Tora was about to run in and sit beneath her own House's lovely blue and bronze banner when she noticed that a certain someone who she really didn't like was already sitting there. Normally, she would have just gone in and sat right down anyway, but she hadn't lost any points yet this year and she wasn't planning on it. Especially if it was because of some petty argument at the House table.

As she looked about for an alternative place to sit, she noticed that her second preferred table, Hufflepuff, was taken up by a bunch of older students. And Tora was a bit intimidated. She then turned to the Slytherin table to see if she could go there, but no luck. It was the same with the Snakes as it was with the Badgers. This left the only table open. Gryffindor.

She sighed and moved to the far, far end of the table. Hoping that she wouldn't bother any Gryffindors, or more importantly, and reducing the risk of them annoying her, she quietly gathered some food onto her plate.

It was true that not all Gryffindors were stuck up idiots who ran blindly into danger without any sort of plan, but the majority of the ones she had met were. Thus, to avoid her temper snapping, she took the precautionary measure to try to make herself unnoticeable. Too bad her personality was too big to allow her to do that properly.

She laughed again. "Why wouldn't 'facts' make you feel good?" she countered with a grin. Because whether they were facts or not, Penelope didn't see what was wrong with them making him feel better. Because they obviously DID make him feel better, since he was already all smirky over interpreting what she said as saying he was brilliant and attractive.

Facts that probably wouldn't make him or her or anyone feel better though were the ones they'd have to study. For OWLs. 'Cause most of those were boring facts and had to do with spells and potions and just generally not very fun stuff. But it COULD be fun with a study partner like him. Even if it was only sometimes.

So she grinned. "Good. I like sometimes too." Those would be study sessions she actually looked forward too. Anything that allowed her to spend even more time with him was always something to look forward too.

Blink.

Well, thanks Pen. Go ahead and just bring straight up logic into things. That was totally fine with him or whatever. Pfft. S'not in case she was wondering. His smirk even faltered as he tried to find a way to recover, yeah?

"I don't know," he finally settled on mumbling. He hadn't been expecting any of this, yeah? Her being logical and all when they were flirting.

Although, he did find his smirk again when she went back to talk of studying. Yeah, sure. That was a thing they could attempt to do. It'd be a nice, little social experiment. Genuinely, he was curious to see if they could actually accomplish something.

Squeezing her hand under the table, he nodded, "Same." 'Cause he did.

What was that look for?

Was there something wrong with what she'd said? She was just playing along... Penelope watched him, slightly confused but curious, before leaning over and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. There, that would make him feel better, yeah? Already made her feel better, and she wasn't even the one mumbling.

The plan to study with him also made her feel better. She squeezed his hand back with a grin. "We should start one soon. Maybe this weekend?" The sooner the better, right? Might also motivate her more to keep studying throughout the year if she started with him. Otherwise she might just put it off...which probably wouldn't be a good idea in the long run.

He was properly put out that she had gone and brought logic into their teasing. Now he must have looked like a right fool, which he didn't appreciate. The only thing that Ascanius LIKED looking like was attractive. Everything else was just a hindrance to his naturally chiseled features.

...but if being a mood got him kisses he would try this moody thing more often. 'Sides, he was a champion at brooding. He was in Slytherin after all.

Before she pulled away, though, he stole one more kiss and smiled at her. Not to be a skirt or anything, but he really liked looking at her, yeah? Ascanius wasn't sure what it was about her...but he just liked looking. S'calming and comfortable and always made him beam like an idiot. He supposed it had something to do with eight letters and three syllables.

"I can't start this weekend," he protested, "I am booked solid." She got a light smirk in her direction.

Well, wasn't she going to ask why?

Kissses seemed to cheer him up, just as she'd expected. She grinned when he kissed her back and smiled. There, that was the happy face she wanted to see. His smile was the best. Just seeing it made her happier, even if she was already happy. She wasn't sure how that was possible, but it was. And it was nice.

...Not this weekend? Why? He was booked solid? Penelope raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? Why's that?"

He appreciated the quick kiss back, truly, but he wasn't going to snog her in the middle of the Great Hall. That would be slightly alarming for lower students, yeah? Smirk.

"Because," he began with his greatest attempt at trying to quell his smirk, "I have plans to hang out with my girlfriend this weekend. Not study." And she was invited to those plans, obviously. 'Course she didn't REALLY have a choice in the matter, yeah?

He was genuinely looking forward to having her all to himself again. Classes really stepped in on that time.

Ah. Those were his big plans. It all made total sense now. She didn't even bother to stop her smirk from growing. "Oh, I see. Sounds like it'll be a good weekend then." And Penelope was pretty certain it would be. Time spent with him was always awesome to her. And definitely way better than studying. Studying and homework was extremely lame and boring in comparison.

Still had loads of time to study anyway. OWLs weren't until the end of the term and that felt like aaaaaages away. So no worries yet.

Yeah, he saw her smirk and his was already working in full swing by the time she got around to hers. Though he took a moment to appreciate it. S'nice smirk...even nicer face. He was quite fond of it because it let him do the snogging thing from time to time.

Hmmm. He needed to take a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "S'gonna be an amazing weekend. I'll be there." Cue ego inflation.

Oh and she'd be there too, which was always a plus.

He was awfully smirky, wasn't he? It was really cute. Her smirk might've turned into a smile briefly just from looking at him. Sometimes it was kinda hard to maintain a proper smirk around him when all she really wanted to do was just smile at him and watch him because just being around him made her really happy. But she managed to smirk again as she replied, "Oh, yeah? Lucky girlfriend then." Very lucky. "Wish I was her. Oh wait." Dramatic pause and smiiiirk. "I am. Lucky me."

"Lucky you indeed," he smirked throwing his arm arm around her shoulder casually, "I mean, look at me." That was slightly in jest..but not really. Ascanius had what he liked to call a healthy ego or a healthy face. He was never quite sure of the wording, but something was healthy. Smiiirk. Probably his face.

Trying his hardest to NOT dwell on his face and the attractiveness level of it, he changed the subject, "Anyway, we should probably get going, yeah?" If she was done devouring everything in her sight. Which was never really clear.

Penelope leaned towards him a little bit more once his arm was around her shoulders, smirking a little more when he agreed with her. He may have been partly joking - or maybe not - but she wasn't. She really was lucky to be with him. "I am looking at you," she replied, leaning over a little more to lightly bump her forehead against his.

Going? Hm...oh yeah, classes. They had to go to those. Because unfortunately sitting here with food and her boyfriend was not the point of school. "Yeah, guess so." She took a quite bite of whatever was left on her plate and then nodded once she'd swallowed it down. "M'ready now, I guess."

He smiled a little in spite of his will to keep the smirk strong when she playfully bumped her forehead against his. Ascanius really liked her. Sometimes he was just reminded of how much. Like right now. "Good...'cause, y'know, I am a sight to behold." His ego was healthy. At least when the two of them got to talk about it.

Nodding at her, he motioned to stand up and attended to sweeping his robe underneath himself to get on his feet. Not before he saw her scarf down another just not human amount of food. Awe-inspiring, truly.

"You're gonna explode one day, Pen." Fact.

She laughed and lightly bumped her forehead against his again. "Indeed," was all she replied with, grinning. He could take that as he wished, though she wasn't exactly disagreeing anyway.

Once she'd finished with the rest of the food left on her plate, Penelope moved to stand up after him, sliding easily out of the seat and straightening her robes a bit. She laughed again and grinned at him. "Nah, I think I'll be okay. My eight stomachs can handle it."

"Yeah, sure they can. What was I think every doubting you?" Ascanius said somewhat sarcastically throwing his arm lazily around his girlfriend. She was cute and all...s'just the amount of food she ate wasn't so much. Although, it was impressive. He'd give her that. And sometimes a little concerning, yeah?

Anyway, with that comment, he kissed the top of her head and lead her out of the Great Hall, but not before kicking her behind with his foot as they walked. Just 'cause.

Schuyler trekked down from the seventh floor because of stomach demands. Annoying grumbling that was telling her it was time for some dinner. So, like usual, she made her way on over to the Gryffindor table and took a seat on the bench. Her eyes passed over the options. Asparagus, yes. And that marinated chicken looked good. Also, bread. With butter. She transferred all these things onto her plate and poured herself some apple juice.

She took a sip from her glass so that the juice would at least shut up her stomach while she sliced up her chicken.

Dora wasn't necessarily hungry, though she was in the great hall anyway, at a table that wasn't hers no less. She'd been here waiting for her favorite lioness, playing with the food in front of her.

Only now it wasn't food so much as it was a food tower. A specific building made of mashed potatoes and vegetables and meats that had just a bit of magic on them. Isidora was bored.

But company had come, even if she wasn't her favorite, she was a Gryffindor that she liked and so she was welcomed at her own table, she hadn't been chasing away lions noooo. Dora kept her eyes on her plates that held the food tower, adding a sliced carrot. "The chicken's really dry."

Recognizing the voice that just spoke, Schuyler lifted her eyes from the chicken breast she was cutting up to see Dora here, at the Gryffindor table. The chicken was dry, she said. Schuyler pushed her lips to the side and stared at the poultry for a few seconds. Well, that sucked. "And here it looked so appetizing.." Bummer. This didn't mean that she wasn't going to give it a shot, though.

She may have asked what the Ravenclaw was doing sitting here at the Lions' table, but she thought for a second more and then dismissed the question in her mind when she came to the obvious answer. Alice. Best friend reasons.

Mildly curious about the chicken now that the other girl had commented on it, she poked her fork into a piece and tried it. Hmmm. Yeah. She nodded. "Dry, yeah. I'll still eat some of it." Because it wasn't bad enough to waste. "You did a good job commentating the match. Your Gryffindor tie and Slytherin badge did give off pretty mixed signals, though. Who were you rooting for?"

Best friend's team, or boyfriend's team?

"I think the elves had an off day." She shrugged unfazed. It didn't happen often, and even when they did it wasn't so bad. It was better than when they had no elves cooking for them, that was for damn sure. "Better than going hungry." Though she wasn't eating any of the dry chicken herself. No, it had all been added to the tower.

Her eyes did flicker over in the Gryffindor's direction, amused by her next comment. Dora still had on her match attire sans jacket and prefect badge. The badge she had stowed away for... experimental purposes. "You know this hat?" She reached up and tugged on the brim of the lion beanie. "This is Alice's. I wear it to all of her matches for good luck." It was practically Dora's now, except the other girl liked it too much for her to consider keeping it in her own wardrobe.

She turned her attention back to the tower of food in front of her. "I always cheer for both teams. It was a good match too, right? Aside from the awesome commentary." Heh.

Well, with all the growing teenagers in this school, those house elves were kept busy. Dry chicken wasn't anything to fuss over. Although Dora was finding some other uses for it, it seemed... "Nice food tower. That's talent." She took a bite of asparagus. The asparagus was good, though. Not stringy.

When the other girl referred to her hat, Schuyler's eyes automatically lifted to it. Was that a lion? A lion hat. Beanie. She gave a smile. "And? Does it work..?" Gryffindor did win the match, after all. Which Schuyler was very happy about. But all of her friends had played well, and she liked watching and cheering. In fact, she was considering making cool signs for next time. Yes, if she had time and she remembered, she might just do that.

Cheering for both seemed appropriate, and Schuyler nodded along in agreement. "Excellent commentary," she grinned. "And yeah, it was well-played. Close, too." A close win was always more satisfying than a win that took little effort.

"I don't like just sitting around." So she started up on this little thing. But she still didn't have an Alice, which.... was probably okay. That meant things, right? Right. She was assuming so, and would just find the older girl later to confirm. And for other reasons.

Looking back at Schuyler, a ghost of a smile graced her lips for a moment, and she shrugged. "It worked today. And it always works in showing my support for Alice, even if everyone else thinks I'm cheering for all of Gryffindor." She wasn't. Ever. "Very close. They're good teams." It was always fun watching a Gryffindor/Slytherin match, even before she started commemorating them. "Is food the only thing that brought you down here?"

Fair enough. Killing time by constructing food towers sounded better than waiting aimlessly at the Gryffindor table. "Are you waiting here to congratulate her on the game?" Or had she done that already? Probably, now that she thought about it. Regardless, Schuyler was more than happy to monopolize Dora until the girl's best friend arrived.

Schuyler didn't want to jinx it if it DID work, so Dora better keep on wearing the hat. "Theo and Alice know you're rooting for both," she shrugged. And she figured those were the main two whom Dora wanted to support.

Absently, she shifted her eyes to the Hufflepuff table momentarily, then she straightened up some and starting spreading the butter on her slice of baguette. "Essentially." Only when she spread the butter evenly across until it reached all sides of the crust did she place her butter knife back on the table and take a bite. What the elves had lacked in the chicken, they made up for with the bread. It was still warm, even.

Dora shrugged and added another carrot to her tower. "That and just, you know... talk." About stuff. "I might end up going to search for her elsewhere if she doesn't come around soon." It had been a while, but she was still willing to wait it out for a little while longer. Mostly because Schuyler was here now and she enjoyed her company too.

"They do, they're not the only ones I cheer for though. I cheer for all my friends." It just so happened that Theo and Alice seemingly monopolized her attention when it came to those matches. But she wasn't just wearing things in support of them.

Out of curiosity, her eyes flickered over to the badger's table too, one she never sat at, and came to her own assumptions. "Ready for OWLS?"

Talking, congratulating, etc. Schuyler nodded. "If I see her in the common room, I'll let her know you're on the lookout for her." That is, if the girl didn't wander down here by then. She looked at the tower again. Was that thing defying gravity or something? It was bound to fall soon. Hopefully there was nothing with gravy in there. That could get messy.

Back to her dry chicken, though. She chewed on a piece while Dora explained that she cheered for all of her friends, not just the BF and the BFF. "Same. Although Gryffindor as a team always takes precedence." For obvious reasons.

OWLs. She suddenly threw Dora an expression of alarm. "Wait, OWLs are this year?" ..Her face eased back into a smile soon after. Everything had been about OWLs this year. Talking about them, and preparing for them, and dreading them. "Not completely," she answered honestly. "But that's why I'm still studying." Her eyes moved back to the Ravenclaw again. Still no tower collapse, by the way. "And what about you?"

"You don't have to." Dora would find her eventually, even if she had to get into the common room herself. But she did shoot Schuyler an appreciative sort of smile. Those rare ones that she didn't use hardly ever. She used one finger to take a swipe at her tower, licking it clean of the mashed potatoes.

She disagreed... sorta. Her HOUSE didn't take precedence over anything, but her friends? Yes. She loved them. They would always take precedence. She shrugged and continued to pick off pieces of the tower for consumption.

"Traditionally speaking, yes. OWLs are this year." Which was both good and bad, since it meant she really didn't have to attend all those lessons and could just study on her own like she had been all year, but also meant life making decisions were coming closer and closer. It was a bit of a concern. Her eyes flickered away from the tower (that was far from falling mind you) and she shrugged a bit carelessly this time. "That's all I've been studying for. Though now I just do my own stuff... confident I'm ready for OWLs." But everything those exams meant, and the stuff to follow with her future? Not even a little.