It had taken him at least four times to apparate in this place. The first time he hadn't even moved and had to hear his older brother laughing at him. The second time he nearly splinched himself and the third went....okayish... he just landed on the roof of some house..eh... BUT fourth was the magical number not and he did it!

Finding a job in the muggle world and being cut off from the magical one was on one hand exciting yet on the other hand he missed this place. So when he had found out that the students at Hogwarts were going to Hogsmeade this weekend he had decided to come as well and hoped he would meet at least one of his friends. Plus, he had kind of promised to come back during Hogsmeade trips and Quidditch Matches.

He turned his freshly new black earrings around in his ear as he entered the High Street. The ex Slytherin had gotten the earrings a few weeks ago and he was very happy with them. At first, he was scared what others would say but now, he really did not care. He wanted earrings, and he had gotten them, the end.

Looking around the street, Daichi scratched his neck as he thought about checking the shops out first or walking around.

Léa and the others arrived at the rainy place together, but she figured they weren't going to hang around together. Please not. She preferred loneliness, and she was on her own way as soon as Madame Enzo let them. She didn't even let anyone ask her to wander around and just walked to the opposite side quickly.

The advantage was that she was alone. The downside?

She was effectively lost, cold and unhappy. Because in this country it could rain anytime, and she could be ruined. She looked around somewhat hopelessly and tried to find a nice place to sit down and drink something.

Taylor was twirling and dancing down the high street. She was loving the day and she was happily on her way when she stopped... in front of her was a lost looking good. "Hellooooooooooo." Tay twirled and looked at the girl, "Are ya lost?" She tilted her head and smiled at the girl. Taylor held out her hand, "Im Taylor, by the way." Her smile went from ear to ear as she looked at the girl.

Sarah was about to return to the castle, having little money to spend. She hummed to herself merrily as she walked. She really was not in the mood to return to the castle, this was a weekend, a special treat.

So that was when she turned around. Maybe she should people watch instead.. or maybe there was the possibility of making someone's day. Her eyes took in a lot, and her ever present smile was on her face. She was grateful to be alive, after what happened with the demonters last year. She nearly died.

The ride with the rest of his fellow students on the Beauxbatons carriage was one he enjoyed. It was comfortable to travel in and it wasn't with much difficulty that he would admit he preferred it over alongside-appiration. Gaston was proud of his school just as proud as he was of himself.

He was a traveler, or at least a part-time one in the summer. He had been all over the world and in each place he had been, he had explored. He like always were to do that around here too. A new territory he had never seen. And if he was lucky he'd found a beautiful girl or two to help him, now that was how he liked things.

It was not long before Gaston found himself in the middle of the Hogsmeade streets. He looked here and then there. 'Ze most magical inhabited city.', he thought to himself as his eyes peeked some more and then stopped at the sight of a girl.

"Bonjour, Madame." He spoke with a charm to his voice.

Sarah nearly jumped, not that he intended to give her fright, she just was not use to people talking to her, expecially not a boy. And he was French and if she allowed herself to be superficial.. he was not bad looking (that was all she could allow herself to say). And the way he said it made her heart leap.

"Bonjour.. um" what was mister in French "monsieur". He was a Frenchmen, probably one of the exchange students. "sorry, I don't know much French, the only words I know are about ballet... and food." She said with a very happy smile. "So, are you from Beauxbatons?" she asked. "oh, my name is Sarah Edwards by the way, what is your name?". She was a Gryffindor after all. "have you been here before?" she asked.

Wait, she never put out her disclaimer, the one she said when she met new people. "by the way, I talk a lot, so if you want me to stop talking, just tell me so." Maybe not in French though, as she would be bad at that

Twirling.

The girl was twirling.

A thousand and five questions popped into Léa's mind as she watched the girl do her stunt. Her looks were highly critical, and she didn't try to hide it on her face.

"Salut," was her answer, obviously. If the girl didn't know any French, Léa wasn't about to teach her. She didn't answer her question right away mainly because she didn't get lost so easily, and chose to eye the hand instead.

She finally shook it, not smiling whatsoever, because it would be rude not to shake it. Anyways. Questions. This... Taylor liked asking many, no?

"I'm Léa," she said coolly. "I'm looking for a café to sit."

Tay's beaming smile grew. "Oooooh! You must be from France... Beauxbatons, no?" Taylor tilted her head, "I went there for one year but decided to switch to Hogwarts, myself." She giggled and smiled, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Léa. That is a pretty name you have." She gestured toward Madame Puddifoot's. "Well, there is a tea shop right there... or if you want butterbeer and stuff like that, there is The Three Broomsticks..." Tay gestured to a different place. "Bother are great places..." Taylor nodded and smiled sweetly at her. She twirled again then glanced at the girl, "Having a bad day or do you like being alone?"

Gaston wanted to snort at the girl for jumping the way she did when he spoke, but he refrained it deep inside. It was impolite and he did not want people to think of him as rude. He was Gaston. His job was to impress not disappoint.

He nodded at her as she spoke some French to him. It was not necessary of her to do so, but he appreciated the efforts of the girl. "You are fine." He said after a wink. "Yes I am from Beauxbatons. Eet is good to meet you Sarah. My name eez Gaston. And no I 'ave not been here, as een 'ogwarts or 'ogsmeade." He answered all her questions one after the other.

This girl was like most girls in the sense that she was talkative. "Do not worry." It bugged him but again he remained polite and refrained from telling her stop. There was something that tickled his mind about her. If she was talkative he could not help but wonder how much she knew of the place and it's people.

"Would you care to show me around?" He asked.

Clever. Léa liked clever. She nodded to confirm her guess. She wondered why anyone would leave lovely France to live here, but she didn't ask. They girl must have really liked it here if she lived here for so many years, so Léa didn't ask. She also didn't want to enter an argument right away. Silence was her best-buddy today.

"Merci," she said to the compliments on her name. It was pretty, yes, thanks to her parents. She examined the tea-shop curiously. It was... too pink. A lot of pink. No, she didn't want that. She wondered what a butterbeer was as her gaze turned towrds Three Broomsticks. It sounded nice there. She opened her mouth to suggest so when the girl twirled again. Were all Hogwartians like this? It was distracting. She didn't like distractions. Maybe she should go there alone.

"I like loneliness," she replied simply and shoved her hands inside her coat's pockets. Taylor apparently hated loneliness, seeing all the glee. Léa decided to ask the question this time, instead of replying only. This girl was the first person she'd met, after all. She'd better be nice to her.

"Do you know ze 'ouse, eh, Raveencla'?"

So really a newcomer. If Sarah was mean she could have gotten him lost or something, yet such a thought never crossed her mind. "Gaston? What does you name mean?" she asked. Just plain curious and all.

He did not mind? NO way. Maybe he was being all European and not telling her what he really thought? Anyways, he said what he said, Sarah was very into not lying so she decided to take what he said on face value.

"It would be m honour to show you around" she gushed sincerely. Like who ever needed her before like this. She flicked her long chestnut braid back and began to walk. She was a brisk walker usually, yet now as the tour guide, she had to let him set the pace. "So what year are you in?" she asked. "When is your birthday?" she asked. Not a normal question that people ask, yet Sarah was Sarah, and not normal, now it was time to explain, "I collect people's birthdates, I like knowing when there birthdays are, you see.". Everyone had their quirks and all.

"so.. what would you like to see? Or should I just guide you through and we take each shop as it comes?" This was just so exciting. She loved people, and this was person who was especially special as he did not go to Hogwarts, yet she will save the questions about his school for later.

Tay beamed as the girl confirmed what she had said. "Avec plaisir." Taylor had decided to answer her back in French... though her accent was a little rusty... Hey, she was only half French so... she could slack off on the accent. She was just thankful that she knew the more formal phrase for your welcome. Tay shrugged at the loneliness comment. "I guess... loneliness isn't that bad, to be honest..." Taylor gave the girl a smile, "I sometimes prefer it lately as well..." She tilted her head, "What about my house? Ravenclaw is amazing." Tay beamed at the girl again and giggled but then tried to stop her giggles, looking down at her feet.

The rustiness aside, Léa was pleased that the girl talked in French. She was going to miss French at this school. Maybe she and this girl, Taylor, could speak. Yes. She and Taylor could even be... friends. Hmm. She had to think about that last part, but the first was possible.

She smiled more warmly, but kept silent again. See, Taylor didn't struck her like the girl to enjoy loneliness even while reading a book, so Léa automatically deduced something was not going well for her. She didn't speak her suspicions though, because it was rude to ask such things to a person you'd just met. So she shrugged again. Taylor probably had already understood that she wasn't a talker. She didn't like talking when she didn't have a nice answer.

Now, to this she had an answer.

"I weel stay zere," she said with a small frown. "Can you geeve me more information?"

Adelaide made her way into Hogsmeade for the first time. It was another permission slip that almost didn't get signed. The only reason this one did was because she could buy school supplies while she was there if necessary. She clutched bag to her and did her best to stay warm in the cold December air.

Addi looked around the little village. So many stores to check out. Especially that candy one. That was a definite stop before she left. But maybe she should check out some of the other shops first...

The questions just continued and continued. So much that Gaston was starting to wonder if he had made a mistake in allowing this girl to talk. He couldn't even answer this next one of hers. "I am actually not so sure. I just know zat eet ees French, Madame." He would have returned the question, but he felt it easier not to.

That was all he wanted, a tour. He nodded at her and began walking the way he was before, hoping she would walk along too. He wasn't here much for the chatter unless she had something that was of useful information. "Zank you." He replied to her then answered more of her questions."I see. I am a 6th year and I am sixteen."Again, he did not ask the question in return. Instead something else was said. "Can you tell me about your school?" His face was serious besides for his hint of a smirk.

"I zink a guide zrough, should do."He knew a few shop names here and their from the pre-research he did. This was just being clever. The less the Hogwartians knew, that he knew the more stupid they would think him to be. Yet in reality he was very academic.

Taylor's smile grew as the girl smiled more warmly. She had noticed how little the girl talked though but that didn't bother her. Tay just figured it was her usual behavior or that it was at least normal for people in a new place... "Oooooh you are going to stay with us!" Taylor twirled in delight, "Ravenclaw... house of the wise, founder Rowenda Ravenclaw, symbol is Eagle, colors are blue and bronze, element is obviously air... the ghost of Ravenclaw is the Grey Lady aka Helena Ravenclaw who was the founder's daughter and who was stabbed by the Bloody Baron aka the ghost of the Slytherin house... spurn lovers or something like that." Tay gestured and laughed, "Home base is in the Ravenclaw tower on the seventh floor which also has the Gryffindor tower as well as Astronomy and Divination, not to mention the owlery... head of house is Professor Calista Elwood, who just happens to be the Divination professor and is really nice... Is that the stuff that you are looking for or...?" Tay tilted her head, taking a breath and waiting for an answer.

"Oh.. I guess I look it up when I get back to Hogwarts." she said walking at his pace now. She should not o fast anyways, seeing as this was a tour. Now Sarah, more being tour guide then talking.. it did not seem to be enjoying her chatter, otherwise he would have asked more questions.
"Hogwarts is a great place. I love it dearly. Its situated in a castle, a nice big one with a dungeons and a few floors and a tower in each corner. Its also has large grounds with a lake, greenhouses, lawns, quidditch pitch, maize maze.. really everything that one could think of. The school was founded many centuries ago and it has four houses. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. I am a Gryffindor, although my father was a Ravenclaw and I was nearly put into Ravenclaw due to my lust for knowledge and intelligence. I have friends in all houses though. There are 7 years here.. Their are 12 subjects taught, Astronomy - very interesting and our Professor Flamsteed is so much fun. Quite a character, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy.. I loved that subject, to do with numbers, although I do have issues with the current professor, a new one,, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Divinition.. I dropped that this year.. before I used to take it for entertainment purposes, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Muggle Studies.. an easy subject, as I went my mother was a muggleborn so e maintain ties with that world too, History of Magic.. I like that too - got a knack for history, Potions and transfigurations. So those are the subjects.... oh and also we have seminars at Hogwarts with visiting instructers, covering everything from Alchemy to Wandlore, as well as magical portraiture." Sarah was so busy talking she nearly forgot to point out the shop next to her, "that is the three broomsticks its an inn and pub. Never been there in my life, not a drinker of that kind of stuff" she said. Just setting the record straight and all. "Its been around probably as long as Hogsmede has."
Then there was side road "down there is a place that was called the shrieking shack... people used to hear terrible sounds from there around 100 years ago. and then up ahead we have Hogsmede Owl Post office". She had been there earlier that day

Despite wearing her house scarf and sparkly fuschia-colored ear muffs (with matching gloves), Fern was feeling the cold. True, Forrest had returned her thick, outer robes, but there was no way she could bring herself to put them on after all that had happened. Fern was starting to think maybe she should just buy a new set, but how she was going to explain this all to her parents was another story.

So, in the meantime, the first year attempted to make do by doubling up on her sweaters under her standard, every-day school robes. And maybe also by purchasing a hot coco at the Three Broomsticks. It depended on whether they put whip cream on top or not, preferably with chocolate sauce dribbled over it.

The ride with the rest of his fellow students on the Beauxbatons carriage was a relaxing and quite comfortable one, that much he had to say. He would rather travel comfortable than in pain. He loved to travel by carriage he could sleep and in there he could do things...

Not long after arriving Beau found himself standing in the middle of Hogsmeade, a remarkable place in dead. He looked around he must find someone to show him around, eyeing everyone he saw a girl... Waiting awhile... No one to come be by her might as well go over. He wasn't like Gaston when it came to the mademoiselles, he could live without them but he did enjoy their company.

"Bonjour, Mademoiselle."

Luckily, Léa was a smart girl with good ears, because Taylor started to speak non-stop like a machine. From what Léa understood, she was placed in the house of smart - GREAT! This pleased her and it showed on her face. She didn't have any comment to ghost issue, though, and didn't understand it well honestly, so decided to find out more about it at school.

"Merci for ze information," she thanked politely. "I was looking for any kind of, ah, stuff." So she was grateful for her enlightening speech. "'ow about ze students?" Were they fine too?

Taylor smiled at her, "Avec plaisir." She nodded, "I was hoping I was giving you stuff you wanted and not just some random crap that bored you." Tay giggled and smiled at her. Hmm... the students... what to say about my classmates... "Well... the quiddich players tend to be nice and look out for each others, the prefects tends to be helpful and even sometimes are quidditch players as well. The hufflepuff students seems to be sweet and kind which fits the loyalty quality of them... well... except for this one seventh year boy who is a total... jerk... but that is another story." Tay gestured, "The slytherins... I only really hung out with one so I don't really know them too well but the one I hung out with is kinda nice, kinda not." Taylor shrugged and smiled, "Though they are said to be the cunning house. Ummm..." Tay paused and tapped her chin, thinking. "The Gryffindor students... the ones I have met are nice but tends to be the trouble-makers because of their fun adventures... and the housemates of mine, they are all nice but they tend to get boring a little because we all seem to study a lot... but we do have fun a lot too..." Taylor shrugged and looked at her.

So that was an interesting trip to get candy. She thought she was going to have some time with Addy, but Addy booked it right when that foreign girl, what was her name Brovo, Brons, Oh whatever it was it started with a B. The girl seemed nice though so that was good and Min always liked meeting new people so all and all it wasn't horrible, plus she got some candy which was never a bad thing, but now she was in a hurry to make it over to meet Ethan.

Huge smile crossing her face because SHE WAS SEEING ETHAN and that was always a reason to smile. Quickly looking down as she continued to walk she moved the items in her bag looking for her compact. It wouldn't hurt to make sure make up was completely perfect since she was going to see him, right.. right, but as she kept her eyes on her bag she hadn't realized just how close someone was in front of her.

Umph

Well that wasn't nice, she looked up feeling rather embarrassed until she realized who it was. Her smile grew and she pretty much tackle hugged him. "DAICHI.. Wait. what are you doing here? Are you here to see someone? What have you been up to? I miss you at school." She finally took a breath and stopped throwing a thousand questions at her friend, but she couldn't help but keep smiling. Hogsmeade was becoming her favorite place this term.

As Daichi watched a couple of students with weird accents walked passed, he folded his arms and put his hands in his arm pits. Why did he always forget to bring gloves with him? No matter how many years had passed, the eighteen year old did not learn from his mistake.

He breathed the cool air and looked at his breath for a few moments. He remembered playing dragon with his brother a long time ago. Basically, they chased each other while breathing heavily ...it was kind of disgusting now he thought about it. All those germs and spit ewww. But they were kids.

Chuckling at his own thoughts, Daichi turned around to make his way to the three broomsticks. Perhaps he would find someone he knew there? He had not taken three steps when he felt something push against his back. His first thought was ...that he was being robbed. So he quickly flicked his wrist as his wand fell in his hand. But it didn't turn out to be a robber just..."Minnie?"

Quickly putting back his wand and feeling slightly embarrassed about his sudden reaction, the ex-slytherin listened to her questions and rubbed his neck. "Eeeh...s-slow down!" Honestly! He hadn't even processed one question before she fired the other. "I heard Hogsmeade was open to students so i thought i'd come here as well, hoping to see some old friends" he smiled and then shivered. The coooold!

What had he been up to? "Hmmm nothing much, finding a job in the muggle world OH and!" He grabbed both of his ears and stretched them out so that he surely looked like a monkey. "I got earrings! what do you thiiiink?!--oh?" His brown eyes found a curious little badge and he looked at Minnie's face, before checking the badge and then up to Minnie's face.

And then he punched her arm.

It had become a habit of him...punching people in congratulations. "You're a Prefect?! that's soooo awesome!" eeek now they had both been Prefects! "How's your final year going?"

Léa actually liked the girl. She was being very helpful, friendly and nice. She was speaking to her in this cold, and Léa knew she was one of those people you ran to when you were in trouble.

"I won't be bored easily now," she said just to make her feel better and talk freely. Really. She was all ears, especially about Hogwarts.

Aha. Taylor gave more information. Léa listened to her with interest.

...Quidditch people were a team, obviously...prefects were alright people...Hufflepuffs could be used...though they had one jerk - Léa almost asked her what his name was, but figured it would be rude to cut her off - Slytherins were a question mark, probably due to their being cunning...she should keep away form Gryffindors...Ravenclaws were kind of boring with high intelligence and they had fun occasionally... YEP! That seemed to be all.

"Zank you a lot again," she said with a wide smile. "I need to look for my class-mates now, but I weel see you around, oui?" They could paint their nails and all.