Summer Fun ((Band))

[Andrew Thornton G6]

Drew pulled his trunk behind him and carried his owl before him. The future was making him antsy. He couldn't wait to take off for America and see his favorite baseball team play. He couldn't wait to spend time hanging with his parents and his siblings. He could share with them everything that was going on and feel like he was incredibly special for being the only one who completely understood the wizarding world. It was something that made him special. He was the only wizard in his family and that meant that he was living out a dream that his parents, siblings, and muggle friends had only lived in their dreams. He smiled at the thought before he hauled his trunk up the steps of the train and down the aisle of the Hogwart's Express. He couldn't believe that he was going to be 4th year soon. He was going to be starting to study hard for the O.W.L.s. It wasn't something that interested him too much. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do with his life. Maybe this band of his would make it big some day. However, he didn't really know if it would or not. It was more of an interest and hobby for him as opposed to something he wanted to do for all time. But still he wasn't sure.

Drew pushed the thought of his future from his mind. He hated thinking about things to come. He liked to live in the here and now. Living in the future had no meaning for him. He turned into an empty compartment in the middle of the train and immediately used his wand to lift his trunk up on the shelf above him. He smiled and then sat his owl next to the trunk. She hooted at him and he just smiled as he pulled down the sheet that blocked out the sun for her. From there he took a seat and looked around the empty compartment. He had spent a good amount of time in these compartments. The friends he had met on this train and the Slytherins who had decided he had been fair game. He smiled. He didn't mind them thinking they were better than him. He knew they were wrong, but he didn't bother truly having confrontations with them. He preferred having fun and laughing as opposed to arguing and having stand offs.

Drew ran a hand through his hair and ruffled it again. It seemed he was a bit earlier than the rest of the students. Of course the others had probably decided to actually fold their clothes instead of just throwing them into their trunk. It was what he always did. He wasn't much for neatness and tidiness. He smiled at the thought before he leaned back against the window and threw his legs up on top of the seat across from him. This would be a comfortable ride home unless he drew the attention he normally did. The thought made him smile again, especially with the use of the word drew. How ironic. He laughed to himself before he put his hands behind his head and waited for the rest of his crew to show up. They always did. Where ever he went people would show up. Of course right now he was hoping that Stryder would show for sure and a few girls. It was always good to get in some practice before summer break.

[Branden Davis G6]

It was finished, O.W.L.s were finally finished and Branden had a year of nothing before N.E.W.T. preparation. How was he finished fifth year, though? It simply made no sense, really. Very recently Branden had turned 16, and that fact confused him a little, he certainly didn’t seem 16 to himself. The sixth years always seemed so big and serious, nothing like Branden, okay well maybe he could be considered the height of a sixth year but certainly not serious. Then again, he probably did okay on his O.W.L.s; he always did okay. The year was finished, though, and now Branden needed to pack everything and make it out onto the train. Thankfully he had started packing the night before… if you count throwing what you were wearing that day into the trunk packing. So it was one outfit down and everything else to go… he had better get out of bed.

After showering, getting dressed, and throwing everything in sight into his trunk Branden crawled out from under his bed where he had found 3 shirts, 2 different socks, and a liquorice wand that he didn’t remember ever owning that looked distinctly grey in colour. He went over to the mirror and brushed his hand through his hair – it looked fine, no need to drag the hairbrush out of… wherever he had put it… it’s not like his hair was that long it needed to be brushed everyday anyways… Breakfast too… Branden made his trunk follow him down to the Great Hall – no point going back up later to get it – and left the Gryffindor Tower for the last time in his fifth year.

Not long after Branden finally made it to Hogsmead station where people were milling about, slowly but surely filing into the train. Cat, Branden’s owl, would fly home on her own so Branden had the empty cage with him. She didn’t like being cooped up too long so there was really no point in bringing her all the way down to London only to bring her back up to Scotland again by the end of the day. She could find her own way home, she knew by now what it meant when summer came. Branden, the trunk, and the empty cage made their way noisily into the middle compartment where most the compartments seemed to be empty. Eventually part way down he found he found a compartment worth a try, though, it had a fellow Gryffindor who he recognized as Andrew, a third or soon to be fourth year.

With a quick rap at the door Branden slid it open and popped his head in. “Hey there, mind if I join you?” Branden said before entering. “Thanks” he said simply assuming it would be fine and stowed his trunk under the seat across from the boy, Drew. With a cheerful smile Branden sat down, “Another year gone already, eh?” he said.

((Okay, well I figured this is how we could have them meet and I was thinking maybe if Drew brings up the band Branden could suggest himself as manager? If this doesn’t work for you – like if you want to pretend they already had the conversation or something just let me know and I can modify I just didn’t want to say we had already talked about it in case.))

[oznelson]

The end of the year had finally come. It was odd, though, because Oz was certain it had just started yesterday. During the year, he usually seemed to lose track of time - lose track of the days he spent at Hogwarts. They all seemed to blur together and become one long strand of days and such. Maybe he should start keeping track on a calendar, but what good would that do? Oz sort of found not knowing what day it was surprising and spontaneous. And he didn't get much spontaneity in his life, so this would have to do. The point was, the end of the year had crept up on Oz so when the day to board the train came - nothing of his was packed. That was okay, though, because most people didn't pack until that day anyway. Oz liked to appear to be on top of things, though, so packing at the last minute probably wasn't something he should make a habit of doing.

Oz closed the lid on his trunk and latched it shut, making sure it was secure. He didn't want anything to fall out on accident, then return home to find that he was missing his underwear. With a final look around the fifth year dorms, Oz pulled out his wand. He had memories here, fifth year had been his best year at Hogwarts so far. He was pretty sure he was going to miss it. Before he could unpack all his things because of the huge urge in the pit of his stomach to do just that, Oz pulled the trunk behind him to the common room where he found Clef - his cat- lounging on the couch. He sighed and dropped the trunk before scooping up the orange tabby cat. "Leaving you here, would be bad. C'mon. In your cage." Oz lifted the door to the cage up and placed Clef inside before closing it and locking it. All Clef did was meow and then curl up in a ball, going back to sleep.

He placed the cage on top of the trunk and made sure it was secure before picking it up and dragging it behind him to the Great Hall where he would probably just grab an apple or banana or something like that too munch on before running to meet the train. A few minutes later he was getting himself situated in a carriage and then heading to Hogsmeade Station. When he arrived, Oz smiled at how many people were already there. So he wasn't running as late as he might have thought he was. He put his trunk on board while bringing Clef with him into the compartments. Who was he to sit with? He didn't know many people, and those he did know he wasn't close friends with. Oz was a bit anti-social that way. Maybe he could find an empty compartment. He made his way to the middle car and slid open a door to find two boys. One he recognized as Branden Davis and the other as a younger Gryffindor by the name of Andrew Thornton.

"If I ask to sit here with you two, will I be thrown out by my ears?" Oz smiled and closed the door behind him as he set Clef's cage down on the seat next to him and sat down himself. He was sure it was fine, and if it wasn't then he would get up without an argument. But he knew Branden, and Branden wasn't one to reject company. He was actually one of the nicest people Oz knew, which weren't many.

[Andrew Thornton G6]

Drew turned at the sound of the door. He smiled at the familiar Gryffindor as he entered asking him if he could join him. "No problem whatsoever. I was hoping for the company. I don't think we've ever officially met. I'm Andrew Thornton, but please call me Drew. It's much more interesting and besides that's what my parents call me. They give me Andrew for a birth name, but they have always called me Drew, now that makes perfect sense," Drew said with a bit of a smile as he ran a hand through his hair. He never understood why his parents didn't just make his permanent name Drew. It wasn't like it was going to make that big of a difference, but then again Andrew was a family name. His great grandfathers name if he was correct. But he wasn't sure that was exactly true either.

During these thoughts Drew heard a sound at the door and turned to see another Gryffindor he recognized as Oz...Oz something. He couldn't remember the last name, but he was pretty sure Oz was the first name. He hadn't met Oz before, but he had seen him around the common room enough to know his first name. Both Branden and Oz were older than him. Drew smiled at the humor behind Oz's words. He nodded. "Nah, I prefer throwing people out by their hair as opposed to their ears," Drew said with a smile. "I'm not sure that we've formally met. My name is Andrew Thornton, but as I was just explaining to Branden, please just call me Drew. I prefer that," Drew said. He wondered if he was going to be having to repeat himself a lot in the next few minutes. Of course he was still waiting to see if Stryder would show. That would make for an interesting compartment if that happened. Four Gryffindors. Both Drew and Stryder known for their wild antics and then of course Branden was known for his as well. Drew however, didn't know much about Oz. Just the few rumors here and there. In fact one rumor included something about playing an instrument.

Drew's eyes flashed to Oz for a moment, before he plunged into the idea. "I heard a rumor that you play an instrument, the bass I believe, is that true? I'm only asking because I'm trying to get this band started and we're in desperate need for a bass guitarist. If you happen to play it would be great if you could join up with us, if of course you want to," Drew said quickly. He didn't want to sound like an idiot if it turned out that he was wrong. It was only a rumor anyway, he could be completely wrong and now here he was embarrassing himself in front of two older boys. It was a good thing it was the beginning of the summer, by next school year the embarrassing story might die down enough that no one would remember. He winced at the thought. Now he really hoped that he hadn't just made a fool out of himself.

[stryderstalk]

How could a room get so messy in only one year. Stryder couldn't believe that his stuff was scattered all over his dorm. He really doubted that he was the messy, sure Stryder would trow his stuff on the floor everynow and then but most of the mess was due to his roommates, most likely Drew. Stryder dragged his suitcase out from under his bed and threw in all of his stuff in a random order. Wheter it was clothes, books, or guitar picks, they all were thrown together in a big pile.

After about an hour Stryder finally managed to pack all of his stuff and leave his dorm. He walked down to the Common Room and wasn't surprised to find a few teary eyed girls. Stryder made his ways through hugs and kisses on his cheek's and into the Great Hall. The night before he had said his goodbyes and didn't want to see that many people today, he would see them next year and if he really cared about them they would hang out during the summer.

There was no doubt what so ever that this year had been Stryder's best. He had done so many things and met so many interesting people. Stryder walked along the lake shore reading a letter in his hand. Slate had delivered it the night before with a package. Stryder knew that it was from his aunt telling him that they would meet him and enclosing the letter with cookies and love. Stryder bit the cookie and fed some crumbs to Slate who was perched on his suitcase. Stryder hated putting his bird in the cage, he thought it was pointless, as long as Slate had food he wasn't going anywhere. Stryder put the letter in his pocket and followed the throng of kids near the train.

After finally escaping some Hufflepuff girls, Stryder entered the train and walked over to his compartment. Every year Stryder sat in the same compartment with Drew, it was tradition. They also had a nack of meeting people there. Stryder knew that Drew was already there probably with some girls. Drew had left the dorm room a lot earlier than Stryder had. Stryder walked by making sure he didn't hit his guitar case along the walls of the train. He finally reached the compartment and opened the doors. Stryder immediately saw Drew accompanied by two older Gryffindors Stryder knew as Branden and Oz. He didn't know Oz that well but Branden was the guy who started the party after Gryffindor was slaughtered by Ravenclaw.

"Hey Drew."

Stryder said as he put his guitar case by his seat and the rest of his stuff up on the weak shelves. Stryder made Slate go back in his cage, surprisingly easy.

"Branden if you want to start another party, Drew isn't the best person to talk to. He doesn't no anything about the ins and outs of Hogwarts. I'm the guy you want."

Stryder said with a smile as he sat down and looked over at Drew. This would be a fun ride home, Stryder knew it.

[summerlandfan]

Looking out of the common room groggily Derrick rubbed his sore neck. He had fallen asleep in one of the common room chairs but he wasn't the only one there were quite a few people that did. Laughing slightly he stood up and walked lazily up the stairs and took a left into the boys bathroom. Grabbing his tooth brush and toothpaste he quickly brushed his teeth. Carrying these things out with him he threw them into his trunk as he walked into his room that he shared with the other Hufflepuff third years. Looking around he mumbled to himself "I don't remember throwing everything everywhere like it looks" He wasn't the neatest person in the world and that is why it was lucky that he woke up so early so he could manage to scrounge up everything.

Sighing slightly he started under his bed and worked his way up leaving his drumsticks out of his trunk he closed the lid shut and gave a sigh of relief and satisfaction. Grabbing his owl cage Derrick made his way to the owlery waving at people he new and a few people he really didn't now that waved at him first. He was in a happy mood today so he didn't feel like asking why people were waving at him that he barley new.

When he finally reached the owlery he coached his owl starburst down from one of the perches and into her cage. She hated her cage for some reason and it always took a while of convincing to make her get in to it. He walked back to the common room and grabbed his drumsticks and owl cage. Securing it carefully onto his trunk he made his way struggling slightly out of the castle and to Hogsmade station. Once on the train he pulled out his wand and floated his trunk down to the middle of the train. Looking in a few compartment he finally found one with his friends Stryder and Drew.

Floating his trunk over Drew's head and onto the rack he sat down and said "Hey Stryder hey Drew." Looking around the compartment he saw to people he didn't now smiling kindly at them he said "and who do I oh the pleaser of meeting?" Derrick was in a very strange quirky mood today but didn't mind too much he just cared about having a fun ride home. Setting his drumsticks to the side of him he waited for a reply.

(So sorry it was so lame I am still trying to get back into the swing of things)