Anticipation [open]

[ROUX L'AMOUR]

The train journey had passed a lot quicker than Roux had expected, and he soon found himself giving Akaia, his Screech Owl, a gentle feather ruffle of a goodbye as he piled off of the train with the other students. The Groundskeeper, Hagrid, was calling loudly over everyone's heads for first years to follow him, and Roux shook his head. He had never gotten to ride in the boats across the lake, since he had joined the school in his sixth year. He watched the half-giant absentmindedly for a few moments, before he was pushed out of sight by throngs of students.

Blinking a few times, Roux glanced about in the darkness, trying to gain his bearings, and found himself standing in front of rows of carriages. It seemed they were magically enchanted to pull themselves, but Roux knew better. He had never seen death, but he knew all too well that there were creatures known as Thestrals, standing right in front of him, though he could see only air. Curious as he was to see them, Roux found himself glad that he had never witnessed the horrors that would make the horse-like creatures visible to him. With a silent shudder, he averted his gaze and climbed into the nearest carriage, pulling his red hoodie back on to protect him from the chill in the night air.

The seats were old and flimsy, and Roux had to duck his head a little to stop it brushing the ceiling. Realizing that he must look like some sort of hunchback, he opted to slouch down the seat a bit. Sure, he would look lazy, but it was marginally more flattering. His stomach growled loudly, and he hoped they would start moving soon. The start of term feast, though it kept him from much needed sleep, was always something to look forward to. Just the thought of what kinds of foods would be on offer had him almost drooling in anticipation.

[BEAU LUCAS RENARD]

Exiting the train at Hogsmeade station, Beau found himself being pulled along in the crowds, unable to really decide where he wanted to go himself. It seemed wherever they were headed, he was, too. Luckily, it was only to the waiting carriages that would lead them back to the castle. There were tons of them, some already having set off on the path around the outskirts of the castle, some still sitting waiting for more passengers.

Breaking free of the crowd, Beau veered away from his sisters and made his way to the carriage nearest to him, which only had one person in it. A boy, around Beau's age, though very tall. So tall, in fact, he was having to slouch in his seat, to stop his head from being squished against the roof of the carriage. Climbing inside, Beau sat opposite him on the other side of the carriage and gave him a nod in greeting. He had ridden with strangers last year, too, and it wasn't that unusual to ride in silence, he had found. So, he settled in, focusing on what was going on outside the window.

A loud rumbling noise filled the carriage, and Beau's head shot around to look for the source. Only the dark-haired boy was about. Looking him up and down, Beau couldn't hide the confused smile as he realized what it must have been. "Hungry?" he asked. "You should have gotten something to eat on the train." He didn't mean to sound bossy of anything. He was merely stating the obvious. Beau, himself had made sure to have a light snack off the food trolley. Not enough to spoil his appetite for the Start of Term Feast, but he wasn't having problems with his stomach trying to talk to everyone in the room.

[ISABEL TAYLOR]

Oh, to be the most awkward person on the planet was a delightful honour. Or not. She should have looked before she leaped, or something to that effect, as Isabel found herself climbing into a carriage that was already occupied by two very good looking French boys she knew were from the transfer program.

Trying not to cringe with embarrassment, she sat herself down as far from them both as she could get, giving small smiles of greeting and an awkward laugh. Immediately, her hands were on her hair, twirling the ends round and round as she listened to their light conversation about food. Apparently, the dark ones stomach had been making a lot of noise. Izzy hoped to Merlin that her own would keep quiet until they got to the castle. She didn't think she could stand it if her stomach started growling at the boys.

She had eaten on the train, however, so the chances weren't very high. She hoped. Her packed lunch had consisted of plain chicken sandwiches and a packet of Wotsits. Plus, she had bought a few sweets from the trolley. Izzy was a seriously fussy eater, and couldn't stand anything with spicy or funny-looking things on them, so it was always easier for her to just bring her own food to places, rather than ending up starving and feeling ill all day. She wondered what things would be available at the feast that she would actually like. Her storm cloud eyes were glued to the window and the view of the castle in the distance. Anywhere but on the two French boys, really.