A handsome, quiet young man sat across from Anastasia - someone he could consider more than a distant acquaintance...not that he would ever admit that to anyone, at the Ravenclaw's table. His hair was a deep black, lacking it's usual pony-tail; which left it's feathery, slightly curly locks trailing down his shoulder-blades, and lightly flitting over golden-hazel eyes.

His face was impassive, the only sign that he was even awake being the movement of his irises as he silently read a small, black, leather-bound book, his lips twitching imperceptibly at times at what was written in the cursive, scrawling writing. His clothing were a bit different than the others, although not enough to draw unnecessary attention onto his body; just enough for it to be more comfortable and wearable for the actual wearer.

A black, high-collared cloak that was less baggy and trailing as the robes, the entire thing buttoned up to mid-chest, where a crisp white dress-shirt and tie combo was seen. He also wore regular slacks and loafers. To signify his house, the emerald-green Slytherin emblem was embroidered, small and neat, professionally on the shoulder of the coat. It was one thing his mother was useful for, thankfully.

'I finally achieved my Animagus transformation. The steps listed in the previous pages worked! You must delve deep-' His silent reading was abruptly cut off as a Ravenclaw student nearby opened her his mouth.

"You're Gabriel Mal Thea, right? Slytherin? Name's Randy Garrison! Why aren't you sitting over there?" He asked in a rapid-fire manner, his voice eerily similar to that of a radio-show commentator. The boy was a brown-haired fourth year, whom was gnawing impatiently on the edge of his pencil - apparently he had been drawing/sketching the scene of Anastasia and Gabriel reading.

Creepy.

It was good quality, however. Gabriel sighed at the question; the boy was Randy Garrison, a British Ravenclaw student that knew Gabriel from their classes shared, and the times he had 'sworn' he saw the Mal Thea walking the halls after curfew. He had no idea why he constantly pegged him with the same question.

"I enjoy the tranquility." Gabriel's voice was it's usual cool, collected tone, holding an undercarry of slight annoyance as he turned his eyes to the brown-haired boy. And, like every year, Randy was good with the answer, and quickly began sketching. Gabriel sighed silently, turning his gaze back to the journal.

Animagus, hm? Interesting...

Golden eyes briefly glanced at the quiet Anastasia, before darting back down to the journal.

What would she think about it?

"I hate robes..." Devin muttered to himself. He was wearing the classic Hogwarts robe as he walked into the Great Hall. The lights floating above his head always made him do a double take even after seeing it for five years. That fact was what really encapsulated magic for Devin. No matter how much he learned about it it still left him a little confused, memorized, and lost. For the students here who were surrounded by magic their whole lives wouldn't give it a second thought. Magic came to them as easy as breathing. Students like Devin or some of his friends were in a very different boat.

Tugging at his robe like a child does when wearing nice clothes he frowned once more as he sat down in the center portion of the Gryffindor table. All around him he saw familiar faces from fellow fifth years to some of his older and younger classmates. He was shouted at by people here and there which earned them a smile and wave. A few he called back at. He was really happy when he was with his classmates. The life and times of Hogwarts was something he enjoyed greatly. The friends he made far outnumbered the enemies or rivals. He didn't have time for enemies and the only one he really had wasn't so much an enemy as a rival who was a poor sport. The captain of Slytherin had kept calling the strategies Devin employed cheating.

Thankfully that particular student had graduated so even in the Slytherin house the animosity towards Devin was lower than most would expect. For most of his time Devin was often debated as being sorted incorrectly. Most saw him as a perfect Hufflepuff. Outwardly Devin would just shrug these comments off. Secretly he laughed about how he ended up in the house of the lion. While the hat mused about putting the young Devin in the Hufflepuff house Devin started to whisper about being in Griffindor. When asked why he wanted that house Devin answered in a matter of fact tone. "Cause the lion is my favorite animal." Since then he has felt every bit the Griffindor.

Behind him Devin caught a glimpse of two fellow fifth years. Gab from Slytherin and Ana from Ravenclaw. Both had their attention firmly directed at books in their laps. 'Introverts...' Devin said with a sheepish smile. He was no slouch when it came to studies, but they made him look like a lazy couch. Still he never let their socially diagnosed allergy to conversation stop him from saying hello. "Hey Gab! Ana! First MAC meeting is next week Thursday so remember to leave it open. Going to watch a documentary movie about muggle zoo's called Jurassic Park."

Devin then threw a wink at both of them and then sat down. Most were now a part of the yearly prank the MAC played on all first years who attended the first meeting. The prank involved playing a classic muggle movie and parade it around as a documentary. The joke started two years ago when a group of wizards saw Star Wars and started to freak out about the fact that muggles had discovered magic and could use it. It took nearly a week to explain that 'the force' was made up for the show. Devin also had to explain that Star Wars wasn't a real story, but made up.

The whole fiasco actually brought the MAC into the spotlight for awhile with more and more people coming to watch movies. On the train ride over Devin had told Jay that he thought Jurassic Park would be perfect for this year. Thinking of his friend he looked around and saw Jay walk in along with Luc. With a big smile he gave them a nod and the three led their house in a planned Quidditch cheer. Standing up on the bench Devin Looked up and down the table and gave the signal. He then took a deep breath and then in a loud voice shouted "We are the LIONS!"

In response the whole table of Gryffindor shouted back. "We Are the LIONS! THE MIGHTY MIGHTY LIONS!" This was followed up by Devin coninuting into a chant of "GO! GO!! GRYFFINDOR!!! GO! GO!! GRYFFINDOR!!! The chant lasted two or three more seconds before Luc and Jay walked into the Great Hall with the Inter-House Quidditch Cup wrapped with Gryffindor scarfs. The table erupted into even louder cheers as Jay and Luc hoisted the cup up in triumph and were joined by Devin the whole spectacle was somewhat cut short after several glaring looks from a few professors save for the Gryffindor Professors.

Hannah - The Red Fox

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

With a dry smirk and a soft patting of a heavier book on the inside of her robe's pocket, the sixth year student walked into the great hall with the remaining mass of students. In the crowd, she was invisible. The sort of invisibility that she enjoyed, anonymity perhaps even to an extent. Day one's work was already complete, tonight was a matter of delivery and securing payment.

With the mild touch of a square of paper, somewhere on the train on the way to the school, one of her clients had written a name. A name that she was to retrieve, and a price offer to go with it.

Five hundred galleons was an offer she couldn't refuse.

A cunning smirk that never faded as she nonchalantly sauntered into the great hall for the great feast with the remainder of the students. It was amazing to her, the lack of security that was in the Library on the first day, yet then again it made sense. The entirety of the student body was supposed to be converging on the great hall. There was supposed to be not an inkling of thieving risks.

Sitting down at the table as the First Years started to be crowded into the line that was to decide their fate, the Sixth Year student watched them from the corner of her eye. Looking, naturally, for the traits that were ingrained into her usual customer. Fine clothing and robes that were obviously expensive as a show of status, and a passive arrogance that seemed always present.

More often than not, her clients tended to be Slytherins. With the speckling of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Rarely if ever, was there a Hufflepuff. Perhaps too humble for their own good or something ridiculous of the sort.

Speaking of ridiculous however, there was the matter of the zealous pride of Gryffindors as a display of their zealotry in concerns athleticism (Even while going to a spectacular school, how sad.) came on display. With a prideful chant that made her eyes roll, it was not as if she could expect any different. It was that very same pride that she took advantage of from time to time, retrieving forbidden texts for a profit. Then again, Gryffindor was the only house that tried to betray her once. So with caution was how she treated those of the Crimson and Gold ilk.

Noble in the physical arts they might have been.

Yet in the game of shadows and wits, they fared poorly.

Such an attempted betrayal came at a heavy cost.

After that, there was not a single betrayal as rumors spread through the school like wildfire. Some students, probably working for the faculty or prefects promptly threw away their contact notes or tore them to pieces. For them, there was no penalty.

The option to stop being a client of hers was always open. So ceasing contact was perfectly reasonable. Betrayal however, was not.

Slipping one hand into the breadth of her sleeve and subtly taking hold of her wand, Hannah easily devised a plan by which to take care of the prideful idiots chanting with their nonsense and drivel. A softly murmured incantation beneath her breadth would go unnoticed by the prideful roar, and a subtle hand would triumph over the most brash as suddenly the scarves of crimson and gold burst into flame.

Within seconds, they were little more than ashes. Of which they were suddenly replaced with scarves of the other three houses as they were whisked off the necks of three students to wrap themselves about the cup. Instead of the sinful pride of crimson and gold, the cup was covered in the colors of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.

Idly, she simply folded her hands one over the other, waiting for the sorting to finish so that she might continue onward with her business, after the Feast that is.

This was embarrassing, Luc decided, he had only done something like this because Devin had asked him to. It wasn’t like he didn’t enjoy it, just that until now he hadn’t done something this obviously ‘showy’. Least not before the feast. But no matter how embarrassed he felt, Luc just pulled on ‘his’ grin.

It was quite a shock when scarves suddenly burst into flame, enough for Luc to almost drop the now colourfully clad cup, but truthfully, though he would never admit it, he found it rather amusing. The best part for him was that how he looked at the time was different to his usual face, an effort not to be embarrassed, and so the short, stout, boy with curly brown hair and chocolate brown eyes, would hopefully never be seen again. Some like Devin, would know it was Luc but most, hopefully, would not. Even though he was a loud, proud, out there boy, Luc didn’t like everyone knowing the ‘real’ him.

Leaving the cup for some of the others to deal with Luc slipped away, heading for the Gryffindor table. As he walked he changed his appearance; his hair straightened, lengthened and changed, turning itself bubblegum pink from the roots down, not very inconspicuous, but that wasn’t the point. By the time he plopped himself down next to Devin he had pulled his hair back in a high pony tail that reached down to his backside, and his eyes were large and black as night. Luc grinned a greeting, tugging uncomfortably at his grey vest with the Gryffindor crest emblazoned over his chest. “Aw Man, didja see that?” He complained, scratching at his neck, “That was my only scarf!” He was however distracted as a small black thing darted in through one of the open windows, it looked suspiciously like Aimer, his family’s owl, but surely she was still at home? Just in case Luc let out a low whistle, only just loud enough for the owl to hear, and, surprisingly, it circled down, clattering to a stop in front of him. She appeared to be carrying a stick in her talons, however when she dropped it in front of Luc he saw that it was actually a wand. His eyes shooting extra wide, Luc reached for where his wand should have been, and finding nothing there, he realized that the wand in front of him was his wand. And if Aimer had to deliver it……… that meant he had left it at home. "Oh mon Dieu” He muttered dropping his head in his hands “Maman’s va me tuer”

After the Hall returns to the normal calmness Jay heads over to the house table, a smile plastered on his face as he walks. As he walks Jason thinks over his summer in San Francisco, with his sister and brother the summer had been boring other then a girl he had met. Slowly his mind drifted back to his summer. "Yup a good summer" he muttered softly as he headed to where he saw Devin. Finally Jay finds a seat next to Devin and as he sits down he pats him on the shoulder “Que pasa mi amigo?” He asks with a smile as he sits “What have you been up to this summer huh?” Jason looks at his friend curious to what he has been up to. "You go back home or what?"

Greeting his best friend with their signature handshake as Jay sat down. The two school chums started talking about their summer. Something they have neglected when they saw each other on the train. "Naw I ended up spending most of my summer with my family in New Zealand." Devin had spent the better part of the summer spending it with his mother and her family while she traveled to several rural vet clinics. The whole family made a trip of it as Devin's dad could work remotely. During the trip Devin spent most of his time getting into rugby and flirting with girls who made fun of his accent. "How was the Bay area? That smile seems bigger than your normal return to school smile... That is a smile about a girl. Alright enough of my boring stuff details or it didn't happen!"

Jay Smiled as sighed " Met a girl named Mia, I was working a muggle job with Rob, he hooked me up doing some work with moms new guy at his store unloading his electronics and whatever." He said with shy chuckle " hijole!... muy bonita." he says chuckling as he rubs his arm " she was different then the other girls ya know? she was real she had my back...You wouldn't believe the stuff she stood by me for... almost didn't wanna come back...almost" he says smiling at the very end "But how could I leave my Homies all alone without me!" he says laughing " you ready for the Quidditch season?"[/color]

[color=ed1c24]Devin was happy to hear the summer had treated his friend so well. Through all the silly stuff the two had been through Devin didn't know anyone who deserved to have a win in the relationship bracket more than Jay. The guy was good as good can be in a person and shared that with everyone he met. "My man found himself some fancy." the Griffindor laughed with his friends who nodded in agreement. When the question shifted from girls to sports the excitement stayed high. "I think the real question is if the rest of the school is ready for us. I was watching some of the rugby games while I was down south. Got some new systems I think we can work into our game plans."

Jay chuckled “Can’t wait to get out there and try them out.” Jay says smiling brightly “You have no idea how bad I wanted to practice over the summer…Muggle life while good is kinda sucky cause here we got magic..” He says as he leans back slightly “ as he watched Luc “Ay Bud! What you got there?” he asks Luc as looks at something an owl dropped “look like you got your first kiss over there or something.” He said jokingly

(with approval of World traveler)

-

"Now, really Hannah, must you be so rude?"

The Red Fox turned suddenly as a voice scolded her from across the table. There sat Adrian Bennett, newly arrived to the feast with a stern look on his face. It wasn't quite scolding, but closer to disappointment that decorated his visage. To say truthfully, he'd been excited when he saw the various red and gold scarves go up in flames; it meant somebody was trying to cause mischief, and he made it his business to find out whoever caused mischief in the school and confront them. But, in this case, it had been all too easy.

As Hannah opened her mouth to defend herself, Adrian cut her off.

"Straightforward, Hannah; the scarves that replaced the Gryffindors are all mostly spot on, but the Hufflepuff yellow lacks the shine of the actual colors, to differentiate it from Gryffindor's gold I presume, and Slytherin's true coat of arms features a deeper, slightly less verdant green. Only the Ravenclaw colors are spot on, which suggests that it was a Ravenclaw who did the deed. Of course, we can rule out anybody below 4th year based on the scale and skill of the magic. What's more, anybody who appreciates Quidditch would begrudge the Lions their chanting, out of respect for their earning the Cup. So it must be someone who either hates the sport, though I can scarcely imagine such a thing, or dislikes social situations. Furthermore," he continued after a brief period where he gathered his thoughts and mumbled to himself, "It was a quiet spell, which means it would have to be somebody versed in subtlety, yet the result shows their are proud of such. Thus narrowed down, the process is simple- find the Ravenclaw between 4th and 7th year who dislikes social situations and prides themselves on their subtlety... and has a singed sleeve hem from the fire spell."

Thus satisfied with his summation, Adrian smiled slightly and added one more thing, a term he and Hannah often said over a chess board.

"Échec et mat." French for "Checkmate."

A moment later, however, he directed his eyes down to Hannah's own scarf- which was now dyed red and gold, having been changed with a quick incantation during his mumbling. This was the reason Adrian often sought out the troublemakers; not to bring them to justice or to see them caught red handed, but rather to show them how it was done.

Hannah Beckings - The Red Fox

An interjection of cunning words from behind her caused Hannah to turn sharply in response, it was a voice she could never forget; a voice that had even almost caught her once in her other escapades. Of anyone in the school, only he had once come close to catching the infamous Red Fox; initially, her lips dared to part in order to defend herself and deny any involvement, yet she wasn't even given a chance.

Of course just like their chess matches, the accursed boy always seemed to be one anticipatory step ahead. Finding every little niche and minute little detail that she might have missed in the advent of a more hastily laden plot. Thanks to him, she had been forced to resort to less commonly used tactics in Wizard's chess of which for a short time were rather effective; only to have him naturally adapt and force her unto the drawing board once again.

Oddly, well, not necessarily so, she similarly had to do the exact same when it came to her infiltration and escapes. The last famed elope she had to use was a summoning charm to escape by jumping from the library windows themselves. Plucked from the air was she by her Firebolt, and off she tore across the skies before either Adrian or the prefects could recover.

For some reason the prefects had half the mind to try and bribe the brilliant Quidditch tactician to help them apprehend the wily Fox.

Thought of this brought a light smirk to her face as he went on explaining how he knew what she had done so easily, and she simply rested the softened curve of her chin upon her palm while she waited for him to finish. Once he mentioned the slightly charred hem of her sleeve, she sighed and rolled her eyes at this thought.

"And that, Adrian is where you might be incorrect. My family isn't very wealthy as you know, so these just might be robes from the previous year as I didn't grow too terribly much from fifteen into sixteen; see?" Seizing part of the fabric, the robes she was wearing certainly bore the wear and tear of at least a year's schooling at Hogwarts. "The searing upon the hem is entirely consequential at that point for me, and I very much doubt you'll be searching the sleeves of every Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh year that sits upon this table. That would simply be unjust search and seizure. Not to mention, could have a Slytherin or a Hufflepuff just as easily done it, and intentionally thrown off their colors to draw their suspicion to Ravenclaw?"

She clicked her tongue twice in disappointment. "To search one, you must search all. Not quite the Échec et mat as you thought it would be, no?" Brushing off her own sleeves, the clever little witch looked to him curiously with that little knowing smirk of hers still playing across her lips. "So, why are you so late to the Hall? Did you think that there was more mischief afoot? Or were you looking for a new seeker for the season, hm?"

A look of disgust momentarily glimpsed past her expression as the scarf suddenly turned Red and Gold, but with a tap of her own wand she was able to fix it to glare indignantly at the boy across from her.

"Very funny. Perhaps if you had a better Seeker, you wouldn't have lost at the Quidditch Cup last year."

Alyssa Carrow

With a scarf covering her ruby-red lips, Alyssa confidently strode into the crowds that had amassed at the entrance to the Great Hall. It was cold in the Scottish highlands, especially at night, so the scarf had initially been used to keep warm but she found that others seemed to avoid conversation when she had it covering her mouth. Maybe it showed them that talking to her was probably not worth their time, as usual?

Casting her grey eyes around the room, she took in the ever-boisterous Gryffindor, hoisting last year's Quidditch cup up onto their table. Shame that they would lose it this year around. Now that the Slytherin captain was gone and out of her way, she could have a little more say on the team and this included some of the tactics she had formulated over the summer. If that failed, she would always lend a hand to Ravenclaw - Alyssa found that Ravenclaws' pursuit of knowledge was similar to hers of purity and knowledge was always a welcome ally.

Everything seemed normal, like the past year had reflected itself into the new year. The first years had yet to make an appearance but most others were present. The tradition was welcome, she guessed, but the ruckus being caused by Gryffindor was not. And, as usual, she found the overly-pleasant Devin Coal shouting his lungs out. He was the same bastard who kept trying to drag her into his Muggle-lovers society. Alyssa would rather be seen dead. One day, she'd give him something to shout about but for now, his silence was all that was necessary. Noticing the Gryffindor colours burst into flame, Alyssa couldn't help but smile - apparently, someone else was not a fan of the numb-skulls, either.

Letting her wand slide down from its precautionary position in her sleeve, she used the cover of the crowd and focused on Devin Coal. "Silencio." They might have been the triumphant winners of Quidditch disputes but when it came to actual magic, it seemed that Alyssa was a cut above the rest of them. Smirking, she reined in her wand, covering up the evidence of her charm as she moved through the crowd, humming softly into the scarf. Devin Coal suddenly found his magnificent roar being reduced to... well... nothing. Walking down parallel to the Gryffindor table, she sent a single wink to Devin before averting her gaze to a dispute between Hannah and someone else.

Hannah was what Alyssa could possibly describe as a friend. Over the years, Alyssa had paid the girl to smuggle books from the restricted aisle so that no one could ever link her with the rather dark reading she engaged in. They had initially formed a somewhat working relationship but Alyssa, attracted to the Red Fox's humour and uncaring-attitude, had even broken some of her rules for separating herself from the masses to socialise with Hannah. Of course, the rumours that the girl was a direct descendant of Rowena Ravenclaw definitely aided in Alyssa's perception of her. "Hannah." She murmured in greeting, nodding her head quickly to the girl as she passed. Stopping as if she forgot something, she turned back to the red-head and smiled. "I do believe I owe you something, don't I? Could we talk afterwards to settle that?" Turning, she finally moved to the Slytherin table where she took her seat and was roundly greeted by those who knew her.

A small growl of frustration escaped the lips of Lucine as she pushed some stray strands of her long golden brown hair back behind her ear. Normally she didn't mind a bit of hair falling on her work, but she was already becoming frustrated with her drawing, as she couldn't get the eyes right. She was sitting with her to her friend of now three years, Kaelyn Cobble, with one leg perched up on the seat and the other dangling down, her boot barely touching the floor. (Like this.) The noise of the Great Hall she had all but tuned out to focus on her drawing, but even she couldn't help when her friend laughed and she curiously looked up and smiled weakly at those sitting around them. This time of the year was always the best and happiest for her, getting to be reunited with her friends and classmates after the long summer was exciting to say the least. Normally Lucine would be socializing a bit right now, but she was hardly in the mood, and first she wanted to finish her sketch.

She was sketching from memory the face of her late mother, Lorelei, and was upset with herself that she was having a hard time finishing it. It was only a few times she would tear her blue eyed gaze from the paper and look up at someone who spoke loudly. One of these such times was when her other close friend Devin, from Gryffindor, shouted "We are the LIONS!" It brought a smile to her face to see him so happy, and when the whole house erupted into their chanting and cheers, she clapped her hands in applaud.

It was not too long afterwards that Lucine would suddenly be startled as her Hufflepuff scarf would suddenly ripped from her neck, causing her arm to jerk. The result was her pencil leaving a dark mark clear across the sketch she was working on. Anger began to boil in her as she glared at the ruined page. With a deep breath and an angry sigh, she closed her notebook gently and placed it on the table before standing. She looked to see where her scarf had gone and saw it was wrapped around the cup a few Gryffindors were holding. Her hand balled into a fist and she stomped her foot on the ground. She was furious that the teachers had let this go on without saying as much as a word. Well she had a lot to say, even if she wouldn't be heard over the talking of everyone else in the room.

"Oh enough is enough already! Can't everyone a just stay quiet and pay attention to the ceremony? Save your annoying meddling for another time!" she said, not really shouting, but speaking firmly as if a mother was scolding her children. Lucine too, with a flick of her arm, revealed her wand and raised it, drawing the shape of a shield in the air, she would say an incantation that would dispelled all magic previously used in the Hall.

"Finite Incantatem."

A small purple light would shoot out towards the ceiling and rain purple dust down on everything before fading away only a second later. Lucine watched with satisfaction as her scarf would return and wrap around her neck along with the other two returning to the students who owned them. Unfortunately the spell could do nothing for the burned scarves, but at least anyone under some kind of spell would be relieved of it upon the effect. Putting her wand away, she turned to the Gryffindor table and pointed an accusing finger since she was already on a roll. "If you all could please settle down and get it through your thick skulls that this moment is NOT about you, but about the first years, I assume we could get this ceremony over with, then you all can go on and boast about... whatever it is that makes you think your so great." with a final stomp of her foot, Lucine would finish her scolding, which was done in a manner very unlike the normally sweet demeanor she had. To be fair, she didn't sound in the least intimidating at all. And hell, she had a right to be angry with how her day had gone so far, she didn't care if she may have unfairly taken it out on others, that is, if they even heard a word of it. Huffing, she sat down once again next to Kaelyn and dropped her head onto the table with a light thud as she felt a headache coming on. This too was fueling her bad mood, seeing as these migraines she was having started to become more frequent.

The crazy spark known as team spirit was a fickle thing in Hogwarts. What had started as a team cheer ended in at least three spells being cast and a few coarse words being thrown as well. Devin saw the whole thing getting beyond out of hand, especially when Lucine stood up and nearly raised her voice. Looking back at the short series of events. The destruction of the Gryffindor scarfs was the real thorn in the whole thing. Though it seemed likely to be the work of someone who was a poor sport about last years games, Devin regrettably figured it was just someone who was feeling the joy in the room was spoiling their emo-life view.

The more playful counter to the Gryffindor spirit was cast by Alyssa. While their relationship was entirely based on the fact that friction can only cause fire the two also seemed to have something amounting to frenemies. The most damning evidence being the wink and spell combo. When thinking back on all the advice his family had given Alyssa always made Devin remember what his dad said when his son was starting to date. "There are going to be women in your life that are just bad for you. They will put you through a ringer and likely knock you down a peg. Don't let that stop you. If I had I don't think you would be around."

Mostly these thoughts were in the very back of Devin's mind as he had to deal with Alyssa quickly. Letting her get the last word or even wink never sat well with him. More than anything it was the honest spirit of competition that drove him to spar with her so often. With the muting hex lifted he quickly shouted a short retort after he saw Alyssa finish speaking to Hannah. "Hey Alyssa I finally figured out who you remind me of. You ever read the comic Archie? You are totally Veronica!"

The insult was bad in nearly every sense other than the fact that Devin was using it on Alyssa. For just about everyone in the magical world would have no idea what it meant. It was like he was speaking a different language. That fact meant Devin and possibly only Jay who was also from the States knew what he had just said. Still he gave the joke a good laugh. He wasn't as sly as to throw a wink her way. Lord knows she might just poke the eye out with her wand. Devin then turned to Lucine who had started lecturing the Gold and Crimson around her. The act wasn't completely in line with her normal personality, but Devin wasn't about to stop someone midrant.

"Alright, Alright Lucine we get it. It isn't like we are trying to steal the show from the first years. If anything we are just showing them why they should want to be a Gryffindor. I guess you could say it is a sales pitch. After all if you want to have fun with your friends at school it is hard to beat this house." Devin flashed a diplomatic smile towards Lucine and some of the other onlookers. "It got out of hand. The whole fireworks was a rotten apple in the bunch. I am sure the professors will deal with whomever thought burning stuff was reasonable. Damaging your scarf was childish and I can assure you it wasn't any of us." Devin threw an affirming look up and down the Gryffindor Quidditch team. "Still I can get you a new one if you agree to grab a butter beer with me next Hogsmeade trip. My treat."

With Devin intervening the whole ruckus had started to die down. The hall gradually returned to the normal loud roar of the first meal back at Hogwarts. The first years still had their 'deer in the headlights' look they do every year. Shortly a professor came up and started to sort the new first year students. One by one the students were sorted with each house cheering for their newest members. As one of the Gryffindor prefects Devin was charged with welcoming the lion cubs. As such he excused himself from his friends Luc and Jay and made his way down to the head of the table. He sat down and every time the hat said Gryffindor he jumped up and cheered extra loud.

Kaelyn had found a way to entertain herself peacefully, by looking at each first year and guessing which house they would be in. This was before all the commotion of course, but she could barely blame the Gryffindors for their loyalty and pride, they were notorious for it. Kaelyn too loved her own house, although she wasn't interested in playing Quidditch, she always supported her own house in their games. A friend of hers, Jade Lenith, was the seeker for Hufflepuff in fact.

Kaelyn was half upset by Lucine's outburst, though it did seem reasonable. She didn't seem herself though - something was definitely up.

"Lucine... are you okay?" Kaelyn smiled.





"How strange." Anastasia furrowed her brows in remark to the sketch of herself and the Slytherin, Gabriel. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to draw her. Especially when she was trying to get a head start on her studies, but it was barely possible with all the commotion going on. Ana didn't understand the way other students loved their houses. For her, although it was obviously the most intelligent house, Ravenclaw was just her means of learning. It meant where she lived for the year and who she had classes with, but little else.

"Foolishness." Ana rolled her eyes and half-smirked at Gabriel. It was a small thing though, she had barely raised her voice. She didn't much expect an answer, perhaps a smirk of goodwill.

☆☆☆

Professor McGonagall raised her voice and addressed the students. It was now time for first years to be housed. The Sorting Hat sat on the usual chair, ready for it's first victim.

"Helena Appleby."

The short girl emerged from the crowd of children. She had big, curly ginger hair and wide, worried green eyes. She sat on the chair and the Sorting Hat was placed onto her head.

"Hufflepuff!" the hat roared, followed my ferocious glee from the Hufflepuff table. The girl ran to sit next to a similar looking girl, Joanna, her third year sister. Kaelyn Cobble cheered loudly.

"Jonathan Augustus."

A taller, pale, dark haired boy approached the chair. The hat was placed on his head. This decision took longer than with Helena.

"Slytherin!" the hat shouted. The Slytherin table cheered, and the boy took his place.

The students await all the further sorting, wondering how many students will be placed in their house this year.

Michael was ready! This would be the year that he finally stood out! Finally stopped hiding away! Unless of course no one wanted anything to do with him...But he couldn't afford to think like that now! It was his fourth year at Hogwarts now! He was really excited, especially since he decided he would try out for the quidditch team this year! Even if that didn't work he always had his place in the art area, or even the music section of his life. He was sitting a few seats away from Adrian, the captain of the Ravenclaw quidditch team, and someone he'd actually have to approach eventually about joining the team. Watching all the commotions caused by the Gryffindor house at the beginning of the ceremony was definitely interesting, the best part being the scarfs being burned. Michael then had implanted that into his memory and took out his notebook and began to draw the scene of The Burning Cup.

This work of art wasn't going to be a major masterpiece or anything. No this piece of art would be turned into something much more amusing. More...Entertaining! All the excitement in the hall used to be so discouraging to Michael his first two years at Hogwarts, but now by his fourth year he quite enjoyed the sight and sound, giving birth to inspiration and motivation for his art, and mood! Some of his friends he met last year had kept in touch via owls and were starting to come up to him to welcome him back, and not just from Ravenclaw. When it came to art he didn't really care about houses. Everyone in the different houses seemed to have different styles and different ways to express themselves so it was always fun to make friends everywhere! Finally though everything quieted down a bit as the first years began to be placed. Though obviously every time someone was placed that silence was immediately shattered by one house or another, always a wonderful sight to see for sure, and Michael would just clap, not being one for the whole cheering thing.

Ah...and here, it began once more.

Gabriel watched the sorting quietly, only pausing to let a small, unseeable half-smirk half-smile form on his face at Anastasia's words...foolishness. It was right in every category. The consecutive amount of scenes that had just transpired was very, very stupid, overreacting, and childish, and honestly, Gabriel was surprised that it wasn't stopped by the Headmaster himself. Scarves catching on fire, while from an outside point of view, wasn't very dangerous...but imagine if someone tried to put it out, or if the scarves' fire caught onto the person's clothing. Someone getting melted alive by magical flames wouldn't have been too surprising, considering the intensity. Still...Gabriel glanced up, eyes narrowing slightly at the Gryffindors. He wouldn't go as far as to say that he hated them...but he really, really lacked respect for the majority of them. He just didn't like loud, obnoxious people, and that cheer, and the way they seemed to put attention on them, made his lack of respect for them go down a bit farther.

As another student was called up, Gabriel returned to his book, golden eyes absorbing the text. He already had the potion ready, and everything was in order. It would take a while, but..."Anastasia..." He said quietly, eyes staring into hers from over the top of his book's edge. "What do you know of the 'Animagus'?" A minor flick of his hand from under the table, and a small illusion was placed over the people around them. Nothing harmful...it would just make his voice too quiet to hear, except for Anastasia.

As Jay sat and cheered for the new students. He never really cared much for house loyalty, The only thing he cared about was if he got along with them. He had friends in the other three houses, sure there a few who found it odd. Last year he had helped a few Hufflepuff first years get the hang of flying after he had over heard them talking about how awful they were. He had gotten a lot of flak about that but he was glad, to have helped them. His father had always told him to be a good role model and help some one out if at all possible. Jay was so used to the motion of just clapping that he had zoned out so much that when the person sitting across from him had started waving their hand in front of his face, he hadn't noticed. "Jay!" the person said snapping him back to his surroundings. "Huh? Sorry what's up?" Jay say awkwardly as a few chuckle around him at him being caught off guard. "What is it Martin" Jay asks annoyed at the smile plastered on Martin's face "Whoa no need for hostilities mate." he said still smiling. Martin was a second year of average height with short brown hair and with eyes so green Ireland would be jealous of the green, he was a huge Fan of the house Qudditch team. Every match last year he was in the stands cheering, at the end he would be their to try and cheer the team up when we lost or to high five us when we won. "Whats with the smile?" Jay asked as he looked at Martin "Sorry Jay my sister is up next." he said as he pointed at a girl in the crowd of first years. like her brother she had brown hair and green eyes, but her hair was long and in a braid, her eyes were a very beautiful shade of green, she looked nervous and glanced around until her eyes fell on her brother. As she looked at her brother Martin waved cheerfully, as she got called up and sorted into their house. As the rest of the Gryffindor cheer Martin stands out as he yells and claps loudly even above the rest. Jay chuckles and shakes his head "Sit down fool, you look like clown." he says jokingly

Anastasia Borak

Ana was caught mid-sentence by Gabriel. If it had been anyone else, she would have most likely ignored them. She wasn't all work, but she didn't particularly like to put others before her studies. Still, it was the start of the year, and she'd have all night to catch up on her reading. She could probably have half of the book covered before 10, so it wouldn't be such a bad thing to stop for quick chatter. It was Gabriel, too, and she could admit at least to herself that she had something of a soft spot for him. She didn't really understand why he was put in Slytherin, since in some ways they were so alike, but in others of course, he was definitely more a snake. Like in this instance, where she was sure he was plotting.

"Why?" Ana smirked, pulling the red ribbon bookmark down the middle of her page. "What are you up to? I sense a scheme."

~~

The sorting reached it's end, and people began to file out of the hall. Some students stayed sat, quietly chatting amongst themselves. The first year students of their newly designated houses followed the elder student that was meant to escort them around on a tour of the school up to their dorms.

After the sorting finished the final remarks from the headmistress were given and the houses were sent to their common rooms. Devin had gathered the first years in front of him at the head of the table. First he went over some basic stuff like what time meals are ready and some other clerical things the students would need to know. "Now that we got that out of the way we can get to the tour!" He said to the smiling first years. A few gave a chip cheer while others returned to a nervous sort of stance. He began to talk school tips as they made their way towards the staircases.

"I may be a very bias source, but according to sources close to me you all are pretty lucky to be in Griffyndor. We usually get assigned Potions right after lunch which means the homework has an extra break period before being due and lets you share notes before tests. I wouldn't sweat History of Magic class since the tests are almost always based on the last few readings. Happy to share some other nuggets of knowledge, but we can get to them later. For now we are going to play a little ice breaking game I like to call." Devin clapped his hands as the group reached the first staircase.

"The seven trials of Griffyndor!!!!!" Devin gave a big smile as he led the small group up the first flight of stairs. "Each painting at the end of the staircase will feature an classic icon of the Griffyndor culture. Here is the first!" The painting they now stood in front was one that Devin personally enjoyed. "Might I introduce Barnabas the Barmy the man who tried to teach trolls how to dance." This got the group to let out a giggle while the painting laughed along.

"It would have been the greatest of my achievements young Devin." The painting explained. "I see this years batch of students shows promise, do you think they have what it takes to make it to the top?" The first years smiled and didn't even wait for Devin to answer. "I like how they don't think of you as an actual upper classman. Shows they got an eye for understanding who to actually follow. I will warn you now kids if you listen to what this prefect says you are likely to fall into a endless dark spiral with choice after choice you make drawing you ever closer to a life of enjoying school and making friends."

The group then moved on to one painting after another. Some gave honest advice about tricks of the school while others simply joked around. By the time the first years were at the portrait protecting the Gryffyndor common room everyone knew everyone's name. A few inside jokes had been created, and none of the first years had any sort of nervous look around them. Instead they were talking amongst them selves laughing along. In fact this was a new tradition Devin hoped to pass on as it was similar to something a teacher he did at a academic summer camp a few years back. After he shared the password the first years were welcomed to a little gathering cheer from some of upper classmen of the house.

Roaring with fun, friends, and a festival atmosphere Devin felt that while there were plenty of wet blankets at the school he would never let them rain on his enjoyment of Hogwarts. Especially if it might be his last year.

Luc was jolted awake, hearing Devin talking to the first years about things they needed to know. Groaning as he sat up, Luc rubbed his eyes, trying to focus on what was happening around him. "huh? wass' going on?" He mumbled, finally shaking the fog from his head. "Wait, the Sorting's over?" Snifing the air, Luc could barely decern the soft tang of hot meat, a lingering smell from dinner, which had been had straight after the sorting; and Luc had slept straight through it. "Merde" he muttered softly, watching Devin head out of the hall with the first years. He'd left his wand at home, (although it had been returened to him) and had slept through dinner, probably his worst start to the school year yet. He Let his hair shrink back to it's normal size of short with a long rat's tail, a rather disturbing sight due to the fact that it looks rather like his hair was being sucked into his head. Leaving it bubble gum pink seemed just a bit to dramatic, and more trouble than Luc could be bothered with, so, even though, technically, it was more trouble to change it, Luc let it fade, the colour draining and changing, stopping at a sort of muted blood red. No good reason, it just felt right. Glancing around he realized that many students had left, along with quite a few of the teachers, yawning Luc truly considered just laying his head back down on the table and sleeping more, but figured that would be worse than if he managed to drag himself up to the Gryffyndor tower and find his bed, or maybe just a soft armchair in the common room. It never occurred to him that it was the first day of school, so there would probably be a party of sorts for the new first years, the Gryffyndors relished the opportunity to throw parties, whether it was winning at quiddich, (the main and most common reason) or, well, just about anything and they will try for a party.

Heading up to the Common room, Luc took a few hidden passages, they never ceased to amaze him, and returned the pleasantries of the good handful of portraits that talked to him, some inquiring about his family, others about him. Finanly making it to the common room, long after the first years, Luc, opening the portrait with the current password, was smacked in the face with a excessive amount of noise. groaning in slight annoyance Luc lept through the portrait hole, squeezed through the thin crowd, grabbed a butter-beer, from a stash someone had brought from home, and slumped down on the floor, with his back to the wall, right next to the fireplace. Letting a soft sigh escape, Luc decided there was no way he'd get to sleep with the noise in the common room so he might as well enjoy watching the party that would probably take it's toll in the morning.