It’s not like Nina wanted to be a prefect. Why would she want that kind of distinction? It probably didn’t make a huge difference on a CV and surely universities didn’t care that much about the title. Besides, not being a prefect meant she had more time to spend with Calyx. It also meant she could focus on her studies—privately, of course. Despite how “prestigious” everyone else thought the position to be, Nina Castillo did not care for that kind of attention. She!!! Did!!! Not!!! Want!!! To!!! Be!!! A!!! Prefect!!!!

Not at all!!!!!!

Which meant there was a perfectly good explanation as to why she was standing a few paces behind the prefects’ compartment and it had absolutely nothing to do with wanting to find out who had received a badge. AND!!! It most definitely had NOTHING to do with the fact that she wanted to know who was chosen over her. That would be preposterous because she didn’t care about having a title. She didn’t want the badge!!!! She diDN’T!

There was an actual explanation that had nothing to do with any of that stuff! And she was coming up with it.... right now, actually.

Strong and confident fifth year though Carsyn appeared to be, she was also extremely nervous. Yes she had managed to sway some transfer girl into trying the unusual flavors over the mundane, but did that mean she was going to make a good prefect? Also, she really wanted to know who her co-prefect would be. She knew it wasn't Cole or Eli, since she showed them her badge and then felt guilty about it when they didn't have one. She also knew her sister had a matching one, but in yellow.

What she didn't expect to see by the prefect's compartment was one Nina Castillo. No. They did NOT make her prefect? Yes she knew Slytherin needed one, but Nina could NOT NOT NOT NOTTTTTTT be prefect. The girl with zero personality. The clingy girl. The girl who nearly knocked her over. The girl who swapped saliva with her crush. And yet there she was standing there, watching, with that judgy scowl across her expression. What did Calyx even see in her anyway??? What did Nina Castillo have that Carsyn did not???

Not a prefect badge pinned to her shirt, as Carsyn did, that was for certain. Wait. Unless.... was Calyx her co-prefect??? Is that why Nina was waiting like that??

"Can I help you with something?" She was going to take the high road here and be all nice. MMHMMMMMM. At least for the moment.

Entering the train this year really was a bitter sweet moment for Ewan this year. He’d spent many a day thinking about returning to Hogwarts and now this year, he was finally returning, only to ride on the train without a lot of his friends. Sure, he’d see them as he patrolled the corridors but it wouldn’t quite be the same. When he’d returned to Canada after spending a few days with his friends this summer, the letter had already been waiting for him and boy did it knock him for six at first. If it wasn’t for his Aunt and Uncle, he may have even sent it back with a letter saying that they’d made a mistake but after lengthy conversations with them both, he finally decided to keep it.

As he entered the first carriage, he was met by what he guessed was two of his fellow prefects (Nina and Carsyn).
With a grin on his face and a somewhat unfamiliar confidence, he greeted them both “Hey Nina, Carsyn, you girls have a good summer?” Walking past the prefect’s door, he slid it open and turned back to face them both, “You girls coming in? Or are you going to stand out here like a bunch of flobberworms” holding the door open for both of them to enter like the little gentleman that he was. Truth be told, he couldn’t wait to grab one of the window seats to keep an eye out for Beth but he obviously wouldn’t ignore his fellow prefect’s too. He knew they had to walk the corridors and have a brief start-of-term meeting but that wouldn’t take all of the journey, surely?

It’s not like having a title would make much of a difference. It was quite likely that Eloise still wouldn’t listen. Karlin would likely laugh and Céline would never take her seriously. And having to do late night rounds would take away from time that could be spent practicing for Astronomy exams. Being a prefect was obviously the last thing Nina wanted to be. Obviously!!!!

And for the record, that judgy scowl she wore was just her resting face and had nothing to do with the absolute shock and confusion that manifested in her head when she saw the badge pinned to Carsyn’s robes. Actually, Nina practiced a lot of self restraint. For example, in this moment none of her thoughts were positive ones and yet she wore a very pleasant smile to greet the girl.

But only because Nina Castillo would not be bested.

......... Her smile faltered for only a moment before she replaced it with an even sweeter one. ”No thank you, I’m waiting for Calyx. My boyfriend.” Which.... wasn’t entirely a lie. She did plan to meet with him... eventually.

Fortunately, the tension was.... somewhat interrupted when a third person joined their party. Nina turned with interest and mild jealousy to see... Ewan? EWAN? Ewan over Nina???? He was an.... interesting pick. Personally, she would have never chosen him, he wasn’t entirely remarkable. Far less ambitious and academically motivated than she was. He was cute though and friendly enough, so Nina gave him a small smile. ”Mine was incredible, how was yours, Ewan?” She didn’t even look over at Carsyn, entirely skipping the girl’s turn to answer because Nina was still very annoyed. And jealous.

..... But the exchange itself wasn’t entirely unpleasant UNTIL he called them flobberworms!! That’s when Nina’s disgust ultimately made it onto her face. Ew! Gross! But because she was far more mature than he was, obviously, she didn’t call him names in response. So grown up. Nina deserved to be a prefect, honestly. Not thAT SHE WANTED TO BE ONE!!!! ”Oh no thank you, I just told Carsyn that I’m here to meet someone.” The front of the train was a perfectly reasonable place to do that.

Did she have to go and rub in the fact that Calyx was her boyfriend? Who was Carsyn kidding actually, because this was Nina so probably yes. Mostly because it was one of the few things that Nina had that she didn't. THANK GOODNESS though for the arrival of a third person - Ewan? Not her co-prefect, but a prefect which from the looks of things, more than Nina could say about herself. Except, did he have to go and call them a bunch of flobberworms? Surely they deserved to be equated to something smarter than that like a ... a ... bowtruckle.

"Great summer, yes, thank you. Full of surprises." Carsyn carefully enunciated even though she was talking to Ewan, to make sure that Nina heard because that scowl said enough. "Yea, I'll be in there in a moment. Just waiting on my sister." Mmhm, it sounded believable at least. Where was Carys anyway? It was hardly believable that they really came from the same location when she had made it onto train first. Giving Nina a look, she shook her head, "You mean no thank you because you didn't get a badge." Just pointing out the obvious here, because if she had gotten one, Carsyn was ninety percent certain that Nina was the sort who would already be wearing it, as she was.

Oh, maybe everything wasn’t all rosy and cheerful outside the prefect’s compartment after all…Despite the fact he’d aced basically all of his O.W.L’s, Ewan really wasn’t the best at reading a room so the fact that he actually noticed that something wasn’t quite right must have meant that something must have happened between these two. Watching the two girls for a moment, his head going back and forth as if he were watching a tennis match, he couldn’t help but notice their friendly faces. What was it with girls and having to always win? Part of him really wanted to blurt out that the front of the train wasn’t the best place to meet someone but what did he know, maybe Calyx was a prefect too? “Nice! Mine was pretty good too actually. I mean, I did better than expected on my O.W. L’s so I can’t really complain” Maybe some exam talk would help distract them? He didn’t really fancy having to whip his wand out on his first official day as a prefect to separate two other prefects another prefect from someone else.

“Surprises? All good I hope?” his face full of nothing but concern and a little polite curiosity now as he wondered if anything this summer had happened between these two? His eyes briefly going to the door, half expecting Carys to walk through at any moment. That was until Carsyn just demolished Nina with what could only be described as a burn that would need some medical attention from the Hogwarts nurse. Taking a step back from the door towards the two girls now just in case he needed to get in the middle of them, he replied “Oh, you’re not a prefect Nina?” his eyes actually looking for the badge for the first time now, Duh, she wasn’t wearing one silly so of course she wasn’t a prefect. “Don’t worry, I don’t think you’re going to miss much. You’re more than welcome to patrol the corridors instead of me though if you want?” laughing a little now in an attempt to break the ice and most likely failing but he had to try.

A train back to Hogwarts was something that Jillian looked forward to. Beauxbaton, last year was great and all (despite the major ugly things that happened) but Hogwarts was a home she enjoyed more. Not even Beauxbaton's fancy China can make her switch schools. Her summer went by a blur amidst her internship and all that baking in her kitchen, she's wondering if she even had time to breathe. Plus she felt ecstatic about the Prefect badge despite acting all nonchalant about it in front of her father.

As she bid her dad goodbye, she found herself walking towards the prefects' compartment. She hasn't been in this area before nor have really walked by it so when she finally had the opportunity to do so felt surreal. It wasn't a long walk too and she heard it was a nice place since most of the compartments are crowded except for this one. She took a small deep breath whilst listening to the voices she can hear on the other side of this door. It was audible enough for her to recognize familiar voices.

Opening the compartment she was surprised at whatever the situation is going on: she spotted Nina, Carsyn and Ewan having a conversation but it wasn't all smiles, Jillian noticed this. She quietly invited herself in and walked towards to the nearest window seat and she thought it was cool that Nina made prefect too?? That's cool if they have 2 girl prefects for Slytherin. "Hello, guys" she said setting her bag down. "What's going on here?" she had to ask casually. There seem to be tension around this room that much she can tell.

Surprisingly, Carys had hung back for a while once her sister had gotten onto the Express. Mostly out of nerves, but there had also been a few last minute warnings said by their mum along with a few friends she’d seen and felt like greeting. Her badge hidden inside her bag for the time being, as there was still plenty of time to put it on once she’d gotten onto the train itself. Not that she thought it was necessary to wear it in order to get into the prefects’ compartment for the meeting she’d been told would happen. She just didn’t feel like dealing with the attention until she absolutely had to. Obviously Carsyn knew she’d gotten one of the Hufflepuff badges, just as she knew she’d see her sister in the compartment as soon as she’d gotten there.

She couldn’t stall forever, though, as she very much wanted to get back to Hogwarts even with the terrifying events she’d experienced there. Mostly Scrimgeour’s reign. She had high hopes that things were going to be better, along with another little wish that they’d finally get Quidditch back so she wouldn’t have to keep up her U-17 practice on her own. Plus, she’d wanted to get on the house team forever now. Therefore, after one last goodbye for her parents, she’d slipped onto the train with Gwydion in tow, pinning her badge to her shirt once she reached the corridor to the front and the prefects’ compartment.

One thing she’d not expected at all was the tension as she’d reached said compartment. “Hi everyone,” she said simply, curious about the presence of the two Slytherin girls. It was entirely possible that both Jillian and Nina could have gotten badges, since she remembered it happening only a couple terms ago with her sister’s house, but then Nina didn’t have a badge on so…not that she minded except for the tension in the room, as she slipped into an open seat and took her sketchbook out as her cat curled up by her feet. She’d just sketch until things got figured out.

Nina continued to smile politely at Ewan. ”That’s great,” and more than she could say about her own exams. The E she had received nearly ruined her entire life. She looked over at Carsyn Rose as the girl spoke. Her sister? They were both made prefects? Nina truly didn’t have anything to do with any of this information, aside from marinate in her own bitterness (which, she was very much doing).

... She hadn’t been scowling before, but she was certainly scowling now. Carsyn Rose was nothing but rude. There was no need for the snide comment because Nina didn’t want to be a prefect!!! She decided to ignore the girl (after rolling her eyes of course) and turned to Ewan instead. ”No, but I hardly have any time as it is. Being a prefect would not suit my schedule.” She tossed her hair behind her shoulder, glancing over at Carsyn ever-so-politely. ”No thank you,” why would she want to do patrols on the train? ”Like I said, I’m waiting for my boyfriend. We planned to meet at the front of the train.”

And then she saw Jillian. Their new Slytherin prefect. Nina had never minded the girl much. But still!! Carys wasn’t a surprise either. She gave both girls a polite smile, but otherwise didn’t say anything else.

Missa was still a little in denial as she made her way to the prefect's compartment - five years and she had walked past the place without giving it a glance, especially the year before when she had NOT been chosen for the job and instead Nettie had been. It had hurt. And jealousy had been quite the thing. However, a part of her that was not in denial at all, was super proud of herself - and definitely curious. Because why did the school want them both to be Ravenclaw prefects this term? Was Nettie unable to do things on her own? Or were they simply trying to increase vigilance because they were going back to Hogwarts and needed extra eyes?

Whatever the reason may be - she was HERE. The badge pinned on the front of her robes, the girl slid open the compartment door - and smiled at the small crowd there - registering a moment later who all she was smiling at.

Wait, Nina was prefect?????? Her eyes quickly travelled to the front of the girl's robes and nope - the badge wasn't there. Also, Nettie wasn't there.

What?

"Hello" she found herself greeting the lot, before quickly scanning who all had the badge on. Everyone except Nina. Well then. "the prefects are supposed to meet here first, right?" she asked - casually trying to confirm who all were indeed prefects.

And just like that, the train was full as more people turned up to the prefect’s carriage (Jillian and Carys). Greeting them all with smiles and nods, he turned back to Nina briefly, “Thanks, I mean, it was a little bit of a surprise but I guess the sorting hat knew what it was doing after all” grinning at her now. He wasn’t sure if he really belonged there at the beginning of his first year at Hogwarts but now, now it was home, part of him. Maybe becoming a prefect was a reward for that? He really didn’t know. “Don’t worry, I didn’t expect you to say yes. I don’t mind patrolling the halls and all but I just hope it doesn’t take all of the train journey” He did want to spend some time with Beth after all. Maybe they could find a compartment on their own? One could dream.

“Hey Missa, you haven’t missed the meeting yet. We’re just uhh…” pausing for a second for a moment now, he turned and looked around at Nina and Carsyn before finishing his sentence, unsure of exactly what was going on “We’re just waiting for a few more people to join us before we start” They couldn’t start whilst still missing people and, despite him not actually minding Nina being here, she wasn’t exactly a prefect so she couldn’t take part in the meeting. “I think we’re still waiting for the head boys and girls too…”.

Hate hate hate hATE HATE!

Lucas HATED this, did he mention that? Sure, there was a part of him that was flattered that Sandhu thought he was fit for the job, and even more flattered when his mum started telling him how proud she was. But an even bigger part of him was simply filled with anxiety about the whole thing. The badge, the stress, the responsibilities. He didn't want it. He didn't want any of it.

And yet, here he was.

Badge pinned to his chest and the letter from Sandhu tucked away in his pocket, the Gryffindor reluctantly made his way towards the Prefect's compartment. He was trying to look as small as possible and avoid as much eye contact as he could, which proved to be a lot more difficult than he thought it would be. It came as a bit of a relief - a bit! - to finally reach the compartment and-

...........

Oh. Uh??

Lucas paused by the door, his green eyes flicking from person to person. There were a lot of familiar faces here - some faces he was happier to see more than others - but he couldn't help but feel as though he had just walked in on something he shouldn't have. Or interrupted a very serious conversation just by standing there. It was probably because of this that he asked before he could stop himself, "Uh, I'm not disturbing anything, am I?"

Pause.

"I mean, hey!" Smile.

If anyone thought that Gunnar would be hanging around the prefects' compartment the majority of the train ride, then they were very much mistaken. Sure, he would make his appearance and conduct a quick meeting for the other prefects - speaking of, who were the new prefects? The seventh year knew that there were probably going to be quite a few new ones, but he wasn't given a list or anything and he had no idea who they were. And that was kind of annoying. He didn't even know who the Head Girl was going to be.

But he knew he was a good prefect, and he would be a good Head Boy. He would do his job, but then he planned on sitting with his... well, his someone, for at least some of the ride.

Once he boarded the train, with his Head Boy badge pinned to his robes, Gunnar headed towards the prefects' compartment. It would be his first time being there, since they rode the carriages to Beauxbatons last term, but he knew where it was - or at least walked with an air of confidence that suggested he did. And his eyes landed on a small group just outside the compartment as he approached, soon noting who they were as he got closer, unaware (and certainly not caring!) about any drama that might be going on between them.

"Hey, Nina," he greeted his housemate with a small smile. Was she a prefect this year? A quick glance at her robes told him that she was not... unless she just hadn't pinned her badge to them yet, which he doubted was the case. "Ewan... and... hello." He gave a nod to the Ravenclaw, and... well, at least he greeted the Gryffindors. Their names escaped him, but he supposed he would learn them soon enough.

"Come on, prefects," he prompted to the three still in the doorway as he stepped past them into the compartment. "Let's have our meeting so we can get on with things." He was not a fan of beating around the bush. "Hey, everyone," the seventh year greeted the rest of the girls inside the compartment, his eyes falling on each of them as he mentally counted. Jillian, Eiji's girlfriend Melissa, and the other twin - the quiet one. Another name he'd need to learn.

"Who's missing?" he asked the collective as he took a seat among them. Clearly they'd have to wait till they were all here because he wasn't going to repeat anything he needed to say.

Chloe was not at all thrilled right now, it wasn't that she wasn't happy going back to school and seeing all her friends, no, that wasn't the problem. She was very excited to see everyone and jump back into classes and of course quidditch, they better have quidditch at least. She was not happy because her vision board was all wrong. All her life plans had been foiled before she was even 17. Being top of her class by first year, nope she failed at that. Being Quidditch Captain by the time she was a fifth year... nope she wasn't that either, win U17 championships every summer... they had the worst losing season this summer that she had ever dealt with, so now what did she have? She was dumped, a loser, a nobody, AND NOW HER BAG WAS MISSING!

Moving quickly to the only person she thought of that might know where it was she wanted to quickly find Gunnar and then get back out. It wasn't that she wasn't excited for all her badged friends, but she was a little jealous and she didn't want that to show at all because that would make her a horrible friend and Chloe could not stand being a horrible friend, no she loved being supportive and happy, so this was not something she would say or show.

...... but why were there so many people?

"Ummm... hi everyone"

Was all the prefects here? Nina wasn't a prefect though... so maybe there was a party going on or something. Her eyes scanned the compartment until she found exactly who she was looking for. "Gunnar, you didn't have to see my purple bag, did you? I can't find it anywhere. Mum didn't take it back home with her did she?"

The idle chatter between Ewan and Nina about OWLs gave Carsyn the unfriendly reminder that she had those to contend with this term as well. Ugh. And unlike ordinary class homework, OWLs were not something she could just copy off of Mark Gunter. She nodded however at Ewan, "Mostly good surprises, including this, of course," she indicated to the badge.

Uh huhhhh ... sureeee Nina Castillo. Hardly anytime. That basically just sounded like a load of bollock that Carsyn could bet her bottoms that Nina made up in effort to make herself feel better. And yes she noticed the girl smugly ignoring her and addressing Ewan which meant time to move on. Especially as she had to had to rudely state my boyfriend again, rubbing it in Carsyn's face.

Just in the knick of time, Jillian and Carys appeared, allowing Carsyn to shift her attention onto the two newcomers. "Jillian, hey!" She beamed at the new Slytherin Prefect. Thank goodness to see her as prefect, rather than clingy girl with zero personality. "Just waiting for all the prefects to show up, for our meeting," mmhm. Nothing much really. Other than Nina rubbing it in her face that she had a boyfriend. But that wasn't important.

"It's going to be fine," she whispered fervently to her sister, even though she'd basically been trying to convince her of that since they received their letters. But her sister still seemed anxious.

Wait. Missa Renaldi was wearing a prefect's badge? But wasn't .... where was Trinetta? Carsyn stared a moment in confusion upon seeing the older Ravenclaw girl whom she'd partnered with a couple times in lessons before. Surely Ravenclaw wouldn't have three prefects, since Ewan was already present with one badge, but then ..... ?? "Hey Missa, congrats, yes here first guess to discuss our rounds or something" So uh, guess she'd learn soon enough about Nettie, perhaps? Also if she had a choice, her rounds partner was definitely going to be Carys.

Speaking of partners, it seemed her fellow Gryffindor Prefect had made his arrival and why she hadn't guessed him when she knew it wasn't Eli or Cole was beyond her. Also he looked just as uncomfortable and anxious as her sister. "Uh, why would you be disturbing something, Lucas?" she smiled warmly at her fellow fifth year Gryffindor. Considering unlike some people *coughNinacough*, he had a badge.

How did she forget that being prefect also meant she would be sharing the compartment for at least the initial part of the train ride with a certain McCarthy? Who happened to have a badge change. Just when she thought he couldn't get more attractive, apparently that head boy badge made him even more appealing than the prefect badge. Also, everyone? Nina got a name-mention and she didn't even have a badge. But no matter though, because she moved quickly into the compartment because no sense in standing outside anymore since everyone seemed to be here and took a seat right next to Gunnar, her knee bumping against his. "Carsyn, Carsyn Rose" she stated her name to him, to remind him. Actually, can she be his rounds partner, please?

Oops. Carsyn chewed lightly on her lower lip at the presence of Gunnar's younger sister, feeling awkward about the knee touching now and moved it away a little. Wait, she ... Missa was Ravenclaw girl prefect and possibly Nettie still? So ... oh, she was just here to ask about her bag. Huh, okay then. "Hey Chloe," she greeted back

There is some tea going on between Nina and Carsyn for sure but Jillian doesn't know if it's because Nina has a boyfriend OR because Carsyn is a prefect, whatever it is Jillian find it to be comical. She's betting it's the boyfriend because no one says 'my boyfriend' in so many sentences combined. She redirected her attention to Carsyn upon greeting "Hi Carsyn" she greeted back. Just when she was about to ask where and how Carys was, she appeared behind her. "Hello Carys" she greeted the fifth year Hufflepuff prefect. Oh that's nice. The twins are both prefect. "How was your summer?" she asked them both.

The next to walk in was the pretty girl from Ravenclaw... Missa right? She recognized her as Eiji's girlfriend. So does this mean Trinetta is no longer a prefect? She gave a polite smile, Jillian was shy to talk to her.... hmmm, Jillian was just overall shy to people she's not yet acquainted with. So hopefully that changes this term, yes?

Speaking of acquaintance, Jillian smiled when Lucas came in. "Hello, Lucas" greeting him politely. He wanted to ask about Lucas' vacation when head boy Gunnar entered the compartment. Jillian spent her internship days at the Ministry of Magic with Gunnar and Tari. He enjoyed playing with the puppies a lot.

"I think this is everyone...?" she replied to him. She did a head count a few seconds ago: Lucas, Carsyn, Ewan, Missa, her, Gunnar and Carys... except for Nina?? everyone is here and now they can finally start.

...... There were many things that were agitating the young Slytherin at this particular moment. One being the way Carsyn Rose addressed her. The second being the amount Ewan spoke. Tbh??? Nina had tuned him out after the first few words, having quickly realized that he never said much of substance. The third thing, however, was the most agitating of all. It was the way everyone who walked by looked at her robes up and down to find a badge, before looking at her a certain way because she didn’t have one. It was absolutely humiliating.

She did put on a smile for Lucas though, they had spent the summer together and she had decided he was alright (despite being constantly nervous). Gunnar also received a smile and a “Hello.” She noticed his badge immediately and smile a little wider. ”Congratulations.”

And then she turned back to Carsyn and Ewan. ”I’m going to find a compartment, if Calyx comes by, let him know I’m not too far away.” And with that she turned around and began walking off.

Despite his usual friendliness, which was always on show, he was starting to get a little short tempered. Sure, it may surprise some people but at this point, the newly appointed prefect didn’t care all that much. He just wanted to have this meeting and go do his job so he could talk to people who actually wanted to be around him, unlike some of the people who were here/leaving *Cough* Nina *Cough*. Still, he was at least glad that Chloe was here, memories of their summer escapades flashing through his mind as he greeted her with a friendly smile and wave. He’d have to remember to go and see her before the end of the train journey. If she still needed help with her bag then he could always help with that too.

“Well I’m glad you had a good summer. This was a surprise for me too” which was 100% true. After last years snub, he really didn’t expect this but after Nettie didn’t return as a prefect, he was glad they seemed to choose him as a successor. Something that would be hard to do but something he’d work hard to do.

“Don’t worry Lucas, you’re just in time. Just come on in” giving Lucas a small smile now. He knew exactly how nerve racking it could be to walk into a room full of people like that.

Well at least Gunnar had finally turned up. Eventually. Giving him a small nod as a greeting, he turned back to the group in general “Well, if they’re not here then they’re obviously late. Let’s just start”. If they were late then that was on them.

"No, we're still waiting for the Head Girl," Gunnar replied to Jillian when she had suggested everyone was there. He had his own guesses on who that might be, given who the prefects were last term and who was already present in the compartment. But at least that was all that they were waiting for as it seemed everyone else was accounted for.

And it seemed whatever had been going on outside was now at an end as Nina was leaving and some of the others were heading into the compartment. Gunnar had appreciated his housemates congratulations, giving her a smile in return, but he'd catch up to her later maybe. In their common room. Their actual common room that wasn't a broom closet.

"Carsyn, right," Gunnar nodded, actually appreciating that she reminded him so he wasn't completely blanking on the names of some of the new prefects. And he tried to commit that to memory. The talkative twin was Carsyn and the quiet one was.... well, he'd make it a point to know soon enough. But he casually shifted his knee away from Carsyn because no thank you and he looked up at Ewan and then at Chloe as she entered as well, his eyes going back to Ewan, raising an eyebrow at the boy's words addressed to the entire group.

"That's not how this works," he told him, wondering just why the other boy seemed to think he was taking charge. That was up to him, the Head Boy, Gunnar McCarthy, and not to brand new first year prefects. And he'd be happy to nip anything contrary to that in the bud. "Relax. No one is actually late yet. I'll get started when I'm ready." Which, to be honest, was right now. No one was more eager than him to get on with things, but he would be the one to decide that and not told to. And he would be waiting for the Head Girl. The rest of them could chill for a few minutes, even have a conversation.

He turned his eyes back to his sister, giving her a smile. "Hey, Chloe, what's up?" Oh. Her bag. The seventh year paused a moment, trying to remember if he had seen it. "I saw you with it on the platform..." And then after that he didn't know. "Did you check in the luggage compartment to see if it got mixed in with our stuff? Or ask Morgan?" Though he doubted their younger brother would be much help in that respect. "I can help you look for it in a little bit though.... do you want to stay?" He knew she was having a rough go of things lately and wouldn't mind if she needed his support and sit with him a little while.

But now that they were all here, he actually did want to get this meeting started.

There were some answers he expected in response to his question but the one Carsyn gave was completely unexpected. Why would he be disturbing something? Uh?? How was he supposed to answer this without stating the obvious and being awkward about it? "Uh, it felt that way. Didn’t want to interrupt something important, you know?" he shrugged, giving her a smile in return.

Someone else who got a smile was Nina, who was only slightly less intimidating than she looked. Slightly. Something he found out while working with her over the summer and trying to solve chamber issues in the Department of Mysteries. He’d been worried initially, because both her and Mackenzie seemed like the no-nonsense type, but she wasn’t that bad and was.....

....... leaving?

Uh, wasn’t she a prefect? Shouldn’t she be in the meeting? He hadn’t really looked for the sign of a badge so he didn’t really know but that was why she was here in the first place, right?

Lucas didn’t really talk to Ewan much but he appreciated the Ravenclaw’s answer, all the same. Maybe it was because of the reassurance, because sometimes, he needed it. Especially when he was surrounded by some new faces and faced with a new situation and new responsibilities that-

Right. Ewan. "Thanks, Ewan," he said, offering the guy a smile in return.

Following the Ravenclaw’s and the Head Boy’s words, he stepped into the compartment and immediately made his way to sit next to the person he was probably the most comfortable around between everyone in here. "Hey, Jillian!" He had questions, of course he did, but before he could do anything other than open his mouth, someone else arrived.

His green eyes briefly looked up at the person (Chloe) who was standing by the door and asking questions to Gunnar, the Head Boy, before deciding to give them, uh, a bit of privacy by looking away. He was going to concentrate on something else, instead. Like.......

........ the other Prefects? Yeah.

Now that he wasn’t concentrating on the ~ tension ~, it was finally dawning on Lucas that Carsyn was his partner. Prefect partner. That is, if they had to partner up for duties based on houses. It was something he didn’t know how to feel about but he was glad that if he had to work with someone, at least he would be working with someone he was familiar with.

Though, something told him that she’d probably want to partner up with her sister, Carys, who was also a prefect. That was for the better, right? Less awkwardness around the family dinner table? Yeah. He offered her a smile as a way of saying hello, and a slightly awkward one went to that Missa girl because he didn’t really know her at all.

Could they get this meeting started? He wanted to leave already.

She was being ridiculous asking her brother for help when he had his new badge and more important things going on. She was stupid for even being in the area she had no business being in. Plus some of the quidditch captains were already coming in, yep Chloe needed to get the hell out of there.

She tried to ignore the knee touching Carysn was doing, but she did want to slap the girl for touching her brother. She knew Gunnar would not be okay with this and the girl needed to respect some boundaries. "Hi, congrats by the way." She was being rude not saying that to others.


Hearing Nina head away she thought maybe she should do the same. Her eyes did narrow when she noticed the sharpness Gunnar had just given Ewan. He had just stated the obvious, so she wasn't sure why Gunnar would get so defensive.

She shook her head, "It wasn't there and I haven't been able to find Morgan yet. I'll just keep looking and maybe catch up with you later." She didn't want to interrupt anymore. Her eyes scanning the area again feeling more and more weird about being in there.

She turned and gave Ewan a quick hug, "You are going to do great Louie." Giving Lucas a smile, 'Congrats on the badge" and she gave a wave to her brother, "Catch you later and if you see my bag please just put it with your stuff." Her diary was in there and she really didn't want people to find it and read it.

Gunnar, the grouch, was headboy, of course. Thankfully, Missa had anticipated it. So the sixteen year old offered him a polite smile as he entered, and opted for a seat by the window - totally willing to forget any awkward encounters with him.

She also smiled back at Lucas - along with Carsyn, Ewan, Jillian, "thanks guys, Congratulations to you all too"

Polite and proper, and totally keeping unnecessary sass in check, she then looked at Gunnar again, "I think we are all here. Lets start? Don't think we should delay patrolling the corridors and raining on people's parade for long" She added with a small grin. Because she was joking of course, and totally not thinking about her own parade that Gunnar had once rained on.

Ewan honestly couldn’t actually remember a time where he’d had a positive interaction with Gunnar and today really wasn’t going to be any different. Biting his tongue now, he just stood there, ignoring the head boy for the moment before he said something that they’d both end up regretting, choosing instead to focus on his sister (Chloe). “Thanks Cookie, I hope you've packed your hat” winking at her now. “If you need a hand looking for your bag, I can give you a hand while I’m making my rounds?” He was going to be walking around the train anyway so why not keep an eye out for her luggage while he was doing that too.

Being a prefect really was a big deal to Ewan so if there was ever anything he could do to help someone else then he’d do it. Case and point, Lucas. Sure, he didn’t exactly know him all that well but it was never too late to make a friend. Besides, he was just being honest, Lucas hadn’t missed a thing. “No problem man”.

Stepping into the compartment, he took a seat close by to the rest of the prefects and waited for his lord highness, Gunnar, to finally start the meeting, only minutes after Ewan had suggested that they start.

If Gunnar noticed the way his sister's eyes narrowed at him, he did not acknowledge that at all. He knew she was good friends with Ewan and probably did not care for the way he put him in his place, but that's the way it was. His tone might have been firm, but it was calm and wasn't sharp as far as he was concerned. The fact of the matter was that he was in charge and the prefects needed to know that. Otherwise he would have difficulty keeping control and the whole system would be in danger of falling apart. Nope, he would not have that. He needed order.

And that was partly why he ignored the female Ravenclaw prefect in favor of keeping his attention on Chloe. Again, he would start the meeting when he was good and ready and not at the prompting of someone who had been a prefect for all of five minutes. Which by the way, was pretty much all of them. But truth be told, he actually appreciated it when someone could take his attitude with a grain of salt and return the banter without getting offended. Not that he would admit that to her anytime soon.

Okay, so Chloe's bag wasn't with the collective McCarthy's things in the luggage compartment, and even if she did find Morgan, he doubted that it was with him. "Alright, well... I'll help you look for it later, if you don't find it. But I will keep my eye out for it." He gave her a reassuring smile and lifted his hand in a casual sort of wave as she turned to leave. "Or try mirroring Mum. She might be home and can tell you if she has it." Which might save them some time. Unless her mirror was in her purple bag, then she'd have to wait for Gunnar to be done in here since his was in his trunk and he had protective charms on his things to keep people out.

"See you later, Chloe." Once his sister was gone, Gunnar stretched and then got up to close the door before facing all of the prefects. The meeting could officially start now.

"Welcome, everyone, and congratulations!" he began giving the prefect team an assertive smile. "Most of our team this term is made up of brand new prefects, and it's only natural that you might have questions or be unsure about something, but that's okay. I want you all to remember this - your Heads of House chose you because they thought you were a capable leader and a good peer advocate for your housemates. So even if you may have some self-doubt about being chosen as a prefect, remember that they saw those qualities in you." He never had that self-doubt, knowing that he was a strong candidate for prefect, but he knew some people did.

"Being a prefect is a privilege and it definitely has its perks, but it also comes with its share of responsibilities. Remember that it's important to uphold the rules and making sure students are following them, though it's really not necessary to police them." There was sometimes a fine line there. "And remember, we're not above the rules either." Looking at you, Miss Renaldi.

"But as it's my last year here, I'm really looking forward to a great term," he added with a grin. "If you ever have any questions or just need some advice, I'm here for you as your Head Boy. I know you're all going to do a fantastic job." Well. He expected it, really. "You should all get your first patrol schedules tomorrow along with your class schedules, and don't worry. We'll have regular meetings." Since some of them seemed so focused on that. What else...?

"As for the train patrols, we'll take turns in groups of two. The Ravenclaw prefects can take the first shift, since they're so eager." He gave them a wry smile before returning to his seat. He'd hang out for a little bit if they had any questions or anything.