Ilvermorny

Arlington set his rucksack on the floor and sat down at one of the tables. He sipped a cherry shake as he watched others arrive, inviting them to join him and share a large basket of fries.

As soon as the portkey finished it's activation the young wizard lauched himself into a powerslide, arms stretched to simulate wings

''Thuderbird represents!''

If one had to enter, one needed to enter with gusto.

Once the slide finished it's momentum Sylvain stood only to take a seat at the closest table: Arlington's

''Hey'' he said to him as a greeting.

"Welcome back." he grinned. "I give you 8 out of 10. I think you could have gotten more distance out of it."

''Yeah, I considered starting on the other side but it was too crowded'' he said chuckling ''Would have added several dozen kilometres to it''

''That said: hello to you too. Did anything interesting during summer break?''

"It was well done regardless." he pushed the basket of fires towards Sylvain. "How was your summer?"

Sylvain gladly took a couple of fries and signaled for the waiter

''Good all things considered. Spent a lot of time in the woods southwest of Hudson Bay fishing and canoing.''

After he could successfully order a root beer he returned the question

''What about you Arly?''

"Pretty much the same." he shrugged. "Spent some time out on the lakes and in the Michigan forests. Grandpa had me collecting materials from all over. I even crossed over to Manitoulin for a bit."

''Found something interesting?'' he asked taking a sip

He wondered if he should'nt order a burger

"I tracked a Hodag in the UP." he ate a few more fries. "But, it was on its way back into Wisconsin and I needed to head back south."

The metis grinned

''Of course...but it's better that way I suppose. I don't think you could have fared well alone against one.''

"Yeah, usually grandpa's with me for the real hunts." he agreed. "It would have been nice to see it, though. It was probably looking for mooncalves."

''Mooncalves deep in the woods?'' there was skepticism in his tone ''Don't they usually live near fields?''

The talk convinced Sylvain to op for the chicken burger

"Confounding no-maj farmers." he smiled. "There are farming communities up there. Not many, but enough."

''Ah, I see'' he took another piece of the fries

''Think I can powerslide up to the school?''

"It would be easier once the snow starts falling." he advised. "If anyone could do it, it would be you. But, it's probably best not to start the year in detention."

Sylvani rolled his eyes

''I forgot the teachers have no sense of humor.''

He shrugged

''Well anyway...any subject that is of interest to you this year?''

He shook his head. "Just the usual, Charms, Divination, History of Magic. Wandlore won't be covered until next year, unfortunately. I do need to study nonverbal magic, though. What about you?"

He pondered for a moment

''I do like transfiguration...but I suck at it. I'm best at counter-charms and animal care.''

Bullwinkle peeked out of one of Arly's pockets. The squirrel scurried onto the table and sniffed at the fries. She looked up at Arlington, who reached into another pocket and fished out a bag of nuts. He set a few on the table and patted Bullwinkle's head.

"You're better at transfiguration than I am, Syl."

''I don't know about that'' he replied while giving a salutation to the squirrel

''Think of running the maze this year?''

"We both are, aren't we?"

The other teen tried to look innocent

''Why I have never even considered it! Mysterious unexplored magical tunnels? That is nothing of interest. Nope. And in any case any teacher might be eavesdroping now, everything that happens there in the future is Arlington's fault.''

"Pfftt... we're Thunderbirds." he waved dismissively. "They should have just put our dorms in the maze. Or, the Thirteenth Tower."

"I don't know about that, I prefer open spaces." His burger was juicy and messy. The sauce fell all over the plate as he took the first bite

This was America allright

"The thirteenth tower would have been a nice spot thought"

"I'd prefer a nice cabin, too." he agreed. "Maybe near the lake."