As they all walked in Samantha noticed everyone going into the dining room as there she saw four large tables and each house sitting and also eating. Samantha walked into her house table sitting next to John as she chatted with her friends as they giggeled smiling at the first years. It was so fun because Samantha was one of them but look at her now! She was in her fifth year already. She grabbed a bread taking a bite out of it and then some food, she wasnt going to eat much. As she was eating her bread she playfully bumped John and looked the other way pretending that it wasnt her as she continued to talk to her friends.

Juneberry smiled as Kitten made her way over and was instantly barraged by questions from literally everyone....even thouse all the way down the other side of the long table. It was nice that finally someone else was getting stared at besides her, but at the same time she knew her friend had to be feeling quite uncomfortable. Sure enough, after a few minutes, Kitten up and dashed out of the hall and Juneberry watched her leave with a worried look on her face. As she was about to stand, some guy across from her at the table spoke.

"Jeez, whats her problem? All the bitches in this house are crazy, huh." the upperclassman spoke and nudged his friend who nodded in agreement. Juneberry's mouth dropped open, and some other girls at the table looked pissed off as well, though they didn't seem like they were going to say anything. She stayed quiet for a bit, silently filling her plate with fruits and veggies and making another that was more assorted with meat, bread, and fruits. She was going to find Kitten and bring her a plate. Even if she felt she wanted to be alone....it were those times when it was best for one not to be.

Juneberry stood up and was about to leave when she remembered the guy who said the "crazy" bit from before. "Just so you know," she started, not afraid of the upperclassmen. "Its the "crazy bitches" that will kill you in your sleep if you piss us off." she said. He looked a bit frightened for a moment before he tried to laugh and play it cool. "Yeah, whatever Lovegood, did you take your meds today?" In one swift movement she reached for a fork and dug it into the chicken he was about to raise to his mouth. It made him and his butthead friend jump. "No i didn't, so i think it would be in your best interest to fill your mouth with that garbage you call food, and watch what you say about a girl you beast." she glared at him for a moment then smiled. "I'll see you later."

She took out her wand and said "Levioso." and waved it over the two plates. They rose up and hovered in front of her, and then she quickly left the hall in search for her friend.

Austin sat across from John, smirking as he turned his appearance to match Headmaster Potter, mocking him slightly. It was fun to do that to people. He turned back into his normal self as the food arrived, eagerly wolfing down the food that was placed in front of him. He tended to eat a lot of food at once, yet not gain weight at all.

Seeing the two girls storm out of the room caused both Hagrid and Harry to rise in their seats and excuse themselves. Luna got up as well. The three of them walked out of the great hall. Harry began up the stairs planning to use the Marauders Map in the headmasters office to find her. Hagrid knowing that she was a first year took off heading for the dark forest. Luna followed after him without great hurry.

Kitten found a tree and curled up next to it. it was the only tree in a very large clearing.

As Juneberry walked along, she heard a loud pounding of fiotsteps behind her. At first she thought it was her heart and so she paused, then listened. She still heard it and kept walking, looking for any sign of her friend. She was caught off gaurd then when she was suddenly hefted into the air.
"Up ya go slowpoke." said the voice of Hagrid. Once she knew who it was, her instinct to fight subsided even as he threw her over one arm. As he did, she almost dropped the plates of food. "Hagrid, this is the second time this day you confused me for a sac of flour."

"Little dove."

June looked up at the sound of her mothers voice. "Oh. Hello mother. Why have you and Hagrid followed me?" she said confused.

"We saw you and yer lil friend run out of here. We wanted to make sure you two weren't in any trouble." Hagrid said while walking briskly towards the entrance.

Her mother followed behind walking less fast, likely using a spell to keep up. She was about to speak when Headmaster Potter apparated to the bottom of the steps in front of them.

"I know where she is." he said, clearly concerned for her safety. "The dark forest. She dosent know how dangerous it can be because she's new. We need to find her fast." he said, putting emphasis on fast. Without another word they started off to the forest. Juneberry started to feel scared for her friend as she was carried along.

"Dont worry little dove. We will find her safe from harm." her mother monotonously assured her. With a frown she nodded and stayed quiet.

Skylar watched as Juneberry ran out after the new girl, only after messing with some mean spirited boys. Headmaster Potter, Hagrid and Juneberry's mother also followed in pursuit, making the situation seem more dramatic than it probably was. Pushing herself to her feet, she excused herself from the table. On her way by the boys she smirked down at them. "Careful, you're starting to compete with the Slytherin House IQ. Smallest number wins." She swept on by and out of the Great Hall, checking the hallways before making her way up to the second floor and over to the girl's bathroom. It was just as she remembered it, the white stone sinks standing, waiting to be moved. She thought about opening in order to enter, as she had done so many times in the past, but a gut feeling held her off. Instead she cast her patronus and sent it down through the tunnels. The white orb of light took shape as wolf, which promptly sat before its intended target. "Long time no see." Sky spoke through it softly despite being alone, one could never be too careful.

Kitten began hearing people approach so she got up and ran deeper into the woods. Her ability to run not any kind of issue over the uneven terrain. The problem came when she stopped again. She was resting when a creature that resembled a large bear tore into her side and broke several ribs. She began limping back towards the school. SHe collapsed in the same clearing she ahd previously left.

Lonan watched as the teachers and Juneberry followed the girl out the door. He didn't pay them much mind and went back to eating his food. Hector was in the middle of some rambling story to impress a group of girls, but Lonan tuned him out. He had been friends with Hector even before they had come to Hogwarts, and you could only hear him talk for so long before it got to you. He was very choosy about what food he ate, following the diet that Marc had given him which had come straight from his team's trainer. He made sure to eat extra protein and starch because he knew how much drinking he would have to be doing in a few hours.

“What'd you do about your bat?” someone asked him “I remember you smashing it after we didn't score enough points in the final match.”

Lonan looked up and saw that Mathilda Carrow, the other chaser on the team, had asked him. He explained that he used Marc's to practice with, but had bought a new one in Diagon Alley.

“I'm looking forward to breaking it in, honestly. It's the same one that Marc uses when he plays, but he is sponspored and gets them for free.”

“Couldn't he have just given you one, then?”

“Yeah, he could have, but the problem with Marc is that he's an egotistical fuckwit who doesn't think of anyone but his precious, precious self. It took me three weeks to convince him to give me his extra one from last season. I don't even think he knows I brought it with me.”

“Oh...”

The table was mostly taken up with small talk after that, with Lonan mostly thinking about how he could bribe the Prefects out of the common room that night. He spared a glance up at the professor's table and saw that Slughorn's face was already flushing red, which was a good sign. If Slughorn was hungover for potions the next day, surely he wouldn't mind that Lonan would be hungover as well. Hell, Slughorn would probably keep him after class to make a hangover remedy and talk about how great it was that he got to see the entire Hightower clan through Hogwarts. Legacies really impressed that man.

They had been walking through the dark forest now for some time. Juneberry's mid section started to hurt as Hagrid continued to carry her. Just before she had thought to complain, they all came to a stop.

"There she is." Headmaster Potter said as he rushed over. Hagrid put her down then and she rubbed her abdomen.

"Is she alright?" she asked walking over. She couldnt see the blood until she was closer and when she did, she gasped, the plates of food dropping onto the grass.

"Oh no, what happened to her!?" she said kneeling next to her friend. Before there was a chance for her headmaster to speak there was a loud roaring of a bear heard close by.

As Headmaster Potter regained his thoughts he looked at June. "I need you to do exactly what i say and she will be alright. I need you to go get Nurse Ginny and tell her to come to the woods as quickly as she can." he looked down at Kaitlyn then and turned her gently onto her back. "After you do, i want you to stay at the school. No matter how long it takes for us to return, you musn't come back here, do you understand?" he looked at her expectantly.

In her mind Juneberry was only concerned with the walk back to the castle. "I dont think i can get there as fast as you need me to." she said.

The headmaster nodded and said quietly. "Under normal circumstances i would not as you of this, but i may need you to apparate there. Just, be careful when you do." he finished.

With one more look at her friend she nodded and got back upon her feet. She hesitated and looked at her mom. Their eyes locked. "Go. We will take care of this here." she said and turned to the darker part of the forest. Stepping a few feet away she took out her wand and focused on the doors of the Hall. She felt pain for a fraction of a second as usual and then nothing. Opening her eyes, Juneberry found herself exatly where she wanted to be.

---

Back at the clearing Luna Lovegood stared into the woods. Hagrid had earlier been told to return to the Hall as well so the students would be less suspicious and make up rumors. She could see the bear not too far off, watching her as well. There was a bit of a stare off going on for some time and then she turned to Potter.
"She had cubs. Likely she got too close and the bear attacked to protect them. I would do the same." she concluded.

Headmaster Potter stood as Luna turned away.

"That's good to know i suppose." he said as he turned to look at the teacher. "I would believe it if not for the fact you are a terrible liar." When he said that, Luna turned and smiled at him. "You and i both know... i cannot tell a lie."

---

With little effort Juneberry pushed one door to the Hall open and walked back in where the students and teachers were laughing, as they should be. She spotted Nurse Ginny across the hall and sighed as she started running over. It was a relif as she noticed many ignored her. She hated the stares....with a passion she hated them. She hated feeling like Looney Lovegood Jr., but somehow trying to be under the radar was something Juneberry didnt really know how to do.

Many students thought of her as an attention getter but really her goal was the opposite. For some reason, everything that ever went wrong in this school either ended with Lonan and his crew of misfits or June. It was a sad fact, but a fact nonetheless. As she approached the stairs to where most the teachers sat, she called out to the nurse. "Nurse Ginny? A moment of your time please. Its urgent." she said waiting.

The nurse came over and Juneberry gave the message. In a calm manner, she nodded and exited the hall.

With a sigh, June stood there awkwardly for a moment. She looked around and saw some familiar faces, but none really that she could sit with. She walked to the closest table and took an apple perched atop an untouched mountain of fruits. She figured she'd skip out on this feast and go wander around like she usually did. She made her way back to the door, this time paying no attention to anyone else.

She started thinking about a club she could try to join this year and slowly slipped into her thoughts; certain that eventually she would make her way to the Ravenclaw commons.

John was just about to poke Sam back when he saw June and the teachers rush out after Kaitlyn. "Merlin's beard what is going on?" He had just begun to stop thinking about it when June came rushing back in to get Nurse Ginny, the school nurse who had been here for who knows how long. John decided he was going to find out what the hell was going on. He gave Teddy and Sam a look that said, I'm-leaving-come-with-me-if-you-want. John rushed out the door and through the courtyard, struggling to keep up with Nurse Ginny who was fast for a woman of her size.

Ginny ran as fast as she could towards where her husband was. She closed the distance as fast as she could. She realized that multiple people out there. She didn't hesitate at teh border. She smiled at being able to do this without fear. "Point Me" The wand shows her which direction to her husband.

Harry looked at the wolf on the ground. He knew this wasn't what she should look like. He pointed his wand at her and stated "Homorphus." With that her body was forced back to the human form and it was worse than it had appeared.

Luna threw a few Lumos into the woods. just to keep an eye out. SHe began walking a little deeper to be able to see even deeper. There is no sign of the creature that hurt Kitten. She smiled.

Kitten regained a symblance of conciousness and began trying to crawl away. Not even cognizant enough to know where she was or what was going on.

Harry immeadiately pointed his wand at her again. "Petrificus Totalus"

Ginny burst into the clearing and saw as her husband petrified the student.

Valerie looked down at the patronus. "Good. You learned the Patronus Charm," she said as she knelt down . "I need you to keep an eye on the professors. We're in our crucial stages and if one of them appears to know something it will be bad. If that happens they need to die. it doesn't matter how. They need to die and any evidence about us needs to be destroyed." Valerie knew Skylar could do this. She reminded her of herself honestly.

Samantha giggeled at her friend Lydia as she would turn her head around looking at the teachers running after some student. "Uhhh....." she wondered what happened as she turned her head to John and nodded at him as she stood up and ran with John to keep up with the nurse. ",What the hell is happening?" She told John as she ran. It might have been some problems between the student and teacher. As they got in closer she noticed Harry, the nurse and others. "Ummm" Sam just stood there waiting for something to happen.

Harry looked up at Nurse Ginny and waved her over. "She's injured and needs help now." he said to her while moving to give her some room. She walked over to inspect the student on the ground and looked worried. "She's been here far to long. I dont have my supplies that i need with me, and she needs help now."

Harry was about to speak when some students, likely friends of Juneberry, ran into the clearing. With a small sigh he turned to them. "I suppose Juneberry was not as discreet as i wanted her to be?" he asked them as they walked over. He looked at Samantha and saw she had a worried look on her face. Not wanting this situation to get more out of hand, he looked at Ginny.

"If you would please take her to the infirmary im sure things would go better."

With a nod Ginny pulled out her wand and gripped the arm of Kaitlyn tightly before they both dissapeared. Harry turned back to the students then and smiled. "It is nice of you to worry about her, but it is dangerous for us to be out here at this time. Come." he said to them as he walked past them. He took a few strides and turned back to Luna who was staring out into the forest still. "Luna?" he said her name hoping to get her out of the trance she was in.

She turned on her heels, her hands behind her back and tilted her head to the side. "We've had company i see." she said walking over to them. "Hello little one's" she said patting each of them on the head. "What an exciting start of the year, no?" she walked over to Harry and linked her arm in his. "I dont know about you, but i'll be more than upset if i miss the banquet this year." she told him, likely to remind him of the past three she had missed.

"They were all your fault. Dont make it seem like it was me who kept you from them." he frowned and shook his head, not minding her slight accusation as he started walking back to the school.

Skylar crossed her arms and leaned her back against the cool stone wall. "Understood, however something has been bothering me as of late." She paused a moment before speaking again, eyes trailing toward the window. "I heard a rumor about Headmaster Potter that I didn't want to alarm you with until I had some actual evidence to back it. I spent the summer looking into it and discovered something you might not be happy with." There was another pause as she took a breath. "Apparently he has a map that he inherited during his days here at Hogwarts. My mother told me a story she heard from a friend in Dumbledore's Army, that they avoided getting caught by teachers using this map. I hear it can show where people are standing at any moment of the day. If that's true, you might be in trouble. Like I said, it was just rumor, but I've gathered similar stories from several sources so I think it's worth some investigation. What do you want to do about it?" As she spoke, Skylar had made her way over to the window which looked out over the Forbidden Forest. Down below there was a ruckus that could only have been the new Ravenclaw that had ditched out on dinner. "Interesting." She muttered under her breath.

Austin didn't hesitate in following John, dashing out of the building and quickly catching up to him. He slowed and stopped, looking at Harry. He said," oh come on Harry, er, Headmaster Potter, you didn't just expect us to sit there when teachers raced out of the hall? It was bound to be something of interest." He fiddled with his wand, having it out just in case it was needed. He said," what happened anyways? What attacked her?" He could only expect something happened, seeing as how Ginny was needed for her skills as a nurse.

"Uncle Harry come on! You what happened. You can't very well leave us in the dark about the whole thing," John said, dropping the formalities for his Uncle. He was interested in what had happened to the new girl, mostly because he had taken to venturing into the forest at night when he couldn't sleep. Never too far, but who knows. Whatever attacked the girl might come closer.

Valerie nodded as Skylar's patronus relayed the story. She'd heard it from Anthony but had assumed it was just a rumor. Nothing more nothing less. "The Marauder's Map. Yes that might be an issue. Steal it. We have intel that the password to the Headmaster's Quarters is 'Fawkes'. But don't get caught. Potter won't take kindly to someone stealing his possesions," Valerie said quietly.

Skylar nodded to herself and unfolded her arms, turning her gaze back to the sinks. "The Marauder's Map, hmm? Catchy." Stepping away from the window she ran her fingers over the snake on the faucet, tracing the coiled beast slowly. "I'll do my best to get it as soon as possible. Anything else before I slip back among the crowd? Dinner should be ending soon, not surprising after all that fuss."

Harry looked at the students among them was his nephew and godson. "If you want to know what happened to her then walk back to the school and ask her. It is where I am going." Harry began the gentle walk back to the college.

Luna hummed as she followed behind him. "You might want to hurry before that creature comes back." Her tone was strange. Still her monotonous tone that is bad.

---

Ginny had gotten her back to the infirmary and began by freeing her. "Finite Incantartum." Kitten was released out of it. She was very weak and again attempted to crawl away. "Stop that." Ginny realized that kitten's robes were destroyed. She finished removing it. And began binding them the muggle way with tight white strips of bandage. After the Bandages were tight. She ran her wand over Kitten's broken bones and they began mending causing Kitten to begin crying.

Ginny left her there for a moment while she began making a set of potions to help Kitten heal faster.

After reaching Hogsmeade, they were immediately herded off based on their respective houses and years while Hagrid shouted orders to the first years to follow him at the docks separating them from the rest of the upperclassmen. Second years and up fall in queues following House Prefects leading them to the line of carriages waiting at the side of the road that will carry them off to Hogwarts. Nicholas supposed the Thestrals were some made up story to scare the young ones since he hasnt seen one himself, and he's heard talks about them being ugly, and terrifyingly deformed. It sounded so fictitious to him, so he let himself assume the carriages were being moved by some sort of enchantment, but decided to not let the others know he doesnt believe them.

The thing is, Nicholas is very different when it comes to friends, his parents, his brothers, and the general public. He keep a certain figure depending on who's going to see it. Sure, you can see him goof off in the common rooms, kid around with fellow Slytherins, throwing in some occasional jinx and jeers at the castle hallways, but that too is rarely seen. The public Nicholas is usually cool, reserved and fairly uninvolved with anything other than Quidditch and being a Slytherin. Though he tries to participate, he always keeps it at a formal level with no personal attachments. He couldn't quite get the idea of opening up. Though he must admit (at least to himself) that it makes him feel sort of lonely. He's afraid that if he starts to let go, he wouldnt fit in.

So when the Sorting began, he would clap and cheer at the kids that has been sorted to his house along with the rest of the Slytherins, though secretly hoping it would end soon. Nicholas doesnt really care who ends up to what house, he just wish whoever is sorted to Slytherin would make themselves worthy to carry the House's name. He has his fair share with freeloaders, and he's not going to spend another year dealing with them.

Potter went on about his speech, but mostly Nicholas tuned him out. He was looking over at the Ravenclaw table, towards where Lovegood sat in particular. She can make people feel impossibly awkward and weird, but at the same time (and in Nicholas' opinion) makes them genuinely at ease, like it was the normalest thing for her. She acts so care free like it doesnt really matter what other people think of her. And then, suddenly, Nicholas had this epiphany, that Lovegood is the exact opposite of himself. And that he was jealous of her. He hates the fact that she can take it easy being weird and all and people take it like it was normal, when here he is, struggling desperately just to fit in. It's unfair.

Nicholas was so consumed in his thoughts that he hadnt even noticed the food is served. He filled his plate with some roasted chicken, and fruits, and a slice of fresh baked bread. He busied himself with his food while agreeing and laughing at the right moment as he half listens to the chatters around him. And then, he noticed them, its really impossible to miss the huge form of Hagrid hurrying out of the Great Hall, "What's going?" He asked to Lonan and the others as the the Headmaster and a few teachers vacated their seats and followed suit. He can sense the other students from the other tables noticed it too. There's something definitely off here.