We're finally going back

Michi was a bit glad and a bit sad to be on the train back to Hogwarts. It would be his first year without his sister, and even though Tokyo had been a member of Hufflepuff and he hadn't really seen all that much of her at school, it was always comforting to know that she was there, if he ever felt he wanted someone to talk to. Still, time to man up. It wasn't like he was unable to look after himself. Hell, he and his sister had been looking after themselves since the divorce of their parents all those years ago, this was really nothing new.

The train was packed- not surprisingly. Supposedly, the Dark Followers were 'closing in on society' as he'd heard someone on the platform say panickedly. Hogwarts was supposed to be one of the safest places in the word from the Dark Followers- not that Michi really cared either way. He had to admit, the paint job on the train made it look much better- more like a train as opposed to a child's toy.

Unable to find an empty compartment in which to sit and sulk, he resorted to looking for any friends, and when even that seemed difficult (until he realised most of his friends had been 7th year last year, like his sister) he fell back on looking for Slytherins, since he knew they'd talk to him if he wanted conversation, and he'd probably like them. It seemed that most people from the other houses euther hated him because he was a Slytherin, or annoyed him because they weren't Slytherin.

He knocked on a compartment in which two girls were sitting. Both he recognised as Slytherins, and one as from his own year, Chris. The other girl, he didn't remember her name but he had a funny feeling it was either Yuki or Yumi. 'Hey... I hope you don't mind, but I'll join you. The rest of the cabins are filled with dirty second year Ravenclaws that think they know everything and I am not putting up with that shit for the rest of this train ride.' He hoisted his bag up on to the overhead shelves, then sat down next to the Yumi/Yuki girl and a kitten, which was softly purring. 'Sup? Cute cat.'

Michi shook the girl's extended hand, but he didn't worry about shaking Chris' because he knew her already. 'I'm Michi Leigh,' he added, since the girl had used her name as well. But he nodded when she said how annoying the young Ravenclaws were. 'I know, right? And to think the Sorting Hat considered putting me into Ravenclaw.... eurgh. Sorting had must have decided I wasn't that pathetic.' His Eastern American accent stretched out the word pathetic until it sounded more than sarcastic.

Then, Michi realised he'd actually walked into the middle of a discussion. It didn't take long for him to pick up what it was about. Potter's Army and the Dark Followers. That was all anyone had talked about in the Slytherin Common room last year. Michi really didn't particularly care either way, he'd managed to stay out of the conversations. He'd admitted to showing support for the Dark Followers when questioned about it, but that didn't necessarily mean he'd been being honest. In actuality, he hadn't even given the whole thing much thought. Should he support the Dark Followers? He knew his mother was a supporter, if not an actual follower. But his sister, like he, had never really bought up the subject. Michi was a bit confused.

The girls seemed to be talking about who would take place as the leader of the Followers now that the last one had graduated (Julia, was it? Michi couldn't remember). Not wanting to sit by awkwardly while other people had a conversation around him, he spoke. 'Well, have you considered just taking charge, Chris? You seem to be pretty keen.' He didn't even know if that was how it worked, if one would just be able to declare themselves the next leader of the Dark Followers at Hogwarts, but it was better than staying silent and feeling uncomfortable.