Michael weaved his way through the crowd with Zahra's teacup pig in one pocket and his pet ferret Perseus in the other. He had no idea where his best friend was and knew that it was going to be impossible to find her with all these people around.

He heard someone yelling out for the first years and Michael headed in that direction. He would just have to catch up with Z at the feast. Michael headed down to where the boats were docked and stepped beside a girl who was chewing on her lip. "You scared of the water?"

"Hurry up, now," he said to no one in particular as he finished his summons. He was startled to hear a hearty reply off to his right. Captain? He chuckled. "Tha's Mr. Firth to yeh, lass," he said, though not unkindly.

To the pirate-wannabe-girls' left he spotted another excited first year. Perhaps TOO excited. "Mind yeh don' tip the boat now! Wouldn' want the Giant Squid ter have to fish yeh out." Poor Bartholomew Henry seemed to have his tentacles full most years.

~~~~~~~~~~

Then it appeared that he had all of the first years he was going to get. "Alright, keep yer head an' limbs in the boat at all times or yeh'll have me ter answer to!" he called out. Then he stepped into his own boat by himself, settled in, and tapped the side with his wand. "Here we go!" he said as the little fleet set off for the castle across the lake.

While waiting for the boat goes, Aphrodite glanced at the next boat. There ahe found Michael, the boy she met at Florean. She did not know if Michael would listen or even remember her, but there's no harm in trying, "Michael! Michael! Do you remember me? I'm Aphrodite, we met in Florean Fortescues few days ago," she said in a rather loud.

Worry at her lip Bay watched as a few of the boats started off for the castle full of four first years each. There weren't many first years left so it was looking more and more like she was going to have to make this journey alone. She was used to doing things alone but it seemed spending time with Ethan and Minnie was having some sort of effect.

A voice sounded beside her and she jumped a bit. Her green eyes went from him to the water and she shook her head. "No. Not really. I just didn't want to take the boat alone." Resolutely she scrambled down into the empty boat in front of her and sat in the middle of the seat. Maybe the water was part of the problem....