After her little run in with Louis, Justine was feeling shaken and it was with some relief that she wandered into the common room. She was about to make her way up to her dorm and faint on her bed for the next five-to-seven years of her existence, but then a familiar shape caught her eye and she stopped mid way.

it was Andrew. Andrew, her adorable, clever friend and the dight of him immediately brought a smile to the young Canadian's face. She made her way to where he was sitting by the fireplace (naturally the boy was surrounded by books). Lightly, Justine tapped the boy on the shoulder.

Austin laughed. "What? Don't like the name?" He nudged her playfully, then sat on the couch next to the boy. Was it common for an older year to sit and chat with youngins like them? Of course, Austin was only in his first couple days here, but he had seen all of the older kids walking and talking with their friends. And he did mean all. If a sixth or seventh year was walking by themselves, it wasn't for long. Someone was sure to come walking by sooner or later to talk. Austin just found it easier to talk to students his own age, but if this older one wanted to hang out with them, he wasn't one to complain.

"Ahh, Flipper. Nice name." He nodded at the frog. It did seem like a name that a young kid would give to a frog though. But it wasn't the worst name a frog could be given, either. It could have been something like 'Flippy Von Flipinschtine', which would have been TERRIBLE. So yes, Flipper was nice. As Austin looked around, he saw the cat in a pounce position. He eyed it suspiciously, hoping it wouldn't pounce on him. With any other cat it would be fine, but the squished face he had just made his whole 'about to pounce' position a lot worse. Merlin, he was creeped out.

A toad gone rogue. Maddie smiled a little and nodded. "And do you think you eating chocolate frogs has any thing to do with your toad wanting to disappear?" P.S. She liked chocolate frogs and she was sitting right there. If the guy had any to share, that'd be nice. Y'KNOW, since she was still trying to get used to Ravenclaw and all. Sharing is caring and it'd make her feel LOADS more comfortable. Obviously.

"That's not my name." Maddie ignored the nudge and gave Austin a LOOK. One usually reserved for brothers on thin ice. Then she turned to the older boy and repeated, "That's not my name." Just in case HE wanted to know.

So this was the mysterious toad. The small brunette glanced from it to her own pet and raised her eyebrows. Did Zeus eat toads? She'd never seen him eat one but by the way he was acting, she wasn't entirely sure she should rule it out. "Why Flipper?" She asked curiously, eyes still on her kneazle. Zeus had zeroed in on the toad now and Maddie was inclined to see what he'd do to it but she WAS aware that her kneazle eating a fellow Claw's toad wasn't exactly the best way to make friends. And so just as Zeus was jumping towards the older guy's leg, Maddie reached out and grabbed him.

"Not so fast, Z. Can't let you do that." The kneazle squirmed and scratched in vain and Maddie simply smiled and shrugged. "Think maybe he's hungry."

Benjy tilted his head curiously at her question. "Nah, don't see why it would. I've had Flipper since I was eleven...and I've been eating chocolate frogs far longer than that." He shook his head lightly, before biting the head off the chocolate frog in his head. "It's all the people and space...the freedom to explore."

Like owner...like toad...?

Benjy took another munch of chocolate frog, before offering the girl the box. Just for ONE, mind. "So, what is your name?" he asked. "I did think 'Chicken Coop' was kind of harsh." He eyed the boy that called her that carefully. Benjy was a seventh year, and he wasn't afraid to use that fact if necessary. Calling people names wasn't nice, and he was the protective sort, see?

As for Flipper, Benjy gave an awkward chuckle. "A lame joke, actually. I couldn't come up with a good name, and then my cousin shouted out Flipper...and that was that. Wouldn't respond to anything else." He grinned at his amphibian friend, before putting him on his shoulder. Just in time too, as that kneazle was looking overly friendly right now. The girl looked like she had him under control, and Benjy had good faith in his toad, but it was still better not to take the risk.

"Well, tell him toad is definitely off the menu," Benjy said seriously. "Though I don't think they actually eat them, just pat them around a bit."

It took a moment for Andrew to snap out of his stupor. He had almost fallen asleep, and was dozing off with his elbow leaning on the stack of books at his side. Recognizing the sensation of a tap on his shoulder, he turned his head upwards towards the direction of his wonderful friend.

"Justine!" He exclaimed a little louder than he had intended to. "I was just thi-" He began, but decided not to continue that sentence.

The coincidence of having Justine show up just as he was wondering if she was a little jarring, but the shock was quickly replaced by a feeling of contentment. Knowing she was okay and still wanted to talk to him had a calming effect on his nerves. "Sit down!" He smiled at her, moving his books and gesturing for his friend to sit.

Austin only stuck his tongue out at Maddie's glare. "I know it's not your name. But it was too easy." He shrugged, and flipped around so his feet were hanging off the arm of the couch. Looking at everyone, he wished his owl could join the pet party. Were owls even allowed in the dorm rooms? He wasn't sure. Plus, Ravenclaw was currently the only one with points, and if it wasn't, Austin sure as Merlin wasn't going to get those taken away.

He turned to the boy with the toad. "Well, hey, at least you know he likes it. If he responds to it I mean." He grinned at the boy. "I'm Austin by the way." The boy never really asked him what his name was. But it didn't really matter. His name was out there, and now this boy knew his name, as well as Coop here. "Austin Moore. First year." He nodded in the boy's direction. It was great to be an actual first year. He had waited to call himself that since he learned about Hogwarts from his parents. They told him all sorts of stories about this place that he really loved. His favorite were his dad's. His dad got into a lot of crazy trouble for being such a prankster. Which was probably why he ended up in Slytherin. But they were still great stories.

Ohhhh that was loud, really loud, Justine had to resist the urge to rub her ears, still it was nice to see someone so enthusiastic to see her after her little... Discussion with Louis. Had Andrew been sleeping? His eyes looked a little glazed over and when she'd tapped his should he had made a move like he'd been startled from a nap, she hoped she hadn't bothered him.

"You were just what?" Justine asked, raising her eyebrow at the boy's cut off words. Andrew really was lovely, but sometimes he could be a bit odd, than again it was that exact oddness that she liked about him.

The Ravenclaw smiled warmly as Andrew pushed aside some of his books, making room for her to sit beside him. He was so sweet, and so genuine and this little thought that would usually bring warmth to her heart, left her feeling unusually cold.

Genuine, she wasn't being genuine. Justine had been lying to Andrew since she had first met him at the Valentine's Day Ball last term, and not just to him but to everyone. What was wrong with her? Justine didn't even know.

She took the spot next to Andrew, putting down her book bag to the side before turning to her friend. "I 'avn't seen you in ages Andrew, vere 'ave you been 'iding?" Justine teased, smiling playfully at the Ravenclaw boy, pushing aside her unpleasant feelings.

Maddie shrugged at his reply. It was a good enough guess AND if SHE was a toad and HER owner liked eating things that looked like her, she'd be off on her own TOO. Self preservation, y'know? "You never worry he won't come back?" The small brunette sometimes wondered what it'd be like to lose Zeus and it was scary to think about. As much as she ACTED like she didn't care, she'd be crushed cause she loved Z very much.

This boy shared and Maddie liked that. She smiled at him, a toothy one, and then took a chocolate frog. "Thanks." He was winning her over with the food, did he know? He should keep it up. UH-HUH! "I'm Maddie Cooper and it was." The eleven year old shot Austin another look and resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him. She was a MATURE kid woman and that was beneath her.

Maddie did her best to calm Zeus by scratching between his ears gently. He seemed to like that and he stopped wriggling so much, making it easier for the first year to focus on what was being said. "Does he eat BUGS and stuff?" Flipper, of course. Though she wouldn't be surprised if Austin ate bugs TOO. Heh.

"I'll tell him. He knows I'm the boss BUT he likes to test his limits sometimes. I'll get him some food in a bit." PAUSE. "Proper food."

Andrew was already feeling embarrassed enough about just having basically yelled Justine's name in the middle of the comfortably quiet common room, and it didn't help that he had just nearly blurted out to her that she'd been on his mind. "I was just.. thinking." He said in an attempt to save face. The embarrassment was clear as day in his tomato-colored cheeks. He had been about to elaborate, but couldn't think of anything more to say, and so remained silent, smiling sleepily at his friend.

"I've been here and there. Mostly there." He smirked back at her when she sat down and asked where he'd been. "I'm sure you've seen me, you just didn't know it was me because there would have been a mountain of books in the way." He joked. It had been quite a while since they'd seen each other, and if Andrew was honest with himself, he had been a little worried. "Although, Justine, I should ask you the same question!" He said slyly, turning the conversation around. "Where have you been?"

The look on Justine's face had concerned Andrew slightly. It was as if something had been wrong, or as if she had a lot on her mind. He'd planned on asking her about it, but whatever it was that had caused Andrew to think something was wrong was no longer present in her face. 'Probably nothing', Andrew thought to himself.

Easy? Stupid, more like. But then the kid was only a firstie, and Benjy had easily been like that once. He broke his previous steely gaze, and relaxed into a smile. "Something like that," Benjy replied, reaching up to catch Flipper, who he could feel was about to try for another escape. He cupped the toad easily in his hands, and stroked his back gently with his thumbs. "I'd have preferred something more toad-like, though." He sighed. "That's cousins for you though, I guess." Or brothers, given that was what he and Garrick were more likely to be confused with in all senses of the word. "And no," he addressed Maddie, "I'm not worried about him leaving. For a start, there were points where I wanted him to, and he never did...but secondly he knows I've got his laziest source of food." He chuckled.

Oh, and they were doing introductions? Cool. Lookit - seventh year, and Benjy was making friends! What a shocker. "Benjamin Barton," he returned with a smile. "Scary seventh year...Benjy for short." Because who needed three syllables when two would suffice?

The kneazle appeared more relaxed with the stroking, so Benjy cautiously let Flipper back out on to his lap and gave the toad a look. No escaping. As for bugs, Benjy nodded. "Slugs mainly...I don't mind giving him fresh ones, but there's a food mix you can get too. Less slimy and all. He likes crickets and flies as well, but I usually leave him to catch those of his own accord."

He looked over to Austin. "You have any pets?"

"It's nice to meet you Benjy. Sad. No embarrassing nickname to give him. "I've got an owl," Austin stated to Benjy. "She's a real beauty, a screech owl." He was really proud of his owl, mainly because it was his first pet that was all his own. Of course their family had pets here and there, but they were always the family's. Austin's mom made sure to make him aware of that. This owl isn't yours, Austin, She'd always say. It's everybody's! It was different now, though. He was able to take care of his own pet. "Her name's Aphrodite. I named her after a muggle greek myth. She's really small, but she eats enough for two of her." And she ate mice. Not bugs. And Austin didn't eat bugs either.

Glancing over to Maddie, he almost burst out laughing. Not in a mean way, no. Just in a way that meant he found what she was doing funny. She was trying to look mature, that Austin could tell. But he was too cute to look older, at least at her age now. "Oh, Chicken Coop." He said, trying to hold back laughter. "You are something else, huh?" Merlin's beard that was true. How she acted at the start of term feast, and how she acted now. All Austin could think was She's a feisty one.

So, it'd taken Cosgrach 'only' 30 minutes to enter the stupid tower. He'd had to wait for a student AGAIN, as the stupid knocker on insisting he had to answer the stupid riddle right or something. Outrageous! First thing out of here, he was seeing Annie about this!

He'd had time to calm down, though, so now he looked around with interest again. It was after dinner, still the day of class, aka first day of school, as he wanted to make sure the boys were definitely there when he visited them. He sure didn't want to climb all those stairs again. Ravenclaw Tower. Still so beautiful, especially in contrast with his dungeons -

"Kyroh, boy!" he exclaimed as he didn't care at all that he was interrupting his conversation. Surely he didn't mind it when it was a professor?

"How has been your day?"

Where were Dmitry and Sophie?

"Probably loves you and stuff TOO." Maddie eyed the toad curiously and smiled a little bit. She'd never considered a toad as a proper pet before but they WERE sort of cool in their own way. She then looked down at Zeus and smiled a bit wider because he was behaving now for once. He'd even curled up in her arms, clearly giving up his mission to get to the toad. "Nap time, Zeusy. Food after." Food for both of them, she'd decided. She was sort of hungry too. That one chocolate frog didn't do much to satisfy her appetite.

Benjy WASN'T so scary and Maddie smiled a bit, observing him as he introduced himself. "So you're graduating this term." That was COOL. Maddie wondered what Benjy would do after Hogwarts but she didn't ask just yet. She wanted to formulate some guesses first.

"Slugs." ICK. Maddie wrinkled her nose. "My brother once put salt on a slug and it WASN'T pretty. Death by osmosis or SOMETHING but it was just plain mean."

And Austin had an owl? Maddie DIDN'T know that. NOT that she'd ever asked or anything but it was something she could take advantage of. Y'know, if he didn't mind and stuff. "Does she bite?" The small brunette raised her eyebrows a little and she zeroed in on her fellow first year, curious. If she DID, Maddie liked her already.

... ... ...Austin was laughing at her? Maddie didn't know WHAT she'd done that was amusing but she simply shrugged at his question. "If by something else you meant AWESOME then yes, yes I am."

The first day of classes was simultaneously wonderful and tiring. She had a pretty relaxed summer, but she hadn't realized how easy it was until she had to navigate all the stairs again and recall all sorts of information she had forgotten to study over the summer. She should have conditioned her body and mind better during the break. But, to be fair, she had just had the body of an old person for awhile and came close to death, so she deserved the break. She could hang out and do whatever she wanted. Totally allowed.

Her excitement to be back in the common room for the first evening was outrageous as she reached the seventh floor - presumably for the last time that day - and entered the common room with relief. It was nice to know she could be in good company and relax and avoid homework for the rest of the night -

..."T.G.O., what're you doing here?" Soph asked, baffled at the professor's presence as she took the opportunity to snatch up her favorite vacant armchair before someone else grabbed it. What business would HE have in Ravenclaw territory? Was she in trouble already?

Kyroh was getting all comfy waiting for the girl with the large book to reply when someone yelled out his name. Turning he saw one of the last people he expected to see in the Ravenclaw common room. A professor!

Professor Culloden to be exact!

The young boy almost sunk into the chair. Was he in trouble? Was the Professor here to talk to him about the letter that would be going home to his parents? "It's been good Professor!" Mostly because he was at Hogwarts and he had managed NOT to drink your potion." I only got lost twice!" A small smile flickered on his lips. He was proud of that, even if he was a bit scared.

As a slightly older Ravenclaw came over and sat down in a nearby chair, Kyroh raised a brow. "What's a T.G.O.?" Was she talking to Professor Culloden? Didn't she know that wasn't his name? "His name is Culloden." Kyroh whispered over to the girl. He didn't want her to get a letter sent home to her parents too!

"Ahhh, zhinking, a very vorthy 'obby for a Ravenclaw," Justine teased, playfully pushing Andrew, her hand on his lean shoulder. Why was he so pink? He wasn't embarrassed about the whole shouting thing was he? That would be silly of him, half the students in the school spent their time yelling anyway, so his little outburst wasn't all that weird. She probably shouldn't mention it, it would only embarrass him more.

She laughed, probably a bit too loudly at Andrew's little joke, not just because it was funny, but because it was just about the truest thing she'd heard. Seeing Andrew without a book was like seeing Harry Potter without his scar, just plain strange. "Zat's probably it! I knew I should 'ave looked a little more closely for you," Justine said, a very faint blush coloring her chest, neck and cheeks as she spoke, of course, now the boy knew she'd actually been looking for him.

And she had been, after today she had felt a need for his calming presence, somehow, without realizing it, Andrew always managed to out her at ease and make her feel at home. It was for this reason that she couldn't let him find out her secret, because once he did, she would definitely lose his friendship.

"Vhere 'ave I been? In class, studying, out trying to 'ave a social life., eating.." Justine flippantly said, moving about her hands as she spoke. Hmm... Speaking of eating, Justine was beginning to feel a bit peckish. "Are you 'ungry Andrew?" Justine asked, a smile spreading slowly across her face.

Andrew's little joke really hadn't been that funny. It was perhaps worth a chuckle at most, but not the hearty laugh that Justine gave it. Andrew was a little taken aback at her reaction, but he couldn't help but laugh with her. She had a strange way of turning even the dullest of situations into moments he cherished. The pink shade had almost left his cheeks, but once again Justine had found a way to renew its vibrancy. At least she'd been looking for him too. She hadn't forgotten about him.

For the second time since Justine sat down, Andrew got the sense that something was wrong. Looking into Justine's eyes, he couldn't help but feel they looked back with a somber burden that Justine hadn't shared with him. "Justine, Are you… " He began, about to ask her if she was alright, but when the idea of getting something to eat entered the conversation, a smile spread across his face. Whatever he had seen in her eyes had passed and she seemed content.

"Hungry? Justine, I could eat a Dragon!" He laughed. "Why? What did you have in mind?"

Alright. He had a book. He had a wand. He had the MAGIC. Yes! Yes, he DID.

Now he just needed water.

As the rest of the room was loud and crowded, Dima was located underneath a table. What? If you were small enough to fit, it was an excellent spot. A basic book of spells lay in his lap, open to the page titled 'Water-Making Spell'. 'Cause if everyone else in Potions class knew it, he had to as well.

"Aguamenti!" Drawing the sideways 'S' in the air, he was rewarded with... a single drop of liquid. But that was probably due to the fact that he'd noticed Professor Culloden entering their tower at the very moment he'd cast the spell. What was HE doing here? Was someone gonna get yelled at?

His nickname should have been Crankybin 'stead of Collarbin.

Oh, there Sophie was. Cosgrach grinned at his favourite student, and even chuckled to himself as he thought of her reaction to what he was going to do soon. He had a few guesses. This was going to show him how well he knew his protege.

"Oh, I'm just here to give something to Kyroh and Dmitriy," he said casually. She wasn't included. HEH. He felt a pang of guilt - he was being very mean, but he was sure she would forgive him soon. And so, he turned to Kyroh again and nodded. He didn't hear what he was whispering, and he figured he was asking something to her - no big deal.

"She's T.T.O. and I'm T.G.O., an inside joke." He wasn't allowed to their inside joke. Sorry.

"And Dmitriy? I don't want to hold you up, but he has to be here too." Were they even friends yet? Cosgrach didn't know. He hoped so. Or that Dmitriy was here. Or else, he was getting detention for not being here after curfew.

Roomie? Ah, Charlie let out a little laugh and a clap at the sound of that, grinning over at the new girl. She leant forward in her chair a little to get more comfortable and be able to hear Jasmine better at the entrance of lots more people into the tower, and the noise levels therefore rising. "That's really sad." Yup. Charlie knew how it felt to be an outsider, and she wouldn't wish it on anyone. "Hopefully you'll be able to feel more at home here. Why did they keep you there for so long?"

Five whole years!

"Homeschooled. Long story short, the stepmother and I don't get on." And so her father had enrolled her here. Thank goodness.

"A dragon? I am 'oping that is an understatement, dragon meat is strictly prohibited on castle grounds," Justine said, giving the boy a playfully stern look as she spoke, she couldn't help herself, it was just so easy to tease and joke around with the dark-haired boy.

Justine had never been a very serious person, she took life lightly and always had. If Justine had the choice between dealing with a problem, or avoiding it and pretending it wasn't happening, she would happily pretend. And right then, having a late dinner with Andrew seemed like the perfect distraction to the mess that was her life.

"Come on, you'll see," Justine said, taking the boy by the hand without another thought and leading him through the Common Room and right out of Ravenclaw tower. Andrew's poor little pile of books was left, sadly, to themselves.

What's a T.G.O.? Ha! Sophie opened her mouth to answer, but just as she did, Culloden promptly informed the boy that it was a secret. Good on him. The third year flashed the professor a cheeky smile and pulled her knees up to hug against her chest, getting comfortable in the armchair.

But... he was giving something to Kyroh and Dmitriy? Those strange first years? Sophie turned her gaze back on the Kyroh boy, suspicious as could be, before replying shortly to Culloden, "Uh huh. 'kay." Whatever. It was probably a detention or something bad. What else could it be on the first day of school? She didn't want any part in that nonsense anyway, so she pulled out a pocket-sized journal from her robes and began sifting through it, looking entirely disinterested by whatever reason the Potions Master was there.

But she was listening. Oh, she was definitely listening.

"Prohibited?" Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Well, how's a guy supposed to manage all this learning without a decent meal?" He joked, placing a hand over his stomach to accentuate his perhaps slightly exaggerated hunger. "I'm telling you, Justine: You find me a dragon, and I will eat that dragon!" He smirked confidently with a chuckle. Andrew loved to joke with Justine. She was the only person he'd ever known that enjoyed his silly sense of humor, and there was no way he could ever describe in words how much it meant to him when she laughed at his bad jokes, and sought him out for his company alone.

Uncharacteristically for Andrew, when Justine took his hand and pulled him away, he completely forgot about his books. As they left the common room, his mind was far too busy focusing on the girl holding his hand to remember anything else. Intrigue, suspense, contentment were all he felt as they rushed off together.

"Oh, I wasn't there for the whole five years. I had a few stops in between. My father is in the military, so we moved around a bit. I was only at Beauxbatons for two long years. My parents thought I would get used to it after a while, never did though. The good news is, I already feel at home here."

Jasmine liked talking to Charlie. It was nice to have someone her own age around who could relate to.......you know, things. She listened as Charlie explained how she came to be at Hogwarts. "Sorry to hear about your evil stepmother. At least you only have to deal with her during summer and holidays." Jasmine couldn't imagine what it must be like to be homeschooled. She was pretty sure that she would not like it at all.

"So, any words of wisdom from an experienced Hogwartian to the new kid? Anything important that I need to know?" Jasmine was really joking, but if Charlie had some advice for her it would be welcomed.

Dmitriy? Huh? What? HIM Dmitriy?

He looked around for some other person who hopefully had the same name as him, but there was no such boy to be found. Was HE in trouble too? Reluctantly, Dima piped up from beneath his table. "Me?"

.... did this mean he had to come out, though? 'Cause if it was just to receive a detention for something he didn't do, it would be much nicer to remain rooted to the spot, thanks.