Marisa shot Jake a crooked grin, “Well Mr Jake. We might have to see who crupts who this year.” She laughed from a moment before she took a more serious expression, “So you really like this girl that you are seeing, huh? Well at least enough to say flat out that you wont be kissing on another girl.”

Irial opened his eyes and looked down at the boy. This end was being overrun by first years. He nodded silently to him, shifting in his stance a little bit. Thankfully his arms did not pulse as the did with Diane.

"Hello, Aaron," he said. "I'm Irial." This was odd. Two terms ago, when Irial was actually here, no one would speak with him. He missed last term for personal reasons that only two knew of. Now, nearly everyone wanted to say hello.

What was going on? Was everyone losing their minds? The archaic designs on his arms twitched slightly as he considered it.

"That sounds good," Dru muttered as she stared down the train. She could have sworn it was him, but something was different. His hair was tied back, he hadn't myteriously grown or shrunk over that time, he was waering his jacket... Wait a moment! No he wasn't!

"He's not got his coat!" Dru exclaimed to Theo. She looked at the direction he had come from. They were so near the back of the train that there were only five compartments each side between them and the end of the train.

"Stay here!" She told Theo, feeling very brave and helpful all of a sudden. She stepped out of the compartment and made her way quickly down the train, stopping at each compartment to stand on her tippy toes and peer in. The first three sets were full.

She got to the compartment before the end on her side and peered in. It was empty. She quickly slid open the door and saw a big black coat lying on the seat. She gathered it up in her arms and turned to exit the compartment.

This boy seemed a little depressed or angry about something. Aaron decided not to bring it up. "So uh... I don't know many older kids. I also don't know what we do when we get to Hogsmeade. Do you know what happens?"

Jake laughed and shook his head "should I be worried" he asked. Jake stayed quite looking out the window claming sown from the laughing, when he heard Marisa ask about Amy, Jake turned to her and nodded his head "Yes I do, I would never think of doing something like that to her" he said " I wouldnt hurt her, she wouldnt hurt me" he sighed and layed his head back on the seat looking forward "I love her" Jake said turing his head to look at Marisa.

Irial shrugged. "Whatever you want to," he said simply. "There are many shops there, and they let you off on your own if your permission slip is signed." He looked at the boy sideways.

What was with them all asking questions? Couldn't they just figure it out for themselves when they got there? Where was the fun in knowing what was going to happen?

He must have asked the question wrong. "What I meant was, when the train arrives at the station in Hogsmeade, what happens to the first years?" This boy had obviously not wanted to talk to Aaron. "Do you want me to, um, go away?" Aaron didn't want to start trouble with this older boy. He could easily beat the snot out of him. Aaron knocked on the door to his compartment.

Glancing down at the sleeping ferret on her lap Marisa let out a little sigh. “See that’s what makes it so hard,” she spoke more to herself then to Jake. Looking up she noted the honesty in Jakes eyes, “That’s great, I am glad you found someone that could mean that much to you.”

Irial blinked at him. "Oh, I misunderstood you. The first years cross the lake in numerous boats. Two to a boat, I believe. I wouldn't know. I transferred here a few years ago."

When the boy asked if Irial wanted him to go away, he shook his head. "You don't have to," he said, trying to be polite. "I'm just a little ill, is all. I don't feel well, and when I get this way, I get testy. It's not your fault at all." He smiled kindly down at the boy.

Jake nodded his head "Thanks, I would say you would too, but you might leave honorably again" he said with a small chuckle. He looked down at he ferret and reach to pet it "wont bite me when he's asleep" he said "so what makes what so hard?" Jake asked her.

"Oh, ok!" Aaron smiled back at him. "So what year are you in?" Aaron hoped he could heal this conversation.

Irial shrugged. "It doesn't exactly matter, because I don't plan on staying, but I'm a sixth year, if you must know. I wasn't here last term, so I'm repeating. Not that the professors even noticed." He rolled his eyes, his hands now absently fingering the archaic designs on his arms.

"What do you hope to gain from going to Hogwarts?" he asked suddenly, looking at Aaron with his piercing dark purple eyes.

Opening her mouth in a mocking laugh Marisa rolled her eyes at Jake. “You never know he might sense you touching him and then snap,” she said with a smile looking directly at Jake until she looked down at Riskers. She was still smiling until Jake asked her what she meant. Blinking hard once Marisa continued to look down at her new pet. “Oh nothing,” she said in a forgetful tone.

This guy was really bringing Aaron down. Aaron noticed archaic designs on Irial arms. Weird."You've had it rough at Hogwarts, haven't you?"

Fallon woke up from her nap to find that they still weren't at Hogwarts. Iris was chaning into her robes and Mystic was reading a book. "Morning guys. Hey sweetie," she said as she scratched behind her cat's ear. "I'm going to go out so wait a minute Iris, I'm not going to put Snuggles back in her cage until we get to Hogsmeade station."

Fallon carefully slipped out of the compartment without exposing Iris. She saw Aaron talking to an older student. "Hey Aaron. I'm Fallon." she said turning to the older student.

Aaron turned to Fallon and gave her a look that said, 'Not now!' He then jerked his head at Irial and jerked his head back into the compartment. He hoped she knew that it meant to go back in.

Irial looked at Aaron. "Hogwarts...no, not particularly," he said honestly. "I keep to myself. It's outside of those walls that has not been kind to me." He frowned. This boy didn't like Irial. Of course not. No one ever did.

"You know, I can see you aren't happy with speaking with me. You're not required to continue this conversation if you don't wish to," Irial commented.

Another girl showed up and introduced herself as Fallon. He nodded to her. "Pleasure," he said. "Irial." He drew in a breath and crossed his arms over his chest. Where was his trenchcoat? He wished he hadn't forgotten it in that compartment.

Looking back down at Risker Jake chuckled "are you sure you didnt train him to bite me?" he asked in a teasing tone. Jake noticed the change in Marisa as soon as he asked the question "alright, you dont have to tell me" he told her sighing.

Fallon caught the signal that Aaron was sending her, it wasn't that hard to miss. "I just wanted to stretch my legs a bit. I'm gonna go back in the compartment and see if Snuggles is okay." She quietly slipped back into the compartment hoping that she hadn't cause any trouble.

Aaron must have said something the wrong way. "No, It's cool talking with you. I'm curious to know, what happened? You don't have to answer." Aaron put a smile on his face that said he cared. This boy had a story. And an interesting one, too. It looks like he's been wanting to tell somebody. "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone if you don't want me too."

An odd smile appeared on Irial's face. "I doubt you'd want to hear my story," he said quietly, noticing the girl, Fallon, had gone. "It is not one of happiness."

He wondered if the school was ready to learn they had a different kind of person in their midst. He doubted it, but it would be nice if everyone stopped staring at him as though he was a leper. Of course, if they all knew...he'd become a spectacle.

Irial looked at Aaron seriously. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you I was a faerie." He studied the boy curiously.

Allie walked toward the back of the train, trying to find one of her friends. She was excited to see them after not being able to go to Diagon Ally this summer. She also couldn't wait to show them how much taller she had grown over the summer, she was a full 5 feet and 4 inches! Not exactly a giant, but it was much better than her previous height of 4'8".
She looked into a compartment and thought she saw Reese.
"Reese?" she said, knocking on the compartment door.

Aaron took a look at him. Most people wouldn't believe him. But Aaron did. "No, I DO believe you." He put a smile on his face. "And you know what else? I do want to hear your story. But if you don't want to tell me because you don't think I can handle it, that's okay. Maybe you one day you WILL tell me." Aaron saw that Iris had finished changing his his compartment. "Well, I'll see you around the castle I guess." Aaron opened the door to his compartment and then remembered Irial said before, "Or maybe not." Aaron gave him one last smile before walking into his compartment and shutting the door.



"Hey guys," Aaron said sitting back down in his seat. "I just met a really cool 6th year named Irial." He looked out the window. It was now pitch black outside. Aaron was now getting annoyed that they weren't there yet. "HOW AREN'T WE THERE YET?" Aaron leaned back in his chair and put his hands on his head.

Irial watched the young boy go back into his apartment. Huh. People nowadays were more accepting than they used to be. Too bad the boy didn't realize Irial just told him his most well-kept secret. Ah well. He shrugged and walked off, completely forgetting about his coat. Again.

Reese quickly looked at Shana, then looked away when she was asked about Cam. "Ohhhhhh,yeah-" she said, not wanting to say anymore. If she told Shana that she kissed Cam, she would have the little girl freak out on her. There was NO doubt about that. "About that..." Stall, that's what she was trying to do. Maybe, if she stalled long enough, she can change the subject and Shana will forget about it.

Hearing her name, Reese looked up and almost screamed when she saw Allie. "A-A-ALLLLLLLLLLIE," she squealed with a smile. Jumping up from her seat, she tackled her friend in a hug. "Ohmygosh. Where have you been, little girl? I haven't spoke to you in ages. Have you been hiding from me or something?" She said, trying so hard not to ask too many question.