"Nice to meet you Annalee. My name is..."
*Ehhh he always dreaded this part when introducing himself. Why did you have to name me this mum?!*
"...Romulus, Romulus Tillstorm. But I go by Rom. My mum had a thing for the Greek and Roman myths. This is my third year here at Hogwarts. First year? You look much older than a first year."

He paused before saying his name? She thought it was actually a cute name... but maybe it was just her, "Odd, didn't even have to say it." She smiled, knowing she probably seemed a little odd she quickly explained, "My last name's Roman... Er, well technically my last name." Yeah... going into an orphanage her parents had her name changed...

"And I said that wrong..." She shook her head with a small laugh, "I'm a third year as well, it's just my first year here." Made sense right? She hoped so.

Tessa was still wandering around the hall when she saw a familiar face. "Hello there," she said, coming over to the older girl. "Laura, isn't it? We met in Diagon Alley?" she said, taking a seat next to the girl. Then again, she could have been wrong- there were so many new faces, and things to get used to here. She wondered how she even remembered her own name.

Kace had grown up quite a bit, did he know? It was so strange because she still remembered him as this tiny first year. She couldn't help but wonder if she looked a lot older too. Shaking off those thoughts, the blonde smiled a little at him and waved in greeting. "It was pretty good, yeah." Summer, that is. No details though, for reasons. "How was yours, Kace?"



She was far away but it was only because her boyfriend insisted on having so many friends. You couldn't help but want to be around him, y'know? Made if hard for a girlfriend to find a proper seat by his side. Your fault, Alec, all yours.

"Hey there!" He got a wave in return and a warm smile too. And he checked on her a lot, Alec did. It made Ella's smile widen a tiny bit because it felt nice, having someone care. "I'm okay. Happy to be back. How about you, Head Boy? Alright?" She had questions about his dad and Chip too but maybe they could catch up after the feast. She hoped so, at least.

And why was it that her boyfriend insisted on surrounding himself with really pretty girls? Speaking of, that one had just introduced herself.



"That's a pretty name, Delilah." Y'know when you think things and then say them out loud without realizing? Yeah, that just happened. "I'm Ella, by the way. Welcome to Hufflepuff." Smiles too. She got smiles.



And as the blonde scanned the table and watched her housemates greet new members and catch up with each other, her green eyes settled on a particularly quiet boy. Was he lonely or? Ella decided to greet him just in case.

"Hey there, you okay?"

Laura smiled as she saw Tessa. "Hello Tessa." Laura was really happy to see someone she knew who wasn't busy. It seemed all her Hufflepuff friends were. She would speak to them later. "So how are you today?" Laura did remember Tessa from Diagon Alley. "Yes we did meet in Diagon Alley." Laura had no idea what to say or do next so decided to just ask a question. "What did you do for the rest of the summer?"

Kace heard a new name and looked up. Huh? So this girl was Delilah. He never seen her around before. He went over to give her a welcome. "Hey Delilah, my name is Kace, nice to meet ya!"



Kace hugged her and then she quickly pulled away. Did he do something wrong? He gave her a quizzical expression then he softened it when she started blushing and apologizing. "Aww do not be sorry. Hugging is contagious you know? Sometimes we can't help ourselves." he shrugged and chuckled trying to ease her embarrassment.

Then she mentioned Mel and Kace remembered her and he didn't see her anywhere. "I didn't see her anywhere either but i will keep a lookout." he promised her.

He heard a nickname somewhere in there. He grinned. "So i am a pranking sweetheart huh?" he joked and nudged her with his elbow. "And of course i will show you around. Don't you worry." he assured her.



Kace felt another hair ruffle from Alec and he chuckled. Kace was thinking about Wade now and how he used to hair ruffle his hair. He would miss the dude but time to move on. "It is great to see you! I have missed ya dude! Oh well my summer was great. Did lots of things and went to places." he shrugged keeping his explanation short. He sure Alec didn't care.



Dusty was curling up into his hands. Kace saw Dusty shrink back a bit and then saw her hand dangling. Dusty sniffed her hand and then he bounced up and down and let her touch him. "Yeah he is pretty soft. He is like a mini pillow. Sometimes at home i gotta be careful of where i put him." he chuckled.

It was true, his mom almost mistaken him for a little pillow one time. "What are you most excited for your first year?"

Tessa smiled, glad the girl had remembered her. "I'm... overwhelmed," she said with a laugh. "This place has a lot going on, a lot to see and a lot to take in," she said, looking around her once more.

"This summer? Mainly been training- I even talked to a few Quidditch scouts," she said with a proud smile. The prospects were looking good, but she knew that this year would be very important for her career. "What about you?"

Ian had just bitten into one of the biscuits and was in the midst of taking a swallow of his juice when he heard a female voice address him. He panicked, trying to decide if he needed to swallow or breathe and so he did both at the same time. The predictable action occurred as he got the biscuit lodged in his throat and some of the juice down his trachea and he began to cough uncontrollably. He stood up, grasped at his throat and looked around wildly trying to catch his breath or dislodge the biscuit. Right now he didn't care which one happened first.

Laura looked at Tessa and smiled. "I know what you mean there." Laura giggled. "I always say that no matter if you were here 100 years I bet you would find a new room you haven't seen or can't remember." Laura was going to see if she could find a new room this year.

"That is good." Laura smiled and then she suddenly remembered something. "Oh I have to tell the Head something later." Thanks for reminding me. "I worked with horses this summer and well I raced one and came second." Laura thought that was awesome since she had only raced 3 times and came 4 then 2 then 4. "I've got offered a chance to be a horse racer after I leave school and I think that is what I'll do." Laura couldn't wait for that.

She looked up at him. He didn't care? That was different but she smiled slightly, "I guess you're right..." She smiled and hugged him again then, "Just like I said, it's nice to see someone who I actually know." She really didn't think that would be happening... like ever. She was starting to think she was at a different Hogwarts from people she met.

She smiled to what he said, "Thank you. But at least I'm not totally alone here." Annalee looked at him and then at his robe. Yellow so that meant. She couldn't help as the smile grew, "And in the same house." He hadn't told her what house he was in right? She didn't think he did anyways.

She gave a giggle and smiled, "Of course you are. Sweet for showing me around Diagon and then offering to show me this place... and then taking me to the joke shop." She smiled remembering, "Oh! But I did go and buy that sneakoscope you showed me."

Oh no.

OH NO!

This child, the quiet one, he was dying! Or well not dying but choking or something and WHY did people insist on doing this around her? First Theo and now this boy and just MEEEP! Ella squeaked and jumped out of her seat, wandering up behind the boy. No dying allowed at Hogwarts, Merlin!

She then began slapping the boy on the back with her palm. She knew if he was coughing that the food would probably come up with a little help and a few good, hard slaps on the back should work. "You're okay, keep coughing. It'll help." But please don't pass out or die. Seriously, don't.

Ian felt the tears welling up in his eyes as his body tried to expel the intruding bit of biscuit. He thought everything was going well (even though his coughing and lack of breathing was still happening). He placed his hands against the table in a vain attempt to steady his body. He looked frantically for a napkin to wipe the drool escaping his mouth. Just as he found a lovely cloth napkin the sharp blows against his back startled him.

After the first blow he lurched forward and his left hand reached out. Unfortunately, he placed his hand in a bowl of pudding which moved forward and he found his torso falling over the table as he felt the second blow to his back. He also noted a voice coming from the general direction of the blows and wondered for a brief instant who was trying to hasten his death.

As his mid-section struck the edge of the table, he had one more forceful cough and felt the biscuit dislodge from his throat. Through watery, half closed eyes, he watched as the biscuit (covered in saliva) landed on the other side of the table. He laid there, sprawled over the table for a moment as he gathered his breath. He was slightly cogizant of the feel of warm pudding covering his left hand.

Tag eyed the kid. He was playing with Alec's hair. Not that he minded too much, everyone must do that with Alec's hair. It's tradition or something, probably, most likely, yeah. But, ah, good, the boy was holding out his hands to Tag, which he shook for a few seconds. "Oh, Kace. Nice name. I don't think I've ever heard of it. Is it short for something?" Tag asked. A lot of people at Hogwarts had unique or rare names. Was this a rare name? Tag hadn't heard of it until now, so yes, it was. "Just chatting it up, you know. Waiting for the food."

He was a Gryffindor, that was why. He needed his food. Simple as that.



Then TuTu boy came around. Saying if Tag had gotten 'lost' at the Badger den. PSH. As if. Tag wanted to come here. He doesn't get 'lost'. Tag, though, shook his head and gave Messer a slightly amused expression. "I don't get lost." Never. "I came here on my own accord and want. Badger 'den'..." Why was it a den? "Is like my second home. Besides, need to hang out with my best friend here." Tag said smiling and pointing at Alec.

But, "TuTu Boy! Long time no see. How are you?" Hehehehehehe.



Yes, playing with the hair. Ohhh it was so soft and lush. What great hair his friend had. Tag was beginning to wonder if he and Alec used the same shampoo or not. Tag's hair was fluffy, while Alec's was soft.

Hmmm. Interesting choice of words. Knew. That was a big word. "Knew. That's quite the word you're using there." Tag said, voicing his opinion. "It was more of a strong feeling. You seemed, at least, in my mind, very fit for the honor/job. Whichever you wanna call it." Yep. Because Tag didn't know, he had a feeling it might be Alec. That or it was just showing favoritism. "No, of course not." Tag wasn't a stealer. Though, would Alec let Tag wear the badge for a day? See if people would pay attention to him. That'll be an afterthought.

Oh. And Alec's arms were wrapped around Tag's body, and the little not so little blonde boy hugged back his friend for a few seconds. "Of course, Alec, no problem." Pat. Pat. Pat.

"Nah you won't be totally alone. Everyone in this house is totally nice." he assured her. "Also people from other houses are too bad either." he winked telling the truth. "You will meet new people in lessons and such."

Then she looked at his robe and then it clicked. She was in hufflepuff. He was quite excited for her. "Well i am glad you are in hufflepuff!" he told her. "Welcome to the house of awesome from what i like to call it." he shrugged.

He heard she bought the sneakoscope. That was great! "Well i am glad you did! Did it light up at home? Was someone untrustworthy around?" he asked curiously.

"I bet it was good. I mean look at you being head girl at all! Congrats!" he said motioning toward the badge. Now it clicked to him that Ella and Alec were both head boy and head girl. Well now the couple could be like fighters in crime or something like that. "Oh mine was pretty good, just explored and kept busy." he said keeping his explanation short.

Sander couldn't help but laugh out loud when the younger boy exclaimed that he was huge. He never realized how tall he was mainly because back home there were lots of guys taller than he was. The Nordic race tended to be.

He grinned back at the boy,"That's okay. You don't have to apologize. Actually you're not the first person who's told me that I'm huge. But then again maybe to another Seventh Year or even a Sixth Year, I may just be average size." Sander admitted to the boy.

Oh hands to shake....that was something he always liked to do. Very polite indeed.

So Sander took hold of the younger boy's hands and gave him a strong handshake. Yes strong handshakes meant confidence....not just strength. Limp and sweaty ones?....never shake hands with someone with sweaty ones....not a nice feeling at all.

"Hello Adi. My name's Sander and I'm a Seventh year. So what do you Hufflepuffs do for fun?" he asked as he looked down the table of his housemates.

....then he saw a girl wearing a badge join their table. What did the badge mean? Oh seems like she knows the boy whom he had waved hello too. The one also wearing a badge. Would she talk with him..him being the badgeless one.

Heck it was worth a try.




Sander waited to catch her attention and when he thought he had a few seconds to say hi, he did just that. Waving over at her....just like he had done with the boy with the badge.

"Hi there, girl with badge. My name is Sander.....Uh....I can't really tell from where I'm sitting but what is the badge for?" Sander called out hoping that he didn't just ask a stupid question.

But hey he was the new kid. Everything was new to him here.

But just when he thought he was not going to see a familiar face, he found one.



Sander grinned widely when he saw Kace.

"Hey Kace....dude. It sure is good to see you. Wait are you a Hufflepuff too? Thank goodness that are indeed more dudes in this house....not that having girls in it is bad," Sander quickly corrected himself.

No it definitely wasn't wise to alienate the female population in his house and in fact this school. From younger sibling experience, girls had to be treated with respect or else.....

Jordan looked up the table to the older students shouting welcomes, and shouted back a "Thanks!"

They looked like they were talking about older people stuff, and he was both prepared to let them be and tempted to butt-scoot closer to hear what they were talking about.

Jordan spotted the boy before he actually spoke, thanks to the shuffling motion. Bit odd, really. Especially with the words that came after it. Still, it was nice to have someone to talk to, and something to do, besides playing with a spoon.

He looked at the spoon, then back at the much-older boy. This boy probably knew a lot of magic. Jordan didn't know any. Learning and stuff and things was an opportunity here.

"...do they actually make music?" It was a magic school with moving paintings and, he'd overheard, a tree that could whomp you into a pancake in two seconds. Why wouldn't the utensils make music when played properly?

Wait...wait...the boy with the badge had been talking to him and he had almost missed that.

He said his name was Alec...and that they had met before.

Sander shook his head. He made a mental note to himself to make some memory potion. If he was already losing his memory before the start of the term, he was definitely in trouble....yes Jobberknoll feathers....must go look for some.

"Oh yes I do remember you now. We met on Twitter. I glad I'm able to put face to name now. So what does the badge mean? I've seen others wearing them." Sander asked.

Yes he was still curious about the difference in the badges.

Then he laughed... "Yes it does seem like there are more girls in Hogwarts. it was lots different in Durmstrang. There seemed to be more boys." Sander grinned back.

Then he nodded back at Alec....yes he was beginning to feel like he would like it here in this House and this school.

*Now he was getting a bit confused. She also seemed nervous. Why would anyone be nervous around him? He was the Dumbo of Hogwarts after all. At least that was what he had been called by a few Slytherins.*
"My last names Swedish, very old Swedish wizards. A lot of my family still lives there as well. So hold on a tick... Your last name is Roman or you have a Roman last name?"

*Then he smiled a little. He knew that she looked to old to be a first year. She was much taller than the first years. But then again Rom was tall for a third year.*
"Where did you go to school before then? Or did you do that wizard homeschooling thing?"

"I guess I can hope. It would be nice not to be an outcast like at the orphanage." She gave a small nod, really hoping he was right and people would like her.

Anna smiled to what he said, "The house of awesome?" She smiled at the nickname for their house, "Well, if everyone in the house is like you, I'm sure that name is rightfully deserved." She nodded.

Home? She couldn't help a slight frown at that word, "Well... Maybe if I could go home..." Had he forgotten about that little fact? That she was stuck in Russia in an orphanage? She shook her head mentally, "But um... I'm not really around the others that live with me that much to know if I can trust them or not..."

"My last name’s Roman. Annaleecia Varvara Roman." She gave a weak smile, "I’m sorry… I know I have to seem a little confusing, just… A new place, makes me really nervous…" Especially somewhere like here, knowing someone could hex her at any moment. But at the same time, Mel had told her that, and Mel normally liked to scare her. So maybe that was a lie… She hoped so at least.

Annaleecia looked at him and paused, "Well um… That’s a little difficult to explain…" Or at least to her it was, "I’m actually coming from a complete muggle school." She looked up at him, "See… I’m a muggle born, and I’m the one paying to come here… Hoping to get a bit of control over this." Then maybe her parents would want her back and love her again… Once again, she could hope.

Bri giggled at Dusty. She may have to buy a pygmy puff for her self.

Bri thought for a moment. "I don't know really, I am a muggleborn, so I am looking forward to all the classes, I am not really sure what each class is for, yet. I am also excited to make friends, of course." Bri smiled, thinking that she already found some good friends with in Hufflepuff.... hopefully they feel the same.

More congratulations. Ella smiled sheepishly and fiddled with her sleeve. "Thank you, Kace. It was nice that I was asked." And she'd been surprised, to say the least. "Exploring is always fun. It's good to be back though, huh? I missed this place." Really, she did.

"Trying out for Quidditch this term, kiddo?"


What a way to introduce yourself. Sheesh.

Ella was relieved that the kid was no longer choking but the poor thing looked traumatized. She didn't know what to do other than go into mom mode so she reached for the nearest napkin and started to clean his hand. His pudding hand. Poor guy. "I bet no one even noticed that, y'know." Not true, of course, but she figured it might make him feel a little less embarrassed that way. "And if they did, I bet they were impressed with how far you launched that thing." And she removed her wand before cleaning the napkin and handing it over to him. She figured cleaning the boy's face would be crossing a line. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you before." And cause near-choking to happen. Yeah, she'd never live this down.

Worst. Head Girl. Ever.


Girl with the badge? That was a new nickname. Ella turned her attention to the boy once the choking fiasco was handled and smiled curiously. New probably. "Ella, my name is Ella." And his was Sander, apparently. "Nice to meet you." Curious about the badge? The blonde looked down at it and adjusted it slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "It says Head Girl." Mhm, totally did.

Dylan's robes swept lightly along the ground as he made his way through the Great Hall to the Hufflepuff house table. He looked around himself as he walked and smiled brightly. It was great to be back at Hogwarts. The second year had really missed it over the summer, and had been eager to get back ever since the train ride home.

When he reached the table, he smiled at all the familiar faces and the few new ones. Taking a seat near Kace, he gave a nod of greeting towards the boy. "Hello, Kace!" he said. He then turned to the new badger on the other side of him (Bri). "Hai! I'm Dylan!" he extended his hand towards her to shake. He noticed the girl he had met at the cafe, Anna, sitting nearby and he gave her a wave as well. "Hey, Anna! I'm glad to see you're in Hufflepuff!" he told her, beaming.

Anna looked up hearing someone else say her name... And another familiar face, "Dylan!" She smiled and gave him a quick hug, "I nearly forgot you said you were one as well." She beamed, "How was the rest of your summer?"

Awesome, girl with the badge was replying to him, just like the boy with the badge....Alec...yes his name is Alec had done the same.

"Hello Ella, nice to meet you too." Sander grinned back and then he found the explanation he had been wondering about.

Whoa....Head girl? Does that mean she was the head Kahuna of the girl students? Not bad at all.

Did that mean the same with Alec? But what about the other boys who had badges.

"So you're the Head kahuna or Kahuni of all girls. So it is the same for Alec?But what about the others who are wearing badges? What are they then?"

Yes he was new and curious. They did have a Head Boy and Head Girl in his school too, but he didn't know whether all schools did the same thing.

Marigold waved at Kace up the table. She would find time to talk to him later, because their conversation had disappeared with all of the new people. Speaking of newbies, she looked at a few of the unknown faces. Two of them at least looked like firsties(Bri, Leah) and one looked older.

"Hi," she said to them. "I'm Marigold." She wanted to know them. They seemed cool. Next she recognized a familiar face. She ran over to Dylan, ready to talk. She hugged him.

"Hi, Dyl!" she said, making up a nickname. He was adorable, they needed to hang out more this term. Next up was a younger girl Marigold had met once before, Hazel. "Hi again!" she said to the younger puff. "How are you?" There was always so much activity and people at these feasts, she could hardly keep track! Then she saw Sander, who seemed to know a lot more people now.

"Hi Sander! Sorry, I got lost in all of the chaos," she explained. He seemed like a pretty cool guy. Marigold then spotted a girl who she remembered meeting a couple terms back. She ran up to the seventh year, Ella, then noticed the head girl's badge on her chest. She grinned.

"Hi Ella! Remember me, Marigold? Kace's friend? Congrats on the head girl badge!" she said, all very quickly. Boy, was she tired of all this running!