Violet glanced around and saw that there had been room at another table when she came in, but she hadn't noticed the first year sitting there all alone. Now another girl she had met in Herbology, Mamie, had joined her. Violet wished she had noticed that table earlier--she wondered if she should move? But then, maybe that would look funny, now that she'd already sat down and taken out her things. And two more boys who'd come in had chosen a table of their own, and she was still sitting alone. Had she thought her social interaction skills had improved during her year out of school? Not much, apparently.

She looked over again at the table with Mamie and the other girl, with two empty seats. No, this was ridiculous, she thought, you should just get your stuff and go over there, no one is paying attention to you anyway. She thought Mamie was looking at her in a welcoming way (or it might just be wishful thinking). Okay, she was going. She awkwardly grabbed her bag, her quill and ink, and her parchment and walked over to the other table.

"Hi, er, Mamie, isn't it? And I don't think I know yours, I'm Violet. Do you mind if I join you? I didn't see you by yourself when I first came in."