Again it had been an exciting moment, the moment the big, red train towards Hogwarts took off. During his train ride he had been reading at first, as he had some history catching up with. In a cage above his head Bubo was sleeping. That bird was or overly active or sleeping so deep not even an earthquake would wake it. While Bubo made quiet hoot sounds Elijah concentrated on his book again. It was some muggle history he was reading, as to him it was more like a  roman than an actual history book. Plus he found it interesting to look for clues that indicated that there was magic involved without the muggles knowing of it. For some reason there was only one other kid in the compartment, which Elijah ignored, who seemed rather nervous. ‘Must be a first year.’ Thought Elijah as he flipped a page. Some people might have talked to the boy, comfort him, but Elijah rather read and let the boy be. He was in no mood for little kids.

After he had read for 2 hours, perhaps three, Elijah got up, stretched and reached for his suitcase to change into his robes, be done with it. While getting the suitcase he woke up the owlet, who seemed happy to see the dark haired boy, probably thinking he was giving him some room out of the cage. Smiling at the bird he got his suitcase and quickly changed. Grabbing the cage and the suitcase he gave the first year a last glance as he strode out of the compartment, looking for his Hufflepuff mates. They were probably at the end of the train, as most of the older students preferred their quiet and being away from all the jumpy first years.

Sighing, as he could not find them, he walked into the last isle, the suitcase becoming rather heavy, he finally saw a friendly face. Common faces he saw everywhere, he intended to just smile at them, let them think all was fine so they would leave him, but this face he actually knew. Caitlin Norwood, sixth year Huff, just like him. He had already spend many classes with this girl and he could actually say she was like a friend to him. And when you were a friend most of the shyness disappeared. Almost all. Smiling, genuinely now, he walked into the compartment. He wanted to put up a hand as to say hi, but found both his hands holding something. So instead of body language he just used his vocals. “Hey there! Almost could not find you here all in the back. Hiding from the first years?”

He walked to the back of the compartment he put his suitcase on the luggage rack, happy to have finally relieved his sore arm. He sat down in front of her while placing the cage on his lap. Looking at the owlet in it he had to smile again, he had already fallen in love with the little creature. Opening its door the owl slowly crawled out, while hooting quietly. Looking almost nervous Bubo moved out of the cage onto his lap, before it started to stretch his wings. “I almost forgot. Look what I got for my birthday! This is Bubo.” He said towards Caitlin, while mentioning towards the bird.

Caity had, at some point, managed to lose both her brother and her cousin. It was a blessing, really, she loved them in a way (that way you're obligated to love family even if you don't really get along with them at all)... she just wanted her own space, her own things. She had lucked out really, a car in the back to herself - it was almost unheard of in terms of good fortune. She needed time to prep herself for the Great Hall, for dealing with all of the new arrivals (both the first years and the Foreigners). She hadn't made it to the Welcoming Ceremony or the Woodcroft festival. She had had been too busy babysitting whenever she could and any other small jobs she could pick up to make some extra galleons. For all her faults; the vanity, the gossiping, the envy... if there was one thing you could say about Caitlin Elizabeth Norwood it was that she wasn't scared of a little hard work (so long as it didn't involve getting too dirty).

She was also rather deft at managing money, which could not be said for her twin. They had different values of course, he liked instant gratification, she liked long term things. As she changed from her jeans and boots into her uniform that had been carefully tailored (by Caity, herself), she took in the crisp sound of the freshly starched cotton button down, the rhythmic sway of the black skirt. They weren't Libertine Originals, she hadn't had an exclusive meeting with Darian Morgan, but his stock cost a pretty enough penny and most of her summer savings had gone into making the key pieces of her uniform exquisite. Of course, her brother had balked at the whole notion because to him it looked like every other white button down she had ever owned. Boys were mostly hopeless when it came to fashion - Luc was most assuredly hopeless when it came to fashion. He would live in his Quiddy jersey if she let him. She would not.

Adjusting her tie, she carefully seated herself and picked up the latest edition of Witch Weekly, scanning the pages of gossip for anything by her current obsession Jeanine Roux. Ever since her piece on Dolly St. James signing books for the sick, Caity had been hooked. It was, in part, due to the reporters glossy picture that situated itself beside her articles. She was blonde, and leggy, and gorgeous, and looked absolutely spoiled. If Caity could live anyone else's life for a day that wasn't Dolly St. James, it would be Jeanine Roux, without a doubt. She was considering all of this when she heard the compartment door slide open. She was going to get good and annoyed (how dare anyone bother her while she was centering herself before the madness that would be the Sorting Ceremony) but found herself looking into a familiar pair of brown eyes instead, and almost squealed in delight.

"Well aren't you a sight for these old baby blues," her smile was coy as she slowly stood and gave the boy a rather awkward hug around his bag, then dropped back into her seat. "I would be terribly offended that I haven't heard from you all Summer, but I'm going to assume it was because you knew letters would never suffice and it would only make you miss my face that much more in the long run," her tone was teasing as she carefully moved her things and made room for the lanky dark skinned boy. Caity was, in most ways, fairly easy to get along with... provided you didn't mind that she was a little vain, and maybe a little vapid. Vapid wasn't really the right word because it implied she didn't have the ability for higher reasoning, she did she just chose to not, most of the time anyway. Tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear she looked down at the little owl and cooed, "He's so cute! Also, I am pea green with envy you're going to be legal in fifteen days and I have to wait till the end of May. Life is so wretchedly unfair".

As he sat down and made himself comfortable Elijah swallowed as the girl in front of him started talking about him not writing for the summer. He had thought about writing the girl, but somehow he never did. Smiling, as he always did, he shrugged as he petted the bird that sat on his lap. “Yeah well. Somehow I never did, even though I really intended to. Not that I received a letter from you?” He said, as honest as he always is. Placing Bubo back in his cage, the bird was now rapidly gaining energy and Elijah was afraid the bird might tear down the compartment, even though its tiny size. Elijah swallowed and smiled again as he listened to Caitlin coo about Bubo. He lifted the cage, with the owlet now in it, and placed it on her lap. “Here. If you want you can take him out, but he is so energetic now, it is not advised. I do not think you could quite handle it.” He said, flashing his smile again. Because of the smile it might looked like he was making a joke, but Elijah was dead serious. In some way he would not picture Caitlin with animals, but he might be proven wrong.

He stretched out in his seat, somehow his muscles were sore, and sighed as the girl started about the age. He would turn seventeen in fifteen days, while she had to wait almost all year still. They always ended up having this conversation, he always was one year ahead of the blonde girl. Putting his hand through his hair he looked Caitlin straight in the eyes, “Life is not fair, neither is it unfair. It is just life. Plus, here inside Hogwarts you will not notice such a big difference anyway. You know that.” He replied to the girl.

Caitlin was one of the first girls he befriended inside Hufflepuff. She was always easy to get along with, and he presence made Elijah genuinely smile, something not that often happened. As he turned his gaze toward the window and saw the green landscape they were riding through Elijah’s thoughts took him to a new painting. The green landscape inspired him. As the colors and objects started to form in his head he suddenly noticed he was drifting away again, and quickly shook his head, refocusing again. The painting would come later.

Trying to change the subject, still hoping Caitlin had not noticed he cleared his throat. “So. Uhm. You’re planning to become a champion?” He then asked. He just hated when people started to ask questions about his… absent thoughts, always afraid that when he told them about the painting they would want to see some. And when they saw them they would not like it. Something like that.

Caity just gave him a breezy, if perhaps coy smile and shrugged, "A girl never writes first Eli. We're creatures meant to be courted and fawned over," she fluttered her eyelashes at him then before sinking more deeply into the blush seat. Caity flirted with every male thing that had two legs, it often got her in trouble, but it was just so fun - even if the reaction she got was sputtering awkwardness. It was a powerful thing, the effect you could have on another person with a simple dip in tone or inclination of an eyebrow. She didn't often torment Elijah because he was so shy and it took so much for him to open up to people, but sometimes it was still fun to try to get his goat.

"Really, I didn't have much time for anything this summer. Our neighbors have twins and I sat for them from the day I got home until just yesterday. I had no time for myself this summer, it's why I wasn't at Sophie's bonfire. I got an owl last minute that they needed a sitter because they had some big fundraiser to go to for Werewolf rights and offered to pay me double my going rate. I swear if anything has put me off having kids it was taking care of those two monsters, especially when their summer colds kicked in, it was a nightmare of sticky hands and runny noises and just ugh," she shuddered, pausing in her ramble long enough to realize he wasn't listening.

She gave a small sigh and shook her head, letting her own eyes travel out the window. She often wondered what went on between those ears of his, in that quiet place he often retreated when she talked too much - and she did tend to talk a lot, and usually about things that didn't particularly matter. Well, they mattered to her but most people probably found them terribly boring. His question shook her from this rare moment of reflection and she gave a simple shrug, "I dunno, I mean I'm planning on working for the paper again this year, and of course Choir. I don't know that I'd have the time... plus, I mean it's Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. They're a bit intense you know? Salem, not so much".

Elijah felt his cheeks flush red as Caitlin fluttered her eyelashes. Elijah grinned at the blonde girl, trying to hide his red color. "That is hardly fair Caitlin." He said to her as he forced Bubo back in the cage. He knew she would understand that he was referring to her flirting. He had never really flirted with a girl before. Not just because of his shyness, but also because he was quite certain that no girl would see him like that. He would always be the brother instead of the boyfriend, and those thoughts made him blind to real flirtations. He does not see them, because he would know for sure he was seeing ghosts. With Bubo back in his cage he placed it beside him.  Looking at the owlet he smiled again, feeling the red slowly retreating again from his face. Letting out a little sigh of relief Elijah lifted his face looking straight into Caitlin’s eyes again.

"I dunno, I mean I'm planning on working for the paper again this year, and of course Choir. I don't know that I'd have the time... plus, I mean it's Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. They're a bit intense you know? Salem, not so much". Caitlin responded to his question regarding the Triwizard Championship.

Elijah just smiled again. He knew what she meant. Those other schools could be quite… intimidating. But then again, he finds a lot of other things quite intimidating too. Like Slytherins. Most of them at least. But maybe he should not be frightened that much anymore. At least not at forehand. Maybe those students from Durmstrang would be… nice? Elijah scoffed at himself for thinking those ridiculous thoughts when he suddenly remembered he had still not replied to Caitlin.

Quickly thinking back to her respond, it  had something to do with her being busy and the other schools being intimidating, he shrugged as well. “Well I think you would be a brilliant Champion. Hufflepuff is also… intense?” He said, a tad surprised by himself. He had given a compliment without even flushing red again.

Producing a chuckle he turned back to the Hufflepuff. “Maybe I should become a Champion.” He said sarcastically. As if he would even be chosen to represent Hogwarts. What a foolish dream that would be.