((x3 Well, Cori was actually talking to Wes, and besides that, I think that Morgain will be a bit overwhelmed with the multiple posts. @.@))

((Don't worry, it takes a lot to overwhelm me as far as posts go. Sorry I've been gone for so long, though. I really didn't mean to keep you all waiting.))

Wes let Cori pull him from the room. Since he was already wearing his dresspants and a fairly nice shirt under his thick, Durmstrang coat, he had simply replaced the winter wool for the simple, black cloak the Hogwarts students wore. He tied the white and black scarf several times around his neck, as if it would make up for the lack of harsh fur on his skin. He had finally given up, looped it once, and slug his Durmstrang coat back over it. It was an odd sight, the ends and most of the long, black sleeves beering from beneth the tan and brown coat, his scarf drapped lazilly over the front. But, this was West, and he didn't wasnt to change for anybody, besides, of course, that single trait.

He was quiet, his eyes downcast as he thought about Cori's question. As they where just pulled away from the crowd he said without looking at her, as if a little ashamed, "I really don care what house I'm in, just not Slytherin. Father would have liked that... But I don'th think I'm patient, wise or brave." He shrugged. "I just want to stay away from my father's footsteps...."

He blinked slowly, raising his free hand to brush his black bangs lazilly out of his eyes. (His other hand was being held by Cori, and he had held it back, glad to have a friend in the world.) He wasn't even sure if he had spoke, as if he was more talking to himself than to anybody. His voice had remained low and serious, and he hesitated before looking to the sky. It was nearly night now, the sky growing ever darker. The moon, pale and strong, was begining to hang. It was waxing, growing larger as each night past. In just a night or two, it would be full and Wes would have to hide away. He clenched his free hand as tight as possible, a thin trickle of blood and pain seeping from between his fingers. A familiar, frightening voice echoed in his head. It was the voice of his father who had once said, "You're nothing but a coward, Westley. Westley Alexander. Ha! What a brave name your mother wasted on you!"

Westley was ten when his mother had dissapeared, and the memory of the morning after still haunted him. Was it his fault? He couldn't remember anymore. He never remembered anything after his lunar cycles... His stomach flipped and he began to feel sick. The setting began to spin, until a gruff voice ran out and drew him from his nightmare. It was directing the first years, and without akowlading its sourse, he followed the sound.

"Common," Wes said, a smile creaping on his face as he turned back to Cori. "Let's catch a boat with the others, no?" A wan, forced smile continued to dawn on his features, unfased by the narrow scars down his cheeks, hardly noticable especially in the fading light. This was a new life, new start. He would have to go somewhere for the summer holidays until he graduated, but until then he was free. Free of his father, of Geramny, of Durmstrang and from the painful memories that tied them all together. This was a new day, and he would not be fased by it.

((Oh, that's good. :3))

Corrine's usual exuberence dissapated when Westley answered, not because of what the boy said, but of the way he looked at his shoes when he said it. His words had a sad ringing to them, of remembrance of painful topics. It's a smart choice to leave harmful memories alone. Cori thought to herself, trying to convince herself that she shouldn't ask him what bothered him so much about his father. There was an obvious clash in the two's attitudes and lifestyles, seeing as Wes wanted to be nothing like him. She continued to hold his hand, feeling like if he noticed her concerned look she could be there for support if he decided to tell her.

Seeing as they had finally left the train, Cori nodded her head, smiling at Wes' suggestion and calling out to the other two. "Kylie! Sai! Wait up!" Cori changed the way they were holding hands so that their fingers criss-crossed, making it easier to move without being seperated, then started looking for ways to reach the other two. Finding a small pathway, she pointed at it, looking back at Wes. "Let's go." Her smile had returned, and it shone warmly towards Westley, the witch happy that she had made new friends.

((Rosie says from her kennel; "Miaow. D<"))

((No one talks to Dusk...))

Dusk sighed and felt her way to the boats, she cried out as she got into one. She cound't see ni these things, the water was not land and she couldn't sense her way towards anything. She glanced at the sky. "Why can't we be flying." shwe grumbled, setting herself down next to Sai, Corrine, and Kylie...

((I'm gone July 6-15. Winter, our dates are practically the same. lol.))

Wes smiled at the girl who introduced herself as Kylie. He beamed to her. Though he hadn't really talked to her before, he felt strangely at ease with her, as if they shared something Wes could not place. He gave a sly smile, careful not to open his mouth too far, in fear he would reveal his larger- than- normal, pointed canines at the foresides  of his smile. He took his hand from Cori more than reluctantly, almost sad when her contact left their inter-laced fingers. He raised the hand again and shook Kylie's own, actually a little surprised she hadn't hugged him.

"Westley Alexander Kaos," He said with a faint glimmer of pride. After the informal introduction, he lowered his pale, scared hand again, hoping she wouldn't ask him about it. Though his body was covered in scars, the largest where on his hands and back, not to mention a wide stripe ranging actoss his back, given to him by somebody at the other end of a whip, they day after his mother had left. He lowered the hand back down to his side, letting it brush Cori's skin again, half- hoping that she would take it in her own again. The contact was strange, but warm and confortable, even if it was a little embarasing.

He followed the others into the boat, feeling quite unsure about the rocking on the water. He had never had a nach for flying, and the only time he'd spent on a boat he was too little to remember. Within secconds, Wes had decided that he liked this almost as poorly as flying, and he went, if possible, paler than usuall.

((brainfail. Sorry.))

((That was no brainfail! :D It was better than my usual posts... xDD))

Kylie smiled widely as Wes shook her hand. She noticed the scars on them, but thought it to be best to talk about them later. She also had noticed something quite pequilar (Sp?) about the boy, like a bond of some sort. She shook the thought out of her head, thinking she was probably insane or something. It wouldn't be the first time she was called that. The thought of it made Kylie smile, making her look like an idiot because she was smiling for no reason.

Suddenly, after Wes and Cori entered the boat and sat down, the boat began to move towards the castle. Kylie, who was still standing up, almost fell in by the unexpected movement. She quickly sat down next to Sai, and grabbed the seat's bottom. She had a ligidiment fear of drowning, seeing how she's almost done it before.

Dusk curled up and hugged her knees. she turned her blank eyes to the side of the boat, for without feeling, she couldn't tell. She heard her voice and turned the right way. "I*m Dusk..." she sighed...

((Ok, Morgain, read the forum about the vacation I am taking!))

((So not brainfail Morgain! D: Your posts are always so amazing, I always feel bed replying to them with my little wimpy ones. x3 *highfives for similar vaccation dates*))

Finding that after he greeted Kylie, Wes's hand dropped by his side again, Cori took it up once more, liking the feeling that she was anc*censored*d to something. Over the countless miles of water, Corrine was always unsure, afraid of falling into too deep of water as much as she was afraid of heights. The particular thing about Cori's fear of heights was that flying didn't bother her, in the case that it was, she actually enjoyed it. One of Cori's main goals at the school was to get on the quidditch team. What position she would play, well, she'd leave that up to the captain, though secretly she aspired to be a seeker. It's... unlikely, though... She thought to herself, remembering that there were probably much better seekers in her house. Maybe she would be a keeper, since it was just as thrilling to her.

The boat lurched forwards, heaving Cori's stomach into her chest, not literally speaking, of course. Her grip on Wes' hand grew tighter, the initial motion of the boat scaring her a bit. Black water glared at her when she peered over the side, and Cori's skin was covered in goosebumps. "I'm not sure I like travel by boat so much." She muttered, mostly to herself, leaning in towards Wes a bit, feeling like because he was in a different seat, it must be safer. It was a fool's logic, but at that moment Cori was too terrifyed to care, looking forwards to the candle lit at the bow of the boat. Put me on a broom anyday. "I hope the ride isn't too long."

((Woah there, double post. D: I didn't even click the button twice. *grumbles*))

((Miss you, Fun, and thanks winter! Your posts are much more to- the- point then mine; I like them! <3 *returns highfive* Don't mind if I speed this along a little, do you? Sorry.))

Wes gladly tore his eyes from the water, breifly glanced up at the caslte before them, then to the moon, now behind them. His stomach turned, more because of the moon's eary, envious glow than the lurching of the boat. He was drawn back to where he was, however, as he felt the grip on his hand tighten. He cracked a thin, frail smile as he saw Cori edging away from her side of the boat. Westley shared her emotion. Somehow the idea of them magically switching places was pleasent, but reality told him that it would not improve either's situation.

He looked at the others, his new friends, Sai-kun and his fasinating heratige, Kylie with an unplacable similarity, Dusk so quiet and almost curious, and Cori who was gripping his hand, the contact soothing his lunar- based fears. Somehow, no matter the house they got sorted into, Westley was oddly as/sured that that the five of them, with maybe some others, would have a hard time being separated from eachother. It was a comforting thought, and he entertained it until the black water caught his eye again a few minutes later.

Westley always hated grindylows. He shivered at the thought of long, pale green hands holding him under the water, but shook the feeling away. In one of the Durmstrang dungouns, there where several aquatic, magical species living in m*censored*ive tanks. Somehow, long ago, the headmaster had captured and restrained a hippocampus and placed it in the largest of the tanks. Though it had never been tamed, there where several attempts of students releasing it into the North Sea, all of which had ended in desaster. Looking into the water now, Wes made a strong mental note to never go swimming in the Black Lake, as much as he would like to. After all, it wasn't the water he hated, just the rocking of the boats.

After what seemed like many, queezy, mortal hours, the boats finnally crossed over the Black Lake to the other side. The first years would have a breif, but steep incline before they got to a large, narrow door to the east of the main entrance gates. Westley suspected that once they where through the doors, a proffecer would lead them into the main dining hall to be sorted into the houses. He frowned as the big man with the booming voice took the incline in three easy strides, and the first of the daring students began to climb after him. Wes gave out a little groan. In Germany, the grounds where flat and even, so it was easy to get from place to place. This was such a blessing, as in stead of a castle, there where many large, stone buildings separated from eachother. The time between each cl*censored* was long, and many of the students flew on their brooms to get from place to place. Of course, this had never been quite for Westley. Air or boat were almost equal on the foul scedual. Swimming? Fine. Walking? Perfect. Climbing... What had Westley signed up for?

He handn't let go of Cori's hand, but did have to loosen the grip a little as they clambered from the ricketty boats onto the rocky s*censored*. His stomach did another acrobatic move as the moon's glow caught his eye before being covered by a dark cloud that he'd sword hadn't been there before. He forced upon his face a smile, almost revealing sharp white canines as he said, "I guess ve're finally here."