"Maybe you should try anyway" she looked at the new boy "I am Victoria"

Mariel's eyes drifted from the Slytherin table back to her own as she noticed several more students proceeding to sit around her, first years being newly sorted as well as seasoned veterans finally making their way through the crowd. One of the faces was familiar as she saw a fellow Quidditch teammate take a seat not far from her.

"Hi, Elizabeth," the third year greeted her, returning her smile. Mariel looked at the older girl somewhat appraisingly. She looked so tall sitting next to a couple first years. Mariel knew that Elizabeth was at least a couple years older than her... wait, was this her seventh year? She wasn't completely sure, but thought she'd venture a guess. "Is this your last year? I bet that's exciting." She wasn't even going to ask her if she was planning on going out for Quidditch this year as she thought that to be a silly question. The third year was certain the older girl loved the game as much as she did.

That's because Ravenclaws are the best, Mariel thought, but didn't voice her opinion. She certainly didn't want people thinking she was a snob and she did have friends in other Houses... the other Houses were all cool and everything, but Ravenclaw just seemed to have an extra-special something about - at least in her eyes, and probably to all the other Claws present.

And his enthusiasm was certainly a good thing. He already had a lot of House pride and he had only been sorted a few minutes ago. Of course it was the same way for Mariel two years ago. "I'm glad to see you're so enthusiastic about being a Ravenclaw," she said. "We'll be counting on you to help us win the House cup again. We won last year for the first time in... I think, eight years," she said after a moment's thought to do the math. "We need to win it again to keep it in Ravenclaw where it belongs."

Nodding at his words, she added, "I think it's easiest to make friends in your own House - maybe deep down you knew you'd be a Ravenclaw and that's why most of the people you've met are." Almost like subconciously seeking them out or something... "But it's not hard to make friends with people from other Houses. All our classes have students from each of the Houses so there's plenty of opportunity to meet people." With a slight frown she leaned a little closer and added in a low voice, "Most of the professors make you partner up in classes for the practical portion. I think they're forced to do it." Especially since every last professor in every single class did it. That's the only explanation she could think of.
Taking another sip of pumpkin juice from her goblet, Mariel caught some movement out of the corner of her eye. More people sitting down. This time she saw an older boy sitting among a sea of first years. Just like with Elizabeth, this boy looked so much taller than the little ones. She watched him for a moment before realizing that he looked very familiar. The third year was sure she had seen this boy in nearly all of her classes, but she didn't think she had ever talked to him. Now what was his name? She was sure she had heard it spoken in class. Jerry? Gary? No, it was Larry, she was pretty sure.

Leaning forward a little to try to catch his attention, Mariel gave the older boy a small smile and said, "Hello... Larry, isn't it?"

"I'm a Ravvie!" Kel repeated for a second time. He grinned at the familiar face that sat down next to him. Looking down at the food in front of him, he started loading potatoes and...anything that looked good, really, onto his plate.

"I see you're wearing your prefect badge, eh?" he asked, looking up at Rachel with a smile playing on his lips as he speared a pork chop and cut it, then popped it into his mouth

He nodded to Mariel. "Of course I'll help!" he said after swallowing the food he was eating. "That's like...one of the most important things, isn't it? And, since I guess I belong in Ravenclaw, I'll be doing work and homework and all that boring stuff, too." He smiled though. Maybe boring stuff like that wouldn't be so boring if you had a whole house doing it with you - wanting the same thing he wanted - the house cup.

"Really?" he asked, slightly worried about the classes now. He wasn't good at just automatically making friends...well, maybe if he stayed in the same mood he was in now, he'd do good. But...if it was for school, he supposed he'd have to do it whether he liked it or not.

Lasca smiled and filled her plate. She had probably totally freaked her best friend out which is definitely not what she wanted to do. The need to sooth her friend was strong but with everyone so close and more people she knew showing up, now was definitely not the time.

"I told you this place was amazing!" She winked at the young first year and then laughed. The boy Kel that was just introduced to her was incredibly enthusiastic. His small bow surprised her and she had the urge to curtsy but she tamped it down. She was already sitting down and there was no reason to get up. She nodded at Mariel as she vehemently stated that the House cup needed to stay in Ravenclaw.

"That Cup is ours and we need to keep it that way." She was distracted as yet another person she knew walked over and sat down across from her. "Hey Natka! Sure please sit! This is Mariel by the way." She gestured with her hand and smiled.

It suddenly hit her how many more friends she had managed to accumulate and this year had barely started. Her smile grew wider as that thought settled in. This year was going to be amazing!

Satine listened intently to the conversations around her. She could hardly follow them.

"I think I'll just stick the sidelines and making fireworks to cheer our team on, but my mom said that she was the same way as me but still ended up trying out her second year. You never know we'll change so much this year. I just know it."

She slipped another piece of pineapple to her chinchilla, Gemma, in her bag as she finished her thought.

"I guess trying out won't hurt. I'll think about it. I have a full year to think" she smiled.

"Yeah," said Laura. "A whole year, and then another 6!" She laughed. "I wonder when the lessons start?"

As Elizabeth waited for the headmaster to arrive and make his speech, as well as Anise the first year to reply to her again, she suddenly heard her name and glanced over to see Mariel. "Hi Mariel," she said to the younger girl and fellow Quidditch player. She grinned as the other girl asked if it was her last term here, especially since ther was an uncertainty to the question. "Yep. Seventh year," she verified with a dramatic sigh, before laughing a little. "Exciting, terrifying, you name it it probably fits. Especially since I have to deal with NEWTs." She paused to take another drink of pumpkin juice, before her green eyes went back to her. "So, you gonna try and help us make it four in a row this term?" She hoped they could manage it. It was going to depend on who tried out, for their team as well as the others. She knew Willow would do her best as captain again, though.

"Yep - you sure are," Rachel replied in the same enthusiastic tone and without thinking reached her hand towards his head and ruffled his hair affectionately. Hmm... Should be interesting to see how he reacts to that. Still grinning despite the thoughts running through her head, she looked back down at the table and couldn't help but burst out in laughter as Keltan began piling up the food onto his plate.

"Boy - you're even worse than I was when I first came here," she commented with arched eyebrows as she eyed his now overflowing plate. Why are boys always hungry though... It seems that no matter how much they eat they are never full... She turned to face the food herself and decided to take a small potato, biting back another laugh as she noticed the HUGE difference between her plate and Keltan's.

Grinning, she looked down at the badge and nodded her head. If, a few terms ago, someone would have told her she would grow to be Prefect of Ravenclaw she would have checked to see if they had been Confunded. "Yeah... What can I say - professors don't like it when we don't show if off," she replied with a mischievous smile and and sighed comically - as if ashamed of their teachers' behaviour.

Satine's been a bit quiet, Laura thought. Then she realised that she didn't know her that well. "So Satine, tell me a bit about yourself!" she said.

Victoria took a scoop of chocolate, vanilla and cherry swirl ice cream. "Ya your right we have a long time to tryout"

Satine really hated talking about herself, but here goes. "Well, I'm half and half. My mom was in Ravenclaw. After college, she traveled the world and fell in the love with my dad. He was very supportive of her being a wizard. And I guess the rest is history...I've gotten to grow up in both the Wizard and Muggle world." She smiled thinking about all of the differences between the worlds and everything she liked about each of them.

"Other than that, I'm a pretty crazy and spontaneous person...o and I can do this," She made her hair change from a deep purple to a turquoise color and then blinked to change her eyes from purple to match her new hair color. She always loved the reaction that made.

"Uh-huh," Laura replied to Vicky, her mouth full of chocolate cake. Swallowing, she grinned. "What position would you wanna play?" she asked.

Her mouth fell open in astonishment at Satine. She was incredible! Laura secretly wished that she could do that...

"Probably chaser like my great grandma but I would mind being a beater" she said putting another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

"Oh, your great-grandmother played?" Laura remembered Vicky saying that she was the first witch in her family since her great-grandmother. "Beater would ber cool," she agreed. "Get out all of your anger with out hurting evreyone. Personally, I'd love to be Chaser or Seeker. I love to fly fast on my broom. So, when do you think the lessons will start?"

The Keltan the Kel knew came out when Rachel ruffled his hair. Now feeling young and embarrassed, he ducked his head and his ears turned red. But he chuckled as he ran his hand over his hair, trying to get it to look presentable. A little of his normal personality (not this new one that he'd gotten from not being in the same house his mother and father were in) was coming out, but he wasn't finished with having fun yet.

"You mean with the food?" he asked, tipping his head to the side to grin at Rachel. He forked a bite of mashed potatoes and ate it, then turned back to the Prefect. "It's amazing though! It would give Ginly a run for her money..." he trailed off, shaking his head at the food. Sure, his house elf was a wonderful cook, plus all the things she did at his house, but what he had had of the Hogwarts food was great!

"Blame it on the professors." he snorted, his grin still plastered on his face. He sat back to look at Rachel better, trying to conceal the teasing tone in his voice. "You know you just like to show off." he looked at her accusingly, nodding to her badge. "You like the power that comes with the badge." he accused. After smiling mischeiviously for a milisecond, he turned back to his array of food.

"I think beater would be cool too, but I would play Chaser. I can't wait for us to take flying classes. I've had a broom for a while, but nothing too special. Mom says I'm good at flying but I think she just says that cuz she's my mom. you know..."

"I hope our lessons start first thing in the morning. I wonder when we find out our schedules and who our professors are."

"I would love to know what classes we are taking" she finished her ice cream and helped herself to a slice of cherry pie

Thomas was listening to the girls next to him and he noticed that they where talking about Quidditch. "Well I'm defiantly not trying for the team this year I'll probably won't be able to control the broomstick."

She looked at Thomas "I bet your a really good flyer really" she smiled at him and blushed.

"I hope so, I can't wait!" Laura said. She looked at Satine. "And I'm not sure that your mums just saying that, you look built to fly!"

"Hi Thomas!" Laura hadn't seen him when she sat down. She noticed the blush in Vickys cheeks whn she complimented him. "I don't think you'll be on our own," she said to him. "I've never been on a broomstick before, we lived in a really Muggle inhabited part of th country so I was never aloud."

"O that cherry pie looks amazing." She said as she grabbed a piece of pie. "I wonder what professors we should be worried about?"

"I bet you're right Victoria, Thomas you'll be able to. It's not that hard. I mean after you fly a couple of times it just kind of comes naturally. The first time I flew, I ran straight into the wall. It wasn't funny at the time, but it is now." She giggled thinking about that sight.

"Well, thanks, but I think I'm too nice to play. I'd be too worried about everyone playing being safe, so I think the sidelines producing names in fireworks would be the best place for me."

"Good to hear," Mariel grinned with a nod. She knew that the other Houses wouldn't make it easy for them to attain the cup again, so all the Ravenclaws really had to work extra hard this year - but it would be that much easier if they were working together.

At Keltan's last word, Mariel nodded solemnly in confirmation. That was one thing she really hated about classes. It always seemed like she had a hard time finding a partner, and she wasn't usually one to go approach strangers... although she did seem to know quite a few more people this year so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. "Yeah... not my favorite part of class, but a necessity, I guess." Though she couldn't figure out why exactly which is why she came up with the mandatory-for-all-professors idea. "But you're always welcome to have me for a partner," she said brightly. "Or I'm sure any of the other million Ravenclaws you know would be willing to partner up," she teased with a grin.

Mariel eyed Lasca carefully. It appeared that her friend felt the need to drop the subject as she made no further mention of the Slytherin boy even when Mariel had pointed him out. Well, she was not getting off that easy. They had plenty more to talk about, but perhaps it was neither the time or the place. They could talk later.

Nodding her agreement about the House cup, Mariel glanced over to the girl Lasca had gestured towards. "Oh, sure, I know Natka," she said. "Hi, Natka, how was your summer?" she asked her fellow third year before cringing slightly. Okay that was officially the last time she was going to ask that trite question. Everyone asked that and everyone probably got tired of answering it as well.

Catching an interesting part of a conversation, Mariel turned her head in the direction of the voice she had heard. It appeared to be the younger girl that had talked to her and Keltan at the food trolley on the train - well, she had talked mostly to Keltan... but that was beside the point. The point was that she had met her at the food trolley.

Leaning towards the girl whose name she had forgotten, Mariel said, "I don't mean to interrupt, but I thought I heard you talking about making fireworks to cheer on our team." Smiling a little, she added, "I think that's a really great idea. The players really appreciate things like that and support from the fans in the stands." At least Mariel did. Her smile grew at the memory of the House spirit competition Professor V assigned the school last term and remembering how great the support from Ravenclaw had been.

Turning back to Elizabeth, she returned her grin and said, "I'm sure you'll do great on your NEWTs. We're Ravenclaws... extra smart." That seemed like such a long ways away to Mariel. She didn't even have to worry about OWLs yet. "So do you know what you want to do when you're done with school?"

Her grin grew even wider when talk turned to Quidditch and she nodded fervently. "Absolutely," she said, excitement coloring her voice. So far they had won both years that Mariel had gone to school at Hogwarts and if it was up to her, they'd win every year she was at school there... making it, ahem, eight wins in a row. Yep, that sounded good. "So what position do want to play this year?" She remembered that Elizabeth was Chaser last year, but was pretty sure she was Beater the year before. Yeah, that sounded right. "I really enjoyed playing Keeper last year. I'm hoping for that again, but, you know, wherever Willow sees fit..."

"Well," said Thomas to Vic, "I know that I'm one of the most clumsiest people in this school and your grandma was in the Qudditch team when she was at school," After he said that he took another slice of the delicious juicy pie. "But anyway which class do you want to be right now?"

Aww bless - he's blushing. Keeping her mouth shut, Rachel just smiled quietly to herself and couldn't help a giggle escape her lips as she saw that he was trying to make his hair a little more presentable. Don't I know the feeling... She sighed and glanced at the end of her plait, tucking in those FRUSTRATING loose strands behind her ears and praying that they would stay there. She had, out of total stupidity, banished the hair clips up to her dormitory and was now officially hairpinless.

"Yep, that is exactly what I mean. Are you seriously going to be able to finish all that?" she asked sceptically and pointed at his plate - which she had to admit looked very appetizing right at that moment. She quickly turned her eyes away from his delicious plate and focused on her own where one buttered hot potato was waiting for her. That's tasty too - there's no need to pig my way into the year... Plus, if I eat too much I'll have stomach aches for the whole of next week which would seriously suck...

"It's the best food ever," Rachel replied automatically to his statement and nodded as he mentioned - she supposed - his house elf. "Of that fact - there's no doubt," she added quite as firmly, smiling as she picked up her cup and reached for the pumpkin juice across from Keltan.

Grinning playfully, she poured her drink as he talked and took her time in answering, taking a loooooong sip before taking a breath to speak. "Well my dear Keltan-" she began with a heavily sarcastic voice, then stopped abruptly as a thought came to her. "Your name is way too long... You need a nickname, like me. I'm Rachel, but nearly everyone calls me Rach," she explain, her mind already going through all the possibilities that she could suggest to Keltan.