Hydra entered the Prefects' carriage and noticed that the head boy for Ravenclaw this year was Goldstein, again. They got along, which was saying something, she didn't really play well with others.

"Trotters," he said, standing and holding his hand out.

"Call me Hydra, Anthony," she corrected him, shaking his hand. "What'd I miss?"

"Nothing really, just talking about the increased security on the castle due to what happened at the Ministry a few months ago."

"That's not a surprise, the summer was tense."

"You're telling me, my parents weren't going to let me come back this year, but then they found out that I would be a Prefect again and said it would be okay got me to go."

"Well lucky you then." Hydra survade the open carriage, which was free of compartments and was open and filled with comfy couches, where other Prefects were lounging.

"What about you then?"

"Mum and Dad travel too much for them to just leave me at home," she said, running her fingers through her short hair, still getting used to it. "No family to ditch me with, Hogwarts is the safest place. What are duties as Prefect again?" She asked, flopping down on the nearest couch.

"Less this year actually," Anthony said, sitting down next to her, "They only want us doing night patrol until eleven"

"Instead of one in the morning, right?"

"Yeah, they have Aurors that are going to be doing night watches. They figure we might as well get some sleep. There are signups for the first month at the front of the carriage, you probably missed the better nights to get. Where were you anyway?"

Hydra shrugged, leaning back on the couch and looking up at the ceiling, "Relaxing."

She had the feeling Anthony was going to say something, but he was cut short by a Hufflepuff that walked over to us, "You're Hydra Trotters, right?"

"That would be me," Hydra commented not even looking at the girl and making a small salute.

"You were supposed to report here right after the train started."

Hydra let out a loud, over dramatic sigh, she knew exactly who this was, Hannah Abbott, the female High Prefect. "Well sorry I couldn't make it, I had more pressing matters to attend to."

Abbott huffed in disapproval. "I honestly don't know why you're here, Trotters," she said, turning away, "You would have been better suited to Slytherin."

Hydra's head snapped up, "Excuse me?"

Abbott turned on a dime to face Hydra, "You heard me. You're just a pessimistic, self absorbed, smart ass. Not Prefect material. I don't know what McGonagall was thinking."

The carriage went silent, not that there were many other students there, but enough that when their conversation stopped it was noticeable. "I prefer realist, thank you. And I'll let McGonagall know that you think she's off her rocker." Anthony snorted. "Honestly, Abbott, what'd I ever do to you to deserve such spiteful words? I thought Hufflepuffs were supposed to be all lovey-dovey."

"Just respect your duties, Trotters, you're responsible for more than just yourself this year." And Abbott turned away and walked away, smartest decision of her life, in Hydra's opinion.

"Well played," Anthony said as Hydra sat back down next to him.

"Fucking Hufflepuffs, think they know things." She rubbed her temples, starting to get a headache, she needed some nicotine, "Do me a favor, just sign me up for whatever's left that looks decent as far as shifts and tell me later, I've gotta go take care of something."

"Sure, see you at the feast."

Hydra stood and walked out of the carriage and back to here compartment, happy to find that it was still empty. She dug around in her bag for her wand and with a quick flick, the window opened. She slid her wand into her robes and stuck her head out of the window, loving the sensation of the harsh wind on her face and through her short hair.

After a while, she closed the window and smoked another cigarette as the sun set and the train road the tracks leading the Hogwartz. There was a long year ahead of her, but Hyra had a feeling it was going to be a fun one.