Come Rp!!! [open to everybody. early evening]

Leah Davies walked slowly to the Great Hall after a long day of classes. The professors seemed determined to keep the fifth years from failing their OWLs, and the students were paying the price already even though the term had just started. Her classes frustrated her at best, downright terrified her at worst. Sitting down at the Ravenclaw table, she began eating supper. Soon she was immersed in her Transfiguration book as well.

Charlotte walked uncertainly into the Great Hall. School had gone...Well, actually well. She wasn't stupid, or anything, in classes, but was quite intelligent in a variety of subjects. However, it was just the fact that she was new. . . .Every cornere she turned, Charlotte encountered stares and confused faces. None knew who she was, and didn't bother to ask. Now that she thought on it, Charlotte didn't think she spoke barely at all today. Hogwarts was quite unfamiliar, but even more so magical and wonderful; the great towers, exquisite architecture and moving paintings, the moving staircases, and endless amount of places to go. The Slytherin common room was breathtaking, with the wonderful feeling of being under the water.

She straightened up her poster, adjusting her raspberry beret, and strode with a more confident attitude to the Slytherin table. She chose an end seat, giving various smiles to her housemates around her, but many just ignored or stared. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable, so she pulled out a Potions book to read for homework.

Brushing her blonde braid off her shoulder, she took a break and looked around the Hall. A blonde Slytherin girl was looking fairly lonely, but Leah did not know how to fix that for her. She glanced down at the front of her robes instead to check the prefect badge making sure it hadn't turned upside down on her. It hadn't, which was surprising. The badge had been turning upside down on her all day. Glancing shyly again at the girl, she decided to return to her Transfiguration book. McGonagall had wanted her to practice, but she didn't know how much time she would have for that.

Charlotte tried hard to not fidget. She was usually a confident person, but here, in this new school, not to mention continent, she felt out of her skin, out of place. Here forehead started to sweat slightly, and Charlotte felt very hot. She unbottoned the white, croqueted, jacket she wore over her raspberry colored shirt, leaving it loose. Charlotte glanced up to see she was not recieving anymore stares. Great. Now I am being ignored, she thought rolling her eyes. Charlotte flipped through her Potions book, her eyes on the pages, but not reading. Eventually, she just closed the book, storing it away in her bag. Charlotte looked around the hall, studying the other tables of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor; the intelligent, loyal, and brave. Interesting system, she thought. Wouldn't it just be easier to all be as one school group?

She glanced up again and looked around the room. If anything, that Slytherin girl she had noticed seemed even more uncomfortable. Leah frowned and decided she might try to talk with her. If anybody looked as uncomfortable as she sometimes felt, then she should be interesting to talk to. Or at least understand being shy.
Leaving her table and her things behind, she walked cautiously over to the Slytherin table. She earned a few odd looks, but for the most part the students ignored the small Ravenclaw's presence. Probably because of the badge on her chest.
"Umm... hello...," she told the blonde Slytherin hesitantly wondering if this was a bad idea.

Charlotte was absent-mindedly playing with her hat when she heard a small voice. She glanced around, seeing it was not one of the Slytherins, but someone from behind. She turned around slightly, seeing a small girl who was apparently the one who approached her. By her robes, she was a Ravenclaw, and had some badge marked Prefect, whatever that meant. Charlotte immediately grinned."Um, hi. I am new here, my name is Charlotte Solo."

Leah smiled slightly realizing the girl was friendly enough. Still unsure of herself though, she just did a brief introduction of herself. "I'm Leah Davies," she said softly. "Umm... do I know you?" She knew she had not met the girl before but it did not hurt to be friendly. Vaguely her musician's ear heard the different accent. She wondered where Charlotte came from, but thought that would be too rude of a question when they first met.

She shook her head a little in response."No, I am a transfer from the States. Grandparents figured I should go to a real wizarding school, as I am getting older now." She looked down at her folded hands, not sure what to say."Um...Thanks," Charlotte added quietly,"for actually coming over to speak to me. I haven't spoken to anyone today but teachers."She laughed lightly.

"I was... curious..." Leah responded casually. Curious if she would be as nice and awkward as she seemed. Leah didn't want to tell Charlotte this though, so she kept it to herself. It was a shame nobody talked to the girl. "Ah, the States!" she said, finally placing the accent. "That's why I didn't recognize your accent at first. Do you like Hogwarts?" A Slytherin student left his seat and Leah squeezed in where he had been sitting.

She chuckled."Yes, quite a surprise, I suppose. The States are...well, very far away."There was a hint of longing and sadness, but Charlotte didn't dwell on home to long. She raised her eyebrows a little, surprised to see someone from a different house sitting at another's house's chosen table. She nodded slowly."Yes, quite much. Everywhere I go is...just magical. The moving staircases, hidden doors and rooms, great towers. The grounds, as well, are fascinating. The lake and that half-giant who does Care of Magical Creatures class. I'd never thought I'd ever meet a real giant. I read a lot about Hogwarts, but seeing it is marvelous." The whole while she had been speaking, Charlotte's mind was still on the fact Leah was sitting on the Slytherin table. Finally, she spoke up, but in a low voice."Are...Are you allowed to be sitting here?..."

"Hmm?" she asked confused about the last question. Leah glanced up at the High Table and saw that nobody was looking at the strange Ravenclaw girl. She shrugged. "Nobody has ever been punished for sitting at the wrong table. It happens sometimes. I mean... they don't want us to be completely apart from each other. We do need friends in other houses." She stopped considering what she could say about Charlotte's slight sense of homesickness. Leah recognized it in the other girl because of her own experiences with it in the past. "I'm Muggle-born so I know how it feels to be here for the first time. Sometimes I still get surprised by things most people here take for granted." A rule she had taught herself early on was to expect the unexpected. However, it did not always work.

Charlotte shook her head, her curly blonde hair bouncing."I still don't understand this whole....system. Its a school for magic, yes? Well, why must students be seperated into groups? I read Hogwarts: A History, and was quite perplexed why the founders had to divide the future students into houses..."She sighed, playing with her hands. When Charlotte continued to listen to Leah speaking, she raised her eyebrows slightly."Muggle-born? I was a homeschooled Pure-blood, so I never really met any other wizards besides my family. But I have heard of the oppression and sometimes cruelty towards Muggle-borns. Especially by Pure-bloods."

Leah shrugged dismissing that notion. Nobody had really bullied her or anything during her time here at Hogwarts. Probably because she was shy and kept to herself. "I think they were just trying to get like-minded people to know each other better by putting them into the separate houses." It was the only idea that made sense to her. Truthfully, it was kind of silly the way the Founders had set up the school. But they must have had their reasons. Obviously, they were all brilliant minds.

Astrid trudged into the Great Hall after a long day involving boring, and tedious school work. Her book bag bounced at her side. The last thing she wanted to do was more work.. What she really needed at the moment was a nice cup of tea. She passed a ravenclaw girl sitting at the Slytherin table. that was interesting, not something you see everyday.

She laughed."I still think it is rather pointless, but don't tell anyone, alright? I don't want to get a reputation for badmouthing the school." Charlotte glanced around her, noticing how her housemates were slightly farther from her then she remebered. She frowned. Guessing by their dirty looks, they obviously didn't approve of Leah sitting with her. Turning back to the girl, Charlotte said,"I hope you don't mind my questions, I really want to get to know this place. By the way, what exactly is that...badge you are wearing? Prefect?" Charlotte studied it from her position.

"Hmm?" she asked again and looked down at what Charlotte was looking at. "Oh... it's basically just a student helper and liaison between the student and professors. They don't have prefects in the states?" she asked curiously. How odd... she thought to herself.

She couldn't help but overhear the two girls' conversation, "Sorry to butt in on your conversation, but I agree with you. It doesn't really make much sense." She picked up a slice of bread, "But I guess it works out. Sorry again for intruding."

"Interesting,"she replied back."Well, I guess, I really don't know...I never went to school, even before I was eleven. I lived with my Grandparents since I was a child, and they homeschooled me through normal, basic school and then wizardy." Charlotte's eyes briefly flickered up to a passing by girl, ravenclaw as well, who seemed to look at them with surprise. When the girl spoke up, Charlotte frowned to herself."No, no, you're fine."She glanced at the other Slytherins angry faces."I think."

Leah glanced at the Slytherins and frowned. "I'm not sure what they're problems are, but they should be careful. I am a prefect...." she added slightly louder than she normally talked. Leah smiled at Astrid. "Hello, Astrid, right? I'm trying to make sure I know all of my House's students' names. It's tiring..."

James walked into the great hall; not uttering a word. He would have to be quiet if he wanted his plan to succeed. The Great Hall wasn't too crowded. 'Of course.' He thought. It was a little early for dinner. As he walked towards the Ravenclaw table, James noticed two Claws he hadn't seen before. One seemed to be a perfect.

Charlotte's mouth suddenly felt dry, and she glanced around the table for something to drink. There was a goblet in front of her filled with some unknown liquid. Shrugging to herself, she tipped the cup to her mouth, swallowing the drink. The taste was pumpkiny, sweet, and delicious. She didn't know what it was, but the drink was certainly great. Back in Arizona, there were only three things she drank: water, tea, and lemonade.

"Yep, I'm Astrid, and congrats on being a prefect." She said to Leah. Astrid tried to look happy and be nice. Being friendly on the first day seemed like a good approach. She smiled at Charlotte, "First time having pumpkin juice?" The pumpkin juice the school served had never really grown on her, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it.

Charlotte nodded warily at the girl. She really did want to make new friends, but it was also wise to be cautious."Indeed it is. At home, I usually only have some water or lemonade."She said it very slowly, very recent memories coming into her mind of home. She pushed them away, twisting a strand of blonde hair in her hand."So. What exactly is there to do on the weekends?"

Astrid made a face, "Ack, lemonade is gross. I really only drink water." She fiddled with the strap of her bag wondering whether sitting down at the Slytherin table would be a good idea. "Um, on the weekends there is always Hogsmeade. It's an excellent little village really- Oh my God! You've got to try the butterbeer!" Heh. She really needed to stop talking so much.