Tick Tock, Tick Tock [open]

Ruby stormed into the Great Hall, her hand closed tightly around the little silver wind up alarm clock which had arrived in the post only a couple weeks ago. Tiny stars were engraved along the edge of the paired bells, she didn't care how pretty it was. It had to go. Besides, destroying something beautiful was usually fun. Still the clock was tick tocking loudly, although she'd performed almost every type of silencing spell she knew. Knowing her uncle - he'd probably charmed it to be as loud as possible, seems as she always slept in.

She slammed it down on the Slytherin table. They were used to tantrums and hissy fits over here. Ruby had been trying to change the time of the alarm. But no. It rang every morning. At 6AM, for a continuous 7 minutes exactly. Even on the weekend. Either this thing was going to be silence, or she was going to curse it to pieces and scatter the metal across the lake for the squid to play with.

Tick... Tock... Tick... Tock. It had been going on for ages. And the thing that annoyed her the most, was that no one else seemed to noticed. They just carried on eating, chatting a sniggering. Ruby's fingers were locked in her hair and it was easy to tell by the set of her eyes that she was angry. "Silencio Silencio Silencio" She said after snatching up her wand and aiming it at the clock again. Nothing. What kind of machine was this? The devils work?

Sitting at the Ravenclaw table, Tiger tried to block out the repetitive ticking sound that seemed to come from the Slytherin side of the Great Hall. She took a bite of her apple and chewed fiercely, but the sound was still audible, getting inside her head... In frustration she dropped the apple on her plate and stood up, searching for the source of the noise.

Just what she needed. Another bird in the already too-full nest. She scowls harshly at the Ravenclaw who entered, not for any particular reason, she was just in a foul mood.

Ruby groaned and shifted lower into her seat and began hitting her head off the table with every tick and every tock. "Shut up shut up" She began to say in time with the noise.

Sees the Slytherin girl hitting her head against the table and walks over. "Is that your clock? What's wrong with it?" she asks, completely ignoring the scowl.

"No. It is just here for decoration." Ruby hissed, rude and sarcastic at the same time. One of her favourite comebacks. "What do clocks do, little Ravenclaw?" She said, a little more polite. Raising her head and straightening her back, she looks directly at the girl. "Come on... I'm sure you can get the answer." Her tone was horridly patronising.

Seemingly oblivious to the girl's rudeness, Tiger picked up the clock and turned it over. "Uh, they tick? Isn't that kind of an obvious one?" She purposely pretends the question was a riddle, grinning in a friendly way all the while. Pulling out her wand, she taps the clock twice, saying, "Silencio!" When nothing happens, she frowns at it. "Huh, that should've worked. Is it cursed or something?"

"Congratulations" She smiles and claps loudly, only twice. "I assume it is charmed. You know, I don't think my uncle wants to curse me. He's had many chances if he wished to... So, it is not cursed, it is 'something' as you so cleverly put it." Ruby says, her voice was quite even and emotionless.

"I will take it to that midget... what's his name? The goblin? Your head of house..."

"Oh, why aren't you bringing it to your head of House? I bet Professor Flitwick would know a way to disenchant it, but, I mean, Snape does know magic, right? Other than just stirring potions, I mean." She blinks at the girl, still smiling brightly.

"Okay. I have another question for you." Ruby was rather enjoying herself, she twirled her wand and pointed it lazily at the girl. "Who is head of charms? Who waves his wand and fixes things like this, and who is a powerful Slytherin wizard who has more important things to do?" She asked, leaning a little closer and pretending to be engrossed in the conversation.

"More important things to do, huh? Well..." Tiger slips her wand out and spun it in her hand, in perfect imitation of the girl. "You know, I really thought the clock was important to you. I mean, it's pretty insignificant, but weren't you banging your head against the table over it a couple of minutes ago?"

Ruby scowled. It was her mothers clock... and it was beautiful. She'd rather tame it than throw it away but if it came down to it, she would. "I don't understand what you're trying to point out to me. Were you just trying to tell me what I already knew? The thing that annoys me most about you Claws, you speak in riddles." She pockets the clock which does nothing to muffle the ticking.

"Now" She began, putting on her professional, polite speaking voice. "What is your name and could you please take me to Flitwick's office? I know it is in the West Tower, just not sure which room. It is my least favourite part of Hogwarts."

"Sure, I can take you there. Aren't you in your seventh year, though? I thought you looked older, but maybe I was wrong.... Anyway, I'm Tiger," she says, holding out her hand and grinning at the Slytherin girl. What a hostile girl...I shouldn't have come over here in the first place. Whatever, it's better to have friends than enemies, and this is only a first impression.

"Why would I want to go to the Ravenclaw tower?" She asked blankly, confused. "The only bird I like is roast chicken..."

Uh. The hand shake. Ruby tried to smile but ended up grimacing. "Sorry. No physical contact until I have traced your family back two generations." She said, putting up two fingers as though to make it clearer. "Chip chop. I am Ruby" Getting to her feet, she waited for this girl to lead the way.

Okay...that's just too much. She drops the smile and tilts her head, regarding Ruby through hard eyes. "You're pretty nice, huh? Actually, I have better things to do. Why don't you find Flitwick's office yourself? Have fun, then..." She flashes a grin and crosses her arms, prepared to watch her go.

Ruby just shrugged and was off on her way. People not liking her was a way of life, it meant nothing to her now. Besides, the girl was probably unpure anyway. Stupid eccentric Ravenclaws. Always thinking they were above one.

(( YOLO back in a sec ))

Tiger watched Ruby go, fighting not to let her disgusted expression show on her face. All those pureblooded maniacs...that was the one thing she couldn't stand. "Whatever," she muttered to herself, turning away. It didn't matter, anyway.
Still, she brushed her fingertips over her wand in her pocket, wondering if she should set something up for Ruby...just a little surprise on the way. Tipping her head back, she considered it.

Lily walked in to the hall with a spring in her step. She hesitated, stopping in the doorway momentarily, not wanting to go over to the almost empty Gryffindor table. Her eyes glanced over the students looking for someone familiar and she shrugged, seeing no-one she knew. She didn't make a move towards her table though, instead stood watching everyone.

She followed Lily and Vine into the hall, making a face. At least she was clock free now. She'd have to choose a seat facing the double doors so she could see if Flitwick was coming in for a snack. It seemed likely, he was rather round.

"Thanks for all your help" Ruby said sarcastically to Tiger as she passed her, hah. She didn't even need her in the end. Now she could go back to her peaceful bliss of ignoring anyone in that house. They all thought they were something special and 'different'.

He walked in, still holding her hand, "Do you want to sit with me, Lily?" he asked and moved to the slytherin table before she could say anything.

She grins at Ruby cheerfully. "It was no problem." She grits her teeth as soon as the Slytherin girl's back is turned, and walks quickly back to the Ravenclaw table. At least that awful ticking noise is gone. Looks like she's still pretty thorny, though.

She smiled, "Well I've got no-one else to sit with.." she spoke, already following him. She smiled kindly at Ruby, although she had found no reason to like the girl, it still paid to be polite.

Ruby settles herself at the table and waves to Tiger's retreating back with a frown. Ew, why was the Gryffindor smiling at her? She gives Lily a long look but does nothing in return, no smile, but no glare either.

She turns her eyes on Vine. Wanting to discuss their 'plans'. Still - she did not trust the Gryffindor enough yet.

"Who is that girl?" he asked, looking at the Ravenclaw table, "Making friends? How cute..Lily wanted to be with me, I hope it's ok that she sits with us for a while."

She glanced up and saw one of the Slytherins looking at her. She smiled quickly, though she wasn't sure it was really convincing, and continued watching the little group.