Finally! Aaron was in the area he would call his partial home for the next seven years: the Slytherin Common Room! It was all so cool and fancy! They even had windows to look at the lake. Like, no other house had access to that!? There was so much to do in here, the possibilities were gonna be endless for the boy. All the adventures he was gonna go on, the spells he would learn, the people he would meet!

OH MAGICAL MERLIN HE FORGOT!!!!

Aaron was supposed to meet up with Amara!!!

The two were supposed to be out exploring the grounds and talking about what had occurred on train at the food trolley! Now Aaron was just frantically running around the common room trying to get ready! Where were his things! Merlin's beard! Where was everyone else for that matter!

Full up with dinner and small talk with her colleauges Laurel left the feast in the Great Hall to go up to her office in the Divination Tower. She assumed that the young snakes were in Vivian and Flynn's good hands and that they'd get them down to the dungeons without mishaps. They had gotten the notice about the new password beforehand so she figured she could get the last things ready for the party. Like fetch the newest two feet long slithering and hissing member of Slytherin to greet her new family and get her installed in her new glass cage home.

Several minutes later Laurel entered the Slytherin Common Room carrying the large box that held the she gopher snake and behind her the glass cage magically hovered some feet above the ground as well as some sacks. Spotting a boy that could be no older than eleven she called over beaming as she beckoned him to come closer. "Hi, Aaron isn't it? Welcome to Slytherin! Want to help me install our new friend into her new home?" Not waiting for his answer Laurel lifted the she baby gopher snake out of her transportation box and pushed her into Aaron's hands. "Be careful with her!" before she turned away to start setting things up by the center fireplace.

OOC: Welcome snakes to this term's start of the year party! Come join in, there will be foods, fun, intros, quidditch news and of course our new house pet gopher that needs a name and moreeeee. So come play with me and the snake student leaders!!

Kye caught herself with a little smile on her face as she entered her common room once again. It felt like forever and yesterday, at the same time. It was so comfortable in here. The perfect amount of draft (thank Salazar for the lake!). Never humid, never stuffy. She would have just gone off to Beauxbatons if she had been placed in a different house. No loud noises, just a calm and quiet common room, currently asleep as the other students were still in the Great Hall. Siiighhhh

As she stepped in, the first thing she saw was a snake (Aaron), and a... well, a snake!

Is that his pet?!?!? NO WAAAY!

Kye's eyes had widened and an audible gasp escaped from her.

Hi nice to meet you I'm Kye, and I swear I'm not usually an abrupt person, but more importantly...

"You have a snake?? How'd you swing that?!" she asked, not having realized who the other person was yet. She'd be ready to feel dumb in a minute. For now, she approached the younger boy and looked at the snake he was holding. She didn't know enough about actual snakes to determine what kind it was or anything, but she had never held one and she was just itching to ask!

"What kind of snake is he? What's his name? ..Or her I suppose" Kye added as an afterthought. Unsure of course, and she wasn't looking to somehow offend anyone here. She just wanted to hold the snake!

Patrick came skirting into the common room, he was so ready to be back in his home away from home, although maybe this term he wouldn’t have anyone destroy all his stuff. He shrugged his shoulder noticing the other two students (Kye and Aaron).

The heck... he noticed a snake.

Oh absolutely not. He hated physical snakes. Like they were cool and all did good things for the world as his mother liked to constantly remind him. But under no circumstances, and he meant no circumstances would he be touching it like poor Aaron.

He looked at Professor Vance, “Hello Professor Vance! Hope this term is a goood one. How was your summer?” He eyeballed the snake again. “We don’t have to interact with the house pet if we don’t want to... right?” he really, really, really hoped that she said they didn’t even have to look at it.

But what if it got out in the middle of the night and ate him... oh boy was he getting nervous. But he couldn’t let the other students know he needed to not appear weak if he was going to be on the quidditch team... hopefully.

Gunnar was tired. It had been an extremely long day with the train ride and arriving to Hogwarts and the feast and just everything. And once he was shown to the common room, he really just wanted to be shown to his dorm as well, though he wasn't sure he'd be able to get any sleep just yet. There was just still so much his mind was trying to take in.

But it seemed that there was going to be a party.....? Cool!

He slipped in behind Patrick, noting the other people present as well. Professor... Vance? was the lady? He'd try to remember that. And Aaron was holding a snake... er...

Gunnar wasn't exactly afraid of snakes, but he definitely didn't get excited about them either like the older girl was (Kye). He eyed them cautiously but kept a distance. "It's not poisonous, right?" He really didn't think it would be, but one never knew. Best to ask to be sure.

Junia saw the small crowd forming and was instantly curious. She longed for her bed and to rid herself of all the jealous feelings she'd been harboring all day, but something pulled her towards her housemates, instead.

Coming to a stop by the tiny boy holding the snake, the sixth year tilted her head and smiled a little. Was it poisonous? Well, she hoped Professor Vance knew better than to put a deadly creature in the hands of a first year, so she doubted it. "I wouldn't worry too much about that," She offered as she tentatively lowered her hand to pet the baby snake lightly and away from its head.

"Does it have a name, Professor?" Surely it belonged here in the common room, given the case.

Bringing the newer students to the common room wasn't bad at all. She'd done so last term with Olly, but considering whom her co-prefect was... well, it was quite a challenge, but not a challenge Vivian would back out from. Once she had made sure the last bit of firsties were inside the common room, she made one last check outside the entrance before joining the students inside. "Welcome to our common room, everyone." Home sweet home, indeed.

... But really, Vivian was still not sure about that snake for a house pet. Professor Vance had let them know of her intentions to have one, but the prefect had only ever thought she was joking. She did not, in the slightest, think it would be serious. Eyeing that snake, she definitely was.

Nevertheless, it wasn't like she was going to protest against the existence of the snake. It was there now, after all, and she wasn't planning on holding and tossing it away any time soon. "Good evening, Professor Vance," Vivian greeted their head of house. "I hope the snake isn't venomous." She also offered smiles to Kye, Junia, Gunnar, Aaron, and Patrick.

Also, where were her fellow leaders? The blond did not like the idea of the both of them ditching her on the first night back.

Clearly the Feast hadn't cheered Felicity up much. Yes, she'd eventually eaten, but going back to the Common Room all the sixteen year old wanted to do was head up to her dorm room and go to bed. Spotting Vivian and Junia, she offered them both a small smile, and although intrigued by the snake (and didn't blame some people for thinking that the Professors just might bring a poisonous animal into their midst - after all, this was Hogwarts), she really just wanted to say goodnight to her boyfriend like the terrible girlfriend person she was.

But, of course, Flynn wasn't around yet, and no doubt wouldn't be until he was sure there were no more first years to lead downstairs, so she hung on the fringes of the welcome party, fiddling with the rings on her left hand and trying not to look too stressed out about being back.

After a distracted walk from the Great Hall with Apollo, even though they were headed to the same place, she took her time in making her way towards the dungeons because she wasn't really in a rush to join the rest of her housemates. She figured she had a little time anyway, as Vivian and Flynn showed the first years to the common room and explained some of Slytherin House.

But after noticing Apollo seemed extra exhausted, she figured it was time to head to the common room and bid him up to his dorm. And join the welcome party that she knew would be awaiting her presence, since apparently it was expected of her to be there. Plus there was the whole unveiling of their new house pet, which would be cool too.

"Hey Professor Vance!" Also, she wouldn't mind her not taking her subject at newt level, right? Hopefully not, anyway. "Good summer?" Also, she was really enthusiastic about the new role this term, in case the blond was wondering.

Moving to stand near Junia and Felicity, she nodded briefly at her dormmates as she eyed the snake. "Ooh, can we hold her?" Nods at you first years in here too - Gunnar and Aaron, at least.

She hadn't waited for the party to start before she had gone upstairs taken her robes off and got on some cute lounge pants and shirt, slipping her fluffy slippers on Zita made her way back down to the common room. Now the party could start since she was there.

"Hey everyone"


She grinned and finger wiggled to everyone in the room. If this was a party where was the music and the food? "Professor, are we going to have some music going tonight? I mean it is the first night back you should teach us some dance moves." Grinning she looked around to find where Andi was and maybe some of the cute boys of the snake house.


Ewww... not you Blaze


She moved to the other side of the room as the creeptastic boy headed to her dorm room. She was glad that total freak didn't stick around. Now onto more worthy boys... hmmm it seemed like more girls were hanging around than boys, but there were a few, like the first year boy, what was his name again?

A gopher snake was what a whisper had told him. Laurel Vance certainly knew how to kept her Slytherins interested in a new term. The Baron quite wanted to see this new pet. Even better would be him taking part in naming the snake.

His many chains shook and rattled as he wafted through one of the walls. "Good evening, youngsters. Good evening, Laurel. Have we named the latest addition to the Slytherin family as yet?''

Aaron stopped frantically roaming the room the instant one of the Professors had walked in. Before the student even had a moment to react, the professor had handed him a snake.

A SSSSSSNNNNNNNAAAAAAKKKKKKKEEEEEEE!!!

Little Valentino loved snakes!!!! They were so nice and cuddly!! Especially this one, which had appeared to be, to Aaron at least, a female gopher snake. Aaron had declared that this snake would be his child. And if anyone had a problem with that then oh well. They would have to take it up with the Aaron-didn't-give-his-two-galleons-department. "I have decided that this is now my child." Aaron had mentioned aloud. Oops, he actually didn't mean to say that. Oh well. "Hi baby!!" Aaron stated while starting to cradle the little thing in between his arms.

One of his fellow Snakes had approached him. A Slytherin the boy hadn't met yet. And she thought that this was his familiar that he brought to the school?Boy did Aaron wish that was the truth. If only Aaron would have been allowed to bring a Serpent to the school as his pet, he would have been in love. But nope. The dark haired kid had to deal with bringing an owl. Speaking up to her (Kye), Aaron mentioned "I wish this was my pet. But I don't think it has a name yet." A smile widened as the boy couldn't help but stare at the small little noodle.

As a few others that he had previously encountered (Patrick, Gunnar, and Vivian), as well as a new face (Junia), trickled into the room, Aaron just remained calm and content with the house pet in his arms. But when his fellow first year had asked if the snake was venomous, and the female prefect, the nice one of the two house prefects, making a comment about it, he couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. Nodding at the new girl (Junia), Aaron nodded and chimed in adding to her saying not to worry about the gopher snake. "This right here is a Gopher Snake. They aren't venomous, but the do love all of the cuddles." All of them. But the only one who could cuddle the snake was Aaron, because it was his precious now.

Hearing a voice asking to hold the snake, Aaron became protective of it, shooting the captain of their houses Quidditch team, Skylar, a, somewhat uncharacteristic, glare. Did she...really just ask...if she could...hold it...??? Why?? It was his precious. Cradling the baby even more he tried to calmly say "But- I like holding her and cuddling her." Plus...the snake was his...all his...Once again, if someone had a problem with that, then ohhhhhhh welllllllll.

A familiar ghost appeared in the room, and that reminded the kid about what they should name the snake! Smiling, Aaron had thought of the perfect name for their house pet! "I think we should name her..." Pause for dramatic effect. "Valentine!" Totally not named after his last name or anything. Pshhhhh.

Laurel was fiddling with the glass cage, decorating it as per instruction from the menagerie and Tristan. She kept her ears peeled though in case Aaron didn't want to hold the snake anymore. It was then that she heard a girl speak behind her back. Stopping she half turned to greet the sixth year with a smile. "Welcome back Kye! The baby snake is a she of the gopher species and she does not have a name as of yet."



Patrick was the next to arrive and he looked shaken and genuinely nervous at the sight of the snake that Aaron was holding. Turning fully to face the students as they trickled in Laurel smiled brightly at the second year boy. "Good evening Patrick! I had a great summer, very relaxing. How was your summer?" Seeing how he eyeballed the snake again nervously she reassured. "That's correct Patrick. If you don't want to interact at all with the house pet you don't have to. It's supposed to be fun and free and totally not mandatory."



Laurel was about to turn back to the glass cage when another boy, one that she had seen be sorted at the feast spoke up. Turning her blue-eyed gaze to him she beamed warmly "Welcome to Slytherin house Gunnar!" Shaking her head with a fleeting glance to the snake again she replied to the boy. "The gopher is non venomous so you don't need to worry about getting poisoned Gunnar. It's safe to be around the snake."



The next student to arrive to the common room was Junia that had no qualms about petting a snake she didn't know much about. Meeting the sixth year's gaze Laurel greeted. "Welcome back to school Junia! You had a good summer I hope?" She flashed the snake another glance before answering Junia's question. "No, the snake does not have a name. I thought you all could help me give it one." Since it was going to be theirs to care for and interact with during the year.




Vivian was the first of the student leaders to arrive back to the common room after the feast. She assumed that Flynn was still ushering the last stragglers down to the dungeons from the feast. Laurel knew that Vivian hadn't exactly been exhilarated about her decision to give the house a pet, but she hadn't protested too much. The snake would grow on Vivian, she was certain. Smiling brightly in the blond sixth years direction she greeted. "Welcome back to school Vivian! And the snake is actually non venomous so it's pretty harmless if you don't count the loud hiss it can make if agitated."




Skylar came in soon after Vivian and joined in the little group that was forming around the snake . Looking over at the sixth year and newly appointed captain Laurel greeted with a smile. "Welcome back to Hogwarts Skylar! I had a lovely summer thank you, how was your summer?" Following Skylar's gaze to the snake she encouraged "Of course, anyone that wish can hold our new baby snake. Just be gentle with her."



Zita Valla came down from the dorms some minutes later in lounge pants and a shirt ready to dance. Meeting the fourth year's gaze Laurel said "Welcome back to school Zita! I heard about your little performance at the Hufflepuff table. You should have saved that for Professor Myers play auditions that are opening up in the coming days."

Shaking her head she said hesitantly "I doubt I can teach you all some dance moves that you don't already know. But we'll put on some music when the food arrives and we'll get dancing." The house elves must have been held up in the kitchen.



The rattling and shaking chains announced the arrival of the snake house ghost. Turning her gaze to the spectre as he wafted closer she bowed her head slightly in greeting "Good evening Sir Baron, no we have yet to name the snake. Do you have any name suggestions?"



Laurel had initially thought it was a good idea to let Aaron hold her but when he began proclaming her to be his baby and not letting anyone else touch her she felt she had to intervene. Turning to the boy she said kindly but firmly. "It's great to see that you already like our baby gopher Aaron but she is not just your pet she is all snake students pet. So hand the baby gopher over to those that wish to try holding her, okay?"

************

Taking a few step's back Laurel said as she cast her eyes over the littler group "Welcome everyone to a new year at Hogwarts! For those that don't know me I'm Professor Laurel Vance, Slytherins head of house and resident seer and Divination professor." Waving for Skylar, Vivian and Flynn to come up she said "Our student leaders this year will be prefect's Vivian and Flynn and Qudditch Captain Skylar. So why don't you three come up and say a few words to introduce yourselves." Here she paused for a moment. "But before we let the students leaders do that you've all seen that the house has gotten a baby she gopher snake to take care of that is nonvenomous and harmless. She is nameless so does anyone have any suggestions for what we can name her aside from Valentine?"

Kye was happy to hear that the snake was not thos little boy's, so she could rest easy that she could hold... oh, her, later.

"Good evening Professor!" Kye said energetically, it was so exciting having a house pet like this!

She slowly realizing just how big a crowd was growing around the little snake. Normally this would be her cue to retreat, but she didn't let it bother her. She got to be part of the naming! Hmmm what was a good name?

"Sally?" she offered. Unsure if the reference was clear, she added, "Like, a female Salazar."
Maybe it was dumb, maybe not, but at least it would get the ball rolling!

Patrick watched the others interacting and looked back at Professor Vance, "I had a great summer. Went back to the states for a few weeks to see family." He was so excited to be back at Hogwarts even though he missed Kentucky some.

He heard a couple of the students rattling off names and he had a few that he thought would go over not so well. He just kept to himself on that account since he really didn't want to interact with the snake at all.

The Slytherin Head of House could be trusted upon to show the necessary manners and respect. She always lead by example. "What a wonderful idea to bring a gopher. Even better to have the young ones give it a name.'' The Baron was ready to offer up a suggestion. He paused. Names were already being offered but they displeased him. "Let's name them something more sinister or more meaningful.'' Valentine was not a name he would select.

"Salazar! Yes, I like that name. It obviously represents the history of Slytherin.'' The Baron nodded to Laurel and the young one that had suggested it. (Valkyrie) Even his chains clanked in approval.

Vivian was glad to see more and more Slytherins pour in the common room. On her first night back, she wouldn't want to be held responsible for lurking students in the corridors. The prefect could only hope, and that was literally the only thing she could do, that Flynn didn't flush his responsibilities down the toilet yet. She remained slightly positive that her co-prefect was still there outside, perhaps dragging a first year by his ear into the common room. Not exactly the best approach, but something like that.

Everyone else got finger wiggles from Vivian, including Liss and Sky. Still, the prefect made a mental note to keep on eye on Zita just in case. Maybe Derf was just the beginning, who knew? Even the Bloody Baron got a wave from the sixth year. "Good to see you again, sir Baron." Perhaps he was feeling rather festive tonight.

...Oh? Introductions? That wasn't exactly part of the plan in Vivian's book. Taken aback, the blond looked at Sky first before she stepped forward. Center of attention? She didn't mind. "Good evening, guys. I'm Vivian Fairfield, currently a sixth year, and I'm your female prefect," she said. Those were obvious information, but she wasn't just about to share a life story to these people. That would require too much talking, and Vivian was simply tired already. "If you need anything, I'll try to help to the best of my abilities. And we won the House Cup last term, so you guys know what to do." With that, the prefect winked and stepped aside for either Sky or Flynn to do their talking.

Also, Sally the snake sounded really cute.

Hehe, "Thanks, Baron!" Kye smiled at him quite happily, she loved his enthusiasm and encouragement so much that she started to bounce in place a little. Her energy was growing, but she was trying to be respectful to anyone else that may throw a name out there as well as to the leaders, of course! Hehe, Sally. She really hoped it would be Sally, but man, her last name fit a lot better in this situation than the first year's!

Flynn Kowalski knew he had responsibilities right now in the common room, but he had also been starving, considering he had not eaten at the feast. Ever since he had been diagnosed with a gluten allergy two summers ago and almost died last term, he took extra precautions when it came to food. Extra precautions meaning that he made his own sandwich in the kitchens and did not touch anything at the feast, except for grapes. He loved grapes, mhm.

So, after [s]pushing[/i] kindly guiding the last first year into the common room, he had made a quick trip to the kitchens to get food.

His "quick trip" took way longer than expected, and he found himself slipping back into the common room, nibbling on his turkey sandwich, just as his co-prefect was introducing herself.

... oh. Wait a second. Did this mean HE had to introduce himself?! lol, okay then, let's do this.

He glanced over at Professor Vance before making his way to the front, eating his sandwich along the way. "Sup, guys?" He greeted his housemates. "I'm Flynn - Prefect Kowalski to the majority of you. I'm your male prefect, and if you ever need anything, Prefect Mayfield -"Uh. "- Fairfield will be glad to help you." He paused and looked around at everyone before pointing at the couch next to the fire and added, "This is my couch." Got it, kiddos? "You can find me here if you can't find Prefect Fairfield." Was there anything else he was missing? "I hope everyone has a good term." At least he ended on a good note, yeah?

He took another bite of his sandwich before sitting himself down on the couch he had pointed to.

So there would be music and food soon, good because naming a snake wasn't something she really cared to do. She looked at it and decided on the spot that she would go visit in once the excitement from everyone else died down. "We should name it after our house founder." Now that she contributed in some way she glanced around looking for anyone that she could flirt talk to. Where were all those fourth-year boys or even fourth-year girls?

No matter though her attention went to a certain sixth year with a badge and she grinned, "Well hello there Mr. Prefect" batting her eyes and giving finger wiggles she would make sure to sit near him, so everyone would see her near a prefect, yes Zita knew them all of course.

Now could they get this party started?

"Sally is a much better name than Valentine." Felicity was half supporting her friend, and half pointing out that Valentine was an awful name for a pet. Maybe she'd been slightly rude about it and maybe Flynn was rubbing off on her but right then she was just thinking about the best for the animal.

Whom she hoped wasn't going to be tortured by the many kids handling her. Anyway.

Giving Vivian a supportive smile as she spoke, Felicity covered her mouth with a hand to disguise the slight smirk that Flynn's speech brought to her face. When he'd finished, and plopped himself down on his the couch, she sidled up next to him.

And, as she did so, she glared at Zita. She'd heard about the scene at the Feast, and did not want that girl anywhere near her boyfriend, thank you very much. Speaking of boyfriends, she sat next to Flynn and took his free hand in hers to give it a squeeze (only for a moment, though, for she was very aware that the Common Room was full). "I'm not gonna hang around, but I wanted to say goodnight."

Bouncing from one foot to the other, Beezley hopped, trying to avoid the many cracks in the dungeons floors and then ... Hop, squish and wiggle of her tiny pinkish toes into the carpet floor of the Slytherin common room " Ahh.." she let out a teeny, not audible to the studentsies in the room, sigh.

" Hello hello, Ickle Masters and Mistresses.. Beezley would love to help.. Just ask her and Beezley can do all sorts of things.. Just ask her.. you'll see..", she said with her pinky ears pinned down to her head as she wrung her little house elf hands hopeful to be of service.

Was Aaron really arguing with her? It wasn't all his, as Professor Vance had informed him and besides, as Captain, she was fairly sure she could slip a note to Professor B to say that Aaron should not be allowed on the Quidditch Team, because of his poor sportsmanship. Not that she would tell Aaron her plans, but she would give him a certain menacing look, that was until Professor Vance began her welcome speech and started about how they should name the snake. You could coddle her for now, but she'd be back.

Ooh, Sally was a perfect name!! Thumbs up to you, Kye for that ingenious suggestion. And apparently, since Vivian and Flynn introduced themselves and said a few words, she was meant to do the same? Flynn and his couch. Very funny.

"Good evening, I'm Skylar Diggory, your quidditch captain," Sky waved, around at her housemates. "And you all should come tryout for quidditch this year. But only if you're willing to be a team player." Yes, subtle jab at you, Aaron for not sharing the snake. "Um, i'll be watching you. On the pitch and off, also, I echo what Vivian said. We won the house cup last year, so yea, kind of would like to keep that trend going? Okay thanks. And if you have any questions, quidditch or otherwise, come talk to me," she was really approachable. Honest.

Hmm, what else? "Oh, and Flynn? It's not your couch." And she was done.

"You're welcome, young one.'' The Baron was referring to Valkyrie. "Let us hope that your Head of House and everyone else agree with us.''

"Good evening, Ms Fairfield. Good luck working with him.'' The Baron pointed to the new male prefect. "Quite the character young Flynn seems to have.''

Quite the party this was turning out to be with an apparent couple holding hands a seemingly arrogant male prefect, a house elf and Ms Diggory. The Baron was secretly pleased she had been chosen for the captaincy position. "Ms Diggory I trust you will do your utmost best to see we secure that quidditch cup.''