Selena slipped into the compartment with a relieved smile on her face. She was early and that was good. Because then she wouldn't be squashed or looking around frantically for a compartment or her friends. She was also relieved because it meant that she was going to be back at Hogwarts soon enough and she couldn't wait for that. Selena took a seat with her pygmy puff and smiled. Hogwarts, Hogwarts. Selena was going back to Hogwarts and ready for another awesome year - even if it meant saying goodbye to people.

Selena left the compartment door open, just so anyone could come in and take a seat if they wanted to. It was a new year, new faces and new friends. Selena could always do with more friends, plus she loved meeting new people. She pulled a book out of her bag and set it on her lap. The Slytherin was ready for whatever Hogwarts was going to throw at them.

Elliott had trekked on up to the front of the train and checked that out and now he was on his way back. He'd never been on the Hogwarts Express before, so he figured he might as well see the whole thing, right? His compartment was at the back of the train, but that meant he could peek into compartments in the middle section and see if anyone wanted some company. Better start making some acquaintances now, or he'd be in for a boring school year.

The fifth year soon came across one with a single girl in it. For a moment, he debated whether or not to go in; she had a book atop her lap, and he wasn't looking to disturb anyone or bother people with unwanted company. But, it appeared that she wasn't engrossed in her novel quite yet, so he'd venture on in, though not before knocking on the door frame for a sign of permission. "Hi there," he smiled. "Do you mind if I join you for a bit?"

Sebastian walked onto the train, heading into the middle cars of the train. He walked into one of the compartments and took a seat, throwing his bag next to him. He took out his phone and looked down at it, replying to things on twitter and waiting to see if he would meet anybody new here on the train.

Selena was honestly quite bored. It was too early in the term to start reading again after a summer of nothingness. She looked up from the text that bored her so when she heard a knock on the frame of the compartment door. Selena smiled at the boy standing there. "Hi, Selena said. New term new friends after all, right? Of course. "No, din't mind at all, feel free to take a seat," she chirped brightly. And to make him feel welcome, she gestured at the seat grandly.

"By the way, my name is Selena," she said brightly.

Searching for an empty compartment wasn't too hard in the middle of the train. Most people seemed to prefer the front or back for whatever reason. Vashti was content with settling for the middle, so she took the first empty compartment she could find. Once she'd closed the door, she heaved her trunk onto the shelf above the seat on one side before sitting down below it. Sigh. Now to just figure out a way to get through this trip without breaking down crying.

" Glad to see a fellow Gryffindor" Rex told Sebastian. " Your name is Sebastion, right?" Rex asked him. " I remember you from the common room" Rex said to Sebastian.

Oh, good. Elliott's shoulders sank slightly with relief. He was still working on the whole sociable thing, although fortunately for him, the girl didn't mind some random kid joining her compartment. "Thanks," he said, moving over to the seats across from her and sitting down. But right after he claimed a seat, he leaned forward and inched a bit off the bench to extend his hand. "I'm Elliott. Pleasure to meet you."

His eyes averted to the Pygmy Puff in her lap, then returned to her face again. She seemed more at ease on the train than he was, and so his next question surfaced. "I'm guessing you're not new to Hogwarts?" He smiled a little, before adding, "I just transferred.."

Riiiight.

So how did this go then? Was she literally meant to walk up and down the corridors and practically look for anyone that was causing trouble? Well it certainly gave her something to do during her journey didn't it? She might get bored otherwise, it took some time and usually the girl would be talking.. to someone *Sad!Face* Trixie patrolled down from the Prefects Compartment, solemnly, she was paying attention to her surroundings, but her mind just wasn't in it. She headed towards the Middle cars, spying a few worried or anxious firsties here and there, but she didn't have to stop so far, the badge simply gleemed on her robes and kids moved away.

Teehee... AWESOME!

But alas this so wasn't fun without some people here *Sigh*

The Head Girl came to a halt however when she spotted someone incredibly familiar sat down in one of the compartments. Eh, it couldn't hurt to take a little break now could it? Besides this was one of her closest friends here, and Trix hadn't even got round to telling her the good news yet. "Hey Vashti" the Seventeen year old slid open the compartment door and sat next to her friend. "You okay?" she asked. She certainly looked a little.. down, to say the least. And Trixie having completely mixed emotions herself, thought it was best to ask.

Jacob almost skipped... in fact he did skip onto the train. Jacob made sure to keep his sleeves down. With his new broom in one hand and the cake that James gave him in the other... why the servant did more work for Jacob was beyong him, but it was nice of him... now, if he were to take another slice of the delicouss cake, Jacob would be bouncing off the walls, and nobody wants that.

Jacob tried to keep the container with the cake as straight as possible, as he skipped past compartments... Yes Jacob has finally accepted the fact that he is captain. though it was only after several pain staking hours with James, trying to tell Jacob that he was a good athlete, and leader... What complete nonsense!

Jacob opened an empty compartment and immediatly put his broom on one seat, and the cake on the other. He then turned and stared out the window... he didn't really feel like sitting, he just stared out at the nature they were passing. It was all so calm, so lovely... it occured to him, that outside this compartment there was noise and playing, and once they reached hogwarts it would all be clases, and studying, and Quidditch. This was his last chance to get calm and collective before the new term. And try to ignore the Gorilla that was NOT THERE! 'Jacob calm... theres no Gorilla following you!'

He finally decided that no one was going to steal his strategies not even the large monkey, and it was safe to finally put down the backpack full of new methods and diffrent manouvers, and strategies of professional teams... Yes Jacob had been doing much studying during the summer. He was ready, but now, he had to worry about the real stuff.

Lucie walked down the train, hoping to run into someone she knew...Nathan perhaps? He had saved her from her bee sting in someway. She wasn't exactly cheerful, but she would do her best to act it. She could be as depressed as she wanted once all the crappy homework was given once more. Ugh. Homework.

The blonde suddenly stopped when she saw a boy standing in front of his compartment window, staring out at the scenery maybe? Hmm... looked interesting enough to pester him why he was doing it. She stood outside the door, seriously considering whether to go ask or not. Then he moved and set down his backpack. It looked like he was thinking hard about something.

Finally deciding she would talk to him, she opened up the compartment door and said, "Are you okay?" The boy didn't really look it, and she wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.

And then something - or rather, someone - presented herself right there in the compartment practically the moment Vashti wished for something to do. Was that weird or what? It was like Trixie was a mind reader now...

"Hey," she replied, managing a smile as she straightened up in her seat a bit. "Yeah, I'm fine." Though she felt a little awkward now that she was reminded of that day in Godric's Hollow. Yeah, that hadn't been a good day. At all. "How are you?"

And it was then that something caught her eye. There was something rather shiny on Trixie's robes. Vashti tilted her head slightly so she could get a better view without the sunshine glaring down on whatever it was. When she saw it, she froze. No way! "Head Girl?" she asked.

Emily hurried along the train to the middle cars hoping to find an empty compartment... and she did. Students were still milling around outside and hanging out at the back of the train. After shoving her trunk into the baggage compartment she took her seat by the window and looked out onto the platform. Her parents were still there smiling and waving at her.

Emily was looking forward to the new year... her last year at hogwarts. She was looking forward to taking classes again, hanging out in the great hall, meeting new friends. It was going to be a good year, she could sense it.

Dallin tried to convince himself that the butterflies he was feeling in his stomach was just hunger; he stuffed a chocolate frog in his mouth as he walked down the middle of the train, trying to get the feeling to go away.

He wandered down the train, with no particular goal in mind. The wheels on his trunk clicked as he dragged it. Thankfully his owl was asleep, or it would've been hooting non-stop and generally being annoying, like usual. Dallin checked under the blanket covering the cage, just to make sure, and saw the sleeping owl. Good.

Now, to find a compartment or something.

Claire stumbled through the train until she reached the middle car's... she looked around, she was a bit shaken, and very nervous.
Suddenly she spotted Emily in one of the compartments.
"Hi Emily!" she exclaimed as she entered the compartment. "Is it ok if I sit with you?" she asked shyly.

Selena noticed just then how tense the guy seemed. Eh, it wasn't like she bit people or something. Odd guy. She gave a slight nod of her head in acknowledgment to his thanks as she fumbled around her bag for her candy. "It's nice to meet you Elliott," she said as she polled her hand out of her bag and shook his hand quickly before dropping it. Selena wasn't too keen on shaking hands, or at least not after a summer filled with it.

Finally she found her jellybeans, and not the Bertie Botts one either. "Just because I'm shorter than your average first year, doesn't mean anything," she joked as she opened her candy, offering him some. "This is my third year actually," Selena said. Kent the Pygmy puff just shivered slightly. Ooh. Transfer student. "Cool, what year are you in?" Selena asked. Obviously not a first year, perhaps a sixth?

"Hey Claire", Emily said welcomingly, "Please do sit with me!" she said grinning broadly. "You excited for your first yr at hogwarts?" she asked. Emily remembered her first year, she was a nervous wreck, but it wasn't bad, once you got passed the nerves.
Emily motioned for the seat oppotite her, as she moved her owl cage out of the way. The sleepy barn owl shifted its weight trying to steady itself as the cage moved. "Sorry Dante", she cooed at it.

Mixed emotions weren't good. She was excited to be on this train right? No she wanted to be back on the platform where he was. No that was stupid, she'd see him at Christmas, and any other holiday. And he'd write.. okay probably not. But it wasn't like he'd replace her. She was utterly irreplaceable *smirk* But she was happy to be back, she had responsibility and.. but her bestie.. GAH! It was one emotion after the other.

The Blondes attention was drawn back however to whom she was with. No good letting herself be distracted, she had other friends who needed her attention now. Vashti was fine? Trixie's eyebrow rose high as she looked at her. "Are you sure?" she asked, she didn't look it. Now how she was, is a different story. "I'm not sure. Excited, upset, that makes no sense but... I'll get over it" she sighed.

Wait. What was she looking at? Was there something on her.. OH! The seventeen year old grinned slyly. "Maaaaaybe" she giggled but gave in. "Yeah I was asked to be Head Girl this year, and.. well I am" she smiled at the Ravenclaw. Okay despite her mood Trix just had to do this...

*SQUEEEEE*

Jacob felt like he was in a sort of trance, before he turned so quickly, that he might have gotten whiplash. Why was he so Jumpy?! It was that gorilla... it was most definently that gorilla. It Freaked him out... Scary Monkey! Just stared at him and his broom all day! Why can't these imaginary... things go away!

Oh there was a person at the door, geez he might need a lot of cake after this ride was over. Mmmm Cake!

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just trying to ignore the Gorilla" he said pointing at the wall where the Monkey would have been if she could see it. "That thing is really starting to freak me out!" wait... why was he saying this. His Crazy doctor said not to mention it. Oh Well, already out.

"Thanks", she said as placed her trunk on the baggage wrack. Taking her seat she looked around the compartment. It was really happening, she was going to Hogwarts.
"Umm.... Im really nervous.... I hope I do ok."
Claire paused... looking at Emily's pretty owl. "Hhhhmmmm I really should have bought myself an owl... maybe mum and dad will send me one" she said.
"So um... I hear that the classes are really hard. Are the teachers ok?" ashe asked, still nervous.

Elliott noticed the brevity of their handshake and he wondered if perhaps she was a germophobe. There was a fellow back at Durmstrang whose obsessiveness about germs began interfering with his studies. But he dismissed that notion pretty quickly; it was simply a brief handshake.

"Oh no, that's not what I meant," he added quickly, only to conclude just then that she was joking. He gave a short, inaudible laugh at himself. "Third year. I see," he nodded. Catching sight of the bright jellybeans she was now offering to him, Elliott raised his fingers in a sort of a stop signal way and politely declined. For some reason, sweets had never really been his thing. "I'm a fifth year." Three years to go.

Hmm.."You know, I was wondering about the houses.." he began. She had three years under her belt, so obviously she could help him out. "What do they represent again? I know all the students get sorted at the beginning of the term." There was the snake one, he remembered that. And a lion, and.. was there a fox one?

When Lucie saw him turn so fast it looked like he had hurt something, she almost jumped. Grr...why was she so jumpy? She mentally told herself to calm down. This whole train ride was going to be hell if she didn't. Anyway, looking at the kid, he sort of like kind of....crazy? Is that a nice way to put it? He had that wild look in his face.

Oh gosh...then he started talking about a Gorilla on the wall. "What Gorilla?" she asked, walking in a little further to look at the wall. Nope nothing there. Just plain compartment look. "What are you talking about?" she asked again, frowning in confusion. Was this some sort of joke? Yeah monkey type things were freaky....*shudder* the stories she heard...but still it wasn't something to kid about.

Emily smiled to herself, and peered out the window again, her parents were gone. Turning back to look at Claire she said, "You'll be fine, you were sorted into Ravenclaw after all, so you've got the smarts. Besides the teachers are generally really good and the lessons aren't too bad. If you need help with anything you can always ask me"
Emily bent down to let Dante out of his cage, he'd been cooped up for quite a while, maybe he wanted to stretch his wings.
"Owls are really usefull. I only just got Dante, usually I would have my cat pablo, but he's getting a bit old so I left him at home this year." she said.
"You can always use the schools owls if you don't have your own."
Emily watched as Dante flew out of his cage and perched himself on the baggage wrack. Then he swooped down and perched himself on Emily's lap.

The last few weeks of the holidays went by way to quickly, Klaudette didn't even realize it was the first until she woke up and her room was bare. Her mother must have come in and packed while she finished off her dream about chasing bald eagles and finding a hidden treasure. She hoped her year at Hogwarts would bring her and adventure like that. After all she was now a third year and she could handle anything.

Quickly kissing mummy and daddy goodbye, Klaudette hopped on the train as it began to start and roll out the station, checking to make sure her kitten was wrapped around her shoulders. "Such a good little Mccuddlemuffins, aren't you," she cooed and stroked her cats tail.

She knew a lot of the compartments were going to be back, so she may her way down checking one by one.

Was it just Vashti or did Trixie seem a bit distracted? Maybe she was just imagining it. Still keeping up the smile, she nodded. "One hundred percent sure," she replied. Despite Trixie being one of her closest friends at Hogwarts, Vashti still just couldn't bring herself to admit to her that she wasn't fine and hadn't been since her father died. Even if it might make her feel better to get that out in the open, she didn't want Trixie - or anyone else for that matter - to pity her, as she most surely would.

But perhaps Vashti had been right when she thought Trixie was a bit distracted - the way she described her current feelings, it would be surprising if she wasn't. "Anything you want to talk to me about?" she asked gently. Strangely though, Vashti felt a little bad now. Even if the older girl didn't want to talk about whatever it was that was upsetting her/exciting her, she'd been perfectly honest with Vashti about her feelings, while Vashti herself had not. It wasn't enough to make the Ravenclaw admit how she was feeling now, but she did seem a bit like a despicable liar.

Mentioning the Head Girl badge had obviously cheered Trixie up at least a little though, and for that Vashti was glad. "Congratulations!" she said, standing up to give the Slytherin a hug. "You deserve it."