With a big smile, Lux felt really happy that she had met Tessa because she was actually a cool girl like Christmas was and she made her feel welcome even if she was a lot older. "I am in Hufflepuff now! Shame she was not in the same House as her friends.... But she could still see them and make new friends while she was at it!

Glancing at the new girl, she noticed that she was in the same House as her. Maybe she could be a new friend of hers as long as she wasn't annoyingly girly or anything weird. "I'm Lux!"

As soon as there was room made for her between Tessa and Bay, Lux climbed onto the bench. But instead of sitting down on the seat itself, she scooted herself into Bay's lap. "I do have to say that I like Cucumber!"

So, the hat said Gryffindor and Jeremiah could help the smile that was tugging at the side of his lips. Gryffindor, it would surely be nothing like his house in Durmstrang but it was better than nothing. He had a place and he belonged. More importantly, the hat at listened to his gravey threat and for that he couldn't help but smirk to himself, silly hat.
With a strut in his step he.made his way over to the table with the red and gold banners above it, he was sure to look up and make sure it was the right table... high look at the CEILING! Jeremiah looked up at the enchanted ceiling in a sort of amazement, they didn't have that where he came from. Looking up in time he turned to the left a bit, right before his leg collided with the table corner, that would of sucked, and he made his way over to an empty spot that wasn't already occupied and noticeably started looking up and down the table. Alexa Cambridge, he was looking for you.

"Oh really? Tessa turned toward the girl, curious. "Why did you leave? Or... why did you come back? If you even want to answer either one," she added, giving the girl a small grin. "I've been to quite a few schools myself- mainly due to my father's work," she explained. That didn't mean she wanted to give the girl full reasons why she had been to so many schools. So she could understand if the girl wanted her privacy.

"Oh goodness... I hope it isn't too long," she said with a laugh. "My friend Bay and I are simply wasting away!" she said, giving the boy a gentle nudge. "Great to meet you Adeline," she said with a warm smile. "So, what do you like best about Hogwarts?" she asked, changing the topic.

"Ah, New York," she said fondly. She nodded at the boy's description of the school. "Yeah, most of mine were boarding schools... but I went to the occasional private. Is this your first year here?" she asked, figuring it was a question that she should ask. "I just transferred in."

"Well, I think it was founded back in medieval times... but for more info on that you'll have to ask someone else. I barely looked at the cover of 'Hogwarts: A History'," she told him with a laugh.

"Very well, a project it is then," she said with a nod. "We'll have to start in the library I guess... and then we'll see what we need from there." Leg work she could do, as well as exploration- but she would save the rule breaking for if they really needed it.

"Uh-huh," she said, giving Bay a look, before she broke down into giggles. "Awesome at being mean!" she teased, knowing he would protest even further- that was part of the fun!

She sat back as Bay talked with Lux... until she heard 'cucumber'? "What did you just call her?" she asked, confused. What had she missed on the train?

Silver liked Mitchell's honesty, Silver was a fun name! "It really is!" Not to mention it topped the list of her favorite colors, jewelry, etc. Mr. & Mrs. Barry, had a fancy for naming their children after jewelry/gems. "Your name is pretty interesting, too. It's pretty common back home." She nodded.

"Yup, I am." Silver smiled. "I though I'd be nervous about coming here, not to mention being here right now. But I'm not sooo--How long have you been here at Hogwarts?" She added. Silver's only attended Salem and been homeschooled for a year, back in Rochester.

She smiled.

"Thank you, very much!" Aw, he's so nice. Silver flashed him a smile.

"Does that mean you're new here, too?" She asked, tilting her slightly to the side. Silver may be wrong on this.

Tessa shot Lux a big smile. She would imagine this would be like what having a sister would be like- someone to have fun with no matter the day or time.

"A Hufflepuff? I don't know what that means, but congrats!" she said, laughing. "Are you excited?" Even though they weren't in the same house, it's not like they wouldn't see one another. After all, she was even sitting with them now. They would be in separate years too, but she didn't see that being an issue either.

Tessa raised her eyebrows as Lux sat on Bay. She shook her head slightly, laughing to herself. She had definitely made some good friends.

Benjamin had gotten separated from his train companions, including his familiar left in his cage to be handled with the luggage. So it was alone that he walked into the Great Hall though surrounded by other students as their own movements echoed his. The second year headed towards the familiar landscape of the Gryffindor House table for lack of any other destination. However as he took a seat on one of the long benches, he was reminded on how unfamiliar he was with his housemates.

Sure he had been in classes with them, and passed each other in the halls and stairwells, and shared a common room. But not to the extent of actually knowing them. Ben couldn't even remember on sight any of his dorm mates. Perhaps this had something to do with the gentle reprimand he had gotten from his parents. The one about him needing to socialize more and one of the reasons he had actually been speaking to fellow students over the summer and on the train. But none of them were lions and seemingly lost to him among the other crowded house tables.

Oh well, the twelve year old turned back to his own table and tried to think on what to do as he awaited the feast.

Adeline glanced up at the girl. "Just some family drama but it kept me from coming back a year later. I didn't want to miss my last year." Adeline was super excited about being here for her last year, it was spur of the moment decision but she was here now.

Adeline giggled. "Trust me I hope the speech isn't that ling either, I'm starving and I ate on the train." Adeline was surprised that she wasn't gaining any weight from all of the food that she was eating these last few months but she was also working out for Quidditch so that might be that reason too. "There isn't anything I don't like about Hogwarts, it just simply amazing here."

Adeline smiled, she wondered if this was the girls first year here. "I'm Adeline." the seventh year smiled. "This your first time at Hogwarts? If so then welcome to Hufflepuff." Meeting the younger students was just much more fun.

Adeline's head turned when she heard someone say 'sup'. Her head turned to the voice that said. "Oh you know just waiting for the food." Adeline shrugged. "Sup?" she asked the boy. "I'm Adeline." She smiled introducing herself. Adeline wondered if he was new, he seemed pretty new to her. Adeline couldn't believe all of the new students that she saw everywhere from all different years too.

Adeline nodded. "Yeah, I wish we didn't have to wait that long, I just want some food." she laughed, that didn't seem very lady-like, did it? To bad, she would make it known when she was hungry.

She nodded, she knew where everything was. "It is a very long time, I remember where everything is, so if you all need help trying to find your classes I can help you." she smiled.

Marigold had found herself at the Gryffindor house table before she knew it. Tonight was strange, it was like she was sleepwalking. Anyway, she looked around for a certain New Yorker she knew. Walking farther up the table to where he sat, she tapped Mitchell on the shoulder.

"Miss me?"

"Oh thats great. I heard Hufflepuff is a great house" he exclaimed.

just as he was finished making room for Lux to sit down, she ended up on his lap. "Hey…" he said playfully and swatted at her. "you know your just in tickle position right Cucumber?" while arching his eyebrow.


"Oh Tessa foods.. i need foods" he played it up by putting his hand on his forehead and pretended for faint but without making Lux fall off of his lap.

"Why don't you call me MR.AM [awesome,mean] hahaha" many Tessa was in a very funny mood and it was turning out to be really fun.

Bay snorted so loud he started to cough. "I called her Cucumber… its her nickname because she ate my cucumber sandwich…" more laughing.


"Yup, its my first time being here, but i'm going into my fifth year.. Mother home schooled me.. how about you?" he asked Silver.

"yeah.. if I could I would totally go down to the kitchens and swipe some food and bring it up for all of you.. but don't want to get kicked out on my first day you know." he puffed up his chest and fixed his robes "gotta make a good impression" trying to keep a straight face he burst out laughing again.

Now that she was sitting down, Lux felt more comfortable and began looking around the table as Tessa talked to her. She was not trying to be rude, she just was rather hungry, and wanted to see what was available for her to eat.

"I am rather glad to be in Hufflepuff, even if I'm not in the same House as you guys. Hufflepuffs seem to be hard workers, and that makes me feel good because I am a hard worker." Lux was not lazy, even if she was young.

"I am really excited, Tessa!"

Happy that she had found another Puff sitting at the table, and one who seemed to be rather older, Lux nodded. Maybe this girl would be able to help her find her way to their Common Room later. "Thank you. I am just starting here, yes. I was home schooled last year." Which explained why she was starting off here as a Second Year. "Are you a Seventh Year?"

"Of course it is, Bay, I am in it. How could it not be just for having me there." She was totally joking of course, she was not really an arrogant person. And really, she had heard a lot of great things about Hufflepuff, as she had about the other Houses as well (even Slytherin).

"You aren't going to tickle me, are you?" She cautiously looked at his hands, hoping that she would not have to make a quick getaway. She could be rather ticklish. Eep!

Head held high, and arms wide open, Sir Nicholas made his grand entrance into the Great Hall through the centre of the Gryffindor table. Or at least he thought it was the Gryffindor table, though considering he saw Badgers in front of him, perhaps he had misjudged the distance? Overshot the mark, even? But no, on closer observation he had been correct, and they were merely out of their seats.
"Hello" he beamed down at some of the newer faces, "Welcome to Gryffiindor!"

He hadn't even stopped to think he might have given them a fright before spinning mid-air to get a better look at them all. "So who've we got here then?" he asked, keenly awaiting introductions, since he had been daft enough to miss the sorting.

Kevin was looking around for a place to sit. The Gryffindor table was pretty full so he placed himself near the end of the table next to another student. His eyes were looking at the still empty plates in front of him and his stomach growled at the thought that soon, after the Headmistress speech there was going to be SO MUCH FOOD!

FREE FOOD!

He grabbed a spoon, not to get ready to eat some soup although he was totally going to do that later, he instead checked his reflection. His nose in particular and saw that it was indeed a little red. Mweeeh! he looked ridiculous! Placing the spoon down, he wasn't going to hide it as well. Because he knew that when you tried to hide something it was even more noticable. You didn't behave natural when you hid something so he looked forward, pretending like nothing was wrong with his red nose.

And now he was bored. He needed to do something but WHAT? As if someone had heard his thoughts, a ghost suddenly came through the house table and he looked surprised, mildly amused. "I know you!" he said. "My mother and father told me about you, you're uhm....Nearly Chopped off Head guy right?"

Christmas had just entered the great hall for the last time and took a seat at the gryffindor table and looked about there were a few familiar faces but she was really looking forward to having a great term and hopefully come away from Hogwarts with a few good memories

Tessa nodded in understanding. "I know what that's like," she told the girl with a sad smile. "But you're here now, and that's what matters! The past is the past," she said, waving her hand as if she could just fan the past away.

"I think everyone is ready for food," she said, glancing around the table. She nodded at the girl's talk of Hogwarts. That was the second such description she had gotten and she wondered if it really was that amazing. "So, what can you tell me about their Quidditch then?" she asked. If the school was so wonderful, perhaps it would be able to help her out with her goal after all.

"Oh no! We may need a nurse- an IV of soup, quick!" Tessa called out with a laugh, putting her hand on Bay's shoulder so that he wouldn't fall back. "I'll also need an FRN- Food right now!" she joked.

"Mr. Am it is!" Tessa confirmed with a nod. "You're never going to live it down," she told him with a wink. She loved giving people nicknames, it was more unique than just calling them by their own name. While there could be a hundred different Sarahs or Johns, a nickname was special for just one person.

Tessa laughed at the explanation. "Oh goodness- no wonder you're hungry! Silly Lux, taking you're much needed food away from you," she said, shaking her head.

Tessa joined her friend in looking around. There was so much to look at and take in- and that was before the food even appeared. Glancing at all the plates and platters that were set out in front of them, she was sure that it was going to be quite a feast.

"Well, I'm very happy for you then," she replied with a smile. She wasn't sure what Gryffindor had been for- brave or something like that? She certainly was, but every house seemed like it had a good quality to it, so she wouldn't have cared either way.

"Have you met anyone else from your house yet?" she asked, looking around their table. There seemed to be a small mix, although their current table was mostly Gryffindors.

"Uh-oh- did I hear there may be a tickle monster lurking around?" she asked, looking between Lux and Bay. As Lux looked over at Bay, Tessa took advantage of her distraction and quickly tickled her friend. "Gotcha!"

Tessa grinned as a ghost settled down at the table also. This was certainly going to be an interesting year. There had been ghosts at a few of her other schools- but many of them had been rather aloof or distracted by something.

"Hello there," she said to the ghost. "I'm Tessa Hedge, newly sorted Gryffindor," she told the ghost with a sure smile. "Might we have the pleasure of knowing your name?" she asked, curious.

"Christmas! Over here!" Tessa called, seeing the older girl walk into the hall. They really had all gotten separated leaving the train- but it seemed they would be regrouping soon. "How was your carriage ride?" she asked, making sure there was room for their friend.

Christmas took a seat beside Tessa and said "My carriage ride was alright just glad to be back at school now so what are you impressions on the school from the first view, i know that it is night but it is awesome" Christmas was going to miss Hogwarts when she left at the end of the term

Tessa smiled as Christmas joined them. "Good to hear- I met some interesting people in my carriage- gotta love new schools," she said, shaking her head with a soft laugh. Switching schools was always an interesting experience.

"The castle is gorgeous," she said, looking around her once more. "You can feel how old the magic is just by stepping through the door. I bet a lot of strange things happen here," she said, laughing. "But that ceiling..." she sighed, wishing she had her broom. "It looks never ending!"

Christmas smiled and said "I know the ceiling is amazing you can always think about what the weather could be like and yeah that is the feeling i always get as well cause Hogwarts has been teaching kids magic for years"

Well this couldn’t be right. No not at all, he was told this was the table to be at. Yes Alexa had said it was, but yet the cool girl he met on the train wasn’t over here. She was sitting at that blue table. Ravenclaw he figured. Now where was his best friend? She had to have been sorted by now, but he didn’t see her. She did get off the boat, right? He knew she was nervous, but nothing would have happened it was just a small boat.
Noticing someone sit next to him Bart looked over. The boy seemed to be his age and looked lost. Was he new as well. This could be fun, “Hey you.. you sure you are at the right table?” grinning he looked around acting as if the boy wasn’t at the right one. “I think you need over there. Yeah the sorting hat said Slytherin I heard it loud and clear.” He didn’t even remember hearing the hat for anyone but his own, but no one had to know that.



Trying to still act as if he already had been there for a long time he looked for some other new students. This could be fun and it didn’t seem like others were paying much attention. Plus he had a little souvenir to give away. He noticed an older boy come over. Was he knew or not Bart wasn’t sure so he kept the blue possession in his pocket and gave a nod, “Sup” He looked up at the ceiling, what was the boy looking for. “Lose your owl?” Honestly had he never seen an enchanted ceiling before? Bart had seen them a few times when he was with him mum at events.



And there was a girl talking to him. Not that he was scared of girls or that he cared, but she wasn’t in red colors. “You lost?” Were they allowed to sit at other tables, because he might have to venture over to a Mo and Sophie if that was allowed and go find Brynn even if he had to go to the boats and pull her red hair the entire way to the castle. Nicely of course, but he’d get her behind in here. Food, food would be nice, “Why do they wait until the headmistress speaks to eat, lame” He wanted to eat now and by the looks of it that lady seemed to be taking her good old time good thing he had all those cauldron cakes on the train.



Bart was about to say more to the yellow robed girl, but his eyes jumped to a misty object floating towards them. GHOST! He had heard they lived at the castle, but had never seen them. This was so cool, could he put his arm through the man, would he let him. Maybe he could accidently fall into him or something. Jumping up he moved closer to the ghost, “Hey hi I’m Bart and you are.. a ghost.” yes he was captain obvious, but hey he was a ghost. Forcing himself to hit his shoes like he tripped on his own shoe laces he went falling forward. This was going to be so cool going through a ghost.



As he was on the floor looking up at the ghost Bart noticed a boy talking to the ghost. “Chopped off head, you can do that to ghost? “ He had never heard anyone being able to chop off a ghost head, couldn’t they just reattach it easy it’s not like it would kill him he’s already dead or was there life after ghost life too. This was an interesting thought. He got back up on his feet and went over to the young boy. First year he was guessing. “Sup I’m Bart” So what was this boy like was the first thought in Bart’s head. He needed to find people that weren’t baby tattletales.

Tessa nodded in agreement. "It's like your own weather man! Except it's a ceiling," she giggled. She stopped looking up and massaged her neck. It hurt looking up for too long, but it was worth it. "So what can you tell me about Gryffindor?" she asked, looking up and down their crimson and gold table.

Christmas looked and said "Well all i know is that Gryffindor is named after Godric Gryffindor one of the founders of Hogwarts and that the famous trio of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were all Gryffindors when they were at Hogwarts all those years ago"

Kevin had been watching the dramatic reaction of a boy around his own age when the Gryffindor Ghost had appeared. It was kind of hard to miss seeing someone fall on the ground you know and the eleven year old wondered WHY he had fallen down.

Had he been scared by the ghost's sudden appearance? Whatever it was, Kevin chuckled a little but quickly stopped when he realised that the guy was coming over towards his place. Had he heard him chuckle at him? His two different eye colored eyes narrowed as he looked at the boy suspiciously, ready to defend himself when....he asked if a ghost head could be chopped off ....

"What" he vaguely asked and unconsiously he scratched the back of his neck. "I have no idea , let's ask the Nearly Chopped off Head ghost?" He turned his gaze from the ghost to Bart as he had introduced himself. "Why did you fell down earlier? Were you scared? You do realise that this is the Gryffindor table right? house of bravery?" he said. "Oh, and i'm Kevin"

Tessa nodded as she listened to Christmas. That made sense, the founder named his house after himself, she thought she could remember that at least. "Really?" Everyone had heard stories of Harry Potter, although the stories had varied around North America- that had been fun to compare. "That's a really cool history," she said, looking up and down the table. Soon they would have a famous Quidditch player to add to the list!

Adeline scrunched her nose at his question, of course she wasn't lost, they were allowed to be at other tables, the boy looked like he was a second or third year, shouldn't he know that? "No, I'm not lost, you do know that you can visit other tables, right?" Clearly this boy didn't. Of course the talks of food again, stupid food and stuff, Adeline heard her stomach grumbled, she wanted food and she wanted it now. "I have no idea, to be respectful, maybe." Adeline had the answer to a lot of things but not to that question. "I'm Adeline." Might as well introduce herself.

Adeline shrugged. "My past has a way of catching up to me and ruining my life." It was true, no matter where she goes her mother, father and step-father were always there to ruin her happiness. "Sometimes the past is just the past." Adeline loved her life the way it is right now, she didn't want her family to ruin it now.

Quidditch, how could she explain it, it was quite easy to understand. "All of the four houses have their own Quidditch team and all of them will be having tryouts in the next couple of weeks, I've been trying all summer for this," Adeline was sure that she was going to make it on the team, she hoped so. "Near the end of term, there's a Quidditch cup, I heard that Hufflepuff won last term." That was Adeline's shortened version of Quidditch at Hogwarts.

Adeline was always happy about new student and mostly new student in Hufflepuff. "I was homeschool before my first year, I didn't like it, it was boring." Adeline is more of the hands on learning and would rather be in a classroom than her house. Adeline nodded to the girl. "Yes I am." She still couldn't believe it herself.

Adeline always thought that the good food was after the feast, but it was good during the feast too. "I don't know if you'll get kicked out." She laughed. That would be dumb if he did get kicked out if he did that, all the students in here were hungry and only a few student would attempt at getting food before the feast starts.

Tessa nodded. "I can sympathsize," she replied quietly. She could see in Adeline's eyes that this was not one of her favorite topics. "Well, you're here- so let's talk about this place! What else do you remember about it?" she asked.

Tessa nodded in understanding. "That sounds similar to how my past schools have done it. One let everyone form their own teams- that was fun," she said with a grin. Her team had won that tournament in a landslide victory. But she wasn't going to brag... much. She smiled at Adeline's mention of training. "What have you been doing?" she asked. "I'm training to be a professional Quidditch player, so I've been training too," she added with a proud grin.

Christmas smiled and said "Yeah i know it is a great history i was amazed when i found out that the boy who lived had defeated Voldemort all those years ago and the final battle of that time took place in our school grounds as well but nothing remains from that battle cause i think everything got rebuilt i think but i cant be too sure"