AN: Hello, dearest readers. Yes, we're back! It's been a long, long time, and I apologize for that. (If you haven't picked this up, I'm the one usually referred to as 'cowriter', so I suppose I should say it's nice to finally meet you.) This is the first installment of Cas and Jo's second year at Hogwarts, and if all goes as planned, we should keep posting on a somewhat regular basis up until the end of the story. No promises, but we'll do our best. Thank you for you're (hopefully) undying loyalty. Yours, -cowriter.

Chapter 1- POV Cas

Fred and George found me almost ten minutes ago. They have not stopped laughing. I get up to leave, but Jo sticks her legs out and blocks me, a smirk on her face. She's enjoying this. I try to kick her legs away but she's stubborn and I don't really know where I'd go anyway. I plop myself back down and try my best not to look at the twins, who are sitting across the train car from me and Jo. I see my reflection in the mirror and groan inwardly. I'm wearing a party hat, big and bright with feathers sticking out of the top. My parents were real sweet- gave me a going away party. At least, that's all I'm telling the twins.

Fred sees how angry I am, and his laughter subsides. George's does not. Jo finally takes pity on me and kicks him in the shin. I tear off the hat and let myself lighten up. I've waited all summer to see the twins again, so heres my chance to relish it. Being second years doesn't feel any different than being first years, and we're all as excited and nervous as we were last year. We all start filling each other in on our respective summers. Jo had the best by far- her little excursion to America, traveling around everywhere, and all that fun stuff. I had Tonks which was nice enough, and twins had each other plus their four brothers and one sister. They mention their younger brother will be coming to Hogwarts the next year.

As the conversation begins to waver, I decide it's time- I start whining at Jo to find the trolly and get us all some food. I shove some money in her hand and she oblige, rolling her eyes and saying she was only buying food she and twins wanted. Once she's gone, I fill the twins in.

"Look- hey, I mean it! No, see- it's Jo's birthday today!" I yell. Their brotherly banter stops. George looks shocked. Fred has a similar expression.

"She never told us."

"Yeah, that's why I'm saying it now. I want to throw her a party."

"Right now? In a train car? I mean it's a nice thought, but really, Cassidy, I don't think it'll be as grand as you're planning." This is George. I nearly forgot his stupidity during the summer, but here it is again. I roll my eyes and go on to explain that no, I don't expect to throw her a party right this second, but rather in a week or so. Maybe try to invite her athletic friends if George can manage that. Tonks too, so the twins can meet her.

"Sounds great and all, but Cas, we don't have a gift for her." That's Fred, so polite. I laugh. Partially because I know no gift they could get would match up to what I got her, and also because I was prepared for this.

"Don't worry- I've got something in mind." I'm whispering it to them as Jo pops back in, tossing various food items around. She looks suspicious for a minute, so I start complaining that she didn't get anything I liked. Obviously it isn't true, as I'm stuffing my face with a muffin as I say so, but it's necessary. In fact, I love all the food on the trolly, and tried to take some candy from Fred, who apparently is not in a giving mood. Jo gave me a little shove as she sat down and I throw a handful of muffin crumbs at her. The twins are whispering to each other, looking mischievous. Good. All according to my plan.

Once the four of us eat our fill, conversation resumes. We talk about our classes this year, but none of us really knew what to expect. Jo tries to grill the twins, since they have three older brothers who have been through second year, but they claim to know nothing. Jo mentions Quidditch, and I immediately zone out. I hear mentions of quaffles, beating, and Oliver Wood. I smile, remembering Jo's little run in with the celebrity last Christmas. If only I had been there.

A nudge from Fred, who is sitting across from me, brings me back to the conversation.

"You know what I mean?" Ummm, no.

"Totally." I respond.

"So like, how hard can it really be to do good in classes and still have fun? And since we've got lessons with Wood, it won't be as big a problem, right?" This is Jo, who realizes that she just hit a sore spot with Fred, who does not have Quidditch lessons with Wood. I decide to butt in for this reason, as well as my confusion in regards to the topic of conversation.

"Wait- what do you mean?" They all look at me and Jo rolls her eyes, realizing I haven't been listening.

"We're saying we have to pick up our grades up this year- less time having fun, more time studying and whatever. My dad railed on me for doing how I did last year."

"Us too" George pipes in. I look at the three of them. I am confused.

"Uh, I did fine last year. Kinda brilliantly actually. I mean, it wasn't hard to do well and still get out and all. It's easy." Now it's George's turn to do the kicking- right at my ankle. I pout, but I've learned that I will always lose a fight with these people. I look to Jo to retaliate for me, but she just calls me a nerd and high fives George, who turns and high fives Fred, who turns to me and sticks out his tongue. I give a little huff, but I can't really do much else, since my escape is blocked by Jo.

Lucky enough I remember an excuse- having to change my robes- but still end up having to climb over Jo's feet to escape. I take my time, and stop to talk to a Slytherin girl from my Potions class last year. I pass Jo and the twins, who decided to follow my lead. When I get back to the now empty train car, I sprawl across the seat and close my eyes. I almost fall asleep too, until out of nowhere an unusually quiet Jo drops the entirety of her weight on my legs, which occupy what had been her seat. I yelp, and the twins start cracking up from the other side of the door.

Jo gets up, but I don't move. I'm waiting for an apology. I don't get one. Instead I get rolled onto the floor. I give a little scream, and Weasleys slide over me and close the door. Now Jo is lounged out, and I am sitting, quite uncomfortably, on the ground. All I wanted was an apology. Not to sit on the ground.

I try to make this point only to see Jo, followed by Fred and George, slip off their shoes and stick their sweaty feet in my face, hair, and all over me. Disgusted, I grab Jo by the ankle and with surprising success drag her to the ground with me. At this point George jumps over us and lounges out on one side of the car, while Fred follows suit on the other. Jo, not having this, leaps onto George's chest to reclaim her chair. I stand up but do not challenge Fred. Jo gets her seat and I'm left standing in the middle.

Fred lets up after a minute and I take my seat next to him. In the hall a small but noteworthy crowd begins to disperse. Apparently our antics and my humiliation have been entertaining. This does not make me feel any better about what happened. Once we're all calmed down, my three companions lapse into more Quidditch talk- about the tournament that happened over the summer. George was claiming Fred has his facts wrong in the letter he had sent me, Fred fought back, Jo had no idea who was right so just made up some third theory. I was not about to partake in this, despite the fact that I was the most popular person in the car for a minute- everyone wanting me to break the three way tie. I pretend to go to sleep until they let up on me.

I look at three of them, then down at myself. All in our robes and House colors now. We look proper- ready for Hogwarts. I smile and wonder if this year'll be as fun as last year. With the party, I know being back will start off with a bang.

I can't wait.

AN: Hope you liked it! Don't forget to review and feel free to PM.