Clara was battling with herself. One option was to face her anxiety by talking to people, maybe getting up and moving. She knew Phoenix was in Gryffindor, so she'd at least she'd have somewhere to aim towards if she decided to do that. Or she could sit in silence, stare at her lap and wait for the feast - speech and food things - to begin. That was actually the option she preferred, but it sounded dreadfully boring.

It seemed that someone else was going to make that decision for her.

It took her a few second, but she realised that someone was speaking to her and she heard them say something about Ravenclaw. Congratulations, maybe? "Hey ... thanks ... yeah," she spluttered, looking up and spotting that it was Connor that was speaking to her. The Connor she'd sat with on the train, and he had also commented on her sketches of ravens before. He was pretty sound.

The redhead focused on him, blocking everyone else out. It was easier for her to be confident and herself when she was in one-on-one situations. Crowded places were not her thing. "Sure it is," she said, scooting slightly closer to Eden to make room for Connor. She patted the bench and grinned at him, "make yourself comfortable." Hopefully he didn't notice how fidgety she was, 'cos she was trying NOT to be.

After budging up for Connor, she turned to Eden. All her attention was on Eden. "Sorry if I'm squashing you," she apologised, grimacing. The bench seemed quite full now, but Eden didn't seemed to noticed, she just launched into speech. Clara couldn't help but grin at her. "We ARE in the same house" ..... "I'm really, really glad. We're going to be sharing a dorm too."

Honestly, Clara couldn't think of a better girl to share a dorm with. Eden was so NICE. She totally had the Clara stamp of approval.

Unlike the next girl to arrive at the table. Layla.

"Hi." That was all. Clara didn't say a word the rest of the time that Eden and Layla were talking, but she was totally giving Layla looks. She hoped that the girl had a good reason for seeming so rude and ungrateful, because Eden was being nothing but nice, and Layla ... wasn't. She'd been like this at the bookstore and the train too and so far, she was not making a good impression. Clara definitely wasn't looking forward to sharing a dorm with her.

Then, just before Clara had a chance to turn back to Connor, Layla said something so ridiculous that she couldn't help but comment. "It's not a projection," she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose, before looking up at Layla. "It is a ghost. Hogwarts doesn't have that sort of muggle technology." .... "And even if they did, why would they bother using it to project talking ghosts around the school?" Was this girl really a Ravenclaw?

"'Course," Toby grinned to Jun. "Where we go, the fun goes." And that was just how things were.

Still grinning, Toby eyed up the cookies that Soph produced and wiggled his fingers over them as he tried to pick out which one he wanted to try. In the end, he picked out THAT one dead in the centre, knowing that they'd all be equally delicious; Toby had tried Soph's cookies in the summer and they were... well... he only hoped that she remembered them for his upcoming birthday. He would, of course, be dropping numerous hints.

They were being introduced to someone. Just as Toby had taken a bite into the cookie, he looked up to see the other Ravenclaw just was introducing them too. The Hufflepuff attempted to cover his mouth with the back of his hand while he quickly swallowed down his mouthful of cookie, before offering a grin and a "Hi Pal. Good t'meet ya."

Nope. He couldn't wait. It had felt like forEVER since Toby had had something to eat, so without further or do he scarfed down the entire cookie with as much dignity and politeness as he could maintain.

Hearing Soph's voice, Toby instinctively started to react with "Mmm, s'good," but stopped himself when he realised Soph was talking about the table thing. He just smiled (but didn't grin, cause of the faceful of food he was wrestling with) and pulled her into a side hug. With the cookie now successfully in his belleh, Toby could finally sleep.

"You don't have to thank me for anything, hellion," he grinned. "I'll follow you anywhere."

...........

Soon enough, the Sorting ceremony was over, and Toby had watched a lot of the new students he'd already met go and greet their new houses. He was still slightly concerned about that one kid who had out and out FAINTED, and hoped he wasn't ill or anything. When Bunbury stood up to give her speech, Toby was able to pay attention to the entire thing for once, which was definite improvement.

Except that ONE part, about a Professor Tanner coming back. Toby had never met a Professor Tanner before, and wondered if it might be someone who'd taught at the school before he arrived. He scanned the staff table, trying to work out who it might be, when he finally spotted her. And squealed.

Luckily the general noise of the feast had started up by that point, so Toby's high pitched exclamation was covered up. He nudged Soph excitedly.

"It's Tyner! Tyner's back!" He'd thought she'd been KIDNAPPED. At first at least. Now she was here and everything was COOL and Toby couldn't wait to go and catch up with her and update her on ALL THE THINGS. Happy days.

Samantha had a feeling that Thornton had not revealed what he was really feeling but she was not going to force the issue. She answered his reply with, "I hope you enjoy the food," and she held up her cup but she wasn't mocking him. Samantha wanted anyone she met even briefly to feel at ease with her.