Dora was very much lost in thought when she heard her name. She hadn't noticed the handsome Hufflepuff approach, so it was a treat when she looked up. The frown that had been on her face was promptly replaced with a crooked smile.

"Hey, Carl! I'd love to sit with you, " she said with a giggle. Moving forward, she slipped her arm through his and sighed. "I always have a hard time finding a place to sit when my best friends aren't around, you know. "

Certainly Carl understood this, no? It was TOUGH.

But it was all good now that he was here. He with the blonde hair to rival her own! "How was your holiday? "

Hazel smiled at her acceptance. "I've already got one!" she answered quite cheerily, point backward at the compartment she'd just come out of. "I got it first thing and then went to look for my friends." Which included Charlie now, of course.

"Some other people might sit with us too if that's ok?" Hazel didn't know who else might find them, but she figured that was ok. She would introduce everyone to everyone else and then everyone would be friends. Stepping back into the compartment, she turned and looked back at Charlie. "I have cookies... if you want some."

"Wow, alright. You seem to really be on top of things," Charlie replied with a tone of mild surprise, whilst looking towards the compartment Hazel had apparently already selected. She didn't really know the girl that well yet, so maybe this was her nature, but she was certainly acclimating a lot quicker than Charlie was. "That sound like a decent course of action to me."

"That's totally okay," she said, accompanied by a vigorous nod of the head- Well, not too vigorous. Her head had to stay attached to her neck. She was definitely fine with the possibility of others tagging along, though. Friend-making was more or less exponential, she'd noticed. You make friends who introduce you to others, and the more friends you make, the more other people you're introduced to. Besides, two people didn't necessarily fill a compartment. She followed Hazel into her compartment, then taking a seat by the window. "Oh, I'm good for now. Thanks for asking, though." Charlie had eaten a sizable snack almost just before boarding the train. She'd have to take her friend up on that offer later, through....

-------
Finally Jonas found a seat. He opened the door only to catch,the tail end of a conversation. His ears went red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry..." he muttered.

Zoryn giggled at the applause and bowed dramatically. She hadn't even been away from her parents for TWO SECONDS and she had already done something to impress someone. Now THAT was awesome. "It doesn't always go right, but I've been practicing," she shrugged before doing her twirl and hopping into her seat.

She smiled big as the girl waved, still kicking her feet around in the air. The seat was kinda tall and her short legs couldn't get her feet all the way on the floor, plus this was FUN. "Is this your first year too?" She wondered curiously. It'd only be a matter of time when her assumption that everyone she met was also a first year would come to bite her in the back. But she wasn't too concerned. Zoryn was never too concerned about anything to be quite honest.

She wanted to ask more questions, but her mom warned her against that. And since the warning was recent, Zoryn remembered so she held her tongue. But she was just dying on the inside trying to do so. She had SO many things she wanted to talk about. SO MANY THINGS.

Zara smiled brightly and giggles to herself at the bow. She was very impressed at the entrance since she knew she would have never thought to make such an entrance. "I think it looked perfect," she nodded. "My mum always said practice makes perfect and always pays off in the end." Of course, when she would tell her that, Zara usually didn't want to keep practising whatever she was doing.

Feeling the energy coming off her compartment companion, Zara slid back in her seat and tried to swing her feet out a little as well. It looked like a lot of fun and being as short as she was too, she wasn't too concerned with kicking anything. "Yup," she nodded and then glanced around for other people. "Do I look like I'm a firstie?" she added as bit of nervousness came over her. She didn't want to make it obvious that she was one and didn't want to be labelled an icky firstie off the bat. "My brother and I are going to both be first years, but I lost him somewhere on the platform." She actually wasn't concerned with Leo, since she knew he would find his way to where he needed to be in the end. The game plan was to meet at breakfast the next morning to compare notes anyway.

Randa grunted as she tugged her trunk and caged owl down the aisle to an empty compartment*Tahnkfully she didn't have to venture too far down the length of the train to find one* After she had stowed her trunk and set Arcaduis's cage on the seat she busied herself with rummaging through her bag for a decent book to read. She wasn't much interested with the goings on necessarily.. Well, She was but she was more just looking forward to seeing Brady and Rian and all of her other friends from school as well.. It seemed like forever since she saw Benton and Cassie Or even Kat... At least not since seeing them at their Head's pool party anyhow..Once she found one to her liking she sat on the seat next to her owl's cage and opened the book waiting for the train's familiar lurch to life...

Brent wandered the corridors of the train, trying to figure out the answer to the ultimate question--where was the 'cool place' to sit? Kids in America always flocked to the back of buses and trains, but what about kids in Great Britain? Brent didn't even know that many people here, and the few people he did know, he had only talked to once in Diagon Alley. He decided on the middle of the train. At least this way, he'd be as close to the front as he was the back.

He flipped back his hair and casually glanced in each compartment. Almost every one of them was full. Perfect. [/sarcasm] Where was his brother at anyway? The kid had disappeared almost immediately after boarding. Brent finally settled on a compartment and found a seat. He still had no idea what house he'd be in. He had kind of pegged himself as a Gryffindor, but Slytherin wouldn't be all that bad either. He pulled out a piece of candy and peeled back the wrapper as he glanced out the window. Supposedly, this was a really long train ride. Reeeeeally long.

Sam didn't really mind where on the train he was located, so long as he wasn't in a compartment crammed with people or a compartment with obnoxious or annoying people. Then Grumpy-Sam would appear, and he didn't want that to happen because he was in a particularly good mood (that tended to happen whenever it was time to go back to school). So, hoping to find either an empty one or a compartment with his friends, the Gryffindor peered through the windows as he walked down the corridor.

He was finding absolutely no empty ones, and so far, none with any close friends either. Oh, there was that boy who was awfully concerned with his hair back at Diagon Alley. Sam had taken maybe a step or two past his compartment before he stopped. Brent had been his name. And Brent hadn't been irritating; in fact, he'd provided Sam with some amusement that day. And, equally as important, Brent's compartment wasn't crowded with people, a fact that was most likely only due to the fact that the boy was new to Hogwarts. Judging by his friendly nature and his good looks, Hair-Boy's compartment on the train back from Hogwarts at the end of term would certainly have plenty of classmates.

He gave two knocks and slid the door open. "Hey, mind if I join?"

Trunk on the train? CHECK!

Couple of chocolate frogs to help pass the time? CHECK!

Hazel? NO CHECK!

Before boarding the Hogwarts Express they HAD made plans to meet somewhere in the middle...which in hindsight may not have been the BEST of ideas but it was too late now. Hopefully he could be as efficient as a niffler sniffing out shiny things and find his best friend quickly.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAZEL!" he called as he bounced along the corridor and spun every now and then to avoid others. "HAAAAAAAZEL! WHERE AAAAAAAARE YOOOOU?!"

Carl noticed that Dora was lost in thought when he called her. He smiled back, hoping he was not distracting her. "Great!" He said as he led her along the corridor to find a compartment to sit in. "Yeah, I find it hard too. It's difficult to find a place that has people that I know but is also not too crowded... or chaotic." He nodded, remembering his very first train ride with the Hag. She smelled horrible.

"My holiday was great! I hung out in Diagon Alley a lot and I also did dog sitting. How was yours? Did you go to Bali?" The Hufflepuff remembered she said she went to the island every summer.

He glanced into the next compartment they walked past and saw that it was empty. "How's this one?" He paused and looked at Dora.

Hazel had been talking about, planning for, and daydreaming about Hogwarts all year, so it only made sense that she'd felt like she knew what to do when it came to the train. Plus, she was showing up already with a passel of friends, so it was less nerves and more where are my people I need to collect them than anything else.

"Has anyone in your family gone to Hogwarts before?" she asked, in response to Charlie's statement about her being on top of things. Maybe the girl hadn't had anyone to prepare her. Sad. Hopping onto the seat she chose, she dug out a cookie for herself and nommed it thoughtfully. Everyone Hazel knew so far had some connection to the place. She was about to say something else when.....

...she heard the unmistakeable warble of her best friend. A grin splitting her face near in two, she leapt up and stuck her head into the corridor. "DERF!! OVER HERE!" Best friend, best friend, train ride with the best friend!

She turned her head back to Charlie. "That's Derfael. You'll like him loads." At least, she hoped so. All of her friends needed to be friends. She wouldn't know how to function.

"Hurry up!" she called back into the hall. "You need to meet Charlie!"

Brent was lost in thought about the whole sorting process. He hadn't really put much thought into what the four houses even were, much less what they stood for. He'd been so upset (at first) about the move from America that he hadn't even bothered to learn much at all about the school he'd be attending. He'd only started looking into things once he'd met a few kids in Diagon Alley. Brent was torn between Gryffindor and Slytherin, which was odd seeing as most people he talked to thought those two houses were exact opposites. He knew for sure he was no Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, although he had guessed Hufflepuff for his little bro.

He was so lost in thought, that he almost missed the two knocks on the compartment door. Kane, he guessed. Taking another bite of his candy, he glanced up and was surprised to see some other dude standing there. "Not at all," he said, sitting up and gesturing toward some of the empty seats. He started to introduce himself, but then he remembered all too well... "Wait, you're--... You were there for the whole fountain spitting on me in Diagon Alley thing, right?" he asked. He kind of laughed it off at this point, although it'd be super annoying at the time. "What's up, man?"

"Oh, well, no. I'm a muggleborn, so... I'm sorta new to all of this." She shrugged, feeling her face heat up a little bit. There wasn't really anything Charlie had to be embarrassed about, but being at an obvious disadvantage compared to a large chunk of her peers wasn't the most comforting fact. She'd always been towards the top of her class at her muggle primary school, but who's to say that pattern would continue at Hogwarts? All of the others probably went to special wizarding primary schools, and even if they didn't, they'd have had a head start simply with how long they'd been exposed to magic. Well, no matter. She'd just have to put more work into studying outside of class.

Charlie jumped out of her seat a little bit when Hazel yelled into the hallway for a Derf. What was a Derf? Or perhaps the better question would be who. She found out the answer when told so, and she nodded in reply. This Derf was Derfael for full, a he, and someone she would apparently like loads. Well, if Hazel thought so, Charlie didn't think he would be too hard to like. Of course, though, she would need to really meet him before a true opinion was made, which she figured she'd be doing shortly.

The Gryffindor smiled over at Carl and nodded with him. "That's my thing, too. It gets so crowded so quickly and everyone is loud... for the most part," she said with a pointed glance at the child currently YELLING for someone. Clearly a first year. It was enduring, perhaps, to others, but Dora by it at the moment. And she was a Gryffindor, ya know. That said a LOT.

"How did you remember that?" she asked with a soft smile. It was always nice when people paid attention to her. Yay! "But yes, we went to Bali, but we also went all over Europe. My friend had never seen any of it, so my dad took us... and my other friend. It was a lovely time. Then I went to spend some time in Edinburgh with my best guy friend's family and he." Had she said a LOT? Probably seemed that way, but she was so happy with the way her holiday had turned out. AND this summer she and Sam hadn't fought. "My brother even came with us. It was awesome."

She felt kind of horrible for monopolizing the conversation, though. "I think this one is perfect. I will be sure no one else comes in," she said with a grin. Moving in, she immediately took a seat by the window and smiled up at Carl. "Did you spend time with your friends? Girlfriend? Tell me all of the details, Carl."

"Thanks," she smiled brightly. Basically, they were bestest friends now. Zoryn JUST now decided. "Our moms should be friends then," she nodded. "'Cause mine says that too." They probably have some sort of secret parent convention where they decide on things they're supposed to say. That's why they knew everything.

Just as Zoryn opened her mouth to exclaim excitement over the fact that they were BOTH first years (!!!!!), she was met with a question. Oh. Tilting her head slightly to the side and leaning forward on the edge of her seat to take a closer look at her new friend, she paused momentarily in thought. "Nah," she decided rather quickly. "You could totally pass for being older, like even a THIRD year," she nodded, scooting back in her seat. "I just think everyone's a firstie," Zoryn went on to explain with a shrug. Probably not the best way to go about it, but eh seemed to work out for her so far!

And she had a first year brother too?!? "THAT'S SO COOL!" She even threw her hands into the air to show JUST HOW COOL she thought it was. "I don't have any brothers or sisters," she wasn't exactly sad about it either, it was just a fact. "Are you guys twins?" Because she had never met twins before in real life. This was SO awesome!!! Wait until she told her mother about this, she'd flip!!! BEST. TRAIN RIDE. EVER. Zoryn almost didn't want it to end! Except for... She did 'cause she knew Hogwarts would be even better. It was just a really exciting day.

"You're very welcome," Zara smiled brightly and nodded. That's was something about Zoryn that she really liked. She was fun and whatever nerves Zara felt before were pushed aside now. "They should!" she nodded back excitedly. "My mum works way too much and she needs more friends." She understood whatever her mum did at the Ministry was important, but friends were important too! "They could be friends and then mum will bake cakes and treats for tea. We'll get all the leftovers!" Mum's treats were always her favourite treats! But, seriously any reason for mum's baked treats was a great reason for her.

There had been a brief look of fear on her face at the thought she was seen as an icky firstie, but that was replaced with a slight blush and smile at her new friend's reply. "I think we could totes pass as second years," she replied. They looked young and all, but on the platform there had been a lot of younger looking first years. In fact, thinking about her friend's reason; she nodded in agreement. "I can understand that. There are a lot of first years around." It made total sense to her at least. "I haven't seen that many upperclassmen really," she added as an afterthought. Not that she went out of her way to look for them or anything. She wasn't really concerned with looking for older years that would judge her or something.

"It's me and Bale," Zara giggled with excitement from seeing her friends reaction to her having a sibling. "But I think mum and dad might be having a new baby soon," she added with a stage whisper. She might have eavesdropped on a talk between her mum and Jade. Babies were cool, she guessed but she was happy if her parents were happy. "Having a brother is okay, I guess." It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't always great either. A balance really, but she didn't completely hate having Bale around. He was a bit of a pain but she figured all brothers were like that. "Yup, were are twins. He's older by like eight minutes" And boy, did he like to keep reminding her at times. Silly boy. "I'm sure you'll meet him eventually," she nodded as she swung her legs again.

These really was an exciting day and it had really just begun. The train ride had hardly begun yet and she already made a friend and there was still hours left before they would be arriving at Hogwarts. HOGWARTS! It was just going to be the most amazing place ever and she could barely keep her excitement at bay!

Really all Kat could do was nod. And smile which she did that a lot anyway. She had attended at wizarding primary school before Hogwarts. "It's a great castle," It was huge inside! So many floors and rooms. There was always something to do.

Katerina laughed, well yeah.... Of course Hogwarts was magical it was a magic school. That was actually a good word to use for it though.

"Yep those are house elves." To her there was so much more to them then that cleaning and cooking, but she supposed that was there purpose to some people. She was quite impressed, that Ambrose had taken the time to read up on Hogwarts. That was some dedication. Maybe it was different for Kat since she knew about Hogwarts since she was born.

"Friendly, loyal, totally awesome. Yes the yellow house" She chuckled. But it was true they were awesome. "What house do you think you will be in?" She couldn't really tell yet what house he would be in. She didn't really judge people by what house they were in or she thought they would be in.

SPOILER!!: FRIENDS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmbiguouslyMe

Hazel had been talking about, planning for, and daydreaming about Hogwarts all year, so it only made sense that she'd felt like she knew what to do when it came to the train. Plus, she was showing up already with a passel of friends, so it was less nerves and more where are my people I need to collect them than anything else.

"Has anyone in your family gone to Hogwarts before?" she asked, in response to Charlie's statement about her being on top of things. Maybe the girl hadn't had anyone to prepare her. Sad. Hopping onto the seat she chose, she dug out a cookie for herself and nommed it thoughtfully. Everyone Hazel knew so far had some connection to the place. She was about to say something else when.....



...she heard the unmistakeable warble of her best friend. A grin splitting her face near in two, she leapt up and stuck her head into the corridor. "DERF!! OVER HERE!" Best friend, best friend, train ride with the best friend!

She turned her head back to Charlie. "That's Derfael. You'll like him loads." At least, she hoped so. All of her friends needed to be friends. She wouldn't know how to function.

"Hurry up!" she called back into the hall. "You need to meet Charlie!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by klexos24

"Oh, well, no. I'm a muggleborn, so... I'm sorta new to all of this." She shrugged, feeling her face heat up a little bit. There wasn't really anything Charlie had to be embarrassed about, but being at an obvious disadvantage compared to a large chunk of her peers wasn't the most comforting fact. She'd always been towards the top of her class at her muggle primary school, but who's to say that pattern would continue at Hogwarts? All of the others probably went to special wizarding primary schools, and even if they didn't, they'd have had a head start simply with how long they'd been exposed to magic. Well, no matter. She'd just have to put more work into studying outside of class.

Charlie jumped out of her seat a little bit when Hazel yelled into the hallway for a Derf. What was a Derf? Or perhaps the better question would be who. She found out the answer when told so, and she nodded in reply. This Derf was Derfael for full, a he, and someone she would apparently like loads. Well, if Hazel thought so, Charlie didn't think he would be too hard to like. Of course, though, she would need to really meet him before a true opinion was made, which she figured she'd be doing shortly.

HE HEARD THAT! HE TOTALLY HEARD THAT!

Spinning around on the spot towards the source of Hazel's voice and OH THERE SHE WAS!

He WAS hurrying. Merlin. It wasn't like he WANTED to take forever finding a compartment. He had been kicked out of the first one he had tried to secure prior to his trip to the food trolley by some older boy. Mum had told him how quickly the compartment could fill and she was RIGHT. But Hazel had taken care of things, like always, so appreciative bouncing was happening as he made his way down the corridor...passing by a girl with REALLY REALLY NEAT HAIR. It reminded him a little of Emma's hair...which sparked an IDEA in the 11-year-old's mind and he HOPED that Hogwarts housed a variety of magical birds so he could test theory.

"ON MY WAY!"

Because he needed to "hurry" and get to Hazel and... "Charlie?" he repeated, bit of a stutter bounce as he processed. "OKAY!" Since he needed to and all.

Pulling the chocolate frogs from his pocket, Derf spun himself into the compartment and immediately flopped down comfortably into a seat. "As-s-s long as-s you don't mind my keeping fe card...I haff chocolate frogs," he grinned, presenting the duo with the humble sampling he had purchased from the trolley. "Hi. I'm Derfael. But mos-st people call me Derf...s-so you s-should too," he introduced himself to the other girl - CHARLIE - as a bit of an afterthought. "Oh!" he chirped, chocolate frogs being abandoned on the seat for now so he could reach into his pocket and pull out his pet warty newt. "...and fis is Scamander."

Oh. OH. Muggleborn. Instantly, Hazel understood. "That's ok! There's loads of people who won't know stuff about the school, I'm sure." Hazel, for her part, had grilled each and every adult in her life who had gone to Hogwarts about almost everything. At least the stuff that daddy didn't say 'when you're older' as an answer. "My dad went here but my papa didn't, and when dad went, he didn't know anything or anyone cause grandma Susan is a muggle." That was the simple, sanitized version. The redhead smiled kindly at the girl. "So, if you have any questions, just ask."

Yay! Derf was here and he was introducing himself and oooo, chocolate. "I've got cookies," she said in response, holding out the bag. Hazel knew all about the trolley sweets but.. well.. she'd never have told Noah this, but she was sad to be leaving them all at home, so she'd asked special for them to make her cookies for the trip. A little taste of home before she went away.

But that mushy stuff was for later. Scamander was out! Hazel beamed at the bestie's pet and immediately asked the most important question on her young mind. "Your dad did the anti-squish charm on your pocket for him, right?"
No reliving the tree-falling, newt-near-death fear for her, thanks.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Charlie smiled, feeling just a little bit better about her situation. Not by a landslide, but it was definitely better than not at all. If Hazel was right, there would be people in the same boat as her, and also those that had once been in the boat. Safety in numbers could definitely be applied to this situation. Comfort in numbers could also be argued. "Wow, well, hopefully he figured things out okay." Seeing as Hazel was here in front of her, seemingly happy and healthy, it couldn't have ended up that bad. Charlie raised her eyebrows (knowing how true her next statement would be), saying, "I'm sure I'll have plenty questions, so I'll be sure to direct them your way."

She then took note of the blond boy very audaciously making his way into the compartment. According to her calculations, the likelihood of him being Derfael was very high. He then presented a spread of ornate-looking little boxes- with chocolate frogs? And cards? Wow. She was inclined to believe that they were just chocolates shaped like frogs, but seeing as she was in the wizarding world, they were probably much more than that. Hopefully they were not real frogs, though. She shuddered at the mere thought of the mere possibility. Charlie had never eaten frog before, and was not planning on doing so anytime soon.

When the frog-bearing boy introduced himself, he confirmed her prior calculations. "Derf it is, then. I'm Charlie; it's a pleasure to meet you." She would hate to deviate from the norm, after all, which would be accomplished by using his full name on a regular basis. Charlie's eyes widened for probably the fiftieth time that day when he pulled a lizardy-newt looking thing out of his pocket. Wow. "Well... it's a pleasure to meet Scamander too." Why Scamander, though? She had never heard the name.

SPOILER!!: Derf, Hazel, & Charlie

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

SPOILER!!: FRIENDS!

HE HEARD THAT! HE TOTALLY HEARD THAT!

Spinning around on the spot towards the source of Hazel's voice and OH THERE SHE WAS!

He WAS hurrying. Merlin. It wasn't like he WANTED to take forever finding a compartment. He had been kicked out of the first one he had tried to secure prior to his trip to the food trolley by some older boy. Mum had told him how quickly the compartment could fill and she was RIGHT. But Hazel had taken care of things, like always, so appreciative bouncing was happening as he made his way down the corridor...passing by a girl with REALLY REALLY NEAT HAIR. It reminded him a little of Emma's hair...which sparked an IDEA in the 11-year-old's mind and he HOPED that Hogwarts housed a variety of magical birds so he could test theory.

"ON MY WAY!"

Because he needed to "hurry" and get to Hazel and... "Charlie?" he repeated, bit of a stutter bounce as he processed. "OKAY!" Since he needed to and all.

Pulling the chocolate frogs from his pocket, Derf spun himself into the compartment and immediately flopped down comfortably into a seat. "As-s-s long as-s you don't mind my keeping fe card...I haff chocolate frogs," he grinned, presenting the duo with the humble sampling he had purchased from the trolley. "Hi. I'm Derfael. But mos-st people call me Derf...s-so you s-should too," he introduced himself to the other girl - CHARLIE - as a bit of an afterthought. "Oh!" he chirped, chocolate frogs being abandoned on the seat for now so he could reach into his pocket and pull out his pet warty newt. "...and fis is Scamander."

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmbiguouslyMe

Oh. OH. Muggleborn. Instantly, Hazel understood. "That's ok! There's loads of people who won't know stuff about the school, I'm sure." Hazel, for her part, had grilled each and every adult in her life who had gone to Hogwarts about almost everything. At least the stuff that daddy didn't say 'when you're older' as an answer. "My dad went here but my papa didn't, and when dad went, he didn't know anything or anyone cause grandma Susan is a muggle." That was the simple, sanitized version. The redhead smiled kindly at the girl. "So, if you have any questions, just ask."



Yay! Derf was here and he was introducing himself and oooo, chocolate. "I've got cookies," she said in response, holding out the bag. Hazel knew all about the trolley sweets but.. well.. she'd never have told Noah this, but she was sad to be leaving them all at home, so she'd asked special for them to make her cookies for the trip. A little taste of home before she went away.

But that mushy stuff was for later. Scamander was out! Hazel beamed at the bestie's pet and immediately asked the most important question on her young mind. "Your dad did the anti-squish charm on your pocket for him, right?"
No reliving the tree-falling, newt-near-death fear for her, thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by klexos24

SPOILER!!: new friends new friends

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Charlie smiled, feeling just a little bit better about her situation. Not by a landslide, but it was definitely better than not at all. If Hazel was right, there would be people in the same boat as her, and also those that had once been in the boat. Safety in numbers could definitely be applied to this situation. Comfort in numbers could also be argued. "Wow, well, hopefully he figured things out okay." Seeing as Hazel was here in front of her, seemingly happy and healthy, it couldn't have ended up that bad. Charlie raised her eyebrows (knowing how true her next statement would be), saying, "I'm sure I'll have plenty questions, so I'll be sure to direct them your way."

She then took note of the blond boy very audaciously making his way into the compartment. According to her calculations, the likelihood of him being Derfael was very high. He then presented a spread of ornate-looking little boxes- with chocolate frogs? And cards? Wow. She was inclined to believe that they were just chocolates shaped like frogs, but seeing as she was in the wizarding world, they were probably much more than that. Hopefully they were not real frogs, though. She shuddered at the mere thought of the mere possibility. Charlie had never eaten frog before, and was not planning on doing so anytime soon.

When the frog-bearing boy introduced himself, he confirmed her prior calculations. "Derf it is, then. I'm Charlie; it's a pleasure to meet you." She would hate to deviate from the norm, after all, which would be accomplished by using his full name on a regular basis. Charlie's eyes widened for probably the fiftieth time that day when he pulled a lizardy-newt looking thing out of his pocket. Wow. "Well... it's a pleasure to meet Scamander too." Why Scamander, though? She had never heard the name.

Cat in cat carrier? Check. Pygmy puff riding on shoulder? Check. Box of plants? Check. Bag of things she needed for on the train? Check. Isa was on a mission to find the perfect people to sit with on the train. No, she wasn’t looking for all of her friends, she could find them later. What Isa was looking for was some new firstie friends. She wanted to meet all of the new firsties and make sure they felt welcomed at Hogwarts! Walking through the train carriage carrying her plant box and cat carrier, Isa peered into the compartments searching for one that had a firstie or two in it. This one looked promising. Isa entered a compartment that already had three firsties in it.

With very little warning, Isa started talking to the firsties. ”Hi, I’m Isa! You are my new adorable favorite firstie friends. Hope you don’t mind the cat or the pygmy puff or the plants. I have banana muffins if anyone wants some.” Might be a good idea to stop talking now and let the firsties introduce themselves. These firsties were hers now. Her new friends. At the feast they would have to meet all of her other friends. Maybe some of these firsties would be Hufflepuffs, and that would be so exciting! Carefully setting her cat carrier and plants box down on the floor in a spot where they hopefully wouldn’t be stepped on, Isa sat down and started looking through her bag to find the box of muffins. Ah, there it was. Isa pulled out the box of muffins and opened it, offering it around to her new friends. This was going to be a great train ride!

To be perfectly honestly the 7th year just wanted to roll his eyes at the firstie, he was the one who had interrupted his nap and now he was getting all cranky cause Leon was leaving to continue said nap?

Please little firstie person.. please.

Always so dramatic at that age and excitable! Leon wasn't even going to respond to him, he just didn't have the energy to at the moment! He barely shut his eyes last night..

Chinese Fireballs! What did a man have to do to get a nap around here? Without getting attitude from someone who barely came up to his stomach?

Leon had opened the door when someone else had poked their head in.. ohhh!

A girl someone! And his age by the looks of it.

"Please join us.." Leon said with a warm smile as he gestured to the seat next to him. "This seat is free. "

Tired? Was anyone tired anymore?

So clearly his reading had paid off, he'd managed to remember what house elves were and didn't completely screw up on the remembering the houses side of things. That alone was enough to keep the grin on his face. Though, even if he got them wrong going to a magic school was still fuelling his excitement.

What house did he think he'd end up in. Tilting his head, the smile fell off his face as he thought about it for a bit. In the end, he found himself shrugging. "I don't really know... maybe Ravenclaw? I mean I like reading and learning... I'll find out soon enough though."

Queue the grin once again reappearing on the first year's face.

That was two affirmatives. Good. Janelle made her way into the compartment, not completely oblivious to the tension? in the room. "Thanks so much", she said appreciatively, as she sat in the seat offered by the older boy. "I was getting pretty tired of hunting for an empty space."

"I'm Janelle", she said, as she eyed both boys in turn. There was kind of a weird vibe in the air......like she had interrupted something. Oh well, both of her compartment mates had been welcoming to her.......so hopefully all was good.

Being a Hogwarts Express veteran, Janelle knew that you did not ride the train without food. She had learned that the hard way. The feast was a looooong way off. She always traveled with treats and nothing broke the ice like sweets. "Chocolate frog anyone?"