." They had several conversations, disagreements over the summer about her flippant and flighty behavior.

Josette watched as his whole demeanor changed & she could feel the embarrassment as he was beginning to show his nature, especially in front of Ethan. She tried to defend herself without arguing with her father by saying, "B-But father I didn't wander off, y-you had disappeared & I thought you h-had left. I didn't see you-"

His serious face contorted into something nasty then and snapped, "I told you, Josette, zat if you argued with me again you would not be returning to school."

He was aware of the audience. His hands were shaking with the urge to explode on his daughter, yell at her insolence, but he restrained himself. Instead he turned to the boy and said with great authority, "If you'll excuse me, boy, I need to speak with my daughter. Zis is private, family business." Meaning this Ethan character needed to leave and if he wasn't catching the drift he would spell it out for him.

Ethan felt irrationally angry that moment he saw the man’s smile. It wasn’t a smile. It was arrogance. He’d know one when he sees one, because of his family. The young man was able to tone down his feelings, reminding himself that things won’t be in his favour if he put his impatience and hot-headedness first. Nothing will come out of it, because this man won’t even listen to him. If the man had given him a smile, Ethan did not return it. Instead, he kept his features calm, his breathing even.

The former Slytherin stood his ground, and watched the father and daughter exchange words. With eyes like a hawk, he took notice of the man’s hand...the shift in his expression. Right then and there, Ethan could smell his anger. Why, he’s not sure. The fair-haired young man could not see any logic behind Gerard’s ill temper. While listening carefully to the conversation, Ethan slowly procured a decent sized bounded book with his NEWT revisions in it. He had meant to give it to Josie, to wish her well in her exams, plus...there was a present inside, hidden in the book’s inner back cover. He will hold on it for now.

Ethan blinked, when he was acknowledged again, this time, being pushed away gently, so Gerard could speak to his daughter. The former Slytherin has a bad feeling about it, thus, clearing his throat to let Gerard know that he won’t cower away from him. He will face him dead on.

“I do respect the privacy, monsieur. But I believe I have something to do with this. I am the reason why Josette hasn’t boarded the train yet.” Ethan would do anything for Josie to get on that damned train to Hogwarts. He felt she was safer there.

The former Slytherin looked at Josie, hoping she’d ride along the conversation. He will be her screen, so she could get to the platform and board the train. She simply must get to school now.

To his great surprise & disgust the boy, that Ethan fellow, continued speaking after he dismissed him. He was grating his patience & very quickly at that. It was borderline rude this boy's sudden apparent dominance in the conversation. He did not know him, he did not like him & he wished to speak to his daughter alone. Whoever raised this child had not taught him to hold his tongue, a trait that up until recently Josette excelled in. Looking this boy up & down he was beginning to understand her sudden change in character. And with a sudden snap in judgement, he decided that he was done with this boy & his involvement with his daughter.

Which he would get into later with her (the involvement part) when they returned home. No school. Not for her. Not this term. It was time for them to leave.

His smiled morphed into the sneer hidden beneath. "What a rude insolent boy. I assure you whatever relationship," that word came out like daggers with the intention to cut his down daughter down, "you zink you have with my daughter, it does not give you ze authority to stick your nose into our business. Now move along. Don't make a scene." That was addressed to this Ethan boy and his daughter.

Her eye were fixated on her father this entire time & all she could just do was just stare at him with a look of sadness with an underlying sign of anger. He was being completely unreasonable & she knew that he knew that. But he was the most stubborn of men & that was the frustrating part about him (among other things of course).

She could feel her insides churning with a mixture of emotions as her father addressed Ethan as if he meant nothing at all to him, which hurt her the most. He would never understand just how wonderful he was to her & she knew that he would never want to hear it. She stood close to Ethan & waited for her father's harsh words to the both of them were over.

"H-He's not just a r-rude i-insolent boy!"

She blinked at her sudden outburst before she looked to the floor & took a deep breath. To her surprise, she shook her head slowly in response to her father's demand. Lifting her head slowly she soon made eye contact with her father once again before she spoke slowly, "F-Father, I'm very sorry..And I love y-you..But," she hesitated for the next few moments, looking at Ethan as if for reassurance before she looked back at her father, "I-I'm not going h-home with you," pausing again momentarily before finishing with, "I-I'm going to s-school..."

None of the man’s words had gone through his being. Not when his own father has been ruder than this man. Ethan was very much used to this, to the point that he wanted to literally wave him off. Without even a second thought, a small smirk graced his young face. “Thank you then, for at least acknowledging my relationship with your daughter.” He said. Ethan could feel that he was bordering irrational anger again. He wanted to hit this man in the face. The former Slytherin was just a few steps away from not acknowledging him as Josie’s father. Even if his own father was worse than him, even if he didn’t care, he was at least concerned about Ethan’s future, thus sending him into a good school, and work his way around from there.

Ethan however, blinked, and almost dropped his jaw when Josie defied her father. Never did he imagine Josie to do such thing. The former Slytherin quickly stepped in between Josie and Gerard, and looked at the man straight in the eye. His eyes must’ve turned a darker shade of blue, all the friendliness gone from his face. “If I have to make a scene to get Josie to Hogwarts, I will.” He said with a threatening voice. “She has to finish school so she doesn’t have to have a meaningless job after.” Obviously, Ethan wanted some words out of this man. The former Slytherin took advantage of his anger so Gerard would, hopefully, tell them his true intentions. Ethan wanted to know why he’s being selfish. He wanted to know why Josie can’t go to Hogwarts.

Ethan took a step back, and handed his revision notes to Josie. “My revision notes, Jo. This should help you ace your NEWTs.” He said over his shoulder without taking his eyes off Gerard. “Get to the Platform. Quickly.” He said in a rushed murmur.

She needed to escape now. Taking a quick glance at the clock, Ethan knew that the train has already arrived.