Rowan sank down into the comfort of the couches, admiring the detail around him. This carriage was truly beautiful, and there were so many beautiful small details that went into it. He glanced behind him out the window, taking in what had been his home for what felt like such a blip of time. Although, he was pretty excited to go home and see his family. He had really missed them, and to his surprise had gotten a bit homesick from time to time.

He turned his attention once more outside, wondering if any of his new friends would be sitting in this part of the carriage...

His last ride home from Hogwarts. How had he already made it seven years, turned legal both in the muggle world but also the Wizarding world, and been both quidditch captain and prefect. He was pretty proud of his accomplishments while at Hogwarts. A small smile graced his face as he got in the back of the carriages. True to Patrick Dooley form he always sat in the back. Obviously he would have one more round of patrolling before he was no longer a prefect... or even a student.

Noticing one of the first years (Rowan) he had seen around he smiled and nodded at the boy. He decided he’d be a good older student and ask them how they were, “have a good term?” be figured a brief stop on his way to the front before coming back to sit and relax for his last ride.

Rowan glanced up as an older boy (seventh year he believed) entered the carriage. He gave him a wave and smiled. It was intimidating to be talking to such older students, but nice at the same time to be recognized and noticed. "Hey," he greeted, forgetting the boy's name (or had they met before? He was so bad with names...) "It was alright," he gave him a shrug, knowing the boy probably understood. "How was yours? Your last one, right?" he asked, hoping he had guessed his age right. It seemed his last term was so far away, six whole years!

Patrick smiled moving further into the compartment. The kid looked a bit uneasy to be talking to him, but then again he kind of understood that. The older students intimidated him when he first started. Had he not made friends with Skylar his first term he would have been sitting alone in his compartment on the train. He heard him say that it was an alright year. "Totally get that. I'm sure you're excited to finally have a year at Hogwarts. Although I guess it would be cool to go to a different school for a term if it wasn't your last." He stopped himself because he was rambling on and on.

Leaning against the edge of the section he nodded his head when he asked about it being his last term. "That it was. Seems unbelievable that it was my last term and that I wont be coming back here next fall. It goes quick. Always take advantage of anything that comes your way." He felt like he should impart some sort of wisdom on the younger student.

"I definitely am, it's crazy to think I still haven't been to Hogwarts." the boy responded with a laugh. As much as it was exciting to experience school at Beauxbatons, he had definitely imagined his first year to be a lot different... not only that, but Beauxbatons didn't even go that well to begin with. So much so he had hidden away for most of the term, and that lead to a lack of new friends. He really had hoped to make more, but hopefully next year would be different.

Relief swept over Rowan as the older boy affirmed it being his final term. "Will do!" he said in response to the advice. "So, was it weird having your last term at somewhere other than Hogwarts?" he questioned. "And what's Hogwarts like? Y'know I still haven't been and all..." he trailed off, realizing he was asking quite a few questions at once.

He chuckled as the younger student mentioned it being crazy. If the kid only knew just how wild and crazy his full seven terms at Hogwarts had been, and if only he could properly prepare him for the unknown of all things Hogwarts. Smiling he answered his first question, "It was. I think that had this happened my first year or sometime before my last year I may have been all in and loved it. But I missed Hogwarts too much."

He missed the damp dungeons where his common room was, he missed the kitchen with the kind house elves looking after him making sure he had all the food he could need as a growing boy. He was really going to miss that place even though it tried to kill him twice. "Its an amazing place. It's so overwhelming at first. You'll find yourself lost or confused on why its so big.... but eventually you can sleep walk through the castle." He chuckled because he had done that a time or two. "Its the kind of place where odd things will happen, but those at Hogwarts will always have your back if you have its back." He nodded his head because it was extremely true time and time again while he was a student.

Rowan gave a nod of understanding. "I can see that," he commented thoughtfully. He had heard many a great thing about Hogwarts, and how so many students had missed it this term, despite all that had gone on there...

The older boy made it seem so home-like and nice. Rowan smiled at this. He really couldn't wait to experience that for himself. "Have you sleep walked in the castle, then?" he asked with a laugh at such a particular statement. Rowan didn't sleepwalk. At least, not that he knew of. He could have for all he knew... after all, he was asleep so how could he know...? And Hogwarts of all places seemed like a crazy place to sleepwalk in!

Smiling, Rowan couldn't help but hope the next term came fast for him. The older boy made Hogwarts seem all the more amazing and exciting. It was nice to know there was somewhat of a family there, and how everyone had each other's backs. Rowan liked the idea of that. Having friends that were like family. He had unfortunately not gained that this year, but he hoped Hogwarts would be different.

He laughed while rubbing the back of his head. "I have in fact sleep walked... slept walk, either way, through the castle during my third year, exams were stressing me out that term." He shook his head at the memory of finding himself not in his dorm and very thankful that it wasn't past curfew.... ever the rule follower.

"Honestly my favorite thing to do was to go to the kitchen and eat a snack with the house elves. They'd sometimes go the extra mile and let me have things I missed from America when I'd visit." Boy were those the best times. Those little elves were the kindest thing to happen at Hogwarts... Well except for when the Pink floofs nearly took out the entire school. But he supposed it wasn't that bad.

"Yeah?" Rowan laughed at the thought of the older boy sleepwalking. "Exams that bad, huh?" He mused, smiling and shaking his head. If the exams were that bad by year three, what were they like as time went on? Merlin, he didn't like to think about it. Even this year was pretty hard to adjust to work-wise.

"Really?" Rowan asked, intrigued. Oh how exciting it must be to snack away in the kitchen, and to be friends with all the house elves! Now he really couldn't wait for Hogwarts... and now he had to do a whole summer of waiting. "What kind of American foods did you get?" he asked curiously. Maybe America had better sweets than here in Europe?