Hufflepuff House Table
 

Large quantities of food are spread before you. Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the Hogwarts' house elves are the best in the world. The food is superb and the company is as well.

Loving and sweet, loyal and true
Anything you ask us we will do.
When it's down to the wire,
We'll be there for you.


But we Huffies aren't all as dumb
Like we were made out to be
We're strong, smart, we're tough
Don't think that all we do is watch and see.


Our bravery can match the Gryffindors'
Our brains as quick as Ravenclaws'
We have our cunning moments like the Slyths
We're loyalty plus all of this.


So don't look down on us
It may be the last thing you do.
We may be sweet
But, we're vicious too.



~by Nabiya~

Ronnie ran down to the great hall. She was hungry, after all she didn't each much at the feast. She spilled her food down some poor girls robes. Ugh...what a way to start the year. She sighed and took her seat at the very much empty Great Hall...Where was everyone???? It seemed odd that there was NO ONE here.

She grabbed whatever was closest...it look like toast, but then again she wasn't really paying attention. She had alot of her mind. Alot...she mangaged to get through a whole term with out an episode..and the summer...but she was worried...It had been so long since once.....

Plus she missded her Simon. She hadn't seen him on the train or in the common room yet. What if they never saw each other. She missed him greatly and rarely got to see him. That's what you get for dating a Prince....they were always busy.

Daisy wandered into the great hall sleepily, still in disbelief that she had woken so early. She usually slept like a log and her Mother would have to come in and shake her to wake up. Daisy guessed that it was being in a new atmosphere that woke her early.

There was only one person at the Hufflepuff table in the almost deserted hall, a girl who looked a good three of four years older. Daisy didn't want to seem rude, but she was just too tired to talk, so instead of sitting next to the girl, who now looked deep in thought, she sat just along the bench, after giving her a small, weary smile.

Daisy reached for a bowl of cereal, she had to keep her energy up if she was going to practice flying after this, especially on the low amount of sleep she had got the night before. But Daisy really wanted to be on the Hufflepuff quidditch team, even if this meant getting up at the crack of dawn on her first morning at Hogwarts, just to keep fit.

Spooning cereal into her mouth, Daisy looked around. The Great Hall seemed so strangely empty, as the last time she saw it, it was packed with students. It looked nice in daylight, thought Daisy, now looking at the teachers table, trying to work out who the teachers (who her brother had told her about) were.

Ember spotted Daisy sitting at the hufflepuff table, on her own, she had not spoken to her friends since the train, she wandered over and sat down next to her. " Hey Daisy, how are you this fine morning." The hall was deserted apart from a couple of people, she thought it would be more busy than this.

Daisy smiled, she hadn't seen Ember for a while.
'Im good thanks,' she grinned, now more awake 'I've just done some Quidditch practice. Have you met any other Ravenclaws in our year yet?' she asked, hoping Ember, who like her, didn't know many people in her house from the train, had made some new friends, who she could spend time in the common room with, as Daisy would feel guilty if Ember hadn't , because she had met lots of nice people.

"hmmm now you mention it, iv met one person, i dont talk to her lots, but i do sometimes, most of my friends are in Gryffindor, and then there is you in Hufflepuff. Im sure i will make some Ravenclaw friends." Ember thought, it was wierd how she was finding it wuite hard to talk to those in her own house, she new she was a ravenclaw, she had the knowledge that went along with it, but she blended in with the Gryffindors, and made friends with them much easier. She spent more time at there table then her own.

'I'm sure you'll make some Ravenclaw friends soon,' Daisy said reassuringly, '-I mean, thats why you were put in Ravenclaw, so you can meet people with people like you. But you can always com and meet me in school. Maybe you just need to break the barriers of those first few simple questions- if you know what i mean,' said Daisy, smiling to Ember.

Ember grinned. "You know you are right. and i think i would love to meet up with you during school some times. Are you enjoying Hogwarts so far." Ember ran over to the Ravenclaw table and grabbed a butterbeer and came back. " yea i did not feel right about taking one from your table, im not a Hufflepuff." Ember sipped. " mmm tastes good."

Janice entered the hall with a yawn. She had woke up early after getting to know her fellow hufflepuffies. Then, she saw a girl, eating her breakfast.
"Hey there..."

Simon smiled as he walked into the great hall, he saw his girlfriend Ronnie sat on her own, he was sad that he hadn't seen her that much since well in Diagon Alley but he had been really busy sending a few owls to people he knew but at least now he had a chance to have some fun, he walked up to Ronnie and then in a sort of Professor's voice he asked. "And what's going on here?" He was trying his hardest to keep a straight face. "Why are you on your sat on your own?" Simon just mananged to kept a straight face, he was hoping that Ronnie wouldn't be cross with him.

"I'm not doing anything wrong." Ronnie snapped at the voice. She turned to see which professor it was that was bothering her and saw that it was Simon. Her faced turned into a smile! "Oh Simon!!!" She quickly jumped up and gave him a hug. But nothing more. The teachers would probally give her detention if she kissed him in the great hall.

"Come sit and have some breatfast with me." She sat back down in the same seat she had just vacated. "How was the rest of your summer?" Ronnie couldn't be mad at him for his absense. It was her fault for falling in love with a Prince. She wouldhave to deal with him being onge alot if this was to continue. "I hope it was more fun than mine. I broke my wand and had to get a new one." She told him frowning remebering that day.

Simon wondered why Ronnie was snapping but let it go over his head maybe he shouldn't have played that joke on her but he thought it was fun at the time and so had. "Ronnie." Simon smiled as he hugged her back. "I've missed you." Simon then looked around the great hall, he had come down to see Treyen about something but well at least he could now spend sometime with Ronnie.

Simon smiled. "I might just be able to squeeze in sometime for a quick bit of breakfast." Simon looked at his watch. "Yeah I can." He would do anything for Ronnie. "Oh it was hard, had some people over who complained about the food on offer, then I got in trouble for leaving on my own even though I just went for a small walk." Simon sighed. "I can't break my wand when I'm home it's lock up in the vault." Simon laughed. "I'm glad you got a new one."

"They lock your wand up?" Ronnie cried. She knew the King was a little different but she never imaged in would do something like that. "That's horrible!" She cried again wondering what she would do to her mother if she tried lock up Ronnie's wand. Probally break the law and turn her into a slug or something cool like that.

"I went to see my Dad...he's really not doing well Simon. The Healers don't know what's wrong with him." She sighed and sobbed a little. She loved her father more than anything in the world. "And my step-dad was the usually jerkness." She tired ot cheer her self up. Crying infront of Simon wa snot something she really wanted to do.

Simon looked at Ronnie and smiled. "I don't mind, I kind of think it's cool because it means I can't lose it." Simon laughed. "And it's in the vault with my well you-know-what." Simon was sure Ronnie would know what it was.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Simon sighed, he was about to break his own news but that could wait, his Grandfather had died in the Summer and that was why he had been so busy, he had been helping his uncles and his dad with the things that needed to be done. "Well just think things can only get better."

'Hi,' Daisy said to Janice, who she shared a dorm with. She shifted along the bench a little. 'Wanna sit here?' she asked.

Ronnie looked at Simon. He looked like he had something else he wanted to say or to add. "What is it Simon?" She asked hoping that he would tell her. She hated that things were kept from her.

Ronnie grabbed another piece of toast and buttered it for herself. "Would you like a piece?" She asked him offering him the toast rack. She took a bite and waited for Simon to tell her whatever it was he needed to tell her.

Simon looked at Ronnie. "It nothing that can't wait, the only thing that matters at the moment is that you are happy." Simon said as he looked at Ronnie, that was the only thing that matters. "I've missed you so much." He would tell her when she wasn't so upset.

Simon smiled. "No thanks." He has been eatting some cereals whilst talking, he looked at Ronnie. "Did you know that Ben Farrate the Hollian Soccer Team manager resigns." Simon sighed, "I don't know who will take his place now." Simon decided maybe if he said that Ronnie would think that was troubling him but he wasn't sure.

Ronnie knew that Simon was just trying to distract her, but it was his story to tell and she would let him tell it when he was ready and wanted to. She finished her last bite of toast and toom a sip of pumpkin juice. "Do you have to find a replacement as you....the royal family" She whispered the last part so know what else would hear them. "Or is that some one else's job?" She asked wondering how in the world a family could be responsible for so many things.

Simon smiled. "Well normally no but it's complicated." Simon sighed and then got up, with a worried expresion on his face, he had just finished his cereals and so he without saying another word left the table, he hoped that Ronnie wouldn't be ruided about them.

Ronnie looked up and before she had time to even asnwer him he was gone. Where did Simon go and why wouldn't he at least say good-bye. That hurt her feelings.

Ronnie teared up but would NOT let a tear fall.

Rebecca walked into the Great Hall and to the Hufflepuff House table as quickly as she could. When she got there, she saw Janice. "Hi Janice," Rebecca said as she reached for some bacon and toast.

"Yeah, sure!" She then eat her breakfast there with her dorm-mate.

"Hi, Rebbecca. Why don't you join us here?" Janice took some toast and egg while saying that. Is food at Hogwarts have always been this nice? she asked herself. If it is, I've been missing a lot.

Penny arrived in the Great Hall for breakfast, walking up the aisle of the Hufflepuff table... and saw a few of her room-mates already eating .. walking over to them, she said shyly "Hi, I was wondering if maybe I could please join you girls for breakfast.."

"Hey guys mind if I sit?" asked Nessie still very tired she never really managed to sleep much yesterday there was too much stuuf on he mind so she couldn't reall fall asleep, and even when she did fall a sleep she kept on waking up. She was really exhausted and wanted to creep back in bed.

"Sure," Rebecca said as she moved over to where Janice was sitting. "The food here looks better than it did in the Muggle world. Did you notice that?" Rebecca wonders weird things sometimes, but, she always thinks that there's a reason for them to be weird!

Daisy walked into the hall, yawning. She had been practising quidditch for practically all day and needed some food to boost her energy. She walked up to the Hufflepuff table and sat, alone, on a bench.

She pulled a plate of roast chicken towards her, and, looking around to check nobody was watching her, took a large bottle of ketchup out of her bag and squirted a large dollop by the side of her food. Daisy ate practically everything with ketchup, and had been nicknamed ketchup when she was 6 years old just because of the amount she ate...

Yawning again, she picked up her fork and speared it into a roast potato. She needed this food just to stay awake...

Fee just made her way to the Hufflepuff table looking for some of her friends.But no one seemed to be there.Oh well,she was hungry,so it was the best time to get some snack.Plopping down to a girl that looked younger than her the Slytherin sighed a little.As she took the pumpkin juice,the third year noticed this huge red point of red sauce,probably ketchup on the kiddos plate.Hehe.

Getting herself some noodles the blonde smiled at the little one next to her.Why not make some new friends?That was always a good idea.Hehe."Hey you",she said,"i am Feenella."

Daisy jumped at this girl speaking, and accidentally squirted a large amount of ketchup onto her lap.
'Oh, hi,' she said, suprised that someone older actually wanted to talk to her. 'I'm Daisy.'
Daisy started wiping the ketchup off her lap, licking her fingers. 'Hey, you don't know a spell to clear this off, do you?'

Emmet came and sat down at the Hufflepuff. He sat quiet and began to eat.

Anyone??
 

Amy bopped her way over to the Puff table, bopping away like the cool purple dinosaur she was, she plopped down on the table and reached for a juice and a plate.

Now. What to eat???

She deliberated for a number of minutes before taking one of everything and then taking out Lord of the Flies, which she began to read as she ate

As a girl sat next to him at the table he looked over to her fork in hand. "Amy! How are you doing?"

Ohh nooo the girl had just squirted a large amount of ketchup on her lap."Nice to meet you Daisy",Fee smiled at her,"i am Feenella."Cute little firsties they were.

Taking out her wand the blonde aimed it at the ketchup on the girls lap and said"Expolitio".Hah,the girl was really satisfied with how this had turned out.All the ketchup was gone,how nice."There you go",the third year winked,"you really like ketchup huh?"it was cool how everyone kinda had their own special thing.Hehe.

'Thanks,' Daisy smiled at Feenalla, amazed that the ketchup had just vanished, 'I really do like ketchup,' she laughed, spearing her fork in a slice of carrot. 'I'm kinda sad, but at most meals I have a bottle of ketchup in my bag,' she blushed and giggled. 'What year are you in?' she asked Feenalla. The only older student Daisy had met was the head boy, and only briefly.

Amy jumped as..uh..Emmet? Yeah, Emmet spoke, hey Emmet Amy grinned at him. She was actually going to have to compile a list of names and go round putting faces to them. Though that would be awkward...and um sort of long. No, very long. I'm good thanks Em she grinned, how are you enjoy the whole Hogwarts swing? She asked, spearing some food into her mouth

Fee smiled at the little one next to her it was sweet how she seemed to be amazed."Oh everyone of us has their own obessesion",the girl winked,"i like noodles really much for example."No lunch without noodles,no no no.The hufflepuff had a bottle of ketchup in her bag all the time?That kinda made Fee giggle."Isnt it too heavy to carry around all day?"This girl must really LOVE ketchup.Always the big bags for the ketchup."I am a third year",the Slytherin smiled,"and you?"

Karla!!! :)
 

Nessie took a seat at the Hufflepuff table. She wasn't that hungry as she hadn't been hungry for quite a few days now. She took a piece of toast and put it on her plate. She then started nibbling very slowly as she didn't have much of an appetite, but she knew she needed to eat.

'Oh, i'm a first year,' Daisy said, taking a sip of pumpkin juice. 'And the ketchup isn't that heavy, i'm used to it.' she laughed, 'and I usually have little ketchup snacks throughout the day.' Daisy suddenly realised, that what she had been doing all these years, was very strange. She burst out laughing at herself. 'I like noodles too,' she smiled. 'My family all think i'm really gross because I eat almost everything with ketchup...'

The boy was instantly aware that he forgot one very important thing the night of the feast as soon as he stepped into the Great Hall this morning.

Nessie! She was a Hufflepuff! And he forgot to congratulate her or something that evening. Well, in all fairness, the kid that climbed on the table, got his main focus that day. Which is why he walked towards her this time, "Nessie! How are you? Congrats on being sorted into Hufflepuff, by the way, he said, with a smile, as he took a seat next to her, "Did you finally buy the pygmy puff?" he hadn't stayed long at the shop to know if she had or not.

Cass sat by himself at the Hufflepuff table, smiling as he clung to his journal. He peered through his now longer hair across the room, looking for someone he might recognize. This was the first time he had friends to look for, or at least the first time he remembered it.

"Hey Trey. Im kinda ok. Thanks!!! I'm really happy to be a Huffie!" said Nessie smiling back. Nessie didn't think it was nececary to tell everyone she knew that she was not really feeling that great nor why she wasn't. "Oh yeah I got a indigo coloured one I named him Puffles" said Nessie smiling again remembering the day she got Puffles.

The boy was smiling, but how come he got the feeling that there was more to those answers than what he was hearing? He'll let it go, mainly because Nessie was a first year, and she was probably missing her family, but mostly because it's not like they were the closest friends ever for the girl to tell him secrets or something.

He was actually glad no girl had ever taken him as a confident. Well, kind of.

"Glad to hear," he nodded, and took a couple grapes, yes, grapes again, "Oh, so you named it Puffles?"" he said, "That's nice," and very much appropriate, since it was a Pygmy Puff.

"Of,course." Janice then moved a little for the 2 girls who just came in.
"Nessie, you look very tired. Can't sleep?" Janice couldn't help but notice the bags under Nessie's eyes.

"Yesssss... like the food in the canteen in my old school. It was so oily and we have to wait for like, an age, before getting them..." Janice went on her "flashback mode", meaning that she is not daydreaming, but thinking.

*With a big smile on his face Matty walked down the table and found a seat. So far it was looking to be a great morning. Loading his plate with eggs, bacon, and other morning food he started to dig in with that stupid smile still on his face. He doubted that he would stop smiling for awhile. Once he was done he looked around for Marie. He was pretty early so she might not be there yet. Looking around he tried to see if any of his other friends might be up yet.*

Yeah she totally wasn't a morning person. Especially this early and on a Saturday. The only reason she was up so early was so that she could get a letter off to Nikolai.

She walked into the great hall with her hair all over the place and yawning her head off. She flopped down into a chair and rested her head on the table. "Matty? Can you pass over the porridge for me please." She was too tired.

"Will do, Mrs. Sleepy Head."
*He said with a chuckle and got her a bowl and placed it in front of her. Slowly inching it closer and closer to her he smirked as it started to tap her sleepy head. There had to be something up with Matty, one he was never this cheerful and two he was NOT a morning person at all.*
"Soo... guess what..."

Mrs??

That caused a small chuckle to escape her lips. Is that what happens when you're with someone for a long time? Everyone starts treating you like you're married.

She could see what he was doing with the bowl but she was just far too tired to tell him to stop and besides he looked rather pleased with himself. She had a fair idea why he was so happy but she decided not to reign on his parade and played dumb.

"What?" she asked, trying to stifle another yawn but failing miserably.

"Yip! You should come see him some time." said Nessie smiling again. She was glad to be on good terms with one of her house prefects. As at least that way she wouldn't have much of a problem asking them for asistince. "So hows your Knarl? I forgot his name sorry" said Nessie a bit embarresed.

"Oh cool so how do you like Hogwarts?",Fee asked smiling.Being a first year was sooo exciting.Everythign was new and needed to be explored."You have ketchup snacks all day?Wooow you must really love it huh?"The blonde was impressed maybe she should take noodles with her all the time that surely would be fun.And then the little one burst out laughing,what caused Fee to do so too.Oh my glitter if anyone watched them.Hahah."Ahhh everyone has ticks dont let them get to you",the girl winked.Maybe they just couldnt understand it.

Daisy winked back, glad she wasnt the only slightly strange one.
'I love being at Hogwarts,' Daisy said, as her plate vanished. 'But the potions teacher is a bit scary and Shaw is just wierd.' she said. 'I'm not sure if it's good weird either...' she said, putting ketchup inside a slice of cake and biting into it. 'Sorry,' she smiled, 'i know you say everyone has their little weird thing, but I must look absoulutly gross!'

*Seeing her yawn Matty smirked and got her a glass of orange juice. He inched this to her slowly until it was knocking against the bowl.*
"Even though I punched a person someone said yes to being my girlfriend... and no it's not Finn."

Oakey Lazily sat down at his house table with his Ancient Ruins homework in front of him. He was also hungry so he piled a plate full of pancakes in front of him, when he reached for the syrup he spilled it all over the homework. AGH! CRAP! Oakey exclaimed.

Her reply sort of made him wonder something else, "Sure," Treyen started to say, "But, where do you keep him?" and how did she know it was a 'him', because he had no idea how to find that out. Perhaps the shopkeeper had told her.

The next part surprised him, because he didn't expect for the little girl to remember what he'd told her about his own pets. "Oh, he's in the dormitory now, he spends most of his days in there, unless I can supervise him...which is when he heads outside," with Treyen, of course, "That's okay, I didn't expect you to remember it, anyway, his name is Thaddeus," which, wasn't an easy name to remember in the first place.

Treyen did, of course, but that was only obvious.

"I noticed you signed up for Quidditch," since he'd been one of the lasts to add his name on the list, then he'd seen the ones who'd written their names first, "I didn't know you played." There was still so much he didn't know about Nessie, though, but Quidditch...he ought to have find out sooner, no?

Ruru<3
 

Wandering the great hall, looking for little Woody, because as usual, the pup had wandered off again and somehow gotten out of the dorm AND the common room. Jayce had yet to wrap his head around how the little dog managed to do that multiple times without anyone noticing. Sigh. He paused as he saw a familiar face sitting lonely at the Hufflepuff table. As he put on a rather wide grin, the seventh year wandered over towards the younger boy, sitting down across from him.

"'Sup, kiddo?" He asked with a grin.

Raising her head off the table, Mia picked up the glass of orange juice and took a sip. "Yeah I couldn't imagine Finn in a dress." she said with a smirk. Not to mention that Matty had broken his nose.

She put the glass down and started on her porridge. "Congratulations. I'm happy for both of you." And she was. They were two of her closest friends.

But...

"If you two ignore me like last year, I am going to be mighty annoyed." She spooned some more porridge into her mouth and gave him a sweet smile because she wasn't kidding. After what had happened during the summer, Mia was not going to put up with any crap.

"Kinda" said Nessie yawning. "I fell asleep eventually , but very late" Nessie smiled then started nibbling on some toast.

"Oh he ussually stays in the dormitory, then I usually take him outside for about twenty minutes each day, just so he can get some fresh air." Nessie didn't know if it was the best thing to tell this to a prefect, but she was sure he didn't mind as he kinda did it himself. "Thaddeus? Interesting name!" said Ness trying to figure out how he could have come up with it.

"Yeah, I don't really play properly though. I've just always had a small interest in the sport." Ness really didn't want every one to think she played quiditch well, because she wasn't too sure if she did. "So what did you sign up for?"

"Trust me, that wont happen again. I promise." *He gave her a warm smile then grabbed a bit of bacon to eat.*

"So how was your summer with Nik?"
*Matty had noticed that she had been down this term. If you knew Mia you knew that was not like her. It was odd how he was the up and bouncy one now and she was... ready at any minute to drop that porridge in his hair, face or lap. Maybe she was just tired he thought but he'd seen her tired that was what made him want to ask about her summer.*

Cassidy's face lit up immediately. "JAYCE!" He smiled widely, greeting the older boy. "How have you been!?"

The spoon was halfway to her lips when Matty asked about her summer and she froze for a second. She had to remember that her friends knew her well. If she didn't have a constant smile on her face, they knew something was up. "My summer with Nik was good." She finally put the spoon in her mouth and then after a moment she turned to look at her friend. "It was the summer with my father that sucked."

Daisy turned to see Oakey next to her. He had spilt syrup all over his homework. He had said he was unlucky, but that was just seriously unlucky. All over his homework.
'Are you alright Oakey?' she asked kindly.

So, she treated the Pygmy Puff the same way that Thaddeus was treated, he approved of that, except that Pygmy Puffs were easier to control, whereas a freaked out Knarl was...well...tougher to get around.

"Once he gets used to the school, you could carry him around, you know? It's not really against the rules," he decided to add, just in case she was thinking that it was. And about Thaddeus, he chuckled, "It certainly is," Nessied should probably look for Thaddeus Thurkell in Chocolate Frogs cards. Now, that was the interesting part of the hedgehog-like creature.

Oh. Really?

"Well, that's okay, some people have never played Quidditch and end up being the best at it," like Harry Potter did when he first came to Hogwarts, but that was not the actual point he was trying to make, "I've been Keeper before, that's the position I signed-up for again," though, he didn't mind if he was chosen for another one.

Jayce beamed, BEAMED at his younger buddy. He missed the kid over the summer. It felt like forever since they'd last spoken to eachother. "How have i been? Ehh.. better i guess," he shrugged. "But there's nothing i can do about it." The boy frowned, as his thoughts wandered back to what happened over the summer. He shook his head, trying to get the thought away before putting on a smile for his little 'puff. "How have you been? I want to know all." He winked.

"Cool!" said Ness getting a bit over excited. Nessie yawned again then looked back at Treyen to answer. "Yeah I hope I'm good ,but I doubt it" said Nessie imagaing herself making a huge mistake while doing try outs and embarresing herself badly."Im sure you will deffinitely make it to the the team. " said Nessie thinking he was proberly good.

It's a shame I wasn't paying attention in potions as much as I should have. I might have been able to put together a shriveling potion and get the syrup right out. Oakey joked with a smile on his face.

"Oh?" *They had never really talked about each others parents. He guessed mostly because she knew it might be a sore subject for him but maybe it wasn't only sore on him.*
"I've never really heard you talk about your father much. What happened?"

Cass blushed. "Oh, well, I've been...bored. I had a fairly uneventful summer with my sister. I think I bored her with my stories of you guys. Particularly since I can never remember how they end." He laughed.

After Matty said that, Mia realised that she never really talked about her parents. The only person she did was Nik of course. It kinda made her feel bad now for never mentioning them before but that didn't last when she remembered what her dad had done. "He lied to me. For sixteen and a half years." She pushed her bowl of porridge away.

"He used to be married before but his first wife died." She paused for a moment not realising that she was clenching her spoon really hard. "What he failed to mention to me for so long was that his first wife was actually my mother."

With elbows on the table, Jayce crossed his arms as he listened to his little pal's story. "Your sister? You have a sister? That's cool." he smiled. Merlin was he curious. It was then that he remembered Cass'.. problem. Well, it wasn't exactly a problem.. more like.. and illness? Jayce could never remember the correct term. It always bothered him.

"Do anything else over your summer?" the boy asked curiously, blue eyes still on Cass' own eyes.

Cass lit up. "Yes, her name is Shiloh. She's biologically my cousin, but uh, my uncle adopted me when I was a baby so, now she's my big sister and my best friend." He grinned. He loved talking about Shiloh. He already missed her.

"Honestly, not much. We just hung out at the house all summer. What about you? What's new in the exciting world of Jayce?"

"Oh? Well.. that's pretty interesting. I don't have any siblings although i do wish i did have some." He shrugged before continuing. "I do have a few cousins though. But i'm not really close with them."

Instantly remembering his summer, the seventh year's face grew dark and solemn as his eyes went cold, quickly losing their usual brightness. "I.. I lost my dog over the summer. She.. passed away." He sighed as his blue eyes wandered away from Cass, quickly turning glassy. But no, he refused to cry. He wouldn't cry over her anymore.

Rubbing his eyes and turning back to the young boy, Jayce chuckled a bit as his eyes gained their usual brightness, pushing away the memories. "But Eirian got me a new dog. Although i wasn't keen on the idea at first," he paused. "They dog's actually kind of insane and tends to eat my clothes."

"Oh..." *Yeah that was a good reason to be upset. Matty didn't know a lot about his parents either, but that was because he didn't want to know... yet. He had this fear that they were not good people. Not sure what to say he asked.*
"Did he say why he didn't tell you the truth?"

That made Mia pause for a moment and she chewed on her bottom lip. Everything that Nik had said to her over the summer came back to her and she felt that guilty feeling again.

"He tried." She began, tilting her head back so that she could look up at the ceiling. Fitting that there should be dark thrunderclouds overhead. Went with her mood. "I ran away from home before he could."

*He was about to say oh again but knew that would sound stupid. So she ran away? That was never good but at least she was somewhere safe.*
"Do you have a bad relationship with your father? I mean before all this happened?"
*Matty thought she had said that she had a good relationship with her dad but he couldn't remember.*

'Don't worry,' Daisy smiled. 'A girl helped me clean ketchup off my lap earlier, we might be able to use a spell. What homework was it anyway?' she asked, dipping her finger into some of the syrup on the table and licking it.

The small, scruffy looking boy with dark hair shuffles as meekly as he can into the great hall. Walking to the Hufflepuff table, he searches for an empty seat. Finding one fairly close to the end closest the door, he sits down and surveys the feast before him. He's kind of hungry, as he thinks he might like a bit of a sandwich and some crisps. He finds a couple of thick slices of a loaf and some ham. He looks for a bit of cheddar cheese. His height seems to impede his view so he stands upon the bench and leans over the table. He spies a plate with some cheese and reaches for it best he can. Not quite reaching the plate, he uses the tips of his fingers to try and bring it closer to no avail. He looks at the students around him, hoping one will note his predicament and offer some assistance. As he's not the most forthright child, he scans for but a few seconds before he sits and places some mustard on the bread and sips at his water. He grabs for some salt and vinegar crisps and prepares for his lunch, his thoughts wandering here and there.

Penny walked into the Great hall in a sort of trance, having just spent the last three hours in the library doing her Arithmancy homework, her brain felt like mulch.. and her tummy rumbling with hunger...

Not really looking were she was going but knowing she was at the Hufflepuff table, she sat down... then surfacing from her trance like state - realised that she was sitting next to a boy, a first year boy by the looks of him..

Noticing him trying to reach for the cheese plate but not getting there, Penny lifts the plate and leaves it in front of the boy..."there you go..... I'm Penny by the way, I think i've seen you around in the common room"

Then, with great gusto, munches into her dinner of lamb chops, roasted potatoes carrots & peas "ohh wow... this is divine" she says, to no-one in particular...relishing the delicious food...:woot:

It was my Ancient Ruins Homework. Oakey told Daisy, taken aback that she had just licked some of the syrup that he had just spilled. It was almost done too. He pointed to the work and showed here some of the runes that were now ruined.

[B]

I had about half of it done, now I've only got 3 runes.

Ian was about to pick up his freshly made sandwich when a girl sat down next to him. He scooted over just a bit, fearful of upsetting her by being to close. When she reached over and handed him the cheese plate, he nodded his thanks and took a slice of cheddar which his added to his sandwich and went to hand her the plate back. "Thanks." he said to her. "I'm I-I-Ian." He whispered to her nervously. As she set about eating her own meal, he assumed the conversation was at an end.

Penny smiled as the boy offered the plate of cheese back, she took it and placed it in the middle of the table, so both of them could reach it...

Then swallowing a potato, thinking he was very sweet, but seemed nervous...Hi Ian, how are you liking Hogwarts? are you enjoying your classes so far?"

Just after he took the first bite of his sandwich, Ian heard her voice again as she asked him about school. He opened his mouth to answer before he thought about it and all the came out was a muffled, half gagging sort of sound as the bite lodged at the back of his mouth. His face turning what he was sure was an awful shade of red, he grabbed his water, took a large swallow and opened his throat as wide as he could manage to get the bread and meat to slide down to his belly. He felt the lump travel through his chest and took a moment to breath before glancing up quickly and nodded and then looked at the table space between them.

Oh lord the boy was choking on his dinner, red in the face, almost not breathing....careful not to talk to him again until his mouth was empty !!!

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry....are you ok?"...Penny couldn't believe her bad luck, she meets a nice boy and then he almost chokes to death - "wow this is gonna be a long year" thinking to herself...

Ian looks up at her question about his health and takes in a deep breath before looking down to exhale. Important not to breathe in someone's face "I-i-i-I think so. He says. I-I-I'm Ian, and yes...so far I like it.

He takes a moment to glance at her again before looking down. Before he does, he smiles and tries to continue the process of regaining his breath.

Penny was relieved Ian was ok, but got the impression that either he really didn't want company or he was so shy he didn't want to talk..
but how was a muggleborn like herself ever going to meet people if she didn't talk to them...
maybe she would let him make the next move toward conversation - she didn't want to be pushy !!

so she reached for the teapot and poured herself a steaming mug of tea....thinking to herself,"Uhm, tea was the answer to everything" in her opinion, well at least after 6pm.

Then deciding that a chocolate eclair was her well deserved treat for a hard days study !!!

Ian was about to say something to her to continue the conversation when he looked back and she had grabbed for a cup of tea and an eclair. He began to play with the hem of his sleeve as he thought about what to do next. He hadn't met anyone yet and he'd hate to miss the chance to do so now. He looked around and noted the sugar dish to his right. He reached out and pulled it to him and tapped lightly on her shoulder, waiting for her to look his way.

Penny was just about to bite into her eclair, when she felt Ian tap her on her shoulder....Looking around, she saw the sugar bowl in his hand...she smiled at him, "he's making an effort to be friendly" she thought..

When she looked in his direction, he tentatively offered. Would you like sugar? I don't take my tea with sugar, but I know some do. He hoped it was enough of a gesture to keep the chat going. He certainly needed to meet someone.

"oh yes please", taking the sugar bowl offered with a smile...
then saying, I think your taking a couple of the classes that i'm in..Muggle Studies and Divination...I'm totally lost in Arithmancy & Ancient Runes, but at least I'll know what the Professor is talking about in Muggle Studies.."
she said with a smile..."how about you Ian, how are you fixed?"

He smiled as she took the offered sugar. He nodded as she mentioned the common classes. "Yes. I-I-I think I'll only do well in muggle studies. Didn't even known what a muggle was until a mysterious letter arrived." He was pleased to see her smile. then she asked a question that confused him. F-f-fixed? he asked her quizzically

"Sorry, I mean, How are you doing with the other subjects that are more magical, you know...like Potions and Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures?"

She liked talking to him, but if she didn't move soon she would seize up..putting down her empty mug.. "I was thinking of taking a walk for some fresh air, maybe down to the Quidditch pitch or the lake - would you care to join me?"

He listened to her response. Oh. W-w-Well, it's just starting, so I hope I'll make out alright. I-i-it's all just a bit too much right now.

He nodded at her request, happy to be invited somewhere besides the basement or huffie common room. Y-y-yes. I'd like that very much. He hadn't really taken the chance to explore yet.

"Cool, maybe we could go down the pitch, we can watch some team try-outs... I can pick up some pointers from watching the others fly!!... have you played any quidditch or watched any yet? "

Ian nodded at Penny. He wasn't sure what to make of her, but she was pleasant and certainly he was happy to have someone to talk to. He felt like he'd been a wallflower since the boats had dropped them off and he'd been sorted. He was still trying to figure out how he fit here. He certainly didn't fit in back home.

Th-th-that would be nice. I've not watched any yet. Not sure what quidditch is.

Penny smiled at him, "Well maybe you can pick up some hints while we're there too, it's a wizard sport played on broomsticks and goals are scored through fifty foot hoops at either end of the pitch, 7 players on each team..A seeker, A keeper, 2 beaters and 3 chasers - i can let you borrow my 'Quidditch through the Ages' to read"

Penny rose from the table and began to walk to the doors which led out to the grounds and down to the quidditch pitch....

Ian listened attentively as she gave her description of the wizard sport. When she offered her book, he nodded. Th-th-that would be nice, thank you. As she got up to leave, he grabbed a pear, placed it in his pocket and followed her, hoping she knew where she was going.

ooc: go ahead and post in another place if you like, so we aren't stuck in the hall forever. :P

She shook her head. "No. We always had a really good relationship, which is why this makes it so hard for me to forgive him." Mia picked up her juice and took another sip, her mind drifting off for a moment. Maybe Nik was right. Maybe she did need to sit down with her father and talk to him.

Turning back to Matty, Mia gave him a smile. "So where do you plan on taking Marie for your first date?" Yep total change of subject. Hopefully Matty will take her cue and go with it.

*Giving her a raised eyebrow look he smiled but thought better of pursuing the conversation. By the sudden change in subject he went along with her and asked.*
"I was hoping you could help me there. I've never really been in a relationship... or on a date..."
*If anyone knew about Matty's lack of dating it was Mia and he knew that he could trust her to not poke fun at him about.*

Mia almost dropped her glass of juice in total astonishment. He was asking her? About dating? She couldn't help but chuckle as she placed her glass back onto the table. "You do realise that I am not the most convential type of girl. Nik and I didn't exactly do things, the normal way I suppose you could say." And no she wasn't going into it.

"Well let me start by saying that it's not the place that makes the date but the two people involved. Personally, I find the simple things the best. Like a simple picnic by the lake or in the gardens or stargazing at night. But that's just me." She was probably confusing the crap out of him now. "What do you think Marie would like?

"Yes I realize but you are pretty much the closest friend/girl I know." *He chuckled a little at her shock but shrugged as he thought about it. Hmm...*
"Well for her birthday I made a sort of picnic in the gardens at my uncles but it ended up raining so we had to end it... I could say that I am sort of re-doing that day. Or would that be... stupid?"

"Well the sentiment is there." How did she become the relationship expert again? "But wouldn't you rather do something different? Nik and I, when we're able to get together, are always doing something new and different. There was this one time when we cooked a meal together. It was just a simple thing but it brought us even closer together." If that was even possible. "I got to see how patient he really is and how tender he can be. And he got to see how much mess I can make in a kitchen." She gave him a wink and then burst out laughing.

"Mia my cooking skills are horrid... from what I hear they make you look like a world famous chef." *Matthias smirked and picked up a muffin to munch on.*
"Would that be a good thing for a first date though?"