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He smirked as Ariana offered her pinky for a pinky swear. "Pinky swears are a big deal to us," he said and chuckled, but took her pinky with his. "I do solemnly swear to remain friends and hang out, even if we're sorted into different houses."

"Oh, ah, I'm reading it because it's really interesting. And I think I might try to learn more languages because it'll let me read more books and learn more." Elliot tried grinning hesitantly. Then Cheshire let out a nyaow from on top of his hat and he chuckled and lifted the kitten down, now juggling the book and the cat at the same time. "But I don't really make friends easily. I spend too much time reading for that." His fingers drummed on the book's binding as he looked up at the castle.

Then he looked around the crowd of gathering students. It was easy to see that some were more assured of themselves, while others weren't. Most were busy talking amongst themselves, and none looked as nervous as he was. He tried taking another deep breath to calm his nerves as he turned back to smile at Shina and Rue.

“Indeed it is”, Selene agreed, “But, it’s Hogwarts, it’s the best” she continued with just a bit too much pride for an eleven year-old who hadn’t even begun the term. Selene took note of the girl’s name, not certain if she’d heard it before. If Andromeda was a pureblood, with the pureblood line being stretched so thin, she might come across that name, Yarrow, again in the future. Selene liked to find every advantage possible as early on in the game as she could. She had, indeed learned her mother’s lessons well. The handshake Selene received in return from the girl didn’t surprise her as much as it impressed her, and Selene was not easily impressed. It was evident that this girl had had training on some level. Be it “pureblood etiquette” classes Selene had received from her mother at home or some formal training in a Charms school, she couldn’t be certain. She wondered if this, too, would come up later.

Selene was caught off-guard when the girl began speaking in French. She was not prepared for that, and that, to Selene was simply unacceptable. She did not speak French fluently, even if she did understand it a bit. In this small way, Selene had suddenly lost her edge. That thought brought on a short moment of panic, had Selene bitten off more than she could chew? Selene had to remain calm and use her mind. Even in what seemed a harmless conversation, having the advantage was important and she needed to find a way to get it back, or, perhaps, make it seem as if this advantage did not concern her. No, she decided, she could use this to her advantage. How could being at a disadvantage work for one’s favor? Well, if the person at the disadvantage had been taught by Irene Gillette, they would know. Moments like these, Selene was astonishingly grateful to her mother. After all, Selene’s lessons consisted of many rules and mottos. One such mottow, she recalled quite clearly. “Let your enemy believe they having something over you, then use it against them. Selene had just the thing

“Yes, my Father speaks French fluently, I, unfortunately do not share that talent”, she made a dismissive motion with her hand. Admitting this weakness was hard, but she still had a few tricks up her sleeve. “I understand the language better than I speak it.” Then, in answer to Andromeda’s question about the superiority of France to England, she responded. “From what my Father tells me, it is simply beautiful.”

She wondered if France held some sort of meaning to this girl, so she gave the place this compliment in order to gage the girl’s reaction. She also, by her chosen path, was not at liberty to judge whether the girl was simply trying to be a “know it all” or if she had lapsed into French for some other reason. This was, indeed valuable information and Selene couldn’t help but feel she had made her comback.

“Of course”, Selene acknowledged. Starting the year was exciting and a little enthusiasm was to be expected, though, she remembered the gawking boy from earlier, she would never allow the excitement she felt to have her make a fool of herself. Then the girl said it, Slytherin. Those who wanted to be Slytherin knew of the secret power the house held. They knew that Salazar preferred pureblood. This was another valuable piece of information that Selene would use to inform her study of the girl. Perhaps the girl would make a worthy ally, if she could be kept in check.

“I think we agree on the value of being placed in Slytherin. I, too, have a long family history of Slytherins." In response to the comment of Slytherin being “tainted”, it seemed Selene had a lot to say "Many without a courageous bone in their body might call it a tainted house. The only thing that house is tainted with is greatness.” Selene said, again letting her pride get away with her.

Noticing the girl’s pin, and intentionally attempting to throw her off after making the mistake earlier, Selene asked her a personal question. A question, perhaps, too personal to be considered polite, but, if the girl truly had the manners Selene assumed, propriety would dictate either an answer, of a clever way to avoid answering. Watching the girl struggle would be interesting indeed.

“That a beautiful pin you are wearing”, Selene complimented first to throw her off her guard, “how did you come by it?”. Selene smiled the most innocent encouraging smile she could muster, barely containing her glee at thinking she had caught the girl in a trap.

Elliot blinked as he finally managed to get his book put away and started petting the affronted kitten, then looked in the direction that Rue was glancing. He let out a weak chuckle before shaking his head.

"Some people just don't get along well. Here in Britain it seems a lot of people are concerned with the purity of blood, which just doesn't make sense to me. Both of my parents came from magical families but they weren't magical themselves, so it's pretty apparent that blood has little to do with having magic." He didn't know if that's what the fight was about but it did seem the most likely reason for a fight this early. "In any case, a fight this early just doesn't bode well. Can you imagine what they'll be like if they get sorted into antagonistic Houses?" He shuddered slightly and shook his head.

(Sorry guys...better posts and post layout coming...using my phone at moment xD)

Ben had to bite his tongue so hard that it almost bled just to keep from losing his temper. A sly smirk crossed his face. "Do you think I'd risk making a scene?" he asked innocently. "Your pride will only serve as your downfall." he added. "How do you think it'd end up if there were a scene? Would more people side with the prideful stuck up Slytherin to be, or would they side with the innocent boy who is new to this world?" he inquired. Matt may have won one chess game against Ben, but the war was far from over. "You were wrong to underestimate me," he whispered closely to the dark haired boy in front of him. Somehow the cat and mouse game they were playing satisfied Ben.

Annabelle Humphrey
Unsorted First Year

Once Mark got out of the boat Annabelle saw him looking worryingly at a boy. Who was it? What had he done?
"Who is that?" she asked him curiously and eyed the boy.
Whoever it was, if he did as much as put a finger on Mark, Annabelle would break that finger off. Well, maybe not, but something close. Kick in the groin maybe.