Lesson one - First years

"Please stop calling people 'love', it's creeping me out..." Clementine complaines.

"Oi, stop sitting at the back would ya? We won't bite." Alex said gesturing for the girl to join them.

"You know- well, actually, you probably don't- what it's like to be new! I spent my first lesson at the back hiding behing my hair!" Clementine hissed. "Not everyone is as charismatic as you!

"Touchy." Alex grinned, "Stop acting that you don't love me, I know you do"

Clementine made a small explosive choking sound.

Alex laughed "Stop denying it"

Darcie shook her head, but looked at the girl in the back. Gathering up what little courage she had, Darcie waved the girl over to where they were sitting.

Alex shook his head lightly and walked over to the girl before putting his hand out, "Like a ride would we?"

Darcie knew Alex was trying to be helpful, but Darcie also knew that if she was approached like that, she would probably sink right into her metaphorical shell. In an attempt to help get the new girl warmed up to all of them, Darcie turned around and started talking to her in spite of the butterflies floating in her stomach."You're Emie, right? I think I remember you from Charms class." Darcie said very softly.

I had started hyperventilating as soon as they had all started to talk to me, and couldn't help having a mini heart attack when the boy - Alex - walked to me and offered a hand.

But, to be honest, it's the gothic girl - Darcie - who was the most helpful. At least she had aknowledged me before asking to come over.

I smiled shyly. "Yes, I am Emie. You are Darcie, right?"

Alex whistled "That's the first time I've been rejected in years"

"Uh huh!" Darcie said excitedly (or at least as excitedly as a Darcie got). She was happy that she remembered the girl's name correctly, but she was even happier to hear that the girl had remembered her name as well. "You can come sit by us if you want to." Darcie smiled sympathetically at Alex. "I think Alex would be terribly disappointed if you didn't. But you can stay there if you want to."

He grinned and winked at Darcie "True that"

Darcie laughed and looked at Alex. "Indeed, bro," she said, making her first attempt at being like an American.

She was late. Very very late. Silently cursing herself, Madeline made her way over to the duelling classroom. Standing in the doorway, she swallowed hard at all the people before waving nervously and taking a seat away from the others.

I sighed in relief and nearly jumped in front of the girl I'd already seen in Charms. "Eh there. Can I sit with you for a while? I just can't bear those three tearing each other while I'm trying to think." I smiled.

"Ahem? Tearing each other?"

I turned around. "Yes, darling. I'm inventing new vocabulary right now." And I winked. "You got my meaning, yeah?"

"Ana your not allowed to go sit alone with a girl, that's my job." Alex said in a whining voice, sticking his tongue out.

"Uhh," Darcie said as she couldn't help but notice that a) Darcie was sitting next to Alex and b) Darcie was a girl. Feeling somewhat hurt, Darcie said quietly, "At least she's being friendly." Darcie looked to make sure that no one would be coming through the door. She then pulled her knees up to her chest and played with a mist of shadows in her hands.

"I don't think it's really fair to classify girls as one group of people. Yes, it sounds illogical, but... well, everyone's different. If we were the same- or even close to it- then it would be boring..." Clementine shrugged, then carried on "Most of the students here are talented some way, shape, or form..."