we were first years once (open)

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It was the day before classes started and the day after he had first arrived at Hogwarts. Lien didn't get a very good night's sleep, but he suspected there were others that hadn't either: there was a lot of wind that night, and up in the Ravenclaw tower it sounded horrific. Now he was browsing over his new timetable and eating some plain porridge, looking like he was being swallowed up by his two-sizes-too-big second-hand robes.

He hadn't spoken much to the other boys in his dormitory. Most of them had been quite shy, and Lien wasn't complaining. He was slightly wary of them - Parkinson, Nott, Macmillan - all pureblood names, all exceedingly wealthy. They probably would start picking on him for being the odd one out, despite the Nott boy crying into his pillow at three o'clock in the morning. He probably didn't realise that he'd overheard that.

"Oh, I'd like a time turner to rewatch that!"

If he couldn't do that, then he'd have the memory preserved to watch it whenever he desired. There was only one issue: he lacked a pensieve.

Looking up, he smiled at Indigo. "You should've seen it! Rowle and Burke got covered in food!"

@Indigo Macmillan

"I know, but..."

Was it true, could they both get away with doing things they couldn't while at home? Atticus was still very afraid. Somehow he knew word would travel back to his Father somehow, and there would be punishment waiting for them when they returned home at Christmas. He didn't know how Alayna could be so certain about it. She wasn't afraid of anything.

"Erm..."

He blushed heavily. The boy with the too-large robes was watching them.

"I'm Atticus... what's your name, again?"

He couldn't quite look at him in the eye.

"And why were you involved in such reckless, disgusting behaviour?"

He closed his eyes irritably, looking down at him.

"It hasn't even been your first week here, Hyacinth, and you're already associating with unruly types? Just keep your head down and focus on your education, for goodness sake. I'll write to Father if you get up to more of this indecency!"

@Hyacinth Macmillan

So... no surnames? First names? He didn't understand any of it!

And why was that haughty-looking Hufflepuff calling Macmillan Hyacinth?

This was all very confusing.

"I'm Lien, Lien Chang..."

There went Indigo being haughty and acting superior as usual.

"What? I didn't do anything!"

This was like the time he got blamed for leaving the window open causing all sorts of insects to invade the house.

Hyacinth got up from the floor and brushed off his robe.

"I was defending my dormmate, friend, mate Chang!"

@Indigo Macmillan

Seeing Louis, Victoire dashed over from the Ravenclaw table to her little brother. She pulled him into a very tight hug.

"Baby brother! I'm so happy that we're all at Hogwarts now, yep! How are you liking Hufflepuff?!"

@Louis Weasley

"Hello Victoire," he said, hugging her back. "Would you like to join us? I'm so happy we get to spend more time together again."

Although he wasn't exactly lonely, surrounded by a plethora of cousins, friends and other family members, it was nice to be with his sisters all the time again.

"Everyone is very friendly," he said, waving over at a pair of girls sitting on the Slytherin table who were looking in his direction.

@Victoire Weasley

"I'd love to, baby brotherrrrr!"

Where was Dominique?

She went onto her tip-toes and hovered her head around trying to locate their sister.

"Let's see if sissy will join us!"

Victoire grabbed one of Louis' hands and threw their hands up hoping it'll catch Dominique's attention.

@Louis Weasley @Dominique Weasley

"Well that's all very noble of you, but next time someone is bullying your friend, report it to a teacher. Don't associate with the likes of her."

He nodded towards Alayna, frowning. That was the last thing he wanted: Hyacinth getting involved with the crowd who dunked food on others' heads!

"I'm proud of you for getting into Ravenclaw house," he said quietly, smiling a little. "Just don't waste it. Those boys look nice, at least. Stick with them."

@Hyacinth Macmillan

Hyacinth frowned slightly as Indigo always found something to criticize him.

"She just happened to be there!"

He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly finding the sweater collar to be a tad itchy.

Smiling slightly, he nodded. "I plan to. You know I don't like Rowle and Burke!"

@Indigo Macmillan

"Just stay away from them, then."

He sighed, looking down at him.

"Rowle's older brother is Head Boy, and he's very approachable. Perhaps he'd like to hear about his brother causing problems."

He frowned slightly at Hyacinth scratching himself.

"Stop doing that."

@Hyacinth Macmillan

Alayna looked at the older boy with distaste, "And who are you to judge me. I was simply defending my brother. And I'll gladly continue to do so against anyone. Even against you. So I suggest you leave me the hell alone." She pouted a bit as she continues to eat her breakfast

@Indigo Macmillan

Frowning at Hyacinth, he looked past him to the girl speaking up at him. He was rather surprised, and taken aback, that a first year was speaking to a fifth year in such a way. She had such little respect!

"Oh, I'll be sure to report you to the faculty for what you did. Don't you worry about that. Unless you want to spend your first week at Hogwarts in detention, I suggest you alter your attitude."

He wrinkled his nose in distaste.

@Alayna Nott

"Indigo, please. You're frightening the poor lamb."

He placed his hand on Indigo's shoulder, and the boy turned to look at him, turning a very dark shade of crimson.

"Let me take care of it," he said reasonably, smiling. Indigo nodded, now suddenly turned compliant.

Memphis approached the girl, and smiled at her.

"Hello there. That boy you upturned your porridge bowl over was my little brother."

He said this very conversationally, calmly, and was still smiling.

@Alayna Nott

Alayna looked at the new boy that approaches them and kept her nose turned up at him, "Well grits face was being mean to Atticus. I warned him to stop and he didn't. I'm a woman of my word. So, yeah, I did what I did. But I don't regret it." She bit at the inside of her cheek, a bit afraid of detention, but she wouldn't let that show, "It was just grits. He will be fine."

@Memphis Rowle

Memphis laughed.

"It's all right. Ptolemy can be very rude, I'm sure he said something entirely untoward."

He smiled at her. "I'm Memphis Rowle, the Head Boy here. I'm sorry to have to do this, but I will take a few points away from... Gryffindor, is it?" He glanced at the emblem on her chest. "Very well. Five points should be enough. These points count towards the House Cup, and boasting rights for an entire year. As you got some deducted today, this will lessen Gryffindor's chances... but don't worry. I am certain you will get some awarded for good work done over the year."

His face turned less friendly, and slightly more stern.

"I shouldn't have to say that this behaviour isn't what we expect from students, so if somebody bothers you in future - I would prefer you come to me. Is that fair?"

@Alayna Nott

Indigo was just staring in awe of Memphis, looking as though he was going to throw himself on the floor and start kissing his shoes at any moment...

Alayna clenched her jaw and rolled her eyes at the point deduction, she didn't care about stupid house points when it came to defending Atticus, "Yeah ok." She mainly said it to end the conversation. When he got stern with her, it made her feel as though her father were there and she sunk in on herself a bit, "Yes sir." She said on pure impulse

@Memphis Rowle

"Er... you don't have to call me sir," he said uneasily, glancing around the other first years nervously. "I'm not a Professor. Anyway. Good day to you, and your friends."

Smiling at them, he turned, still looking slightly perturbed by being referred to as sir. Was he too harsh with her?

"Is this your brother, Indigo?" he asked the boy now, having drifted over to him. He smiled at Hyacinth.

@Alayna Nott @Hyacinth Macmillan

"Are you okay, Alayna?" he asked, worried.

@Alayna Nott

Lien wasn't paying attention to Atticus and Alayna, he was looking past them to Memphis Rowle, who had just retreated. It was strange to think he and the other boy could be related, but that position - Head Boy. Lots of people respected him, and were greeting him. Macmillan's brother was particularly in awe of him.

Hmm.

Hello, I'm Lien Chang. I'm the Head Boy here.

He flushed at having daydreams of being Head Boy. He was glad that no one could look inside his head right now, or they'd surely make fun of him...

"Yeah, he's my brother..."

Hyacinth scratched around his neck some more before the itch moved down his back. Agh! Why did he wear this sweater in the first place?

@Memphis Rowle

Alayna looked down at her lap and simply nodded when Atticus asked if she was ok, "Im fine, Atticus." She tried to even her breathing and took her brothers hand under the table once more, "He can't get to us here..... He can't get to us here." She kept muttering under her breath

@Atticus Nott

"Hyacinth then. It's good to meet you, I've heard a lot about you from Amaryllis."

He smiled at him, but it seemed he was more preoccupied with itching his back. That must have been some uncomfortable material for him. Cotton was always the best, he thought.

"Try this," he said, taking out his wand and doing a spell to stop the abrasion of the material against his skin. "Is that better?"

@Hyacinth Macmillan