Bay was happy that he had a break in-between his classes he wanted food like right now. Sitting down at his lovely little lion table he started to pile sandwiches and sweets on his plate. He knew he should start with the actual food first but he picked up a tart and eyeballed it…. "I'm never going to trust sweets again" and it was totally his own fault too. Shaking his head he popped it into his mouth as he poured himself some pumpkin juice.

Looking around the great hall he saw it was almost empty.. "I wonder where everyone is?" he downed a big gulp of juice and then burped real loud and since there wasn't to many people around he just continued eating. Occasionally wiping his mouth on his robe sleeves. He was glad Lux wasn't here or she would hit up on the head for his poor table manners today.

Man, he was HUNGRY. All this procrastinating on homework and taking notes that hardly made sense had taken a lot out of him. That was why he was here instead. Rubbing his belly and looking around at the Hall as he went. Besides, there was only so much time he could spend in the common room.

Oh.

Look who it was.

His eyes narrowed. He was a predator and this boy right here was his prey. The Prankster. The one who had managed to make him hiccup in a prank store and had turned him into a large canary in the train. Jeez, Grayson needed to up his game. Get his own revenge on the boy with too much confidence in his system. It was because of those red robes.

There was every chance that the older boy could bruise Grayson's ego even more but the fourth year didn't care. He didn't even care that he didn't have any prank items on him but he still made his way over towards the Gryffindor and sat down opposite him. "Mighty belch from the mighty Gryffindor." Uh huh. Because he had heard that loud and clear. And he was going to reach over and help himself to the boy's sandwiches. As you do.

.............. On second thoughts. "Is this poisoned?" he asked, holding up the sandwich. And done LIE, Ocean Bay.

He was devouring an awesome ham sandwich when Grayson sat down in front of him.. Sitting up more to see him he still had a mouth full " 'Fanks " food almost escaped his mouth. Placing the yummy food down he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Wait why would it be poisoned???

duhhh oh yeah thats right Bay had pranked this kid twice now.. even though Bay pranked himself. he smiled as he leaned over to take one of his sandwiches.."no mate, I'm going to give pranks a rest for a while.. just for a little bit though, but I do believe that the sandwich is ham? i think" he winked at him.

he wouldn't ruin the food that he was going to eat, plus he's always hungry putting elephants to shame with the amount of food he consumed. Tapping his belly "just came here to refuel.. what about you?" wait was he here to prank him… chewing his food slowly he gave Grayson a little look….. "is MY food poisoned?" he surely hoped not.

SNORT. Bay had NO manners. GOOD. This meant that Grayson could tuck into whatever he pleased and not have to worry about how messily he was eating. See, Ma? Not everyone cared. Jeez. Smirking, he nodded at the boy before saying, "You're welcome."

Grayson's eyebrows rose. "Oh? So I'm not going to turn into some sort of ferret if I eat this?" he joked, raising the sandwich in the air. Whatever was said, he was "Shame you're giving it a rest. As much as I don't want to admit it, you're not a bad prankster." The boy had gotten him TWICE. Jeez. What a good way to bruise his ego.

And don't do anything stupid like letting it go to your head, Gryffindor.

Refuel. The Slytherin nodded slowly at that. "Same same. Procrastinating takes a lot out of you, you know?" And what was with that look? What had he done THIS time? Nothing, probably. The fourth year raised his eyebrows again at the older boy but said nothing, hoping that the expression on his face said enough. Explain, oh brave one.

Oh thank goodness that this kid over here didn't mind if he was eating sloppy.. phew… "Oh no no no.." he shook his head with a mouth full of food.

"but that would be something to see, now wouldn't it.." he thought about it, he doesn't know if anyone has invented a sweet that turns people into ferrets.. "maybe one day i'll invent it" he thought as he chuckled under his breath. "yeah its hard work going into all the planning and what not" he said while talking with his hands which happened to have a chicken leg on his left.

"yeah, I'm totally just a beginner though….." wait.. did Grayson want to prank someone with him?? is he gaining a pranking friend?? A smirk came across his face "you know I'd love to have some help planing a prank one day" hopefully Grayson would get the hint that Bay meant him. Spotting the chicken leg in his hand he brought it to his mouth and chomped on it, after he chewed a few pieces Bay gulped down some more pumpkin juice.

"I know some times I forget I need to eat, classes are crazy busy this year" maybe they just felt slower because last year he was an old man. He shrugged his shoulders and saw the look on Grayson's face… "ohhhh looks like he wants to know why I'm looking at him all weird." oh well might as well have a laugh.. "I totally thought you were coming over here to have your revenge on me" laughing he really hoped that he wasn't being pranked right now, but oh well what can you do.

When Bay had said that the sandwich wouldn't transfigure him to another creature, Grayson used this as a cue to take one LARGE bite out of the sandwich. "Mmmm! MAN, this is good." What was this? Ham? Whatever, this was good stuff.

"Uh huh," Nod. "It'd be downright hilarious if someone bit into a sandwich and turned into a ferret right before your eyes." Though, having it happen to you wouldn't be the least bit funny but someone else? Nothing could stop him laughing if that happened. "It's a pity that a good prank requires a lot of effort and planning." It took a lot out of you. Probably the only downside.

Only a beginner? "Not bad. You could open up a prank store when you reach pro status." It was a good thing that he was hungry and therefore handing out these life-altering tips for free. Bay should feel special. Oh? SMIRK. "Turns out you're talking to the right guy. Together, you and I could pull off an epic prank sometime in the future." It wouldn't be a bad idea to put their heads together for this. Two minds were better than one and all that.

UGH. "Yes! And you're not allowed to eat in class. Can you believe that?!" Jeez, he hadn't signed up for THAT. Dude got hungry, man. Even if they were allowed a simple packet of Bertie Bott's, he would be happy. Revenge? "Not gonna lie, I thought about it after the hiccuping incident. You're lucky this time, Gryffindor." Wink.

"dude these are totally good" moving the sandwich around in his hand.. "if only we could have a house elf at the house… they cook better then my mum" he laughed, he would totally get into trouble for saying that… but his mum wasn't here.. Plus his family was big on doing things for themselves. Pushing the food into his face he started to inhale the rest of the poor little sandwich.

"mate.. I would pee my pants if something like that happened" thinking of a student/ferret running around the great hall seemed amazing and it would defiantly go down in history. Grayson over here had a great point, planning these pranks totally took a lot of time and planning. Sighing he drank some more pumpkin juice. He wasn't going to tell Grayson yet but he was really starting to like this kid.

"My parents would be so proud" chuckling.. but it wasn't a bad idea, if he asked Wes to take him under his wing Bay was sure that he would be able to open his own prank and joke shop in no time at all. He did have the best to learn from. "Oh am I??" listening to Grayson's idea that they could work together was a super great idea, plus two people pranking was way better than one. "i think you have a very good idea….. but we should totally go big.. maybe even prank a professor….or someone like that" now that would be amazing to see and hear about.

"Last year I totally snuck in some chocolate frogs and I totally didn't get caught.. it was awesome" maybe he will give Grayson the tips on hiding small amounts of food in class. Putting his hands up in the air in surrender he was glad that Grayson wasn't taking his revenge.. phew….. "thanks mate" he laughed as he continued to inhale more food.

"That they are." Were they greedy? Probably. Who cared. Grayson let out a small chuckle as he reached over and grabbed another sandwich for himself. "Don't let your mum hear you say that. She might get her own revenge." He was joking, of course. Definitely. "But you're right. How great would it be to have your own house elf?"

Pee his pants. SNORT. "MAN, it'd almost be the highlight of the year. A student ferreting around. Maybe getting stuck in someone's robes." Another snort escaped from him before he burst out into full blown laughter. Could this happen? COULD IT?! Oh jeez, just the thought was bringing tears of laughter to his eyes.

"Yeah? They'd support it and all?" If that was the case then merlin, Bay had some easy going parents from the sound of it. Better to take advantage of that kind of opportunity. Open up that prank store. And did the Gryffindor actually have an idea? Grayson leaned a little closer to hear the final bit of what Bay had said. Prank a Professor. SMIRK. "I like it. I like it a lot," he said, his eyes glinting slightly, "But WHO do we prank? Who's going to have the best reaction from it all?" The more dramatic the better.

What? Chocolate frogs? "Are you SERIOUS?! How did you manage to pull it off?" He had to share. Just had to. He couldn't mention something as great as that and not say how he had done it. The Slytherin grinned at the surrendering gesture. Ego boost. Uh huh. "You're welcome........."

Big pause.

"............. mate."

Zander walked sprinted down to the great hall. It was probably sitting in potions all day or having to listen to some boring lectures, but whatever it was it sure made Zander hungry. And not just oh-I-guess-I'm-hungry, no we're talking I-could-eat-the-whole-country-of-Australia hungry. Zander didn't even stop by to say hi to fellow classmates or even wave at his professors. This was a serious matter. This was the real deal. This was lunch time.

The Gryffindor looked up and down the table with a rather carnivorous gleam in his eyes. He grabbed whatever was in front of him and added it all to his plate. Some of these ones, OOH that looks good, ahh can't forget these, a good handful of those. Now to dig in. His appetite was never like this second year, or first for that matter. What was happening? Did growing taller mean that his stomach was growing bigger too? Was this what puberty meant?

Either way, Zander bit into his chicken leg with no mercy.

Dear Chicken,
I'm so so sorry.
But you didn't stand a chance.
I wish you the best of luck in chicken heaven.
With love,
Zander

Ah. This was some good stuff.

The Great Hall: Haven for hundreds of hungry students and professors in need of nourishment, evidence of dedicated work by the house elves, sanctuary for teens to catch up, and enclave for the homesick.

Or, as Willow liked to think of it, a chamber full of death.

Death and despair. That was all she could think about as she walked into the Great Hall. Did her fellow peers not notice, did they not realize they were gaining pleasure and satiation from the work of murderers?

No, Willow supposed, probably not. After all, who cared about innocent animals anyways? Certainly not these children. They only sought to fill their empty stomaches, instead of their brains.

Poor chickens. Poor lambs. Poor cows.

This was a travesty! She could smell the meat in the air like it was blood, calling out to her: Avenge us, Willow! Avenge our tenderly cooked hides!

Stack of Vegan Lifestyle brochures securely tucked in her satchel, Willow made her way purposely down the Hall of Lies, only to be brought up short by a horrific sight.

A boy. A little blond haired boy positively feasting on a mutilated carcass of what was once a creature so full of life.

Poor chicken.

Incensed, Willow strode forward and slammed her palm down smack against the table, right text to Blondie's plate.

"Do you realize," she said, voice low, "that you are contributing to mass murder?"

MHHMMM this chicken was absolutely delightful. The house elves really outdid themselves this time. Zander would have to remember to go thank them later. But not now. Not now because he was too busy filling up his empty void of a stomach. The food was so good that he had almost forgotten to breath in between bites. How did he survive all summer without the beautiful creations of the lovely Hogwarts house elves?

He was mid-chicken-leg-bite when an angry palm slamed against the table. "Mhmhumhufunghumg-huh?" he grunted as he looked up at the fiery redhead, his chicken leg now half-hanging out of his mouth. He had sauce all over his face and his hands were definitely no better, but he had no shame. He was hungry!

Who was this girl and why was she interrupting food time and why was she angry--- AND MURDER?! What!? Where?? Zander suddenly looked back and forth and all around the great hall. Eyes wide open in fear, chicken leg still hanging in mouth, and sauce spraying everywhere, a little even landing on the girl.

....There wasn't any murderer here. Or at the Slytherin table. Or at Ravenclaw. Or at the staff table, although Culloden looked capable. And there most certainly wasn't any murderer material at Hufflepuff, he didn't even have to look there. Silly girl. There was no murderer here. And if there was, why would he interrupt lunch time? This was no time to play games. This was food time.

"Mhufmumf-no-mhmf-murder-mfufm-just-mufmfm-chicken," he managed to grunt out, while still chowing down on his beautiful chicken leg. He even made a point to lift his chicken leg as he uttered the last bit, just to further emphasize. All table manners were put aside for the time being. This was hunger. There would be no time for table manners. Or silly games. Or fiery redheads. Just a man and his chicken.

Willow felt her face coloring. How-how absolutely revolting! Not only was this insensitive little boy destroying natural life where he sat, but he was flaunting it! "You have someone's mother in your mouth!" she cried. "You are part of the problem plaguing this earth! You just-you just don't care! Don't you realize that poor creature half dangling out of your mouth was once full of life and spirit?" And now...not poor Mrs. Chicken was just a chewed up slobbery mess, never to crow again.

Inexplicably, Willow felt tears of injustice and passion well in her eyes. She was just about to get into it again when---

HOLY MOTHER OF ARTEMIS

Dead. Arm. Sauce. Land. EW ew ew ew!

"Ew!" Willow could feel herself convulsing. She didn't even want to look at such monstrous acts let alone have it touch her person.

And this kid, this snot nosed little meat eating brat-he didn't even care!

"Listen," said Willow. "I can't understand what you're saying. I don't even think I want to understand what you're saying. Just..."

Oh, forget it. This kid obviously wouldn't listen to reason. He was too engrossed in contributing to mass murder. There was only one way to handle this.

Reaching across the table and grabbing several napkins so as not to contaminate herself, Willow reached over and snatched the chicken from the boy's hands before throwing it on the ground. "Now, will you listen to me please??" Maybe without the distraction of meat the little carnivore would pay attention to the problems plaguing the earth.

This girl was yelling now and there were teary eyes and lots of big words. What was she even going on about? Have someone's mother in your mouth??? HAHAH. What did that even mean. Was this some new Slytherin thing? No wonder people tried to stay away from them. If all the Slytherin's turned out like this one...

Zander couldn't help but chuckle as she freaked out over the sauce. "Heh, oops," he shrugged. It was only sauce after all. Nothing to cry out over.

OH NO SHE DIDN'T.

SHE TOUCHED THE CHICKEN!

"HEY! I was eating that," he said matter-of-factly. GAH. And she wouldn't be able to listen to her even if he tried. All he would be thinking about is his chicken. Good thing he grabbed more than one leg. He reached towards a second peice on his plate, but then realized how pointless it would be. She'd probably keep fussing until she got her way. UGh. Stupid Slytherins.

".... Well I'm sure you aren't going to leave me alone until I let you speak... So if it means I'll be able to eat in peice, then why not?" Well there were several reasons as to why not and all of them pointed to the fact that this girl was a crazy loon. BUT she did say please? So that was a good start right? All yelling and crazed loonness aside.

Feeling a bit more consolidated, Willow gave a prim nod and sat down gingerly next to the boy. Honestly, were all Gryffindors this rude and ghastly? She didn't know too many, and if they all ended up being like this, then it's a good think she doesn't.

But, at least he was willing to listen. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of a shake-, or, in this case, to take away the chicken. Not that there wasn't plenty more...but still. Nodding again, Willow got back to it, a little more gently this time. She didn't want the kid to use his spit powers on her again.

"Here's the thing," she said. "I know you may not understand the damage you are doing right now, but that's okay. I'm here to educate you." Willow smiled sweetly, feeling good about herself for performing such good deeds in society. "See, in order to have the meat you're currently eating, it means the death of poor, innocent creatures. Creatures with families and homes and lives." She rested a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to break the news gently to the kid. "I'm sure you must not have realize, but....every time you consume meat, and all meat, not just chicken, you're just fueling the system. I'm sorry, Blondie. I...I know it's hard to hear. But indirectly you're advocating this capitalist and brutal murder market, and you deserve to know."

Now that he seemed to be listening, Willow was sure she could get through to him. Maybe her earlier approach wan't the most advisable, but she was just shocked, that's all. But then, the kid didn't know what he was doing. Poor thing would probably be revolted himself once he realized. Breaking eye contact briefly, Willow reached into her bag and pulled out a bright green flier. On the cover was many trees, animals, and people all holding hands, smiling in blissful unity. Some information on the Vegan, Vegetarian, and Nature Loving Society was written around the flier, including ways to change one's diet to a kill-free, veggie diet. Willow smiled again as she handed Blondie the flier.

She squeezed his shoulder, eyes suddenly serious, voice pitched low and fervent. "I know you'll do the right thing."

Nothing told you that you needed a break from studying then a grumbling stomach. Which in turn was a reminder not to skip breakfast no matter what. Benny hadn't really felt like eating so he had gone straight off to class and now he was paying for it.

He headed straight down to the Great Hall for a snack making a beeline for his house table. There had to be something good available even though it wasn't quite lunch. Luckily enough there was and he didn't have to make another trip to the kitchens. Sitting down and grabbing a plate, Benny began absently munching on a few of the offerings. If only to stop the grumbling.

She was holding his poor chicken leg hostage. Wasn't that damage too? He may be doing damage to society, but SHE'S doing damage to HIS society. His society of hunger. Isn't that bad too? And now she was smiling. Normally smiling meant happiness and good things. But this was a little bit creeeeeeeepy. Zander lifted an eyebrow in slight confusion. What was going on? Was this an intervention? Because he didn't ask for any of this. He just wanted to eat, okay?

"The chicken wasn't alive when I started eating it.... So how would me not eating it help in any way at all?" SEE? Zander had no part in this whole world-market-of-evil nonsense. All he did was help keep the chicken leg from going to waste. "You see some people aren't fortunate enough to get this food, so technically I'm doing a goodness to the world by eating it so that it doesn't go to waste, right?" he said while eying his chicken leg that this loon still had possession of.

BLONDIE!? "The name's Zander, not Blondie," he was even being civil and held out his hand for a handshake. So what, if it was still covered in sauce? No biggie. Thought that counts, right? "Oh, thanks!" He said as she handed him the pamphlet. How'd she know that he needed a napkin. Wiping the sauce on to the handout, Zander held his, now clean, hand out once again. There, this would make for a much cleaner handshake.

'I know you'll do the right thing' ?? Yeah this definitely sounded like an intervention. "So are you saying that you want me to protest the Hogwarts chicken legs?" Was that what she was getting at?

Adi had been sitting at the Hufflepuff table chewing away on food when he spotted his best friend (or was it ex best friend?) enter the Great Hall and head for his House table. Adi watched him eat for a while when suddenly an idea occurred to him. It was the perfect time to try out his potion! He always carried around the little vial in his pocket, waiting for the perfect opportunity. And one had presented itself.

So here Adi was now, at the Gryffindor table. He quietly sat down beside Benny. Did the Lion notice him or was the food much more distracting? "Hi, Benny,'' the Puffer said just to make sure he got the other boy's attention. "How's it going?''

Ben hadn't noticed the Hufflepuff at his own house table, but then it wasn't as if he had been looking. Adi had his instructions...to stay away until he could behave, not being rude and obnoxious like he had been at the Whomping Willow. For NO reason at all it had seemed.

Yet as he was in open ground sitting and eating in the Great Hall, the Gryffindor probably should have been aware of the chance of running into each other. At least before the other boy sat down beside him on the bench acting normal. "Hi..." Benny said simply as he paused between bites but didn't look at him.

"Its...going." Enough said.

So Benny wasn't even going to look at him? Fine by Adi. He wasn't exactly over the fact that his friend liked hanging out with Angel more than him. Without thinking, he reached for something random to chew on. He was still hungry as he hadn't gotten around to eating much at the Hufflepuff table.

Chewing, Adi wondered what Benny was drinking. Glancing down, he noted a goblet full of pumpkin juice right in front of the other boy. Excellent! All he needed to do was provide a distraction and slip the potion in. But not just yet. "So...you're going to stay mad at me forever?''

Benny could sense movement besides him but he couldn't bring himself to look at his friend. Adi needed to know he had really and truly hurt him by his behavior the other day. Being all snippy and the like. The Hufflepuff might as well as have haled off and punched him for all it felt like. The imaginary wind that might very well be going out of their friendship would feel worse.

It wasn't like he had much else.

"I don't know. Are you going to stay a jerk forever?" Like be all angry and rude to him and those around him? Because if he was, Sophie could have him with her Slytherins.

What could be a good distraction? Hmmm. Adi continued chewing but not really concentrating on or tasting what he was eating as he thought of a solution to the situation.

So deep were his thoughts that he almost missed what Benny said next. "Am I being a jerk now?'' Adi asked mildly. An idea had occurred to him. Yes, surely it would work. "You know, you didn't even bother to find out what set me off so I figured if you weren't that concerned I wouldn't tell you.''

"No..." Ben stated simply. No he wasn't at all. But then there was no saying if it would change. He'd already been surprised by the boy beside him once.

It was then he finally set his fork down for good and sighed. "I figured you were finally tired of me. " the Gryffindor said looking over sadly. "Poor quiet, shy little Benny while you were Mr. Popularity, friendly with everyone. So I went back to being in the shadows focusing only on lessons like I did first year," Ben finished, shrugging and turning back away. "Less hurt that way."

"Good,''' Adi said. Though if Benny found out his real reason for being here he was definitely think he was a jerk. Meh. What did Adi care? He was in revenge mode.

Adi looked over at Benny as he heard the clink of the fork being set down. It seemed the other boy was finally going to face him. Wait. What was Benny saying? The Hufflepuff eyed Benny's sad face and listened to him continue speaking.

That was what he thought? Adi yearned to reach out and slap Benny behind the head and tell him he was being stupid but all he said in a small voice was, "I'm not Mr. Popularity. I just socialise.'' Ah jeez. Was that what Benny thought about him? "Listen here you old dragon, if I'm that popular I could have had anyone for a best friend but it's you, isn't it?'' They complemented each other. Didn't Benny realise that? They were the Dragon and the Hippogriff. The inseparable, dynamic duo. Hehe.

Same thing. Adi preferred to socialize and thus had more people to be around. Who did he have? Adi...and maybe Angel. Benny absently wrinkled his nose a little at the thought of the girl. He still couldn't be all that close to her since then. It was just too awkward and bothersome. The closest had been his talk with Aubrey which had been awkward enough given the part of the talk mentioning her sister.

"I don't know...is it?" he questioned more than just a tad curious to the answer. It had been a thought plaguing him since the happenings out of the grounds. At first he doubted his own thoughts but as the Hufflepuff had seemed to ignore him as well. " You weren't exactly acting like a best friend at the Willow."