Seven floors was going to be a lot to travel up and down between classes and meals, Hayley was quickly realizing. Much more than she was use to, but nothing she couldn't handle. This was the morning to the rest of her life, or.. the next seven years of her life, anyway.

Tossing her bag onto the bench, Hayley slipped into the spot next to it before reaching for the pumpkin juice with both hands, careful as she poured herself a glass.

Breakfast would have to wait until Mister Grumpy Pants arrived, though. No matter how appetizing those muffins looked.

Okay, maybe it was overkill, but Gwen might have possibly been missing her home country a teeny bit. She had skipped down to the Great Hall that morning decked out head to toe like a tourist in NYC. She would never actually wear this stuff in America, except on The Fourth, but she felt like she had to show a little bit of Country Pride while she was here in the UK. Sure, there were kids at this school from other countries, but she hadn't met one yet from America. Her Head of House aside.

Gwen slid into a seat at the Ravenclaw table and grabbed a slice of toast. It was crazy how quickly everything here had become familiar to her. It was like dropping someone in the middle of the ocean. Basically her only choice was to learn to swim and do it fast. Sure, she still didn't know most of what the wizard-raised kids knew, but she wasn't startled anymore by the ceiling here, or the moving portraits and stairs. She didn't freak out when kids pulled wands on each other, and she was thoroughly used to the idea that magic could heal any injury. It wasn't so bad at Hogwarts after all.

SPOILER!!: Gwen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Presley Black

Okay, maybe it was overkill, but Gwen might have possibly been missing her home country a teeny bit. She had skipped down to the Great Hall that morning decked out head to toe like a tourist in NYC. She would never actually wear this stuff in America, except on The Fourth, but she felt like she had to show a little bit of Country Pride while she was here in the UK. Sure, there were kids at this school from other countries, but she hadn't met one yet from America. Her Head of House aside.

Gwen slid into a seat at the Ravenclaw table and grabbed a slice of toast. It was crazy how quickly everything here had become familiar to her. It was like dropping someone in the middle of the ocean. Basically her only choice was to learn to swim and do it fast. Sure, she still didn't know most of what the wizard-raised kids knew, but she wasn't startled anymore by the ceiling here, or the moving portraits and stairs. She didn't freak out when kids pulled wands on each other, and she was thoroughly used to the idea that magic could heal any injury. It wasn't so bad at Hogwarts after all.

Leah had finished her breakfast, finishing with another goblet of pumpkin juice from stopping her tongue burning again. She had reached the massive doors when a girl at the blue (Ravenclaw) table caught her attention. She was dressed... weirdly. Leah had never seen anything like that before, but then she never cared much about fashion.

Thinking that it would not hurt to stop by and ask what type of clothes that was, making another friend in the meantime, Leah walked to the girl and sat down next to her. "Hi, I'm Leah. I'm a first year. Are you one too? Only I think I remember seeing you somewhere." Was it the sorting? Anyway, to the main point. "Could I ask er..." How would she say it? Then her shirt, which said 'New York City' on it, caught the girl's attention. "New York City? Wait... Isn't that in the States? Are you from there?" Cool. No wonder she dressed differently. New York style.

It wasn't very often that Alexa made her way to the Ravenclaw table and it was even less often that she went there without the expressed intention of trying to find Aidan. Nonetheless Lex headed right over, this being around lunch time and her expecting Jun to show up to eat. She was prepared to just sit here until he arrived because this was important. She had homework that needed doing and she had to get it done while she could still be bothered.

This was nothing like DADA homework that she would force herself through even if she was dying so as you can imagine the sooner it got done would be the better.

Lex took a seat closer to the bottom of the table for better access to the exit/entrance, the place she expected to see him walk through at any minute. While she waited she reached for one of the sandwiches on the table and bit into it. There were a few eyes watching her and each got a questioning look. What? Had they never seen a Gryffindor sitting at their table before?

LUNCH TIME.

Jun dragged his feet all the wayyyyyyyyy down to the Great Hall. He could've eaten himself full in candy but promised his mamma that he would eat actual food too. Either way, he was hungry and wanted something to eat. Singing a song as he walked, and getting some looks for it, Jun waltz into the great hall and headed for his house table. Hmm, it was kind of empty today. Which was weird and even better because more food not to share with them.

But there was a familiar blonde girl there. Still singing the song to himself, Jun waltzed into the hall and slid into the seat next to her. Passing his fingers through his now dark hair, Jun kept singing and nudged Lex a bit. Why, oh why was the Candy Prefect at their table?

Looking for him maybe?

These sandwiches tasted odd. It must have been a result of the table she sat at. They weren't making her feel any smarter, in fact they were making her feel a little pressured to actually get this homework over with. Ravenclaw influence, she shouldn't stick around too long.

Lex was through with her first half of her sandwich when the boy she'd been sitting here for finally showed up.

"Just the guy I was looking for." She said with a grin, nudging him right back. Seriously. He couldn't have shown up at a better time and she would have asked someone else but he was super cool with homework things and openly volunteered his help so there was no need for her to go looking for someone else. "It's probably bad form taking you away from your lunch as soon as you got here but I need a favour. A homework one. Potions." Just so they were on the same page here. She trusted he knew what the homework was.

"So I was thinking, we wouldn't even have to go anywhere. We could get it done right here then you could go back to eating. What'd you say?" Yes? Was he saying yes? He needed to agree a little louder. As close to him as she was currently sitting, it was a little difficult to hear.

Gwen looked up in surprise, hearing a voice behind her. She was nearly finished anyway. She took a sip of water and turned toward the girl. "Nice to meet you, Leah, I'm Gwen." Gwen smiled kindly. This friends thing wasn't so hard, was it? She nodded. "Yep. I think we may have stood by each other at the sorting," Gwen helped the girls memory. That would be where they had seen each other. Gwen had been silent and not interacted with anybody, but she had stood near this girl while waiting she was pretty sure.

Was she making fun of Gwen's fashion choice? She didn't seem to mean it in a hurtful way, so Gwen took it as polite interest. She nodded. "Yeah, I'm from New York City." Sort of. A few minutes out by train, but close enough to call it her home. She gestured to the outfit. "I don't normally dress like this. I promise." It was a little too...over the top. That was the phrase.

"Where are you from, then?" Because one sided conversation was always a little strange. Her father believed in asking questions and Gwen did too.

Stopping his singing, Jun grinned. "You were looking for me?" Well, that was a first. People usually avoided him. Not really, but still. EHH???? HOMEWORK DURING LUNCH TIME? WHYYYYYY? Jun sighed. "Not even a nibble before we start? I'm hungry!" And he was. Plus, he would like to have something in his stomach before Lex decided to breathe fire on him. Or vice versa. But he'll get Lolli to breathe fire on. He hadn't seen her in the class so Jun could use that to scare her.

"Fine, I'll help you out," Only because he promised that time in the entrance hall. Why did he make promises on adrenaline of candy? Maybe he should cut back. "Okay, lunch later then. Do you have everything prepared?" Hopefully yes.

Lex gave a firm nod of confirmation to answer his question. She was looking for him and couldn't have been happier now that he'd shown up. This meant less time sitting at this table that was probably no good for her anyway. No telling what might seep into her brain even while she was sitting her.

"Well..........." Alexa thought over his question a bit. "I mean you could have something to eat but with the tickling and all the laughing you might end up doing I'm thinking it can just wait?" And a wiiiiiide smile at the end in case he would need some convincing. "It's fine, won't even take us five minutes properly if we get it right the first time." She needed this done while she could still be bothered with it and with him here and her already sitting it was perfect!

Oh, hold on, agreeing without her having to start offering candy, awesome. "Yup!! I have everything we'll need right here." She said, dipping into her pocket and pulling out a vial of the potion she'd brewed in class. "Just need to breath this on you, have you tell me what it was like and we'll be all set! I'll let you use some of mine if you want to get yours done while I'm here too." See that? See how giving she was willing to be right now????

Lex placed the vial on the table then began rummaging around in her bag for her parchment, quill and ink, for after the experiment. Recording the response was just as important as the testing apparently. Go figure.

True. Jun might choke on his food and then where would that lead them? Probably the hospital wing. "Alright, food can wait. Sadly," And it was sad. But still, might as well get homework out the way so they wouldn't have to worry about it later. He had a feeling the potions professor would come after them. And he didn't seem like a nice fellow after all. "Keyword, Prefect Candy: If," And it was. It was too much effort to make it in class, so Jun saved enough for the homework. Though, he didn't bring it down with him today. He was saving it for later.

He nodded as he watched Lex take out the things she needed. He'll have to ask for some parchment later to jot things down himself. "M'kay. Breathe away when you're ready," Jun readied himself to feel the heat of the fire. It was going to be gross, considering it hated heat, only in the summer, but still, hated it. Why couldn't they learn a potion like something to put in one's potions to make them shut up? He could think of many people to do that to. "Good, because I need to get it done too," He grinned at the offer.

Yay for having Lex around when he needed homework done too. Strange, I know.

Yes! See? Finally seeing things her way. Food was plenty important, she was a Gryffindor, she would know this but at the same time she couldn't remember when this homework was due and didn't wanna wait and accidentally forget then not get it done and spend an evening in the dungeons with the lovely Professor. No thanks, she had better things doing. "Yeah...if...and this is a strong if because we're not dumb Firsties, we actually know what we're doing. You should give us more credit." She said with a grin. Had to be smarter than Firsties what with OWLs at the end of the year and all.

After hearing him basically agree to getting his done in the same breath Lex dipped into her bag for a second parchment and quill then slid them across to him. Good thing she usually had extras on her...when she had her bag, otherwise everyone was on their own.

Now they could get down to business, Lex took a swig of the potion in the vial, nearly completely filling her cheeks but leaving enough for him and gave him an extra moment to compose himself before all the laughing he was likely to do. Merlin knows Alice doubled over in class, unable to stop. Should be interesting if the same happened to him. Lex gave a thumbs up, letting him know the moment she was about to start then she breeeeeath, watching the flames leave her mouth and head right for him.

After she'd stopped she took the quill in hand. "Well?" She asked with an expectant look. Maybe a moment to compose himself again.

Dumb firsties.

"They would be the ones who drink this and think the fire breathing would be permanent," Which was possibly true. Not the fire breathing, but drinking the gross potion. Which their professor highly suggested you shouldn't do. But seeing as first years always like to make strong first impressions and show off, they would be dumb enough to do it. Still, at least Lex and Jun were smarter than the first years they've had to deal with so far.

Jun grinned. "Look at you, being all nice in sharing parchment," he joked, writing down his name on it and setting the quill down. Still a shame Jun hadn't brought down his bag. The candy was all in there.

Jun took a deep breath, preparing himself for the fire. Looking at Lex's thumbs up, he nodded and started to feel the heat from the fire as she breathed out. At first, Jun made a disgusted face because of the heat. But he started feeling the tickling that usually came and started to laugh. Laughed too hard that Jun started to almost cry. Reaching for his knees for support, the boy kept laughing really hard and wiped his eyes from the tears. Yeah, this was not one of his favorite potions to be set on him. When Lex stopped, Jun tried to collect himself but as he slowly stopped laughing, a coughing fit followed.

For some reason, he couldn't really catch his breath and coughed into his arm. A LOT. Kneeling on the floor, the coughs stopped but now he was wheezing. What in Merlin's name was this????!?!?? He had heard of some people getting sick lately. Maybe he caught it too? Sitting and leaning on the seats behind him, Jun's breath finally came back and he took deep breaths in and out. "Hot at first, but when the tickling starts," BREATHE IN "You forget about the heat and start having a laughing fit," BREATHE OUT. Jun waited a few more moments before picking himself up and sitting down on the table.

SPOILER!!: Gwen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Presley Black

Gwen looked up in surprise, hearing a voice behind her. She was nearly finished anyway. She took a sip of water and turned toward the girl. "Nice to meet you, Leah, I'm Gwen." Gwen smiled kindly. This friends thing wasn't so hard, was it? She nodded. "Yep. I think we may have stood by each other at the sorting," Gwen helped the girls memory. That would be where they had seen each other. Gwen had been silent and not interacted with anybody, but she had stood near this girl while waiting she was pretty sure.

Was she making fun of Gwen's fashion choice? She didn't seem to mean it in a hurtful way, so Gwen took it as polite interest. She nodded. "Yeah, I'm from New York City." Sort of. A few minutes out by train, but close enough to call it her home. She gestured to the outfit. "I don't normally dress like this. I promise." It was a little too...over the top. That was the phrase.

"Where are you from, then?" Because one sided conversation was always a little strange. Her father believed in asking questions and Gwen did too.

Oh, yep, the sorting. So Leah's memory was not that bad after all. Although she was so nervous at that moment that she could not remember anything at all.

"Ooh, New York? Really? That's so cool." From what the little girl had heard New York was the largest city in the world. She had never been there, but she hoped she would some day. She would have to be careful of muggles, though, if it's a city that big. "You don't? Why not? It stands out a lot. I'd love to dress like that if it was me." But she was not sure, as she was not a New Yorker, nor Gwen herself.

Leah was glad that Gwen continued the conversation. "Oh, I'm from here. Britain. Devon, to be exact. I'm born in Australia, but I have no memory of that place at all." She said, nodding. Coming to think of it, she should visit the place she was born in again. "You could visit my place during the summer if you like." Or if they become best of friends. "You must be really smart to be sorted into Ravenclaw." Leah added, looking up and down the table for no good reason.

Alexa gave an animated roll of her eyes. "Ugh. You're right. It's good this thing isn't poisonous or I'd see the Healer getting a lot more traffic in and out of that Hospital Wing. Knowing her she'd probably hunt Professor Collarbin down for giving her all that extra work." And yes, she was quite aware his name might have been Culloden...or something along those lines.

The matter of sharing parchment wasn't that big a deal. It was easily replaced and she was in the habit of being forgetful and depending on other people's parchment so it was good to have this switch now. Merlin knew it wouldn't happen often!!

Even while breathing Lex had been keeping a close eye on Jun, just to be sure she got all the reactions but stopped immediately when she heard him coughing the way he was. Who would have thought the boy was so ticklish! The girl leaned back a bit, giving him some room and time to compose himeself. By the looks of it, simply giving him a minute might not be enough. Alexa kept watching until it seemed he was fine enough to speak and began scribbling down his words on his experience. That would be part of the essay apparently.

"Alright..." She mused, looking over her notes on what he'd just said. He wasn't far off given that WAS the experience of most everyone.

Lex placed the quill on the parchment. The girl was satisfied with her work. "Here." She said, sliding the vial over to him. Your turn."[/b] She was ready whenever he was.

Gwen shrugged. "It's just, in America people would probably think I was a tourist, unless it was the Fourth of July." Because she was wearing a New York shirt, and a USA cardigan. One or the other would be fine, but combined it was a little over-the-top. And the one thing you definitely did not want to look like in NYC was a tourist.

Gwen nodded as if she knew what Leah meant when she said Devon. She was sure it was supposed to put a place on the map, but there was nothing. For all she knew it could be anywhere. Ireland, Scotland, England...and anywhere in those categories. She wasn't even sure if it was a city or a county or whatever it was they called those over here, but she nodded anyway.

She grinned at the invitation. She had barely met this girl, and here she was inviting Gwen to spend some time at her place. See? She wasn't so bad at the friend thing after all. "Thanks. I'd invite you to come to America, but we actually just moved to London last year, which is why I'm at Hogwarts." And by 'we' she meant her stupid mother had dragged all of her siblings to live in a London flat that she would also not be inviting anyone to stay in. There wasn't even enough space for her family, let alone guests.

Gwen dodged the question about being smart. No. She wasn't. "You must be really kind and hard-working to be sorted into Hufflepuff." Speaking of being smart, an idea popped into Gwen's head. "Hey, have you finished the Transfiguration homework?" Because maybe they could work together?

"Maybe she deserves extra work. I haven't heard or many people going up there lately. It'll keep her busy for now," And bust she needed to be kept. Or at least with younger years so Jun wouldn't have to deal with them. Also, keep Culloden busy. Maybe that way he wouldn't give so many classes and glare at each and every one of them. Yeah, he needed to go too.

Jun nodded. Now it was his turn. Was he even going to be able to do it while he was still a bit out of breath? Well, no time to think that over. Homework needed to be done. Or else it was points lost or even detention in the dungeons. Culloden seemed like the type to give detention over anything. Taking the vial, Jun put the rest of the potion into his mouth and remembered not to swallow it. Didn't want that to happen now would we? Giving Lex a nod, Jun breathed out. Now let's hope she wouldn't have a coughing fit like he did.

The Ravenclaw had a point there. When was the last time she'd walked by the Hospital Wing and found it full to over-flowing with students complaining about various ailments that probably didn't even exist. You'd think the woman's demeanor alone would keep them from packing up in that place like sardines for the least little hiccup in their day. Strange people they were.

Alexa sat perfectly still, waiting for him to begin his turn of fire breathing. Had to be mentally prepared for this as well given what the fire was set to do. All thet tickling and she didn't want to be doubled over.

At the nod, Lex braced herself. When the fire hit her, it was mostly just a warm feeling at first but then the funny tickling happened that had her squirming and stifling a laugh. Merlin, this was going to be a repeat of class wasn't it?? There wasn't even a hope of composing herself as he continued blowing and the laugh got harder to contain. Hehehehehe, he needed to stop now cheeks were starting to hurt from all the laughs she was trying to hold back. HAHAHAHAHA!

"Okay okay!" The squirming didn't stop even as she succumbed to the laughter.

SPOILER!!: Gwen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Presley Black

Gwen shrugged. "It's just, in America people would probably think I was a tourist, unless it was the Fourth of July." Because she was wearing a New York shirt, and a USA cardigan. One or the other would be fine, but combined it was a little over-the-top. And the one thing you definitely did not want to look like in NYC was a tourist.

Gwen nodded as if she knew what Leah meant when she said Devon. She was sure it was supposed to put a place on the map, but there was nothing. For all she knew it could be anywhere. Ireland, Scotland, England...and anywhere in those categories. She wasn't even sure if it was a city or a county or whatever it was they called those over here, but she nodded anyway.

She grinned at the invitation. She had barely met this girl, and here she was inviting Gwen to spend some time at her place. See? She wasn't so bad at the friend thing after all. "Thanks. I'd invite you to come to America, but we actually just moved to London last year, which is why I'm at Hogwarts." And by 'we' she meant her stupid mother had dragged all of her siblings to live in a London flat that she would also not be inviting anyone to stay in. There wasn't even enough space for her family, let alone guests.

Gwen dodged the question about being smart. No. She wasn't. "You must be really kind and hard-working to be sorted into Hufflepuff." Speaking of being smart, an idea popped into Gwen's head. "Hey, have you finished the Transfiguration homework?" Because maybe they could work together?

Leah was so not a New Yorker, but that was not the reason she could not understand the Fourth of July. "Why? What happens on the 4th of July?" The girl asked curiously. A special day, maybe?

So Gwen lived in London right now. That was why she wore New York style clothes this day, because she missed her hometown. Leah nodded slowly, understandingly. At least London was nearer to Devon than America, the girl thought, smiling.

"Kind and hard-working? Yeah, maybe I am. I'm just not sure." Leah said jokingly. The Transfiguration homework. She had forgotten that for quite some time now. "No... I haven't. Do you want to be my partner? Let's go down to the Black Lake later!" The girl suggested. Gwen could be a lot of help on Leah's studies.

Did she really not know about The Fourth? Gwen was astounded. She shouldn't seem so shocked. There were probably holidays in other countries that she didn't know about, only it was such a big deal in America. "It's America's birthday," she explained. "That's the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. We celebrate it every year." Fireworks and concerts and reenactments, etc. It was amazing. Once, Gwen had gotten to be on one of the boats on the Hudson, special favor to her father. She and Annora had gone. It was the most incredible thing Gwen had ever experienced, magic included.

Leah sounded as if she was just as unsure of her house as Gwen was. Maybe it was something all first years had in common? Or maybe just a few. There were certainly a few in Gwen's house ahemHopeahem who seemed fairly certain of where they belonged.

Gwen nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely!" That was what she was hoping the other girl would say. "Yeah, actually, are you doing anything right now?" It was a Saturday after all, and they had limited time to do homework. "We could do it now if you're not busy."

SPOILER!!: Gwen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Presley Black

Did she really not know about The Fourth? Gwen was astounded. She shouldn't seem so shocked. There were probably holidays in other countries that she didn't know about, only it was such a big deal in America. "It's America's birthday," she explained. "That's the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. We celebrate it every year." Fireworks and concerts and reenactments, etc. It was amazing. Once, Gwen had gotten to be on one of the boats on the Hudson, special favor to her father. She and Annora had gone. It was the most incredible thing Gwen had ever experienced, magic included.

Leah sounded as if she was just as unsure of her house as Gwen was. Maybe it was something all first years had in common? Or maybe just a few. There were certainly a few in Gwen's house ahemHopeahem who seemed fairly certain of where they belonged.

Gwen nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely!" That was what she was hoping the other girl would say. "Yeah, actually, are you doing anything right now?" It was a Saturday after all, and they had limited time to do homework. "We could do it now if you're not busy."

Ooh, America's birthday. Leah made a mental note to celebrate the day - at home - afterwards. Fireworks would be fun in the summer day.

"No, I'm not doing anything in particular." The girl said. It was sad, when older kids were meeting their friends in the weekends but she was alone. But this was an advantage now, as she could do her homework with Gwen. She stretched her hand into her bag on her lap and felt her wand, wood and rope. "Are you done with your breakfast? Then let's go!" Leah said a bit apologetically as she realized that Gwen had very little to eat because of the conversation between the two of them.

Good. Because Gwen wasn't doing anything either. Of course she had a list of to-do's, the top one being homework, but none that really needed to be done this minute. So she absolutely had time for Transfiguration. She glanced at her half eaten slice of toast and shrugged, setting it down on the table. If she was hungry later, there was never a lack of food at Hogwarts.

"Yep!" Gwen popped up off of the bench and grabbed her bag. It had all of the stuff she needed, right? If not, she had been doing pretty well with the summoning charm and she could use that if need be. "Let's go!"

OOC: I think we should just go ahead and move the conversation to the lake. (:

Hearing Lex's small plea, Jun stopped and grinned. At least she hadn't caught a coughing fit like he did. But maybe sitting down was a better option than standing. Setting himself next to the prefect, Jun swung his legs under the table and grabbed the quill.

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.
How did the person react?
Yaddy yada.

Jun let Lex compose herself before asking more questions. But as if they had plenty of time anyway. The dark haired boy turned to her and gave her a small nudge. "So Prefect Candy, what was it like?"

Scribble, Scribble.

Leah the first year picked up her bag, jumped down from the bench and followed her new friend out of the Great Hall. "Hey, wait for me!"

Lex was more than just a little relieved when he got done testing his fire. Things weren't meant to tickle that much, Merlin! Were she less in control she might have been squirming about in her seat! It was THAT bad. So good it was over now and she was back to a normal sitting position, watching him join her in the seat next to hers.

Was it her turn to describe it? The Gryffindor paused and thought about it for a moment. It wasn't that she'd forgotten in such a short space of time but rather that she had to word it right for him. This was his grade afterall.

"It was...kinda rib tickling. I guess that's it, like a funny feeling that could leave you squirming while making it hard to not laugh." That was as much as she could come up with where the feeling was concerned.

"And if you're done then we can officially have ourselves some food and forget all about the homework we've got to get back to our Common Rooms and proper record then finish up." Food had a way of helping people to forget. Was she the only one that noticed?