And the year had begun! Sixth year... Wow.

She couldn't believe that the school year had started already. Part of her was grateful that it had started for she had been bored at home and couldn't wait to get back to actually SEE friends and people around her age. It was so much easier seeing people at Hogwarts. You could practically send an owl or go knock on their door and ask to hang out. Being out of school required a lot more planning and schedule juggling. The other part of her wished that she had one more week of vacation. However, she was here now and there was no changing it.

With nothing to do just yet, Olivia wandered down the staircases from her common room and found herself in the entrance hall. She stopped in the middle of the hall and admired how oddly quiet it was. Odd but nice. Taking a deep breath, she was about to walk towards the Great Hall when she noticed a few portraits that she had never seen before or at least... She had never bothered to really look up that far. So she stood there, occasionally going on her tip-toes as she tried to see who or whom were the subject of the paintings. Merlin. If only she were taller.

Coming up from the dungeons, Felicity wasn't really sure where she was headed, all she knew was that Vivian was busy somewhere with prefect duties and Junia and Skylar were off with their boyfriends. Of course, she really didn't mind that at all as they spent so much time in their dorm together.

Deciding that she'd spent enough time cooped up in the Common Room was an easy decision, though. Approaching the Entrance Hall, she noticed an older girl, whom she knew from lessons but nothing more, staring up at something. Curiously, Liss decided to stand next to her.

"Hey. Everything alright?"

Vi turned to the girl that now stood next to her. "Hey!" she smiled. She had definetly seen this girl around from lessons or just in the corridors. She paused for a brief second before realizing that the Slytherin had asked her a question. Everything alright? "Oh yeah, everything's great. Thanks. I'm just trying to figure out who those portraits are up there. I never look up when I come through here. I always have to fight the crowd of students headed in the other direction." She never really did look up here. Sure she had looked up here during her first year at Hogwarts but she never knew the story behind the portraits or who they were or what they represented.

"Everything alright for you?" she asked returning the question.

"I'd offer some information, but I have about as much clue as a piece of concrete." The American recognised approximately three percent of the people depicted around the Castle, and while she found History interesting, it wasn't something she was planning on researching. She supposed that if the portraits weren't deep in their own conversations or sleeping like some of them were, they'd be a better source of detail.

OH. Now she was being asked. "Yeah, it's just weird being back, still." Yeah, she totally wasn't used to Hogwarts yet, especially not with the rest of the Ilvy students swarming around.

Vi chuckled at the Slytherin's statement, enjoying her sense of humour greatly. "Me either. Oh well. Perhaps another mystery?" she suggested with a smile, glancing over at the American Slytherin. She had heard that accent. But where in America was she from? she wondered. She'd ask that later.

Instead, she simply nodded at the girl's answer to the question. It was weird being back. "Yeah... New year. Less noisy than last year. Quiet." Everything was going really well so far. Things went well last year too but two good years seemed to unnerve the Gryffindor. Her first year with the monster had set her on edge. In the meantime though, she dismissed those thoughts and turned to the Slytherin. "I noticed that you have an accent... Where are you originally from?" she asked with a curious glance at the younger girl.

Nodding and smiling, Felicity agreed, "A mystery for another time." After all, if you knew all of the mysteries in life, it probably wouldn't be as exciting. That sounded like something her dad would say, and she smiled at the thought, thinking that maybe it was true, if so.

"Way less noisy. I don't know why I didn't expect it, but last year was my first year so it's totally strange." Of course, she'd known that there would be less people, but it had still surprised her. "Oh, North Carolina, USA. I transferred from Ilvermorny last year."

Vi smiled, enjoying how Felicity put it. A mystery for another time indeed. She nodded and tried to make a mental note to follow up on such a mystery.... eventually. Maybe one day she'd find out her answer?

Last year was her first year? Merlin, Vi wondered where she had transferred from but soon her answer had been answered. "A transfer from Ilvermorny? I know what that's like... To transfer I mean." She clarified. "I transferred during my fourth year from Beauxbatons to Hogwarts," she explained. So she was a transfer too? But North Carolina. Wow. She wondered what that was like. She had never been outside of Australia until she was eight years old and since then she had only been in France and England. Never anywhere else... Olivia longed to travel and explore the rest of the world. "I'm Olivia but feel free to call me Vi, Owlie, or even hey you!" she joked. Names were probably a good start. "What's North Carolina like? I've never been to the States before..."

So they'd transferred during the same year? Maybe there was something about fourth years. "What was Beauxbatons like?" Felicity couldn't help her curiosity: maybe knowing a little bit more about the place would help with making Nadiya feel more at home, too.

"Felicity," she answered Olivia's introduction, offering a small smile. "It's amazing. There are beaches and forests, and the most beautiful hills. At least, where I lived. Some parts are built up, though, just factories and flats and things. But its absolutely huge. I mean, all of the States are." It was almost weird how small the UK was in comparison.

Kimi stopped by the entrance hall and half smiled he was still not feeling better after his illness at the end of the second year and he had spent so much of his summer in st.mungo's trying to get better but the healers told him just to take it easy and try not to overdo things but still he was finding it difficult with all his classes being on different floors and carrying his school bag about as well with his heavy books was tiring

Beauxbatons was.... "Beautiful." Yes, that was the best word to describe it. Beautiful and elegant. Very French. She was certain that some of her Beaxubatons friends would find Hogwarts very.... How did Ophelia put it? Kitschy? Quaint? Psh. Kitschy my broomstick... This had offended Olivia slightly as she loved Hogwarts more than Beauxbatons but still Vi had gotten over it relatively quickly but had not forgotten it, of course. "It's much different from Hogwarts. Culturally and everything... The people are nice but very French," she laughed. There wasn't really another way to describe it. "I miss it but I definitely feel as if Hogwarts is where I belong. Sounds kind of cheesy but its true."

Felicity? "It's nice to meet you." Vi nodded and remained quiet, listening to Felicity describe North Carolina. Her description reminded her of Lachlan Wheeler's description of his hometown. Beautiful, huge, hills, forests. The States sounded wonderful. "I'd love to go visit there one day. Have you been to every state?" She knew the US was big but maybe Felicity had gotten to see all the States too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saz Hale

Kimi stopped by the entrance hall and half smiled he was still not feeling better after his illness at the end of the second year and he had spent so much of his summer in st.mungo's trying to get better but the healers told him just to take it easy and try not to overdo things but still he was finding it difficult with all his classes being on different floors and carrying his school bag about as well with his heavy books was tiring

Finding herself in the vicinity of the entrance hall, Rosalyn couldn't help but wander over so that she could admire the ceiling and all the beautiful portraits on the wall. It really was a lovely sight to see and the caretaker did a wonderful job keeping everything neat and spotless.

Glancing around, her eyes landed on a student who despite the fact that he was smiling, seemed to be feeling quite unwell. Rosalyn knew that he had been sick and admitted into Saint Mungos. She smiled and wandered over to him. "It's good to see you looking better, Mr Kovalainen. Do you need any help with your books?" She was a bit worried because clearly he didn't have a lot of strength and carrying books up stairs could really take a lot out of even a completely healthy person.

Kimi looked up and saw Professor Marchard standing in front of him and said "Thank you professor and yes that would be nice to have some help with my books i am still under strict orders to take it easy with things" Kimi liked his history of magic professor she was always so helpful and friendly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saz Hale

Kimi looked up and saw Professor Marchard standing in front of him and said "Thank you professor and yes that would be nice to have some help with my books i am still under strict orders to take it easy with things" Kimi liked his history of magic professor she was always so helpful and friendly

It was never a problem for her to help students; for one thing it was her job, but more importantly she LIKED doing it. The fact that Kimi was willing to accept said help was nice too since people could have the tendency to take on more than they really could handle even if they knew better. "Okay, no problem." She took some of the books so that there wasn't as much to carry. "So are you doing okay otherwise?" She really hoped so!

Kimi smiled at Professor Marchard and said "Yes i am doing okay but i do have some days where i am unwell but other than i have been doing a lot better and just trying to take it easy and not overdo things" Kimi was glad to be feeling a bit better but he still knew in the back of his mind that this was going to be an ongoing illness during the rest of his time at hogwarts but in all honesty it was something that he could handle

Felicity could only imagine how much different the French school would be. After seeing the differences between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts, she couldn't imagine any of the magic schools being remotely similar. Maybe in the fact that they were hidden, and maybe teens had the same issues, regardless of culture. She joined in Olivia's laughter. "Weirdly, I completely understand what you mean," she giggled, meaning the idea of belonging at Hogwarts, too: after all, her and her dorm friends were so much closer than the girls she'd been at Ilvy with.

"And you." Liss laughed again, and hoped that Olivia didn't think she was laughing at her. The idea of visiting all of the States, even if she had lived there, was absurd to the girl who'd barely travelled in her life. "No. Only North Carolina, South Carolina, New York and Massachusetts."

Vi smiled at Felicity. It was nice knowing that someone understood what she meant about Hogwarts. Transfers. It was tough being a transfer student. You were sorted with first years and the people in your respective years already had their own friends and own schedule so it took a while to get to know people and make friends.

Only a few states? She blinked. Was the United States truly that big? she wondered. "Wow. New York and Massachusetts? What are those two states like? Those are Northern ones... If my geography is correct though its bene ages since I've taken that class." Or really truly paid any attention to the muggle world geography as she had many other subjects that demanded her attention these days- both academic and extracurricular. "Have you been to New York City?" What must NYC be like?!

Liss couldn't help but wonder how Olivia had found the whole making-friends situation, but didn't want to ask. It almost felt like an intrusion, and if the older girl had found it extremely easy to make a ton of friends, then Felicity would definitely have been embarrassed. Maybe if they became friends, she'd ask, but Vi seemed pretty cool, and the fifth year couldn't exactly imagine her wanting to hand around with her.

"Yeah, both northern," Felicity said with a nod. "And both also huge. It was NYC that I went to, whilst I was there. Last New Year."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saz Hale

Kimi smiled at Professor Marchard and said "Yes i am doing okay but i do have some days where i am unwell but other than i have been doing a lot better and just trying to take it easy and not overdo things" Kimi was glad to be feeling a bit better but he still knew in the back of his mind that this was going to be an ongoing illness during the rest of his time at hogwarts but in all honesty it was something that he could handle

Rosalyn was very relieved to hear that Kimi was doing alright on the most part; the health of students was ALWAYS of the utmost importance. Always. "Well, I am glad to hear that. I certainly hope you won't strain yourself - especially when OWLs come up." She knew that he was going to be taking them next term, and hoped that it wouldn't be more than he could deal with. That just wouldn't be fair on anyone. Maybe she'd be on the look out and make sure that he was sticking to not doing more than he should be...

SAY WHAAAAAAAT!!

Felicity went to New York City for New Years?! Her mouth gaped. She had heard that New Years spent in NYC was amazing. She had heard of it through media posts and also through a couple of guests that had come into the cafe that she worked at over breaks. New Years in New York City? She couldn't wait for it. That was so AWESOME. "Did you go to Times Square for New Years??" she asked with widened blue eyes and a bright, excited smile on her lips. What had Liss done in New York City? There was SO much to see and do!

Liss couldn't help but giggle as she watched Olivia gape, but realised that was probably the expression she'd had on her face for most of her time in New York. "Yeah, one of my dad's is an events planner," she started, by way of explanation. "And he did a party at one of the hotels by there. We all went outside at midnight. It was.... Incredible."

Truly, there were no other words for it. Except maybe packed, but that didn't take away from how much she'd enjoyed it, how grown up and glamorous she'd felt being part of it.

One of her dad's was an event planner and he had a party at one of the hotels? Holy merlin mackerel! The idea was just incredible. Everything about it was brilliant. "Did you watch the ball drop?" asked Vi. "Or did you see the fireworks from the top of the building?"

"I'd love to go to New York City one day. See some shows, the museums, go to independent coffee shops, markets and more!" she said with a grin. "I've only spent New Years in Paris, Melbourne, and Villefranche." Not as exciting as New York for sure.

*OOoOoOOOOOooooHHhHHH!


Oh OOOOOOHHHH!


OOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooOoooOOoOOOoOoOooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hhHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!*

The friar wailed around the Entrance Hall.

Did he sound like the Baron? Was he sounding more like Myrtle? Perhaps a mixture of the two might work for him. Regardless, he hoped to be broody enough to not feel as cheerful. He always felt cheerful! But he wanted to feel broody.

And so, he wailed.

Nathan was so bored.... he couldn't help himself just to find somebody in the great hall to prank on. He chewed on a piece of gum as his eyes bored across the room, ready to cast a sticky charm on a first year. Suddenly, the Hufflepuff ghost started wailing at the top of his voice. Annoyed by his constant wailing, he covered his ears. "Hey quiet down, will you?" He pointedly glared at the ghost.

The Bloody Baron was floating down to the dungeons intending to spend some time with his snakes when a ghastly loud and annoying wailing filled his ghostly ears.

"PEEEEEEVES!" His bloodiness hissed hotly as he turned around on the spot.

Increasing his pace the Baron floated in high speed into the Entrance Hall intending to give the ruddy good for nothing polter menace a piece of his mind. Only it wasn't Peeves that was wailing his lungs out it was the "Friar?"

Slowing his pace until he stopped to hover next to a boy in snake robes the Baron groaned out angrily as he gestured with his hands, his chains rattling as he did so. "Friar, what's the meaning of this awful racket?"

Turning his blank black staring eyes to the boy beside him the Baron asked hoarsely "Why are you loitering here in the Entrance Hall Mr Hale?"