"Hi, I'm Jenny, what's your name?" Jenny said merrily. She wanted a lot of friends to keep forever. Having school friends is so much fun when you're magical. She swished around her reddish strawberry blond hair. "Red hair? My second cousin, Kiera, who graduated, had red hair." Jenny said, revealing other family members for the first time.

Cadence smiled at the new girl who had joined them. "Hello, Jenny. I'm Cadence, and this is Avery." she replied, indicating the girl sitting next to her.

Wesley was sitting at one of the study tables. After accidentally spilling an entire ink bottle on her bed while working on Astronomy homework, the Hufflepuff had decided it would probably be a better idea to do her work on a solid surface. It didn't matter that the spot had vanished by the time she'd returned later after eating dinner; Wesley wanted to be safe. She didn't want to be expelled.

Bending over in her seat, the 13-year-old fingered through the paper in her bag, looking for her Transfiguration notes.

Astronomy...Muggle Studies...Divination...

"Transfiguration!" she exclaimed, pulling out the stack of parchment with gusto, before remembering there were other people in the room. Wide eyed and face flushed, Wesley turned around, giving an embarrassed smile to anyone who happened to hear her outburst.

Then, for what seemed like forever, she worked on her assignment. Beginning to doubt she would ever finish, the Hufflepuff looked at the last question, filled with relief.


Wesley could do this. She attempted to draw her wand, but seeing as it was rather difficult to draw from a hip holster while sitting, the teenager was forced to stand.

Eyes on her notes, she muttered the directions under her breath before closing her eyes to imagine the most beautiful, lovely, fabulous, exquisite butterfly in the whole wide

WAIT.

There were no windows in the common room. The butterfly would die.

Lip trembling as she began to remember similar cruelties that had befallen on innocent creatures that week, Wesley shook her head and looked back at her paper.

Flowers. Right.

Sweeping her arm in a circular motion for practice, Wesley squeezed her eyes shut, picturing lots and lots of small zinnias.

At last, picture burned into her mind, the Hufflepuff moved her wand in a circle while whispering, "Orchideous."

Right before her open eyes, Zinnias littered the floor. She jumped on her heals, ecstatic. They were so pretty!

So pretty she just had to say Orchideous a few more times.

At last satisfied, the Hufflepuff gently scooped them up into her arms, taking a big whiff of the flowery perfume and letting it out in an over exaggerated sigh.

Sitting on the ground, Wesley fingered the smooth petals. They were just like little babies. Little flower babies. She giggled at the very thought, then began to name them, one by one,

"Arabella, Loretta, Henrietta, Penelope-" Oh look! A boy! (because Wesley could just tell these things), "Jean-Claude, Ophelia, Wynonna..."

As Sarah sat, still lazily chewing on her quill and staring at the questions in front of her, a little voice rang out. Transfiguration! Startled, she dropped the quill in her lap and accidently knocked it on the floor near the fire. "Ooooh no no!" Sarah squealed, leaning forward to retrieve it before it was consumed by the flames, then looking around to see where the voice had come from.

Ahhhh, Wesley.

She should have known.And probably would have done if she'd have been paying attention in the first place.It seemed her friend was attempting her homework as well, and Sarah shifted herself in her seat to get a better view and watch.The concentration on the third years face was fabulous, if that was anything to go by the spell would be a great success.And it was.

"Well done, Wes!" Sarah called out to her from her still sitting position.Getting up, she abandoned her own homework in the seat and went over to her friend. "You're giving the petals names....?" A curious quirk of the eyebrow accompanied Sarah sitting down on the floor next to Wesley. "I did mine down by the lake earlier, with butterflies.Nice to see that you're doing your homework," she winked, giving Wesley a gentle nudge, giggling.

Kay walked into the common room and went to her favorite sofa by the fire. She dropped her stuff and flopped on to the sofa. She had to get started on her homework and turn it in. Divination, Muggle Studies, DADA all needed to get done. "Wow, so much and only just started." Kay said not to anyone really. She sat up and started to pull her things out. What she didn't know was where to start. With a sigh she pulled her Muggle Sudies notes and book out. Putting them on the table she sat looking at it. Kay really didn't want to do homework, she just wanted to go back out there and find Rex. She wanted to go sit by the lake and hold his hand. Watching the fire, Kay sighed again and opened her book.

"...Delia, Emerald Mae, Yvonne, Felici-"

Wesley was interrupted by someon - Sarah, her brain automatically translated - calling her name. Lifting her her head up, she smiled and waved, sending a few flowers scattering. "Oh no!" the tiny girl cried, picking them up carefully and placing them back in her lap with their siblings. "It's okay. It's okay. You're okay," Wesley whispered, softly patting them.

Frowning in puzzlement as Sarah sat next to her, Wesley responded, "Of course. Don't you?" How depressing the world would be if everyone called each other 'human'.

"Ooooh! What kinds of butterflies?" Wesley giggled back as Sarah nudged her, partly because she was especially ticklish, and partly because giggles were contagious. She could hardly stop in Transfiguration with Mrs. Pilliwickle letting loose every other second. Wesley giggled even more at the very thought of that class. She had decided that Transfiguration was her very most favorite subject; even more than Arithmancy.

"I have to do my homework. We're going to win this year!" The 13-year-old was absolutely positive. She knew this just as certainly as she knew Jean-Claude was a boy.

"Hi Cadence! Hi Avery!" Jenny said happily. Smiling, she began to think. "What year are you in? I'm a first year." Jenny stated.

"I'm in third, but Avery is in first, too." She surveyed the girl.. she didn't seem like she had a lot of friends. Cadence motioned toward a chair, indicating she should join them. "What do you think of Hogwarts so far?"

Miranda just sat still, as if in doing this, the boy would just...Stay calm. Eh? She smiled as Aaron contemplated about the comfortable floor, he seemed to not mind actually sitting there. "Yeah..." she said, now looking around the floor. "It kinnda is!" Actually, the floor was not too bad, though maybe not to sit on all the time.

Aw. Miranda looked at the sweet Huffie boy and chuckled. Gosh. She did love her house. "Well, that was really nice of you Aaron. You sure are a Hufflepuff." She nodded and truly wanted to give this boy a big bag of chocolate frogs. Hmmm... Secret stash. Trunk. Go. Get. It. Hehe.

A laugh escaped her as she listened how Aaron was pronouncing her name. Awww! Must. Resist. Pinching. Cheeks. Hehehehe! But she noticed a little flush creeping up on the boy's cheeks and she hoped she hadn't embarrassed him or something. Ooooh, so he comes from a Quidditch family! Well then, this boy must really be talented.
Her eyebrows rose as Aaron pointed at her badge, and her hand slowly went to touch it. Gosh, it only come to her now, that the honour of being the Quidditch Captain had alot of history behind it. How many Hufflepuff's had worn this badge before her? Miranda only knew of two.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she smiled at the boy. "Well I'm sure your family is proud that you got into Hufflepuff. And who knows, one day you might be wearing this badge." Wow. The future. It scared her sometimes.

And then she heard a familiar voice, and Miranda's gaze went to the rather...tall girl. High heels. Well maybe not that high, but the Captain had trouble walking in anything but flats. "Heya Brody." Miranda smiled up at the girl. Why we're on the floor? She glanced at Aaron with a smirk. "We're keeping eachother company. It's pretty nice. Want to joi us?" Introductions maybe? "Aaron, this is Brody Summers. Brody, this is Aaron Rose." Tehe!

Nate came in and looked around the crowded room. He saw her talking to her first year friend wearing his jacket. He carefully brought over the hot chocolates and set them down next to her. He took of his jacket and replaced it with hug. "Hey Cadikins. Hey...Avery? right?"

Zach walked into the common room. He felt like it had been forever since he'd seen anyone even though the term had just started. He sat down in a cushy chair and looked around the room. Hmm. He never realized that he hadn't really met many people before.

"Hi there!" She smiled at him thankfully for the hot chocolate and gave him a little kiss. "This is Jenny, Nate, she's a first year, too... like Avery." She looked around, noticing there were no more empty chairs in the near vicinity. Cadence stood up, waiting for Nate to sit down so she could sit in his lap.

Nate smiled when she got up for him to sit. Nate sat down and pulled her onto him. He rested his chin on her shoulder and looked at the two girls. He kissed Cad's neck trying to flirt a little. She had changed and dried off since they last talked. He on the other hand was still soaking wet. "Hey Cadikins? Would you mind if I go change into some dry clothes?" he said into her hair.

Cadence had just sat down on Nate when he mentioned being wet, and she jumped up as quickly as she could laughing. "Yes, yes! I forgot. Go change! I don't want to be all wet again!"

Nate kissed her forehead and waved to the two other girls. He went to dormatory and changed into jeans and a red tightish t-shirt. He grabbed a sweatshirt to exchange for his jacket back on his way out. It was gray but he had worn in most of last year and some of the summer so it smelt like him.

Nate sat down on top of Cad and quickly exchanged jackets before she could protest.

Cadence laughed when she felt Nate sit on top of her. "Hey! Ouch! Get off! I'm littler than you!" She pushed on his back trying to get him up while laughing. Completely distracted, she didn't even notice the exchange of jackets. Until after it had happened. She picked up the sweatshirt, prepared to protest, but then she smelled it and decided not to. "Can I have my legs back now pleeeeeease Nateypoo?" she said, giving him the puppy dog look.

Nate stood up and kissed her before letting her up. He looked at the first years, "Sorry for the PDA." he said sitting down and sliding on his jacket. Nate patted his lap and waited for Cad to sit before he drank his hot cocoa.

Aaron liked this girl; she was all calm and whatnot, which in some sense had its means of keeping him sitting still. Plus the fact that she was all friendly and didn't dare to shove him aside because he was only a first year, which was totally sweet of her! Of course he wasn't really sure what he expected from the older students, but he guessed he expected them to not be so helpful and kind, but to hang out with kids their own age. "Quite so," he smiled, happy she agreed with him on the niceness of the floor.

Cue more pink undertones, as Miranda said he was a Hufflepuff. "So are you," Aaron agreed wholeheartedly. Gosh, he wanted to climb onto her lap right now. She was being TOO sweet! EEP!

"My family ... I need to owl home and tell them I got into Hufflepuff actually," the first year pouted slightly, eyes narrowing. "I think they'll be proud though. All except for my one brother; he was a Gryffindor. And maybe, one day I will be wearing that badge. And be better than my sister, naturally." Because then he could stop hearing about how she excelled at everything and start hearing everyone talk about HIM.



That was when another girl approached them and started talking to them, as in him and Miranda, Aaron could only assume. But she questioned them being on the floor? Strange, high-maintenance girl! Aaron didn't like that at all; more girls should be like Miranda and down-to-earth like she was. Miranda seemed to know the girl though and defended their floor sitting; YAY! Aww and she introduced him to the girl, who evidently was named 'Brody Summers'. Weird name.

"Hi Brody," Aaron greeted, "Yes, I'm Aaron and you should like totally join us on the floor. It's WAY better and cooler than the couches." Duh; couches were so overrated.



Except when pretty older girls with a badge sat on them.

Aaron eyed the newcomer cautiously as she sat down on the couch by the fire, as she pulled her legs beneath her and started doing her homework. Studious girl too. But her lap appeared SO comfortable! He wanted to pounce on it right now! Mischievous look glazing his eyes, Aaron looked from Miranda to Brody and then back at the girl. A moment later, the first year sprung up like a slinky. "May I sit?" He asked the Prefect, even though she moved to go join an apparent friendwho was . . . naming flowers? ... whose name he would learn in a moment. Oh yes, he was totally gonna get the 'in' with his House Prefect right about now . . .

"Yeah, I don't. I'm being forced." Peyton sighed "But when I'm 17, I'll be able to decide for myself." she grinned. "Awesome! I can't wait, Torin!" and she really, really couldn't!

"Yeah, I suppose you would." she didn't mention that she knew. Because then he could say she was stalking him or something.

Jenny smiled, moving to the chair. "I love it so far. It's really big!" She said, looking at the ceiling. She knew how big it was. "Well, do you ever think about when you graduate Hogwarts? I think I'll be an Auror." Jenny said, loving the stuff around her. She didn't want to graduate though.

Avery was lost in her own thoughts looking for Nymphy..she wished he'd get her soon. Before she knew it Nate and a new girl....Jenny? did she hear that right, were talking to her. Cadence must have introduced her to the new girl because Jenny knew her name. "Yes my name is Avery..I'm a first year too!" She said to Jenny. "Cadence have you seen Nymphy at all yet?" Avery was getting nervous.

He listened withinterest. "that's very cool. It must have been very exciting to travel to different places." He noticed her scowl..and added, "and I suppose a bit lonely."

He smiled as many people felt that way. "You're right. The past is the past, but it is the past which shapes our present and prepares us for the future. It is from the triumphs and the failures of the past that we can move forward to a better tomorrow." He smiled. "Yes, I suppose geeks do make good tutors."

Elan extended his hand. "Hi, Avery. I'm Elan. it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Not usually," Sarah giggled, getting herself comfy and eyeing up the many flowers Wesley had produced, as the young girl soothed them like they were children.That was something she had not seen anyone do before.Maybe Professor Bunbury did! Sarah made a mental note to stalk her in the greenhouses one day to find out. "What sort are they anyway?" She asked, curiously.As good with flower species as she was butterfly ones.

"Ohh I have no idea...truly.They were orange, and some were orangey blue.I'd need to look them up though..." Smiling, Sarah shook her head as Wesley giggled.This homework, and certainly the lesson, had bought out the childish side in all of them.SUCH FUN!

"That is the spirit!" Sarah clapped, then patted Wesley on the back. "With an attitude like that, I'm sure we will...and I'm so proud that you are setting a good example to the younger kids, Wes.Thank you." Wrapping an arm around her friend, Sarah made sure not to crush any petals as she gave her a squeeze.

A voice.
A young voice.
Talking to them?

Sarah looked up and into the face of the young man that she had seen talking to Miranda over the other side of the room. "Uhhh, sure," she smiled, leaning over and grabbing her homework off the seat she had previously been in, just in case he meant there. "Be my guest, chair or floor, you're welcome to either.I'm Sarah Griffin, one of your Prefect's, and this is Wesley Reagan," she said, gesturing to the girl on the floor next to her, before holding her hand out, offering to shake his. "And you would be?"

"Zinnias! In Han-a-ko-to-ba," Wesley said the word slowly, scrunching up her nose as she remembered the name, "which is the Japanese language of flowers, Zinnia means loyalty." The Hufflepuff carefully reached for her bag (so as not to disturb the babies), pulling out her divination book and flipping to the right page. Setting it on the ground in front of her, she pointed at the flower. "We learned about it last year in Divination. We were paired with the Slytherins. Evan threw-" Wesley paused and blinked. She had been about mention how the boy had vomited, but if Evan was anything like her, he'd be hoping everyone forgot about his sudden illness. Wesley would not be the one to keep that memory alive.

"Oh! They sound lovely!" the 13-year-old exclaimed, breathlessly. Butterflies were be-a-utiful, second only to Nifflers and, of course, Charles.

Blushing with all the compliments, Wesley nodded, shrinking into herself before she remembered she was a TEENAGER. Puffing up with pride, the 13-year-old attempted to look serious and mature. "It's my duty," she said in what she believed was a low, gruff, grown up voice.

Was it just Wesley, or did this boy look really short? If it wasn't for her flowers, she would have jumped up and insisted on measuring herself with him.

"Hel-,"she began in her normal cheerful voice, before she remembered she was an adult and therefore needed to talk lower, "-lo."

Following Sarah's lead, and Mother's constant etiquette lessons, Wesley stuck her hand out too. The Hufflepuff gave a small, "mature" smile and a small "mature" nodd.

She was so mature.

"Yea-" She began, then realized she changed her plan of what she would say, "I'm Jenny. Yay!" She said, indicating she was, heh, happy.