Startled at the combination of a warm smile a pleasant greeting in comparision to the reprimand to 'mind his own business' that he had been expecting and playing out in the back of his mind, Sabel found himself staring at her again. Blinking, he pulled himself back to the concious state and tried to return the smile and greeting at the same time. "Arya...Sabel...I'm..."

He nearly smacked his head off the table listening to the words tumbling out of his mouth like a haphazard river. Biting his bottom lip he forced himself to stop rushing into things and took a moment to collect his thoughts before letting himself speak again.

"Err...sorry. Sabel Dakest. Nice to meet you." He gave a timid half-wince, half-smile, hoping that would suffice. He had to remember to ask Kellen why he had been under the table in the first place.

Licking his lips a little as the food appeared, he grins and starts dishing up a nice big dollup of mashed potatoes and takes a big slice of ham. Cutting into it he takes a bite. Mmmmmm he sighs inwardly. It was wonderful just like he remembered it. He was absolutely starving!

Well of course he couldn't search for his girl Anya, without eating first...

"Rather a kick to the shins than a punch to the nose," Kellen remarked cheerfully. He hadn't thought about the other boy's reaction when he'd teased Allison about food-stealing, just the look that would cross her face. He completely mistook the reason for her jaw dropping and waved a hand in the air as if shooing the fly that had been his Head Boy, "Complete overreaction, that's for sure. A seventeen year-old throwing a temper tantrum isn't a sight you see every day, though."

Kellen gave an irritated tsk as Sabel was shoved up against him, but shifted down to reclaim his space bubble. He heard Sabel's mouth shut and only hoped the boy's tongue hadn't got in the way. That would hurt.

He glanced around at the other tables, suddenly aware of the professors socializing with the students, "So, is Ravenclaw a disliked house or something? There aren't any teachers coming over here," he smirked to let them know he was kidding, "and I feel tragically left out."

Arya chewed he cookie while studying the boy more. He seemed older than she and was certainly taller. She scrunced her face up when looking at his hair, wondering why anyone would ever want to wear there hair all uneven and messy. But she liked his eyes, they were a nice shade of green that Arya couldn't stop staring at. She tried to piece together what he was saying,Sabel, is that his name?. bringing a small smile to her face when he had finally said a complete sentence Arya finished off the rest of her cookie."Hey Sabel, what year are you?" The words flowed out of her mouth easily as she had either been asked or asking this question for days now.

"Well heeyyyy Livvy!" Celandine greated her friend cheerfully. "These are some new Ravenclaws? Aren't we lucky? They're all pretty cool and stuff! Smart too. The house cup is soooooo ours again."

Squeee.

"Musn't have been a very good school if a 7th year failed all their NEWTs." Cela pointed out. "So there goes another reason you should be glad to be here, mostly our professors are awesome." Celandine had no idea about the new ones of course, or if the Astronomy situation was fixed.

"Oh the flood? Well, there was some political thing with the merpeople and one of them decided that he totally wanted Hogwarts soooo he magically flooded the building with lake water." Cela shruuuugged. It hadn't been so bad. "The Hufflepuffs had to move in with us and Gryffindor had to make room for the Slytherins."

Cela had liked that part.

"Really not like each other?" Cela blinked, it was a concept she'd not really thought about, but she could easily fit it into what she knew. "Well, Professor Bunbury doesn't like all that many people. You have to be pretty and have good fashion sense but even then sometimes that isn't enough. Also, she was totally all sekrit-like going out with Prof... Mister Truebridge, he's our former History of Magic teacher, he was super cool, he was once a dragon keeper and a broadway actor? Well, she's probably mad because he got arrested on suspicion of murdering three students and our former Astronomy Professor." Celandine waved that off. No Ravenclaws had died in the making of that rumour.

"I think Professor Bunbury and Professor Lawson- the boy one- have a history romantically because they act weird sometimes and I know things like that, but he got married to our Care of Magical Creatures professor, I thought she had a crush on Prof... Mister Truebridge though, and Mister Truebridge is like, Professor Lawson's best friend or something."

Then there was the whole weird thing around Truebridge, Kazimeriz and Lupa but since prof... mister Truebridge wasn't there anymore...

"Oh and that new one." Celandine gestured cheerfully, "Thats Lord Voldemortist, he probably doesn't like anyone." Cela poured herself a glass of orange juice.

Sabel winced at the irritated noise Kellen made upon the intrusion into his space bubble. It wasn't like he could help who he bumped into, especially not when he had been pushed. Still, he gave Kellen a quiet appology, shifting as he tried to pull himself into as thin an object as possible - which many had told him, was already too thin.

It was when he felt someone's eyes on him that he glanced back over at Arya, blinking as he caught the tail end of a look that was a mix between confusion, distaste and debate. He didn't have time to contemplate what she could have been scrutinizing before the frown turned into a smile and another question came his way. He couldn't help the small smile that touched his lips; at least she had mastered the talent of speech. He gave an internal sigh; at least she had understood him.

He shifted again, glancing at Kellen to make sure there was enough room between them to accomidate personal space, before looking back at Arya. "Year? Sorry. Fourth....What about yourself?"

Bahaha, he could tell she was freaking out a little bit. Xander grinned and wiped his finger off on a napkin. He forgot for a moment that he still had frosting on his nose until he looked down.

"Oh, right," he said. He spread his own frosting across his face, and then wiped his nose off. "How do I look?"

Silly, more than likely. But oh well. They were going to have a pillow fight later. Maybe he'll let her win?

Nia nodded. "I'm not sure which I prefer. I guess it depends what kind of mood I'm in." She smiled. "I understand your thoughts though - I do like a good mystery, and with that a background plot is just as essential as the action." She looked at the book, noting it wasn't one she'd yet read. "Sounds good to have a book with a mixture of both in. The short ones will be great to sit and read in an evening with no work." She winked.

"I'm sure it'll be a good year," Nia said, spotting the wonder in her eyes. With that, she could detect the girl was going to be amazed with all the wonders of Hogwarts. "Are you a Quidditch or Gobstones fan?"

"Lovely, Xander." Sylvia giggled, and did the same to herself. Two lines of purple on each side of her face. "We look like warriors. Warriors of thr tribe; CUPCAKE!" All she needed now was a large spear and she could be the warrior princess. Loving it.

"Yeah on nights with no homework..or when one just needs a break from it." Anya said smiling. "If you haven't read it could could borrow it anytime." SHe hoped that offering to borrow it would give off the impression of hey you should still be friends and talk to me after this without seeming too desperate or pathetic.

"I am a Quidditch person myself, though i have played a game or two of Gobstones. Which do you prefer?

Miles walked back up to his house table whistling to himself. Finding Cela he sat down next to her and drummed his fingers on the table. He looked up as she started explaining who the new professors and he frowned as she motioned tot he one sitting away from everyone, "Umm... Lord Voldemortist?" Wait...what? Who would name their kid after someone who was like the worst person in history. Seemed kind of dumb to him.

Shaking his head he bounced his feet a little feeling really hyper, "Hey was it just me or is there something up with the Headmaster? I mean...why would he emphasize we report to him?" It was bizarre to him...very very bizarre.

Arya scooted closer to Allison whe she saw Sabel atempt to make room for himself, still oblivious to the fact that she had pushed him into another boy. "I'm a first year in Hufflepuff, what's your house?"While she waited for a reponse tried to think of better questions to ask him, she was getting tired of the same old questions.

Bella was looking at all the wonderful gifts and everyone being so cheerful, and right before she was going to give Choluna her's she saw Ella enter the room.
"Hi Ella!" said Bella wile standing up and waving to her. Hopefully she didn't embarrest her. Oops.....

"Oh Choluna I got you something too," said Bella wile digging for the small box in her bag. Oh where was it???

"Yes." Celandine agreed enthusiastically. "Don't you read? Don't you know your history? Thomas Duskurk is Lord Voldemortist and he formerly taught here as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, alongside Professor Kazimeriz at one point I think." Cela did some counting on her fingers. "Some of the professors now were probably taught by him. I can't wait to learn from him! Its going to be wonderful! Challenging I hope. I am excited to meet him properly." She sipped her drink.

"I think we're very lucky."

As for the headmaster thing, Celandine didn't know.

"Vindictus and Kazimeriz first." Celandine corrected, at least he'd said that was ok for her. "As long as we tell him important things. Maybe he's here to make sure no more Hufflepuffs die. Thats awful nice of him."

Blinking at her moving closer to Allison, Sabel swallowed, shifting in slight uncomfortableness on the bench. He wasn't sure if he had invaded her space or had said something wrong. A small frown crossed his face as he debated with himself; maybe whatever she had been scrutinizing had started to bother her. Shifting his weight again, Sabel fiddled self-conciously with a fork lying in front of him. "Gryffindor." He glanced at the silverwear before looking back at Arya. "Sorry...did you want me to move?"

"Definitely," Nia replied. "There's some perfect chairs in front of the fire just for that purpose. In the winter months, I could spend all my evenings there in some distant place with a mug of hot chocolate in hand...and maybe some of the House Elf cookies that are sometimes left in the Common Room." Her eyes twinkled, showing just how much she liked to do that sort of thing. When she didn't have more important stuff to do, of course.

At Anya's offered, Nia's eyes widened. "That'd be great, if you wouldn't mind. The short stories would be just the thing to punctuate my revision." She chuckled. "You can have a look at my selection, if you wish. Mainly fantasy stuff with me at the mo, but I can always get some more forwarded on from home." Anya seemed a really nice firstie to have met. Nice that firsties generally weren't nice - just that she was on Nia's level.

"Quidditch, by far, though I've played some Gobstones too." Nia said, her eyes lighting up. It was clear it was something she was pretty passionate about. As much as, maybe more, than her books. "I'm on the House team," she dropped in. "You played before?"

Xander started to laugh a bit harder at her. She was getting excited over icing on her face and a pillow fight?

Maybe he should carry around a tub of frosting for her later.

"You seem pretty excited about this pillow fiiight," he said, nudging her.

"I'm really nervous, too, to tell you the truth," Vashti admitted, glad to know she wasn't the only nervous one here. She consciously made an effort not to start biting her nails again; she wouldn't be able to talk very much if she started, and she really wanted to make a friend right now, and the only way to do that was to talk. So the nail-biting had to stop, at least for now. "I'm a first year, so I just got sorted, too. I'm kinda glad I got Ravenclaw. I like what it stands for, though all the houses seem pretty great. And..." She paused, trying to remember all the classes she had to take and which ones she liked best. "I think Potions and Transfiguration sound like fun. What about you?"

Kellen stared at her as the whole romantic history of the staff poured from her lips. He had absolutely no idea who she was talking about, who was still on staff...

He was at the point of tuning out and putting a pleasantly vacant smile on his face when she made the comment about Lord Voldemortist. He was going to be teaching here? "I'm going to assume he's teaching the same thing again, right? Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

Lord Voldemortist teaching Muggle Studies? Kellen would pay an additional fee to see that in action. Oh yes, yes he would.


Kellen shook his head slightly with a smile, his own way of apologizing for overreacting. After all, he and the other boy had already established that the girls here were verging on mental; boys needed to stick together.

Nina saw a couple of first years talking together and thought it would be a good idea to join them and introduce herself.

"My name's Nina." she said. "I'm a first year too."

She waited hopefully to be accepted into their conversation.

Hearing the description of the common room made Anya feel very cozy. She couldn't wait to sit in those comfy chairs for herself. Although she should not do any homework in them, if they were quite comfortable she might fall asleep or get distracted and not would not be good...

"Oh we could look at each others book selection. I have some fantasy with me as well, but also a good dose of sci-fi." Anya commented

"You're on the house team? What position do you play?" Anya asked. "i have played with the family before but nothing official, though it can get really competitive." Thinking back to the last game they played she remembered one of her cousins slamming a beater toward his brother and it ended with a broken arm. She remembered the injured one saying it was worth it because the chaser scored. She smirked at her own memory...

Miles looked at Cela and shrugged, "Umm..." Okay so history wasn't his best. "Why did his parents name him that though? That's like just asking for all kinds of trouble." Hmmm. "It should be...interesting...."

He didn't really know what to think. He didn't like Kazi why would he like some guy who taught with Kazi.

He nodded thoughtfully and pursed his lips. He'd tell the headmaster first. He wanted to find out what was up in order to do that...he needed to get close to him. "Well hopefully no more Huffies will die!" Geez...Fia was a Huffie....wonder if he can get her house switched.

Fia left the staff table and headed back over towards the Ravie table instead of the Huffie table. At this time in her life she was rather clingy to her boyfriend, especially given the fact that they'd just smoothed things over from the summer. As she sat down, she took note that he and Cela were chatting. She really didn't want to interrupt them but at some point, she really needed to thank the Tree Climber for her help in the Fia/Miles situation.

"I'm starving," she spoke quietly, reaching for a slice of bread before moving on to the hot food that her body craved. "What are you two talking about?" She wasn't a nosy person but right now, she just...felt like butting in if it was okay.

"Sci- fi, eh? Interestingggg." Nia had never really been one to go for the Science Fiction genre. She wasn't really sure why. Teen fiction had been folloed by fiction, and that was kind of that. "I'd certainly be interested to have a browse."

Nia nodded, almost proudly. Well, she had been on the team since first year. And she wasn't necessarily one of the players on a house team that got all that much attention. "Chaser, mainly," she replied, "Though I did play beater for a term. I like both, but I think chaser suits me more overall." She smiled as Anya described playing with her family. "You should try out, you know," the fith year replied, noting that Anya has drifted into thought - maybe of a previous Quidditch incident. "It can still get pretty competitive - I rely on bruise removal cream, even after just practice." At that she laughed, remember the, ahem, kicking and biting incidents of a couple of years back.

Allison caught all of his actions but decided not to say anything of it. Arya and Allison had developed a fast mutual friendship that not even she understood. With Arya's great social skills and Allison's availability to adapt they had hit it off.



Allison followed Arya's stare and grinned. The ceiling was a piece of art in her opinion, she especially enjoyed the effect the floating candles gave. As always Arya had introduced herself with an ease Allison could only wish to possess.

"I'm glad all is good. I'm kind of jealous you know? You get to be near all the House Elves and their food. Free food! Do you think they make chocolates? Cause if they do, you gotta send meh some! Send Perseus!"



At Sabel's introduction Allison rose an eyebrow. What was worse, was the fact that he was sitting next to Mr. Confidence himself--Kellen, and looked like a mumbling fool. Something that instead of making Allison grimace and frown, made her warm up to Sabel even more. He was nothing like Kellen, perhaps she'd adopt him as well.

Allison still had no clue that she couldn't just go off adopting people. With a gleam in her eyes she gave Sabel a wolfy grin.

Allison gave a slight shrug, she had noticed as well that the professors didn't really interact with the students at the Ravenclaw table. Was it perhaps that their IQs were much higher than everyone elses? She doubted that. Arya next to her was bright, oh. Oh. Ohhhh. They were bright, brilliant really, BUT they were sitting next to LC iColby a dim-witted fool.



Allison sat up to take in the view of Lord Voldemortist. "Lord? Is he some kind of royalty?" She asked with curious interest.

She had given up on Cela's speech of romance in Hogwarts. She didn't understand love, or raging hormones, nor did she care about them or for them. So what Cela had explained had entered one ear and had gone out the other.



Well well it seemed Kellen did do some reading. After all he couldn't have gotten placed in Ravenclaw without some ounce of smart blood in him.

Without even realizing it Allison was already warmed into Ravenclaw and had dismissed the fact that the Scotts had belonged to that house. Well at least for now, everything was good.