Was it just Issy's luck to keep running into that boy when he was acting completely afool. The nearly fifteen year old stood in place, watching as he slide along the wall and then suddenly, like a predator stalking its prey, dived into a compartment, pouncing as if his life depended upon it. Standing rooted to the spot, Issy stared at where Terry had last been standing, stroking Flower on her shoulder absentmindedly as Stinky nuzzled her ear.

"He's a weird one," she warned the two as she began to move cautiously towards the compartment.

Pausing almost in front of it, she peeked into the window to see what he was doing. He seemed only to be sitting around, looking kind of bored. Briefly, she wondered if he was waiting for friends, but she decided to go in anyway. The boy was a strange sort and she was curious about him. Perhaps Samson and Juni and Melly and Becca would stumble upon her if she just stayed here instead of searching for them? Searching for them often ended with them missing each other...

Warily, she tapped the window, and then a moment later, stood up on her toes to peak into the window, rising slowly so first, only her eyes appeared, followed by a tiny freckle coated up-turned nose and cheeks, and then her tiny smile which was curled up in a coy smirk.

Then, without waiting, she slid open the compartment door and poked in.

"Fancy seeing you here, Agent Terry. If that's your real name," she greeted him.

She couldn't help it - he was acting like a spy!

Set walked in and sat down. He wanted to strike up some conversation. He had he perfect topic! "So, how was your trip to Diagon Ally. Assuming you went. Mine was SUCH a hastle! It took three days to get all my stuff, but then again, I am muggleborn do it's not like we had any extra robes lying around. i had to buy new everything! So, how bout you?" He was glad be here talking to other fellow Hufflepuffs, he felt in his element!

Hugo couldn't bare to face his friends. Maxim was no doubt bouncing with energy, whereas he was NOT, Evolette was wailing and sobbing all over him the whole time, Terry would probably be all shifty about the break up and Miles was self explanitory. The only person that he had a teensiest of desires to see was Isabella Cortella, who always managed to put a smile on his face. It was like she was his own personal pocketful of sunshine, as well as his Super Girl and favourite klutz. She'd promised to save him one day, and if he needed saving at any point, now was the time. He was having a BAD day.

As if waking up at four in the morning in a panicked state wasn't bad enough, Hugo had forgotten to pack his pajamas and diary. Brill. So it looked like he'd be sleeping in his school clothes until Mumsy owled them to him. MER. Hands shoved deep into his pockets, he dragged his feet along the corridor until he came to a stand still outside a certain compartment. ISSY! ...and Terry. Oh whatever, Terry wasn't one to linger on break ups and the like. He pushed open the door, a smile of relief spreading across his handsome features.

"Supergirl, you've saved me." He wailed, falling into her arms. "And Terry, I just love you."

Oh, I didn't have much trouble. When I went to buy my books, I did drop them all over the floor though. The shopkeeper was very kind. Cadence, unashamed by this embarassing story, continued. So, you're a muggle-born? That's wicked! I'm half and half. My mum is a witch. I've lived most of my life as muggle though, my dad thought it was important. I went to Muggle school and had muggle friends. I even went to a muggle summer camp once! I'm glad my dad insisted that I live the first part of my life as a muggle. I think it's very important to know how to function in muggle society, don't you?

Cadence was a very intelligent and opinionated person, especially for the age of eleven. She had even skipped a grade in school because the teachers said she would get bored. No one would tell you that Cadence was a know-it-all however, though she usually did know the correct answers and had responses to all the teachers questions. She was very humble about how smart she was and preferred to use her intelligence to help others.

Maddox raised his left eyebrows at that comment and said, "Is he still on your case about...what we discussed this summer?" He didnt want to come out right and say it. Apparently all of Penny''s family thought that she was in love with him, to which she denied, but if she was...He wouldnt know what to do or say. He loved Penny, but did he love her...like that? He shook the thought off, it was to much to think about at the moment.

Set laughed. "Ya, I can't wait to take muggle studies, It'll be one of the classes i excell at, ya know having lived my life as a muggle!" Set thought this girl was very smart, he could tell by her voice, it had a I-know-more-than-i-wish-to-reveal kinda tone to it. He liked it. He could learn something from her. Set had always been very bold. and very smart, but extremly loyal! "Do know who our head of house is?" he asked. He could tell by their first conversation that they would be life-long friends!!!

Ten thousand. Ten thousand and one. Ten thousand and two. Yesh, counting the number of fibres poking out of the vinyl seats really was what Terry had resorted to in order to keep himself from instead, perhaps squishing his head repeatedly against the window.

The tap on the door that followed had Terry nearly upending onto the floor. NUUU. Had he been seen? Quickquick, he had to pull out his duffel. Shove out all the candy. They'd be a sacrifice he HAD to take and the-- He blinked curiously at the hazel eyes peeking at him. ...He sure as heck wasn't familiar with eyes those colour. Emerald green, sure. Blue even. Not hazel.

The door slid open an awkward second later, and Issy emerged, with what looked like two skunklettes. Looking apparently unfazed, he raised a curled hand up to his mouth, speaking into it as he glanced at the girl mock-warily, 'Commander Banks, we have an unforeseen situation on our hands. What seems to be an innocent looking girl has unfortunately outed me. ...I suggest you send out back-up...immediately.'

Dropping his hand, Terry waved a hand around in greeting, then signalled for her to take a seat. 'I...have my reasons for keeping my identity a secret, Issy.' He murmured solemnly, trying to keep a straight face.

His gaze then, fell over to her furry friends and he cocked his head, glancing between the two critters and then back to her. 'Waitwait. Let me get this straight still.' Terry said, raising an eyebrow. 'You can be fine with having two such mammals scuttling over your shoulders and still be scared of,' Cue a bright pink head poking out of his combats to stare imploring at their guests. '...A harmless creature such as Mr. RAWR?' This was plain insanity.

...And then he had nearly another heart attack when Hugo flew right in, a blurred blonde tornado. He hastily snapped his jaw shut and tried to gather his.

'HUGO. You know I love you too.' He started warily, but eyeing him worriedly all the same. 'Is..everything okay? You don't look so good.' And are you sure you don't want to kill me?

As Becca wrote, she ended up laying across her entire seat, her back leaning against the wall of the compartment door and her legs pulled in towards her chest with the parchment resting on her knees as a somewhat hard surface to write on. Since her back was intentionally to the compartment door, those that passed would only see that there was someone in there and they would have to really be looking to see who it was. She gazed out the window periodically, jotted something down, then paused to think again.

After about five minutes, she had come up with a suitable note. To send to Lainey, of course. Becca rolled it up neatly, then tied a small string around it. "Okay, little buddy," she said to her new owl as she removed it from its cage, "you have to take this to Professor Lainey, okay? Anjelica Lainey? She should be... um... somewhere. If you can find Cassandra Rae, you should find Professor Lainey nearby."

She wasn't entirely sure that the letter would get there, but it was the best thing she could do. Lainey did tell her to write to her, after all. So maybe it was as simple as it seemed. Becca tied the note securely to the owl's leg and stood up, carefully sliding open the window. "If you can't find her, just... come back, okay? Don't want anything happening to you. But if you DO find her," she was obviously completely nervous about the whole situation, "make sure she replies." She held the tiny Scops owl up to the window and let it fly up into the sky.

Becca stared out the window as the owl took off. It flew further... and further... until it was just a speck in the clouds. Then it disappeared from sight, and the Ravenclaw went back to her previous laying down position in her seat. A loud sigh escaped from her chest, and she fumbled with the sleeve of her shirt as a new problem came to mind. I'd better not get stuck with some annoying kids.

Penny sighed deeply. "Yeah. He would not leave me alone about it." she told him. She did not want her family to know the whole truth and right now she did not want to tell him. Penny laid her head on his should and thought for a few minutes. "Whats up?" she asked him all of a sudden.

Helena was along through the middle of the train when she found a compartment with two people and two animals. It was the least crowded compartment she could find, so she opened the door and stepped in. She smiled at the two of them with bright blue eyes. Hi, mind if I join you guys? All of her luggage was stowed in the luggage compartment, including her new owl. The only thing she carried was a small change purse tucked away in her new school robes, and a small carrier with two kittens in it - one black and white splotched with long hair, and the other gray striped with fairly short hair. Helena ran her pale fingers through her long reddish brown hair.

Yes, I do! Her name is Professor Macardrian Ashling Shackleton. I've heard she's the Arithmancy Professor. Cadence rather liked Set. He seemed like the best kind of person to meet on the train to Hogwarts. It was like an excerpt from a book: two strangers meeting on the way to school, they would become inseparable, and they would face everything together, no matter what happened.

Cadence's mother called her a romantic for thinking such things as believing that best friends could meet this way and just instantly know that their friendship would be special, and that fairytale loves and happily-ever-afters really existed, and that there was magic in all kinds of love. Well, Cadence thought, I'd rather be a romantic and think we'll be friends forever than be scared that I'll never make best friends.

Set, what do you think Hogwarts will be like? My mum told me it's the best school in the world and that you learn so much. And did you know that there's this huge library with books about anything you can imagine? Oh and I can't wait to watch Quidditch. It's supposed to be the greatest sport ever. I bet you don't know about Quidditch, do you, being muggle-born and all?

"Ya, i know quidditch" Set said "I inherited my magic from my uncle, and a few weeks ago, he came up and told me everything i needed to know about the magical world. I perticulally loved quidditch. I want to play keeper for hufflepuff!!!" Set was glad to see Cadence smiling! "...and about he library and everything else about hoqwartz, I hear its the best in the world. Even the bathrooms are supposed to be flawless!" set had walked onthe train nervous, but now was calm. He had found REALLY AWESOME FRIENDS! and he liked it!

Maddox shook his head and said, "Well he is Pax. Once he gets an idea in his head he never lets it die." He smiled at the thought. He and Pax had gotten into a lot of trouble in the past. They were pretty close. Then she asked.

He sighed and blurted out, "Nico isn't coming back this term and didnt even tell me. I overheard him having a fight yesterday in DA with Anna and he told her he wasnt coming back. He never saw me, but I mean...he's my best friend. He could have at least told ME." He looked out the window and sighed. He still felt a little betrayed. He couldnt believe that Nico wouldnt tell him something this important.

No, I haven't met any others from Hufflepuff, Cadence replied. Just you. Elizabeth is a Gryffindor. I can't wait to meet the rest of us though. I bet we are going to have so much fun!

That's really cool about your uncle! If you play Keeper, I'm going to make buttons for everyone that say, "Set is our hero!" Cadence couldn't help but smile at him. She was so excited to be making friends!

"Do you play Quidditch?" Set asked. he was hoping to have a Quidditch partner to practice and have LOTS of fun with!

As Terry made a "call" back to his commander, Issy stood by and giggled, watching avidly with the skunklettes. As she was before, she continued to stroke their fur, as though watching with distached interested, except that her eyes were bright with amusement. Back up? She wondered, briefly, if anyone might stumble in. If they did, she figured she might just have a heart attack.

Accepting his invitation to sit, Issy did so, dragging her own messenger bag with her as she took the seat in front of Terry. Setting the bag on the ground below her, she then gently unwound the skunks from her shoulders and neck and set them on the seat. Before she'd sat down, though, Terry was speaking to her, and her cheeks flushed as his accusation of her fearing Mr. RAWR.

"It's not that!" she protested. "I wasn't afraid of him - I just.. kind of figured you might not want me to pet him... Some people are very protective of their pets, you know." Then she fell silent, for a moment, before her eyes trained back to him. There's no reason to fear Flower and Stinky, anyway. Even if they're scuttling about my shoulders..." Since they were young, the skunklettes had done this...

The moment was broken by the sliding of the door, just as Issy had been warily expecting. Still, she squeaked and jumped slightly, turning around to recognize the greeter. Hardly any time passed between recognition, though, because suddenly the "intruder" was falling into her arms. Instantly, Issy wrapped her arms around him, staggering under his weight - he was much taller than her!

"Hugo!" she squealed, and then tightened her arms. "I saved you?" Her voice came out inquisitive and her curiosity couldn't be hidden. Glancing over her shoulder at Terry, she the shrugged. Or attempted. It was hard to shrug when holding up someone who was bigger than her. "Well, at the very least, I'm happy to have saved you. It's my job, y'know."

Well, I've never actually played Quidditch before. My dad said I had to wait until I got Hogwarts. I'm not much of an athletic person, though. I prefer to stand on the sidelines and cheer people on. I'm very good at making up cheers for people! She hoped Set wasn't disappointed that she wasn't very good at sports, but if he ever needed some encouragement, she would be there!

"Thats really cool, I love peppy people, there so... uplifting!!!!!" Set smiled at Cadence! "What clubs are you planning to join, I hear hoqwartz has a bunch!"

Umm... I not sure yet. I'm not very good at gobstones, so that's out, and I don't have the patience for Wizards Chess, plus I get very attached to my pieces. One time I cried when my queen died. That knight was so mean!! I'm sure there will be lots of clubs to choose from though! Maybe there's a Hufflepuff Spirit Club I can join? Or I could start one? I've also heard that there's a club of students who want house elves to have more rights, I might join that one too. Oh I don't kno! There are just so many! What subjects are you most excited for?

"Well, i'm excited for Muggle Studies (cause i know it), Charms (to learn magic), and well.... I guess Arithmacy (cause our head of house teaches it). What ever club you join, I'm joining too! I want to stick close to friends!" Set was now literally beaming! "This is random, but do you drink coffe or tea?"

I drink both! It depends on what I'm in the mood for. How about you? And I'm excited for Charms as well, but I'm most looking forward to Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"ya, I drink coffee (a lot, like 3 cups a day), ...and I hear transfigarion is the hardest subject!" Set rumaged in his pocked and got out his wand, he started twirling it in his fingers, it was a bad habit he had had since he was like three! "I'm really excited for the feast, they say they have more types food there than most people have years (except dumbledore)!"

Okay, so much for staying in the front of the train. After talking a little bit with Miles, Evolette felt more like venturing on, to see what other friends she could encounter. There was a whole list of people that she had not seen in a long time.

Cale, Anna, Kayla, Maddox, Mari, Willow. There were also people that she wanted to avoid. Lima, Terry, Hugo. But, should she come across any of those, well, she was a fast runner.

Her fingers were itching to release her hair from the updo that her sister had done for her that morning, but she resisted. It was something different, a change. At least this change was a welcome one.

Set said good-bye and hoped for many more long and friendly conversations with Cadence. "Bye" he said "I have another appointment I have to be getting too. I had a BLAST talking to you" Set got up and left.

Five people. That was the total number of people so far that Cale had walked into since arriving at the train station. Most of them had only been passerbys that he didn't even know, but still, five was not a pretty number.

Therefore, he was taking extra care to not bump into anyone else as he made his way along the train. He could always lounge in the fancy new prefects car, sure, but what was the fun in talking to just 8 people the whole ride there? He wasn't even friends with most of the prefects.

As he carefully made his way through the corridor, he was pretty sure he recognized Evolette McKenna up further ahead. Her hair looked different, it was up in one of those fancy hairdos that girls spent hours perfecting, but he could easily spot his fake ex-girlfriend from a mile away. Grinning, he walked up and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, long time no see!" he said happily.