Lucy wasn't overly surprised at her cousins not really noticing her. By now she expected that, she was after all smaller than the other physically, meeker than everyone else, not really important in any way. Why would they pay attention? They have people their own size and, in Dominique's case, a crush to focus on.

So Lucy just stayed quiet while the older students talked things out. She knew, and she was always very grateful for this, that Cullen would stay with her, so there was no need for her to attempt to fit in with the older crowd by raising her voice.

She was also surprised that Ash wanted to go with them.

Sure her cousin Rose wasn't really making it easy for Ash to go with them, but still. Most people found it incredibly boring to just kind of fly around the ground instead of playing quidditch and it was quite obvious they didn't have enough players for even one team.

As they started to leave the Great Hall, Ash turned to Cullen.

"Who are you again?"

Lucy bit her bottom lip, trying not to laugh. It wasn't necessarily that she was laughing at Ash for not knowing who Cullen was, but rather that she agreed to go with a group when she didn't know. This just seemed to be so funny for Lucy. She didn't notice either, but a small giggle did escape her. Then a question popped into her head. Ash seemed to be focusing on Cullen more than her so she didn't really want to interrupt, but it was something she was working on. Speaking up and being brave, that is.

"I know there wasn't much choice with Rose pushing you off like that, but why would agree to come with us? You don't even know us?" She was genuinely curious because going off with strangers with barely a second thought was just so mind-blowing to Lucy. It didn't even seem like Ash had thought it through completely before giving them an answer, she just jumped right in. She seems to be more of a Gryffindor than me, she thought, working hard to keep eye-contact with the older Slytherin.

So it seemed like Ash was going to come with them after all. It was nice of the other girls to take the book Ash wanted to return to the library for her. They didn't seem to much care where Ash went and that was both a good and bad thing. He was sure Ash preferred things that way but when it came down to it, it did not look like the girl had many friends. He hoped that she did find a way to open up more and become friends with others, especially those in her own house. Oh well. At least she was coming with them so now they had a trio at least. And this way he could take care of both girls should anything out of the ordinary occur. He would have to make sure that Lucy and Ash got along though. He wasn't sure how Ash acted in social situations really. He had only ever had to deal with her when he had to stop fights.

Cullen turned his gaze over at Lysander for a moment and offered the other male a smile and a wink. He did wish they were hanging out but he was sure they'd find a way to group up some other time. They did have prefect duties after all. He would mis their alone time though they didn't really do anything out of the ordinary when they were together. He turned his attention back to his little group and started to walk towards the field lockers with the girls in toe. That is when Ash spoke up and asked him who he was. Oh, right. He did forget to introduce himself hadn't he? He turned back to her and smiled.

"Sorry about that. My name is Cullen. It is nice to meet you."

And then Lucy piped up. She had an excellent question. Why did Ash agree to come with them? They were strangers. He was sure that Lucy did not interact with Ash either. Maybe she was trying to get out of a bad situation or something. "Were they bullying you or something?" he asked then. "There was a lot of conversation over a book you were reading."

Ash spun slowly on her heel to face the younger girl directly, a bit surprised that she had spoken to her but not letting it show on her face. "You'd be surprised how low some people will stoop to save face," she said matter-of-factly, giving Cubert an off-hand thumbs up when he gave his name. (Wait, no, his name was Cullen. Cullen.) "And who says I don't know Golden Boy over here? He's a prefect, I'm the Dark Lord Rising, allegedly. We clash all the time."

She actually didn't think she'd spoken to him all that often, but the few times she could remember he'd been a bit cross with her, usually about how she'd chosen to deal with those who had dared cross the other members of her house.

"Slytherins don't get bullied," she replied, first keeping pace with the Ravenclaw prefect before falling back a step when she remembered the kid's shorter legs. The kid who she also realized hadn't yet introduced herself. "They were just praising me for my initiative in returning a lost book," she continued easily. "I would've gone with them to return the book myself, but like I said, I forgot to get something that doesn't exist. Namely the fees attached to it. Whoops."

"Speakin' of names, you've yet to give yours," She turns again to look at the fourth year, walking backwards as she speaks. Ash didn't feel the need to giver her own name, being fairly satisfied that these two already knew who she was, else they wouldn't have approached her.

Lysander rolled his eyes, shaking his head with a sigh at his brothers impulsiveness. "I hope you can at least afford it yourself this time when you lose." He spoke in a stern though loving if somewhat exasperated tone.

Lorcan looked at his brother with a mock expression of disbelief. "Oh but brother do you not have faith in me? I've never lost a bet!" He spoke this obvious lie with such confidence one could almost be forgiven for believing it.

Lysander still sported an exasperated expression but if one were to look closely they would find small smile on the verge of growing wider. "Well that's not true. Remember fourth year? I think I'll go with the smart choice and stay out of this one." He playfully sneered at his brother intentionally bringing up the infamous fourth year which resulted in the combustion of no less than three school brooms, the loss of half of Lysander's coin purse, and Lorcan's brief suspension from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.

Lorcan visibly shivered at the mention of it. "Oh please for the love of Merlin do not mention fourth year." Before anymore could be said the twin's playful banter was cut short due to Scorpius' arrival.

The twins turned to the boy each greeting him in turn. Lysander gave his fellow prefect a slight wave and nod. "More your favor than Lorcan's." While Lorcan merely gave a small smile. "Oh sod off Lysander what do you know? Don't listen to him Scorpius lucks on my side I'm sure of it!"

Both the boys were clearly pleased at Mslfoys arrival. He was a good friend of the twins a fellow prefect to Lysander and Lorcan's largest rival in the pitch. Lorcan was just glad to hang out with a friend but Lysander was all too aware of his friends placement on the list. A Pureblood and a Malfoy no less. It was very likely that Scorpius would be targeted and soon. Lysander made s mental note to keep a watchful eye on his friend just in case danger rears its ugly head.

Lucy couldn't help but giggle at thinking of her cousin praising Ash, especially after over hearing them talk about her at reunions.

"I doubt that Rose and Dominique don't praise anyone!" Lucy said, hiding her smile behind her hand, then extending it to the Slytherin, "My name is Lucy." She was trying her best to hide her, not-so-surprised, thoughts about Ash's comment about stooping low to save face, but it was hard, so to ignore them better she attempted to keep a conversation going, something she usually didn't do, but she had decided to face the world today and so that meant giving it her all and not backing down from that decision. Not letting her fears get the better of her.

"What was the book about? Something interesting I'd guess since you had it so long," Lucy said. One thing she had learned from Cullen was how to get someone talking about books and that getting them started would mean a hard time stopping them. She was worried that, however, it was just Cullen who did that and that she had it all wrong; making the conversation die out too quickly.

She held her breath and kept walking, they were almost to the Quidditch lockers now, so she kept reminding herself that the silence wouldn't be long before she would be up in the free air flying.

"I told you, I found it," Ash replied curtly. "And no, it was about snakes. Magic snakes, basilisks, amphitheres, tsuchinoko, hoop snakes, Nidhogg. That kind of thing. It was mostly just conjecture on muggle mythology and how they might translate into legitimate magical creatures. The author claimed muggle mythology was the best route to finding magical serpents, since snakes in general tend to be shy and difficult to find if you don't know where to look. I mean, there was a basilisk within the Hogwarts plumbing system for literal centuries with no one knowing. It also talked about dragons for a bit, and how they might relate."

She coughed awkwardly and scratched the back of her head. She really hadn't intended to speak that much on the matter, but once she'd opened her mouth it had all come tumbling out in a rapid, barely decipherable mess. Luckily, their arrival at the Quidditch lockers was enough to distract from her slip.

She ignored Cullen's attempts at self-deprecation and hopped over to the lockers near the back corner, where she'd kept her broom the past couple of years before finally making the team. It had been a close thing, but it had been so, so satisfying when she finally managed to pull ahead of the usual rabble who applied each year. She'd never admit it, would keep it hidden deep down in the depths of her mind forever, but there had been some level of relief at finally being accepted into something since coming to Hogwarts. Yes, there was the Magical Creature's Club, but that was a small club, and they probably hadn't had the option of rejecting anyone at the time she'd joined.

Her old, splintery broom in hand, she did an about face and walked back toward the door. "Alright, who wants to see how flying's done?"

Noah felt rather sheepish as a teacher woke him up. Again. He had made it to the Great Hall with the rest of Hufflepuff, despite severe sleep deprivation. But he had fallen asleep again as soon as he sat down. Now it seemed he was one of the 'last people left at the table.

He merely shrugged cheekily at professor Longbottom's dry look. "Sorry. But not sorry. I'm not going to give up on researching ways to make a laptop work at school.", he informed the man, knowing he could get away with it without any point loss with this particular professor.

"How was I supposed to know we were going to be called to the Great Hall at such a ridiculously early time anyway?"

It wasn't quite in character for him, but he was too tired to have any fucks left to give. Not that he worded that out loud.

The Herbology Professor simply sighed, "At least tell me you listened to the Headmaster's speech before falling asleep."

At Noah's blank stare he made to say something, but stopped himself, before simply deciding to recap what had been said. Noah listened with growing horror. "But that's horrible!", he exclaimed, drawing some stares from the few still remaining in the Hall. At a below average loudness he continued, "I mean, he wasn't the nicest person to be honest, but that doesn't mean someone can do that!"

"Either way", the Professor said with a look that became only more pointed at the man's next words, "Seeing how you weren't awake to buddy up with anyone, do you want me to escort you to your common room?"

Noah thought about that for a while, On one hand, he could go back to bed. On the other, he wasn't all that tired anymore.

"Can we go to the library?", he asked. "I want to borrow some more books. I think I'm on the verge of a breakthrough with my project. If I'm right the common theory about magic supercharging technology to the point of breaking down could be wrong, as the recent text that I've read instead posted a theory about the common shifts in ambient magic when a spell is cast acting as something similar to an EMP."

Not noticing the teacher's blank look, he continued, "I mean, it's not all that important immediately, seeing how I wouldn't be able to charge my laptop with electricity here anyway, what with the lack of electricity sockets, but it means I might be able to get the theory about magic-proofing technology at home, for when I've got my OWLS and am able to cast magic..."

At this point Professor Longbottom interrupted him, "The library it is then..."

Noah quickly grabbed some buttered toast, before standing up. Taking a bite out of it he looked up expectantly at the man, and they started their walk towards the library.