CHAPTER TWO
°⋆∴☽°:۵≼

i. welcome to hogwarts !

— HALFWAY THROUGH THE RIDE TO HOGWARTS, the students changed into their robes, adorning their coloured ties around their necks, identifying their house. Taron left his slightly loose, not wanting to tighten it until they got to the school- which was sooner than he thought.

He pushed the knot and tightened it as they all stepped off the train and followed after Luna and Cedric, who led them to the carriages that would bring any student who wasn't first year, up to the castle.

It was darker now, the train ride having taken most of the day, but they all managed to step up and find a seat together on one carriage- not before Taron let Luna guide his hand to rest on the thestrals that pulled those carriages.

Thestrals were kind creatures that looked like ghostly, dark and boney winged horses.

Luna Lovegood, in her first ride with the group, had explained that they were invisible to people who hadn't witnessed death- and told them about how she'd seen her mother die and could then see the Thestrals.

She told them so kindly and openly, as if she wasn't touched by grief, and from then on they all vowed to adopt her into their little family and treat her with the respect and protectiveness that others denied her when they were at school.

So, when Luna linked her fingers with Taron's and brought his hand to rest on some invisible force, he smiled at her, enthused and in awe. She smiled back, laying her hand next to his and caressing the magnificent creature alongside him.

The ride to the castle was cold, the six students huddled up close to each other, Taron going as far as to tuck himself under Cedric's arm- Eli doing the same on his other side. Cedric accepted it, chuckling and rubbing their shoulders with his gloved hands.

Leave it to Cedric to be intensely prepared for any situation, and to have stuffed his bright yellow and black gloves into his robes pocket before they left the train. Though- Taron still had Eli's Ravenclaw scarf around his neck- which Eli commented on.

"I'm cold too, y'know." She stated.

"So am I." Taron stuck out his tongue.

Eli shivered, "You're always cold." She pointed out.

Taron didn't have to reply. As soon as they were in Hogwart's bounds, Eli pulled out her wand and muttered a spell- allowing intense warmth to wash over all of them.

Cedric sighed, "I should have thought of that before." He muttered.

Eli untucked herself from his side and nodded, "Yes, you should have." She grinned cheekily.

Cedric was the only one in their group who was allowed to preform magic outside of Hogwarts, having turned seventeen over the summer.

Taron stayed under Cedric's arm the whole way- never one to be too warm. Cedric didn't mind, and was even quite used to it. It wasn't uncommon for Cedric and Taron to be leaning against each other or touching in some way. That's just how they are, and how they have been since childhood. So Cedric just held his fellow Hufflepuff closer against his side.

— NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES TARON SAW HOGWARTS CASTLE, it would always take his breath away- with it's tall towers of stone brick and magic. He could already feel the warm fire of the Hufflepuff common room on his skin, and the delicious feast awaiting them in the great hall.

As they entered the castle, Eli muttered another quick spell to remove all the dirt and grime from their shoes, before leading the way into the great hall.

A few students were already there, having gotten to the castle sooner than others. Taron recognized a few of them- the Weasley twins, Lee Jordan, a few assorted members of the house quidditch teams, etc.

Then his eyes trailed over to the Slytherin table, far over on the other side of the hall compared to the Hufflepuff table- which was his next destination.

He saw Pansy Parkinson- the brattiest woman in their year. Blaise Zabini- who was quite an alright guy, Taron recalled him offering up a spare quill in transfiguration one year when Taron had forgotten his own.

Then his gaze landed on a certain bleach blond Slytherin, who looked bored- maybe even a little sad. Draco Malfoy.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Taron waved kindly, offering one of his signature boyish grins- which Draco returned with a slight smile.

Most students were surprised when they saw Taron and Draco interacting- always believing that Taron was much too bright a character to be tainted by the unofficial 'prince' of Slytherin house.

Yet, they had a sort of bond that Draco had never felt with another person before. It was comfortable, or even friendly.

One of Draco's fondest memories was that of spending his third year Christmas break at the Lovenus' manor. In fact- it was the best Christmas he could remember having.

Just as both boys began to fall into a trance, Draco gazing into the Hufflepuff's warm, kind brown eyes, and Taron staring deeply into oceans of boredom and despair- Eli ripped Taron out of it by linking her arm around his and dragging him towards the Hufflepuff table.

Taron accepted this in stride, chuckling at the pretty brunette as she sat down across from Cedric, at a table that wasn't hers.

It wasn't uncommon to look among the sea of black and yellow ties and robes at the Hufflepuff table, and notice that there was a hint of blue and bronze in their midst.

Eli never had been one to follow rules. Despite the many times professor Flitwick told her that she had to sit with her own house during important meals such as this one.

After the second year she did it, the head of Ravenclaw house seemingly gave up on the cause- and no other teacher bothered to tell her off.

She got well enough grades and stayed in her place when she deemed it necessary- and that was that.

Taron had a feeling Dumbledore had something to do with the sudden acceptance of Eli's rule breaking, he always was meddling in students lives- and he himself didn't have much regard for rules.

In fact- Taron and Cedric had a dorm to themselves. Which was odd- considering Cedric was three years ahead of Taron. Usually Hufflepuffs of the same year shared a dorm.

Neither Cedric nor Taron were about to complain- having a dorm completely to themselves lead to a lot of fun weekend sleepovers where Taron, Cedric, and Reign would sneak the others into their common room. Neville was always rather wary, but ended up caving and joining eventually.

Taron sat down next to Eli- straddling the bench so he could still see Neville at the table next to their's- and glanced at the badge pinned to Cedric's robes, shining proudly in the candle light of the great hall.

It'd be easier to sneak the others in this year, now that Cedric was a prefect.

Out of the corner of his eye, Taron watched the Weasley twins slide down the bench until they were next to Neville, who smiled nervously- knowing exactly what they were doing.

"Oi!" Fred muttered, gaining Eli's attention as more students flooded the great hall and found their seats.

"What's up, Gred? Feorge? Have a nice summer?" Eli greeted, lazily leaning her chin into her palm.

"Yes- yeah it was all well and good." George replied "Let's talk terms, Dryden."

Eli perked up and turned to Taron, pulling herself in close to him so they could talk privately, or because Eli had a certain flare for the dramatics.

"How much?" She whispered, her slightly frizzy brown hair creating a curtain that the Weasley twins couldn't peek through.

Taron chuckled, pulling a tiny- ugly little yellow-ish patterned bag out of his robes pocket, which expanded slightly as he hovered his wand over it.

Muttering a retrieval charm- a plain brown coin purse shot out of the bag. Eli caught it as Taron put his wand and the charmed yellow bag back in his pockets.

"One sickle a piece." Taron stated, taking a moment to look through his coin purse.

Eli turned to the twins, "One sickle a bet, boys." She grinned.

The twins gained devilish smiles on their faces, leaning back across the floor to shake Eli's hand.

"You're on." They both stated.

Soon all the students above first year had found their seats. Taron noticed Harry, Ron and Hermione at the table next to their's and offered a kind smile.

Then came the first years, nervously huddled together as they were lead to the front by professor McGonagall.

Soon, the first of the new students were called to the sorting hat, the poor boy was shaking as he sat on the stool and the hat was placed on his head.

Eli took her turn, "Ravenclaw!" She shouted, cupping her hands over her mouth.

Fred and George shared a look, "Hufflepuff!"

"He's clearly a Ravenclaw!" Eli argued.

The sorting hat interrupted their quarrel, "Hufflepuff!"

Eli booed loudly, but leaned over Reign to pat the new Hufflepuff member on the back.

Reign quietly leaned over to the boy and apologized for her friend's behaviour.

A few more students had gone by with the same routine- Eli and the twins continued to shout out their predictions.

"I should really stop funding your gambling addiction, I'm already down six sickles." Taron chuckled, leaning elbow against the table with his head in his hand.

"Shh I'll get it this time- Slytherin!" She shouted.

This is when Cedric decided to join, ever impressionable- he loved Eli's theatrics and enjoyed participating, "Gryffindor!"

Taron groaned, "I'm not funding your addiction either."

Cedric laughed, "I'll pay my own."

"Better be... Gryffindor!" The hat shouted.

The twins tossed Cedric a sickle with a laugh, while Eli looked incredulously as Cedric took one of her (Taron's) sickles.

"You just got here!" She complained. "How come I haven't won yet."

"Because, my dear," Taron began sweetly, putting a hand over her's as if to comfort her, "You suck at guessing."

"Oh, piss off." Eli pushed his hand away with a laugh.

"Hey- That's no way to speak to your parental figure." Cedric said in reference to their little ongoing joke. "Hufflepuff!"

Eli rolled her eyes light heartedly, shouting her guess, "Slytherin!"

"Nah mate, that's gotta be a Ravenclaw." Fred muttered, to which George nodded in agreement.

"I'm with the twins on this one." Taron sighs, deciding if you can't beat them, join them.

"Ravenclaw!" The sorting hat shouted.

Eli made an indignant sound, "Merlin's beard- how are you doing that."

Taron puffed an imaginary pipe, "Elementary, my dear Watson." He stated in a stuffy, posh voice.

Eli mocked his behaviour, tightening her tie and raising her chin higher, looking down her nose at him, "Eat one, Holmes." She said.

Cedric snorted quietly, amused by his friend's antics.

Then Taron recognized a name.

"Eden Lovenus." His sister was called to the stand, nervous and shaky, her eyes trailing the tables until they landed on Taron.

He gave her a thumbs up, and she visibly relaxed.

The twins, Cedric, Eli and Taron all shared a look as the hat was placed on her head, "Gryffindor." They all stated simply.

"Gryffindor!" The hat shouted, just a moment after.

Eden grinned, rushing to sit at the table with the students wearing the red and gold ties.

After one or two more students, the sorting was over and Fred and George counted their sickles.

"Thanks for the coin, Dryden." The twins boasted.

Eli turned to Taron, "Yeah Taron, thanks for the coin." She patted his shoulder.

Taron chuckled, noticing Reign rolling her eyes lovingly at the Ravenclaw's odd self.

Dumbledore stood and gestured to the tables, allowing the feast to present itself in front of them.

The small group ate in moderate silence, all rather hungry and slowly realizing their fatigue. Taron ate his potatoes at snail pace, as most students did during the school year's first meal.

'Unless you're Ronald Weasley', Taron reminded himself.

There were a few cracked jokes during the meal, but otherwise they made the quiet agreement to just enjoy their dinner.

Once dinner was finished, Dumbledore stood yet again to address the first years, welcoming them to the school, before addressing the whole room.

"I must inform you, this year Hogwarts will be playing host to a few guests- they'll be arriving tomorrow afternoon. Treat them well. Now- I'd like to say a few more words.., Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak. That is all." The headmaster stated, finally leaving the students to their devices.

Cedric stood from the table first, turning to any recently sorted Hufflepuffs and explaining that he was one of their prefects and he would lead them to their common room.

Taron, Reign and Eli stood in wait for him, helping herd the first years when it was needed.

They watched Cedric in his element, patience and kindness in his voice as he answered questions.

As they exited the great hall, Taron wrapped an arm around Cedric's waist- Cedric being too tall compared to Taron that his waist was the only place he could reach that made sense. Cedric immediately put his own arm over the shorter boy, and they walked ahead of the group- side by side- practically leaning against each other.

"Lookin' good Diggory." Taron winked, tapping his finger gently against the shiny badge on Cedric's chest. "You were made to be a prefect."

Cedric blushed, embarrassingly pulling Taron closer against his side so he couldn't look up and see the pink colour that flooded his cheeks.

"Shove off, mate." Cedric laughed.

Eli and Reign joined them, arms wrapped around each other as well as they laughed and whispered.

The band of Hufflepuffs (and Eli) were indefinitely ready for their- no doubt- exciting new year.