Hmm… nicknames. Sky enjoyed those, even though her name was already pretty short. They made her feel like she belonged. "Sounds good to me. E, K, and S," she agreed. There was no way anybody was already using those, so there would be no confusion if they were called out in a crowd.

Whoops! She had forgotten that E was a 'Claw. Wisely resisting the need to argue that, no Slytherin was definitely going to win, Sky simply said "Well whichever win, it'll be well deserved!" Really, it was probably going to be between Slytherin and Ravenclaw anyway.

Amelia had realized once she'd gotten on the train that she'd forgotten to bring any food with her for the journey. She'd made herself some before she'd left home but had gotten distracted by Harper while doing her final preparations and so must have left it on the bench. And therefore she needed candy. It was a necessity if she couldn't have nutritional food.

It was also her luck that her deciding she needed candy would coincide with her being unbalanced and tripping into the person in front of her in line. Amelia took a moment to be embarrassed by that fact before she realized that she actually knew the boy she'd fallen into. Which she was actually quite pleased with since she hadn't liked being separated from him at all. Which was also why she was quite enthusiastic when she chirped, "Isaac," before hugging him.

As Katrina board the Hogwarts Express, she went to the Food Trolley. Examining the people around it and picking what goods to buy, she fiddled with her hair and pushing her bangs behind her left ear. Then, she picked up a licorice wand and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and paid for it.

She opened the plastic of the licorice wand and took a bite of it. Probably the last time Katrina ate a licorice wand was at Hogsmeade, in Honeyduke's. And that time was months ago. She missed the taste of it. Then, she headed to look for a compartment.

Bouncing on the balls of his feet, Isaac was getting a little impatient, 'cause he really wanted to go find Amelia. Maybe he should look for her and come back... He was debating that when he got hit from behind. Really now, how could someone not see someone as tall as him! He was about to turn around to help whoever fell into him when he was hugged from behind as well. Bursting out laughing he couldn't help it, well a hug was a nice apology but who in Merlin's name was it?

Hearing his name he grinned and gently separated the hands that were wrapped around him and turned around to see his girl. "Amelia!" Voila and there was the person he was wanting to go find, well that worked out well! He still had one of her hands in his, and somehow didn't want to let go this time. "Ye doing good?" he asked, with more then just that question there being asked in those 3 words.

Amelia pouted slightly when Isaac begun laughing. Why was he laughing at her? Granted he didn't know it was her... But still. Someone having awful balance wasn't something to laugh at. At least not when Amelia was the one with said bad balance.

No hugs?? Cue ultimate pout up at Isaac right that very second. Because Amelia liked hugging him, even if it was from behind, and therefore it very much wasn't fair that he didn't let her do so. Although he WAS still holding her hand, so at least that was nice.

Moving her hand slightly so that she could grip his, Amelia let her pout fade into a smile at his question. She knew that it meant he cared, rather than it just being a throw away question.

"I think I'm doing okay. I'm not so good in the corridor's and actually being on the platform wasn't so good... A little girl ran into me actually, and you know she asked me if I was giant?" Amelia responded with a small laugh. She was making light of her panic a little, but mostly because they were in hearing of other people. "I was trying to find you though... I did get a little panicked when I lost you due to the crowds," Amelia admitted honestly, smiling at Isaac shyly.

She smiled when she heard Sky agree on those nicknames. It was quite unique actually and feels classy too. Now, she missed her Muggle friends. Just friends, no enemies.

"So S," said Erin while giggling. She liked the sound of it. Her Muggle bestfriend was also S, short for Sandra. "Ready for Hogwarts? How about you K?" and then she realized Kimalia hadn't agreed yet to the nickname she mentioned. "Summer? Is it fun?" she asked instead, avoiding Kimalia's stare. Erin badly wanna stare at her badge longer. It was precious and argh, when will she have the Ravenclaw's? If only she was not so much into singing and dancing, she would have time for Quidditch.

He was just about decided to get the jelly slugs first but a split second change of mind had his hand swerving towards the licorice wands-- and colliding with someone else's

"Oh! S-Sorry I didnt mean to hit..." he started to apologize then looked at the person when he heard his name. Blue eyes blinked a few times from behind those glasses. It was her! "Kurumi! Hi!" he greeted the brunette just as his glasses slipped down his nose. Pushing it back up he raised his hand and waved it awkwardly. "Its great to see you too! Finally someone familiar." he added mumbling towards the end. Indeed he was relieved. It was hard enough as it was for him to make friends. Not that he minded being alone "So yeah... I'm here!" he chuckled awkwardly "Almost didnt make it through-- said all the slots were filled by the older students doing their thesis, but I followed up and they got me a pass at the last minute."

Oh GOOD! It really was him and not someone who looked a lot like him. She had made that mistake before at her own expense mostly. She laughed softly when his glasses slipped off his nose like they had done during all those meetings at the United Nations when they had slaved over their group project together. "I still think you should let me use a Permanent Sticking Charm on your glasses," she teased. Hopefully he would remember that she was joking. "Well, I am really glad that things worked out," she smiled, finally retrieving the licorice wands that had caused this chance encounter and purchasing them.

When she turned her attention back to Vickers, she was a little surprised that he was without his animal companions that she had heard so much about, especially his umbrella cockatoo. "No Dolly with you?"

"O-o-o-oh, um. I-i-is your boyfriend g-going to mind?" Caiden asked, not wanting to start a rift with some unnamed boy he had never met. He was certainly not a fighter and would most likely be the one with a bruised eye at the end of a fight.

Oh? The train stopped? She grabbed the girls arm to pull her back up from the curtain it was quite amusing and an odd introduction... she smiled to herself!

She wasn't getting anything? Oh... right? emmm... she had no idea how to reply to that! ''I guess i'm getting some air too,'' Well not really but the girl went scarlet what was she supposed to say back to her? Other than tell her it was quite normel ''Along with treating myself to... somthing...'' she added staring at the trolley again looking for a treat that she could it without actully getting sick which admittidly happened once or twice... But no one needed to know that it was between her and a paper bag!

LuLu looked back up at the girl as she introduced herself! She shook her hand ''LuLu... Nice to meet cha,'' she half smiled... again...

Great? Really? That was how friends caught up to two months of freedom outside school? LAME. Louisa chuckled lightly, "Define great. In details! Where did you go?" After a pause, she added, "Was Anakin around?" Louisa had no idea where the boy came from, or what was the relationship with Vashti like now. A smirk was starting to form on the girl's lips as she waited for a DETAILED explanation. That should be fun.

Her summer? Louisa took a deep breath, smiling widely at the memory of it all, "Mine was exceptional. Intense. And definitely liberating." Nope, she wasn't exaggerating. Glancing around for any eavesdropper, Louisa leaned in closer to Vashti, "Remember when I told you that I was invited to Dal's place in Florida? And then I'll be going to Brazil with Joao? Well, it didn't go exactly as planned." The fifth year glanced at the line that was thinning at last, "Dallin suddenly canceled the vacation and he didn't sound cheerful, neither did he explain why. So I went over to his house anyway, two days before my trip to Brazil." Her face started changing from cheerful to sullen.

"The reason for all the ruined vacation was, of course, my lovely Joao," bitterly said, "He'd punched Dallin because he didn't want us to spend time together. Alone." If Louisa hadn't made the boyfriend pay for this, she would've gone on and on with him being a jerk and whatnot. But she didn't, basically because it was over. "Once I met Joao two days later, I made my point clear that my friends are off bounds. Nobody touches my friends.." especially Dallin, "..without facing the consequences." Technically, SHE was the one to face the consequences of punching a guy with a slacken and untrained fist. That last bit was omitted from the tale at this point. Louisa wanted to hear Vashti's reaction to this.

He blinked again a few times, believing so easily that Kurumi was serious. Finally he gets it and chuckles awkwardly again. "Awww shucks Kurumi I-I dont wear them all the time." he said as he slipped the glasses off momentarily. Kurumi was at a distance that he can still see her clearly "I'm far-sighted, only need these when I read or do something in close range." like choosing which chocolate to get yup.

He slips the glasses on again as he looked back at the trolley cart. Wasnt there anything else there other than sweets, like nuts or something? Glancing at Kurumi his face lights up when she inquired about his avian pet "Oh I left her at the compartment, she's bored and I'm looking for something to keep her occupied... like a jar or something, or even just a packet of nuts..."

You could tell from the look on Bastet's face that this wasn't something she was used to. She retracted her paw as the other cat tried to catch it and whacked the poor thing on the head.

Bop

Her claws weren't out though, she wasn't a violent cat, simply curious, and she wasn't going to let anyone catch her.

He frowned a little further as the boy averted his gaze towards the trolley. "I ain't that scary am I?" he asked. True, he was a London lad, his accent could be deemed 'intimidating' although it had mellowed from what it had been before and he certainly didn't look like a lot of the lads on his own estate. He didn't have a shaven head and he was reasonably muscular and well built. He didn't engage in the criminal activities that they used to and the boy had certainly moved on.

"Yeah. She follows me around all the time. And ain't anythin' like a normal cat" Well other than the always sleeping thing, a lot of cats tended to do that. "She'd rather be sat on me feet than chasin' a mouse" And it wasn't like a cat to follow their owner, they tended to have a mind of their own. "Either that or more like a human. She spends all her time sleepin' or eatin'" Which sounded exactly like a teenager according to his mum.

A bit.. Slow? He chuckled. This school business had actually boosted his confidence a little. Although shy in nature and definitely nervous, the boy was friendly and so this side of him was starting to shine. "Did you feed it too much?" he asked laughing. Bastet was spoilt but she never got fat. "It ain't my fault she's bald" Nope she was born that way. "She's a Sphynx. Apparently they're supposed to look like this." So that was how she had stayed.

"I'm Bradley" he finally introduced himself shyly.

He smiled as he began walking with her. "Yeah, Hufflepuff. I've played Beater and Chaser over the past several years. Dunno what I'll play this year. It all depends on the makeup of the team after tryouts." Having no idea if this girl knew anything about Quidditch, he decided to change the subject.

"So this is your first year, I presume? Do you have any idea what House you'd like to be in?" he finished, sidestepping a Slytherin boy.

As a Captain, Kimalia didn't want to have a missed opportunity at a potential good player. "Yea, do think about it," Kimalia beamed, hopefully she'll change the "thinking" part and do it, but welp, Sky can do whatever she wants. Her summer, well, it was quite a personal subject, but Kimalia wasn't going to show that, nope nope. "Summer was productive," laughing softly at her next thought, "Let's just say if I had the whole year off I'd probably be able to assist Professor Lafay." Though there was one positive her summer. "Oh yeah, my goofy brother brought over his fiance." That definitely brought a delightful shock to her Slytherin dad seeing his Hufflepuff son bring home a Gryffindor girl. "It was productive to say the least.."

"K?" Kimalia gave an equivocal look at Erin, "That's deeefinitely new," laughing again before stopping. Goosh she really was spending too much time with her dad, who was infamous for laughing too loudly in public. "Well, I definitely don't hate it, so K's cool." She did have a point, it would be unique between the three of them.

Was Kimalia ready for Hogwarts? Heh, "I think the real question is whether Hogwarts is ready for me." Okay, that was quite cheesy, but really now.. After leaving during her first year and coming back for her second, it's been the other way ever since. "Somehow I think it'll be interesting this year.. What about you guys?"

Seeing a pout when he finally turned around, he chuckled again and leaning down he kissed her softly, before wrapping his other arm around her. Wow, did he...? He'd never kissed her before, actually any girl period ever. But her pouty lips were just...kissable! Leaning back up to standing fully he smiled at her softly. Amazingly enough he didn't blush furiously! It felt right, but hopefully she didn't slap him now. Oops...maybe he should have asked if he could kiss her first!

Listening as she explained about the corridors and platform. "The crowds didn' help with me trying te stay near ye." he said a bit irritated with himself. He should have tried a lot harder, instead of letting the crowds pull them apart. "Well now, I'm not gonna leave." he teased "Ye might get a bit annoyed."

Melanie blinked a few times in quick succession. Beater? Chaser? This sounded like something you could get arrested for! Assuming it was a wizard thing, considering Keefer didn't seem capable of beating anyone, Melanie smiled to hide her ignorance.

"Yea, I'm a first-year," she answered, looking up at the sixth-year towering above her. "I'd really like to be in Ravenclaw, but I could be in Gryffindor too. Considering family history, at least, I'll likely be in one of those two."

Melanie was immediately wary of her admission, wondering if one of these houses would be considered taboo to the Hufflepuff boy. She had heard through casual eavesdropping that some Hogwarts houses were bitter toward others, but she couldn't remember the names.

Finally! This train was huge! But Anya finally arrived at the food trolley.

She eyed the cart suspiciously. Oh! She really should have paid more attention to magical snacks. She wanted something nice and safe.

Maybe she'd just have a few chocolate frogs... those were relatively safe. They only freaked her out for the one jump they had in them.

Grayson got hungry and decided to get something in his growling stomach. As he approached the trolley he saw a girl. She seemed a little unsure and not certain of what she wanted.

He approached her and he said,"The pumpkin pastries are pretty good. You should try it." It was one thing about him. He knew how to make friends and unfortunately enemies as well.

"Hi, I'm Grayson. What's your name?" he said as he looked down at her with a slight smile. He was a bit tall afterall.

Anya was still trying to figure out what exactly half those things on the menu were when someone approached her.

"Pumpkin pastries. I'll have to try them, thanks." she said before turning to face the...

...older boy?!

A giggle left her lips. It was an older boy? What was he doing talking to her?

"I'm... I'm Anya. Anya Phillips." she stammered out. "Pleasure to meet you Grayson."

Why did it not occur to her before that there would be older kids on the train as well?

She should return the smile, huh? She smiled back.

Ugh. It was going to take some getting used to being around older people.

Amelia raised her brow now. "How'd you know I have a boyfriend?" she asked curiously. Maybe she had mentioned it or he had seen her with Zayden. But she was curious either way. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. He wouldn't mind." :3

Grayson smiled at the girl's reaction. "I can get one for you if you'd like." he said softly.

"It's nice to meet you Anya. Is it your first time to Hogwarts?" he replied. It was his first time too but he wasn't as young as she looked.
She did seem a little nervous but not to the point of complete shyness. That was good. If they were to be friends he would see a different Anya.

Alright. Older person. Anya could do this. She could. She'd just talk to him like she'd talk to Alec.

No worries.

"Oh. You don't have to." she said. "I've got money." Quite a bit actually. That brother of hers needed a lady friend. He threw his money away on random things.

"I'm just not at all used to the menu choices." she said looking back at the trolley. "You'd think they'd have... I dunno... a sandwich or something." But nooooo... they had things like... jelly slugs. What did that even mean?

"Right. Pumpkin pastries it is then. And maybe chocolate frogs..." Because after their first jump they were just... chocolate.

She looked at the older boy and smiled a little sheepishly. She was talking too much, wasn't she?

"Is it that obvious?" she asked with a laugh. "Yes. I'm a first year. New to all things magic." Especially the snacks. The feast better have normal food.

"And you? What year are you?"

Family history? Does that mean she has Wizarding relatives, or she just knows their personalities? If it was the latter option, she must be a very perceptive 11-year-old.

Why did no one ever want to be in Hufflepuff? "Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are both really great Houses. I mean, obviously I think Hufflepuff is the best, but I'm a bit biased." He smiled warmly. "But both of those Houses would be great experiences. And even if you're not in either of those, there's no rule saying you can't hang out with people from other Houses. You live with your House, but you have lessons with other Houses all the time. I'm sure you'll love wherever you are," he said.

He remembered what it was like to be a first year, uncertain about where he would end up. His whole family had been in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Then he had to go and be different, landing in Hufflepuff. Thankfully, his family had been fully supportive.

Smiling at her nickname (and E's giggle) Sky answered, "Of course I'm ready for Hogwarts!" Yep, summer had been fun, but Sky was ready to be able to use her magic again. "Let's just hope the house- elf's have their baby elf under control," she said with a half laugh. How could something so cute have caused so much trouble?

"I bet that was fun. Is she nice?" Sky said. She didn't have siblings, but she had heard stories of how the whole bringing-someone-home thing could go…

Hogwarts did tend to have some very interesting things happen. "Definitely. I just wonder what's in store for this year. What do you guys think?" she asked. Just as long as nobody got too hurt, Sky was okay with whatever would happen.