"Dead nice they are," Magnus replied. "Got long noses and ears and can do powerful magic. Mum inherited her from her Great Aunt Lucinda. Mimsy won't take any pay though, so gives her treats and such. We've also got garden gnomes that my cat likes to chase. The gnomes are rather ugly but they sure are fun having round the garden." He laughed then asked, "What about you? What's your family like?"

Rowan is utterly fascinated by Magnus' information about house elves. The garden gnome tales make her laugh, and soon she is feeling completely relaxed.

We might feel like misfits, but I think we'll fit in well as long as we have each other. She thinks to herself.

"My family is really great, except for being all Muggles. They're glad I'm here. I think I make them a bit nervous."

"They sound amazing," Paddy replied. She wondered why a house elf wouldn't take payment, but she didn't like to ask. "I live with my parents - they both came to Hogwarts when they were our age, but I spend my summers with Uncle Alfred. He works as an alchemist out in the forest." Paddy stopped talking suddenly, aware that she might have said just a little more than she was planning on telling anyone.

"Nothin' wrong with muggles," Magnus said feeling more at ease as the trio conversed, "your parents probly just don't understand what its like to have magic. I mean, they didn't know it existed so imagine finding out about it from a letter, strange occurrence or bloke in funny clothing. Its a lot to take in for us, so for them it has to be overwhelming." Surely the way he learnt he was a wizard was enough for him to be sure he was speaking the truth. "Ooh, cool. Alchemy is pretty neat and no one to get in your face in the forest. I like finding places where I can be alone and not easily found. At the home, I had an alcove I'd slip off to and read. Drove the headmaster crazy that they'd never find me. Had police lookin' all hours for me." He laughed, "got in lots of scrapes but its not like you can get kicked out of a children's home so I ignored a lot of their rules. Did what I fancied. Suspect the headmaster danced a gig when he learnt he'd gotten rid o' me." Magnus' eyes were dancing with laughter, it had amused him many times over the last few years to think of the headmaster learning the troublemaker was not returning.

[img align=right]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/boldaslove11/charlotte.png[/img]Charlotte walks in to the Great Hall and is astonished at how big the room looks without all the tables. She saw her friend and hurried over to her. It was always nice for Charlotte to have a friend in situations like this. "Hi," she whispered and waited for the parchment to be passed her way.

When it was her turn she signed her name on the parchment (Charlotte Abernathy - Ravenclaw) and she introduced herself, "Hi, my name is Char. I'm in Ravenclaw." She paused, a little unsure of what to say next. "I've never dueled before," she laughed nervously, "I'm excited to give it a try thought!"

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/S8ReoUj.png[/img] Poppy approached the trio, warmed by their friendly welcomes. She found a seat with Rowan, Magnus, and Paddy, where they were clustered near the dueling platform. Her interest was piqued at their talk of Muggles, alchemist uncles, and the rags-to-riches story of Magnus. "Dueling Club is drawing a diverse crowd," Poppy thought. She was pleased to meet such interesting students.

"The Great Hall feels so different set up like this. Dueling always seemed like such a fascinating part of wizarding history to me, and it's useful," she remarked. "So what made you join?"

Poppy caught Amanda's eye and grinned at her. "I'll have to remember that she goes by Charlotte now. Her new style is stunning! Did she change her look over break?" She had so many questions and marveled at the girl's flowing hair.

"In order to use this charm you must say Stupefy (STEW-puh-fye)." Beth pointed her finger to the pile of dummies in the corner. “We’ll be practicing with these dummies until we learn spells that properly deflect this spell.” She pointed her wand to one of the dummies and yelled “Piertotum Locomotor ((PY-air-TOH-tuhm LOH-koh-MOH-tor))”, causing it to spring to life. “I’ll go first. As the dummy approached her she shouted, ”STUPEFY!“ The dummy stopped moving as a jet of red light from Beth’s wand hit it in the chest.

"Anybody want to give it a try?" she asked.

[img align=left]http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac299/blissfuldaisies/Random/Dueling_zpsy1yj9od9.png[/img] "hi Char!" Gaia said when her friend showed up. "It is always good to have friends to join clubs with!" she said with an encouraging smile.

() Gaia raised her hand and kind of skipped forward unconsciously bringing out her wand. "I would like to try! So point and shoot?"

[img align=left]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p562/pikachuemerald/Subeta/DuelingClubHA_zpsxycpz124.png[/img] "I will!" Lyn jumped to her feet and climbed onto the platform. Getting into an offensive stance, Lyn watched as one of the dummies come forth at Beth's command. As the dummy got to the platform, she let out a loud "STUPEFY!" before watching a red burst of energy smack into the dummy's side rather than its center. "Aim, Lyn, aim," she silently chastised herself as she watched the dummy stumble sideways before it came to a stop.

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/ewypPQR.png?1[/img] "Good job, Lyn!"

"Yes. Come on up. You're next."

Aderyn dashed into the great hall, peeved at herself for being so late to her first dueling club meeting. She'd intended on coming early, but she'd dozed off over a book in the common room after dinner and hadn't woken up until one of her fellow Ravenclaws had laughed at some joke someone else had shared.

Creeping up to where the rest of the group stood around,, she watched as Gaia and Lyn took their places to give dueling a try. She glanced around, a little confused as to what to do, and just stood by silently, not wanting to intrude after being so late to get in.

[img align=left]http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac299/blissfuldaisies/Random/Dueling_zpsy1yj9od9.png">/img

"GREAT!" Then whispering to Beth "you are doing a great job around here." A wink and getting ready to take her turn. Gaia looked at the dummy, cleared her throat and yelled "Stupafy!" Needless to say that didn't go so well. Her wand shot an orange glow and the dummy seemed confused. "Erm... I think I might have to try again!"

Gaia gave a wave at her friend () Aderyn.

Hannah waited for her turn and then Deme would go after her.

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/ewypPQR.png?1[/img] "Hi, Aderyn. You're just in time. We're learning our first spell, the Stunning Spell. Would you like to first introduce yourself to the group? You can go after Deme () if you like."

"Let's give it another try," she said with a smile.

Magnus' hand bolted into the air and all thought of further conversation halted as he waited to see if he would be picked to try next.

()

Gaia cleared her throat again, pointed her wand at the dummy and yelled "STUPEFY!" and looked in amazement as the dummy stumbled when the red light hit it in the face. "Well that was better, but I am sure I was aiming at the stomach."

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/ewypPQR.png?1[/img] "That was great!" Beth exclaimed.

She high fived and turned to Hannah ().

"Would you like to go next?" she asked her.

() Gaia let out a Whoop and went to her friends. She turned to Harper () "I think it is your turn!" she added an encouraging smile and turned to () Aderyn "This is a great way to learn spells and such. I wonder if there are people around here interested in being Aurors." She scanned the crowd searching for something, as if she could tell who would be an Auror in the future, with a shrug she returned hey eyes to the other students dueling.

"How about you practice on the other side of the platform?"Beth asked Magnus ().

Beth walked to the other side of the platform and pointed her wand to another dummy and yelled “Piertotum Locomotor”, causing it to spring to life and approach them.

"Sure thing Beth!" said Hannah going close to the dummy, "Stupefy!" she said knocking back the dummy with a red jolt from her wand hitting its chest. "YEAH!" said Hannah twirling around and then going back to her seat. Deme went up and cleared his throat, "Stamperfy!" said Deme with the dummy just moving about as normal. "Stup!" mouthed Hannah to him as he looked out over the crowd to her. "Stupefy!" said Deme seeing a red jolt from his wand hit the dummies neck. He walked down and talked with Hannah about it. "Good job getting the neck!" she whispered to him. "I've had to have my aim good..for.." he didn't say anything further because of the other people around.