A First Year Entrance First Years Only

"Interesting, hopefully this boat doesn't decide to tip us overboard" he says, chuckling. She laughs along with him finding the image of the boat tipping them over quite amusing. "Uh.... I dont really mind really, as long as it's full of nice people" Daniel replies to her second question before looking away. Maybe he's not interested in the houses or he's against the sorting system at Hogwarts. When she asks him her last question, he answers, "My parents don't really have an expectation, since none of them came to Hogwarts in the first place." Now she’s positive that he’s new to the wizarding world. He’s been dropping a lot of hints whether it was on purpose or not. She wished she had caught on sooner instead of making him feel uncomfortable. It’s a good thing she has been visiting the muggle world with her family during the summer, so she wasn’t a stranger to their traditions. How could she figure out what muggle activity he enjoyed? After a long moment of silence, she decided to ask him a random question. “Do you play a sport, write stories, or listen to music?” she asks with a clear voice. She was getting more comfortable with him and didn’t worry as much about making a fool of herself.

The long silence allowed him to think for a few seconds about his parents, would they ever be able to see this place? “Do you play a sport, write stories, or listen to music?" asks the girl once more, she seemed to be quite curious about him yet welcoming. A small grin appeared while looking into your eyes, as if a once buried memory was uncovered "Well. I've been playing the drums for the past four years. I used to go on them all the time when I was back home, nearly everyday..." Chuckles Daniel while scratching his head. "I kinda went overboard at times and played for hours on end, mostly just to learn one song" he says, remembering all the different songs he learned over the years "Say, do you play any instrument or interested in music?"

The memory was of him first playing the drums, his dad brought it him for his 7th birthday due to him being a keen musician himself. He wanted him to feel the real benefits of having an instrument, something his dad never got the chance to do until later life. Ever since the first strum Daniel was completely hooked, he remembered the days where he played hours on end... Those will always be in his memories.

"Well, I've always wanted to be able to play instruments like the drums and the violin, but I’ve only ever had the time to learn a little bit of the guitar from my uncle.” She answers, surprised by her own long response. She loved music, but she never thought she’d meet someone who had a similar interest. She used to sing all the time as she grew up. However, she hasn’t sang as much in the recent years since she has been busy with so many clubs. At least Hogwarts would give her a break from the pressures of too many commitments. “I’m more of a singer. I usually do acapella, but sometimes I sing with music when it’s available.”

“Do you think you could teach me how to play the drums sometime?” She asks, hoping he’d say yes. She loves to learn and loves to learn music even more. She looked away from him in case he said no, because she didn’t want her face to give away how much she really cared. She rested her hands on the side of the boat to get comfortable. She liked how it didn’t creak as she adjusted herself and she admired its sturdiness.

Daniel raises a hand up to his chin and scratches it slowly, giving the request a few seconds thought. "So you want a masterclass in the art of drumming huh? sure! I'll be happy to give you one" He says enthusiastically over to Tina, who appears to be looking over the boat shyly "I would ask you to give me a lesson on singing, but I doubt i'd do any good..." adds on the boy, who remembers the time he used to sing in the school quire. It was mandatory for everyone even the bad singers had to pitch in, the whole thing was always a mess and Daniel ALWAYS wanted to keep it at the back of his mind.

"Maybe when were all settled into our houses and more familiar with the school we can come find each other. I'll even teach you the basics of a song I love personally, or what your interested in. If I know how to play it of course." he explains. If there wasn't a drum kit hidden somewhere he'd had to settle with pots and pans, nothing was going to separate him from his love of drumming. It kept him busy from the harsh reality of life...

"So you want a masterclass in the art of drumming huh? sure! I'll be happy to give you one" he says with enthusiasm in his voice. Tina turned to face him with an excitement written all over her face, Maybe she and Daniel could become a band afterwards and grow into legendary rock stars. The thought of that made her smile even more. Then he said,"I would ask you to give me a lesson on singing, but I doubt i'd do any good..."

"If you sing while taking long showers every day, you'll be a professional singer in no time." It bothered her that he didn't think he had the ability to sing. "I really wouldn't mind giving you lessons on training your voice. After all, you'll be teaching me how to drum."

"Maybe when were all settled into our houses and more familiar with the school we can come find each other. I'll even teach you the basics of a song I love personally, or what your interested in. If I know how to play it of course." he says. 

"I'm going to hold you up on that offer. Maybe I'll send you and owl out of the blue," she says before jokingly adding, " Or right before you study for an exam..."

Interaction | Elena Jangleton

"Not at all," Anastasia said politely, hiding her wariness. She found overly timid people most irritating and hoped this girl was just a tad nervous and wasn't actually all that shy. Not that letting your nerves show like that was all that much better in Anastasia's opinion, but anything was preferable to someone who was perpetually stuttering and quiet. Being nervous was still not ideal, but all things considered, it was natural, and not everyone her age had been raised the same way she had. Back home, if she ever seemed anything less than perfectly confident, it would result in a severe scolding or worse. 

She glanced over at the girl when she introduced herself. Her name wasn't completely hopeless. Anastasia mentally scolded herself for that assessment. Given all of the strange names that some of the other Pureblooded children had, her parents had told her not to judge people too much by their name. She could judge them by just anything else, just not that. 

"I'm Anastasia Beckett," she proclaimed, her voice sounding as if she was announcing she was the Queen of England or something. Some other children might find a bit odd or snobbish that she introduced herself that way, but to her, it was perfectly normal. 

Anastasia daintily entered the boat and held it steady while she waited for the other girl to join her. The holding it steady wasn't because Anastasia was trying to be kind or anything, it was really just to ensure that she herself wouldn't end up in the water. 

Ellara, alike the other First Years, disembarked from the Hogwarts express and grouped up with the others on the platform. Whispers of conversation passed around her, though hesitant as she was, she opted to listen instead of participating. Maybe she'd figure out she had something in common with someone and then be able to start a conversation! Huh, that was probably too much to hope for, but even the most outgoing of children could be a little nervous when faced with the prospect of not only going to a whole other school where she knew absolutely no one, but also going to a new school for magic, which her knowledge on was very limited. Still, there was no denying the beauty of the space around the throng of First Years. The sparkling night sky, the cool breeze... She even spotted a few familiar faces from the train.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Professor Ayers announced that they'd be moving on toward the Great Lake! Her heart thrilled in excitement, and she, naturally, let out a few cheers in unison with the others upon the Professor's announcement. Eyes bright with excitement, she followed the crowd with a slight skip in her step, wondering if the boats they'd be riding in were magical boats, as well! She'd never been in a two-person boat before, except those few times when she went canoeing. She was sure enough of her ability that she should end up alright enough if the situation comes down to that.

After following the groundskeeper and Professor, Ellara joined the other students at the edge of the Great Lake, unable to suppress a gasp of awe at the sight of the dazzling castle reflected across the lake's surface. "It's like something out of a fairytale," she murmured. This whole experience was like something out of a fairytale. She half-payed attention to the various directions issued by the adults... Two to a boat, yadayada, but her mind was somewhere else entirely, rejoicing over all of the magic she'd learn and friends she'd meet and new things she'd discover!

Without hesitation, Ellara selected the front of one of the unoccupied boats, noting that most of the other students, or at least the ones nearby her, had already paired up. Even if she was all alone, she was sure she'd fair alright, though a small voice somewhere in her head silently prayed someone else would decide to tag along. Until that time, she'd sit and wait for the adventure to begin.

When professor Ayers and the grounds keeper called for them to separate into pairs before entering the boats, Arthur steeped to the side, waiting for those who already knew each other from before, or had met up on the train, to naturally pair off and enter the boats.

He scanned the crowd once again for someone he knew to maybe pair up with. He'd met several Hogwarts students over the summer, at Diagon Alley, or on the train. But of course, many of those were older studentss already attending Hogwarts and wouldn't be driving via the boats.

Finally giving up on trying to spot Lara or Beck from the train, he turned instead to the remaining boats and other students who would inevitably, like him, find themselves without anyone to pair up with. He spotted a half empty boat with a red headed girl inside. She didn't look like she was waiting for anyone in particular, so Arthur walked over. Hopefully she wouldn't mind. He preferred trying to fill a most rather than sit alone in another one.

"Hi! Do you mind if I join you?" he asked her.

If she didn't object, he'd step inside to the empty spot on the small two person boat. "I'm Arthur," he introduced himself.

Ellara twisted around from her spot in the front of the boat, looking a bit surprised to see someone was speaking to her in the first place. Once she figured out what was going on, she silently scolded herself for being so slow, and replied with a grin, "All aboard! The more the merrier, though I'm pretty sure this thing can only hold two people," she mused. "Guess it's your lucky day."

The young witch regarded the boy with a curious tilt of her head, deciding he seemed nice enough. After all, he had been nice enough to come and join her, and she wasn't exactly thriving in the "friends" department, at the current moment in time. She glanced around at the other boats for a moment, where kids chattered away and laughed as they nearly fell off in the rocking water, then turned back over to the boy whose name she still didn't know. She steadied the boat as he moved to step inside, settling down on the other part of the bench.

As he introduced himself, she made note of the name, and replied, "Arthur. A very chivalrous name. I guess it wouldn't hurt to say that I'm Ellara, but you can call me Ell if you want to." She'd never minded nicknames, though preferred to let other people pick their own for her. She thought it was cool how different people could see her in different ways.

May Lee’s curious blue, grey eyes gazed out the thick window of the comfortable train compartment she now sat in. The red upholstered seats scratched against her calves as she fidgeted. Move leg, move other leg, tap fingers on knee, look back into the compartment, back out the window, and repeat. It was an endless cycle that caused her silver and seashell bracelets to jingle consistently against eachother, much to the annoyance of her compartment-mates.
The young witch turned her head once more, causing her flower earrings to jingle again, however this time the familiar sound was drowned by the sudden toot of the train’s horn. They must have been nearing their destination! That was the only reasonable explanation. Her attention turned towards the outdoors again, excitement written plainly in her expression.
In the distance, Hogwarts castle could be seen in all of its magnificent glory, presiding over the land below. A sparkling lake glittered with the sun’s final rays as it set beyond the horizon. May continued to watch the outside gleefully. A new adventure was before her, she could feel it in her bones.
At long last, tall pine trees obscured the view from the compartment’s glass window, and the train screeched to a halt. They have reached the Hogmeade station. She got up from her seat to quickly gather her plethora of belongings before taking off out of the compartment and getting off the train.
The twirled and smiled happily once in the outdoors. She breathed in the new smells and took in the new sights. She had never been anywhere quite as magical before. May followed the voice calling all first years and joined the rest of her class.