Gryffindor Common Room
 

Excited to be back, to be home, Tori slowly walked across the common room and grinned. The fire crackling friendly in fire place seemed to hug her with it's warmth. Invitations were coming from all the plump, squashy armchairs that were all around the room. Everything was perfectly the same as she had left it. Tori, sauntered over to the chair nearest to the fireplace and plopped into it, allowing herself to sink in the chair and be devoured by its soft, comfortable hug, something like a gentle bear-hug. She closed her eyes and relaxed herself in her favorite place

Brant walked in after pinning up the Quidditch notice. "Hey Tori, how are you. Don't forget to sign up for Quidditch and come to the question and answer thing all day tomorrow!" he said while sitting down next to her.

Adelyn entered the Gryffindor common room, and looked around in awe. Hogwarts just kept surprising her more and more. Everything was so grand, she simply could not believe she was here.

Rafe strolled into the Common Room and took in a deep breath and sighed, "Home Sweet Home." Rafe plopped right on the couch with his feet up. Rafe nodded to Tori and Brant and just took in the moment of being back at Hogwarts.

Without opening her eyes, Tori said, "Hello Brant I already did before I came up to the common room." Shifting lazily toward the source of Brant's voice she continued saying, "Sure thing. Anything to defend to title." before opening her brown eyes to look at the quidditch captain.
"It looks like you enjoyed your summer."she remarked, coolly.

"Yes Tori, I had a great summer.." he said as he spotted Lyn. "Hey Little sister Lyn, Over here!" he said calling over to her.

Hearing her newly appointed nickname called from across the room, she looked over in the direction the voice came from, and spotted Brant. Adelyn smiled and skipped over to where he was. "Hi!" She said happily.

Tori chuckled a bit at Brant's response. He was calling over a girl that appeared to be a first year."Your little sister? How cute."Tori said smiling at the girl.

"Hello. I'm Tori Hardene. I'm a third year. What's your name?"she replied to the girl.

"Hi Tori. I'm Adelyn." She smiled at the third year, "And I'm not really his little sister, he just decided he was going to be my big brother, since we're both only childs."

"Oh. That's nice. Well, if you need any help, that he, a boy, can't give, you can talk to me." Tori chuckled. "So, tell me about yourself."

"Yeah Tori, I've taken her under my awesome Wing, ahahah" he said while laughing.

He looked at Lyn "Oh, I grabbed these for you before you came in. Its the stuff to take care of Jinx." he started to ruffle through the bag. "Theres some kitty litter, and some treats and some dishes that says his name for you. and some toys and a brush. and you don't have to give them back to me, for I have my own. So Jinx can go where ever he pleases!" he said while smiling at her.

"Where is Jinx, Lyn. Im surprised that he isn't in your lap right now. Sleeping as usual" he said while laughing again.

"Okay, thanks!" Adelyn replied with a giggle. "Well, I'm a halfblood; my mum's a muggle and my dad was a wizard. He died when I was six, but he was in Gryffindor, too. And um.. I don't know what else you want to know." She laughed again, blushing a light shade of pink.

She looked at all of Jinx's things, and then smiled up at Brant. "Thanks! I've always wanted a cat, but my mum wouldn't let me have one. This is going to be so cool!" She said laughing, looking around for the black cat.

"Oh really. Well, Brant that's really admirable."Tori remarked, complimenting him.

Tori laughed a little."That sounds like my story. My mom's muggle too and my dad was a wizard except he died when I was in my first year. I don't know which house he was in though."she said, with a soft expression. She had not expected to find such common grounds with Adelyn.
"Well, I hope you find as many known unknowns and alot of unknown knowns."Tori continued, with a friendly smile, partly at the girl's innocent pink shade.

Magnolia had gotten separated from her friends in the rush to get to the common room and now she found herself in the coziest, warmest den she had ever seen. She was vaguely aware that her mouth was hanging open as she took in the huge stone fireplaces, the comfy armchairs and the colors of red and gold, that hung around the room. She felt something soft brush against her leg, and when she looked, Magnolia saw that it was her kitten Tilly. "Oh, Tilly, come here silly" she said picking up the little furball. Magnolia carried the kitten over to an empty armchair and began stroking her fluffy little head. She looked around at the other students in the room. This definitely felt like home and Magnolia was finally at ease.

Josiah walked into the common room and sat down in a cushy chair. Nice! He looked around the room, wondering who he was going to meet this term. He hoped he'd make a lot of friends.

Adelyn looked at Tori, her brown eyes holding the kind of sympathy that no one could really understand unless they'd been through the same situation. "I'm sorry." She said quietly, wondering if Tori was as sick of hearing that phrase as she was. But then she smiled, trying to lighten things again. "I'm not really sure what that means," she giggled, "But once I figure it out, I'm sure it'll be helpful."

Brant stood up and started to call out for Jinx, but before he could open his mouth the cat came running up. "Hey dude, you can't just leave Lyn all by her self." as he placed Jinx on her lap.

"There you go. Lyn hes back all nice and safe." then he bent over and said "Maybe try giving him a treat, then he won't ever leave you alone" he chuckled.

"It's ok. I would say the same but I'm sure you want that."Tori said kindly. She took out her wand and began twirling it between her fingers."Trust me, when you figure it out, you'll view the world, especially the magical world in a new more adventurous way."

Tori looked up and saw another student. "Hey. Why are you over there by yourself. Come on over here and chat with us."she called to the boy across the room, with a welcoming smile.

Adelyn looked down at the cat that now sat purring in her lap. "He didn't mean to leave me alone, did you, Jinx?" She said as she felt the cat beginning to purr. Then she reached to get him a treat, smiling as she did so.



Adelyn nodded, silently accepting Tori's response. She watched her twirl her wand around, still having trouble believing she was actually at Hogwarts, actually a witch. She smiled at the girl's advice, and said, "Thanks, Tori."

Tori and Lyn
 

"So Tori, you think we can repeat last term and win the Quidditch cup?" he asked her while raising a funny eyebrow. Leaning back in his chair to relax, he noticed alot more first years. "Wow, were they always that small?" he asked himself.

Watching them walk around he noticed Jinx starting to doze of in Lyn's lap. "Now your not ever going to get rid of him ahahahah" he said while laughing at the cat.

She gently pet the cat as he began to fall asleep in her lap. "Good, I didn't really want to get rid of him." She replied, laughing at Brant.

Daniel walked into the common room and saw familiar faces. He was carrying a huge book about Transfiguration on his right hand and he smiled as he approached Adelyn and Brant and Tori.

"Hey, you guys! I see you are getting along quite well." he looked at Brant and Adelyn and then to Tori...

"How was your summer, Tori?" he said.

Josiah looked up, a bit surprised. He smiled at the girl talking to him and walked over to the group she was standing with. "Hi," he said. "I'm Josiah." Awesome!

"Hi, Josiah Im Brant DeVaice your Quidditch Captain. How are you doing?" he asked the younger boy.