Nunually shook her head. "No, I not yet but I am looking forward to it." she said smiling and listened carefully and her eyes widened. "I am afraid oh heights but I can give it a try the way you make it sound, it sounds exciting." she said and gave her a smile. Then she made her pensive face. "I like trying new things, and it won't hurt me besides mommy says to always face your fears so I will try." she said smiling and got an idea. "Will you guys show me how to play?" she asked clapping her hands together with an excited expression.

Awww, this firstie was a cute one! And that's another student with the fear of height. "Oh, you're not the only one...but I'm glad you're brave to give it a go." She smiled at the girl. "It really is exciting! Imagine..." her hand made another sweeping motion in mid-air, "...sitting on a broom, flying around...no one to stop you," Well, exept for maybe professors and parents, but meh, whos keeping tabs, "Well, your mother really is a smart woman! And we will most definitely teach you how to play, ofcourse. The school has Flying lessons, so you don't need to worry about that." Nothing to worry abooot!

"Have you ever seen a game being played?" Because that would definitely help speed up the learning process.


_________________________________________



Okay, it seemed like they were finally agreeing on something. No more name calling. Good. That didn't mean she would stop coming up with names... Erm, kind of.

"I'm STARVING!" She answered his question, making her head loll back and she looked up at the ceiling. Aw, it was a pretty night tonight. "Are you? You had some of the mashed potato, right?" She winked at him. Noooo, wait. She was acting all friendly with the dude, like nothing had happened. Hmpf. Careful there. She made her wand swish about and cleaned up what looked like...bunny droppings. Omygosh, ew. Blah, it was probably olives or something. How in the hell could kids dirty this place up so much!? "I think we cleaned up our mess..." She glanced at the boy, wondering if he was up for running taking a break, and then back at the Hufflepuff table. She did want to have another piece of the pie...the one that got away.

Her eyes grew as Oliver began to tell about his previous school. She had only read about it through her history books, and some other random pages from the library. But it was always better to hear about things from someone who's been there. "So...like Hogwarts." Did she know about the castle? No? Oh, that must've been a rhetorical question! "I bet it is big, but the grounds here are pretty grand too..."Aw, that sounded like a nice place to go flying indeed- Oops.

She bit her thumb nail and grimaced slightly. Miranda had totally forgotten the part when she had let him assume there was no flying. "I didn't lie... you just assumed there was no flying here..." Poor bloke, Miranda would've wept is someone had lied to her like that. 'Cus no one messed with the powerness of Quidditch!

"Oh, stop that..." Her hand waved for him to stop the salute gesture and she blushed...again. "I'm a Chaser." Yes Mam! "How about you?" They didn't really get the chance to find out before... Hehe.

"I do," she said disagreeing with him. "Don't try to make me feel better because seriously, as long as I'm in a house with some of the most annoying people I won't get over being in the stupid house," Thalia replied shaking her head. "Muggle things are amazing!" she suddenly exclaimed brightly. "For instance, I play the guitar and piano slash keyboard. I also skateboard and like to argue and have spitting contests with my brothers," she informed him with a grin. "I have 5 brothers," she added. The tomboy she was amazed her really. "Yes, I lived with my aunt after begging my parents to let me go with her. I lived in New York for one year in the city. Then I moved to a smaller town in Massachusetts. Have you ever been to the US?" she asked him.

Thalia laughed and just shook her head. "My brain keeps me talking way more than I should," she told her. Then she mentioned her brothers. Oh her brothers. "They can be really annoying sometimes. They turned me into the tomboy I am." That was always a good and bad thing. It meant boys would feel like she was more like one of them than the girl she was. "Oh please don't jinx me with that matter. I don't think I could ever love Parker," Thalia cried with a look of disgust. They would never love each other. Ever. "That's cool you're adopted. I used to ask if I was adopted but nope. I'm their flesh and blood. Though I legally changed my last name," she told her eying Emily. "You won't make enemies with a lot of people. You're too nice," she smiled.

Scipia's eyes widened and a forced half-smile appeared on her face. Lovely...
"So, umm...did you have a good summer? She said obviously uncomfortable as she make a not-so-smooth topic change. Honestly right now she did not really care if it was really noticeable or not...

They have lots of transfers. That's good. Evelyn was really hoping to make lots of good friends at this school. If Hayden didn't get sorted into Hufflepuff, then maybe she could introduce Evelyn to some people in her house. Evelyn turned and looked at the Sorting Hat, sitting on it's stool. Hayden hasn't come in yet. I hope she's alright. Maybe I should have waited with her on the train...

"I've played a lot of Quidditch, but nothing serious. I have a big family, so we play together out over our field. We just levitate crates for goals," Evelyn chuckled. They worked just fine, except when the 'designated levitators' moved a crate just as she was about to block, or score, a goal. Her cousins were lucky she was so forgiving and uncompetitive. Didn't make it any less unfair!

"I'll keep an eye out for the notices. I'll see you at tryouts." Evelyn wasn't sure if she meant this as a farewell or not. She liked Miranda, but she didn't want to keep her from her fifth year friends. And it wasn't like Evelyn wasn't going to see Miranda again. Evelyn didn't mind. Her head was spinning at the mention of other places in the castle she hadn't seen yet. Common room! Darcy said the Hufflepuff common room is somewhere in the basement. Sounds cosy! And the Quidditch pitch! I bet it's enormous!

Evelyn giggled with surprise and happiness. 'No worries. Down unda'. This boy sounded so out of place amongst everyone else here. Is that what I sounded like in Australia with my British accent? "No. I'm a 'Pom', as you Aussies like to call us. Originally from Surrey, past five years spent mostly in New South Wales, and now we're back in England, but we've moved from Surrey to Somerset." He didn't ask for you life story, Evelyn.

Evelyn realised how happy she was that there was an Aussie at Hogwarts. If she ever started to miss Australia, he was always there to at least listen to.

"The school? Yeah. I didn't go there much. I was mostly home-schooled. So... how many years have you been at Hogwarts?"

Nulu didn't seem as worried about flying anymore as she spoke to Miranda about Quidditch. "You should definitely give it a go," Evelyn jumped in, "As long as you're not stupid, there's nothing to be worried about. Those things are built to go fast and keep you safe. Maybe we could practice together sometime?" Evelyn was just excited about flying her Firebolt again! Who cared about whether she made the Quidditch team, Evelyn just wanted to fly! Her mum couldn't send her broom fast enough! Evelyn drank some more hot cocoa to calm herself down before she accidentally made herself fly out of her chair with excitement.

"Cool! We'll be in the same year!" Jenny said, focussed on positive things. That is, until she fell over. "It's okay." She said, dizzy.

Miranda reached over the students heads and grabbed an apple and began to eat it. Mmm, juicy.
Great! She has played before! "Oh, that sounds like alot of fun." It did, Miranda only played with her brother or father... mostly her father since her brother was in Sweden... and her mother was a muggle, so she didn't know what to do with a broom exept for sweep. "Great, I'm glad you will, hehe!" Miranda put on a very approving facial expression.

She watched the two girls interacting, all the while her apple was stripped of its juicy meat. "That's the spirit!" She said before swallowing her food and reached out a hand to high-five Evelyn.

Avery laughed right alone with the corny joke that Anza had made. It was after all pretty funny. "I'm not going anywhere! Not unless you want me to?" Avery began to eat everything within reach, she had been hungry for so long it felt like she hadent' eaten in days. When she had finished eating she turned to Anza "Come on Anza, lets go find our Dormitory and claim the best beds!" Avery got up off the bench and held out her hand waiting for her new friend to take it.

"Rex, I mmm I don't know if thats a good idea. Mmmm..There is a girl in Gryffindor that...well hate me. Her name is Alexandra Kennedy. I don't think she would take to kindly of me sitting at that table." Kay said looking at the Gryffindor table.

Listening to Rex and Kita talking Kay felt bad. Was she making her friend try out. "Kita, I didn't mean to make you try out. I just thought you loved Quidditch and would want to." Kay said sadly. "I don't want to make you do anything."

"Thanks Rex for saying so." Kay smiled. "I think we will have a great year. House cup and Quidditch this year I think" Kay said holding up her glass.

"Hi Miranda. How was your summer?" Kay said smiling at her New Quidditch Captain. "I'm to hear the you got Captain this year. When do you think they will let us have try out?" Kay asked itching get on a broom again.

"Kita I think we can get up to the common rooms now." Kay said "I'll walk up with you when we're done."

Evelyn slammed her empty mug down on the table with a contented sigh. Her body felt full to the brim of warm, good things.

All of a sudden, there was a hand coming towards her. Haha! It was Miranda, reaching out to high five. Evelyn raised her hand and clapped it against Miranda's, laughing. Go Quidditch! Go Hufflepuff! Gah, I love these people!

Evelyn looked around at what food was left on the table. There is absolutely no way I could eat anything else.

Nunually was sitting at the edge of her seat and as the older girl. She was a little afraid of asking for her name right now especially since she was talking about quidditch. Nunually closed her eyes and imagined sitting on a broom, flying around holding on tightly, but even her fear couldn't prevent her from enjoying her imaginations view. As she finished she smiled. "Mommy is amazing." she said happily and proudly. She clapped her hands together once more and smiled. "I love mommy." she said and continued to smile. She shook her head. "No not yet. But I bought a book on Quidditch." she said as she put her index finger on her cheek and looked up to think about it.


Nunually smiled and giggled as she turned back to Thalia. "My nerves is what keeps me talking." she said and laughed. "So far with the people I have spoken to who have brothers they all say the same thing." she said thinking about what all the other people had said about brother including Emily and Seb. "Tomboys aren't bad mommy was one when she was younger. She had the best time. No one messed with her." she told her and giggled. "Don't tell me tell who ever started it, the love hate relationship." she said and said. "But then again daddy wasn't a snob just hated mommy for hogging the swing." she said. She wasn;t sure what to say, she was happy that she had been adopted by her mommy, but she sometimes wondered if mommy would be better off, adopted daddy would have stayed with her and Nunually would have meet her real parents. She smiled. She loved her mommy. "You did?" she asked surpriced. When she told Nunually that she was to nice Nunually turned blood red. "Oh you think so? No one has ever told me that before." she said happily yet blushing.

"Yep I feel from a tree while trying to get Jeremy my cat down." she said happily. "Mommy also bought a trampoline, and we jumped on it for what we had left of summer." she told her.

Nunually turned to Evelyn and continued to smile. "Sounds like fun." she said happily. "I will and I won't." she then stopped. "I will give it a go, and will not do anything dumb." she said happily. "Can we? You won't mind?" she asked her as Evelyn said that they could maybe practice together her eyes got filled with tears of happiness. She clapped her hands together once more and closed her eyes. Mommy I have made good friends today, they are all so nice and kind

Ema smiled. "Thanks. I've hit a few wrong people during practice, though." she smirked, thinking of Dominic (*snifffff*) and Jake (mwahaha), whom she had almost sent into a concussion before. "It'll be an excellent year." Hopefully...

Ema bit her lip. "I dunno, she might have. Nah, I didn't have one...I almost did, but I decided just to stick to the deserts on the table. Anything being personally handed out is a little...sketchy." she winked.

Ema glared at nothing in particular. "Oooh yes, that is so tricksy and selfish, me thinks." she pondered. How rude, I mean c'mon, let da oddahs get a chancee! "Were they like that on both teams?"

Ema beamed as Kizzie Ainsley was set on her palm. Yayyyy!!! She held the figure close up to her face and peered at her little perfect features. It was so cool that she...moved, constantly! "Oooh my brother will be jealous. He never gets to see anything magic, except for occasionally my school books and the Daily Prophet." MWAHAHAHA! But...she would not let him touch it. No WAY! Five years ago she would be amazed that it moved at all.

Ema looked up and shook her head ferociously. "No no no no no no no no, I LOVE IT!" she held Kizzie close to her. And you won't be taking her away now, woman!! *Ahem*. "Anddd...yes, I'm alright." a little emotional and crazy, but alright. But then...ohh goodness Miranda hugged her.

Ema squeezed her eyes shut to prevent the water works. Somehow a hug really did her in, for no reason at all. She hugged Miranda tightly back, snuggling her face into her shoulder.

Yep. Apparently she really needed a hug.

Ema cocked her head at the little giggling girl and couldn't help giggling with her. "Right! Nothing is really impossible." she nodded in agreement with the 'revolving door' comment.

"Quidditch isn't so hard," said Esmerelda, "You just need to watch out for bludgers." Out of all the games she's played, whether designed for muggles or for wizards, Quidditch was her most favorite game.

“Merlin's pants yeah.” He nodded and then smirked at her. “You cheeky mare. Yeah. I got some potato.” And apart from that he had only had some bread and peanuts. Before SOMEBODY decided that wiping spittle on his face was a good idea and... well – he was pleased that was over. He followed her eyes to the ceiling and they widened. How come he hadn't noticed THAT before!? Even when studying the Hufflepuff banner, the enchanted ceiling hadn't registered. “Whoa.” He said, tilting his neck back further and looking straight up. “Someone's worked some cool mojo on THAT thing. You've got to be pretty powerful to create something like that.” He looked at Miranda to see her cleaning up something.. gross looking and he screwed up his face. “Leave that crap to the house elves.” Urgh.. He nodded – his sentiments exactly. “I think we deserve something to eat now.”

And with that, he headed straight back to the Huffie table not even thinking about joining his own housemates. And, ahhhhh.. it was just as cosy along the bench as it had been before. He wiggled his bum, causing the whole bench to move while he got settled there then dived into the food. Sausages, bacon, ham, pork, chicken – lots of meat and a tiiiiiiny portion of vegetables.

“Yeah. Like Hogwarts.” He replied. “But cold and sort of run a bit like a military operation. I was in the a house called Chimare. I suppose for the same reasons I'm now a Slytherin.” He shrugged.

“It's ok. I didn't say you lied. Just fooled me... and that's ok.” He winked. “But you did say there was NO flying professor.” Which... was a lie wasn't it? Hehehe. Crafty badger. “It's a relief to know it's not true, otherwise...” He looked towards the doors at the other end of the hall. “..I'd be outta here.” And what a shame that would have been seeing as he and Rodent were getting along so well now.

“Chaser! Good call. You look like a chaser. Little people usually make good chasers.” hehe. He couldn't resist getting that one in. “Me?” He punched the palm of his hand. “I'm a Beater.” He said proudly. Oh what fun it was to get rid of your pent up aggression on the Quidditch pitch where it wasn't against any rules to beat someone about a bit.

Anza giggled, and grabbed her hand after polishing of the last bit of her pudding, and following her to the dorms. All of a sudden, things were looking up in wways they hadn't when she first walked in the hall. "Lead the way." she saaid, half joking, and half serious. "You know where the dorm is?"

Spreading the ice cream over her pie she looked over to Lawson, who had already finished his pie. She had never knew a old person(old in her eyes) to eat pie sooo fast. And watching him interact with the other student she thought he was pretty cool, for an old guy."So what do you teach?"Even though she saw him speaking to other student she wasn't paying attention to their conversations and missed it when he told them what subject he taught.

Finished spreading her ice cream she took a bit and looked back to Reese. She waited to swallow her food before saying, "My daddy loves muggles.Guess that's one reason why he married my ma."Arya was hoping for a more exciting class, being a half-blood she knew everything there was to know about muggles.The only reason she planed on taking the class was cause her dad really wanted her to,she didn't care though cause it sounded easy to her."I lovvvve animals, so I can't wait for Care of Magical Creatures. And I want to learn more spells so I can't wait for Defense Against the Dark Arts too."

Nunually smiled as they both were giggling. She eventually stopped rubbed her eyes. She was getting sleepy. The sugar from earlier was fading and she began to look tired.


"Bludgers?" she said and looked at her. "I think I need to read the book I bought about Quidditch." she said and smiled at both. "Emalyn, Esme, I'm tired I think I am going to head up to bed..." she said rubbing her eyes. "But I don't know the way so this shall be fun." she said smiling and looked aroun. "Were to go?"

"Oh." Wide eyed, Wesley tried to imagine Mariel sitting next to her and Sarah. Loosing eye-contact as her eye's took on a dreamy glaze, Wesley could just picture it. The studious Ravenclaw would be across from them; her long, dark hair draped in front of her face as she read one of her new textbooks (for the second time), looking up occasionally with a calm smile that seemed out of place for one so young. Perhaps it was the gap in ages that made Sarah and Mariel seem so much older than Wesley. But then, when they were all together, laughing and eating ice cream, the Hufflepuff imagined herself just the same as the others.

A flicker of a smile appeared on the young girl's face, but it vanished as she took in the Great Hall's scene once more. Glancing impulsively across the table, her heart fell as she saw that Mariel was not there. Then the empty spot, which she had almost forgotten, felt empty once more.

"It's harder than it sounds," she commented sadly, staring at her lap, but soon after giggled, looking back up at Sarah with lighted eyes.

"Oh Sarah- it's going to be so fun imagining Mariel with me all the time! It'll be like a sleepover every night! Just like back in the Ravenclaw tower! I never saw her in any of my classes before, but she'll be in all of them now!"

Wesley giggled some more, delighted, then,

"Do you suppose Mariel's imagining us right now?"

Tomorrow morning, she'd skip breakfast and head straight up to the Owlery. She hadn't been able to send her friend a letter all summer long.

"Well no actually, I don't know where it is, but I was sort of hoping to just follow the rest of the Hufflepuff's and see where that leads us" Avery was laughing as she pulled Anza along with her as she followed an older Hufflepuff toward what looked like the kitchen.

Kylie smiled politely. "It was... well, nothing short of interesting. My brother got to see quite a bit of the wizarding world. It was nice letting him know about it--we're quite close you see..." She got cut off by the crowd moving out of the feast and towards their dorms and various other places. "I think I should be going now, Professor. But I'll be sure to stop by you're room sometime soon! Muggle studies now, correct?" She'd heard a few rumors here and there...

Well that was certainly unexpected, Marcus hadn't expected Jake to be so honest and forthright and he couldn't help but frown slightly as he watched Jake pet Charlie. "Yes you did and I am willing to take your word for it but if I hear otherwise and you know I will..." He didn't bother to finish the sentence, Marcus knew the boy would know what would happen.

He was tempted to tell Jake, that he didn't need to get the amulet back because he had plenty more of them but decided against it. He kinda wanted to see if the boy could actually talk Kazi into giving it back to him.

Marcus' face lit up at the mention of Iliana and he gave Jake a small knowing look before chuckling softly. "Oh she is very good. I should probably get back to her before the feast finishes." Thank Merlin his wife was very understanding and realised how much of a child he could be at times.

He had reached out and grabbed Jake's hand just as the boy asked if he could have some pie. "No." And there was a lot of feeling in that one word. Marcus was not going through another episode like the one in DA. "Come to my office after the feast, I have some sugar free snacks in there."

Yes you heard correctly, Marcus Lawson carried sugar free snacks.

"Actually no I didn't get to go." Marcus threw Jake a sideways glance and there was a definite hint of laughter in his eyes. "I decided to try my hand camping in the wilderness...muggle style."

Never again!!!

Marcus gave her a pat on the shoulder and chuckled softly, "Ah I am sure you will do a great job Miranda. Doesn't matter if you win, so long as you have fun right?" Not sure if that was the right thing to say, he knew how seriously these people took their sports. At her question, Marcus burst out laughing, "Me? Play quidditch? Er...no I didn't. Wasn't my thing, I was more at home on the stage with a guitar in my hand." And a crowd of screaming girls in front of him. "Come and see me anytime Miranda but I think should head back to my wife now."


Marcus nodded at Reese, getting all excited because he thought she was going to bring him some chocolate. "Okay, I'll catch you later Reese." Yep he really needed to head back to the staff table.

"Defen - oops Muggle Studies. I used to teach DADA but the Headmaster thought it would be better if I taught Muggle Studies instead." Of course Marcus had forgotten to mention that it had been Professor Kazimeriz (acting headmaster last term) that had decided that and not the new guy.

"Well it was really nice to meet you Arya but I think I better head back to the staff table now, my wife probably thinks I have gotten lost or something." He was just lucky that Iliana was a very understanding woman. "Call by my office anytime you like."

"Yes I need to get back to my wife" he chuckled as he walked alongside Kylie. "That's correct Muggle Studies now and my door is always open." Marcus gave Kylie a wave as he sauntered back to the staff table.

When Arya heard he was teaching muggle studies she became more excited. If she was gonna take the class she was glad to have such a nice teacher. "Okie dokie Professor, it was fun meeting you to." She was definatly gonna take him on the offer to visit his office.

Well, thank you mam about telling me about my playing Quidditch " Rex told Kita. " I am going to watch out for you and the HufflePuff team, mam" Rex said to Kita.

"Well, then I might be in trouble with you" Rex told Kay. "Alexa and I are friends" Rex said to Kay. " I have been at the Slytherin table kind of talking/ teasing those girls Evelyn and Destiny who picked on us plus Avery and I are not on speaking terms right now, but I came to your table" Rex explained to Kat. " No offense but I am rootng for Gryffindor to win the house cup again and the Quidditch cup this term" Rex laughed. "Dear, I would like you really come to me to the Gryffindor table" Rex slightly begged her.

"Ema. I believe you now, just do not hurt me, mam" Rex told her laughing. "Desserts are good food. mam" Rex said to Emalyn.

"It'll be fun! Once you've had some flying lessons, we can go down to the pitch and take turns on my broom." Evelyn groaned at the thought of having to wait a week for her Firebolt to get here. She wanted to fly it right now!!

Evelyn took a few deep breaths to calm herself. And then, exhaustion hit her like a wave. Her whole body felt like it was about to shut down.

Evelyn looked up again when she heard Nulu mention heading up to bed. "Hmmm. I think we actually go down." Evelyn laughed, hoping Nulu found the common rooms.

Evelyn was torn. Her body was about to collapse at any moment, but her mind was still alert. I don't want to go bed yet! This night has gone too quickly. But I am itching to go see the Hufflepuff common room... Evelyn took another Chocolate Frog out of her pocket and gobbled it down, hoping it would give her the energy to make it downstairs.

She waved goodbye to all who were still at the table, even those she hadn't spoken to. This had been a great start to her time at Hogwarts.

Kay thought about go to the Gryffindor table. "Well, alright, But remember I told you so." Kay stood up and took his hand tightly. "And as to the cups. Honey we will see. So don't forget to sigh up for try out." Kay giggled and looked at the Gryffindor table. 'am I nuts!' kay thought. "Alexandra is going to kill me." Kay said softly as she like around for Alexs boyfriend. Where was Lorcan?