Gabe heard a familiar voice calling after him, at least he assumed. He then felt the weight on his shoulder lighten. Turning his head, he saw the book girl standing there and he smiled. "Glad to see you. I tried to find you, but the big crowd of students didn't exactly help any." He smiled gently stroking Ivory's feathers. "He found me actually. I was sitting in a compartment an he came around tapping on the door...hasn't left me since. Very obedient though. He and Ivory get along quite well."

Adrianna almost dropped Ebony at the sight of the boy in front of her. "You! Oh my... I can't believe it!" she said, smiling broadly at him. Ebony, sensing Adrianna's distraction, wiggled in her hands. She released him and he skillfully flew up onto her shoulder. "Well, that's a relief, I must say. I had no clue why he flew off... in the train of all places," she said, glancing up and narrowing her eyes at her owl. Ebony cocked his head to one side, as if asking what the look was for. "Well, that is why you bought her!" she said with a smile. She looked at Ebony as the boy mentioned him being obedient. "Well... for the most part he is," she said with a crooked smile.

Right. Something to get used to, so he didn't grow up drinking any sort of juice their most beloved table had. That was certainly fine. The kid was probably more into butterbeer. Just probably. If he'd tasted it, that is. Oh, joy, butterbeer!

Just a year ago, she'd been discussing the golden liquid with Rapunzel. Kaika could start to cry at any moment if her memories continued to play tricks on her. But now it was all simply amusing. Golden liquid. Because Hufflepuff was golden. And everything involving gold was simply wonderful. Except butter.

She simply nodded to the boy when he spoke and then he turned to Curt. The ghosts did seem to be causing quite a shock to some. It was entertaining to see that weird fiery-red haired professor fainting at the sight of the Grey Lady moments ago. But it did seem quite dramatic if you asked her.

Umm, something turned the boy's attention from Curt to Kaika. And Kaika suddenly looked at him once more, "Yes, I'm Kaika, Kaika Lockhart...Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain" whoa, she was suddenly feeling the pressure it came with the title, but she was still excited about it.

"You were going to tryout?" she asked, slightly confused, "You mean, you are going to tryout, right?" that was something that needed to be clarified.

Hogwarts was her home, and in many ways it was Curts as well. He smiled slightly, it was actually pretty lonely at Curts house, come to think of it. His older 6 siblings had all graduated and were already on living their own lives; some of them had kids. “Same with me.” He said with a nod, taking a look up at the bewitched ceiling… it was definitely great to be back.

“You’ll do great, I’m sure of it.” He said in confidently, in case she was still feeling any doubts. Punzie was going to be a lot to live up to, but Kaika was more than capable. “And of course I’m trying out.” Curt laughed, “Gotta’ practice up.” He said with nod, “I talked to the coach of the Magpie’s over the summer, he said he’ll be coming to some of out games this year. Keeping me in mind as a chaser.” Curt winked, he was excited about the idea of a professioinal Quidditch career, he really, really had to be on his game this year though if he wanted to make their team.


Bit too much of a change for one day? Curt’s nodded in realization. “Ah I see. So you are muggleborn, I’m assuming?” Curt figured he was, he had never known a single wizarding kid that hadn’t heard of pumpkin juice!

This kid was a Quidditch enthusiast as well eh? Curt smiled, he had been so hyped up about Quidditch in his first year. He absolutely idolized Evan Cassells, the Quidditch captain back then. And whenever Curt made the team as a little eleven year old, he might have exploded of happiness. He gave Kaika a wry smile, being Quidditch Captain was a big deal.

Ascending from a plateful of treacle pudding, the Fat Friar drifted up above the table to hover over nearby Hufflepuffs. Stretching his arms, he greeted the students at the table jubilantly, "Good day, dear Badgers! It feels so good to be back!" The Fat Friar stretched his other limbs, more of out a centuries-old habit than a need to actually stretch any muscles. He glanced up and down the tables, "Oho! What a stupendous group of students we have here!"

Curt nearly jumped out of his seat as the Fat Friar himself emerged from the pudding. Curt made a mental note not to eat of that, even though it was perfectly fine. He sure seemed bubbly, which was definitely good. “Good day sir. It’s nice to see you.” He said with a smug grin, “What brings all of you back to Hogwarts?” Curt asked politely, with a brow raised. It was definitely nice to have them back.

He was right, though. Why wouldn't she do great? She'd had the training from Jack, Amelia and Rapunzel. Each Captain being better and tougher than the other. Surely she'd learned a few, um, a lot of plays and tricks. Everything will work out just fine.

Her face lit up even more, "Yes, you have got to try out...It's nice seeing old teammates at the Pitch" and he was an amazingly awesome player. Her eyes grew wider at the mention of the Magpie's coach, it wasn't her favorite team, Merlin knows she loved the Wasps, yet she didn't like their owner, silly Minister. "What-When-Are you serious!?" she couldn't force any question out of her. Well, this was a day full of surprises. "Oh, then you have to be the best out there, for sure" she nodded, and he had too, because tryouts were tryouts, and Quidditch was Quidditch, and if there was someone who did it better then...well...she didn't like those odds, it will be amazing to have Curt in the team again.

"Speaking of Quidditch..." as if they weren't talking about it, "...well, not so much Quidditch, but it is slightly related..." she added, starting to ramble on, "...were you aware that our Star Seeker is now a Prefect?" she said, it was still shocking to her. She couldn't possibly see Dominic as Prefect. Yet again, she never saw herself as Captain. And things have definitely changed.

And, late or not, their own ghost appeared out of thin air. For it was a ghost. "Why, hello Sir" she greeted, being this the first time she actually spoke to the ghost since she'd been in Hogwarts.

A small chuckle was let out of her mouth as he spoke again, "Of course it's a stupendous group..." she started to say, a bit smugly, "...we are all Hufflepuffs" she ended, clearly she was still proud of belonging to Hufflepuff, since day one.

Jake looked up to the staff table for a second when he saw Bunbury faint... again. This time at the sight of the Slytherin ghost... admittedly he had just flown through her twice, for no apparent reason. But still, she wasn't the drama queen he'd assumed she was in Diagon Alley. She was worse.

Someone talking to him again. "Er... yeah," Jake bit his lip. Quit doing that. "I was just worried, that some people might object to me trying out," Jake admitted. "Apparently, I'm 'not the quidditch type'." He wrinkled his nose in distaste as he said this.

"But yeah," Jake nodded. "I'll definately do my best to make it to try-outs."

Shaking his head, Jake replied. "Nope."

He could sense some general confusion coming along. "I'm either half and half or I'm a pure-blood," Jake explained. "I just grew up with my mother who kept me sheltered from the wizarding world, is all."

Jake shrugged in time with his statement as he pured out some water and took a sip.

That treacle pudding must be freezing now...

Ooh, this was the Hufflepuff ghost, so it seemed.

"Good evening, sir," the first year replied politely to the ghosts general greeting.

Penny shook her head. "No!" she said rather harsh. She just wish that Pax would just drop it. "I wanted to yell at him before I left, but I did not want to upset my mum." she told Lima.

"I have no clue." Penny said to Lima. She did not see any ghost here later term. She watched them closely. "What do you think?" she asked her.

Penny jumped when one of the ghost showed up. She watched as he drifted over the table. "Good day to you sir." she said to the ghost.

"Very nice to see you, too, young man! Very nice indeed!" The Fat Friar rubbed his belly as he watched the students engorge themselves on every food a person could ever want and a ghost would ever long for. Oh how we wished he could eat. Sigh.

"What brings us back, you asked? Well, that is a very good question! A very good question indeed! You have a perceptive mind to go to the root of the issue like that! You'll bring Hufflepuff House lots of pride by asking great questions and seeking their answers!" Oh wait. Did he just tell the boy to seek the answer to THAT particular question? That is not good advice. Trying to change the subject, the Fat Friar asked, "Did you try the roast duck? It looks delicious."

As usual, Tiger took the lead towards the Hufflepuff table. His little furry legs never staying still, he moved quickly back and forth from the shadows of the bench and to walk infront of his owner until Savannah slowed her pace; Tiger retreated under the table, knocking into a pair of feet on his way.

"Hello Mister Friar," Savannah greeted their house ghost cheerfully, smiling up at the floating figure and then back to her friends, and house mates. Ocean blue orbs scanned over the faces, as they had over the entire great hall on her walk. It was nice to be back. Really nice. "Hey guys!" Vannah added, taking a seat on the long wood bench at the large table.

Gabe held out his hands at his side as if to say of course it was him. "Well at least buying her wasn't a waste." He said grinning, of course, Ivory didn't find it so funny and nipped at his ear. "ow..." Gabe mumbled and looked at her laughing stroking her feathers. "I was joking....typical woman, getting defensive..." Continuing to stroke her feathers, he looked back at the girl. "You know.....we never introduced ourselves. I'm Gabriel...Gabriel Walker." He held out his hand to her and grinned. "I've been calling you book girl..." Suddenly Gabe was completely distracted by a ghost at the table. "Wow...it's the Fat Friar. My parents told me about him. Each house has their own ghost. Hufflepuff's is the Fat Friar, Ravenclaw is the Grey lady, Slytherin is the Bloody Baron, and Gryffindor's is Nearly Headless Nick."

"AH!" she screamed. Does ghosts always show up like this? she asked to herself. "Good night, sir. Nice to meet you!" she said with a smile

Oh, that red-haired woman was just...there wasn't actually a word. What was she going to teach them, again? Well, hopefully a subject she was good at, otherwise...disaster!

She smiled sweetly at the boy, "Nah, don't pay attention to what people say..." she started to say, but was sure to clarify something else, "...unless you make the team, in which case you have to pay attention to what I say" it might have sounded evil if someone else said it, but she was sure not to scare the boy away, "...and yes, you have got to try out, the more the merrier" or the more then the more people hurt. She still liked the first idea, though.

"You know...no one's actually the Quidditch-type" sure, Kaika was slightly taller than most girls at that age, which worked great for both Keeping or Beating, but Miranda and Emalyn were small and fierce with a quaffle. Not even Dominic was the Seeking type, considering how tall he was. So, yeah, there aren't types.

"Vannah!" Kaika pretty much yelled, it was sooooooo great to see her. Will she know where Rapunzel went to? Umm, yeah, she didn't feel to ask that at the moment. "I was just about to ask Curt where you were" true, she hadn't seen her in quite a while. Truth be told, she didn't even leave the compartment she'd chosen the way back to Hogwarts, therefore, it was very hard to find house mates.

She wasn't going to ask Vannah if she'd noticed anything new, like the way she did with Curt. She was pretty perceptive with this little, um, big, things. Surely she already knew who was the need Prefect boy, Hufflepuff's, that is.

Switching tables over to the Hufflepuff table from the Slytherin side of the Great Hall, Seth couldn’t help but wonder why the heck the ghosts were back. He knew that there were ghosts at Hogwarts, but why they had so suddenly decided to show up he did not know. However, that Bloody Baron character did have a pretty good sense of humour. It must’ve been such a fun job scaring the living daylights out of little first years and flying right through a professor’s – obviously someone new – body. Such brilliant humour indeed....

As soon as he sat down, right out of a plateful of treacle pudding ascended the Fat Friar – the Hufflepuff House ghost. Oh, bother. With blue eyes following the ghost around as he hovered about the table, he couldn’t help but make a mental note not to bother touching the treacle pudding. Yeah, ghosts were transparent and all that jazz, but the thought of seeing something like that popping right out of the middle of nowhere was just ... freaky.

Running a hand through his blonde hair, Seth sighed and looked around at the table. His fellow Hufflepuffs were ... surprised? Merlin, what was the matter with them? It wasn’t as if seeing the Fat Friar was exactly a reason to get all keyed up about, no matter how bubbly the guy seemed to be. He did after all just go through their pudding for God’s sake! In his opinion, that was not a very impressive entrance compared to the Baron’s.

“Friar,” the sixth year said dully, resisting the temptation to roll his eyes at the ghost and head back over to the Slytherin table. The Baron was, he thought, definitely more interesting than the Friar was.

Lima jumped in her seat as a ghost suddenly rose from the plate of pudding that was on the table near her. "Good day, Sir," she said rather shakily. "What brings you here?" She was trying to get a hold of her barrings again.

She frowned at the harshness in Penny's tone. "I'm sorry about that. I know how it feels to have people think that you are in love with someone you are not." She shot a glare in Maddox's direction before turning her gaze back to Penny.

"Anyway I have no idea why they are back. Maybe something exciting is happening again this Term!" There was always something new and exciting every year at this place.

"You deserved that one," Adrianna said with a laugh. "Hey! Wait a second... don't go judging women until..." she stopped, noting the slight defensiveness in her voice. Ebony, knowing his was on the wrong side, launched himself off of her shoulder and landed once more on Gabe's, nodding as if in agreement with Gabe's statement. "Come on Ivory! We don't have to take this abuse," Adrianna said to the white owl, a smile playing on her lips. She blinked, as the boy, now Gabe, introduced himself. "Oh wow... we certainly didn't!" she said, finding this extremely funny. "I'm Adrianna... Knightsbridge," she said, taking his hand and shaking it. "I actually went to ask someone if they knew you, but then I realized I didn't know your name," she said with a laugh. "You've just been that boy..." suddenly Adrianna noticed a pale form come out of the table. She jumped in surprise, nearly knocking into Gabe. "Wh-wh... There are more than one?" she asked, remembering meeting Nick at the Gryffindor table. She listened, looking up at Gabe as he explained. Just then, she realized she had been holding on to his robes. "Sorry..." she muttered, grinning as she stepped away from him.

Penny watched as Lima jumped to. "I think you are right there. What a way to finish our last term, dont you think?" she asked Lima.

Penny thought about Lima's comment. She knew what Lima meant. She watched Mads out of the corner of her. "You know what, lets forget about all gossip about us loving people that we don't and have a great last term?" Penny suggested to Lima.

Curt laughed at Kaika’s reaction, he had about the same stutter reaction after he finished talking to the man himself. “I am!” He said with a wide grin, stealing another sip from his goblet. “I’ll be out there, for sure.” He said with a grin, “This year, for me at least, is dedicated more to school than academics.” He said with a small grin, if his mum heard him say that she would definitely beat him.

Kaika’s next comment made Curts mouth nearly hit the floor. DOMINIC DENTON… PREFECT?!”. He knew that kid was smart, but he definitely was hard to get along with… interesting choice for Prefect indeed. “No way?! DENTON?! I can’t believe it.” Curt said with a furrowed brow. The boy was an amazing Seeker, there was no doubt there. “Maybe we all read him wrong last year.” Curt said with a laugh, that had to be the case right?

That was a strange way of being a child up, Curt had always been completely exposed to the Wizarding World. As a matter-o-fact, he was quite unfamiliar with the muggle world. “Ah, I see.” He said with a nod, “Pleasant surprise, eh?” He asked, it had to be nice to know you were a wizard if you thought you were a muggle all along.

The Fat Friar’s booming and cheery personality seemed to lighten Curt a notch as well. He nodded at the ghosts response. And as the Fat Friar went on, Curt’s smiled broadened. “I really hope so sir. Hufflepuff is taking home the Quidditch and House cup this year… if I had anything to do with it.” This was his Seventh Year, he was going to do whatever he could to make sure Hufflepuff had all the glory.

The roast duck? Nope, Curt hadn’t made his way to the food yet. “No sir, I haven’t.” He admitted, as he reached over the table and grabbed himself some duck. Taking a bite of it, it really did hit the spot. “Good eye sir, those pumpkin pastries are looking nice as well.” He said with a grin, as he reached over for one of those as well.


Whipping around as an all so familiar voice came into play, Curt grinned broader than he had all day. It was Vannah! He somehow couldn’t manage to find her on the train, but at least they were all reunited at last. Curt nodded as she sat down. “Hey Vannah.” He grinned, as he gave a warming look to his girlfriend. Feelings something hit his feet, Curt looked under the table. It was TIGER! His favorite cat of all time… well, tied with Naya at least. “TIGER! How's it going buddy?” He asked, as Curt reached under the table to pat the little guy on the head.

Jake giggled as the girl... not exactly corrected herself, but enhances her statement. "Don't worry, if- i mean when I try out and if I make the team, I'd make sure to listen."

Listening further, Jake nodded. "Yeah, I'm not entirely sure what the best position is for me, but I'll find out soon enough if I find out at all. And if I don't get in this year, I'll keep trying to get in."

Jake grinned. Loylaty to house: check.

"Definitely," Jake replied. It had been a shock and a half the day he ended up being given the letter. "I think my mother only raised me away from this world for my own benefit, and she needed a break." Jake really didn't blame the woman for that.

Hold on... "I didn't tell you my name did I?" Aargh... senile moment... and he'd only turned 11 recently. "I'm Jacob Upstead, or Jake, as everyone calls me."

Jake smiled at his own mistake. He was always doing that.

Ivory, without a moment's hesitation flew off of his shoulder and onto Adrianna's. She nuzzled against her cheek and hooted defiantly at Gabe. Gabe rolled his eyes and stroked Ebony's feathers. "Yea that's right Ebony. You know who is right." He looked back at her and smiled. "It's very nice to finally know your name Adrianna." He looked back to the ghost then was caught by surprise as he felt her clinging to him. Chuckling, he patted her comfortingly on the back and watched as she apologized. "No no it's alright. Yes there's more than one, there are more than 4. They are just the house ghosts. There are others that just float around here too." He sat back down on the bench and patted the seat next to him. "My parents told me all about them. See I do know some stuff."

Adrianna laughed and stroked Ivory tenderly. "I don't know Gabriel... it seems we're tied," she said with a grin. "And it is nice to know yours," she said, her smile broadening. She could already tell that this was going to be a good year. Her owl was finally back, and the mystery of the boy was solved. Now, she just had to get used to everything else... "More then one! That's reassuring," she muttered darkly. "Seeing as I've never seen one before in my life, and only ghost stories and TV shows showing that there's evidence... now I find them walking right through the very food we're supposed to eat!" she said, shaking her head. There was no end to the surprises in this world. She looked down and slowly sat next to Gabe, feeling slightly uncomfortable at sitting at another house's table. "Is this okay?" she asked, noticing she was surrounded by those bearing the colors of yellow and black. She knew that Hufflepuff was friendly, but she didn't want to break any rules... especially on the first day.

A-mazing. She was suddenly ecstatic about that awesome news Curt gave her about that Coach. It could be almost amusing to see the way she reacted to other Quidditch pros, but when it came to her father it was a totally different situation. Probably because she grew up accustomed to see him more like her father than Quidditch player.

"Good" she smiled, because Quidditch is important. It was certainly the one thing she cared about, well, that and dragons. But dragons within the school weren't such a good idea. However, his last statement confused her for a second. Wasn't that the same? Academics and school? "But you have the NEWTs this year...right?" she said, "Oh...never mind, I know what you mean" everything to get their house win both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup.

Yes! Kaika grinned when she saw Curt's reaction. So she wasn't the only one in shock. "I know!" she said, clearly annoyed by that, "Neither can I" she added, of course, she couldn't believe it yet, "I guess" she shrugged. True, Dominic could be a nice guy from time to time, and he was responsible, so why not?

"Good" she said, with a smile, nice to see him understand...although, there was really nothing to understand. She wasn't precisely explaining something. Oh, Merlin, she was now hoping she knew how to explain the plays when practices came along.

She smiled even wider, a true Huffie, "That's the spirit" she said, if he didn't get it this time, he'll probably get it next year, there was absolutely nothing to lose. Nothing at all. Tryouts were probably the safest way to play Quidditch, so there was truly nothing to lose.

Kaika shook her head, she had the feeling she might get to grow another interest, or she'll go nuts if Quidditch was always in her head.

She listened as he spoke to Curt again. Ha. He didn't mention his name to her either. "Nice to meet you, Jacob" she said, with a nod.

Wicked! Cadence exclaimed in gleeful shock! You must be the Fat Friar, ghost of Hufflepuff House. I'm Cadence, and this is my first year here. She had read about the ghosts of Hogwarts, and her mother had told her about them as well, but seeing one in person was a truly paranormal experience.

Savannah's face lit up, beaming at Kaika's ethusiasm. Being back in school, in the castle now made summer feel even longer than it had felt days before. Would the common room be exactily the same as they left it? She couldn't wait to find out. "He wouldn't have known," She admitted, explaining, "This morning before we left, my older sister gave me this icky medicine stuff for a slight cold and it made me tired; I decided to sit with my brothers, and ended up falling asleep." her cheeks warming at the end. It was the first time she had ever fallen asleep on the train, or any train. She was always much to excited.

Not that she wasn't excited. By far, she was. This was seventh year. And on the train, sitting with her brother-in-law and twin brother, there had also been Tonya - her brother's friend that she hadn't meet until now. "Oh! I forgot," Savannah said, pointing to the shiny, new badge on the fifth years robes. "Congratulations, Captain!"
Savannah turned her head abit to look at Curt, her smile never leaving. She giggled, watching him check under the table to find Tiger. "He's been a monster. I think he saw a ghost, but whatever it was he went after. Which is why we're a little bit late, I had to catch him." Last term it was the old man in the painting, now he was after the spirits roaming the castle. Any ordinary cat would chase mice, or birds! But nooo, Tiger ran from the birds.

She shook her head slightly, thinking of an over-grown grumpy owl by the name of Vivek. This followed by Shel, and then Sarah - She would have to find the Gryffindor tomorrow or something. "So, how are we all?" Vannah asked, no one at the table in particular. Everyone, noone - whoever.

Savannah couldn't help from looking over to the Gryffindors table, and then the Slytherins as well. Causing her attention to switch abruptly back to Curt, "Curt!" She nearly shouted, remembering something she had forgotten to tell him since she hadn't wanted to tell him over letters. Dropping her voice to a normal level, maybe even quieter for good measure, the brunette continued, her tone torn between excitement and confusion."You'll never believe who I saw in Diagon Alley! Zachery Raddox."