WHEEEEE.

Xander happily skipped into the Great Hall after coming off of the train. His legs were all cramped up, so it was time to run walk around and get everything back in motion. Including his muscles so he could show them off to all of the ladies. Oh yes.

Well. He'd rather be impressing one lady. But she was a little too busyy fawning over other guys. PFFT.

So he decided to do a few stretching motions in his robes. Oh, in the middle of the isle.

The train journey of her seventh and final year at Hogwarts had not gone as planned, so Sabrina wondered, as she wandered down the Ravenclaw table trying to decide which seat to occupy, if the start of the year would go according to plan.

Or at least, let it not be worse than the train journey.

Sabrina Evanstar finally seated herself on one of the chairs in the middle of the table and sighed. Where was her brother? Where were her friends? Why did her cat disappear and what happened to the Ravenclaws? This table was, well, empty. The crowd she had to weave her way through to get to the table was ... well ... large. So what happened to her fellow housemates?

The seventeen year old blonde started to tap the table impatiently as she looked around the Great Hall, trying to spot someone she knew.

Thankful that the train ride seemed to have been quicker than it usually did, for Willow could have not possible bear another minute in that compartment that she had been forced to share with that male who thought so highly of himself, the now seventh year stepped inside the great hall with an apathetic expression carved on her pale facial features and looked around.

Whatever was that boy doing in the middle of the aisle? Undoubtedly, the school was full of lunatics, but the last thing Willow had been expecting was to find a young boy doing stretching exercises before the sorting. What was his name again? ... "Alexander Williamsom!" RIGHT? Uh, never mind - thirteen year old kids were the same thing to her anyway, "Doing that in the middle of the aisle is completely improper, especially since the sorting is about to start." Or had it already started? Never mind. "Come and take a seat!" Commanded the brunette.

Ravenclaws were not meant to behave in such a way. Hmph!

Not waiting to see if they boy had listened to her or not -he'd better- the seventeen year old Ravenclaw Captain went to take seat next to Sabrina.

And then scowled at nothing in particular.

Kel had a big, non-teeth-showing smile on his face as he entered the great hall. It felt great to be back at Hogwarts, surrounded by people that he didn't know. He looked around the room as he wandered slowly over to the Ravenclaw table, trying to take everything in - the people, the smells, the way the candles flickered to make it look like they were dancing - everything!

His smile got a bit smaller as he sat down at the Ravvie table by himself, having not seen anyone that he knew. But he wasn't too bummed out, because he knew sooner or later he'd see a familiar face. So for now, he just settled down on the seat to watch the sorting.

ZOMG YELLING. O____O

Xander stood up straight, his hair a little messed up. He looked around, his eyes wide to see who had been yelling at him. Whoever it was knew his name, so that could have been a major plus around here. He was sooo getting popular around the school now. Anyway, back to the person who was yelling at him.

His blue eyes fell upon a girl he had met in Diagon Alley. What was her naaaame? She was friends with Babydoll, err, Evolette. OH. It was a tree. Acorn? No, that was a nut. Which could easily work -- nevermind, he wasn't even planning on going there (hahaha). Okay, think trees. Oak, Pine, Willow... WILLOW KOVAC WAS YELLING AT HIM.

"Yes ma'am!" he squeaked. He might as well have saluted her right then and there. There was a disgusted look on her face, but he didn't even think about it. Instead, he sat his rather nice butt on the bench next to hers. "I... apologize?"

If he didn't, he wasn't sure what was going to happen. But that look on her face...

Note to self: Do not get on Willow Kovac's bad side.

Damon having been sorted walked over to the Ravenclaw house table and sat down for the first time on the bench. It was rather sturdy and Damon thought it could hold several students. Damon looked to the staff table and saw The headmaster in the center seat. It appeared that he was one of the early ones to that table. Damon was hoping his close friends K and Kyrie would enter at some point but he had not yet seen them since he left the train they were of course in different houses. Damon waited patiently for whatever may happen. He wondered if others would talk.

Keeley, now a brand new Ravenclaw, sat down at her new table. She looked around, but all she saw were older kids. So, she sat and waited patiently, praying that her friends were all in Ravenclaw. Just barely noticing that she had sat next to another Ravenclaw newbie

"hi!" emily said sliding in beside the other first year ravenclaw "my name is emily what's yours?" to the rest of the table she said "ravenclaw will rule the school this year!"

If Sabrina hadn't heard Willow's voice boom across the Ravenclaw table as she commanded some boy called Alexander Williamson to sit down, the blonde doubted she would have noticed her friend until Willow sat down next to her. But, as it was, Sabrina did notice. She also happened to realise that Willow was looking like she disapproved of something.

"What's up with you?" She asked Willow, furrowing her own eyebrows. Surely Willow couldn't have had a worse train trip than hers?

What could be worse than witnessing Issy and Samson fight and storm off and watching Samson as he ... Urgh. She didn't want to think about it, sure that if she thought of it anymore, she'd get a headache.

Keeley gave a shy smile as another Ravenclaw firstie sat down. "Hi, I'm Keeley." she replied, and giggled as she cheered for Ravanclaw.

"hi keely! Looking forward to classes? i am I am taking potions, divination, charms.... everything i can!" emily said excited to learn

To be perfectly honest, Issy did not exactly want to be near Sabrina right now. She was a reminder of Samson and Samson was not someone Issy wished to be thinking of because he made her stomach churn and this was a feast and all she'd eaten had been the pieces of chocolate and milk that little first year had given her. Also, Issy was rather miffed at Sabrina not only for siding with Samson, but siding with him in the middle of a fight. Hmphh.

Even still, Issy practically stalked over towards Willow, snagging the seat on her other side. In doing so, the tiny sixth year had managed somehow to use her shoulders and edge her way through the crowd. A quick check had shown that the puffiness had died down around her eyes and she figured that even if Willow could tell she'd been crying, she'd not bother asking. That was rather lovely about Willow, even though Issy really did want to talk about it with someone other than that random first year.

Alas. A letter to Juni later would be in order, but for now, Issy was forced to the sorting ceremony. Dropping down beside Willow, unintentionally squeezing herself between the girl and the boy, Issy dropped her purse to the ground at her feet and scowled forward. She didn't notice that she'd shoved the smaller boy off to the side.

"H'lo, Willow," greeted Issy, failing to muster a pleasant voice. "Had you a nice trip here?"

Issy hadn't found Willow anywhere and had actually spent much of her train ride near the food trolley, sitting on the ground with that little first year.

What was his name, anyway? She supposed that watching the sorting ceremony would help her figure it if, if only she could differ him from the others. At that age, all the first years looked terribly similar; it was the curse of being young, she supposed. Fluffing her hair a bit, Issy fidgeted and smoothed and re-smoothed her skirt, tugged at the hem of her shirt and swung and kicked her legs around.

She hated fighting. Her stomach twisted painfully and unintentionally, an audible sigh escaped from between her lips. With much strength fight, Issy forced herself to concentrate on anything but the train ride, anything but Samson, and anything but the kiss and that l-word because clearly, none of that was meant to be happening at this time and she was being pathetic and how she hated to be pathetic. Glancing at Willow out the corner of her eyes, Issy furtively studied her friend.

Willow was pretty and calm and cool and collected and did not go running after boys who were stupid and did not cry because they were stupid and immature and mean and pushed her away. Though Issy was fully aware that there was one boy (a Hufflepuff boy, who had set the mind of Willow to anti-Hufflepuff males) who had done something to Willow, Issy noted that Willow was not a sappy, pathetic damsel and id not mope about him.

Why was she not more like Willow?

After all, hadn't Willow been the skeptic of Issy's blossoming whatever with Samson? Admittedly, Willow denied any feelings between the two and insisted there be a love potion involved, but the point was, perhaps Willow had seen through some charade that Issy was too lovedrunk to pick up on?

With her long pale fingers drumming lightly against the wooden, Ravenclaw table, Willow watched -scowl still on her face, no less- as Alexander did as told and came to take seat ... next to her. Well, she hadn't asked him to seat with her -Willow could not possibly handle children- but she supposed it was alright.

As long as he didn't start to run around like a lunatic, the seventh year would be fine. "Apology accepted," mused the brunette solemnly and looking as though she indeed believed he owed her an apology. And just because she could, and because she'd seen people do that to children, she patted his brown head as kindly as she could manage - which, she realized, was quite a lot. "Now tell me, how was your summer?" Not that she cared, really - not at all- but it was always nice to ask.

Right? Right.

Oh, and who was talking to her NOW? Could they not see she was busy having a conversation -or at least trying to, certainly- with someone? Oh, it was just Sabrina. What was up with her? Nothing was up with her. "I am perfectly fine, thank you."

CLEARLY, Sabrina wasn't familiar with the fact that scowling was perhaps Willow Kovac's most common facial expression, and ---oh, someone else was talking now! Merlin people these days, had no matter or whatsoever and insisted on interrupting conversations and -- Oh. "Hello, Issy." Hmm. "I did not have a pleasant trip, it was absolutely horrendous." Drama Queen. "How about yours?" Surely not pleasant either, Issy's expression told her that much.

Grrrr. Samson Carswell and that love potion of his.

"I'm very excited, especially for transfiguration. I have a feeling that I'll be good at it.." she trailed off, as her hair flashed a rainbow of colors until it turned back to bleach blonde, that contrasted nicely with her dark skin. She couldn't really help but show off a bit, but still, how many metamorphaguses were at Hogwarts?

"wow! that was cool! my mom says when im angry my hair (which is a golden blonde) turns red, i wonder if i could do that!"

Choluna looked for Bella, Keeley, Carter, or Tori and saw Keeley sitting at the Ravensclaw table! "Yay! You are a Ravensclaw too! Can I sit here? I'm so happy! After all, all of my family was in Ravensclaw so now I don't have to be the the first one to break that tradition and..." Choluna talked and talked and talked and enjoyed her first day at Hogwarts with her friend Keeley!
GO !!!!!!

How did she always manage to lose her friends in the crowd entering the Great Hall?

Mariel wasn't sure how it happened as she was sitting with several of them on the train, but it seemed like every year they got separated once the got to school.

But that wasn't exactly the first thing on her mind as the nearly 15 year old stepped through the doors. Instantly her eyes travelled to the Staff Table where they widened upon seeing the Headmaster already seated there. She had heard that he was mostly likely retaining his position, but her mind still filled with disbelief at the sight. As much as she genuinely liked Professor Bontecou, she couldn't help but feel a little afraid for her safety after last term's incident. Was it really safe that a werewolf oversee the entire school? She wasn't so sure.

With her eyes still fixed on the Staff Table, the Ravenclaw distractedly walked over to her House table, not really sure why as most of her friends were in other houses. More like force of habit. She was so busy staring at the Headmaster that she failed to notice whom she had just sat down next to - not some unfamiliar firstie, but a boy she already knew.

Uh-oh. Sabrina bit her lips and watched Issy nervously.

Was she in trouble? It seemed like it because Issy ignored her. As in, completely ignored her.

Crap, she really should have just shut her mouth. Or even better, found that first year compartment. Or Jake's compartment. Jake was okay, right? Weird, certainly, what with his rainbow coloured boxers which she had accidently seen and his sugar rush issues and being so hyper that he had to take two doses of calming draughts per day and then that incident with him trying to strangle himself, but still, better than walking into a fight between lovers (which she didn't even know if they were. All she knew was they liked each other) and then INTERRUPTING like an idiot that she was.

Urgh.

Or she could have just found herself an empty compartment and suffered in solitude. At least she wouldn't have annoyed Issy AND Samson off.

"Okaaaay." Sabrina said, barely acknowledging Willow's response since she was getting like a massive headache thinking about her stupid train trip now.

Next time, I'll just isolate myself from the rest of them. It seemed like the best solution.

Oh, wait. There was going to be no next time.

"Wow, that's cool!" Keeley replied, as she soon saw the bubbly girl from her compartment sat down on her other side. She greeted her other friend, Choluna, as she told about how amazing Ravenclaw is.

As soon as Celandine entered the great hall she headed to the Ravenclaw table and started skipping around it, making laps, smiling at everyone, tapping the shoulders of those people she knew and in Willow's case, giving the older girl a short hug before moving on.

"I'm back! I'm back! I'm here! Haha! I'm here! We're gonna have fun! Lots of fun! Fu-un! Welcome to you, I don't know you, I'll introduce myself laaaater! I know you though and I'm glad aren't you glad? I'm back! We're back!"

Skip. Skip. Bounce. Skip. Skip. Bounce. Skip. Skip. Bounce.

No really, she was excited.

She'd been SOooooooo close to being pulled from school this term. Sooooooo close.

Evie looked from where she sat at the Ravenclaw House table up at the teachers' table at the front end of the Great Hall. She breathed in deeply the relaxing scent of being back at Hogwarts for her (gasp!) second year and excitement flooded her mind. Even starting classes felt like it couldn't come sooner. She wondered briefly where Jake had gone off to, but one look at the others sitting around her, all smiles and laughs for being back at last, made her forget about much of her worries.

Oh yippee. School again.

A part of her wished that she could just have school done with and have summer vacation all over again, but another part wished for the distraction. After all the drama and everything that had happened over the summer, Livvy wasn't so sure if she could handle all the pressure now. In fact. She wasn't even so sure if she and Rachel were even on speaking terms.

Cam had given her enough of a distraction on the train a few hours earlier, but he wasn't here now, was he? Nothing could prevent her from thinking back to that horrific summer. She should've just said no when Rachel had invited her. Why did Rachel invite her anyway? She knew how much Livvy didn't like Reid and yet she asked her if she wanted to come. But stupid her... just had to go and say yes.

Obviously she wasn't thinking clearly at the moment. Nor was she thinking clearly over the summer when she decided to rain in on her best friend's relationship.

All of these thoughts rushed around like a big tidal wave, in Livvy's head, as she made her way back to the nice and cozy Ravenclaw Table. She wasn't sure what she would do with Rachel. Livvy had pretty much helped wreck that girl's life. What an idiot she had been.

If she hadn't gone out and blurted out how Sienna hadn't told her that she and Reid were engaged, then none of this would've happened. She wouldn't be thinking this right now. Though the guilt would definitely live on since she had caved in from the start. Why did she have such poor judgment? Los Angeles... was bad luck. BAD LUCK.

Sighing, Livvy glanced around for somebody to talk to her, before she sat down quite yet. She noticed Mariel and Keltan and went off in their direction. Smiling gently and a bit forcefully, she sat down next to them. "Hey Kel. Hey Mariel," Livvy said, as cheerful as she could make it sound.

Jenn walked, well skipped into the great hall, a big, wide smile on her face. She was back at HOGWARTS!!! WOOT! WOOT! Her pygmy puff rested safely on her shoulder, little squeeks of excitement coming from it, as well as it's owner. Looking at the tables, she bounded over to the Ravenclaw table, noticing two familiar heads, making her smile widden even more.

"KEL! MARIEL!"she cried, sitting next on the other side of Kel. She reached over to grab a roll, and the jug of pumpkin juice, humming something as she poured it into the goblet. "How are we all this lovely...um...night? Hmm?"she asked, taking a huge bit from it.

Willow was quite the toughie. Had she not been a girl, Xander would be extremely scared of her. Well, he still was scared of her, even if it was a little bit scary to be around... her. There were some things he had heard from the last two years, and he knew she was Quidditch Captain. This was THE Willow Kovac everyone was scared of, in person, next to him. Eeeep!

Except... there were other girls coming now. OLDER girls. If he was paying attention properly, he would have heard Willow's question thoroughly and answered promptly. Seeing as how he was distracted by the curls of the girls sitting around him, he waited a minute.

"Summer was... interesting," he said. Quick. Think of something so she won't eat you. As he was thinking, he did a hairflip to the side to get it out of his eyes. It seemed shinier than normal, and he couldn't figure out why. Maybe it would distract her. "How was your summer? Anything interesting happen?"

Ooh, she was very icy towards that one girl. A blonde girl, just like Sylvia. Sylvia... he wondered where she was at right now. And then Torin would probably need help because of Reese and her attacking him and stuff... Random mind. Maybe he should be nice to his fellow Ravenclaws, especially the girls sitting around him.

"Helloooo ladies," he said happily. "I.. know you don't know me, but... I'm Alexander. You can call me Xander or Alex if you'd like." Gulp. Would he get reprimanded by Willow?