( I think I got everyone...sorry if I accidentally left anyone out. Still trying to catch up a bit but I want to play! So yeah reading details might have to wait lol)

Drew had run a good part of the way from the castle to Hogsmeade and then slowed to a trot as he came to the main street. He was late, he thought. Mags and Merls would think he'd deserted them after he wasn't able to come to the last workshop. but there was no way the boy planned to miss a visit to Hogsmeade and time with his friends. Running a hand through his ruffled dark hair, Drew entered Las Palmas.

There was already a good sized crowd and an assortment of now familiar faces and some new ones as well. However two stood out and Drew grinned. He signed his name and then headed over calling, "Hey, Mags! Hiya, Merls!" ()

(( LOL...she will hopefully return to color later...when she gets out of her funk))

She listened and nodded. "Ya...thought I would pick up some European culture..." her brows furrowed a bit. "I hear Durmstrang is a nightmare...what did you think of it?"

()

Joe looked up as a teen boy came in, signed in and waved over to Magnus and Merlin, then joined the expanding group.

He turned his attention back to the girl in front of him. "It...was not pleasant. I think this might be the only choice there is. What do you think of the culture so far...?" He gave a small smile. "I am not into tea, so...I think a lot of the charm will be lost on me."

Merlin smiled to Magnus. "You'll have it today, will get something from a shop here and that's it."

"So you like animals then? I'm a creature lover, I have several pets and hopefully I will get another one today." Merlin grins. "I will call it Puffy and Mag will help me chose one." He then adds. "What sort of pet would you like? I have a cat named Hoshi back at home and Meolc, and here at Hogwarts I have Thunder and Spellz, my owl." He listened to the young one. "Who is Madame and Kagan?"

Merlin heard a familiar voice and looked up. "DREW! You made it! I thought you would leave me alone with the wolfie to pick the puffskeins! You know how he doesn't like them, but I will get him one especially made for him." He grins mischievously.

"Ny-all. Ok, I got it. Thank you." Kyros smiled at the boy, finding himself at least a bit calmer right now. Or at least not actively dealing with the fact his joke was real and apparently something Merlin wasn't too keen to be known. He felt bad now, a bit guilty even.

Hopping onto the next topic as fast as he could, he pondered over the matter of animals. "You like pets? It's a shame we can't bring ours here to show you. Though it wouldn't be very hygienic." Musing thougtfully, resting his chin on top of his hand. "Still, a few of them are quite well-behaved and clean. My cat certainly is."

A bad feeling crossed his mind, just as his expression turned into a frown for a moment, before relaxing again. "You don't need to say anything you're not comfortable with, Niall." Kyros said with unusual seriousness. "If you do wish to speak about something bad, it would be no problem to listen to you. But don't feel pressured to. Hogwarts is a safe place." Noticing he was maybe too serious, Kyros sighed slightly, a hand running through his black curls.

Someone new had arrived. He breathed in and out slowly before turning to the newcomer. "Hey , have a sit! I'm... Not sure if we met yet. But if you know Magnus and Merlin, then please, be welcome."

Lottie watched the boy come in, he seemed cheerful, she then looked back into her coffee.

Hearing the boys response she snorted a bit. "I can imagine it wasnt..." she sighed and looked up at him. "I am probably not the best person to ask at the moment on the European culture, I feel my perception of it, at the moment, would seem skewed." She wasnt trying to come off unpleasant, she just didnt want to corrupt this guys perception with her experiences. "All I have seen, in regards to tea drinking, is just that...I guess I expected more in regards to that. Sense they make a big deal about it in movies and all.."

Drew grinned and shook his head. "Nope, I'll help you wolfie sit." He patted Magnus' head playfully. "and of course we'll get our puffskeins. I am so looking forward to this!"

Glancing over at the two new (at least to him) boys, Drew smiled at the little red head and the older boy. "Hi," he said to both of them. "I'm Drew. Nice to meet you both. And pets are great. My dog is back at the castle and I have an owl at Hogwarts as well."

Joe chuckled quietly. "I think that perhaps, those tea events they make such a fuss about in movies, may not be your everyday tea time." He looked down. "I hope," he said very quietly, "that we don't sample too ethnic of foods here today...no haggis."

She gave a little smile and spoke quietly as well, hoping it would get over the more crowded tables conversation. "Well, I did hope to see some sort of tea party...but yes...I am guessing its just tea breaks." her nose wrinkled at him saying haggis, showing her first genuine expression. "Ew...no. Im not touching anything I dont feel comfortable with." she shook her head. "gross."

Joe looked up at her and grinned. "Me either. I'm Joe, by the way."

(at least black is slimming)

Was Niall just really shy or was there something he wasn't wanting to share? Magnus wasn't sure so he decided to not say anything and instead waved, "'Ey Drew! This 'ere is Niall," Magnus said pointing to the redhead, "about to come to 'Ogwarts so 'ere on a tour." Magnus smiled. “I’ve got a bird named Ginger and cat named Kippers. Me friend Paddy’ll buy me a mouse today what does tricks.”

Niall nodded. "Animals are the o-only friends I've ever had." He turned beat red again and looked back at his plate. "I-I'd love anything really, but Madam says I have to have one from a shop not the wilds... and cos I haven't any money its never happened." His thoughts went to the money Gaia gave him. He should use it to buy supplies for school but buying his every own pet was appealing. "Miss Gaia gave me pocket money… I still can’t believe it… I amn’t sure if I should use it on a pet though… I mean… I am getting my wand for my belated birthday gift and Hogwarts would use their fund to help me buy my second-hand supplies but I don’t want to put them out…” He wasn’t entirely aware that he was thinking out loud. He looked up at the group and sighed. “Kagen is a boy at my home. Madam runs the wizard orphanage… I’d be the first to go to Hogwarts. The others go to Baux and Durm. I-I thought maybe I would be better off here.” He looked around, “Where’s the wolf?”

e

Merlin couldn't help to laugh a bit with Kyros seriousness so he just said. "Chill, no need to be so serious. You sound like you are his uncle or something." He looked at Niall. "He is right about no needing to share things you don't wish to, after all we really are strangers to you but here at Hogwarts...we are family or so I hope."

After noticing Drew didn't knew everyone, Merlin decided to make introductions. "Oh Drew, this is Kyros, the young one is Niall, the wolfie you know, the ladies are Rosie and Lenore." Merlin moved Drew's head side to side with his hand. "This guy here is a fellow Slytherin Drew, short for Andrew which he LOVES being called, right?" Merlin laughed and grabbed a drink for him. "Drink up."

Merlin looked up to the other table where Charlotte and a guy he have never seen before was. "Do you guys know the young man with Lottie?" Merlin waved to them but wasn't sure if they wanted to call any attention yet everyone on the table twist to look at them. "Guys, don't stare."

[Edit] ((Here we go! lol))

Merlin looked at Niall and whispered. "If you like puffskeins, I'll get you one, alright? We are going to get one, Drew and I, so I can totally buy you one, so you can use your money on more important things...unless you prefer other pet."

((ooc omg LOL)) (( ))

Joe suddenly felt a lot of people looking at him. He turned to see the large group of students looking his way. His eyes narrowed and he met their gazes coolly.

(( lol, well...yes I suppose...wasnt the reason I was goth though. OMG...make everyone stare! O.O thats not uncomfortable! LOL))

She gave a soft chuckle. "Pleasure...Im Lottie...short for Charlotte." she blinked feeling "indirect" stares in her direction. She looked over to see Merlin wave. She gave a small smile and tiny wave back. His table seemed packed and social. She wasnt sure she was ready for that. She looked back down at her coffee and then took a sip.

"Hi, Niall," Drew smiled. "I'm pretty new here too...it's my first term. I hope you will come here and that you'll like it. I've got a cousin who is coming next term. She just turned 11 too." His grey eyes grew a dark smokey color at the thought of the younger boy not having a pet or money. Well that would change today, he vowed. "I think you should spend you money on what you think is best, but be warned...Hogwarts is a place of many surprises." He smiled, already devising plans. Drew shared a look with Magnus and Merlin.

At the question about the wolf, Drew chuckled and looked at Magnus, not sure if he should tell or leave it to his friend to reveal his own secret.

[edit] (I echo Merlin's thought of here we go again!! Darn slow wifi!)

Drew made a face at Merlin's teasing. "Watch it," he said with a grin. "Just 'cause you're a prefect doesn't mean you're safe from pranks if you have folks calling me Andrew."

Niall looked. "Y-you would do that?" he asked unsure why he would offer. He shifted uncomfortably as Drew spoke not sure what he had meant.

Magnus was sort of staring at Niall and not the other table. "I grew up in an orphanage till I were almost 9 and attacked by a werewolf." Then the realization that there was wizard orphanages hit him. They made him stay at Saint Mungos not because of the lack of homes but because of what he was and Magnus felt like he had been hit in the stomach.

"A w-werewolf?" he asked, "but...that... they... you can come here?" Niall didn't know how to reply to this at all nor on the expression that had crossed Magnus' face.

[Edit] ((For leaf and Rave) Merlin stick out his tongue to Drew, he knew prefects were also pranks target, sometimes more than normal students as he have already experience plenty.

The slytherin looked at the young orphan boy and simply said. "Yes I will get it, because you love animals just like I do." He winks. "We have to stick together." He put his hand on his shoulder and nods.

((OOC: LOL I just wanted to say hi but you know when you ask in a group and everyone looks at the same time, that's what normally happens and then you are wishing you never asked since you embarrass yourself. Didn't mean to be rude, just real.)

Merlin wished he have told them not to stare before asking and not after, now they looked uncomfortable and it was natural so he decided to go there and introduce himself to the fellow. "Hello Charlotte, sorry about that I was just curious about your friend here." He smiled while his face was really red. "I'm Merlin Pendragon, Slytherin prefect and didn't mean to be rude I just asked if they knew you since well I've never seen you around. A few new faces today and I'm a very curious guy. Hope you don't feel offended." He offered his hand. "A pleasure to meet you...um?"

Lenore finally looks up from her book when Merlin asks her if she wants a drink. Looking around at the gathering crowd she responds "anything strong." Then remembering that Merlin is a prefect she adds quickly, "A butterbeer would be fine" and blushes. Gosh, she hates that she blushes so easily. Her skin is just so pale.

Lenore watches as the crowd just gets bigger and bigger. She pulls out a pair of black leather earmuffs and her wand. She points the wand at the earmuffs and with a soft white glow makes them sound-proof. Hopefully someone will tell her when it's time to go. After a while she realizes that things in the non-soundproof world are growing intense and figures it might be a while before she gets her drink. Oh well.

((Wow things are moving fast! Sorry if I'm late on this))

ellenor walks towards the table with a girl and guy sitting at it.

can i join you guys? she asks

((sorry i haven't posted i was dressing my ha.))

Joe watched Merlin approach, blushing. Then he spoke to Lottie, and introduced himself. Joe debated shaking his hand while he stood up and introduced himself. " I'm Joe, " he said, looking down at the prefect, " and no, I am not offended. I don't shake hands, though."

He looked over at one of the girls he had seen reading before, who had just come up. "Certainly, please have a seat," he said, motioning to one of the chairs at the table.