Teddy Lupin decided that today, the first day of seventh year, was not the day that he'd hoped it would be. There was a sort of solemn heaviness in the air as he got settled on the Hogwarts Express. The little firsties didn't feel it, of course; they were all way too preoccupied with magic and boarding school and look at me shoot sparks! They were easy enough to entertain with a few neon hair colors and a couple of tiger stripes on his skin.

The older students, however, were a different story. Every seventh-year felt that imposing weight, and the younger years even down to the fourth-years were quieter than they otherwise would have been. All because of that stupid Law that had been passed over the summer. Shaking his head a bit, he pulled out one of his new textbooks. May as well see what might be on the NEWTs, since there probably wouldn't be much activity on the train until they got to Hogwarts.

Violet Chase couldn't help but notice the somber atmosphere on the train. It unnerved her; she was far more used to the feeling of excitement, of going back to magic school for another year. It was her last, of course, which made it even worse, and she unconsciously touched her wand in her sleeve as she looked around for a relatively empty compartment to sit in. It was a challenge; most of the compartments were full already, and she didn't want to have to settle for a car full of hyperactive first-years. She was not babysitting them.