After a long day of classes and studying, Taylor Wright finds herself in the Great Hall, sitting down to a delicious meal prepared by the house elves. Usually she seats herself at the Gryffindor table, but not today. Today, Corey Lees, scum of the earth, is sitting at the Gryffindor table with his latest girlfriend, who happens to be a Gryffindor: Vanessa Whitmer–tall, blonde, and vacant. Thus Taylor is not sitting with her fellow Gryffindors. Rather she perches at the Ravenclaw table. Reactions to her seating choice vary. Many of the Ravenclaws whisper around her, but Taylor ignores them, choosing to brush up on her potions her text is open to the recipe for cheering potion, which, for some reason, she is trying to commit to memory.

Squealing and giggling as she and her sister run into the hall with their gaggle of friends, Josie Wexler is the epitome of over-excited twelve-year-old at this moment. “Do you really think she’ll do it?” she asks her sister, coming to the end of the table. The group bursts into giggles again quickly then disperses after a moment, going to sit at their separate tables. Josie plops down, ending up in front of Taylor. She scrambles for a moment as some jelly beans fall out of her pocket and skitter onto the floor behind her. After cursing under her breath quietly, she finally looks up at Taylor. “Hey, you’re not in Ravenclaw.” The girl is very tactful.

The book is snapped shut as Taylor is addressed. Wrinkling her nose, she tilts her head at Josie, “How. . . ” she furrows her brow as she carefully considers her words, “. . .perceptive of you.” She offers the younger girl a forced smile which warms slightly as she inspects Josie, “I’m Taylor Wright, and I’m Gryffindor.”

“Well, I am a Ravenclaw,” Josie tells the older girl in complete earnest. “I’m Josie Wexler. That’s my sister over there. We’re twins.” She grins happily and plunks her things down next to her on the bench. “So why are you sitting here? Aren’t you supposed to sit at the Gryffindor table? I thought we weren’t allowed.” The girl pulls a few jelly beans out of her pocket and chews on them a bit before reaching out and grabbing some things to put on her plate.

Taylor Wright offers the younger girl a smile. “I’ve always wanted a twin. My sisters are twins, but both are in Gryffindor.” She shrugs her shoulders and then sighs at the question. She glances over towards Corey (still sitting at Gryffindor), “That’s why I’m not over there. He is not a nice person. But then, what do I expect? He is male. And they are born that way. You know?”

“How are they born?” Josie asks the older girl, genuinely puzzled. “I mean, besides a little bit, you know, slower than girls and all, but mummy says they catch up eventually.” The girl pauses. “She says she’s still waiting for daddy to catch up, though, and he’s kinda old.”

“Well, they are certainly slower, but more than that, they are unfeeling, unsophisticated, immature prats who don’t know which way is backwards and which is forwards. And they try, at every turn, to make women less than they are. And eventually all of them fail the women in their lives–whether it’s through broken promises that they’d never intended to keep in the first place, or willfull abandonment when things get difficult,” Taylor states matter of factly. Her entire demeanor is stern. “And that, is how they are born.”

Josie is a bit shocked by the vehemence in Taylor’s statement, and she just stares for a moment, almost as if it’s taking a moment for the sentiment to sink in. “… oh.” She finally responds, and then is silent for just a moment, as if in serious thought. “But… my dad isn’t like that. He’s always taken good care of my sisters and brothers and me. Mum works at the candy shop so she can’t take care of us all the time.” Josie pauses. “But maybe Uncle Logan is like that. He’s kind of mean?” The girl’s voice sounds almost hopeful as she offers up this suggestion to the near-stranger in front of her.

A nod is given at the idea of a man being kind of mean. “He might seem kind of mean now, but once you’re an adult he’ll be an all-out mean. Men give up on things, they don’t care for people. And even if your dad stayed home he probably just wanted time off, you know? Like so he didn’t have to work. He’d rather be home goofing off with all of you than at work, engaging in something productive.” Taylor nods at this thought matter-of-factly.

“Hmm, I don’t know. He used to work at Zonko’s, so wouldn’t that be more fun?” Josie munches on some of the food from her plate, looking ponderous. “I don’t know. Boys don’t seem so bad to me. How do you know they’re so bad, though? Is it in a book? Maybe I should take a look at it. It seems like there must be something to back it up. My teachers tell me there has to be proof for something to be true.” Josie looks slightly sullen as she makes this admission, as if she’s had problems with this concept in the past.

“Well of course it can’t be printed in books because they have all of the power. Have you ever wondered why men dominate so much of the world? That so often women keep house and men work? It’s because they say so. That’s the nature of it,” thoughtfully Taylor considers the idea of writing a book on the topic and mentally puts that on the shelf. “Regardless, be glad that you are female! It’s a blessed state to be in. And you’re just as capable as any boy.”

As she finishes cleaning her plate, Josie looks quickly over at Hufflepuff table and catches her sister’s eye. The two exchange a rapid glance and then the girl starts to clear up her things. “I guess you’re right.” Josie admits this, then pauses in thought. As her sister stands up from her table, Josie grabs up all of her things and stands up quickly. “I’m going to… um, I’ve got to – and she’s waiting – so I’ll talk to you later!” With that, she manages to escape quickly, latching onto her sister’s arm as the two meet up. The girls heads incline together as they meet and it’s clear they’re talking and giggling as they run out of the great hall, their school things in tow.

Sorting day has arrived again, and just like the previous year, Eva Fallon comes to the platform with some of her children. This time, her brother’s oldest son, Parker is starting as well as one of her own, Charlotte. Josie and Essie are the first through the barrier, in that order, followed by Parker – who just couldn’t wait. Charlotte came next, then Freddie Wexler, then his wife. Tom, Eva‘s husband was next, followed finally by Eva. “Please stay close, kids! Let’s make sure everything’s here…” Eva trails off as the four kids flock next to the train, talking excitedly among themselves. She sighs and shakes her head.

“Isn’t the train amazing?” Josie exclaims as she takes Charlotte by the hand, running close to it. “We’ll get on the train and then it will take us to Hogwarts. I think you’ll be in Ravenclaw with me, just like mummy was.” The girl nods enthusiastically to her sister, looking to Essie for affirmation. “Mummy, mummy, Charlotte is going to be in Ravenclaw, right? Right?” the girl shouts to her mother, bouncing slightly in anticipation.

Clinging to her mother closely, Danielle is a picture of mixed emotions. There’s tears in the corners of her eyes and she sniffles from time to time, her arms wrapped tightly around her mother’s waist. Despite this, though, her eyes are widen and focused on the crowd in front of her, drifting from group to group, and her mouth falls open as she notices owls, cats, large trunks and laughing students in varying kinds of flashy garb. Her mother is fussing over her hair and smoothing it into place and looks incredibly anxious; her father stands by, looking stern and wooden.

“Josephine Elizabeth Wexler, come back here now,” Eva calls to the girl. “Estelle Bidelia Wexler, you, too. What did I tell you about running off?” The woman taps her foot for a moment before murmuring something to her husband and shaking her head. The two oldest girls walk dutifully back toward their mother, their cheeks slightly red at being chastised. Parker and Charlotte come slowly back toward their family members, looking around with interest at everything happening on the platform. It is then that Eva notices the family just nearby to them, with the little girl who looks slightly overwhelmed. Grinning sympathetically, Eva leans over to the mother. “First year?” she asks quietly. “My Charlotte here is a first year, too,” she tells the other woman, gesturing vaguely to the girl in question.

“Does the hat really chew on your head if you’re not easy enough to sort?” Parker asks loudly as he returns to his family slowly. “One of the boys at Madame Malkin’s told me that it chews on you. Can I ask it to stop if I don’t like it?” He looks up at his mother, who smooths his unruly hair down. “Can I, mum?” She merely chuckles and smiles to Freddie without answering the boy’s question. Freddie’s eyes twinkle with mischeif as he tousles the boy’s hair, which prompts his mother to smooth it down once more. “What? Can’t I?”

Although the mother seems a little suspicious of Eva and her children, Danielle takes the opportunity to study Charlotte and Parker intently with wide eyes, though she doesn’t move away or even loosen her grip on her mother. Eventually, Juliette reaches out delicately with one hand, the other one still on her child’s head, although now she pulls her protectively closer, and remarks in a low voice, with just a slight French accent, “I don’t know how any of… you people handle it.”

Seraphina Pryor is a sixth year – almost at the top of the hill! She feels fairly proud as she emerges from the barrier, intent on getting onto the train as quickly as possible. Her sister and father follow her through so quickly that Alastriona runs smack into her. “Watch where you’re going,” she mutters at her sister, who then attaches herself to her sister’s arm. “Let’s sit together!” the girl squeals to her older sister. “‘Ona, don’t you have friends you’d rather sit with?” she asks in an exasperated tone. “I’m going to sit with Otto. Look, there’s Flossie – go talk to her.” With that, Alastriona takes off running and laughing as she spots one of her friends and Seraphina breathes a sigh of relief. “I’m going to go get onto the train,” she tells her father. “I’ll owl you once I’m settled into my NEWT classes.” With that, she makes her way toward the train, not in any particular hurry.

Eva Fallon quirks her head in slight confusion. “Handle what? Our children going off to school? It’s difficult to let go at first, but it’s so good for them. Josie and Essie,” she gestures to the two girls who are talking quietly to one another and giggling, “started last year and they’ve become incredibly self-assured and self-reliant in that time. I think it has been very good for them.” Eva smiles, though not quite as genuinely as the first time. “What’s your name?” she asks, directing the question to the girl.

Finally realizing that he will get no answer to his question from his parents, Parker directs his attention to those nearby. He studies Danielle quickly as she seems to be studying him, and interrupting his aunt (without really realizing it), he puts his hand out. “I’m Parker,” he tells her with absolutely no volume control.

“Danielle,” the small girl volunteers, though she still doesn’t pull away from her mother; a moment later, the older woman prompts her, and she lets go with one arm, holding out her hand in a neat, polite greeting to Eva. Her mother studies Eva for a moment uncertainly, though, before shaking her head and clarifying, “Goodness no, Alexis, Cyril and Dominic are already off at their schools… but this is all new, this experience.” She eyes Eva for a moment longer before adding, “But I can see you’re used to that.” Danielle, on the other hand, pokes her tongue out at Parker’s loudness.

Not quite sure what the woman is getting at, Eva just smiles and merely nods. “Well, I’m sure she’ll love it at Hogwarts. I certainly did,” Eva sighs a bit and looks at Tommy, then to the children. “Alright, alright, you all may go to the train now. Find your compartments,” she tells the children, particularly her twins, who take that moment to squeal and skip toward the train. “Parker, you stay with Charlotte. You two need to stick together!” his father directs him.

“What compartment should we sit in?” Josie asks her sister, turning and skipping backwards for a moment as she looks back toward her younger sister and cousin and the stranger girl with whom her family is interacting. “Come on, you lot!” she calls to them, turning around again and stopping near the entrance to the train. “The third compartment!” Essie declares. “Three is a very good number.” The girls giggle as if laughing at an inside joke while they wait for the other children to join them.

Parker Wexler gasps loudly. “Dad, she stuck her tongue out at me!” the boy tattles, frowning at her and crossing his arms. “That’s not very nice, Danielle,” he tells her with a failed attempt at disdain. “I’m going to be a Gryffindor like my dad, so you better not be one, too, if you’re going to be like that. “Parker!” three adults call all at once and the boy flushes deep red, still frowning at Danielle. “You’re not very nice,” he says more quietly, in hopes that the grownups won’t hear him.

As Eva instructs her children to go to the train, Danielle pulls her hand back and wraps her arms all the more tightly around her mother. “Is it time?” She asks softly, tears beginning to well up in her eyes as she grabs at her mother. The only instruction given to her in return is, “You don’t want to be late…” before she’s pulled aside from the group and what seems to be a lecture starts – quiet, so as not to unduly embarass her, but loud enough that someone nearby could certinly catch snippets – ‘no lying’, ‘best behaviour’, ‘pull you out by your braids if necessary’, punctuated by first tears, then sobs, then a messy hug between all three family members before the eleven year old pulls herself together, wipes her nose and eyes on the sleeve of her dress, then stumbles towards the train, sniffing and trying to stop her emotions showing TOO much.

“Oh my goodness gracious me!” Alastriona Pryor bounces away from her sister, and spins in wide circle towards her friend Flossie. “Can you believe it’s another year! Another summer come and gone and sooooo much news!” She presses her lips together and smoothes her static-y red hair. “Come dear Flossie! I will tell you all about it!! It’s extraordinary, really! I’m certain–” she glances around and then stops talking. “I’ll tell you on the train, these things need to remain secrets from wandering ears. . .” Mischieviously she smirks at her friend, and locks arms together.

“Okay, girls, come say goodbye!” the woman calls to her daughters, making her way toward her daughters who are just about to board the train. “I’ll see you at Christmas holiday,” she tells her daughters. “Come on, Charlotte, join your sisters!” Charlotte glances at Danielle with a shy smile before she joins her mother near the door to the train. Parker follows, also glancing at Danielle, but with far more suspicion in his face as he keeps up with his cousins. “Bye Mum! Bye Dad!” he calls to his parents, and in an energetic bound, he’s the first of his cousins to board the train. “Be good, study hard and write often. Send an owl tonight – I want to know what house Charlotte is sorted into.” Eva smiles somewhat wistfully as she steps back to where her husband, brother and sister-in-law are standing. She waves to the small Wexlers as they bound onto the train after Parker.

Parker was the first onto the train, and he’s the first into a compartment. He dashes first into compartment one, but finds a much older student already sitting inside, so he quickly exits it without a word, then dashes into the next compartment down the way – the one marked with a “3″. Finding it empty, the boy quickly plops into the seat nearest to the door, hanging his head out of the compartment as he watches for his cousins. When he spots them, he shouts. “Hey, down here!” he yells to them, waving enthusiastically and nearly hitting a few older students in the process.

A few moments afterwards, Danielle flounces into the carriage and scowls at Parker. Her eyes are red from crying, but she seems to have pushed back all her tears for now, and is more focused on the other people in the room. “You can’t just tell on me for sticking my tongue out, that’s not against the rules.” A pause and then, “I bet it doesn’t say it anywhere in the school rulebook. Be pretty funny if it did.” And then, a moment later, a small curtsey. “I’m Danielle.” She’s very careful to only pronounce it with two syllables.

Pulling Flossie to the third compartment, Alastriona giggles along with her friend at the latest bit of news she’s relayed. “I mean really who would believe that?! Just silly people, that’s who. Or those in institutions. . . or St. Mungos–” she glances around and lowers her voice (but probably not low enough that others in the compartment can’t hear, “–I once overheard some people Daddy was talking to say that some terrible things were done to those that find themselves there. . . at least most of the time. . . they probably still deal with the occasional small issue. . . like . . .” thinking of no other ailments, Alastriona finally scrunches her nose and thinks of the only ailment she can think of off the top of her head, “. . .lice.” Flossie shakes her head in disagreement. Deciding that this would be a wonderful debate for the train ride, Alastriona and her friend finally sit down, and she asks to no one in particular, “Do you think St. Mungo’s Healers could cure lice?”

Josie, Essie and Charlotte follow down the corridor and join Parker in the third compartment. “See, I told you the train was great!” Josie tells her cousins proudly as she sits down by the window. The four Wexlers take up one side of the compartment, and Josie smiles to Danielle. “Isn’t this great?” she asks the girl, not taking notice of the tears. Charlotte, however, is slightly more perceptive than her older sister and furrows her eyebrows. “Are you okay?” the Wexler girl asks before Parker interrupts her. “I told my parents, and you can’t even imagine what they would have done. It’s just that your mum was there and they didn’t want to hurt her feelings,” the boy argues.

“Who has lice?” Parker asks loudly, his eyes growing wide at the older girl opposite. “Who are you? My name’s Parker Wexler. My dad writes for the Daily Prophet!” he boasts proudly. “And my auntie Eva owns a candy shop? Isn’t that so great? Josie and Essie and Charlotte get to go there all the time because my auntie Eva is their mum. Great, right?” Parker beams at the older girls, paying no mind to the fact that he has actually interrupted their conversation.

“Oh no, no one has lice, just hypothetically if someone did, do you think St. Mungo’s healers could fix them up?” Alastriona corrects and then asks. She smoothes her hair again and then frowns a bit at the introduction, “I don’t believe in calling people with first names by names that sound like lastnames. So. . . this presents us with a problem.” She frowns slightly. “What’s your middle name? I can maybe call you that!” She offers a hopeful smile. “Oh! How rude of me! I’m Alastriona Pryor! And this is my friend Flossie. Her real name is Locke. True story.” Flossie nods a bit fleetingly, but before she can say anything, Alastriona continues to talk for both of them, “That must be amazing to have all of that access to the candy! Everyone likes candy . . . I don’t think I’ve met anyone who says ‘I don’t like candy.’ Those are the kinds of people I was talking about earlier, Flossie! The candy haters who go to Azkaban . . .” She nods decidedly, certain that Dark Wizards dislike candy.

Scowling all the more at Parker, Danielle seems not to notice Charlotte’s question for a moment. When she does acknowledge the other girl, it’s with a whiny, sullen, “I’ll be okay.” There’s a moment of silence from her before she sits down and adds, “It’s – all very new for me,” she tells Charlotte, her voice raised slightly so as to speak over Parker, shooting him another nasty look. “I mean…” she stumbles over her words for a moment, before she continues, “because I’m new… in England. Great Britain, actually. I haven’t been here very long.”

“I’ve seen you before,” Josie tells the older girl with a beaming smile. “I’m Josie Wexler. Parker’s my cousin. Don’t mind him, he doesn’t think before he talks.” She giggles a bit. “This is my sister Essie, and that’s Charlotte. She’s my sister, too.” Josie nods and giggles at Ona’s comments regarding candy. “That’s very true. Anyone who doesn’t like candy is not my friend,” The girl states emphatically and smiles broadly. “I’m a Ravenclaw. You must not be a Ravenclaw or I would have seen you in the commonroom.”

Climbing over his cousins to get to the window seat, Parker steps on toes and kicks people accidentally as he tries to get into the miniscule space left by the window. “Move over,” he whines at his cousins who comply without much complaint past the kicks and smashed toes. “Look at how fast we’re going…” the boy starts staring out the window, only looking back when something in the conversation going on around him catches his attention.

Charlotte nods and yelping only briefly as Parker steps full on her foot, she smiles to Danielle. “I’ve never been to Hogwarts yet, either. My sisters say it’s really fun but kind of hard work. I guess magic is harder than it looks. Mum makes it look so simple.” She pauses. “I have some sweets that mum gave me. Do you want to share?” She asks, pulling a purple and blue striped bag out of a deep pocket at her side. Glancing around the compartment, she breathes in quickly, then gets up and moves across the compartment to sit next to Danielle rather than next to Parker.

“Well, Flossie and I are Gryffindors,” Alastriona says with a twinkle in her eye. “We have lots of friends from other houses.” She offers a bright smile. “It’s great to meet you! What year are you in? Flossie and I are in our third year!” Flossie opens her mouth to introduce herself, but Alastriona once again spouts some random information, “Well anyone who doesn’t like candy probably has no friends. I was talking to Flossie about people in Azkaban. I’m convinced that lack of sugar put them there in the first place, so all people must have sugar and those that don’t are to be considered . . . ” she lowers her voice again. “. . . suspicious. . .” she glances left and then right. And then Parker kicks her accidently, and while it doesn’t hurt, being somewhat of a drama queen she says, with much emphasis, “OW.”

Although she seems unimpressed that Parker is still getting more overall attention than she is, Danielle does seem to latch onto Charlotte as she addresses her, though she wrinkles her nose and shakes her head slightly at the offer. “No, I was saying I’m only new to Great Britain… oh, I don’t suppose it matters.” There’s a hesitant pause and then, “I’m sure magic is quite easy really… but, uh, no magic candy for me, thank you.” She laughs, lightly, but it’s a little forced.

“I’m a second year now! Essie’s a Hufflepuff, though, not a Ravenclaw. The hat didn’t sort us together.” Sadness briefly crosses Josie‘s face as she remembers the fact, but she quickly rebounds. “They are kind of susp— OW, Parker, watch it!” the girl exclaims and shakes her head. “What classes are you taking this year? You get to pick new ones, right? I can’t wait to pick out new classes. I want to take music, but I don’t know what else I should take.” She pauses. “Oh, sweets! Mum gave us some for the trip. Do you want some? They’re from mummy’s shop in Diagon Alley.” Josie reaches into her own pocket to draw out the large bag of sweets, offering some of hers to the older girls across from her.

“Oh, where did you live before you came to Great Britain?” Charlotte asks Danielle cheerfully. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I was born in Hogsmeade when mum co-owned Honeydukes – that’s another candy shop, you know. We moved to London when I was very small, though. I like it there. There’s so much going on. Are you sure you won’t have any?” she asks politely, drawing out a peppermint toad and nibbling it slowly. Parker pays attention again as Josie exclaims in pain. “What?” he asks, cluelessly. “What’d I do? Oh, sweets!” he remembers, pulling his own bag of sweets out of his pocket and pops a fizzing whizzbee into his mouth, giggling loudly as the fireworks begin in his mouth, a few escaping into the air in front of him as he laughs, coming out in shining sparks.

Alastriona Pryor arches an eyebrow at Danielle’s refusal of candy, and of course, having little restraint, she narrows her eyes and questions, “Don’t you like candy? Or are you a candy hater? Do you never eat sugar? Or only when on a train with strangers, Dan-ee-elle?” Flossie finally manages to get a word in edgewise, “Ona, be nice. She’s just kid.” Flossie offers Danielle a weak smile. And then Alastriona continues her questioning, “I need to interrogate when necessary. And it seems necessary. Just you wait, watch for people who don’t eat sugar and you’ll see. . .” Her attention is diverted back to Josie, “Yeah, we get to choose. I’m taking Muggle Studies, Wizo-Music, Magical Art, and Divination. I wish I could take more, but honestly, courses like Arithmancy seem. . . icky. I want to take I would love some sweets! Thanks Josie! I seriously love sugar. Daddy doesn’t let me eat it often though.” She tilts her head, “What do you think you’ll take when you’re in third year?”

Danielle Baker flinches back from Parker in shock as he laughs and fireworks exit his mouth, almost automatically, though she tries to right herself quickly enough. She tugs down on her plaits, trying to arrange them a bit more neatly, and addressing Charlotte directly rather than looking again at Parker. “Oh… France, actually. We moved here maybe – perhaps,” she corrects herself, drawing herself up in a somewhat pompous way and affecting a slightly stronger French accent, reminiscent of her mother, “six months ago. That was before we got the letter,” she adds hurriedly. Her eyes turn to Alastriona, and she corrects quietly, “Dan-yell.” There’s a moment of silence, and she bites her lip before adding, “I’m… allergic to her mother’s candy. From the candy store.”

“Allergic?” Parker asks in horror. “How can you be allergic to sweets? Is it just her sweets? Have you even had them before? My cousin Maura makes them and she does very well!” His eyes grow wide as he considers this, but he pops another fizzing whizbee (his favorite – not that that’s any shock) into his mouth and is instantly distracted from the unpleasant girl in front of him. “Oh, alright,” Charlotte replies pleasantly to Danielle, clearly not phased by much that’s going on around her. She continues to nibble her toad. “So, what house do you think you’ll be in?” she asks the girl cordially.

“Muggle studies sounds really interesting, too. I’m not sure about Divination. It seems like it might just be a bunch of fluff and make-believe. I mean, Professor Kensington seems like she’s alright, but I don’t think she’s being totally honest with us that Divination is so hard.” Josie looks pensive as she considers the subject. “I want to take Ancient Runes,” Essie admits. “It looks like it would be really interesting, and I think it would be more challenging than some of the other subjects.” She pauses briefly. “I also want to take that animals class. It looks so interesting. What’s it called again?” She considers thoughtfully. “Care of Magical Creatures!” Josie breaks in again. “How do you think you’ll manage all of those classes? I’m sure that’s more than what I could handle!”

“Okay, if you’re allergic, I’ll let it slide,” Alastriona responds with a suspicious twinkle in her eye. “I suppose that’s possible . . but know that I’m watching you. . .” She redirects her attention to Josie and shuffles in her seat a bit. “Yeah, I think Divination will be an easy course. Well relatively, even if she says its hard. I mean it’s just looking at tea and stuff, right?” She nods at Essie. “Yeah, they all sound good–it’s hard to choose.”

“May – perhaps,” Danielle tells Parker a little defensively, folding her arms across her chest and scowling at him, before affecting a smile again as she turns back to Charlotte. “I… haven’t given it much thought,” she bites at her lip again. “I – you were saying you’d be in… that house, I remember.” She tugs at one of her plaits again, considering Charlotte. “I imagine I’ll be in… well, I suppose I’m particularly hard to place.” She clears her throat, though, and fumbles for her pockets, eventually pulling out what is plainly a small packet of entirely muggle sweets, one of which she pushes into her mouth rapidly, before slipping the package back into her pocket and chewing away at the one in her mouth. Her eyes fall on Alastriona as she chews, and she starts to scowl a little sullenly at the older girl

“Mum says all of the houses are good and that it won’t matter which house I’m in,” Charlotte says placidly. “Mum was a Ravneclaw and Dad was a Gryffindor. I don’t really know where I should go.” The girl looks down into her bag of sweets then shrugs vaguely. She finishes her peppermint toad and then tucks the bag into her deep pocket again and glances to Danielle, not commenting as she spots the bag of sweets. “So is it nice in France? I’d love to go visit there,” she asks, trying to diffuse Danielle’s hostility toward the older girl. Charlotte only glances briefly at the older girl as her attention is drawn to Parker, who has frozen with a bit of candy in his mouth. Apparently Parker has forgotten what ice mice do, and for the time being, the compartment is slightly more still as the effects of the candy keep hold on him.

“Professor Kensington keeps very close tabs on us Ravenclaws,” Josie comments. “She makes sure that our marks are at a certain level, and if they’re not, we have manditory homework time! On weekends too. Have you ever heard of such a thing?” The girl shakes her head in a semblance of shock. “Thankfully, I haven’t had to stay in for it yet, but I can’t believe that she would do that! I bet she can’t be that way with her class, though. Like you said, it’s just looking at tea and crystal balls and all of that.” Essie nods quickly, but says nothing to add to the comments. Josie pulls out a sugar quill and begins to suck on it slowly. “Anyway, I think I’ll take Care of Magical Creatures with Essie instead.”

Alastriona Pryor gives an approving nod to Danielle as she pops the Muggle candy in her mouth. At least it’s sugar! Alastriona either doesn’t notice or ignores the scowl she’s given because she merely smiles at Danielle. “Mandatory homework time?! You better work hard! Professor Fallon isn’t like that. She’s more. . . the mothering type. Honestly, if I didn’t know better I’d think that she had children at the school.” She contemplates a second and then adds, “Discipline isn’t unheard of with her, but it’s not scary punishment at all.” She shrugs.

Danielle Baker looks up at Josie and wrinkles her nose again, shaking her head. “No, I don’t think I want to be in Ravenclaw.” She falls quiet for a moment, before looking up at Charlotte again. “Oh, it’s wonderful in France. There’s all different kinds of people there, and the very tallest building is the tour eiffel, and you can see it from everywhere in France, it’s so big. I lived just near it and would go there all the time.” She smiles faintly at the other first year, and swallows her sweet, casting another significant look towards Alastriona.

“Well, you know she used to!” Josie exclaims, proud that she can provide information that the older girl didn’t appear to know. “My cousin Briony married her oldest kid. His name’s Gabe. He and Briony were Gryffindors. Gabe has two sisters, too, but I don’t know them very well.” Josie beams and glances out the window. “Wow, look how dark it is! We must be nearly there!” The girl hops up and smooths her robes out, rubbing her fingers over her Ravenclaw crest lovingly and grinning at the others. I’m going to go up toward the entrance! Come on, Essie! Let’s get a carriage together!”

“Well that’s interesting! You certainly have a lot of family!” Alastriona exlaims. She quickly stands to her feet, smoothes her robes, and then for good measure, smoothes her hair once more. “Come along, Flossie! We have things to do–carriages to catch, and things to discuss.” That said, the pair begin shuffling to the front of the train.

Parker Wexler unfreezes just in time to hear Josie exclaim about nearly reaching Hogwarts. “Hogwarts! Hogwarts! Hogwarts! We’re almost there, Lottie!” he calls to her and bounces a bit on the seat, shoving his own bag of sweets haphazardly into his pocket and jumping up. This time, he manages not to trip over anyone or kick anyone, but he’s not exactly moving slowly, and he nearly falls over as he runs out of the compartment. “Wait for me!” he calls to his cousins. “No?” Charlotte replies to Danielle, giving only a brief glance out the window and frowning slightly as she sees that the trip is nearly over. “Want to go to the front?” Charlotte asks the other girls left in the compartment as she stands up and smooths her robes, folding up the top of her bag and tucking it into her pocket.

As the view outside the window starts getting less and less clear due to the cover of darkness – or, at least, as she realises that this is rapidly happening – Danielle becomes quieter and even starts biting on her nails. Eventually, she leans in a little closer to Charlotte, and whispers, “I don’t want to be given weekend homework, I got plenty of that from my last teacher. In France!” She adds, almost as an afterthought. “But… don’t you ever worry that you might pop on the hat and it’ll tell you to go away?” A pause. “Not that I ever do!” She adds, almost hurriedly. “I was just… wondering if other people did. It seems scary. Like other people would find it scary.”

Standing alone at the end of the train platform, Avery Fallon has one arm lifted above her head, waving to capture students’ attention. “First years! First years gather here! Sorted students should take the carriages, but first years please gather here!” The astronomy professor appears to be in fairly good spirits and is smiling welcomingly, vaguely scanning the faces for Charlotte and Parker Wexler.

Bounding off of the train and dodging some of the bigger students, Parker makes his way to the platform, his too-long robes streaming behind him. “Come on,” he calls to Charlotte and Danielle, pausing briefly as he hears a voice calling for first years. “This way!” he shouts and runs down the platform, not even giving the girls a chance to figure out where he’s headed. “Hi, Aunt Avery!” he greets the teacher and bounds into her with an exuberant hug.

Danielle Baker falls silent as she steps off the train and really seems to take in the sheer size of the crowds. She bites at her lower lip, glancing back and forth and reaching out to grab at Charlotte’s arm as she moves over towards the Professor calling out for them. “Is this where we get Sorted?” She hisses at Charlotte. “I don’t think anyone said!”

“Parker!” Avery exclaims, leaning down to hug the boy back and stepping back to ruffle his hair and smile to Charlotte, giving her a little wave. Once a sizeable group of first years has congregated around her, and it appears that all others are on their way towards carriages, Avery looks to her mass of eleven-year-olds and smiles. “Welcome to the Hogwarts grounds! I’m Professor Fallon, and you’ll be seeing me some evenings for Astronomy. No doubt you’re all excited to get to the castle for the sorting, so let us depart. Follow me, please,” she says, turning around and heading for the shore path.

Josie and Essie make their way off of the train, pausing and waving to Avery in hopes that she’ll see them before the two girls bounce into a carriage, greeting some other second years as they do so. In a moment, the carriage has disembarked toward the castle. Charlotte remains with Danielle as the crowd slowly thins and the girls are left with the other first years on the platform. “Oh, no. We have to go to the castle where the rest of the students are going. I think we take boats instead of carriages,” she tells Danielle quietly, glancing at Parker quickly before she waves shyly to Avery, coming to stop in front of her aunt.

With the first years in tow, Avery stops at the edge of the shore and indicates the boats with her hand. “Four to a boat, and there’s no need to steer. They’ll take you right where you should be. And don’t lean over the edge, please! And mind your cloaks are done up! It can be cool over the water and your mothers would be quite distraught if you had to start your days at Hogwarts with a cold. Alright, off you go!” she requests, she herself striding to a boat as well. She steps into it with a practiced ease and turns around, motioning for Parker, Charlotte and Danielle to join her in this vessel.

The fleet pushes off from shore in near unison. As the boats progress silently through the water, they leave no wake behind. Drifting along, the boats travel in an unhurried fashion, moving over the darkened waters in a loose group, but always remaining together. The chilly night’s breeze is more apparent here upon the lake.

As the fleet continues forward, the southern shore recedes into the distance, and is lost in loose tendrils of smoky fog. The northern shore is not yet in view, concealed as it is by a thicker blanket of pale haze. The air is cooler over the lake, and as the boats drift further onto the water, there a more pronounced breeze that nips through robe and sweater alike.

The fleet has begun to move through the steadily increasing fog now, reducing visibility to a scant metre or two. Dim lights from the lanterns on the other boats of the fleet can be seen, flickering softly in the wind. The breeze is gentle, but consistent and quite cold out here upon the nearly still nighttime waters, where is there is no shelter and no warming fire. The only company is the steady rocking of the boats and the dim lights of boat lanterns.

The fleet has finally begun to leave the haze behind, although the mist tries vainly to cling to the boats and it still laps at those lingering in the rear. The Forbidden Forest encroaches upon the eastern shoreline, bordered by grey mist and shadow. The northern shore has come into view with the castle of Hogwarts silhouetted against the hills beyond; the immense towers rise up in stern defiance to the centuries they have weathered. Few windows break the even stone facade of the castle walls, preserving the mysteries within from prying eyes. However, those few windows are merrily lit from within those hallowed halls, revealing the welcoming warmth that can be found within, a homecoming to those who have made a long journey. Ivy and similar plants sprawl across the walls of the castle, their unruly density hinting at the senescence of the walls themselves. The breeze is still cold, nipping at the boats and rustling over the water.

The fleet has begun to pick up speed, accelerating rapidly towards the northern shore. Clear of fog, all that remains of the distant haze is what marks the barriers to the southern and eastern shores, the mist lapping on top of the water but the fleet has now broken free of its grasp. Remarkably, the boats still leave no wake to mark their passage across the water. The speed causes the brisk air to hurtle past, reducing the apparent temperature further and setting the lantern lights to flickering even more, though none of them have gone out.

Rising suddenly as through from beneath the water, the looming bulk of Hogwarts Castle blots out the evening sky and casts a dense shadow over the shoreline, broken only by the steady glow of the lights from within a large section of the building. The boats have begun to decelerate now, but are still moving rapidly as they skim towards the darkness ahead. As it grows steadily darker, the night air takes on a crisper and ever more frigid bite.

The fleet has now passed into the shadow cast by the Castle and descended into absolute darkness, evading the dancing lights that reflected from the windows above. The lantern lights, which have remained so faithful during the journey, have abruptly faded away. Only the steady flow of cold night air moving past indicates that the boats are still moving; there is no other sensation of motion.

The fleet has halted at the lakeshore just below the castle, the transition from movement to rest having occurred smoothly, but without warning. Dim reflected light illuminates a stone stairway, worn smooth with age and use, with steps rising for two metres before disappearing over the cliff top. You can now DISEMBARK.

Having made their way to the castle, Avery Fallon and the group of first years wait in the Great Hall’s antechamber.

Bonnie Kensington stands in the Waiting Room as she waits for the first years to finish their trip across the lake. Everyone in the Great Hall is well settled as the group walks in. She nods to Avery as they make their way into the room. “Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts!” She greets jovially, but without any unnatural smile. “You’re going to be sorted when we walk through that door. You’ll stand at the front of the room as the hat sings its song, then you will come up, one at a time as your name is called to be sorted. Do not fidget, make noise or otherwise be disturbing while the hat sorts the other students.” She pauses and looks over the group. “Once you are sorted, you will proceed to your house table and sit down quietly to wait for the end of the ceremony. Any questions?” She waits only a moment before smiling briefly. “Alright, follow me,” she states and turns to enter the great hall.

Gawking as he enters the Great Hall for the first time, Parker, who has been at the head of the group nearly the whole way, is falling behind and a few of the first years run into him, though he takes no notice of this. “Wow…” he whispers as the first years make their way to the front of the hall. Charlotte, too, is impressed with the grandeur of the hall, and then somewhat intimidated as she spots all of the people sitting at the tables. She sees both of her sisters sitting at different tables, but her demeanor does not seem to change as she continues on to the front of the hall.

Still so shocked and amazed at the sight of Hogwarts that she can’t even bring herself to fake propriety and her worldly manner, Danielle‘s mouth hangs open slightly and her eyes consider the ceiling, then the crowds of people at the tables, and so on. Eventually, she manages a soft, “Ohhh, it’s even better than I could have imagined.

“Let’s begin,” Bonnie states loudly, her voice sounding through the Great Hall as she pulls open a scroll which holds a list of names. “Abbott, Ida” goes first, sorted to Hufflepuff, then “Atwell, Mabel” is sorted to Gryffindor. This takes only a few minutes, then the woman calls out “Baker, Danielle.”

Shocked that she’s so close to the front of the queue, Danielle‘s mouth drops open again and she seems barely able to put one foot in front of the other. Eventually, the person behind her has to prompt her to step forward and she stumbles a few steps, before affecting a rather more dainty and careful step to the stool, placing the Sorting Hat upon her head as primly as she can manage.

Glancing to Danielle, Charlotte squeezes the girl’s hand and watches with a somewhat stressed look on her face. She glances to the tables and sees her own sisters watching with interest as the sorting gets into full swing.

Although now her shock and confusion mingles with irritation, it’s clear that of all things, Danielle wasn’t expecting that. As it shouts out her house, she removes the hat suddenly and stumbles to the Hufflepuff table as carefully as she can manage, though she’s still having trouble putting one foot in front of the other.

Two more B-names are sorted, one to Slytherin and one to Ravenclaw, then it’s “Chaffee, Viviane,” who goes to Ravenclaw. Three girls are next, two of whom are sorted to Ravenclaw and one to Hufflepuff. Then a boy is sorted to Slytherin, another boy to Gryffindor, and a girl to Gryffindor. Next up is “Mycroft, Alistair”, who is sorted to Slytherin. Five or six more students are sorted, and then “Wexler, Charlotte” is called. After a brief moment, she is sorted to Slytherin, and then “Wexler, Parker” is called forward.

Parker Wexler gasps as Charlotte gets sorted to Slytherin, gawking a bit, but before he has much time to react, it’s his own turn. The boy bounds up to the hat and pulls it down hard over his head. His ears bow out and the hat comes down to his ears as he crosses his fingers, waiting to see what the hat would do and thinking very hard that he hoped the hat wouldn’t chew on his head.

To the hat, the boy thinks: Why wouldn’t Slytherin be kind? I mean, Dad was a Gryffindor and so was Uncle Tom and Aunt Avery so that would be okay, but I mean, Slytherin would, too!

Parker Wexler gasps gleefully and runs down to the Gryffindor table, finding an open spot and bouncing into it. He beams at his housemates as he settles in at the table, pleased to know that the hat did not, in fact, chew on him, even though his parents would not tell him one way or the other.

One final student is sorted, headed Hufflepuff way, and then Bonnie nods again. “The sorting is completed,” she tells the room, rolls up the scroll deliberately, then sits down at the faculty table, breathing deeply as if in relief.

As the Sorting itself concludes, Astra rises from her seat at the faculty table and stands to face the vast hall and its many occupants. There’s a beat between her standing up and her actual address of the students, but when she does speak it is clear and calm, using the natural acoustics of the room to make herself heard rather than magical spells. Turning to nod at Avery, she smiles tightly to the woman before shooting a small smile to Bonnie. “Thank you Professor Kensington for your help with the Sorting and my gratitude to Professor Fallon for your assistance with bringing the first years safely to the school, it’s always an exciting task.” Addressing the school again, the headmistress draws herself up and continues. “I’m very glad to see you all back and hope that you’ve had a wonderful summer. For our new students, welcome to your new home. I’m sure that your fellow Housemates will help you get settled in quickly and comfortably.” Pausing to look at the many faces, some new and many familiar, she grins sharply and gives a moment before she launches on.

The mood of her tone sobers but she continues the speech with the same efficient crisp pace. After a short span, she retrieves a piece of paper. Reading off the paper, she then continues. “Prefect picks for the fifth year students are as follows.” “Congratulations to Gryffindor: Arthur Towner and Rachel Stewart. Congratulations to Ravenclaw: Tobias Garner and Geraldine Parr. Congratulations to Slytherin: Francine Rees and George Whittle.” “And congratulations to Hufflepuff: William Sanderson and Bridget Madigan.” Coughing a little, she sets down the paper and takes another drink from her goblet. “I’m sure the seventh years are excited to know who will become the Head Boy and Head Girl for this year.” Taking delight in this news, Astra purposely pauses to retrieve and sip from the goblet in her hand. Glancing over the various tables, she finishes this part of the speech with, “Congratulations are especially in order to Slytherin Prefect, Luther Anderson who is Head Boy this year and no less congratulations are in order to Gryffindor Prefect Vesta Newton who will be serving as Head Girl.” Only now does the woman allow herself a brief respite to grin widely and watch any reactions that might take place.

Once things have settled back down, Astra clears her throat. “Of course, school wouldn’t be school without a list of rules and regulations now would it? Your parents have charged us with the task of taking care of you and so we do our best to imitate them most times.” “I know you’re all thrilled over that!” The dry humor comes slowly to her, but she finally seems to be getting into the good spirits of the Sorting feast. “With that said I’m charged with telling you all that a list of banned items is posted on the Caretaker’s office door and you’d do well to familiarize yourself with it. In addition, there is to be no running in the hallways.” “Use of magic in the hallways or on the outside grounds without supervision or explicit permission by a teacher is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with accordingly.” “As usual, the Forbidden Forest is exactly that – Forbidden and trespassers will be dealt with harshly.” “Third year students and above are reminded to have their permission slips to Hogsmeade signed and ready for the first weekend. Anyone who doesn’t have this will not be allowed off school grounds.” Clearing her throat, she looks around the hall. “Returning students know how I deal with rule breakers, I trust none of you will want to come to my office?” “Don’t worry, you’ll get to eat soon, but I have a few more announcements to make.”

Waiting for about a minute to let students discuss among themselves, Astra finally holds up her hand for attention. “I have just a few more notices and reminders before we get to the pleasant task of eating.” “I am also to inform you that all greenhouses are off limits to students unless you have express permission to be there outside of class.” “Finally, there is to be absolutely no magical toys, candy, trinkets, or anything else of magical nature brought into Muggle Studies. If any of these items are found upon your person, Professor Helit will confiscate and dispose of them.” Then taking one more very brief pause she then ends, “It looks to be an exciting and vibrant new term. I sincerely hope each of you finds as much fun as you do challenges.” “Now let’s eat.”

The sorting extends for quite a while, and Parker interacts enthusiastically with his new housemates while he stuffs himself as full as possible. Eventually, the chatter dies down and the food slowly vanishes. When the prefects get up and direct the first years to follow them, Parker does so dutifully. Sleepiness begins to overpower the boy who has had what could only be called an exciting day. He follows the Gryffindor prefects out of the Great Hall and disappears on his way to his new home for seven years.

Sorting day has arrived again, and just like the previous year, Eva Fallon comes to the platform with some of her children. This time, her brother’s oldest son, Parker is starting as well as one of her own, Charlotte. Josie and Essie are the first through the barrier, in that order, followed by Parker – who just couldn’t wait. Charlotte came next, then Freddie Wexler, then his wife. Tom, Eva‘s husband was next, followed finally by Eva. “Please stay close, kids! Let’s make sure everything’s here…” Eva trails off as the four kids flock next to the train, talking excitedly among themselves. She sighs and shakes her head.

“Isn’t the train amazing?” Josie exclaims as she takes Charlotte by the hand, running close to it. “We’ll get on the train and then it will take us to Hogwarts. I think you’ll be in Ravenclaw with me, just like mummy was.” The girl nods enthusiastically to her sister, looking to Essie for affirmation. “Mummy, mummy, Charlotte is going to be in Ravenclaw, right? Right?” the girl shouts to her mother, bouncing slightly in anticipation.

Clinging to her mother closely, Danielle is a picture of mixed emotions. There’s tears in the corners of her eyes and she sniffles from time to time, her arms wrapped tightly around her mother’s waist. Despite this, though, her eyes are widen and focused on the crowd in front of her, drifting from group to group, and her mouth falls open as she notices owls, cats, large trunks and laughing students in varying kinds of flashy garb. Her mother is fussing over her hair and smoothing it into place and looks incredibly anxious; her father stands by, looking stern and wooden.

“Josephine Elizabeth Wexler, come back here now,” Eva calls to the girl. “Estelle Bidelia Wexler, you, too. What did I tell you about running off?” The woman taps her foot for a moment before murmuring something to her husband and shaking her head. The two oldest girls walk dutifully back toward their mother, their cheeks slightly red at being chastised. Parker and Charlotte come slowly back toward their family members, looking around with interest at everything happening on the platform. It is then that Eva notices the family just nearby to them, with the little girl who looks slightly overwhelmed. Grinning sympathetically, Eva leans over to the mother. “First year?” she asks quietly. “My Charlotte here is a first year, too,” she tells the other woman, gesturing vaguely to the girl in question.

“Does the hat really chew on your head if you’re not easy enough to sort?” Parker asks loudly as he returns to his family slowly. “One of the boys at Madame Malkin’s told me that it chews on you. Can I ask it to stop if I don’t like it?” He looks up at his mother, who smooths his unruly hair down. “Can I, mum?” She merely chuckles and smiles to Freddie without answering the boy’s question. Freddie’s eyes twinkle with mischeif as he tousles the boy’s hair, which prompts his mother to smooth it down once more. “What? Can’t I?”

Although the mother seems a little suspicious of Eva and her children, Danielle takes the opportunity to study Charlotte and Parker intently with wide eyes, though she doesn’t move away or even loosen her grip on her mother. Eventually, Juliette reaches out delicately with one hand, the other one still on her child’s head, although now she pulls her protectively closer, and remarks in a low voice, with just a slight French accent, “I don’t know how any of… you people handle it.”

Seraphina Pryor is a sixth year – almost at the top of the hill! She feels fairly proud as she emerges from the barrier, intent on getting onto the train as quickly as possible. Her sister and father follow her through so quickly that Alastriona runs smack into her. “Watch where you’re going,” she mutters at her sister, who then attaches herself to her sister’s arm. “Let’s sit together!” the girl squeals to her older sister. “‘Ona, don’t you have friends you’d rather sit with?” she asks in an exasperated tone. “I’m going to sit with Otto. Look, there’s Flossie – go talk to her.” With that, Alastriona takes off running and laughing as she spots one of her friends and Seraphina breathes a sigh of relief. “I’m going to go get onto the train,” she tells her father. “I’ll owl you once I’m settled into my NEWT classes.” With that, she makes her way toward the train, not in any particular hurry.

Eva Fallon quirks her head in slight confusion. “Handle what? Our children going off to school? It’s difficult to let go at first, but it’s so good for them. Josie and Essie,” she gestures to the two girls who are talking quietly to one another and giggling, “started last year and they’ve become incredibly self-assured and self-reliant in that time. I think it has been very good for them.” Eva smiles, though not quite as genuinely as the first time. “What’s your name?” she asks, directing the question to the girl.

Finally realizing that he will get no answer to his question from his parents, Parker directs his attention to those nearby. He studies Danielle quickly as she seems to be studying him, and interrupting his aunt (without really realizing it), he puts his hand out. “I’m Parker,” he tells her with absolutely no volume control.

“Danielle,” the small girl volunteers, though she still doesn’t pull away from her mother; a moment later, the older woman prompts her, and she lets go with one arm, holding out her hand in a neat, polite greeting to Eva. Her mother studies Eva for a moment uncertainly, though, before shaking her head and clarifying, “Goodness no, Alexis, Cyril and Dominic are already off at their schools… but this is all new, this experience.” She eyes Eva for a moment longer before adding, “But I can see you’re used to that.” Danielle, on the other hand, pokes her tongue out at Parker’s loudness.

Not quite sure what the woman is getting at, Eva just smiles and merely nods. “Well, I’m sure she’ll love it at Hogwarts. I certainly did,” Eva sighs a bit and looks at Tommy, then to the children. “Alright, alright, you all may go to the train now. Find your compartments,” she tells the children, particularly her twins, who take that moment to squeal and skip toward the train. “Parker, you stay with Charlotte. You two need to stick together!” his father directs him.

“What compartment should we sit in?” Josie asks her sister, turning and skipping backwards for a moment as she looks back toward her younger sister and cousin and the stranger girl with whom her family is interacting. “Come on, you lot!” she calls to them, turning around again and stopping near the entrance to the train. “The third compartment!” Essie declares. “Three is a very good number.” The girls giggle as if laughing at an inside joke while they wait for the other children to join them.

Parker Wexler gasps loudly. “Dad, she stuck her tongue out at me!” the boy tattles, frowning at her and crossing his arms. “That’s not very nice, Danielle,” he tells her with a failed attempt at disdain. “I’m going to be a Gryffindor like my dad, so you better not be one, too, if you’re going to be like that. “Parker!” three adults call all at once and the boy flushes deep red, still frowning at Danielle. “You’re not very nice,” he says more quietly, in hopes that the grownups won’t hear him.

As Eva instructs her children to go to the train, Danielle pulls her hand back and wraps her arms all the more tightly around her mother. “Is it time?” She asks softly, tears beginning to well up in her eyes as she grabs at her mother. The only instruction given to her in return is, “You don’t want to be late…” before she’s pulled aside from the group and what seems to be a lecture starts – quiet, so as not to unduly embarass her, but loud enough that someone nearby could certinly catch snippets – ‘no lying’, ‘best behaviour’, ‘pull you out by your braids if necessary’, punctuated by first tears, then sobs, then a messy hug between all three family members before the eleven year old pulls herself together, wipes her nose and eyes on the sleeve of her dress, then stumbles towards the train, sniffing and trying to stop her emotions showing TOO much.

“Oh my goodness gracious me!” Alastriona Pryor bounces away from her sister, and spins in wide circle towards her friend Flossie. “Can you believe it’s another year! Another summer come and gone and sooooo much news!” She presses her lips together and smoothes her static-y red hair. “Come dear Flossie! I will tell you all about it!! It’s extraordinary, really! I’m certain–” she glances around and then stops talking. “I’ll tell you on the train, these things need to remain secrets from wandering ears. . .” Mischieviously she smirks at her friend, and locks arms together.

“Okay, girls, come say goodbye!” the woman calls to her daughters, making her way toward her daughters who are just about to board the train. “I’ll see you at Christmas holiday,” she tells her daughters. “Come on, Charlotte, join your sisters!” Charlotte glances at Danielle with a shy smile before she joins her mother near the door to the train. Parker follows, also glancing at Danielle, but with far more suspicion in his face as he keeps up with his cousins. “Bye Mum! Bye Dad!” he calls to his parents, and in an energetic bound, he’s the first of his cousins to board the train. “Be good, study hard and write often. Send an owl tonight – I want to know what house Charlotte is sorted into.” Eva smiles somewhat wistfully as she steps back to where her husband, brother and sister-in-law are standing. She waves to the small Wexlers as they bound onto the train after Parker.

Parker was the first onto the train, and he’s the first into a compartment. He dashes first into compartment one, but finds a much older student already sitting inside, so he quickly exits it without a word, then dashes into the next compartment down the way – the one marked with a “3″. Finding it empty, the boy quickly plops into the seat nearest to the door, hanging his head out of the compartment as he watches for his cousins. When he spots them, he shouts. “Hey, down here!” he yells to them, waving enthusiastically and nearly hitting a few older students in the process.

A few moments afterwards, Danielle flounces into the carriage and scowls at Parker. Her eyes are red from crying, but she seems to have pushed back all her tears for now, and is more focused on the other people in the room. “You can’t just tell on me for sticking my tongue out, that’s not against the rules.” A pause and then, “I bet it doesn’t say it anywhere in the school rulebook. Be pretty funny if it did.” And then, a moment later, a small curtsey. “I’m Danielle.” She’s very careful to only pronounce it with two syllables.

Pulling Flossie to the third compartment, Alastriona giggles along with her friend at the latest bit of news she’s relayed. “I mean really who would believe that?! Just silly people, that’s who. Or those in institutions. . . or St. Mungos–” she glances around and lowers her voice (but probably not low enough that others in the compartment can’t hear, “–I once overheard some people Daddy was talking to say that some terrible things were done to those that find themselves there. . . at least most of the time. . . they probably still deal with the occasional small issue. . . like . . .” thinking of no other ailments, Alastriona finally scrunches her nose and thinks of the only ailment she can think of off the top of her head, “. . .lice.” Flossie shakes her head in disagreement. Deciding that this would be a wonderful debate for the train ride, Alastriona and her friend finally sit down, and she asks to no one in particular, “Do you think St. Mungo’s Healers could cure lice?”

Josie, Essie and Charlotte follow down the corridor and join Parker in the third compartment. “See, I told you the train was great!” Josie tells her cousins proudly as she sits down by the window. The four Wexlers take up one side of the compartment, and Josie smiles to Danielle. “Isn’t this great?” she asks the girl, not taking notice of the tears. Charlotte, however, is slightly more perceptive than her older sister and furrows her eyebrows. “Are you okay?” the Wexler girl asks before Parker interrupts her. “I told my parents, and you can’t even imagine what they would have done. It’s just that your mum was there and they didn’t want to hurt her feelings,” the boy argues.

“Who has lice?” Parker asks loudly, his eyes growing wide at the older girl opposite. “Who are you? My name’s Parker Wexler. My dad writes for the Daily Prophet!” he boasts proudly. “And my auntie Eva owns a candy shop? Isn’t that so great? Josie and Essie and Charlotte get to go there all the time because my auntie Eva is their mum. Great, right?” Parker beams at the older girls, paying no mind to the fact that he has actually interrupted their conversation.

“Oh no, no one has lice, just hypothetically if someone did, do you think St. Mungo’s healers could fix them up?” Alastriona corrects and then asks. She smoothes her hair again and then frowns a bit at the introduction, “I don’t believe in calling people with first names by names that sound like lastnames. So. . . this presents us with a problem.” She frowns slightly. “What’s your middle name? I can maybe call you that!” She offers a hopeful smile. “Oh! How rude of me! I’m Alastriona Pryor! And this is my friend Flossie. Her real name is Locke. True story.” Flossie nods a bit fleetingly, but before she can say anything, Alastriona continues to talk for both of them, “That must be amazing to have all of that access to the candy! Everyone likes candy . . . I don’t think I’ve met anyone who says ‘I don’t like candy.’ Those are the kinds of people I was talking about earlier, Flossie! The candy haters who go to Azkaban . . .” She nods decidedly, certain that Dark Wizards dislike candy.

Scowling all the more at Parker, Danielle seems not to notice Charlotte’s question for a moment. When she does acknowledge the other girl, it’s with a whiny, sullen, “I’ll be okay.” There’s a moment of silence from her before she sits down and adds, “It’s – all very new for me,” she tells Charlotte, her voice raised slightly so as to speak over Parker, shooting him another nasty look. “I mean…” she stumbles over her words for a moment, before she continues, “because I’m new… in England. Great Britain, actually. I haven’t been here very long.”

“I’ve seen you before,” Josie tells the older girl with a beaming smile. “I’m Josie Wexler. Parker’s my cousin. Don’t mind him, he doesn’t think before he talks.” She giggles a bit. “This is my sister Essie, and that’s Charlotte. She’s my sister, too.” Josie nods and giggles at Ona’s comments regarding candy. “That’s very true. Anyone who doesn’t like candy is not my friend,” The girl states emphatically and smiles broadly. “I’m a Ravenclaw. You must not be a Ravenclaw or I would have seen you in the commonroom.”

Climbing over his cousins to get to the window seat, Parker steps on toes and kicks people accidentally as he tries to get into the miniscule space left by the window. “Move over,” he whines at his cousins who comply without much complaint past the kicks and smashed toes. “Look at how fast we’re going…” the boy starts staring out the window, only looking back when something in the conversation going on around him catches his attention.

Charlotte nods and yelping only briefly as Parker steps full on her foot, she smiles to Danielle. “I’ve never been to Hogwarts yet, either. My sisters say it’s really fun but kind of hard work. I guess magic is harder than it looks. Mum makes it look so simple.” She pauses. “I have some sweets that mum gave me. Do you want to share?” She asks, pulling a purple and blue striped bag out of a deep pocket at her side. Glancing around the compartment, she breathes in quickly, then gets up and moves across the compartment to sit next to Danielle rather than next to Parker.

“Well, Flossie and I are Gryffindors,” Alastriona says with a twinkle in her eye. “We have lots of friends from other houses.” She offers a bright smile. “It’s great to meet you! What year are you in? Flossie and I are in our third year!” Flossie opens her mouth to introduce herself, but Alastriona once again spouts some random information, “Well anyone who doesn’t like candy probably has no friends. I was talking to Flossie about people in Azkaban. I’m convinced that lack of sugar put them there in the first place, so all people must have sugar and those that don’t are to be considered . . . ” she lowers her voice again. “. . . suspicious. . .” she glances left and then right. And then Parker kicks her accidently, and while it doesn’t hurt, being somewhat of a drama queen she says, with much emphasis, “OW.”

Although she seems unimpressed that Parker is still getting more overall attention than she is, Danielle does seem to latch onto Charlotte as she addresses her, though she wrinkles her nose and shakes her head slightly at the offer. “No, I was saying I’m only new to Great Britain… oh, I don’t suppose it matters.” There’s a hesitant pause and then, “I’m sure magic is quite easy really… but, uh, no magic candy for me, thank you.” She laughs, lightly, but it’s a little forced.

“I’m a second year now! Essie’s a Hufflepuff, though, not a Ravenclaw. The hat didn’t sort us together.” Sadness briefly crosses Josie‘s face as she remembers the fact, but she quickly rebounds. “They are kind of susp— OW, Parker, watch it!” the girl exclaims and shakes her head. “What classes are you taking this year? You get to pick new ones, right? I can’t wait to pick out new classes. I want to take music, but I don’t know what else I should take.” She pauses. “Oh, sweets! Mum gave us some for the trip. Do you want some? They’re from mummy’s shop in Diagon Alley.” Josie reaches into her own pocket to draw out the large bag of sweets, offering some of hers to the older girls across from her.

“Oh, where did you live before you came to Great Britain?” Charlotte asks Danielle cheerfully. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I was born in Hogsmeade when mum co-owned Honeydukes – that’s another candy shop, you know. We moved to London when I was very small, though. I like it there. There’s so much going on. Are you sure you won’t have any?” she asks politely, drawing out a peppermint toad and nibbling it slowly. Parker pays attention again as Josie exclaims in pain. “What?” he asks, cluelessly. “What’d I do? Oh, sweets!” he remembers, pulling his own bag of sweets out of his pocket and pops a fizzing whizzbee into his mouth, giggling loudly as the fireworks begin in his mouth, a few escaping into the air in front of him as he laughs, coming out in shining sparks.

Alastriona Pryor arches an eyebrow at Danielle’s refusal of candy, and of course, having little restraint, she narrows her eyes and questions, “Don’t you like candy? Or are you a candy hater? Do you never eat sugar? Or only when on a train with strangers, Dan-ee-elle?” Flossie finally manages to get a word in edgewise, “Ona, be nice. She’s just kid.” Flossie offers Danielle a weak smile. And then Alastriona continues her questioning, “I need to interrogate when necessary. And it seems necessary. Just you wait, watch for people who don’t eat sugar and you’ll see. . .” Her attention is diverted back to Josie, “Yeah, we get to choose. I’m taking Muggle Studies, Wizo-Music, Magical Art, and Divination. I wish I could take more, but honestly, courses like Arithmancy seem. . . icky. I want to take I would love some sweets! Thanks Josie! I seriously love sugar. Daddy doesn’t let me eat it often though.” She tilts her head, “What do you think you’ll take when you’re in third year?”

Danielle Baker flinches back from Parker in shock as he laughs and fireworks exit his mouth, almost automatically, though she tries to right herself quickly enough. She tugs down on her plaits, trying to arrange them a bit more neatly, and addressing Charlotte directly rather than looking again at Parker. “Oh… France, actually. We moved here maybe – perhaps,” she corrects herself, drawing herself up in a somewhat pompous way and affecting a slightly stronger French accent, reminiscent of her mother, “six months ago. That was before we got the letter,” she adds hurriedly. Her eyes turn to Alastriona, and she corrects quietly, “Dan-yell.” There’s a moment of silence, and she bites her lip before adding, “I’m… allergic to her mother’s candy. From the candy store.”

“Allergic?” Parker asks in horror. “How can you be allergic to sweets? Is it just her sweets? Have you even had them before? My cousin Maura makes them and she does very well!” His eyes grow wide as he considers this, but he pops another fizzing whizbee (his favorite – not that that’s any shock) into his mouth and is instantly distracted from the unpleasant girl in front of him. “Oh, alright,” Charlotte replies pleasantly to Danielle, clearly not phased by much that’s going on around her. She continues to nibble her toad. “So, what house do you think you’ll be in?” she asks the girl cordially.

“Muggle studies sounds really interesting, too. I’m not sure about Divination. It seems like it might just be a bunch of fluff and make-believe. I mean, Professor Kensington seems like she’s alright, but I don’t think she’s being totally honest with us that Divination is so hard.” Josie looks pensive as she considers the subject. “I want to take Ancient Runes,” Essie admits. “It looks like it would be really interesting, and I think it would be more challenging than some of the other subjects.” She pauses briefly. “I also want to take that animals class. It looks so interesting. What’s it called again?” She considers thoughtfully. “Care of Magical Creatures!” Josie breaks in again. “How do you think you’ll manage all of those classes? I’m sure that’s more than what I could handle!”

“Okay, if you’re allergic, I’ll let it slide,” Alastriona responds with a suspicious twinkle in her eye. “I suppose that’s possible . . but know that I’m watching you. . .” She redirects her attention to Josie and shuffles in her seat a bit. “Yeah, I think Divination will be an easy course. Well relatively, even if she says its hard. I mean it’s just looking at tea and stuff, right?” She nods at Essie. “Yeah, they all sound good–it’s hard to choose.”

“May – perhaps,” Danielle tells Parker a little defensively, folding her arms across her chest and scowling at him, before affecting a smile again as she turns back to Charlotte. “I… haven’t given it much thought,” she bites at her lip again. “I – you were saying you’d be in… that house, I remember.” She tugs at one of her plaits again, considering Charlotte. “I imagine I’ll be in… well, I suppose I’m particularly hard to place.” She clears her throat, though, and fumbles for her pockets, eventually pulling out what is plainly a small packet of entirely muggle sweets, one of which she pushes into her mouth rapidly, before slipping the package back into her pocket and chewing away at the one in her mouth. Her eyes fall on Alastriona as she chews, and she starts to scowl a little sullenly at the older girl

“Mum says all of the houses are good and that it won’t matter which house I’m in,” Charlotte says placidly. “Mum was a Ravneclaw and Dad was a Gryffindor. I don’t really know where I should go.” The girl looks down into her bag of sweets then shrugs vaguely. She finishes her peppermint toad and then tucks the bag into her deep pocket again and glances to Danielle, not commenting as she spots the bag of sweets. “So is it nice in France? I’d love to go visit there,” she asks, trying to diffuse Danielle’s hostility toward the older girl. Charlotte only glances briefly at the older girl as her attention is drawn to Parker, who has frozen with a bit of candy in his mouth. Apparently Parker has forgotten what ice mice do, and for the time being, the compartment is slightly more still as the effects of the candy keep hold on him.

“Professor Kensington keeps very close tabs on us Ravenclaws,” Josie comments. “She makes sure that our marks are at a certain level, and if they’re not, we have manditory homework time! On weekends too. Have you ever heard of such a thing?” The girl shakes her head in a semblance of shock. “Thankfully, I haven’t had to stay in for it yet, but I can’t believe that she would do that! I bet she can’t be that way with her class, though. Like you said, it’s just looking at tea and crystal balls and all of that.” Essie nods quickly, but says nothing to add to the comments. Josie pulls out a sugar quill and begins to suck on it slowly. “Anyway, I think I’ll take Care of Magical Creatures with Essie instead.”

Alastriona Pryor gives an approving nod to Danielle as she pops the Muggle candy in her mouth. At least it’s sugar! Alastriona either doesn’t notice or ignores the scowl she’s given because she merely smiles at Danielle. “Mandatory homework time?! You better work hard! Professor Fallon isn’t like that. She’s more. . . the mothering type. Honestly, if I didn’t know better I’d think that she had children at the school.” She contemplates a second and then adds, “Discipline isn’t unheard of with her, but it’s not scary punishment at all.” She shrugs.

Danielle Baker looks up at Josie and wrinkles her nose again, shaking her head. “No, I don’t think I want to be in Ravenclaw.” She falls quiet for a moment, before looking up at Charlotte again. “Oh, it’s wonderful in France. There’s all different kinds of people there, and the very tallest building is the tour eiffel, and you can see it from everywhere in France, it’s so big. I lived just near it and would go there all the time.” She smiles faintly at the other first year, and swallows her sweet, casting another significant look towards Alastriona.

“Well, you know she used to!” Josie exclaims, proud that she can provide information that the older girl didn’t appear to know. “My cousin Briony married her oldest kid. His name’s Gabe. He and Briony were Gryffindors. Gabe has two sisters, too, but I don’t know them very well.” Josie beams and glances out the window. “Wow, look how dark it is! We must be nearly there!” The girl hops up and smooths her robes out, rubbing her fingers over her Ravenclaw crest lovingly and grinning at the others. I’m going to go up toward the entrance! Come on, Essie! Let’s get a carriage together!”

“Well that’s interesting! You certainly have a lot of family!” Alastriona exlaims. She quickly stands to her feet, smoothes her robes, and then for good measure, smoothes her hair once more. “Come along, Flossie! We have things to do–carriages to catch, and things to discuss.” That said, the pair begin shuffling to the front of the train.

Parker Wexler unfreezes just in time to hear Josie exclaim about nearly reaching Hogwarts. “Hogwarts! Hogwarts! Hogwarts! We’re almost there, Lottie!” he calls to her and bounces a bit on the seat, shoving his own bag of sweets haphazardly into his pocket and jumping up. This time, he manages not to trip over anyone or kick anyone, but he’s not exactly moving slowly, and he nearly falls over as he runs out of the compartment. “Wait for me!” he calls to his cousins. “No?” Charlotte replies to Danielle, giving only a brief glance out the window and frowning slightly as she sees that the trip is nearly over. “Want to go to the front?” Charlotte asks the other girls left in the compartment as she stands up and smooths her robes, folding up the top of her bag and tucking it into her pocket.

As the view outside the window starts getting less and less clear due to the cover of darkness – or, at least, as she realises that this is rapidly happening – Danielle becomes quieter and even starts biting on her nails. Eventually, she leans in a little closer to Charlotte, and whispers, “I don’t want to be given weekend homework, I got plenty of that from my last teacher. In France!” She adds, almost as an afterthought. “But… don’t you ever worry that you might pop on the hat and it’ll tell you to go away?” A pause. “Not that I ever do!” She adds, almost hurriedly. “I was just… wondering if other people did. It seems scary. Like other people would find it scary.”

Standing alone at the end of the train platform, Avery Fallon has one arm lifted above her head, waving to capture students’ attention. “First years! First years gather here! Sorted students should take the carriages, but first years please gather here!” The astronomy professor appears to be in fairly good spirits and is smiling welcomingly, vaguely scanning the faces for Charlotte and Parker Wexler.

Bounding off of the train and dodging some of the bigger students, Parker makes his way to the platform, his too-long robes streaming behind him. “Come on,” he calls to Charlotte and Danielle, pausing briefly as he hears a voice calling for first years. “This way!” he shouts and runs down the platform, not even giving the girls a chance to figure out where he’s headed. “Hi, Aunt Avery!” he greets the teacher and bounds into her with an exuberant hug.

Danielle Baker falls silent as she steps off the train and really seems to take in the sheer size of the crowds. She bites at her lower lip, glancing back and forth and reaching out to grab at Charlotte’s arm as she moves over towards the Professor calling out for them. “Is this where we get Sorted?” She hisses at Charlotte. “I don’t think anyone said!”

“Parker!” Avery exclaims, leaning down to hug the boy back and stepping back to ruffle his hair and smile to Charlotte, giving her a little wave. Once a sizeable group of first years has congregated around her, and it appears that all others are on their way towards carriages, Avery looks to her mass of eleven-year-olds and smiles. “Welcome to the Hogwarts grounds! I’m Professor Fallon, and you’ll be seeing me some evenings for Astronomy. No doubt you’re all excited to get to the castle for the sorting, so let us depart. Follow me, please,” she says, turning around and heading for the shore path.

Josie and Essie make their way off of the train, pausing and waving to Avery in hopes that she’ll see them before the two girls bounce into a carriage, greeting some other second years as they do so. In a moment, the carriage has disembarked toward the castle. Charlotte remains with Danielle as the crowd slowly thins and the girls are left with the other first years on the platform. “Oh, no. We have to go to the castle where the rest of the students are going. I think we take boats instead of carriages,” she tells Danielle quietly, glancing at Parker quickly before she waves shyly to Avery, coming to stop in front of her aunt.

“I’ll talk to you soon,” Josie tells her sister as the two oldest Wexlers make their way into the Great Hall. Josie skips down the way to a spot near the front of the table and she plops down quickly. “Hullo, Otto!” She greets the boy, recognizing him from the shop over the summer. “Wasn’t the train ride terrific?”

Sauntering in slowly, Sera separates from her friend as she enters the Great Hall. The girl seems to be more relaxed and slightly more confident than she has been in previous years. The young woman is calmer as she takes a seat down toward the end of the Great Hall, giving a vague smile to the people nearby, but not saying anything to them.

(Ravenclaw) Tapping his finger idly against the table, Otto looks positively bored now that the train ride is over. As Josie says hello, he turns his head and blinks. It isn’t often that people outside of his very small clique actually acknowledge him and it still surprised him, even if it shouldn’t, when it does happen. “Hello Josie.” Smiling easily, he glances over to the Slytherin table and his gaze shifts quickly back upon the younger Ravenclaw. “It was fun, but I’m glad to be here. Now I don’t have to fret over the kid sister or Yamini thinking I’m trying to make my sweet Don Juan moves on Seraphina.” Mocking his social awkwardness, he’s learning to take it in stride rather than be angry or embarrassed by the fact that he is far from being socially astute and lacks the golden charm that some are lucky enough to own.

Gawking as he enters the Great Hall for the first time, Parker, who has been at the head of the group nearly the whole way, is falling behind and a few of the first years run into him, though he takes no notice of this. “Wow…” he whispers as the first years make their way to the front of the hall. Charlotte, too, is impressed with the grandeur of the hall, and then somewhat intimidated as she spots all of the people sitting at the tables. She sees both of her sisters sitting at different tables, but her demeanor does not seem to change as she continues on to the front of the hall.

Still so shocked and amazed at the sight of Hogwarts that she can’t even bring herself to fake propriety and her worldly manner, Danielle‘s mouth hangs open slightly and her eyes consider the ceiling, then the crowds of people at the tables, and so on. Eventually, she manages a soft, “Ohhh, it’s even better than I could have imagined.”

“Let’s begin,” Bonnie states loudly, her voice sounding through the Great Hall as she pulls open a scroll which holds a list of names. “Abbott, Ida” goes first, sorted to Hufflepuff, then “Atwell, Mabel” is sorted to Gryffindor. This takes only a few minutes, then the woman calls out “Baker, Danielle.”

Shocked that she’s so close to the front of the queue, Danielle‘s mouth drops open again and she seems barely able to put one foot in front of the other. Eventually, the person behind her has to prompt her to step forward and she stumbles a few steps, before affecting a rather more dainty and careful step to the stool, placing the Sorting Hat upon her head as primly as she can manage.

Glancing to Danielle, Charlotte squeezes the girl’s hand and watches with a somewhat stressed look on her face. She glances to the tables and sees her own sisters watching with interest as the sorting gets into full swing.

(Ravenclaw) Gasping a bit, Josie leans over. “Really, her? Why would they think you’re making romance to her?” the girl whispers this quietly once the hat is finished singing. She tsks and shakes her head. “My sister is up there, do you see?” she whispers a bit loudly, looking proudly up at the front of the room. “Parker is up there, too. He’s my cousin.” She applauds quietly as another student is sorted.

Although now her shock and confusion mingles with irritation, it’s clear that of all things, Danielle wasn’t expecting that. As it shouts out her house, she removes the hat suddenly and stumbles to the Hufflepuff table as carefully as she can manage, though she’s still having trouble putting one foot in front of the other.

Two more B-names are sorted, one to Slytherin and one to Ravenclaw, then it’s “Chaffee, Viviane,” who goes to Ravenclaw. Three girls are next, two of whom are sorted to Ravenclaw and one to Hufflepuff. Then a boy is sorted to Slytherin, another boy to Gryffindor, and a girl to Gryffindor. Next up is “Mycroft, Alistair”, who is sorted to Slytherin. Five or six more students are sorted, and then “Wexler, Charlotte” is called. After a brief moment, she is sorted to Slytherin, and then “Wexler, Parker” is called forward.

Parker Wexler gasps as Charlotte gets sorted to Slytherin, gawking a bit, but before he has much time to react, it’s his own turn. The boy bounds up to the hat and pulls it down hard over his head. His ears bow out and the hat comes down to his ears as he crosses his fingers, waiting to see what the hat would do and thinking very hard that he hoped the hat wouldn’t chew on his head.

Why wouldn’t Slytherin be kind? I mean, Dad was a Gryffindor and so was Uncle Tom and Aunt Avery so that would be okay, but I mean, Slytherin would, too!

Parker Wexler gasps gleefully and runs down to the Gryffindor table, finding an open spot and bouncing into it. He beams at his housemates as he settles in at the table, pleased to know that the hat did not, in fact, chew on him, even though his parents would not tell him one way or the other.

One final student is sorted, headed Hufflepuff way, and then Bonnie nods again. “The sorting is completed,” she tells the room, rolls up the scroll deliberately, then sits down at the faculty table, breathing deeply as if in relief.

As the Sorting itself concludes, Astra rises from her seat at the faculty table and stands to face the vast hall and its many occupants. There’s a beat between her standing up and her actual address of the students, but when she does speak it is clear and calm, using the natural acoustics of the room to make herself heard rather than magical spells. Turning to nod at Avery, she smiles tightly to the woman before shooting a small smile to Bonnie. “Thank you Professor Kensington for your help with the Sorting and my gratitude to Professor Fallon for your assistance with bringing the first years safely to the school, it’s always an exciting task.” Addressing the school again, the headmistress draws herself up and continues. “I’m very glad to see you all back and hope that you’ve had a wonderful summer. For our new students, welcome to your new home. I’m sure that your fellow Housemates will help you get settled in quickly and comfortably.” Pausing to look at the many faces, some new and many familiar, she grins sharply and gives a moment before she launches on.

The mood of her tone sobers but she continues the speech with the same efficient crisp pace. After a short span, she retrieves a piece of paper. Reading off the paper, she then continues. “Prefect picks for the fifth year students are as follows.” “Congratulations to Gryffindor: Arthur Towner and Rachel Stewart. Congratulations to Ravenclaw: Tobias Garner and Geraldine Parr. Congratulations to Slytherin: Francine Rees and George Whittle.” “And congratulations to Hufflepuff: William Sanderson and Bridget Madigan.” Coughing a little, she sets down the paper and takes another drink from her goblet. “I’m sure the seventh years are excited to know who will become the Head Boy and Head Girl for this year.” Taking delight in this news, Astra purposely pauses to retrieve and sip from the goblet in her hand. Glancing over the various tables, she finishes this part of the speech with, “Congratulations are especially in order to Slytherin Prefect, Luther Anderson who is Head Boy this year and no less congratulations are in order to Gryffindor Prefect Vesta Newton who will be serving as Head Girl.” Only now does the woman allow herself a brief respite to grin widely and watch any reactions that might take place.

Once things have settled back down, Astra clears her throat. “Of course, school wouldn’t be school without a list of rules and regulations now would it? Your parents have charged us with the task of taking care of you and so we do our best to imitate them most times.” “I know you’re all thrilled over that!” The dry humor comes slowly to her, but she finally seems to be getting into the good spirits of the Sorting feast. “With that said I’m charged with telling you all that a list of banned items is posted on the Caretaker’s office door and you’d do well to familiarize yourself with it. In addition, there is to be no running in the hallways.” “Use of magic in the hallways or on the outside grounds without supervision or explicit permission by a teacher is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with accordingly.” “As usual, the Forbidden Forest is exactly that – Forbidden and trespassers will be dealt with harshly.” “Third year students and above are reminded to have their permission slips to Hogsmeade signed and ready for the first weekend. Anyone who doesn’t have this will not be allowed off school grounds.” Clearing her throat, she looks around the hall. “Returning students know how I deal with rule breakers, I trust none of you will want to come to my office?” “Don’t worry, you’ll get to eat soon, but I have a few more announcements to make.”

Waiting for about a minute to let students discuss among themselves, Astra finally holds up her hand for attention. “I have just a few more notices and reminders before we get to the pleasant task of eating.” “I am also to inform you that all greenhouses are off limits to students unless you have express permission to be there outside of class.” “Finally, there is to be absolutely no magical toys, candy, trinkets, or anything else of magical nature brought into Muggle Studies. If any of these items are found upon your person, Professor Helit will confiscate and dispose of them.” Then taking one more very brief pause she then ends, “It looks to be an exciting and vibrant new term. I sincerely hope each of you finds as much fun as you do challenges.” “Now let’s eat.”

The sorting extends for quite a while, and Parker interacts enthusiastically with his new housemates while he stuffs himself as full as possible. Eventually, the chatter dies down and the food slowly vanishes. When the prefects get up and direct the first years to follow them, Parker does so dutifully. Sleepiness begins to overpower the boy who has had what could only be called an exciting day. He follows the Gryffindor prefects out of the Great Hall and disappears on his way to his new home for seven years.

Seraphina Pryor has filled herself with scrumptious Hogwarts food as the sorting day feast draws to a close. The prefects begin to move toward the common room with their first year charges, and Seraphina trails behind them slowly, not in any rush to get settled into the dungeon for another year. She savors the feel of the castle as she makes her way to the common room to settle in for the night.

The sorting day has exhausted Josie quite as much as if she had been sorted today herself. The girl stands up from the table ahead of many of the other students at her table and she wanders away, waving to her sister as she makes her way out of the great hall and toward her common room.

It’s a beautiful end-of-summer afternoon. The sun shines beautifully and thus Kalika Fallon-Wexler has opted to go for a walk with her two youngest children, Ranger and Wren, leaving her eldest at home with the nanny. Wren clings comfortably onto her mother’s arm, but Ranger consantly manages to drop his mum’s hand, anxiously looking in the store windows. “Ranger. Ran-ger. . .” Kalika almost sings as she continually redirects his attention. “Come along dear! Mummy doesn’t want to leave her little puddin’ behind!”

Protesting greatly, Eva Fallon is dragged out of her shop by her oldest children. Josie and Essie Wexler pull their mother out of the shop, followed by their cousin Parker. “Mum, mum, mum, you said you’d take us to the book shop today!” Sighing dramatically, Eva wrenches her arms free from the grips of her children. “Okay, but only for a little while.” She pauses and puts her skirt to rights, then looks up. “Kalika! And little Wren and Rangerrrr!” She smiles. “How are you, Kalika?”

A smile is given to Eva, “Hi Eva!” And then Ranger manages to escape again. “Ranger Marley Wexler!” Kalika pulls out her mom voice. “Mum I’m just lookin’ at stuff.” And then Ranger realizes his cousins are present. He rolls his eyes at the girls and then glances at his mom as if to ask whether he needs to be sociable to which Kalika narrows her eyes. Finally the seven year old clears his throat, “Hi Awnt Eva. Hi Joe, Sissie, and Peaker.” Kalika rolls her eyes again, “Ranger you try mummy’s patience–” Wren just nods her head in greeting at her aunt and cousins, and then shyly shuffles behind her mum while still holding her mother’s hand.

Shuffling down the street and away from some of the smaller and less busy shops, Otto is enjoying the afternoon now that his duties for the morning are over. Usually he’s seen hanging about idly with Tommy Darian, but this summer seems to be slightly different. Stopping in front of a window, he stops to look into one of the more interesting displays. The teen’s attention isn’t held long by the shop and he turns to people watch as hears the Wexler name shouted out to a particular child. Turning, he looks around and spots out a couple of familiar faces. Waving to Josie, she may be younger but they share the same House, he limps over to where the women are speaking. “Hello Mrs. Fallon,” directing his greeting to first Eva and then turning to the twins “Josie,” he pauses as he tries to find the name of the other twin and actually manages to succeed. “Estelle. Summer treating you well or you slaving away in the candy shop.” He knows better, but it is his attempt at a playful teasing at the younger girls.

“HI RANGER!” Parker shouts with unnecessary energy as he bolts around his aunt and squats down in front of the boy. “What’s happening, guy?” he asks jovially and grins up at his other aunt. “I’m starting Hogwarts soon, Aunt Kalika,” he tells the woman, as if this were news to anyone at this point.

Parker says, “Maybe I’ll be a Gryffindor just like my dad!” Parker bounces back up and gives his aunt Eva an exuberant hug. “That’s enough, Parker. You’re frightening your cousins,” the woman tells him, placing her hand gently over his mouth. “Honestly, I’m not sure what I was thinking by telling Henrietta he could stay at the shop today. The boy’s energy never stops.” She shakes her head. “Oh, hello,” she greets the boy. “How has your holiday been?”"

Ranger’s eyes widen at Parker’s greeting, and then he just blinks at Parker’s energy, “You. Are. Crazy.” Ranger then peers at his female cousins, “How is that hog’s wart that you live on the rest of the year?” “Ranger, you know better. Apologize, now” Kalika warns. “Fine, I’m sorry,” he mutters insincerely. Kalika then she turns to Eva, “So nice to run into you–and so kind of you to watch Parker for Henrietta–I’m sure she really appreciates it–I think I would be eternally exhausted if I had the number of children they have–I’m tired enough with four although Wren really is no work–none at all–and Parker can’t be that much trouble–I always liked something about that boy,” finally Kalika pauses and gasps for breath. Slightly out of breath she offers Otto a polite smile.

Remembering the real adults present, the youth looks over to Eva and grins widely. “You’ve got your hands full. I thought Tommy was wild but he’s going to be outclassed if that fellow joins Slytherin.” Laughing, Otto eyes Parker in a friendly fashion but doesn’t introduce himself or get closer to the younger boy. “Oh holiday has been grand. I’ve been working over at Talari’s shop for a few hours a week. It gets me away from Tommy and gives me my own money.” And as is true to the boy he speaks without thinking, eyes kind of wide, “I never realized that having a girlfriend meant spending so much money.” “Girls are expensive.” “Well, I mean, I guess, that is, she likes to go out a lot and stuff like that.” Realizing at the very last minute that he’s surrounded by those of the female persuasion he tries to take his foot out of his mouth, but shrugs as he grins easily. “Guess I’ll never be a public speaker.” “She’s worth it though.” Returning Kalika’s smile with one of his own, he shifts slightly awkwardly and then finally says, “I’m Otto. I know Mrs. Fallon because my friend’s father buys loads of candy from her. I think he’d marry her shop if he could.”

Smiling at Otto, Eva chuckles gently. “As long as she’s worth it, then it shouldn’t be much of a hardship, right? I liked to go out a bit myself before all of the kids were born,” the woman states sentimentally, grinning to Kalika. “I don’t mind doing it now and again, and her younger ones aren’t a problem at all, but Parker is more energetic than any of mine have been.” She shakes her head while Josie waves shyly to Otto and Essie practically hides behind her sister from the crowd that seems to have suddenly formed. “Yes, Daniel is one of my best patrons,” Eva finally mentions, replying to Otto. “I’d prefer if he kept paying me for my wares, though, rather than marrying the shop.” She winks playfully.

Kalika Fallon-Wexler smiles at Otto, “Sounds like your friend’s father has quite the sweet tooth.” She chuckles lightly, “I’m Kalika Fallon-Wexler, but I suppose you’d better call me Mrs. Wexler–much shorter and easier to say. Eva married my brother and in return I married hers.” She shrugs. “Ranger is rambunctious,” she presses her lips together and then adds, “And Slytherin is a fine house. I had a brother in Slytherin once upon a time. . .” She frowns slightly and then forces up another smile, “Parker does seem to have a lot of energy. I was like that as a child and see how much I’ve grown out of it. I’m sure he just needs some maturity.”

“I want to know how he eats all that candy and doesn’t gain any weight. It’s kind of sick because he eats more sweets than anyone I know. Tommy doesn’t even eat that much.” Otto prattles a bit before he stops himself and then actually manages some degree of social politeness. “It’s very nice to meet you Mrs. Wexler.” Pondering the marriage between the families he shakes his head he finally lets it go without a word. “I don’t have that kind of energy, but Tommy does.” “Hm, we could use another member of our band. Corrupt a younger student and show him around.” “I think Tommy would find a good match with Parker as far as energy goes. We could show him the ropes and uh, stuff.” Stuff, such a descriptive word but it’s a way of not really letting the adults know what kind of things they get up into.

“Hi, Otto,” Josie says quietly. “You work at the tailor shop? That’s so cool? Do you think you could make new robes for me? I love new clothes!” The girl beams brightly at the older boy and grins to Essie, who is still trying to hide behind her slightly shorter sister. Parker takes this moment to interrupt. “You have a band? What kind of band? Do you play music? I like music! What house are you in? Are you in Gryffindor? My dad was a Gryffindor. Mum tells me that I might be in there, too if I calm down enough for the hat to sort me. I don’t know what she means. Mummy was in Hufflepuff, and I suppose that would be fine, too.” Parker finally stops talking but he hardly stops moving as he shifts from foot to foot. Josie rolls her eyes. “Shut up, Parker,” she sighs, which earns her a stern look from her mother. “Josie, we don’t talk to our cousins that way,” Eva reprimands. “I think it was a fair trade. What do you think, Kalika?” She winks.

“And it’s lovely to meet you, Otto,” Kalika smiles warmly. She smirks at Eva as Otto discusses the fun he has with Tommy. And then chuckles at the Parker’s excitement, “Parker, try not to talk everyone’s ears off. I have a feeling you’re destined for Gryffindor though.” “Yeah, you should listen to mum and Joe and shut up,” Ranger agrees. “Ranger! You just heard Aunt Eva tell Josie that’s not an appropriate thing to say,” she tucks one of her curly brown locks behind her ears and shifts her weight slightly. “Yes, definitely a fair trade, Eva.” She chuckles lightly. Having been silently hiding behind her mum up to this point, six-year-old Wren peers at her cousins.

“Band?” Confused, Otto shakes his head and is left perplexed over the conclusion for longer than most people would, “Oh! No, not like a musical group. Tommy and I are just close friends. Tommy’s in Slytherin and I’m,” he almost seems embarrassed to admit this for whatever reason, “I’m in Ravenclaw. All the houses are good though.” Laughing a bit stilted at Josie’s question, he looks sidelong away as if expecting Tommy to come rushing up the street. “I could try, but I don’t have a lot of time to make a whole new set of robes. Maybe one this summer? I’d need your measurements though. It’d be a good exercise anyway and it’ll give me a break from my other projects. Did you want a school robe or something dressier?” Trying very hard not to smile at the antics of the younger kids, he doesn’t really do a very good job.

“Oh, I guess that sounds pretty swell, too,” Parker says, not looking noticeably crestfallen. “Sorry, Aunt Eva.” Parker blushes a little bit and drags his toe around on the ground in front of him, subsequently “shutting up.” “Kids, we need to get along to the bookstore. You don’t trust cousin Joseph to watch the shop this whole time, do you?” Suddenly, Josie’s eyes seem to bug out and she gasps. “Oh, mum, I forgot! Can we still go to the shop, though? I want to look at the exciting storybooks!” Eva shakes her head and takes Josie’s hand. “It was wonderful to see you, Kalika. You should bring the kids over and have dinner with Tommy and me very soon. I’m sure all the little ones would love it. Otto, come and see us in the shop very soon. Parker‘s staying until you all leave for Hogwarts so perhaps he can meet you and Tommy.” With that, Eva herds the four kids – Josie, Eva, Parker and Charlotte – toward Flourish and Blotts, shaking her head silently as they begin to bicker.

As the train begins filling up with students Remi Amsel peers into compartment three having had his luggage loaded aboard. The boy decides the car is up to his standards and he sidles in stowing his things before sitting down. Peculiarly Remi is clutching a small stuffed bear to his chest as he stares out of the window watching his mother’s look of horror as witches and wizards walk by in their strange clothes acting strange, to a muggle like her anyway. The boy waves reluctantly to her though she doesn’t seem to see him and so Remi turns away and shrugs.

“Is it this way? Oh, it’s this way!” Josie Wexler calls loudly to her sister – more loudly than is strictly necessary, as she ducks into the second compartment on the train. “Only one person in here, Essie, we’re lucky!” The young girl holds a young cat hostage in her arm as she drags her trunk behind her. “Here, Merpurr, you sit here,” she tells the cat, plunking him down onto the seat to her right before she begins stowing her trunk. Her twin sister – in birth but not in appearance – comes in just behind her, the cage of an owl perched on her own trunk as she follows Josie‘s movements much more quietly. It is only after their trunks are sufficiently stowed that Josie turns to Remi. “Hi. Are you going to be a first year? My sister and I are, too. My name is Josie. Well, it’s Josephine Elizabeth Wexler, and this is my sister Estelle Bidelia Wexler. You can call her Essie, though. I go by Josie. What’s your name?”

Turning when he hears the two girl enter Remi straightens a little in his seat. He watches Josie, the one who seems to be doing all the talking of the two for a moment and then to her cat and then of course to her twin. He sits rather quietly while the two of them stow and it seems as though he is content not to greet them for as long as they wish to ignore him. But of course Josie then begins to speak to him and the plan is monkey wrenched, so to speak. “Yeah. It’s my first time.” He says clutching the bear a little tighter. He nods to Josie and then to Estelle. “My name is Remi Amsel.”

“We’re all going to be in Hogwarts together! Isn’t that grand?” Josie beams as she plops down onto the seat next to her cat and starts to cuddle him. The cat appears to be used to this already and settles himself down in her lap, purring happily as he begins to nap. Estelle sits down as well, setting her owl’s cage down next to her. “What house do you think you’ll be in?” Essie’s much quieter voice comes as she studie’s Remi’s face.

“Yeah …. grand.” Comes Remi‘s much less enthusiastic response to more talkative sister. He doesn’t exactly seem annoyed, but more overwhelmed by suddenly being thrust into a social situation like this. He looks to Estelle. “House? I thought we were going to a school?” And in one question Remi reveals that not only is he a muggle born but he also has not bothered to read Hogwarts A History. “I thought we were on our way to learn how to do magic?” Remi looks at Estelle and then Josie, a puzzled expression on his face.

“We are going to school…” Josie states, her face blank, as if she doesn’t quite understand what Remi is getting at. There’s a moment of silence before Essie realizes that he doesn’t know what the houses are. “Oh, we’re sorted into houses when we get there today. Mum was in Ravenclaw and dad was in Gryffindor. I’m not sure what house I want to be in. They all seem like they have their merits.” At this, Josie leans forward and whispers in a conspiratory tone, “I’m going to be in Ravenclaw, I just know it. Mum says I’m a shoe-in for it. That’s where all the smartest kids go.” She nods sagely at Remi.

“Oh!” Comprihension dawns over Remi‘s face when Estelle is kind enough to explain.”How many houses are there?” He immediatly asks this out of curiosity more than anything. He looks at Josie and tilts his head at her comment about Ravenclaw. “Well if all the smart kids go into Ravenclaw they must get the most homework.” He smiles only a little at his remark and pulls th bear up a little closer to his face. “So I think I’ll go to one of the dumb houses. If it means less homework I mean.”

Josie seems dumbfounded by Remi’s remark regarding homework and is temporarily stunned silent. It is a moment for the history books. Essie takes up her slack, though, as she starts to ramble about the houses. “Well, there are four. There’s Gryffindor, that’s where my dad went, and my uncle, and some of my cousins. Daddy says that’s where all the bravest kids go. He says it’s the best house. Mummy was in Ravenclaw, and so was cousin Joseph. There’s Hufflepuff – cousin Alice and cousin Alden were in Hufflepuff but they graduated now so we won’t see them. Someone told me that’s where they put the people who they don’t know what other house they should go in. I think it was cousin Joseph.” Josie interrupts at this, “No, it’s where the hard working people go,” she corrects. “She hasn’t read about the houses like I have, don’t mind her,” she tells Remi with a shake of her head. At this, Essie continues. “And then there’s Slytherin. They’re the ones who get what they want, like prizes and things. I’ve heard that they’re all evil, though, so I don’t want to be in Slytherin.” Josie has nothing to add to this remark about Slytherin except a roll of her eyes.

“A house of evil kids?” Remi seems a little impressed by this. “If they are evil shouldn’t they not be allowed to learn any magic?” A logical question from one who doesn’t have any preconceived notions about the houses. Remi looks between the two girls for a moment. “Well I guess it doesn’t matter so much. If I end up in Slytherin I certainly wont ask them to send me home. But what a shock to suddenly find out you’ve been evil your whole life and may not have even known it!” He smirks watching Josie roll her eyes. “What house are you hoping to get into Estelle? I think I’ll avoid Hufflepuff if they have to work hard.” “Isn’t there a house for us who just want to learn without having to do anything?”

“I… never thought of it that way,” Essie admits, frowning a bit. “Well, I guess they can’t really send them away. There’s really not test for getting in or anything. Like an evil test, or something like that…” She shrugs and Josie squirms a bit in her seat. “There’s no house where you don’t have to do work. Everyone has to do homework, or you won’t be able to pass your classes! That’s why I want to be in Ravenclaw. If I’ve got to do homework, I at least want to do it with other smart people there to help me. We can all help each other! That’s what smart people do.” One might get the feeling that Josie is a bit of a show-off. Essie seems to be pondering as she considers Remi’s question. “I think I’d like to be in Gryffindor like daddy, but Hufflepuff wouldn’t be so bad.” At this, Josie interrupts. “She’s just kidding, Remi. We’re going to be in the same house. Twins always go together! Don’t be so silly, Essie.”

“So do we just get to choose what house we want to go into? Remi asks, obviously still a little confused by the concept having never gone to quite so large a school before. “At the school I went to there weren’t any houses. And you didn’t go live at the school. You went in every day and the students didn’t like to be there and neither did the teachers.” “And I certainly hated going.” He admits. The boy looks down at the stuffed bear while Josie speaks for her sister. “Are you sure? I guess it would make sense to put twins together.” “Unless they hate each other.” The boy smirks once again and looks at Estelle. “You don’t hate your sister do you? If I had a sister I’d probably hate her. But it’s probably not the same huh?”

“Of course we don’t hate each other!” Josie exclaims. “We don’t hate any of our siblings, right, Essie?” At this, her sister nods quickly. “There are nine of us. If we hated someone, it would make things very difficult for mummy and daddy, I think,” Essie states evenly. “I’m not sure if we get to pick which house we get to be in,” Josie admits, blushing ever so slightly at this admission. “I think there’s some kind of thing that chooses for you.” She gasps. “Maybe we DO have to take a test after all, and the people who go to Slytherin get evicted for being evil!” Josie‘s eyes get wide at this dramatic thought.

“Giggling now at the reaction from the two sisters Remi shakes his head. “Oh come one. That’s what families do. They hate each other.” He looks between the two of them with an expression that says that this is not only a fact but common knowledge. He looks back to Josie and cringes. “They would give us a test on the first day? Isn’t that a little unfair if your family aren’t wizards?” Suddenly very upset by this idea Remi hugs the small stuffed bear very tightly to his chest without thinking. “Everyone in my family is just plain and ordinary without any magic at all.”

“Not magic at all?” Josie asks vaguely, looking at him very closely. “I think it must be some kind of brain test, instead of testing what you know.” She pauses. “But I’m not totally sure.” Essie interrupts her vocal pondering. “Of course we get along. It’s not normal to hate your own family. I have five sisters and three brothers and ever so many cousins and I don’t hate any of them. Right, Josie?” Josie nods enthusiastically. “We have a huge family, and we all get along! Well, except Mummy and cousin Joseph. But he just makes her mad on purpose.”

“It’ll be fine, eh?” spoke the woman who directed the Hogwarts’ Express candy and snack trolly to the small, rather delicate-seeming young child she shepherded down the aisle. “One night at ol’ Hogwarts an’ ye’ll never wan’ ter leave, I’ll be’cha!” The child, a small girl even for her age, with face and eyes stung crimson from tears that still clung to her face, look unconvinced. Or more to say, on the edge of outright panic. Her tiny shoulders shook, and her eyes darted with almost heart-stopping fear in to each compartment that the trolly-woman openned, as if she expected some horrible beast to leap out the door and immediately devour her. For her part, the trolly-woman seemed to be ignorant of the child’s state, perhaps writing it all off to post-parental jitters. “Ah ha!” The middle-age woman said loudly, in a tone not unlike she had made some great scientific discovery. “A bucket o’ firsties — good, good.. room for one more, then?” She says, without really asking, before gently-but-insistantly pushing Joscelyn Duval in to the compartment. The older woman sizes up the compartment quickly, before turning her gaze to the two, similar-looking girls, deciding them to be the better of the three to entrust an injured gosling to. “Treat this one kind, eh? Found her sobbin’ in the lue. Bit timid.” Turning then to Joscelyn, she adds, “Try an’ enjoy yerself then — I’ll check back up on yah when I’m a bit closer tah this section, yeah?” And without truly waiting for a response, the door closes with an noise that perhaps only sounds loud and echoing to Joscelyn. Having flinched a bit at the strange-woman’s touch when she had pushed her in to the room, there was a part of her that craved the woman’s return and the relative safety her adult form provided. Finally, turning blurry, tear-speckled eyes to the compartment, she takes stock of her fate.

“No. I’m the only one who has any magic I guess.” Answers Remi. Just as he is about to argue his point about how families hate each other the compartment door slides open and the trolly woman is escorting another first year inside. Remi turns and listens to the adult and eyes the girl his face twitching ever so slightly hearing the woman’s accent. Apparently something about it is a little irritating to him. When the woman finally leaves the boy sighs a breath of relief and then looks to Joscelyn. “So what were you crying about? Are you afraid you’ll end up in that evil Slyther-thing house and they will send you home?” Remi‘s face stretches into a smirking grin. “I think that house must be a decoy.” He says looking over to the sisters. “If they send me home I think I’ll tell my parents that the school said I was evil. Then my papa will take them to court.” “He’s a lawyer you know.”

“Muggle lawyers won’t be able to do anything against wizards,” Josie states plainly with a little giggle. “They think we don’t exist!” Josie turns to see the newcomer and then beams. “Hi, Joscelyn!” she calls cheerily. “I was hoping I would see you today. Remi, this is Joscelyn. She’s my friend. She bought sweets from my mummy’s shop, and then we became best friends.” The girl nods sagely. “Here, come sit here. You can hold Merpurr if you want.” She brandishes the once-sleeping cat toward Joscelyn as Essie waves and smiles at the familiar girl.

Oh, sweet Mother of Mercy! A familiar face! Fresh tears begin to work themselves down Joscelyn‘s face almost immediate as she double-steps herself to the bench supporting Josie, Essie, and the familiar cat. Tears of relief so profound that it almost causes her to collapse. Accepting the offered feline, the small, wavy-haired blond seats herself next to Josie, opposite Essie, offering both the sisters what she can muster of a small smile, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve as she uses her other hand to tenderly smooth the feline’s fur as it gets settled in her lap. She appears to ignore Remi’s barb about her state. Indeed, she seems to be ignoring Remi altogether, focusing her attention either on the sisters, or the feline.

“Well I certainly didn’t know wizards existed.” Admits Remi. He looks to Joscelyn curiously when she uses the term “Sweet Mother of Mercy.” He stops talking for a moment to watch the girl who seems even more overwhelmed by all of this than himself. “Hello Joscelyn?” He mutters under his breath when it’s clear he’s being ignored. He holds his ever present stuffed bear tightly for a moment and set it in his lap before staring out the window at the scenery of villages and farm land.

“I hope we’re going to get there soon. I’m starving and I’ve already eaten the snacks that mummy sent with me. I didn’t even bring any sweets! Can you believe it?” Josie tsks and shakes her head, as if she is disappointed in herself. “Are you excited, Joscelyn? I’m sure we’ll be in the same house. It’ll be you, and me, and Essie, and we’ll have the best time. It would be Remi, too, but he doesn’t want to be in Ravenclaw. That’s okay, though, you can still be our friend,” she tells the boy with a quick nod.

Excited? Joscelyn wasn’t sure she would catagorize what she was feeling so much as ‘excitement’ so much as ‘blind terror’ — but in the end, that might turn out to be an issue of semantics. She summons a rather meek kind of smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes and a small, vague nod. “I d-d-don-n’t k-know if-f I’ll m-m-make it in t-t-to R-rav-venc-c-claw,” Joscelyn whispers, quietly, her fingers brushing tenderly over the cat in her lap. She seemed to have a way with animals, though it could simply be the fact that with Josie as a master, the feline was used to almost anything. There does seem to be a hint of genuine panic in her voice, though, about that. Josie and she had talked about houses before, and over the summer she had read her Hogwarts, A History tome. She didn’t seem to think she fit anywhere, really. As Josie speaks to the boy again, Joscelyn turns her gaze slowly toward him, looking at him through downcast eyelashes. Almost guiltily, she offers him a small wave. Josie seemed comfortable with him, so perhaps she should at least acknowledge his existance. It does seem to take her a considerable amount of effort to actually make that happen, however.

Peering out the corner of his eye at the three girls Remi does a poor job of pretending not to listen and eventually he speaks again. “I don’t mind if they put me in Ravenclaw I guess. I just would rather not have extra work. And being smart means they give you more work.” And then he pauses to think about this. “Or less. If they think you are so smart you don’t need to do any work.” “Maybe Ravenclaw would be good if they don’t make you do a load of silly assignments.” He watches out the window as the train begins to slow apparently nearing the school. “I think we are here!” Remi exclaims excitedly forgetting for a moment to act as though he weren’t at all interested.

There is bustling about as Josie and Essie scramble around, trying to get their things together, only to be told to leave them on the train, that they will be brought in for them. “Bye, Merpurr, I’ll see you later tonight!” She tells the feline excitedly as she runs out of the compartment down the hall, hitting a bottleneck of students.

Students are now stepping out of the train and into the dark where Phoebe Helit, Muggle studies Professor stands ready to greet the smiling faces. She clears he throat as the last students pile out of the train and calls out loud enough so that the students may hear her. “Attention! May I please have your attention!” Waiting for the students to grow quiet she continues in a more civil tone. “I know you are all excited to be here and so I’ll try and get you all inside where it is nice and warm as soon as I can.” “Those returning will no doubt know that we have prepaired carriages to take you to the school! Please board them now and for goodness sakes no shoving!” “First years you will be following me! We have a much more scenic route to take to the school.” With that Phoebe waits for the first years to begin grouping up to her and stays to watch and make sure the older students all board the carriages.

The students around her start to move quickly as Seraphina barely catches the end of the professor’s statement. In a moment she is whisked away to the carriages and quickly climbs inside of one to avoid being trampled by a rather large group of boys.

Hurrying along with his bear tucked into one of his robe pockets (with it’s head out of course, so it can see) Remi stays close to Josie, Estelle, and Joscelyn. “Looks like we’re going to be taken to be tested.” He says to the girls. “I wonder if we’ll have to hike up a mountain or something like that.” The boy still as a hold of Joscelyn’s hand, though for what reason he is not utterly sure.

Josie has joined hands with Essie as they stand with the group of first years, so excited that she is shaking just a little bit as she moves from foot to foot. She waves quickly at Remi and Joscelyn as she looks around at the rest of the group, beaming.

As the train spews it’s mass of students and passengers on to the platform in a way that reminds Joscelyn of a book she read as a child that referenced an earthworm becoming sick to it’s stomach, the painfully shy young girl clutches on to Remi’s hand as if it were the only think keeping her afloat in that sea of people. She walks very close to the bear-toting boy, and just a half-a-step behind, as though she might hide behind him so he could protect her should some mysterious disaster ensue. Though she tries to keep her gaze low and avoid the sights of so many very tall, imposing-looking people in their black robes and pointed hats, she finds herself glancing from person to person in a state of almost rising panic. A feeling which cumulates as Pheobe speaks and her attention is routed upon the teacher. When Remi mentions that they’re going to tested, Joscelyn emits a small, almost silent whimper. She wanted to go home, very much.

Watching as the last student boards the carriages and they start to roll away Phoebe looks to the group of first years. “Alright then. is that everyone?” She looks around to make sure there aren’t any strays that she had not noticed. “You’ll all want to stick close to me. I’ll not come looking for you should you get lost.” This is all said with an air of playfulness from the kindly Professor. “Right. Everyone follow me. No shoving, name calling, and certainly none of that pesky magic.” With that Phoebe turns and begins leading the small troop down the the shore.

As they approach the lake, Josie tightens her grip on her sister’s hand, staying close together with the other first years. The combination of the dark and having never lived near the water has got Josie a bit out of her element as she looks out on the vast lake, wondering what lies beneath. “Do you think Uncle Freddie was being truthful when he told us about the squid?” she asks her sister, loud enough so that others can hear the question as well.

“S-s-s-sq-q-q-q-qui-i-d-d?” Joscelyn squeaks, her voice louder than it’s actually managed to reach all day. Hogwarts, a History had mentioned a giant squid in a lake — but she didn’t for a moment think that they would possibly go near said lake with said monsterous creature. If she were to clutch any tighter at Remi’s hand, she might actually begin doing damage.

Indeed it seems as though Joscelyn’s grip is causing Remi some discomfort because he begins shaking his hand a bit to ease it away. “Maybe the squid is the test?” He says to the girls. He watches the Professor as they near the lake looking to the boats. “I’ve never even seen a regular sized squid let alone a giant one….”

When the gaggle of students arrive at the shore many of them are beginning to shiver a little at the drop in temperature that the water tends to bring on, especially at night. Phoebe stops just at the waters edge and turns waiting for everyone to catch up before calling out again. “Alright everyone! We are going to be boarding these boats.” She stops to look over he shoulder at the aforementioned boats, muttering to herself (though perhaps still loud enough for some students closer by to hear) “Bloody creepy things, self propelled.” She turns again and begins speaking in her full attention tone. “No more than two to a boat please! And for the love of Merlin no horseplay.” She stops for a moment and smiles hearing Josie. “Not to worry dear. The squid is harmless. Think of him as a large underwater puppy really.” She looks up at the students and motions for them to start boarding the boats as she herself climbs onto one. “Bloody hate these things.” She mutters again.

Joscelyn blinks. Twice. A large, underwater puppy? Curiously, as hard she found that to believe, she found herself immediately curious about the strange creature.

Settling down into one of the boats with Joscelyn Remi looks out over the water. “Hear that Joscelyn? It’s like an underwater puppy.” He says this as though to reassure her though his tone quickly changes to that of mockery. “I wonder if that means it’ll like our bones when it eats us?” He turns to look at the girl, a mean sort of smile on his face. This might suggest that he himself is not afraid though the fact that he’s holding his bear close again might suggest otherwise.

“A puppy?” Essie breathes as they step toward the boats slowly. Josie steps in timidly and Essie follows her into one. Josie glances behind her as she watches some of the others climb into boats and sits down very slowly, glancing about her with trepidation. “I hope it’s not a… playful puppy,” she states quietly.

Once all of the students have gotten settled into their boats an unseen force begins gently gliding them forward across the water. Phoebe, in a boat with a small brown haired boy is the picture of unease as her boat leads the way. “Isn’t it pleasant? Drifting along the water?” She calls out. Something in her voice however says that she doesn’t enjoy it nearly as much as she lets on. “Just think. I missed out on this experience at your age dears.” “How lucky I must be to get to ride them every year in my adulthood.” This last statement while laced with sarcasm seems to be an attempt to impress on the students that this is something someone usually only gets to do once in their lifetime.

The fleet pushes off from shore in near unison. As the boats progress silently through the water, they leave no wake behind. Drifting along, the boats travel in an unhurried fashion, moving over the darkened waters in a loose group, but always remaining together. The chilly night’s breeze is more apparent here upon the lake.

Joscelyn Duval unfortunately misses the subtlety in Professor Helit’s tone that suggests she should attempt to enjoy a ride that should, by rights, happen only once in one’s lifetime. And she certainly isn’t impressed, nor curiously intimidated, by Remi’s mockery. She offers Remi a rather sour look as she looks up from the water’s edge — already owning that sacred, feminine gift of being able to communicate her dissapointment with someone in a single, silent expression. As frightened as she was by the whole process, she certainly didn’t need someone going out his way to make it worse for her. Perhaps the relative isolation of the boats was bolster her confidence some — less strangers to deal with at once. Regardless, her gaze lingers on Remi only for a moment, before shifting to Professor Helit — wondering about the one part of the woman’s statement she did truly absorb — that the woman had not been able to experience this ride at their age. “W-why n-n-n-not-t?” She queries, in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

Seemingly cowed by the strange experience, Josie‘s cheeks seem to have turned a pale green. “I wouldn’t exactly call it pleasant,” she mutters quietly, trying to stare directly at the bottom of the boat rather than into the water at all, lest she see anything even remotely squid-shaped.

When the boats start to drift forward Remi clutches the stuffed bear closely and peers over the edge into the dark water. “It’s not so bad. But it’ll be better when we get inside.” He looks off over the lake into the direction the boats are moving. “I wonder what kind of food they serve in a magical school? If it’s anything like the candy I had in Diagon Alley I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave.” The boy looks up to see Joscelyn’s dissapointed expression. It only seems to amuse him really and he looks again out toward the lake.

As the fleet continues forward, the southern shore recedes into the distance, and is lost in loose tendrils of smoky fog. The northern shore is not yet in view, concealed as it is by a thicker blanket of pale haze. The air is cooler over the lake, and as the boats drift further onto the water, there a more pronounced breeze that nips through robe and sweater alike.

Watching her young charges quite dutifully Phoebe repremands a pair in the bot closest to her who have begun dropping things into the water. “Stop that both of you!” She says this rather sharply proving that she doesn’t have to be nice all the time. “There are mer-people living in this lake and they deserve a clean home as much as we do don’t you think?” The two children blush and begin to behave again. Hearing Joscelyn Phoebe smiles. “I didn’t get to ride the boats when I was your age because I am a squib.” “Squibs don’t attend Hogwarts as most of you will no doubt know.” She doesn’t seem at all ashamed to admit that she lacks any magic of her own to the students.

Joscelyn blinks, again. Twice. Once to each bit of knowledge just dropped upon her — that merfolk existed, and not only that, apparently lived in the lake just outside her new school. And at the term she had never heard used before. Canting her head a little in curiousity, and responding only to Remi’s amusement with her dissapointment by vaguely rolling her eyes, she queries on. “S-s-squi-ib-b?”

“A squib…” Josie whispers quietly, looking upon the professor somewhat in awe. Of course, the girl knows what a squib is, but she never expected one to look so utterly… normal! Josie leans closer to where Joscelyn is. “It means someone who can’t do magic, but not like a muggle. They’re born to magical parents, but can’t do any.” Josie‘s best attempts at subtlety end up sounding almost theatrical.

The fleet has begun to move through the steadily increasing fog now, reducing visibility to a scant metre or two. Dim lights from the lanterns on the other boats of the fleet can be seen, flickering softly in the wind. The breeze is gentle, but consistent and quite cold out here upon the nearly still nighttime waters, where is there is no shelter and no warming fire. The only company is the steady rocking of the boats and the dim lights of boat lanterns.

“Mer-people?” Now Remi sounds positively in disbelief himself. He peers over the edge of the boat squinting his eyes and trying to see through the water to spot the mer-folk. “Well I guess if the squid hasn’t eaten them I don’t see why it would eat us.” The boy sounds almost disappointed in this. He looks up from the water hearing the strange new word and nods in comprehension when Josie explains what a squib is. “I guess that makes sense. She’s a fish out of water like us Joscelyn.”

Looking a bit shocked, Josie‘s eyes get wide. “I didn’t say she was a fish!” she gasps quietly. “Please don’t tell her that I said she was a fish!” The girl is perhaps a bit disoriented by the whole situation as her nerves start to get to her, interfering with the ability to think logically.

“Oh,” Joscelyn murmurs, quietly, in response to Josie’s explaination, considering it quietly as she studies the Professor. Feeling a curious kinship with the older woman, she turns her gaze back to Remi and nods slightly as he voices her very thought aloud. She blinks again, however, as Josie begins to act in a slightly irrational way. It was a reaction and a panic with which Joscelyn could relate, very much. Reaching out gently, the young girl makes a move to take the other’s hand gently. “It’s alright,” she whispers, without a stutter, and with a quiet, understanding smile that actually does reach her eyes. Though they had only known one another a short time, comparatively, it was a clear mark of how Josie had been folded in to Joscelyn‘s world-view. Or perhaps it was just the caregiver in Joscelyn, seeing a floundering soul in need of comfort. Most likely some combination of both. “I know how to handle puppies and swim. We’ll be fine.”

The fleet has finally begun to leave the haze behind, although the mist tries vainly to cling to the boats and it still laps at those lingering in the rear. The Forbidden Forest encroaches upon the eastern shoreline, bordered by grey mist and shadow. The northern shore has come into view with the castle of Hogwarts silhouetted against the hills beyond; the immense towers rise up in stern defiance to the centuries they have weathered. Few windows break the even stone facade of the castle walls, preserving the mysteries within from prying eyes. However, those few windows are merrily lit from within those hallowed halls, revealing the welcoming warmth that can be found within, a homecoming to those who have made a long journey. Ivy and similar plants sprawl across the walls of the castle, their unruly density hinting at the senescence of the walls themselves. The breeze is still cold, nipping at the boats and rustling over the water.

Pulling her cardigan a little tighter around her to stave off the chill Phoebe calls again over the water. “I do hope you all had the good sense to put on your cloaks. It’s always chill out on the lake.” She looks out over the group and smiles. “When we get inside you’ll be sorted and there will be a big feast in your honor.” Well in reality it’s a feast in everyone’s honor but who’s keeping track? The Professor doesn’t seem to hear the chatter about fish and squibs, and if she does she doesn’t comment or seem offended.

Quietly, Josie takes Joscelyn’s hand with her free hand as she continues to grasp Estelle’s in her other, and silently she stares up at the large castle that the boats are slowly approaching. “Wow…” she whispers. “It’s bigger than I expected it tobe,” she admits.

Squeezing Josie’s hand gently, Joscelyn follows the other girl’s gaze toward the castle looming in the horizen. Her new home, so far away from her parents and the pleasant little valley where she had spent the greater majority of her life to that point. Holding on to her Aunt’s words, trying her best to be brave, she swallows back a breath and nods in response. It was big, for sure. But big enough to hold the rest of their new lives? Her free hand moves toward the silver cross dangling from about her neck, which she squeezes softly.

The fleet has begun to pick up speed, accelerating rapidly towards the northern shore. Clear of fog, all that remains of the distant haze is what marks the barriers to the southern and eastern shores, the mist lapping on top of the water but the fleet has now broken free of its grasp. Remarkably, the boats still leave no wake to mark their passage across the water. The speed causes the brisk air to hurtle past, reducing the apparent temperature further and setting the lantern lights to flickering even more, though none of them have gone out.

“Oh wow.” Comes Remi‘s exclamation of pure awe and the size of the castle as it looms into clear view. He shivers as the boats pick up speed and the resulting gust blows over him causing him to chill a bit. “It’s blood c c c cold alright.” he mutters to himself. Of course he forgot to put on his cloak, who knew they would be going out on a lake in the middle of the night?

Rising suddenly as through from beneath the water, the looming bulk of Hogwarts Castle blots out the evening sky and casts a dense shadow over the shoreline, broken only by the steady glow of the lights from within a large section of the building. The boats have begun to decelerate now, but are still moving rapidly as they skim towards the darkness ahead. As it grows steadily darker, the night air takes on a crisper and ever more frigid bite.

The fleet has now passed into the shadow cast by the Castle and descended into absolute darkness, evading the dancing lights that reflected from the windows above. The lantern lights, which have remained so faithful during the journey, have abruptly faded away. Only the steady flow of cold night air moving past indicates that the boats are still moving; there is no other sensation of motion.

The fleet has halted at the lakeshore just below the castle, the transition from movement to rest having occurred smoothly, but without warning. Dim reflected light illuminates a stone stairway, worn smooth with age and use, with steps rising for two metres before disappearing over the cliff top. You can now DISEMBARK.

Bonnie Kensington strides in confidently with a group of first years following behind her. It is with great ceremony that the professor places the sorting hat on a stool near the front of the Great Hall, then steps back expectantly.

Pulling out a long scroll, Bonnie clears her throat before calling out, “Adamson, Lilith,” who goes to Hufflepuff. Following Lilith, “Amsel, Remi!”

Holding onto his stuffed bear amongst the crowd of other first years Remi looks out over the four tables of the Great Hall and to the imposing faculty table. As the strange hat begins to sing he looks rather shocked. “The hat is singing.” He clearly states the obvious to the three girls. “And they want us to put that on our heads?” Once his name is call Remi gives a small gulp and walks up holding his bear in one hand and place the hat onto his head. It’s slips down over his almost perpetually obscured eyes so it makes little difference, and then he takes a seat.

Rising up from his seat Remi removes the hat and places it carefully back in it’s place. “It’s not such a bad old hat after all.” He says to himself passing the other first years as he takes his seat at the Ravenclaw table.

Several more students are sorted to varying houses before Bonnie calls out, “Duval, Joscelyn!”

Watching as Remi is sorted in to Ravenclaw, as well as a handful of other students, Joscelyn swallows back a breath. She had tried her best to steel herself for this after reading about it in “Hogwarts, A History” — standing in front of the entire school, a sea of strange faces in the midst of strange faces. As she stared ahead of her, tears streamed down her face. She didn’t want to do this. She wanted to go home. But she couldn’t. She had to see it through. Clutching her small, silver cross pendant with both hands, as if it might somehow grant her the strength of the divine, she inches her way to stool after her name is called. Eyes clenched shut, breath held, face wet. She actually bumps in to Bonnie’s leg and the stool when she reaches the middle of the stage, parting her eyes just enough to climb up on to the seat.

Josie Wexler takes a deep breath as she watches her new friend get sorted, then clutches her sister’s hand as she watches Joscelyn take her turn getting sorted.

Joscelyn Duval blinks, twice, lifting her head sharply. She really had no idea what the hat meant, but she takes it off quickly and moves toward the motioned for table with a look of surprise.

Josie Wexler gasps as Joscelyn’s house is announced. “I never thought that,” she admits to her sister as she watches the girl make her way to her new table. “I so hoped she would be in Ravenclaw with us,” the still-unsorted young student says to her still-unsorted sister.

There are quite a few more students sorted along the way, siblings of this student or that. Lambert, Marnie goes to Slytherin while Lawson, Anders goes to Hufflepuff, then finally Bonnie calls out “Wexler, Estelle.” After a moment’s consideration, the hat calls out that she should go to Hufflepuff before it calls for “Wexler, Josephine!”

Josie‘s high hopes are dashed as not only does her friend not get sorted to Ravenclaw, but neither does her twin sister. The girl looks somewhat devastated as she slowly walks toward the stool and sits down, taking just a moment before she lets the hat down onto her head.

Eyes wide as the hat makes its announcement, Josie looks less dejected than she had a few minutes prior. Shaking her head a bit, as if she is in a bit of disbelief, the girl snatches the hat off and tosses it down onto the stool as she runs over to the Ravenclaw table, stopping only to look somewhat wistfully at the Hufflepuff table, where her sister sits.

After calling Zeelen, Hannah to Slytherin, Bonnie smiles upon the full hall then takes her seat at the faculty table contentedly.

Still smiling a little at seeing the Wexler twins, who she considers nieces, get sorted, Avery Fallon looks around before realizing that she is up next. Standing from her place at the faculty table, Avery pushes her chair back and makes her way down, eventually standing in front of the table she left, facing all the students. “Welcome to Hogwarts,” she begins, after a moment’s hesitation, as if she’d have liked to start with something more profound but lacked the presence of mind. “The start of each year is a time of great excitement, and I know everyone’s waited a long time for this moment, so I’ll be quick,” Avery says, generalizing a fair bit. “For you first years, I’m professor Fallon and you’ll be seeing me shortly for your Astronomy classes. Normally you’d be hearing our Headmistress, Professor Rathe, make this speech. She’s found herself a bit delayed today, but rest assured that you’ll all meet her in due time. Until then, I’l l tell you to heed your teachers, because they’ve got your best interests at heart. Follow the rules and make your parents and housemates proud. Keep out of the forest and mind your manners.” Avery pauses for a moment, considering anything else she might add. Presently, she shrugs. “Be a good friend and try your hardest. If you do, your Hogwarts years will serve you very, very well.” She smiles now, with a single nod. “With that, let’s begin the feast!” At this, the platters on each table swell with food, and Avery turns on her heel to take her place once more.