A First Year Entrance First Years Only

Anastasia laughed at Daniel's tone. He sounded like he thought he was actually smarter than her for once. Would he ever learn? She could think of a handful of instances where a Squib had actually slipped through the cracks and been humiliated in front of the entire school. One of them had been the Filch guy, one of the previous janitors. Honestly, how stupid could Daniel be? 

She considered insisting she was right like she would normally, but she wanted to enjoy her entrance to Hogwarts. Her first-year entrance only happened the once and she didn't want the memories to be tainted with an argument with Daniel Weaver of all people. She could argue with him anytime, and some things were more important than always getting the last word. She tossed her long hair, hoping it was close enough to Daniel to hit him in the face. Petty, true, but it would have been extremely satisfying.

She pushed her way back to the front of the group, listening for whatever instructions the red-headed teacher might give them. Despite the confrontation with Daniel,  she was still quite full of awe and just thrilled to be at Hogwarts. Right now was one of the last moments of her childhood. One of the first moments of first steps into growing up. That was part of the reason that she wasn't going to bicker with Daniel. Obviously, she wasn't perfect and she assumed she would argue with him plenty in the future, but not now. 

As the trains engine died, slowly, down and the students finally seemed to clear the cabins and off to their carriages, Adelaide thought she finally had all the first years. Thankfully it seemed most first years had heard her message and the large group would be able to go on their way now.

As she watched the kids, a few seemed to have already made friends, either in the train on the way here, which was classic for most wizarding children, though perhaps some already knew each other from their childhood. That would be nice for those specific pairs, Hogwarts can certainly be a strange place to be alone.

Well, she thought, they better not keep Darren waiting too long. The lakes edge was not far, but would take a couple of minutes to navigate there with such a large group of excited students. At the water the students would be net with numerous little boats, ready to wisk them to the castle.

"Alright new students! So glad everyone made it safely! We have quite an adventure ahead of you here at the school, is everyone ready to go?" She expected a few whoops of excitements, maybe some cheers from the more outgoing kids, but if everything was silent, it was no matter to her, she understood everyone was probably nervous, with that, though, she headed away from the group.

Instructing the children to follow, she headed towards the lake. "Follow me, kids! The Great Lake awaits! Now, while we walk over there, it is important for you to know that the boats only hold two people each! So in the meantime, partner up! Make some new friends!" She did not have a ton of hope on all of the kids being able to pair up on their own, but she thought some would and that would make her job easier when the time came. Until then, she kept walking.

Soon the group was met with the water, the boats floating on the top of the near black surface. Each boat had. Lit lantern at the head, and the lights danced off the mirror of the water, glistening like stars. She grinned, Adelaide enjoyed the waters at night.

There the group was met with Darren Hurst, the Groundskeeper.

DO NOT POST AGAIN UNTIL DARREN HURST POSTS

The Groundskeeper was a man of few words. It wasn’t that he was shy but he tended to keep to himself. His job was enjoyable, extremely so as he left his stuffy job in the Ministry nearly ten years ago to help care for the castle that he had gotten his own education in. Subsequently, he cared for the children as if they were his own. His upbringing had been lacking and he spent most of his breaks from school in the comfort of the Hufflepuff common room so even before he landed the Groundskeeper job, he thought of Hogwarts as his home.

“Welcome new students,” he began, using a professional but friendly tone. “Be careful as you get into the boats.” Though he did this every year with each batch of new students, he struggled to find the words to convey how strongly he felt about the school - the opportunities they would have and the friendships they would make. “I hope that each and every one of you have a fantastic time at school. You’ll see me around so don’t hesitate to stop me if you need help or want to talk.”

Darren had an open door policy for the students. Well, open cabin policy more like. Though he could be found around the grounds and throughout the coordiors more often than in his place of living. The cabin on the grounds wasn’t much but he was a simple man with simple pleasures in life. “After you, Professor.” He gestures towards their boat where they would ride together. “Hop on in and only two to a boat please.”

Anastasia cheered uncharacteristically loudly when the redheaded professor asked if everyone was ready to go. She blushed a bit after the loud whoop exited her lips. It wasn't that she was particularly shy or anything, quite the opposite, in fact, it was just that that seemed rather juvenile and silly behavior, needless to say, her mother would find it most unladylike. 

She followed the professor, staying at the front of the group as to get the best view and hear instructions easily. Anastasia listened intently to the groundskeeper's instructions. After he was done, she looked around for a potential boat mate. She knew she didn't want to get stuck with Daniel, and ideally, she would meet someone that she hadn't already met, but she supposed she would see. She saw another first year who looked alright enough and waved at them to get their attention before beckoned them over. She didn't recognize the student, but based on their appearance, they seemed like decent company. Even if they turned out to be absolutely horrid, it was only a boat ride and she could get away as soon as they reached the castle. After her selected partner joined her, she found an empty boat and daintily climbed aboard. 

She listened intently to the groundskeeper giving the boats a wary look. They looked stable enough but she wasn't one for water. What if it sank, what if they had to swim to Hogwarts? The fear began to build up insider of her until finally, she shook herself back to reality just to hear the groundskeeper last dreaded words. Two to a boat? She had to find a partner. That meant she would have to talk, socialize. She barely knew any of these kids let alone the professors."Great"She muttered to herself looking around for a potential partner. Spying Anatasia, she approached her hesitantly thinking to herself.What are you doing, Elena. Stop it, stop it.She gave the first-year a nervous smile as she managed to conjure up some words."Hi..uh...do you mind...if I hop..on with...you/"
She said nodding towards the boat which bobbed peacefully on the glistening lake."Names Elena by the way."She said not wanting to make this a awkward boat ride. Might as well get to know the other while she still could.

There. She had talked. Her first actual converstation with someone and they had not even entered the castle yet. She was getting better at this,hopefully.Say yes..say yes...She silently hoped looking at the student. Worst came to worst, she would respectfully decline. Would she be like the others whom avoided her, unwanting to welcome a stranger into their midst. Elena hated that. She wanted to be acknowledged, needed freedom away from that accursed place her parents called her home.It wasn't home. It was a prison. She looked around at the other kids, they seemed perfectly unfazed by the groundskeeper instructions. Perhaps that was because they knew each other beforehand. Despite being wizardborn, she never really had interacted with children in her youth which led to this predicament. Hopefully, all would be well. These next few seconds would determine that.

The journey to Hogwarts was quite eventful, for the part he was alone until a few 2nd year students came and asked him if they could sit. They mostly talked about life in the school itself and what he should expect, this gave him some reassurance that he was in safe hands for now. Eventually, the train came to a screeching halt, making the group say their goodbyes and depart from the train.

Daniel slowly got off and walked over to the gathering crowd in front of him, apparently his processions would be waiting for him in his room after the ceremony. He looked on as a teacher came forth and asked them to follow her to the lake, Daniel wasn't very fond of water due to his lack of swimming experience, but it shouldn't be a problem as long as he wasn't thrown in. They get to the shoreline and stop near a dozen or so small boats, they didn't seem to have any rowers to move them from close inspection.

A few minutes pass before the grounds keeper comes over and begins welcoming us, he was clearly passionate and caring about the students of Hogwarts when he spoke. His last words made his eyes widen slightly "Hop on in and only two to a boat please.” this meant he was sharing with someone... hopefully it wasn't a person who found rocking the boat a funny idea. The students around him began dispersing and finding boats, leaving him alone for a few seconds to think over what he should do. Daniel makes a deep sigh before hesitantly walking over to a boat in the middle of the line, he was scared for a second that the boat would topple when he put his leg in, to his surprise it stayed sturdy. After reluctantly putting his other leg in he carefully sits down and looks across the lake, the sight of Hogwarts castle almost forced a gasp out of him. It simply looked magical...

After the train ride, Tina stepped into the boat with a first year boy. She could feel her nervousness and confidence clash at each other as she stared at Hogwarts from a distance. She couldn't wait to start performing spells that she had only read in spellbooks, but she was worried about making friends. She didn't have the best social skills since she spent most of her life with animals and had limited interactions with humans. Despite this shortcoming, she was determined to make friends...or at least attempt to. When she turned to the first year boy, she could clearly see that he had the same admiration for the castle as she did. Was he wondering about the adventures they were going face? Or was he thinking about home? Now she couldn't help but to wonder about who he was. Where did he come from? What was he looking forward to? What were his interests or hobbies? She wasn't sure if it would be weird if she started to barrage him with questions.

"It's very beautiful here," she said quickly, which she didn't mean to do. She took a deep breath before looking away and saying more calmly, "I'm Tina. So, um what's your name?"

Daniels attention was glued to the castles beauty as the girl slowly got into the boat unnoticed, a sigh escaping his lips from the amazing view. From behind him, the first year is heard saying "It's very beautiful here,". Her voice surprises him slightly as he turns his head to the side, a friendly smile crossing his face "Yea... it certainly is" Replies the boy thoughtfully, who gives one last look at the castle before turning himself around and facing his boat partner.

"I'm Tina. So, um what's your name?"asks the girl once more, he could tell she was nervous talking to him. Maybe it was first day shyness, many people are like that. "Hey Tina, my names Daniel, Daniel Freeman" he says while shooting an arm out for a handshake, his lips still bearing that polite smile "It appears were going to be boat partners for now". His eyes soon gaze to the inside of the boat where there's still no sign of rowers, a confused look appearing "And if you don't mind me asking, how are going to move this thing?"

All this magic was completely new to Daniel, it felt completely strange and unusual to the boy. But it didn't halter his curiosity and interested in finding out about this brave new world.

"Yea... it certainly is" the boy replied, taking one last glance at the school. Tina began to relax when she saw the friendly smile across his face. 
"Hey Tina, my names Daniel, Daniel Freeman" he says, offering his hand for a handshake and maintaining his smile. She gave him a firm handshake despite the feeling of uneasiness that was still lingering inside her. 
"It appears were going to be boat partners for now." She smiled at the thought of being partners with another first year. Maybe they can become friends unless she finds a way to ruin their relationship before it even starts. Perhaps they'll end up in the same house.
"And if you don't mind me asking, how are going to move this thing?" She followed his gaze to the inside of the boat and took a peek at his face to see his confused look. Didn't his parents tell him about the first year boat rides and how they worked? With a small smile, she says, "The boats don't need rowers, they move on their own."

"So, what house do you think you'll end up in?" She asks him, cautiously. She wasn't sure if he would consider it a personal question or not. Gathering some more courage, she looks into his eyes and asks, "Do your parents want you to get into a certain house or something?"

"The boats don't need rowers, they move on their own."His eyebrow raises from the answer, that was something he didn't expect. Although, Hogwarts was a magic school after all. "Interesting, hopefully this boat doesn't decide to tip us overboard" He chuckles out, making the most out of this situation. A few seconds after, another question was asked, this time about the houses "So, what house do you think you'll end up in?" This was something he really didn't know how to answer, His knowledge was only down to names "Uh.... I dont really mind really, as long as it's full of nice people" shrugs the boy, who turns his head to the row of boats along the shoreline and examines the students talking to each other.

He slowly turns his head back round and meets your gaze, a shine emitting from his eyes " "Do your parents want you to get into a certain house or something?"his parents didn't really know much about the houses either, none of them ever came to this school nor knew about it's existence until only a few days back "My parents don't really have an expectation, since none of them came to Hogwarts in the first place" replies Daniel, his eyes looking uneasy for a few moments.