Carter was busy fiddling with his shirt when he heard a familiar voice. He couldn't hurt but smile as she spoke. How many sugar quills will it take... It was a line he once used on her after a fight.

But before he had time to react he found himself on the floor... on top of scattered sugar quills. He grunted slightly. "Glad you weren't at tryouts... I'd have fallen straight off my broom."

He rubbed the back of his head and sat up. He smirked. "Yeah. To be honest... I haven't really gotten used to it yet. It kinda caused a few problems at home..."

He frowned slightly remembering the look on his sister's face when she found the badge.

He cleared his throat a little realizing that he'd just run his mouth about his problems in front of Caroline. Even without contact for months, it was just natural for him to talk about personal things to her.

"So... um... how was your summer?" he asked changing the topic. "How was Africa?"

And more importantly... were those the earrings he gave her for Christmas?

Marilyn gave him a mean look...He liked bringing up memories and throwing them in her face, didn't he? She knew there was no talking to him about this.

So, like a band-aid, it was time to snatch it off...

"Okay, well...That's cool. I'm going to go. Enjoy the rest of the train ride..." With that she turned, finally letting some of the hurt show behind his back. Slight tears started to gather, as the blonde hurriedly made her way to the loo. She needed to get it together.

Caroline blushed terribly as she sat up on her knees in the floor. For a second there it was really like nothing had changed over the past few months. She really help but the smile. The second had seem to last a bit longer and everything started to be the same even their conversation didn't seem as bitter as their last few. She shallowed.

Problems? She frowned slightly. She was concerned for him. She knew that this summer was going to be a big one for him..... and his family. "What happen?" She gave him a concerned look and grabbed toward his hand, but grabbed the sugar quill that was right there instead. This Natural conversation that was happening between them, grabbing for his hand nearly come back as naturally. She could tell that he wanted to change subjects.


And of course she didn't want to change the subject to Africa. She pushed her hair behind her ears before speaking. "Africa was... good. I learn a lot. I think I could get on a local team if I wanted to." As much as she did love being there she did get a bit sick homesick. "Other than that how was your summer."

Sierra froze in place, and a completely unamused expression spread quickly across her face. How dare this girl, whoever in Hades she was, question Sierra's purchase of only one chocolate frog? "Excuse me?" she asked, turning around to face the girl. She was just about ready to bite the girl's head off when she realized that the girl wasn't questioning the purchase of only one, she was questioning the item itself.

Muggleborns. They should be required to read and memorize Hogwarts, a History before boarding the train. Really, the should. "This is a chocolate frog," Sierra said, holding up the recently unwrapped candy, "and it's nearly all croakoa." Though, she guessed this girl wouldn't know that either. "It tastes like...chocolate." She wasn't going to ask to taste it, was she?

...and then a thought occurred to Sierra. What if this girl had money? ...hmm. The wheels began turning, and suddenly, and idea was born. "Thinking of buying some?" she asked.

"Sounds great. Let's head to sit down. I feel like I've been standing forever." Minerva looked at her two new friends with hope and excitement for the start of school.

"Yes let's go" said Harvey, he and his two friends left to go to the compartment

"It fell out of my letter." Carter said nodding at the badge. "Anya kinda... found it..." He let out a sigh. "Not exactly how I pictured her finding things out." He looked down at the badge again. "So this is really the first time I'd had the chance to look at it." And be excited about coming back to school. "Does it look alright? It still feels a bit weird."

And yet again, it was like the brain-mouth thing was lost on Carter. But then again, he'd never been good at hiding things from her.

What was that? Oh, right. She wanted a sugar quill.

"That's great." he said with a smile. He knew how much she was looking forward to her trip. It was such a relief that things had turned out alright with her dad.

He then grinned when she asked how the rest of his summer went. He pointed to the smaller blue pin that sported the Puddlemere United emblem. "I made it." he said in a hushed overly excited voice. Due to his limited magical contact, nobody other than Marilyn knew. But, being back on the train and seeing her reaction to the Quidditch Captain badge was intoxicating. He was actually starting to feel all the excitement he'd managed to suppress because of his preoccupation with his family issues.

Though Victoria was no Muggleborn, she had simply never had a chocolate frog before. It seemed that they were quite the British delicacy. That, and her father had banned candy from her house a long, long time ago.

"Yeah, I'm going to buy," the whole cart out, "everything I can carry." Actually, Tori had been planning to eat as much as she could and then get back in line, fill up her arms, and troop back to the compartment to share with Taryn and Lulu. "Why? Do you know what's good?"

She was eying up a cauldron cake now. "I don't particularly like chocolate," she informed the other girl, "but I ADORE gum."

"One of Everything, you must be filthy rich" said Maddy as she saw the girl make a large purchase. Maddy only had 2 gallions left to spend. She selected some Pumpkin Pasties and a packet of Droobles to bring back to her compartment.

Caroline looked down at him. She could remember how worried he was about telling his sister about who he was. She frowned it must have a been terrible way to find that out the way Anya did. She nodded and patted him on the shoulder "She'll get over it soon, She'll forgive you, and the two of you will be okay again." She smiled slighty. She knew that things would get back to the way they were with Carter and Anya. She was a little sister and now a big sister, so she got it.

She half sighed half laughed. she nodded. "It looks great on you. You look good. You'll have to get used to it Captain." She could call him Captain right? She wasn't on her houses team..... yet She caught a glimps of his eyes, and she nearly melted. Had she made the right choice? Now she really wasn't sure. Her blue eyes went down to the floor.

And looked back up at him when he spoke again. "Dad and Asher moved here over the summer." She said with her brighest smile. It was one of the things that kept her sane this summer, minus Ashers pranks and jokes.... and flirting with her friends.

Caroline lean in toward his finger where another badge was. How in the name of Merlin did she miss that one? He did it. She gasped, and covered her mouth. She moved her hands and hugged him again. "Congrats, I'm really proud of you, you know that? I knew you'd be brillant." She let go again, stopping pretty much in his face. It was to much to bare. She was much to close for her own good. She closed her eyes but she couldn't move. Yep this whole thing was a bad idea.

"Yeah. I hope so..." Carter said with a little shrug. "She saw Mina at the station so I'm hoping she was able to answer whatever is going on in Anya's head right now."

He knew he had a hard time when he first found out about magic and he could only imagine how much harder it is for her.

He beamed when she said that the badge looked good on him. "I think I can get used to that. And I really like the sound of that." Captain. Captain Carter Phillips.

Yeah. That sounded good.

Was it bad that he wanted her to say it again?

"Really? So things are going well then?" he asked when she started talking about her family. That would have been great, considering what had happened to her with them just a few months ago.

Carter couldn't help but hug her back at her reaction. It was a reaction he'd been waiting all summer for. His family didn't understand. He hadn't really had the chance to talk with Marilyn about it with everything going on with Anya.

He hugged her for a few more seconds than he probably should have. It was just nice. Her reaction was just what he'd been hoping for and he knew that he wouldn't be getting the same from everyone.

Plus, he really enjoyed hugging Caroline.

He pulled back and smiled. It was a genuine smile. One that he felt he hadn't had in a long time. "Thanks." he said happily.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syd (:

Man, how many people really needed to get food on the train? Dallin had a legitimate reason; he'd spaced buying some in Diagon Alley. But come on, the line was long! Although... there were a lot of kids, maybe a lot forgot to buy treats, like he had.

*sigh*

His song was almost coming to an end, and that was when he realized that he wasn't the only one humming. He listened closer, not turning around to see who was humming a harmony with him. Until she spoke. Looking over his shoulder, Dallin smiled at Ivory. "Hey." Turning around fully, his smile got a bit wider. "Long time no see." Well, sorta. The last time he had seen her was at the Lagoon thing... and that was a few months ago. So, yes.

He didn't ask how she'd been, though. He didn't want the question turned on him. Because he didn't have an exact answer to it yet.

Unconsciously noticing his own smile widen, Ivory let the corner of her lips rise a bit more, the dimple in her right cheek peeking into visibility. "I know...OWLs" she said with a small shrug of her slim shoulders. "What can you do." They'd been incredibly time consuming...both studying for them and taking them.

Inclining her head to the food trolley still further up the line, the brunette looked at him knowingly. "Stocking up for the year, I gather?"

Not a mere split second afterwards, she mentally kicked herself. That was a stupid question. For all she knew, maybe he was just hungry...the normal way. Not everyone stocked up. Now he probably thought she was some sort of candy hoarder that stole from little kids and greedily counted her candy.
....
Wait...that was ridiculous. What in the world was going on with her run away mind today?....Wait, was it today or just this moment? Her own thoughts now confusing her she concentrated on the conversation at hand...what was it?....Oh right, candied goods.

Caroline listened as Carter voiced that he'd hope so. Then he told her that Mina had talked to her that was great. From what she understood the two girls had a good friendship. So there was no doubt in her mind that Anya would come around to her brother again.... soon. [b]"That's good, I'm sure Mina helped her out a great deal." She really liked Mina she was an amazing friend to Carter.

She laughed. Thinking about the Captain name, it did sound great. "It has a nice ring to it." So did Mrs. Captain Carter Phillips

She sighed. She enjoyed that hug a bit to much. She was on cloud nine for the time being. But she know that possibly all this laugher and happiness that was here in the trolley was going to last forever. She'd have to tell him sometime. "You're welcome. It looks like I'll have to take a few trips to Puddlemere." She beamed.

Looking around she realized that they were still on the floor. She went into a fit of giggles "Why are we still sitting on the floor?" If someone was to see them on the floor with sugar quills what would people think?

Yup, this one had money, which was usually a privilege Sierra had, as well, but these were desperate times, she hated to admit. "Hmm," she said, pretending to think that one over, "well, I can always help you carry the pieces you can't hold." In other words, she was going on get conveniently lost in the crowd and hope this girl didn't end up a Slytherin. Then, once they got to the common room, the girl would start asking for her candy.

...but she didn't like chocolate?! Sierra sneered a little at that. Oh, well. She could do with some gum and such. It would all be free in the longrun. "Droobles Best Bubble Gum and Jelly Slugs are pretty good," she remarked. "Oh, and Sugar Quills, too. If you eat them in class, it looks like you're deep in thought." Sierra gestured toward the line. "Go ahead. Make your day." ...and mine, as well. "Buy 'em out."

"Yeah. Now I'm just worried about what exactly she's going to unleash on me." Carter said. He knew from experience that Mina was someone that he didn't want to upset.

And yet... he did... again.

He chuckled. "I get free tickets. Team perks." And he fully intended to take advantage of such things. "You can bring Asher too." What kind of 10 year old didn't like watching quidditch?

He laughed and stood up. "That's a good question." he said. He held out a hand toward her. "Want some help up?" he asked.

He looked down at the floor for a second wondering if any of the sugar quills were salvageable.

Ehhh... a fresh one sounded more appealing.

Meh. OWLs. Once again he realized just how glad he was that he didn't have those or NEWTs this year. He was free from an overload of studying. Which meant he could goof off a bit and still pass the end of year exams.

Following her gaze to the food trolley, Dallin chuckled lightly and nodded at her assumption. So he wasn't the only one to do that? "Yeah, I am." And it would be a lot easier if this line would move faster. "Just enough to get me through to Hogsmeade, though. I just need the basics, now." Basics. As if he really needed candy to live.

"You too?" It was safe to guess that, right? Since she asked him?

Tori did indeed have money. She pulled a small but stuffed black velvet bag out of her purse and jingled in from one palm to the other. "That's so nice of you to offer," Tori smiled at the other girl, but did not exactly agree to her offer.

She was rather possessive of her candy. "Hello there. I'll take.... four of everything. And extra Bertie Bott's, and extra extra Droobles. And a dozen sugar quills."

She smiled politely at the witch behind the trolley. "Please." As the witch started handing over the packages of candy, Tori turned and beckoned the other girl over. "Here ya go," she said sweetly, piling the candy in the girl's arms til she could hardly see over the top of the sugary mountain. "Thanks again for carrying these for me. You'll just have to stop by our compartment. I insist."

Obviously, so she could drop the goods off. Tori was going to make her walk in front of her, too, so she wouldn't sneak off with anything. Slytherins think alike, it seems.