Armand and Damien Beta-Erikson, named for those who came before (and their father believed deserved a second chance) sat at the Slytherin table together, as giddy as two children could be. They looked back and forth between others of the table, wondering who to talk to first.

He didn't clap or cheered whenever their house gained a new Slytherin but simply watched the sorting in a very tired and very bored manner, as incoming fifth-year Mackenzie Mordaunt opted to settle at the very back of the table where he could see the whole spectacle before him, and at the same time sat closest to the exit points. He wasn't one to mingle in feasts, but he was definitely one of the Slytherins who would rather be in the dorm already, unpacking, and settling back in for the new term. Now, if it weren't for the promised dinner though, he would've made a run for it.

While he was determined to zone out completely on the sorting, his attention was caught by a rather familiar name. One that rang a bell, for some reason. Fynley Ellis, was it? Enzo craned his neck to check, but from where he was sitting, he really couldn't make out the face... or maybe it has been years since he's last seen Fynnster that he sort of forgot how he looked. But anyway, he didn't make it much of a big deal. He'd see for himself in a while or tomorrow if it was an old acquaintance. For now, he could really use a plate of food.

Fynley’s sorting ceremony had been over with quickly, perhaps because he had not being paying too much attention to what was being said and the decision was made fairly instantaneously. If Fynn was honest, he hoped that there would at least be a little debate to where he belonged but alas Slytherin it was and he was sure he’d be happy wherever he was. He’d headed in the direction of the sea of green with a somewhat subdued smile on his face in an attempt to not look over eager. He had a reputation to uphold. What reputation he had made so far was very limited considering the few students he’d met but still..

The smile grew a little bit at the clapping and cheering though. Fynn did enjoy attention after all. There wasn’t a shy bone in this boy’s body.

Then as he flopped himself down near the end of the table FAR away from the tiny first years, he spotted a familiar face. Or at least it looked familiar for someone he hadn’t seen since he was ten and therefore would have changed quite a bit. The problem was Fynn wasn’t the best with recalling facts and putting a name to a face that would have matured a lot in five years was going to be difficult. He sat opposite the boy (Mackenzie) with a quizzical look on his face. “We’ve met before” he stated with the hope that the other boy would be able to recall it first.

What he expected to be a fairly quiet evening feast, or as much uneventful as he'd hoped for, he wasn't quite ready to have an interaction so early in the term. In fact, the term hasn't officially started yet, and there he was. But then again, he couldn't evade conversations forever. As the boy in question sat down in front of him, Mackenzie reached for his goblet, took a sip of his drink, and accorded the newcomer a curious glance as he made himself comfortable amongst his new comrades in Slytherin.

And have they met before? Holding their new dormmate's gaze, Mackenzie took a pause as he sifted through his memory, going back to his U11 & U14 Wizarding Chess Club, to the U14 Fencing Club... all the way back to primary school. Yes, he'd seen that face before.

Yes, Fynley Ellis.

"St. Woboldo's, Class of 2106," Mackenzie placed his goblet down and nodded at an old-time acquaintance. "Mackenzie Mordaunt. Enzo, if you recall," even if Fynley didn't remember, he wouldn't take offence. He made his presence scarce even back then. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

Solomon Duck: The First, was chamming away on some fruity bubblegum as he entered the hall, mouth open and tongue smacking with every few chews. Very annoying to someone who would find that sort of thing annoying, but Solly was completely oblivious to himself.

Being here meant absolutely everything to Solomon. He never knew home until he started attending Hogwarts, though not to say he completely hated being HOME home for summer, because he liked the peace and quiet every now and then. He certainly didn’t get that here especially with his fellow third year friends, though not many of them shared his house, unfortunately.

Once sat down, Solomon pulled out the now flavourless gum from his mouth with his fingers and subtly placed it under the Slytherin table, eyeing ghosts that would absolutely notice if he wasn’t very careful. Thankfully, his moves were SLICK. He really didn’t pay much attention to anyone at his table at this point.

Bettie made her way to the Slytherin table. She found a open seat and waited for what comes next. Hopefully food and bed. She was hungry and tired. It was a long day.

Fynley glanced around the Great Hall as he sat down in the hopes of seeing someone else that he had met previous to arriving at the school, not that his list of acquaintances was particularly long but it was always nice to locate someone he knew rather than looking like the lost new kid. There were a few dotted around like the guy who was searching around in the bin in Diagon Alley but mostly it was a sea of new faces and the overeager first years he had been lumped with at the Sorting Ceremony.

Now Fynn was not that observant, or rather he didn’t care enough, to see the younger boy (Solomon) discard his chewing gum under the table. The kid did get a brief nod of the head though because he evidently wasn’t going to be much of a conversationalist and Fynn wasn’t in the mood to carry it all on his shoulders. The new first years got a quick acknowledgement too but as a transfer himself he wasn’t exactly an appropriate welcoming committee.

Back to the familiar face he did want to have a conversation with, the Slytherin was glad that Enzo was able to recall the facts. “That’s the one.” Primary School had seemed like such a long time ago for a boy who had done an awful lot of growing in those five years. “You were the shy kid.” he recalled. Fynn had been the exact opposite and was, still is, the outgoing type who had a large group of friends. “Looks like we’ll be dorm mates then.” The fifteen year old offered a smile. It was somewhat comforting to know that there would be someone around that was familiar even if they didn’t know each other that well.

His summer had been unexpectedly turbulent, culminating with Regulus having been almost entirely restricted to the house throughout August. Not that he minded - well, he had minded, but he could also acknowledge that it was in some ways a definite step up from the month preceding it. Still, he had been slightly uneasy about leaving home for school again, though not because of any ill feelings towards the school. Not that it made any difference, and so Regulus kept any unease or inner conflict firmly to himself, reminded himself that he was out in the wild again now, and that that called for keeping himself on a tighter rein than ever before.

Upon joining the Slytherin table and settling himself at a bench, blending in amongst the crowd, Regulus had cast an eye automatically towards the Ravenclaw table, though he didn't actually expect to see his half-brother there at all. Having confirmed his absence, and knowing it meant nothing, Regulus checked for Jonah and Jackson, and then turned his attention to the Sorting Ceremony. Three of his relatives - two (half-)uncles and a (half-)aunt, technically, but as they were a year younger than him, he rarely actually used those words - were new to the school this year. It made perfect sense for him to show an interest in their houses, especially if any came his way, but there was likely to be a wait.

For the time being, Regulus allowed himself to blend in with the background, to look and listen and wait. Exactly what for, he didn't know, but that was the whole point of the looking and listening aspect.

Shy? "I prefer 'quiet', actually." Enzo quipped, nodding nonetheless understanding where Fynn was coming from. He would've been easily misunderstood as shy being the quiet one in class, but if he needed to speak his mind... he would. Although it would take him forever to do it. Some things were not worth his energy anyway.

If he was going to be honest, he kind of felt good that he had someone sensible to talk to at the table. Or at least someone who had an understanding of his persona. While the fifth-year had another matter to share with an old acquaintance, the sound of obnoxious, goat-like chewing was heard as this younger student (Solomon) walked past behind him. As Fynn watched him take a seat, Enzo followed his gaze and was just at the right second to catch him sticking something under the table. It didn't take a genius to figure out what it was, considering this boy had given himself away for those who were more of the observant kind.

Enzo kept a blank expression as he faced Fynn again, stealthily unsheathing the wand that was strapped on his arm. Using the body next to him as his shield, the Slytherin positioned himself to aim for the wad of gum, and flicked his wrist with the intention of making the material fly off from under and onto the boy's face. Discreetly, he placed his wand back in its holster and reached for his goblet for another sip of his water like nothing happened.

"That we are," he continued, nodding. "And I hope you like metal music..." he added, looking around for the long-haired Schultz. As he did so, he caught sight of Amelia Kaikoura getting sorted. And as she got sorted into Hufflepuff, Enzo nodded in approval and went back to his conversation with Fynn. "Kai is also from Woboldo's. She's a year younger than us, but this is also her first time in Hogwarts, like you," he said gesturing his head towards the direction of the Sorting.

They were that much closer to having the school overrun with Barringtons. Not that that was any sort of plan or anything, but it was kind of a badge of honor to be able to say that. Giselle figured she was already an elder statesman of a kind, as she had perched in a seat at the Slytherin table to watch the goings-on that she herself, along with Phoebe, Rome, Sophie, Mia, Brandon and Xander had gone through just last year. It was kind of interesting to see it all from the opposite perspective, really, and the bonus was that she hadn’t had to wait too long before her cousin’s name had been called and Amatheia had gone up to the stool.

She imagined Theia wasn’t too happy about how old the Sorting Hat was, but it was what it was. And she’d clapped loudly when she’d been Sorted into Ravenclaw, giving Solomon a bit of a glare as she’d seen him stick something under the table. Ew. The fact a fellow Slytherin would do something that disgusting was disappointing. That was more of a Gryffindor thing, except she didn’t think Rome would ever be like that. Or any other Gryffindors she might have known.

She didn’t blame Mackenzie for whatever he’d tried to do in retaliation.

SO, THE BLOODY BARON WAS TERRIFYING.

The sticky gum was already fixed when Solomon locked eyes with their house ghost, but thankfully, the spirit had already moved on to more exciting things as the feast arrived. Hopefully he wouldn’t be back. The feast had certainly captivated Solly’s attention, too, blissfully unaware that almost everyone at his table were silently judging him for disposing of his gum in such a way.

Why the heck were they all so observant?

He gave Giselle, the younger Slytherin, a cheesy smile in return to her glare, then turned his attention to the food after NOT listening to a word that the Headmaster had said. Solly dug a spoon straight into a bowl of mashed potatoes, chuckling to himself as he thought about those judgemental Slytherins being lucky that he didn’t dip his finger into the bowl.

Before he could take a mouthful, it seemed he was getting a face full of something else. The gum, that was still moist, was splatting Solomon straight in the face. He dropped the spoon with a CLANK, and immediately attempted to remove it, which made him heave in the process. “Who did it?!” Solomon raised his voice and glared at everyone around him, feeling his cheeks and nose getting hot in embarrassment. The gum was now swatted away, into the bowl of mashed potatoes.

They would PAY, whoever did this.

In Fynley’s mind quiet and shy were practically the same thing. They were also two things that he was not. “Alright. The ‘quiet’ kid then. I remember you not saying much.” he replied to Enzo. In a class full of loud kids it could be easy to sink into the background.

The idea of sharing a dorm with a guy who liked heavy metal brought a groan to the Slytherins lips. Fynn could appreciate all types of music for sure but he also appreciated his sleep and he wouldn’t be impressed if that was disturbed in the middle of the night. “Please tell me you don’t have it blaring out at midnight?” he asked. He was usually a pretty chill type of guy but not getting his full nights rest just might unleash the dragon within. As for the younger girl getting sorted, Fynn didn’t recognise the face or the name but glanced over anyway. “Ah cool. So I won’t be the only slightly lost looking older kid then.” It would be nice to have someone else going through it all too.

Then suddenly there was chaos at the Slytherin table as the piece of gum the younger boy (Solomon) was smacking his lips on was suddenly planted firmly on his face. The fifteen year old couldn’t help but to snicker although he attempted to conceal his expression behind his hand. “Must’ve been a ghost” he smirked picking up his own drink to stop himself from laughing more. He wasn’t impressed about the mashed potatoes being ruined though. “Hey! No need to take it out on the potatoes.” They were innocent in all of this.

The beginning of an end. Something stirred inside of Serena. She wasn't the sentimental kind. Not the kind to adopt Hogwarts as her home and have an attachment to it. No. Hogwarts was simply a school. A castle. Walls and stones. Home was where her family was. Yet, as she made her way towards the Slytherin table, her robes flowing behind her, she couldn't help the strange feeling in her chest. As it tightened she clenched her hands at her sides. It was just a school. Walls and stones.

Stealing a glimpse at the Hufflepuff table for just a second, the tightness in her chest eased when her steel blue eyes found a certain curly-head boyfriend of hers. He was being his usual happy self, and that brought her calm. It even made the corners of her mouth twitch. As unbearable as her once younger self found him to be, he was one of the puzzle pieces that made this place bearable.

Feeling the small figure behind her, Serena straightened her already perfect posture and stopped at the table--nodding a greeting nods to the Slytherins already there-- then swept her arm out. "Welcome to Slytherin, Xavier." A smirk stretched her rosy lips.

She's been wanting to say that since the day her little brother was born.

~O~O~O~

With zero emotion on his pale face, Xavier nodded at his older sister. He was finally here. A part of him struggled to grasp onto the excitement that flared for just a brief second. Just like smoke, it vanished before he could grip it. He wasn't like the rest of the students here. Aside from his impeccable lineage, genes, etc. He couldn't just burst out into a smile or tears. The void in his chest was just too loud.

Following the direction in which Serena's head had briefly turned to, he knew it was the Hufflepuff table. That's where her boyfriend resided. Oh, and look. He was there...breathing. A part of him resented Jasper. Xavier had to share his sister with him. It was awful. But for the sake of Serena's happiness, Xavier bent and just went along with things.

He was content, he supposed, being at Hogwarts. This place was a promise to be a tool towards his goals. Power. And with the wand that chose him, Xavier was eager to learn.

Serena's voice broke him out of his thoughts. He looked up at her, a ghost of a smirk tugging at his mouth.

Finally.