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xxxxxThe train ride had been rather uneventful. Salem had spent it in a car with two other students who hardly said a word the entire time. To be honest, the boy didn't mind. While others his year might be chatting away, trying to make a feeble attempt at friendship, Salem had heard enough about Hogwarts from his parents to know that it was best to wait to see where the pieces would fall before he went making his friends, or at least people that he could somewhat trust. Not too many had ever gained the friendship of Salem Abraxas. It wasn't that he was unfriendly. It was simply that he never let people in long enough for them to become friends. Let them in, and they have all the tools needed to destroy you.

xxxxxWhen they had finally arrived at the station in Hogsmeade, the blonde couldn't help but feel relieved. The silence between the students in the car had been starting to become unbearable. Salem was just about to stoop to the level of making the typical small-talk when the train jerked to a stop. He hardly waited for it to settle before he stood and was out the door. Stepping out into the night, the boy took a deep breath of air. It was quite relaxing to be out on his own again, without the two lifeless bodies hanging about him. Of course, all of that would soon be stifled by school, but by then, Salem would be in a house with people like him. He would be able to start building up his acquaintances.

xxxxxLooking around him, Salem saw people doing just that. There were older students, walking about, meeting up with friends that they hadn't seen since the end of the last year, but they didn't interest Salem. At the moment, they were not important to the game. He could afford to ignore them. The pieces that he needed to pay attention to were the ones without a house badge on their robes. The boy watched as his fellow first years wandered about the platform, trying to quickly make friends before the Sorting Hat likely pulled them away. Just another reason not to talk to anyone yet. He didn't want to have hope where the was none. That was a sure way to loose the game. It seemed odd, how friendly these people could be, even though they hardly knew each other. Salem just did not understand it.

xxxxxEventually, a woman called out for the first years to follow her. Salem remembered his mother saying that the staff member who did that job was called the Keeper of the Keys, Game, and Grounds. The boy thought that an odd title to have in a world with magic. He knew that there were charms to find lost keys as some of his more forgetful cousins would often demonstrate them in front of him. It seemed pointless to have someone just to keep keys. Although, the other two did make sense. Magical creatures could be dangerous. What sorts of creatures did Hogwarts have on its grounds anyways? At the moment, Salem hoped for nothing too dangerous. After all, he was just starting out. He hardly knew how to cast a spell, let alone tame a wild beast or defend himself from one. And, the boy did suppose the grounds needed keeping. However, did one woman really do all of that? He guessed that with magic it could be easy, but he still found it hard to believe. Then again, Hogwarts did have house elves, so perhaps they helped.

xxxxxSalem walked over to the woman. He did not want to be the student who got lost trying to find their way to the boats. He did not want to have that sort of reputation. That sort of reputation would ruin any hopes he had for playing Quidditch while he was at Hogwarts. If he couldn't find the boats, then why should he be able to find a snitch? Or score a goal? Or send a bludger flying into an opponent? At least it could work as an advantage in Wizard's Chess. His opponents would likely underestimate him, and then find that they were horribly mistaken when he crushed them. He always did have chess to fall back on.

xxxxxThe boy simply followed the group down the short path to the lake, keeping his ears open. After all, he would have to share a boat, and he wanted to have good boat companions. People who might actually prove to be a piece in his games instead of just a spectator. And that was exactly what Salem needed.