"Do you not think he's cute, then?" Eugenia asked Minerva as the Scottish girl sat down opposite the blonde one, raising her eyebrows at her friend's statement.

"Not at all, he's my mate - it would be disgusting to think of him in such a way," Minnie shuddered and Pomona, who was sat on the other side of Eugenia, looked like she agreed with her.

Eugenia looked at them both in frustration as she tossed her long blonde curls haughtily. "Well, I think he's gorgeous and he's a good kisser," she informed them and Pomona mimed being sick as Minerva pulled a face. They were talking about Charlus Potter, of course. Who else?

"I don't date my mates," Pomona replied, crossing her arms over her chest and Minnie nodded in agreement as she heaved her trunk onto the rack above them all, making the metal rattle a little and causing Eugenia to look up with an alarmed expression before she giggled.

"So, where are the boys now?" Minerva asked Eugenia, seeing as she was the one out of the group who was the most boy obsessed and more than likely would know where they were.

"Yeah, how come they aren't sat with us?" Pomona asked, pretending to sound offended.

"I think Lyall and Filius are sat somewhere else - it's not like we all fit into one compartment comfortably, is it? Besides, we want to talk about girly things. Al and Florean are probably pulling a prank or watching Charlus flirt with a girl or they're flirting with girls themselves," Eugenia told them, sat up straight like a newsreader, sounding very official like she knew what she was talking about - which she did.

"What, even Florean is playing about with girls now?" Minnie groaned, her head falling into her hands as her long brown ponytail swung and almost hit Pomona, who ducked out of the way quickly.

Alastor and Charlus were known players - Charlus a little more than Al, he tended to go through girls faster than he went through clean socks whereas Alastor did actually stay with a certain girl for a few days before breaking off his snog supply to go make out with another girl for a few more days.

Florean had usually stayed out of playing about with girls hearts, he thought they were all too young for dating and to be kissing girls but he definitely enjoyed flirting with them and he certainly was one of the boys that the girls fell for.

If you ended up making out with Charlus, Alastor or Florean - you were a lucky girl. You were even luckier if you got to go on a date with them!

"Seems like it," Pomona answered and silence befell the gossiping compartment for a moment until the door slid open and two heads popped into the carriage.

"I thought it was you three!" Euphemia exclaimed, for she had been the girl who had peeked through the window and Minnie squealed, jumping up and running over to embrace her best friend, who she hadn't seen for the entirety of summer- a whole six weeks.

Mia smiled as Minnie hugged her and she went on to pull a small blonde girl into the compartment with her, who was shying behind Euphemia.

Eugenia looked up curiously at the pretty first year who had just entered and looked at Mia questioningly, who held up a single finger to indicate one minute as she was being squeezed to death by an over enthusiastic Pomona.

Clover stood with her head bowed in the corner, not knowing these unfamiliar older girls and the usually loud girl felt rather shy around them and self conscious - despite everything that Mia had drilled into her about belonging, she felt very out of place here.

All the girls were reuniting and catching up with giggles and hugs punctuating their talk and it was a few minutes before Euphemia actually turned to Clover and introduced her.

"This is Clover - she lives in the square near my house and I thought she was a muggle for so long but it turns out she's magical!" she told them enthusiastically and Minerva smiled warmly at Clover as Eugenia jumped up and exclaimed over her hair, saying how lovely it was and Pomona gave her a big hug, saying how nice it was to have her there.

Clover felt a tad more welcome now and she smiled at the third years.

"Wait...you said you thought she was a muggle? Doesn't that mean she's a muggleborn?" Minerva asked, ever the noticeable one and she looked at Clover curiously, who flushed a little and Mia gave her a questioning look, as if to say 'do you want to say or not?'

"The thing is...I'm adopted so my real parents could be magical..." Clover said awkwardly, expecting an explosive reaction but the three girls in the compartment simply nodded in acceptance and continued their conversation from earlier.

"So you don't think he's a good kisser then?" Eugenia asked Minerva, plonking herself down next to her with her hands placed innocently in her lap as her legs crossed over one another.

Minerva sighed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms as she leaned back in her seat - "Well I wouldn't know, Eugenia, would I? Because I'm not going to fall for his charm like every other fool in this year," she said pointedly and Pomona and Eugenia both blushed.

Despite all that she said, it was clear that Pomona had had a little crush on Charlus in second year though they hadn't actually made out or anything.

"Who are they talking about?" Clover whispered to Euphemia, as the two were listening to the ongoing conversation.

"Charlus Potter," Mia replied quickly and when Clover opened her mouth to ask who that was, she placed a hand over the younger girl's mouth, "You don't want to know," she assured Clover and the first year simply nodded, taking her friend's word for it.

The conversation between Eugenia and Minerva had turned into more of a heated debate and Minnie was evidently winning because she had a smirk on her face as Eugenia spluttered for words, opening and shutting her mouth like a gormless goldfish whilst Pomona looked on with a slightly flushed face, evidently not wanting to get involved but it was obvious the Hufflepuff related to a lot of stuff that Minerva was saying about 'Charlus' lovesick puppies that follow him around.'

Pomona had been one of those only the year before and was now making out as if she never liked the boy.

However, Eugenia was the only one who had actually made out with him - three times, in total.

Their relationship was known around the school as 'more on and off than a bloody light switch' which was a muggle phrase that the half bloods had spread around.

"I just don't see how you can be friends with someone that you also have made out with, especially when he keeps breaking your heart," Minnie was saying to a now scowling Eugenia.

"I just don't see what others see in him, do you, Mia?" she asked Euphemia suddenly and the girl jumped, not expecting to be addressed or brought into the conversation at all.

Clover and Pomona giggled at her alarmed look as Minerva looked at her expectantly.

"No, I don't," Euphemia said a little too quickly, completely dazed and confused as to what they had been talking about and she didn't get why she had been dragged into the whole debacle.

"Why would anyone want to snog Charlus Potter? He's a huge prick who couldn't care less about people's feelings and he holds grudges terribly - it's like he can't let go of what happened in the past and forever let's it mar his view of said person," Mia said hotly, stung from everything that Charlus had said to her over the years, the hurt that came with every remark he made from the past washing over her and prickling at her like a hundred needles.

Minerva raised her eyebrows in amusement at Eugenia and the two seemed to have gotten over their little disagreement to think along the same lines - Euphemia was sounding awfully hypocritical.

She said all that stuff about Charlus holding grudges against people, and yet, there she was going off on one about him, clearly storing deep resentment for him in her heart and blatantly holding a grudge against him.

"Whatever you say, Mia," Eugenia sniggered and Clover looked around in confusion, clearly not getting what they were so amused about.

At that very point, as if the devil himself had called him, the compartment door slid open and none other than Charlus Potter stood there, grinning though his eyes looked a little downcast.

Eugenia and Pomona immediately blushed and exchanged panicky, frantic looks as if wondering how much the boy had heard and Minerva smirked in her seat whilst Mia glared at him in the doorway, Clover looking between her and Charlus in curiosity and bemusement.

A few more of the lads were stood behind him, Florean was winking at Euphemia who laughed at him and Alastor was mouthing something at Minerva who was shaking her head in exasperation.

A still sort of silence fell over the compartment full of girls before Charlus finally stopped staring with narrowed eyes at Euphemia and bestowed his dazzling smile onto Eugenia, who practically melted underneath his gaze like a Butterbeer ice cream.

"Any idea where Fil and Lyall are?" he asked her charmingly and she tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear before she straightened up and smiled sweetly at him, "I believe they're a few compartments down," she told him and he nodded, Florean and Alastor immediately moving down the corridor of the train to go and find the remainders of their boy gang.

Charlus stayed in the doorway, still grinning at a blushing Eugenia before leaning down and whispering something in her ear, that made her giggle madly whilst Pomona looked on sourly.

"Can we help you, Potter?" Mia asked him coldly, sensing Pomona's jealousy and Clover's discomfort though Minnie was simply rolling her eyes at the two, Eugenia staring up at Charlus with awed eyes as he whispered other things in her ear.

He looked up and met her gaze unblinkingly, curling his lip at the sight of her sat there and went to say something that was obviously going to be rude back to her before Minerva stood up in between the two of them, preventing any argument whatsoever with her stern look.

"No arguing in here," she said fiercely to them both and Euphemia leant back in her seat with a scowl as Charlus shrugged casually.

"Yes, Eugenia can help me. Thanks, ladies," he announced his goodbyes and grabbed Eugenia's hand, pulling her out of the compartment without an utter of protest from the blonde girl.

"Where are they going?" Clover piped up from the corner and all faces turned to look at her as all three girls remaining in the compartment spoke at once.

"They're going to eat each other's faces off."
"He just wants to talk to her, sweetie. They'll be back soon."
"To make out because he's an idiot player who doesn't care about anyone's feelings."

"What's a player? Is it like a football player?" Clover asked innocently and Mia and Pomona looked confused at the mention of the muggle sport whilst Minerva sighed and patted the first year on the head, "Don't you worry your pretty little head, lass," she said condescendingly and Clover furrowed her eyebrows at them before she turned to exclaim at the views rushing past the windows.

Being a city girl, it was obvious that Clover had never seen simple things such as fields and animals grazing on the grass.

Sparkling colossal green bushes surrounded a luscious limegreen field filled with lying down cows, galloping horses, some of which were standing still and fluffy sheep.

In the glistening sky, birds of every shape and size, whose feathers were as coal black as the night sky, soared through the upper clouds that were rather grey for a September mid morning.

The greying sky reflected off of the train windows, the slight sun peaking through the rain clouds that graced the heavens above.

The grey skies obviously meant that a storm was rolling in and soon enough the clouds shook with the force of rain as thunder echoed across the countryside.

Thunder clouds circled the train and drops of rain came down splashing onto the train windows, sliding down the panes and making the glass condensate and become moist so that Clover had to remove her palm from the window as she still stared, fascinated.

The thunder clouds looked exactly like the steam that was billowing off the train into the rainy air, though it wasn't as thick now that the rain had dampened it.

Mia's heart was beating faster and faster as the lightning struck across the sky and it became louder and louder as the train moved on through the countryside, the constant chugging of the wheels scraping against the track as sparks were emitted but quickly vanquished from the downpour.

Around two o'clock, the trolley lady came around with her goodies and the older girls all had to explain what each sweet was to the intrigued Clover who licked her lips and scanned the entire trolley with wide eyes.

"But I don't have any wizard money," she said dejectedly and Euphemia stood up immediately, digging in her pocket for the galleons that she always had - being pure blood royalty and all.

"I'll get you anything you want, Cloves," she told her sincerely and Clover gave her a big hug before she started pointing excitedly at every form of candy that was surely possible.

Eugenia still hadn't returned, even though she had disappeared with Charlus over two hours ago but Pomona didn't really feel any concern for her friend - she would be having the time of her life with Charlus Potter because there was one thing he was good at and that was making the ladies have a good time and feel like they were special and unique.

Minerva talked with Clover about muggle things, explaining her blood status to the girl and the complications that came with it at school whilst Pomona started ranting to Mia about what a git Charlus was, to which Euphemia agreed with and nodded in amusement and agreement.

Mia was rather preppy and happy because she hadn't seen Walburga or any of her cronies yet so the train journey was looking rather good and she felt at ease and at peace.

She hadn't actually run into any of her family yet, as she had boarded the train straight away and found Clover wandering around aimlessly, as the small girl had been lost and the two had been together ever since.

Mia eventually had to step out of the compartment to use the toilet and, on the way back from relieving herself, she bumped into Charis.

"Oh, hi Charis!" Euphemia greeted politely to her fourth year cousin who smiled in return as Mia wiped her wet hands on the back of her skirt as discreetly as possible.

"Hello, Euphemia. Why aren't you in the compartment with the rest of the family? Cygnus was wondering where you were," she said to Euphemia, referring to Walburga's older brother who was in fifth year this time around.

"I had to show a lost first year around - she was very confused and so I've been sat with her and a few others," she told Charis, varying on the truth a little but still being able to be honest with her cousin.

Luckily, Charis wasn't one to pry and she simply nodded, smiling as she fiddled with her long black plait, biting the end of it a little out of habit.

"Have fun! See you at Hogwarts," Charis called after Mia and she turned round and waved as Charis headed back to whichever compartment she was in before.

Euphemia was still a little dazed from having to quickly elaborate on the truth for Charis, which made her a little light headed because she had panicked, even though she knew Charis would have no problem whatsoever with her sitting with some of the people she was sat with - after all, Sprout was a decent enough pureblood family as was Jenkins, it was just Minerva that Charis would feel awkwardly about as she believed in no interaction whatsoever with half bloods.

She wasn't really thinking as she walked back through the slightly busy, bustling train corridors full of swarming students and she forgot where she was sat and so burst into a random compartment in her befuddled state, accidentally interrupting a random couple that were making out. Or so Mia thought....

For Eugenia and Charlus were the 'couple' in the compartment and, from the way both of their lips were plump and their faces were flushed - they had been at it for a few hours, probably since Charlus dragged Eugenia out of the compartment.

Mia paused awkwardly in the doorway as she stared at her embarrassed friend who was seated on Charlus' lap, his hands wrapped around her waist as her shirt hung off her a little, though not too much that it was explicit.

Charlus' hair was even messier than it usually was and he looked unflinchingly at Euphemia, not humiliated in the slightest, probably because he was so used to being caught in the act that he had become accustomed to it.

"S-sorry," Euphemia stammered and Charlus raised an eyebrow at her as Eugenia hastily buttoned up her semi undone blouse, patting down her disheveled hair uncomfortably.

Mia stared at them for a second more with her mouth wide open before she nodded awkwardly at them before scrambling out of the compartment as fast as she could, rushing down the corridor and running into the boys' compartment, knowing that it was theirs because the door was slightly wedged open and she could hear Florean's yells from through the gap.

The lads all looked surprised as Euphemia dashed in and buried her head in Florean's shoulder, who's arms immediately snaked around her in concern.

"Mia? What's wrong?" he asked her, tilting her head upwards so she had to look at him and Alastor chuckled a little at her horrified expression.

"I just.....walked in on Eugenia and Charlus...." she winced and the compartment exploded with laughter at her expense as Florean practically squeezed the air out of her he was laughing so hard.

"So you're scarred then?" Lyall asked her, smirking, and she nodded her head frantically as Filius gave her a knowing look and Alastor roared with laughter, Florean still gripping her as she was seated on his knee.

"We have to witness that all the time - with a series of different girls," Filius told her and Euphemia placed her hands over her face in horror.

"Aw, leave the poor girl be - she's traumatised enough," Florean sniggered, bouncing Mia up and down on his knee as if she were a child, proceeding in her glaring at him so he stopped, holding his hands up in surrender as he smirked.

"He's such a player," she groaned and there was a series of "mhms" and "yeahs" punctured with sniggers and snorts of amusement.

"I'm just sorry you had to see it with your innocent eyes," Al told her solemnly and Euphemia whacked him on the arm playfully for calling her innocent.

There was another snigger from Filius and Mia was just glaring at him when the door slid open and Charlus entered the compartment.

He raised his eyebrows upon seeing that Euphemia was sat on Florean's knee, his arms around her waist like a seatbelt and curled his lip a little.

"What's she doing here?" he asked coldly and Mia glowered up at him, choosing not to say anything back as she could see Alastor's face going red with the effort of not laughing due to the fact that they could all see that Charlus' hair was messy and his cheeks slightly pink.

"She has a name, you know," Florean replied with a grin and Euphemia smiled at him gratefully as Charlus rolled his eyes.

"What made you break away from Eugenia, anyway?" Lyall questioned with a smirk and the compartment burst into laughter yet again.

Charlus looked confused for a moment until recognition dawned on his face and he stared accusingly at Mia who couldn't help but giggle at the look on his face, despite disliking the boy.

"Oh, so that's why you're in here," he said coolly and Euphemia shrugged and stood up, hopping off Florean's lap and detaching herself from his grip as well as grabbing herself a chocolate frog before she turned to leave, sliding open the door.

"Of course you're leaving now that I'm here," Charlus commented snidely and Mia raised an eyebrow at him.

"What makes you think that?" she asked him with an indifferent expression but he chose not to answer, simply flopping himself down next to Lyall, who sighed at him.

He sent her a dirty look and Euphemia couldn't help but be upset, she just didn't get why he was so against her but she had gotten used to it by now, after years of the two sniping at each other.

It didn't get any better but she just wished he could at least be civil because he was a constant downer on her day with his dark looks and horrible remarks.

"You know holding grudges can make you fat, Potter," she said shakily, mentally cursing herself for letting his negative attitude affect her so deeply.

"Guess I'm obese then," Charlus replied icily and Mia felt another stab to her heart as she gritted her teeth, not even bothering to retort anymore.

If Charlus Potter was going to hold a bloody grudge against her, then she would hit him back twice as hard.

He was not going to get away with hating on her all those years - it was time to finally stand up to him and tell the idiot what she thought of him.