Kane had specifically NOT eaten anything on the train so he could flat out GORGE himself when he got to the feast. Hogwarts definitely got the food right, that was for sure. Those house elves worked MAGIC in the kitchens.

Well, more magic than they...normal would. Being magical creatures. ANYWAYS.

"HELLLLOOOO everyone!" Kane announced loudly as he plopped himself down at the Hufflepuff table. His hair was slightly longer than it had been last year, so now he had to do that hair flippy THING that his brother Brent was always doing to keep it out of his eyes. "Everyone have a good summer?" he asked the group at large. He obviously did because he was SUPER tan from California, yo.

Oh look! Simon was back! That was good - Kane had been worried that he wouldn't come back. He had every reason NOT to, of course. With that thought, he craned his neck just a bit to try and peek at the Gryffindor table, to see if Abey was there or not...

Daisy beamed. "I'm looking forward to us becoming the best of friends!"

Daisy smiled at Isa. "My name's Daisy and I'm so thrilled to be in Hufflepuff. Thank you for the warm welcome."

Daisy noticed a slightly older girl with a Prefect's badge grinning at her. Daisy grinned back. "Thank you, very much. I think I will really love it here at Hogwarts."

She whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Derf couldn't help but stare dumbfounded at Elora when she said she had never seen a newt up close before. WHAT A TRAGIC EXISTENCE! "REALLY?!" he exclaimed, perhaps a bit rudely but it was MIND BOGGLING. "You're really mis-s-ssing out! Did you know that one s-s-species of newt can MOVE its-s ribs-s as-s a means-s-s of s-s-self defens-se? Make them pop out of their s-sides and everything! Ribs-s s-s-secret a kind of pois-son too when they break through the s-skin. But then they can ALS-SO make their ribs-s-s go back inside and their s-skin HEALS!" But that was not the species of newt that Scamander was. "There is also this really REALLY neat book, Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Adder's Fork and Lizard's Leg, that talks-s-s about the folklore across the world and throughout time of newts-s and other amphibians and reptiles-s-s. Muggle pers-spective mostly, but some bas-s-sed on fact."

It was a muggle book, after all.

"I think s-so," he nodded in response to the first year. "Just hold your hand near the plate and he ought to walk right on to your hand." Unless he didn't feel like it.

He wasn't surprised at all when Isa showed up AND sat down right near him again. He still could not shake the feeling that she wanted to be his mommy since she was always around, wanting to be involved in everything he was doing, and looking out for him like moms tended to do. "Hi Isa," he smiled, pleased that she had included Scamander in her greeting as well.

He waved to Hattie when she showed up at the table, but his attention was quickly drawn to SIIIIIIIIIIMON. "SIMON!" he called, sans stutter because he had practiced ALL last term on making sure not to do that so he could call him properly by his first name rather than middle - even if he still thought Mordecai was a really neat name. Leaping up from his seat - sorry girls - Derf closed the distance between them quickly for a VERY enthusiastic squishy hug. Well, once Simon was done with his inhaler business. Derf was patient and polite enough for that. "I have THINGS-S for you!" Souvenirs from his vacation with Jessa and such, but most of that was tucked away in his trunk which he assumed was in their dorm room right now....so he would give that to him later, yes. "Are you wearing the s-s-socks?" he asked as his hands rummaged through his robes pocket for the one thing he had to give Simon that he had brought with him to the feast, pulling out a yellow and black Ralix Fidget Cube and shoving it in Simon's hand. "I did loooooooooooooads-s-s of reading over the s-s-summer. Read that this-s-s could help with things-s-s." TADA!

Beaming at Simon, Derf naturally saw DAISY CARDEN WAVING AT HIM WITH TWO HANDS! His fanboying heart soooooooared and cheeked reddened instantly. Yup. Tooooooootally wearing a shirt with her face on it.

Speaking of faces and palpitating hearts... Henrietta Kramer needed not to tease his easily excited second year heart. "OF COURS-S-SE!" he squeaked, voice raising an unnatural octave or two as he did. "But...you...did Profes-s-ssor Dark Lord Myers-s DOsomethingtoJuno?!" HAD THE MAN CREATED A HORCRUX?!

Kane's arrival was not ignored per say, but Derf was a little preoccupied wondering what object the Herbology professor had used for his evil purposes and thus did not offer the slightly older Hufflepuff a wave.

But his thoughts were somewhat interrupted as the Headmistress rose to give her speech - which probably meant he should sit down and put Scamander back in his pocket, yeah? Yeah.

Doing so, Derf triiiiiiiiied his best to listen, but there was a lot being said and it was HARD ... until she got to the point where she was saying all extra-curricular sporting activities were CANCELED. BUT WHAT ABOUT DUELING CLUB?! BUT BUT BUT OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH WAIT WHAT?! International Magical Pupil Standoff? THAT SOUNDED NEAT! Derf's face went from a frown to that frown turning upside down so quickly that his neck hurt. From the whiplash, you see. Only a few moments later he was back to feeling disheartened. "THAT'S NOT FAAAAAAAAAAAIR!" he whined, pouting his lips and folding his arms across his chest.

Worst night at Hogwarts ever. Only not really. The time Simon and Abey and Etta and Henry and everyone had been taken was WAY worse than this - perspective, he had it...sort of - but this was UPSETTING. Prospect of no dueling club AND he couldn't even participate in this special opportunity because he was too young. AND two of his new best friends had been sorted elsewhere.

Huffing and puffing - but not blowing any houses down - the second year simply stared at the food as it appeared on the table. He wasn't hungry anymore.

Just ignore the loud grumbling noises coming from his stomach.

But then he looked at Scamander - who he had left on his plate still - and was struck with a thought. What would Newt Scamander do? #WWNSD

Thoughts that made him feel somewhat better...because his hero was not the sort to give up on anything. Ever. Nope.

He supposed he was hungry enough now that he could make himself a mountain of mashed potatoes now.

Kimi listened to the headmistress giving her speach and heard (Derf) shout about it not being fair it was unfair to not allow younger students to partake in the tourniment but to be honest Kimi was just looking forward to watching it depending on how his health kept during the term he was silently worrying about things and he hated hiding stuff from anybody

It was another night that Alfred missed food immensely. His round tummy said as much about the eating he had done in life; his happy, monk life. He drifted towards the Hufflepuff table casually, trying to catch Paul Myers' eye as he did so to greet the Head of House, but the man was not looking.

He had made in time to hear the speech! Lovely! Settling next to none other than Kane Westwood, Alfred clapped politely once the speech was over. A competition with an American school, eh? Alfred did not like the sound of this. It sounded like it could be dangerous, and last term had been dangerous enough! He frowned, slightly, and glanced around the table, noting disappointment of younger students like Derfael.

His first instinct was to tell the boy that it was probably for the best that he wasn't able to enter; but that would be tactless. Alfred merely looked around the table, wondering who would be picked? Or how any of it would even work? His worried showed in the crease in his forehead. It was lucky, indeed, that ghosts could not develop anymore wrinkles than they had died with, else Alfred be a very wrinkly ghost. All of the things he had seen happen in this school? Endless chaos.

He had to talk to someone, or he'd officially be ruder than the Bloody Baron. That was not the reputation Alfred wanted to put out! He glided gently towards two girls, Althea and Daisy, though Alfred didn't know Daisy. He had a hard time keeping track of those in other houses besides the more...rambunctious ones. "I don't believe I know you, madam," he said with a warm smile to the Slytherin. "Good evening, Althea Kenning."

If anyone dared to ask Althea to define her relationship with Daisy, she'd just shrug and start laughing - because usually, that's how they ended up, giggling, laughing, joking about things, waxing poetic about life. Just teenage girl things. Her grin grew and she tried to reign her giggles in, making an attempt to drink her pumpkin juice safely - as in, without choking, thank you Miss Carden - and eat her cauldron cake. Daisy had already began devouring hers - devouring being used lightly here - while Althea took her time. She didn't know when the Headmistress was going to actually start her long, drawn out speech, so she figured she had to make it last. "Y'know what, I like that idea. I'd love to catch an abridged version of the feast; someone should suggest that for next term."

There was commotion near them - natural, as new students were getting sorted left and right - and Althea usually ignored them, but she took note of one very boisterous younger student and, although she wanted to frown, she offered the boy a smile. With a tilt of her head, she offered a smooth sort of silent acknowledgement of his presence without actually letting him think that she cared to speak to him. "Not really. He's just...loud." Which was all she knew, really. "You know I don't pay attention, Daisy, why do you ask me these things," she teased, even though she was half-serious. Then, Daisy was doing the most and calling Hidalgo over which made Althea start to stuff more of the cauldron cake in her mouth in an attempt to busy herself, because that was so rude. She couldn't handle having him around - when did he start looking like that?? Guess getting kidnapped by a portal and subsequently tramautized for a semester did that to you. Go figure.

As if the fifth year didn't have enough drama, Coretta the wet noodle was looking and she tried her best to keep a neutral expression, except it came out pained and she winced and turned her face. Helga help her. "Don't ask, I'll tell you about her later," she said quickly, and as she said this another sort of nuisance popped up. When the Fat Friar glided - and this was bizarre to her because she still could not understand how someone that large could hold themselves up, ghost or not - she did her best to channel positive thoughts. But, unfortunately, she was not in the mood for interlopers. "Yeah, hullo and all of that, listen," she said dismissively, because why was he talking to her? "Not to be rude," which meant she was completely and intentionally being rude, "but, go, over there. Please." She blinked at him, expecting him to poof off instantly. The only person deserving of her affection was the sixth year Slytherin sitting right next to her.

Henry hadn't noticed anymore Hufflepuffs being sorted for the time being, but the people at his table kept him plenty busy with conversation, which was something he loved about his house. And, yes! Definitely a high-five for Etta! Henry was always willing to give those out, especially when there was something exciting or celebratory going on. "You know it. We're going to be a great team." And that was something he was known for - great teamwork.

He couldn't help but to chuckle at Derf's very loud observation. "I do! I'm prefect now," he grinned at the younger Hufflepuff. "And Etta." Which it seemed that he had already noticed that fact as well. Gosh, that boy was loud. While Henry could appreciate Derf's enthusiasm because Henry had more than his share himself, he couldn't tell if it was the second year's way of trying to be heard over the elevated noise of the Great Hall or if he should probably take it down a notch. He glanced over at Simon as Derf yelled for him, and Henry simply gave him a small smile. "Glad to see you're back, Simon." He wouldn't elaborate, but he knew that some might have second thought on that after things that happened, especially ones that had personal experience.

He turned his attention to the newly sorted first year as she introduced herself. "Nice to meet you, too, Elora." He hoped he'd remember that, or at least that it wouldn't take too long. He prided himself on knowing who his fellow badgers were. "I'm one of the prefects. Me and Etta." He gestured towards his fellow prefect. "If you have any questions, be sure to let us know!" Either of them would be happy to help, he was sure.

And more people were continuing to arrive. "Hi, Isa," he smiled. "Thanks!" He was glad that people seemed pleased by Professor Myer's choice to select him as their prefect. He gave Hattie a wave and a nod to Kane as he sat down and addressed the table. "Summer was great." As usual. "How was yours?" He'd guess that he went back to California, but that was only a guess.

Was it time for the speech yet? The sixteen year old was starving and he looked up at the staff table for any sign of that to happen. Uh... maybe once Skylar left the staff table? What was she doing up there anyway? Henry didn't dwell on that though, instead returning his attention back to his own table when he heard Daisy calling him. Prefect? Henry looked down at his chest at the pointing, then looked up at her with a grin and nod. He had seen her a dozen times over summer, had he failed to mention that to her? Well, to be fair, he was otherwise preoccupied all those times, so he probably forgot. But she could find out now.

Yes, their communication skills were pretty spot on, and he knew what she said, but he decided to head down to that side of the table anyway because he wanted to talk to Daisy now. Normally, he slide down the bench all casual-like, but there were way too many people sitting there for that to be effective, so he got up and walked before sliding into a spot across from Daisy and Althea. He didn't comment on how much water Althea seemed to be drinking from her goblet.. because.. that was none of his business. But he gave them both a grin. "Hey, girls. How was summer?" He mostly knew how Daisy's was? Or maybe he didn't, now that he thought about it. Even if he did see her quite a bit, most conversations were strategy-based. Back to the original question.

Oooh, there was the Friar! He was Henry's favorite house ghost, not that he was biased or anything. "Hey there, Friar!" Uh, okay.. that probably wasn't the nicest way to greet him, Althea, but.. had Henry come over at a bad time? He did notice the look she had given to Etta earlier. But no time to worry about that now because it was time for the speech! He applauded at the appropriate times, then listened attentively to the announcement. He wasn't sure what to think about the dangerous bit or the fact that there would likely be no dueling this year.... he'd consider all that later because right now he was only concerned with one thing. Food.

Alfred blinked, quite a few times, at the badger's response. He hadn't dealt with rudeness from one of his own in quite some time. "Well, what a response unbefitting of a Hufflepuff," he said calmly. "But I will indeed leave you if you so wish," the monk was not stupid enough to stay where he was not wanted.

He'd be keeping an eye on that one, that. Althea Kenning. Hufflepuff had no need for troublemakers. Then again, he supposed, Hufflepuff was supposed to welcome everyone, and he supposed, again, that he should be a bit more accepting in that case.

Sigh.

"Hello Henry!" Alfred smiled as he approached him. "Congratulations on prefect!" he gave him a happy wiggle. "And Henrietta! Where is she?" because she too had been made prefect, correct? What a happy occasion for all the Hufflepuffs! Two very outstanding prefects!

An abridged version of the feast. Now that would be a good idea was a fantastic idea. Knowing the population of Hogwarts, everyone would want one so they could even do it for profit. Start selling them to students, pretending to be giving away study notes so that the staff wouldn't get suspicious. The problem with that plan, of course, was that someone would need to stay here and actually listen to the speech and takes notes -- clearly, Althea wasn't interested in that and neither was Daisy. "Maybe we can get some first year to do it for us." Was that immoral? Did she care? Not really, no.

It wasn't terribly surprising to her that Althea didn't know who the little guy was, or even that Henry had been made Prefect. Althea was right, she knew the girl didn't exactly pay attention; she grinned widely at the second year before turning to Althea and shrugging. "Honestly, what if I needed to know these things? You're my ear into the comings and goings of Hufflepuff House." Which was, possibly, one of the most ridiculous things Daisy had ever said. Like she cared what happened to Hufflepuff -- unless, of course, it included her friends there.

Except maybe the female Prefect. She wasn't a friend, though Daisy was sure she had seen her face around the school. The interesting thing, however, was the face Althea pulled as she looked at the girl. Immediately, Daisy sent her A Look which clearly meant 'Okay, Althea Kenning, later. But it will happen, I won't forget.' Surely the wife would get it.

If she didn't get it, Daisy didn't really have time to explain it either because seemingly at the same time, a ghost had appeared out of nowhere. As she supposed, ghosts tended to do. Weird, she had never seen the Fat Friar this close; used as she was to the Bloody Baron and his chains, this was decidedly different. "Good evening, Sir. Daisy Carden." No need to add the Slytherin part, the colour of her robes made that pretty clear. Althea's mood clearly hadn't improved and Daisy visibly winced at her friend's words. It wasn't that she particularly minded the girl's words, or that she cared about his feelings either. After all, he was dead. What's the worst that could happen? What troubled her was that Althea was still in that mood. Instinctively, her eyes gazed the hall until they found who they were looking for. If she was in anyway the prying type, words would be had.

Alas, she wasn't, so she entertained herself by drinking some pumpkin juice and eyeing the ghost. Goodbye then? Ah well. Henry was a much better company, as long as Althea didn't send him away too. Come to think of it, she was acting particularly weird regarding Henry. Another thing to discuss later, she supposed. She turned to her fellow Chaser and grinned. "Congratulations! Why didn't you tell me? Or did you tell me but I somehow missed it?" She would be the first to admit that sometimes she got a bit too carried away with the Quidditch talk, especially with her teammates. Her summer, though. Her grin softened somewhat. "It was really fun, actually. Filled with new experiences." The answer to that question usually was Quidditch but she couldn't really use it with Henry; after all, he had been there for most of the Quidditch related activities. "How was yours, apart from Quidditch and getting a badge on the post?" Henry the Prefect! Honestly, was she the only one excited about this?