Quote:
Originally Posted by
mmesnape 
Patricia's smile widened, "I don't mind being called Patty at all, Mariel. I love your name, sounds almost french somehow." she said with a grin, shaking the girl's hand briefly but solidly. Patricia had noticed that Mariel's expression had changed a bit when she had offered her hand. Didn't anyone shake hands anymore? She felt suddenly a bit self-conscious about her friendly gesture. Oh snap! she thought nervously, hoping she hadn't done something wrong on her first day here.
Hoping to get over her possible faux-pas, she decided to move the conversation along. "Is this your first year here?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
Mariel sat back with a smug smile. Good. The girl looked like a Patty, so that's what she wanted to call her. It just made it easier that Patty agreed to it. And she even complemented her.
"Thanks," Mariel said, now grinning wider.
"Yeah, I'm a first year too," she said as she glanced around their table at the mostly older students sitting there.
"I'm really eager to start classes, but it's too bad we can't try out for Quidditch till next year..." she said slightly frowning as she looked back to Patty. Quidditch was a close second to learning for Mariel and she wasn't sure how she'd manage the whole year without it. Mariel sighed. She wasn't even allowed to bring her new broom.