"Hi, again, Jack," Zeke said with a grin. He remembered this kid from the common room, the one who liked astronomy (although he didn't want to be known for it), had a frog named Pluto, and was friends with Anna. "How've you been?" Jack looked a little... awkward would be the best word for it. Zeke wondered why. He seemed to be a perfectly nice guy, if a little shy.

"Well, it's a very pretty combination," Zeke said, then blushed, realizing that he'd just called her pretty out loud. "I was actually homeschooled, too. I only came here... Either last term or the term before. I can't really remember." he said, changing the subject. "I was never lonely though since all my siblings except my sister were still at home, anyway."

Helena looked up in surprise as the third Gryffindor that she didn't know said something to her that evening. She smiled politely at Jack, whom she recognized from her year. Hi, it's nice to meet you, Jack. Helena Crawley, she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.

Helena's head tilted to the side slightly at his compliment before she righted it and said, Ummm.... thanks, as she grinned and blushed as well. Yes, I suppose it would be quite different to come here used to being around so many people. It took me quite awhile to adjust, actually. She smiled, picking up his want for a different subject.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts isn't my thing," Fyo confessed, with a shake of the head. "And yes, the chicken's awesome. Why don't you try some?" he added, looking over at the dish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10DesmondsDaughter14

Helena chuckled, guessing what he was thinking after some of the stories that had been going around the common room lately. Yes, well, she began, wanting to move on to a happier subject, To me, Divination is just very.... juvenile. I just don't connect with it, she smiled.

"I guess the stuff about having to be Seer material and the Inner Eye might be correct," Fyo said. "Because I've seen some people who love it, and they really do get it. And the ones who don't - just don't. And can't."

"I mean," he began again. "You could get good at the theory, memorizing the definitions and stuff, but you can't get good at the practical part of it all, if you're just not interested."

Quote:

Originally Posted by LISSY LUB WHEEE! =D

"Hiya Fyo, and Zeke, and erm...hi," he finished awkwardly, turning to the Slytherin girl. "I'm Jack Fritzera, Gryffindor," he said, figuring it would be best to get out of this embarrassing entrance to a conversation by introducing himself.

Waiiit - Wasn't that the Gryffindor boy who had been guiding him in Herbology? The one who'd STOPPED guiding him, after a while? Jam, right? No, Jellyfish. Joint. Arrgh, what had been his name?

Jack! Got it, YAY!

"Jack, right?" Fyo said. And a moment later, the boy had introduced himself. Oops. "Aren't you the one who gave up on me in Herbology?" he asked, grinning slightly.

Yeah.... she began uncertainly. Exactly. She had never met anybody who really understood it. They either disagreed terribly with her or just agreed for no particular reason. Anyways, enough about school - we have to deal with it enough as it is. She stood another sip of juice and had to refrain from laughing into it with difficulty.

"I think a lot of people feel that way about Defense Against the Dark Arts, although I can't imagine that. I love it," Zeke said with a smile. "Vegetarian," he said, politely declining Fyo's chicken offer. "My whole family. We're just weird, I guess," he said with a laugh. "Although I do appreciate your enthusiasm. I love food." You'd never be able to tell, though. At 6'1" and 145 pounds, Zeke was not exactly built like an American football player or anything.

"You're welcome," Zeke said, looking down at the table for just a moment and blushing just a bit more. He was starting to like her. This could pose a problem. He kinda tended to fall for girls left and right but never tell a single one of them. The closest thing he'd had to any sort of real love interest was Camira last year. He hadn't even seen her this year. They kind of left without even saying goodbye to each other last term. Switching gears in his brain to focus on what Helena was saying, he replied, "Did it? That makes sense, I suppose. Coming from being alone all the time to being with a zillion people all the time must have been really weird."

"Ok," Jack said with a shrug. He winced after he did that--his back still hurt from flying around at tryouts. "Just attending classes and whatnot. What about you?" he asked him before he coughed into his sleeve. He hadn't been feeling the greatest lately...maybe he was getting sick?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10DesmondsDaughter14

Helena looked up in surprise as the third Gryffindor that she didn't know said something to her that evening. She smiled politely at Jack, whom she recognized from her year. Hi, it's nice to meet you, Jack. Helena Crawley, she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.

"Nice to meet you Helena," he said with a smile. He wrinkled his eyebrows as he looked at her, trying to figure out where he had seen her before. "You're a fifth year, right? That's my year," he informed her with a grin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SenoritaMaxie

"Defence Against the Dark Arts isn't my thing," Fyo confessed, with a shake of the head. "And yes, the chicken's awesome. Why don't you try some?" he added, looking over at the dish.

"I guess the stuff about having to be Seer material and the Inner Eye might be correct," Fyo said. "Because I've seen some people who love it, and they really do get it. And the ones who don't - just don't. And can't."

"I mean," he began again. "You could get good at the theory, memorizing the definitions and stuff, but you can't get good at the practical part of it all, if you're just not interested."

Waiiit - Wasn't that the Gryffindor boy who had been guiding him in Herbology? The one who'd STOPPED guiding him, after a while? Jam, right? No, Jellyfish. Joint. Arrgh, what had been his name?

Jack! Got it, YAY!

"Jack, right?" Fyo said. And a moment later, the boy had introduced himself. Oops. "Aren't you the one who gave up on me in Herbology?" he asked, grinning slightly.

"I--what?" Jack asked in confusion. Hadn't he guided him across with Herminny? He was certain that--OH NO! He HAD just left him hanging out there. Gulp. "Oh, erm--sorry about that, I thought someone else had come along..." he explained. That WAS true. Someone else from Gryffindor had started talking to him and...well, he almost drowned, and so did Reese! What was he supposed to do?

"Sorry," he muttered again as he blushed. Whoops. He felt awful now.

Waiittttt - Fyo had only been saying it all in good fun. He hadn't meant to make Jack feel this bad.

"It's A-OK," he said quickly. "You must have been intent on getting Herminny across, she was really close, wasn't she? And Shum helped me find my way ashore, so it all turned out fine in the end. No need for an apology, buddy."

Had Fyodor Balouch's shyness gone on vacation, these days?

Helena nodded, quickly sipping her pumpkin juice again for something to do. When she had swallowed, she said, Weird, embarrassing.... intimidating, she chuckled, though it was very true. Pretty much every nerve in my body was standing on end for probably two months or so while I got adjusted. Her grin was back, though it wasn't a 'knowing' or 'cheesy' one. It was just.... well a pretty brilliant smile, to be honest.

As she brought her hand back again she nodded, feeling relieved. Yeah, I am. I thought that was it - I think we had Charms together last year. She smiled, remembering the good old days - and the pretty funny times she had in Charms. Ah.... sweet, innocent fourteen year old Helena.

"It's not a bad subject," Fyo said. "I pretty much scrape by with an E, every time. I'm just not too enthusiastic about it."

Vegetarian? Ohh. "Sorry," Fyo chuckled. "Didn't know that. And no, lifestyle choices don't make us weird. Just different." Cooler, too. Not that he'd ever give up chicken to become cooler, nope.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10DesmondsDaughter14

Yeah.... she began uncertainly. Exactly. She had never met anybody who really understood it. They either disagreed terribly with her or just agreed for no particular reason. Anyways, enough about school - we have to deal with it enough as it is. She stood another sip of juice and had to refrain from laughing into it with difficulty.

Fyo grinned at her remark. "Guess you're right," he said, nodding his head a little. "Only, I have a thing for studying, so.." He shrugged, wide, dreamy eyes kinda twinkling.

"Eh, you know, just the usual. Classes, homework, etc." Zeke said. "So did you ever try out for the Quidditch team? I remember you saying in the common room that you wanted to." He watched as Jack coughed into his sleeve. Hopefully he wasn't sick. Being sick sucked.

Watching Helena take a drink of pumpkin juice alerted Zeke to the fact that he hadn't touched anything on his plate in a good five minutes. However, thanks to Hogwarts awesomeness, none of it was any colder than it had started. "I can understand that," he said, picking up a roll and taking a bite. He chewed and swallowed. "It must have been hard." He smiled automatically when she smiled. He ran his fingers through his bright hair absentmindedly.

"True, true..." Zeke said. "I guess you can do well in a subject and not be in love with it. That's how I am with Herbology and the like." He waved his hand dismissively. "Not at all. It's pretty uncommon here at Hogwarts, I think. I haven't met many others. Well, besides my sister, but she doesn't really count..." he laughed. "Good philosophy."

Helena chuckled. And that is exactly why I'm not a Ravenclaw. She smiled and stifled a yawn. Why was she always so tired lately? So, outside of school, what else do you like, if you don't mind my asking? She hoped he didn't.

Helena didn't want to shrug again, so she nodded. It was at first, but I'm completely fine now - not sure normal is the right word. She chuckled slightly before looking back up and noticing his smile that appeared after hers had. Wait - after? Or because? This was all getting so confusing, but she supposed it was too make up for the lack of Muggle high school; drama was part of being a teenager.

"I don't think 'normal' is an adjective that can describe many of us, if any at all," Zeke said with a laugh. "But it's a good thing you're good now, right? Or else you'd probably be hiding in your room instead of here talking to me. And let's face it: I'm very interesting and fun to talk to." he joked with a chuckle.

Fyo nodded, in agreement. You didn't have to love every subject on the face of earth, really.

"My sis is a vegetarian, too," he told Zeke. "Only, she's seven, and I have no idea if she'll stick to it as she grows up."

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10DesmondsDaughter14

Helena chuckled. And that is exactly why I'm not a Ravenclaw. She smiled and stifled a yawn. Why was she always so tired lately? So, outside of school, what else do you like, if you don't mind my asking? She hoped he didn't.

"Dragons," Fyo said at once, without even pausing to think. Then he paused, and laughed. He'd been so sudden, he'd surprised his own self! "I like dragons, they're awesome," he told her, nodding at his own remark. "And flying."

His plate was pretty much clean, now. Fyo pushed it back, no longer hungry. Time to get going. He looked up at the little party of people, and shrugged to himself.

"Well, I'm off," he announced brightly, looking around. "Guess I'll see all of you around. And.. um, nice meeting you Jack. You two, too," he added, turning back to Helena and Zeke. "See y'all around," he repeated, nodding at Chris, Naomi and Lilly as, pushing back his chair, he stood up.

He was read for some Quidditch, now. Cool, eh?

Helena laughed, only just managing to stop on the verge of laughing by herself; once she started, it was difficult to stop. She didn't want to stop, but that would be far too abnormal. Agreed. Very entertaining, of course the fourteen year old version of me would have been scared stiff, you know. She smiled, one side of her mouth pulling up a bit higher than the other as she failed to keep it normal-looking.

Helena laughed before smiling sadly at his departing words. Must you go so soon? Well, I feel sure we'll meet again sometime. A pleasure to meet you as well. She smiled and nodded politely at him as he headed out of the hall.

"Yeah, I've got a seven-year-old sister, too. She's pretty fickle," he said with a laugh. "Alright. See you around."

"I seem to have that effect on people," Zeke joked again. It was hard to imagine him scaring anyone. He was too... goofy. Lovable. He couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. Helena seemed to be pretty easy to get along with.

Helena laughed, shaking her head slightly. That's not what I meant. It's just.... She really didn't want to bring the mood down like this, but it was necessary. She mentally sighed. When you grow up with the most 'prim and proper' parents, out-going people scare you. She nodded solemnly, trying and failing to hold back her laughter.

"Ah, gotcha. My family's not like that, but I've had friends whose families have been." He nodded. He couldn't help but to laugh along with her. "I think my parents are maybe a little TOO outgoing. It's probably a good thing we don't live near any Muggles. My dad would probably have given the wizard secret away to them on accident. He's always tinkering with Muggle things. Absolutely fascinated by them," he laughed.

"Hey Fyo. I'm alright and yourself?" she said sending the question back to him.

"Hi Zeke, we haven't met yet. My name is Lilly. Nice to meet you." she said sticking out her hand.

Helena nodded understandingly, having regained her ability to hold back laughter and was simply smiling now. I like Muggle things, myself, actually. You can't imagine the sort of things you get into when you're by yourself all the time. We lived in a pretty small town when I was a kid, so I would sometimes poke around the little shops. She shrugged slightly before smiling at Zeke once more. It's pretty remarkable, the scientific things that Muggles come up with to live without magic, in my opinion. That was really odd. She had never said that, but found, again, that it was true.

"Oh. Ok," Jack said with a smile. That was good, at least the bloke wasn't legit mad at him or anything. He turned back to his food and took a bite of his roll before washing it down with some pumpkin juice.

"So uh, have you gotten started on that Herbology homework yet?" he asked, trying to make polite conversation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10DesmondsDaughter14

As she brought her hand back again she nodded, feeling relieved. Yeah, I am. I thought that was it - I think we had Charms together last year. She smiled, remembering the good old days - and the pretty funny times she had in Charms. Ah.... sweet, innocent fourteen year old Helena.

Jack nodded. "Yeah, I think so," he said with a smile. He definitely recognized her now, even though he still couldn't recall hearing her name at all last year--he had definitely seen her face though. "With Professor Ashby and Bunbury came in too and started acting all weird and flirty with the boys," he said with a chuckle, recalling the insane Charms class from last year that resulted in his prefects getting in a huge argument with each other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke Weasley

"Eh, you know, just the usual. Classes, homework, etc." Zeke said. "So did you ever try out for the Quidditch team? I remember you saying in the common room that you wanted to." He watched as Jack coughed into his sleeve. Hopefully he wasn't sick. Being sick sucked.

Jack nodded. "Yup, tryouts were last week," he said with a smile. No need to mention the fact that he was completely terrified of the results, even though Paris kept telling him he didn't need to worry. Still, what if it was all a trick? A plan to humilate Jack? He shook his head to try and get rid of these wild fantasies of his, and it half worked. He sneezed again, covering his mouth and wiping his watering eyes.

"Sorry," he muttered. Gah. He hoped he wasn't getting sick.

Helena's smile was brief, for it disappeared at the mention of Bunbury. Ugh, that woman. Absolutely not my cup of tea. But her smile reappeared along with the bright blue of her eyes. Well, lets hope we don't have one of those classes again in a hurry, she chuckled.

"Very nice to meet you, Lilly," Zeke said, taking the girl's hand. "What year are you?"

"I quite agree. My dad has shown me all sorts of doohickeys that Muggles invented. I dunno how Muggles can survive without magic, though, myself. It's gotta be hard!" Zeke said. "They're quite self-sufficient though, I suppose. They seem to get by alright."

"How do you think you did? I hope you made it," Zeke said with a smile. "I'm sure you did excellently... Bless you," he added as Jack sneezed. "Allergies, then, mate?"

Yeah, they must. I suppose they've learned how to adjust, though, seeing as they never knew about it to begin with. She laughed lightly, her equally light green eyes seeming to smile themselves as they kept to Zeke, leaving her Sheapard's Pie forgotten.

"That's true," Zeke said with a laugh. "It's so weird to think that there are people who don't have any sort of magic. It's such a huge part of my life, it's hard to imagine anything else." He smiled back at her.

Yeah, she agreed, nodding slightly as she took a sip of her pumpkin juice. I'm glad it's not me, though. Helena laughed slightly and smiled once more. It was for a few more reasons than were obvious, but all of them were extremely valid points to her.