"Hey Melanie," Natasha said with a grin. "Yeah, of course. Calling me Nat is fine." She said with a nod. Hmm... Have any preferred nicknames?"

"Thanks," she said, sitting down beside her. She ran her hand through her hair as she grabbed a glass of water.

"Mhm, we're cousins." Natasha said with a nod to Melanie. "Oh, and sorry I had to leave on the train." She said before taking a drink.

It was really nothing. Everything could be fixed. Well, not everything, but this sort of things had a way of being fixed through magic. So, no harm done. Besides, this whole experience will be forgotten in no time. Or, maybe it won't, considering Kaika was sure that she'll remember Danika as the girl who got Simone wet with a glass filled with water. But, really, who's trying to remember that?

"Fourth year? That's great" she said, with a nod, and couldn't to smile wider when she mentioned Greece, "Really? I've heard it's so beautiful...why did you transfer?" hopefully the question would be answered, even if the girl had the option not to do that.

"Oh, it's alright...no problem" she said, with a nod, because it was really not a problem. Better for her, she got to practice what she couldn't during the summer. Silly rules.

Another smile, "Yep, same here" Kaika was still trying to remember who else did she know from Beauxbatons but failed to remember. The only people she knew in France were her muggle family, and those clearly had no issues in Beauxbatons. Maybe someone got transferred before. Maybe.

Oh, she remembered. "A couple terms ago I wanted to get transferred to Beauxbatons" she commented, though it wasn't meant to be said out loud. "Why did you transfer?" and that seemed to be the common question this night.

It was cute, though, how both the girls tended to blush. Was she like that on previous years?

Speaking of blushing. Kaika's cheeks turned pink at the sight of the Hufflepuff Prefect.

BUT...

She looked the other way. There were still quite a few things she didn't want to face just yet.

And, wasn't she supposed to tell him something that Prof. Vindictus just told her? Ermmm..no, nothing to tell him. Just the Lyra thing with the high heels, and obviously that didn't apply to Dominic Denton at all.

Thank goodness for this boy. He made her clear her head for a moment. And he made her laugh! Awesomeness. This kid was a keeper. "Under ground? I doubt it...it will be hard to catch me on my broom" which was...OH DEAR MERLIN! Where was her broomstick?! Hopefully, safely in the Locker Room, right? Now she was worried, the elves never forgot to take out anything from the train, but since she's been having those dreams about losing something Quidditch-related, nothing was impossible.

Alright, back to the little first year. Dear lord. "Good ring to it?" she thought, and shook her head, "Someone bring him down to earth" at least this one was talkative, not like a certain someone with clear people-issues. Or former people-issues. Whatever. "Wait. Andrus?" Kaika just recalled something, "Does your father work in the Ministry? Ummm, a Teal Andrus, perhaps?" she asked, because she's heard that name some other place before.

A smile crept to the sixth year's face, "Because I'm the Quidditch Captain for the house that we currently share" yes, formality sounded stupid.

The Aussie eyed the girl doubtfully. She really thought that a girl could outrun a boy? Wow, she was extremely delusional. “Pshhh, I can probably run fastah’ than you can fly. Fasted playa’ on my football team.” Cy patted his chest proudly and lifted his chin. He was great at football, or SOCCER as Americans called it. Growing up in Australia with his grandparents, the little tyke hung out with all the muggles and, as a result, played many muggle games.

AHHH. At first Cy thought she said Andrus as if she’d heard of Cy himself before; he was getting more and more famous everyday! But he scowled considerably when she said his fathers name. “Yeh’, Teals’ me fatha. Does somethin’ in Magical Creatures, he’s there ALL the bloody time.” Not that Cy minded, he got to stay at home and mess around with all of Teal’s critters. Including the House Elf, which had basically aged 50 years since Cy arrived.

Quidditch, Cy knew what it was. His grandparents talked all about it, his mom talked all about it, and Teal was always watching it on the TV. He thought it was a cool sport, kinda like football. Cy’d never played before. “Are you now?” Cy said, smirking. “Are y’all good?” Cy gave her a doubtful grin, in his opinion, if they didn’t always get first place they were terrible. He was tragically competitive.

"Doubtful" she said, shrugging the thought away. Was she seriously going to argue with a first year about who was faster?! That was beyond things possible. But, if she managed to run as fast as to get to some place at the same time as a broom, then there's no way this boy will beat her. Miranda was good at running as well, but who wouldn't run when someone's broomstick decided to have a life of its own. Even if they found out later on that its owner summoned the broom, but still.

"Football" yes, she's heard that before. It was alright. Nothing beats Quidditch, but all sports were good, even if she wasn't very familiar with them. "Yes, that's nice" she answered, unable to come across something smarter to say about that.

So, the kid must have something against his father. Weird, though. Only Lockharts are bound to do so, considering the name and all the history. "My father used to work with yours, until...well, yes, he worked with yours" leaving Quidditch for the Ministry was a decision Kaika will never understand, but at least her father was back in Quidditch grounds, so, no harm done there.

She couldn't to narrow her eyes this time. The kid was probably up to something, and she didn't like the tone quite a bit. Yes, he was amusing, but he better not mess with Quidditch. "Yes, I am" and I'll feed you to the flutterbies if you become an annoyance. Better yet, to Bunbury, she loves first years who annoy, probably. "Of course we are, what kind of a question is that?! We..." yes, she stopped to think for a moment, memories of a certain Ravenclaw Captain popped into her head, "...were unlucky last term..." and who's to say that she had to give this particular boy any sort of explanation? "...but we're all amazing players..." modesty aside, "...therefore, an amazing team" she said, a wide smile on her face.

Danika nodded at Simore. "You are so right there." she said. Then she brightened up a little more with the questions about home. "I transfered from the Mount Olympus School for Magic." She told them. Thinking about the ocean and the mountains made her homesick, but most of all she missed the ruins in Athens. Turning to Kaika, she smiled. "Oh is it gorgous. I miss it so much." she told her. Then she started to sulk when she remembered her father coming home from work early a month back. He came to tell them that he was being transfer to the Ministry of Magic in London. That was one of the blackest days in Dani's life. "My father was transfered to the Ministry in London." she said to the girls with a sigh.

Greece? Another mainlander it seemed. Helios tilted his head to one side, dropping eaves on Danis' conversation while he whiped some dirt from his face with a wet napkin.

Oh how he missed HIS Greece. The island of Aeaea. The land he would one day rule.

But now was not the day to be thinking of the luxury of royalty. Now, he was dirty and without coin or a decent set of robes. Tearing into his food like a ravenous beast, famished from the rigorous summer routine.

Now what was he grumbling about before his appetite took over? Oh yeah; the Greek girl. He would have to keep an eye on this one.

"Sorry" she said seeing her friend jumping "No, Gryffindor is negative too. Probably firsties fault" she smiled. Yes last year she and her friends, all in the first year, cause some problems too.

"Oh I have news!" she said very excited "My cousin is a wizard too!! But he had to go to a different school" Ana said the last part with a sad voice. But this was a happy, happy day so it's time to be happy and party with her friends!

Suddenly she remembered, where on Earth are Cadence and Jake! "Hey Lanie! Do you know where are Cadence and Jake? Haven't seen them since we left the train!" she said with a confusing face.

He laughed, feeling so comfortable with Nia, now that they had spent time during the days at her grandmother's really improving his flying skills. He now had made it up to a moderate speed without falling off or hitting inanimate objects. The first day flying on the broom behind her, as she flitted in and out of branches had really given him more confidence, though the first few passes almost made him pass out.

Sadly, he had been stuck in a compartment on the train with older students he didn't know and been unable to find her, so he had slept the train ride away. Gladly though, she was here and he had a friendly face and person to share this interminable feast with. The food was always amazing, but he hated having to wait until the headmaster spoke.

He shrugged at her question. "not as good as it could have been. I mostly slept. What about you?" he asked her as she looked around at the food choices.

Alice grinned at Sarah's rambling. "I dont know. I feel lost and lemme see what others do.." she said, looking around the hall again, "I think we should wait for sometime to get the clear idea of what's going on here." she finished one breath. She knew it would take some time to settle down but seems Sarah didnt since she was two years younger than her.

Then she promised tobe calm and not doing anything mischievous. Glad to hear. But didnt know how long she was going to keep her word. Alice giggled at the thought, "Okay, I trust you," she smirked, looking around the hall again to see if any of the familiar faces was there.

She pouted and nodded, "Sure. we need to adjust to this place first, keep this in mind," she patted on her shoulder, distracted Sarah from the thoughts of their dead mother successfully. Atleast she thought. Hmm...
Alice giggled, "I know George, but there is no harm if you hug me, "she said and ruffled his smooth hair playfully. "Umm..Yes, i dont know what's going on here. So ready to play?" she offered an Idea.
Alice was getting better and better...
Alice gasped at her authentic tone. Surely he derserved that badge. She noticed that he was not smiling, but not bothered much. She wanted informations, but a small courtesy or formal smile would not do any harm. She grinned mostly to herself.

"Nice to meet you Dominic" she said to the bigger boy, and shrugged, "Okay, I'll behave but I cant give any assurance about my lil sister," she smiled shyly. Who knows about the future. Haha.

He smiled "Thanks Alice..." he shook his head after she ruffled his hair. "Sure, play what?" he asked interestedly. Upon hearing Dominic Denton's warning words to Alice, he made a small noise, watching Alice's reaction and hearing her talking about Sarah made him shiver.

"It was...well, long." he told Dominic. "It feels odd to be back here," he said, quieter this time. Being back at Hogwarts with out all the people he knew wasn't something he was quite used to. He wasn't sure if he would ever get used to it. He took a bit of his pie, the final one, then asked, "how was your trip on the train?"

"Mmmhmmm," Sarah started,still with some pudding left in her mouth.Swallowing she continued. "Yep I have.First year was exciting,only a few weeks before term started is when I found out I was a witch!" She never tired of telling people how shocked she was. "No-one else in my family had ever been one before.To say my parents were surprised is an understatement!" She laughed as the memories of that time came flooding back.It was only just over two years ago,but felt like a lifetime. "I settled in quicker than I thought I would,though..."

"So what's your heritage,if you don't mind me asking that is...." she bit her bottom lip as she finished the sentence.The whole conversation was going well up to this point,and she didn't want to say anything to put him off continuing it.

"No problem George," Alice smiled pleasefully, glad her lil cousin was fearless and mingled with her quickly. "Umm..what about some catching practice?" she took a cherry from the food table, "Catch it in your mouth," she raised her hand, waiting for him to get ready. By the way he was looking around she knew that he was scared of Sarah again. "Dont pay attention to her," she comforted him by the small patt on his arm.

And this was going so good. How was he supposed to tell her the truth, without..."Well, both my parents...aren't around." He told her, thinking, that's safe isn't it? "Everyone that I can remember in my family was magical. Along with my sister..." he let that trail off, not liking to talk about his sister. He missed her. "So do you have any siblings?" He asked, wanting to keep the conversation away from him when there was so many people around.

"Catching practice?" he asked and then laughed when she picked up a cherry "Okay, but what if it falls and makes a mess?" he asked scaredly. When she patted him, he looked up at her "She doesn't scare me as much as other people" he shrugged and then bit his lip, still wondering about the catching game.

Oh yeah she had seemed to hit a nerve.He was stuttering in his answer and Sarah was feeling bad for having asked.His face came over with a sadness as he talked and she felt a pang of sympathy for him....but didn't know why.

"Oh uh," his question had caught her offguard and she had to think quick to answer. "Oh no I don't.Only child,but I had loads of friends the same age as me around where I lived.I was a little upset when I found out I couldn't tell them about all this...." Sarah gestured around the Great Hall.She had so wanted them to share in her new found abilities and destiny.A tear started forming at the corner of her eye as she thought of her old friends,ones she no longer really saw.Brushing her hand up to her face,as if to scratch her nose,she wiped it away before anyone could see.

Change the subject,Sarah,best for both of you probably. "So are you going to try for the Quidditch team? My best friend has persuaded me to.She got me playing over the summer holidays and I'm better than I thought I'd be.Still won't make the team probably!" She laughed at that.It was true,though.As good as she now was at staying on a broom and flying at high speed,the fundamentals of the game were still new to her.

Ryder smiled at her, as he listened to her talk. He couldn't smypathise, but he did understand what she was talking about. "I'd thought about it," he told her, when she asked about quidditch. He had played on the team but he wasn't sure if he wanted to this year. I'll give it time, he thought, before saying, "but I don't think I'm gunna try out this year, though I'll come watch if you make the team."

So she got kicked. There was no way Tammy was standing for it. But no-one looked like the culprit. Goshhh.

Tammy smiled. "Hey Melanie." She shook her hand and smiled. So, she wasnt in first year. "Oh, sorry." She stuttered out with an apologetic smile. "Really sorry. I dont pay much attention." She smiled.

Clearly, no one told Kaika about all the options she could choose when it came to schooling. She was used to forget how many schools there were throughout the world. Of course, by now, she'd rather stay in Hogwarts. And she probably prefers the same fate for her brother.

She smiled, and made a mental note of visiting Greece. "I'm sure you do" we all miss home, eventually. But Hogwarts was home, at least for her, "You'll love Hogwarts, really" she decided on saying, "And Hufflepuff even more" if something like that was even possible.

Yes, the girl was probably preferring being at home, "It was probably for the best, who knows" she shrugged, in Kaika's case, however, her father working in the Ministry held nothing great, but Danika's case was obviously different.

Yes. The talk about Greece was bound to get someone's attention. And hopefully, Helios will be nice to both the girl and the boy.

Aren't Greeks supposed to be nice to one another, in spite of what history says?

Oh, well, another year, and another Prince comeback. Nice.

With the ache in his belly becoming but a memory, the future king of an unknown land began to show through the rough exterior. "Enjoy the reprieve from Greece." He began after wiping his mouth with his napkin. Though Greece was practically a paradise, the politics were a tangled web.

Kayla was gone, and he thought his worries from his homeland could wait until graduation. Was this new girl connected to them all in some way? Or could it be possible that she was innocent in all this? When it came to Helios, nobody benefitted from doubt.

In the space between moments, his eyes and his mind wandered to the Gryffindor table. The drum in his chest beat faster, chiseled features molded like clay into something softer. "..such a wonderful place this is.." Helios added as an afterthought, his sharp attitude losing it's edge.

Nia ran her fingers lightly over the front of her hair, feeling if her handiwork had stayed in. Before pulling out her book on the train, she'd been fiddling with her long blonde hair, and french plaited the front section sideways. It felt quite cool, but she had no idea what is actually looked like. Hopefully not a fluffy mess.

She laughed. "Lucky you, I'd never have slept in my compartment! Bit nosy for that." She noticed him looing around at the food. Seemed he was as hungry from sleeping as she was from just sitting. "Not a lot. I just read my book. It's from an old muggle series, nearly finished it now."

William nodded, frowning. He had a whole compartment to himself and hd sung show tunes all the way through to Hogwarts so he knew what Cy meant. "Yeah, same here. At least you were with people though, singing to yourself is not cool." he joked grinning a bit.

"It's blue with a pink rim. Yes I said pink. I like pink, but not a girly pink you know? It's more of a magneta with light pink mixed in." he shrugged, waiting for people to make fun of him. So be it, he knew what he liked. "It's a baseball cap." he added, figuring that would be useful information.

He watched as she played with her hair. It seemed she did that quite a lot. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "It looks amazing. Quite pretty what you've done with it." Sitting back up, he looked back at her and then impatiently back at the dais. Elan really wished this feast would be over.

Her laugh like the water over rocks in a brook made him blush. "I sleep pretty well. I've had the chance to travel all over the continent by train, so you learn to be able to sleep." He listened to her talk about what she did. "What's the series about?" he asked her, scooting just a little bit closer as it was a little difficult to hear her speak.

Oh brother. First Legend was all too confident he would become a King one day - which would NEVER happen, she planned to be a Queen and that didn't add up right. Now Cy was claiming he would take over the world, soon. Next thing you know, Mat would be telling her he took ownership of the planet Mars and made little green alien friends there. Would she be surprised? Absolutely not. Giving him a funny look, Katie's dark orbs rolled towards the ceiling. "Dream on, Cyrus." She said, mumbling something under her breath about boys.

Feigning a sweet smile, Katie looked to Cy, "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Cycy." She said, her tone sugar coated and full of innocence. The little girl poked her tongue out at him, childishly, and then beamed at William. Good, the two did know each other. No need to introduce them or anything of the sorts. The beginning of their conversation did not get left behind, though. Asking quickly, "Why won't you tell me what it means!" Katie frowned at her new fellow Hufflepuff.
This little girl hardly wanted to explore, she didn't want to get lost! And what was exploring without friends? No, Katie would wait for the boys and maybe even Mackayla to go do that, another day. They had seven years here after all - that could wait. "I'll help you," She promised, her dark curls bouncing as her head bobbed up and down. Didn't Will know she would want to? He was her friend.. a good friend, he needed help finding something he lost; of course she would be there.

When the thought occurred to ask what they would be looking for, William and Cy had already gotten to that. A baseball hat. "When will we go?" She asked, turning to look at Will this time. In all truth, Kaitlynnh wanted to escape the welcoming feast. She had for quite a while now, actually.

"Haiii Tash." Tamzin giggled as she moved over to let her cousin sit down. "Sorry fro styealing her erlier Melanie." She smiled again.