Theo frowned, "Why can't the Ministry come here? My daddy works there. I think it is lovely. My mummy works there too. What is wrong with the Ministry?" He wasn't sure what was going on.

Ixupy sat down at the house table and poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice. She looked around a little in awe. "I didn't expect so many people." She murmured to herself.

Tanjiro frowned a bit and shook his head. "No, sorry. Don't recall. And the name of the inn is Ridgefield. You heard of it?"

He smiled at the thought of having an older brother. A feeling he would never have. "Yeah, that's cool having an older brother. Does he guide you a lot or is he the punkish type?"

Noelle sat down at the house table and looked around cheerfully. Finally she was at Hogwarts, she had been so worked up on coming here she forgot all about her stomach, which was now growling very loudly.

Uhh... ok... that made no sense. Jake was pretty sure that Cameron had just gone entirely off topic, but oh well.

"You do realise, that you'll need my help for that, right?" Jake whispered back. He didn't want to say it out loud, but hoped that Cameron would realise that he himself wouldn't be able to get in the Hufflepuff boys dorm, whereas Jake could. "I'll be willing to help again if I'm there's not much chance of being caught. I don't fancy being the first Hufflepuff to lose points."

Heck, I don't plan to lose any points.

"Imagine what he'd say... what he'd do..."

Gullup.

"We need to talk about this topic in a more private place, where we can't be eavesdropped on," Jake mumbled, then spoke a little clearer. "And we need to, like, talk properly about stuff since we're friends..." That hadn't had much chance to talk about their pasts, and Jake was interested to hear about Cameron.

"I might just be paranioed. The last time the minisrty came was when my cousin was in her seventh year. They made the oys go to one school and the girls go to another. Then again as I said I might just be paranoied." Hayden took a sip of pumpkin juice and sighed.

"My friends know the story and since I think that maybe we could be friends, I'll tell you. I was 7 years old, it was Christmas morning when I found a note written in blood left on the door, saying that my parents were taken to Azkaban and murdered. They were very loyal Death Eaters, quite close to Lord Voldemortist and I'm still hunting for the person who did this to my parents." Amanda said honestly, taking a deep breath before continuing the story. "When I turned 8, I was living on the street, all I had was the clothes on my back and my guitar to survive, I was attacked, beaten when I was asleep" She rolled her sleeves up to show the scars she had on her arms.

"But it is different now. I don't recognise anyone else from the Ministry," Theo frowned. He didn't think that is what was happening. Maybe Ian just got a new job.

He heard a glass ching and looked up at the top table. A man was standing up. The potions man from last term. He was the new Headmaster. He smiled, "Now we can eat."

He picked up a spoon and dumped mashed potato on his plate.

Hayden shrugged."Just paranoied thats all."

She grabbed some chicken and added it with the mashed patatoes after the new headmaster said his speech."So what classes are you looking forward to?"

Theo stuck his fork into the potato. "Well..." he said, putting the fork into his mouth, "I am looking forward to charms. And defense against the dark arts." He swallowed, "What about you?"

Hayden took a piece of chicken on her fork and scooped up her mashed pataoes onto it.She put it into her mouth and chewed."Well I'm looking forward to herbology and charms."And hopefully doing better this year.Hayden smiled and took another bite.

"I look forward to seeing you in Charms then. Ian is teaching it. So it should be fun," Theo grinned. He liked knowing who a teacher was. "I am going to see him when the feast has finished."

Hayden smiled."Yeah it should be fun." She looked up at the knew teacher."I usually don't meet teachers till the day of the first class even then I'm beyond nervous and even more unstable."

"Well I already know Ian. It would be nice to see him again. Plus I want to ask him about Daddy and whether he doesn't like Daddy anymore. It can be the only reason for leaving. I know that Daddy never wants to leave anymore," he frowned. He was unsure of what happened.

He gave a smile when Jake offered to do the job with him again which meant he didn't have to do it alone. Then there was the house points. It probably wouldn't matter. They could always get the points back. Slytherin had already lost a few points and he didn't know why. Cam's smile turned into a frown when Jake mentioned that they really should talk more than their enemy. His mind was filled with Dominic Denton and made him forgot about all of those social things.

"Right, sorry Jake. So what's up?" What's up? That was sooo lame.

Miranda shook her head. "No, I haven't...but when I write my Father, I'll ask him if he does." She sipped at her pumpkin juice. "Simon? He's very protective of me - taught me a lot. But that doesn't mean he doesn't torment me, too." She looked thoughtful a moment. "Are the classes very very hard? I mean, I've learned some things at home...Morgan Hall has a large library. But there's a big difference between reading about things and DOING them."

Miranda smiled across the table as she grabbed a delicious looking cream-filled pastry. "Me either. It's a bit overwhelming, huh? I'm Miranda, by the way."

Miranda was startled. "That's HORRIBLE! I'm so sorry." She wondered if her father had known Amanda's parents, but didn't say anything. Maybe she would ask him. She knew full well her Father's beliefs, but wasn't entirely sure how much he had factioned himself with anything. She smiled. "I...would like if we could be friends."

Hayden nodded she looked at Ed."I have to go Theo. I need to read my letter and write whoever sent it back. I also have to see Lizzie and all my other friends and talk to them. If you wanna ever talk its not that hard to find me. I'm mostly at the lake under a tree."She finished off her pumpkin juice and went to stand up. She fell out of the seat and laughed."I am beyond unstable if I can't even get up."

"Its alright, I mean it has been difficult for me to deal with, but I basically just basically have had to survive on my own. It wasn't easy, but I am the much stronger. Right now, I'm actually a rock star, I just went on tour to England, Ireland, Canada and Australia, it was absolutely crazy!" Amanda said honestly. "Well then we can be friends, I'll introduce you to some of my friends later, they're all really nice, there's no need to be scared of them." She said and smiled.

"Oh ok," Theo frowned. "I will see you later have fun." He waved goodbye with his fork. "Watch it," he laughed. "I do that sometimes. Nothing to be ashamed of." He dug another forkful of mash and munched on it.

No sausage or chips? Clifford couldn't even imagine a life without such ... neseccities! That's what sausage and chips were. Neseccities. Life without them would simply be an outrage! When he was home that's all he got Velda and Verney to cook him. Sausage and chips around the clock. Heaven on a plate!

"Healthy food is just ... bleh." He replied with a small wrinkle of his nose. Honestly, how could anyone live off just healthy stuff!? Evangeline must've been glad to get away from that stuff and get some real Hogwarts food. "You can't live off just veggies and soup. That's not a blanaced diet!" See, he knew all about balanced diets. Yup, yup. "You hafta have a balance of bad stuff, and good stuff see." He didn't really get enough of the good stuff.. but hey.

"Even Orion loves sausage and chips." He grinned, feeling the tiny owl wriggling around inside his pocket. He must've smelt the yummyness. Hehe. "C'mon then, little man." Clifford cooed, letting the little ball of fluff free from his pocket and offering him a chip.

At first, Jake looked up at Cameron's words, where he noticed the enchanted ceiling for the first time. "Ooh," he became distracted for a moment, but soon brought himself back to the hall, where he realised that Cameron's words were metaphorical. Doi! Only he could probably do take that seriously. Well, not just him... but... yeah...

"Nothing much, really," Jake replied, turning to look round the Great Hall. "I should be getting back to my own table and at least try to eat... we'll talk later, m'kay?"

M'kay... what the heck?! Who stole his brain and replaced it with some little kid's one?!

Hayden laughed."Bye Theo." She ran down the table with a wave of her hand and her owl flew of.

Kevin wandered back into the hall and put some chicken and potatoes and a pile of gravy on his plate and filled his goblet with pumpkin juice

Camira gave Kayla a little smile. "Well, I'm glad that's settled. Cause seriously, I think I'd go mental if we stopped being friends." She said it jokingly, but she meant it. So, she was going to brace herself and do this. "So what did you guys do there? Did he show you the sights, so to speak? I was in New Orleans over the summer. With Will. His family is huge." It was strange, but what Kayla had said had lifted crazy weight off of her shoulder. She was actually semi-happy now.

She then turned to the Dominic hating first year. She was aware that he was staring at her like she was mental. Oh well. Then again, he might be mental too because he wasn't making any sense. "Well, I'm not really sure what you're talking about, but I'd be careful. I've heard that Dom is a prefect this year and he could make your life miserable if he so chooses. Of course, if he's harassing you, I really do encourage you to tell me, or one of our prefects, or even Professor Forrester. He's our head of house." She chuckled a bit when he asked if they were friends. "Friends? Most definitely not. I don't know him that well, honestly. I worked with him in Care of Magical Creatures class, and he was great, which is why I say he can be decent. We tried to best each other in Herbology and he threw jelly slugs at Hogsmeade, and shoved me in the hallways. So, mostly bad experiences with him." Oh, but that was so going to change.

Camira turned to look at the rest of their table. Merlin there were a lot of firsties. It was a bit overwhelming, really. How was she going to remember them all? Hopefully they would come introduce themselves. But how would they know? She tried smiling at all of them in turn. Hopefully they would notice and come say hi. And see that she wasn't scary.

Oooh, Evangeline was here. And Clifford, who appeared to be the new male prefect. It made her slightly sad. Reminded her that Will was gone too. Okay, pity party could happen later. She had things to do. She excused herself momentarily, got up and quickly walked over to where the two legendary lovebirds were sitting. "Evangeline. Clifford. Hi. I know you guys are busy eating so I'll just make this fast. I, as I'm sure you guys were, was very upset about losing the House cup to the Gryffies last term so I just wanted you to know that I am completely committed to making sure we get it back this term. I also know you guys are really busy so if you need help with anything, let me know. Oh, and I'm great at Herbology and Potions, so if you have any first years that need help in those areas and you guys are otherwise occupied, you can send them my way." There. Hopefully they didn't get mad and think she was trying to take their job or anything. She just wanted to help.

BABABAAAA! Hugo was preparing to unleash his craziness on the entirity of the Slytherin table, and so it was no doubt that he was bouncing happily on the balls of his feet as he pranced towards his house. Running a hand through his sleek blonde hair, he plonked his blonde self down and knocked over a glass of pumpkin juice in a very 'blonde' fashion. Oops. Rolling his eyes at his own clumsiness, he quickly settled the cracked container back in the correct way, and glanced around to make sure nobody had noticed his moment of being a klutz. Where in the name of Merlin's spotty undercrackers was his crew? Duuude, he couldn't be seen lounging all over the Slytherins without his crew, even if one of the idiots had been sorted into Gryffindor by accident. EVEN if one was a complete phsyco, one was angry because his girlfriend had ACCIDENTALLY kissed Hugo and the other was a sobbing hormonal female. And Terry was the accidental Gryffindor.

Hugo had always wondered how his best friend had become a lion. Evolette, Maxim and himself had been sorted into Slytherin the second the sorting hat had touched their heads; Miles had taken a little longer as he was both power hungry, loyal, smart and brave. And then there was Terry. Simply popped the hat on his head and BAM; he was a Gryffindor. Weird. At first Hugo had been devastated by this extreme turn of events, and a tad worried that the ace crew would be ripped apart by such drastic circumstances. Likely tale. The Core Four + Maxxie were NOT to be meddled with and nothing could break them apart.

Except of course Hugo kissing Miles' girlfriend, Terry breaking up with Evolette and Maxim going mad. But still. No one's perfect.