He finally left and Alice was left on her own once more. Tom, no matter how charming and delightful he appears, is a mysterious figure, and that made him all the more alluring. She slunk at her seat and popped a candy on her mouth, before another bustling person entered the person.

"Oops. 'Scuse me."

It was the girl from earlier. She entered, panting and looking outside the hallway before collapsing on the seat opposite to Alice.

"Dios mio! Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin lubusang maintindihan ang mga ingles." The girl muttered in a foreign language and sighed deeply. Alice stayed quiet until it was about a minute when the girl finally noticed her.

"Oh my! How rude of me!" She immediately sat up, her face flushed. "I'm sorry for not noticing you until now! And for abandoning you earlier on the station. I've been looking all over for you though! Goodness, how uncivil of me to leave a new student! You see, my friends dragged me somewhere as soon as they saw me and I've just managed to escape from those lunatics! Urgh! I may love those fools but they certainly have no right to drag me and just barrage me with questions about my vacation and dalliances! Oh, sorry for rattling! Don't mind me please." The girl was chatty, but then quickly sighed and scratched her head.

"I'm Flordeliza Torres by the way. My name is too long so I've shortened it to that. I'm really sorry for being such an inconvenience." She extended her arm and offered her hand, to which Alice though hesitant but nonchalantly shook.

"I'm Alice Liddell. It was quite rude when you left me all of a sudden, but it's alright now. I've managed without your help."

Flordeliza laughed, a carefree yet sweet laughter. "Blunt, aren't we? But it's my fault after all so I don't mind, and I'm really sorry."

"Can't help it. They've always said honesty is the best policy, but I just cut to the chase since it's tiring to beat around the bush. I do lie from time to time though. You're forgiven." The girl laughed once more, and Alice felt herself swell in pride. It's been too long since someone laughed at her jokes. Her laughter was quite infectious, and she knows that Flordeliza is a rambunctious and cheerful person she won't mind as a company.

"So Alice, what year would you be in?" Flordeliza asked very casually, slouching down her seat and grabbing a candy from her pocket and ate it.

"I'm in 6th year. Seems like I'm a transferee though."

"Seems like it? It's obvious you are a transferee. Transferees are a very rare case in Hogwarts. As rare as a blue moon. I'm in 6th year too by the way. Do tell me your story." Not only was the girl chatty, she also seems like an eager listener to gossips.

"Well, to be honest I don't know. I've only known that the magical community existed a week ago and now apparently I'm going to attend a magical school." She had a few skeptical ideas about how she have become a student this year despite the fact they could've sent her years and years ago. She'd have a word with Dumbledore or another professor when she'll have a chance.

"Oh, so you're a muggleborn I assume, but that's just flabbergasting! It would've been assumed that you were from another wizarding school, but you didn't even know about the magical community 'til a week ago? Oh you poor yet lucky dear!" Flordeliza shook her head and placed a consoling hand on Alice.

"Oh." Alice was indeed flabbergasted, but also skeptic how she resembles one of her Wonderland's resident, the main characteristic being rather nosy.

"You know, poor since you have to deal with this all too sudden. I bet you'll be riding the carriage though."

"I don't mind."

"But also lucky because the wizarding world is such a beautiful one! Very amazing. You'd love being a witch! Back in my country witches may have been more open, but we were also more openly feared and ridiculed. Here, the wizarding community is much more united while in ours, witches were separated and mostly led secluded lives." The girl sighed sadly before squeezing Alice's shoulders.

"You'll be fine. Remember to do what your heart needs, not wants."

"Yes, thank you." Alice smiled, feeling somehow awkward. 'I would not doubt if she's into theatrics.'

Flordeliza looked at Alice up and down, before smiling kindly. "I like your clothes. It's very cute. Also brings honor to the soldiers risking their lives for their countries. You must change to your school uniforms though. We're nearing Hogwarts."

Alice obliged and changed into her school new uniform, neatly tucking her new clothes back in the trunk and returned to the compartment. She saw the girl staring outside and waving her hand out of boredom. She wasn't able to fully observe her earlier, but Flordeliza is a pretty girl. Short black hair and bright, almond eyes that matched her tanned skin, she's taller than Alice by at least 2 feet. She also noticed the yellow and black tie tucked inside her gymslip, the yellow linings of her robe along with the hufflepuff logo stitched on her right side.

"Oh, you're back. The uniform suits you nicely." Flordeliza smiled happily and Alice sat back to her spot. "There will be a bit of changes in your uniform when you get sorted to a house. Hope you'd be in Hufflepuff."

"I'd love to be in there, but I hold the same feelings about the other houses. Could you spoil some things for me? I'm dying of curiosity."

"I know, but didn't they say that curiosity killed the cat?" She giggled. "I thought for sure that I'd be in Gryffindor, but I consented with the hat wanting me in Hufflepuff instead. I don't regret it. Hufflepuff is the nicest house ever! We may be often underrated, but exceptional wizards and witches also came from our house. We're just thoroughly humble.. Except me." Flordeliza chortled and Alice nodded along.

"And seriously. It wouldn't kill us to win at least more quidditch games or a house cup this year!" She groaned in exasperation, and though Alice didn't exactly understood but she have read it in one of her books earlier. "Alright, I'll give a bit of teaser."

"Thank you." Alice chuckled.

"Coward Hufflepuffs. Pompous Gryffindors. Weird Ravenclaws. Evil Slytherins. Those are the house stereotypes. I'm an advocate of truth, but these stereotypes have been going on for centuries. There will be dumb people who'd mock you for being in any house. It's like anyone has a say and right to feel above others, really." Flordeliza huffed, but then quickly waved her hands and shook. "It's not like I'm discouraging you, but it's the truth. Don't worry about that though, whatever your house you're in, it's your decision to make the best of it and I'll support you."

"You're quite a sensible person after all besides being a chatterbox." Alice said bluntly, but with sincerity.

"You sure have a sharp tongue.. And I like that! Wouldn't hurt to be in a more outspoken and honest company. You wouldn't mind being my friend, right?"

Alice returned Flordeliza's friendly smile. "Sure. Wouldn't hurt to have a lively companion either. However, you wouldn't dare leave me again like you did in the station, right?"

"Of course! I'd shove all those pesky critters that bothered me earlier and this time accompany you. I'd introduce you though. You'd be quite popular being a transferee."

Soon the train arrived the Hogsmeade station and everyone departed from their compartments. Alice was accompanied by Flordeliza as promised. She saw Tom moments ago, but he was too surrounded by his peers to notice her. Even though she was a transferee, she was spared of the embarrassment of being sorted with the 1st year students and instead was able to ride on the carriages like all other older years, and along with Flordeliza. Everyone mounted the carriages, and Alice can't help but notice the sinister, bony, reptilian-like horses that pulled the carriages. She sat across Flordeliza and asked, "Flordeliza, what are they called?"

She pointed at the reptilian-like horses, eyeing them with curiosity. "Oh? You can see them? Those are thestrals."

"Thestrals. They look, hm, ominous, I think."

"You think? They are ominous. But don't worry, they're trained and domesticated quite well." She gave a nonchalant reply to Alice's surprise, noticing that her gaze were somewhere far off, but her observation was cut off by Flordeliza pointing towards her friends. "Look, the pesky critters!"

"Pesky critters! Why you!" A dark, brown haired female marched towards them and grabbed Flordeliza by her ear. "Have you any idea how worried we were when you ran off? Honestly! You always make us chase you around!"

"Ouch! Ouch! I'm sorry Mother Therese!" With the pun she made, Flordeliza's ear was pinched even harder and was left bright red. "I'm sorry! No need to pinch my ear like that!" She frowned in disapproval, cradling her aching ear.

"Now Therese, it was our fault for getting too excited. We missed you after all Flor, but it was rude of you to run off. Proper ladies don't run off like you do." The blonde female sighed, subduing the situation.

"Eh. I couldn't help it. You gals know me, right?"

"And you know us too. If you keep this up, we wouldn't know you anymore." The girl named Therese glared at Flordeliza before her gaze fell to Alice. "Is that the girl you've abandoned us for and searched?"

"Yes! Her name's Alice Liddell, and she's a transferee."

"Alice Liddell huh. Familiar name. Anyway, nice to meet you miss. I'm Therese Urquart." Alice nodded as the girl gave her a curt greeting.

"It's nice meeting you too."

"I'm Martha Steward. I apologize for Flor's irresponsibility and rudeness."

The two girls snickered and Flordeliza scowled at them. They all rode in the same carriage and despite the chatter of the three Hufflepuffs, Alice's mind wandered and her gaze focusing on the nearing castle. She was thankful that the other two were either too shy or awkward to talk to her, and Flordeliza was busy bragging. The years of being locked up in an asylum without talking to anybody other those inside her mind should've rendered her incapable of being social, but right now, the excitement of the new environment has overwhelmed her and made her temporarily forget her anxiety. It wasn't that she still didn't feel anxious, rather, she still felt all of this unreal and has treated them as a citizen of someone's expansive imagination.

She stared at the three of them, observing them chatter. Flordeliza seemed to resemble the Mad Hatter in some ways, for both of them causes her frustration. Flordeliza however is kind hearted compared to the lunatic of a hatter. Therese would be the Duchess. A disagreeable and horrendous person, but can actually be sane and affectionate to the point of being cringing. Martha would be Mouse, sensitive but tries to keep a strong font by calling herself a rebellious feminist, which honestly is a contradiction to her otherwise personality. It isn't nice that she's comparing them with the lunatic residents of her Wonderland, but it was a way to identify them easily. The three of them seemed like great friends, and being Hufflepuffs strengthened their friendship. Even though she once held herself with pride for being brought up as an aristocrat, she could no longer do the same now after all that she's been through. For now, she has to go with the flow and make do.