Tuck In // Start of Term Feast

Miyu raised an eyebrow at the girl's - @sophie2's - blatant rudeness towards not just him, but also at the two boys she was referring to. Then he rolled his eyes at her and took up her offer unceremoniously - well, she did say not to talk to her, so there was no need to thank her. It was a good thing that he had a small stature, so it wasn't hard to squeeze himself between two huge teens who pretty much towered over him. It would have been quite an amusing sight... if only he wasn't that poor soul who got stuck in the middle.

The younger of the two boys was more welcoming, and he couldn't help to snigger at the 'house grump' part. Instead of returning the handshake, he simply held out a fist - for a fist bump, obviously! (Handshakes are for boring, stuck-up adults - like the snooty girl next to him.) The first-year gave the spiky-haired Donald Westwood a wide grin. "Now that's the warm welcome I need - nice to meet you! I'm Miyu, and I'll just call you 'Don' then. I can't wait to explore this cool castle for hidden treasures and some spooky fun!"

Once the polite introductions and the like were out of the way, it was time for him to dig in! He filled up his own plate with food in no time, and began wolfing them down, starting with the drumstick. Yum, it was so good - almost felt like he was back at home, eating with his family... The thought of his parents made him sober up a little, and reminded him to send a note to them about the result of his Sorting. Though, the only way he could communicate with the world outside of Hogwarts was through owl post - electronic gadgets were pretty much useless junks within the enchanted walls and grounds of this school. It made him felt like he had just traveled back in time, back to the period when electricity hadn't been discovered yet. How troublesome!

"Anyway, which year are you guys in?" he asked Donald and the older teen boy (Bartholomew Caldeira - but he didn't know his name yet) in between food. "And what's that shiny badge for?" He had also noticed the excited chatter of the students across the Hall towards the line of adults flanked on each sides of the Headmistress. "Also, what's going on here?"

When Bartholomew Caldeira encouraged him towards the quidditch team he couldn’t help but smile. Although the glasses comment was slightly odd he thought. Wasn’t their spells that helped to stick glasses to peoples’ faces until they wanted to take them off. To prevent that very thing from happening? The young wizard decided not to push it though. He was sure that the 6th year would be aware of such a thing. ”I like the thrill of seeking. You need to be keen and aware at all times and fast. It takes a mixture of flying and quidditch skills and puts them to the test. I guess I like the challenge.” he said grinning widely. However he did vaguely wonder if his Gryffindor sister was having a bad influence on him in regard to his competitiveness and hunger for a challenge.

Don was happy to see the boy grin at him and say that it was the welcome that he needed. Being new at a school, away from home probably for the first time, was difficult enough without some jerk 7th year being horrible. ”Nice to meet you Miyu”Don said in a very friendly manner. He did tilt his head slightly when the 11 year old hold out his hand in a fist and it took him a while to figure out what he was trying to do. The Welsh lad nearly decided to shake Miyu Kisaragi ’s fist but realised his mistake before he actually made a fool out of himself. Donnie gave the fist bump.

The pale skinned 3rd year could not help but to grin when Miyu said about exploring the castle ”Exploring the castle is always great fun. I am still discovering new things around here myself. If you ever need a tour guide though. I will be only too happy to help.” although he knew how much fun it was to explore the castle by yourself it was helpful sometimes to have someone to point out all the important stuff, like the library and where the kitchens where. At least in his opinion.

The prefect answered the boy’s question first, after a quick glance towards Donald. It was a good thing because Don had a mouth full of carrots. After swallowing his grub and the prefect explaining his badge and the staff table The Welsh wizard returned to his input. He whispered to Miyu in a slightly hushed but playful tonne ”at please don’t get in too much trouble with anyone with a P badge on” before grinning slightly ”I am 13 so I am in my 3rd year. So still pretty new to this whole magic thing myself.” he gave a small shrug.

Upon the mention of quidditch Don got very animated ”Yea, that man there...” he pointed towards Aje ”He is Aje Odili. He used to play for Puddlemere. I am more of a Catapults fan myself but still. He is a good player.” although never hidden his lilting Welsh accent was particularly strong with his excitement. It didn’t really cross his mind that someone may not know what quidditch is although he understood that muggle-born children are unaware of its existence.

Miyu was thankful that his mouth was stuffed with ham when Bartholomew Caldeira introduced himself - just as he had said, his name was really quite a mouthful to say! The first-year swallowed his food before he had the space to echo the teen's name, "Yeah, I'll just call you 'Bat'." The prefect bit made the young boy perked up a little. One of the most fundamental rules to become a successful prankster and master of troublemaking: to know who your 'enemies' were - those law-abiding ones - and avoid them at all costs. He made a mental note to keep himself out of Bat's presence if he wanted to have some fun not meant for that badge on his collar.

Other than the badge, Bat seemed like a pretty chill person; still, best not to get on his wrong side in his first year here, and turn his Hogwarts debut into a sour recollection he couldn't erase or write over with better memories. Now that would really suck! "I'll keep that in mind," he drawled in response to their little prefect jokes, but not without a mischievous glint in his dark eyes.

Miyu had heard about Quidditch - he knew it from his father's childhood stories, who had been on the school's team in Mahoutokoro - but he had never actually flied on brooms before, nor he had watched a single Quidditch match in his life so far. From the snippets of idle chit-chats he had picked up during the train ride, all first-years would have Flying lessons in their timetable, and they were allowed to join the house teams only from the second year onwards. There was an exceptional case in the past... but that person himself was an exception, anyway. Of course, he knew next to nothing about 'Puddlemere' or 'Catapults' - or any European national teams for the matter - so like Bat, he wasn't able to feel as excited as Donald Westwood or any of the Quidditch enthusiasts in the Great Hall about some Quidditch star becoming a teaching staff at Hogwarts. Though, he would love to be able to play for his house team, just like his own father. The game itself sounded really exhilarating to the eleven-year-old!

"I've heard about Quidditch, but never watched or played the game before," he said, poking his steak with a fork. "My dad told me he used to be a Chaser, though he said with my build I can go for Seeker also." He shrugged. "I can't try out for the house team until next year, and I'll have to get my own broom." His father would be overjoyed and willing to pay for a decent broom to support him, but he couldn't say the same for his no-nonsense mother (he knew his mom loved dad a lot... except for the Quidditch part).

Donald smiled at Miyu Kisaragi as he said he heard of Quidditch. He supposed that was a good thing but not watching or playing the game seemed like a nightmare to the 13 year old. The 1st year should be able to look at some of the school games this year with any luck. Hopefully the game would live up to the boy’s expectations from what his father had told him.

The 3rd year took a sip of his pumpkin juice before spraying it out across the table upon the newcomer saying he wanted to go for seeker also. With a sheepish grin he looked around some of his housemates ”I am very sorry. I didn’t mean too. It was an accident and I apologise. I hope you can forgive me. I am sorry again....” he started to his fellow Ravenclaws in a rather apologetic voice. He could tell that his over apologising was starting to get irritating so he got out his wand and clearing up the mess. Slightly embarrassed he glanced towards the 1st year ”No you bloody well won’t” he said to him with a jokey manner with a massive grin on his face as if to try and make sure that Miyu knew that he wasn’t being entirely serious. ”If I become seeker I won’t be letting it go easily at all.” he informed his new friend in much the same joking tone.

Still the 1st year had a point. Don would have a year’s experience of being a seeker, if he got that position, and would have a few more years experience on the broom . ”Well you should be having some flying lessons on the school brooms this year.” he said encouragingly. ”I am sure you will be good at flying in any case”

Donald's reaction made the first-year arched an eyebrow, before the surprise was quickly turned to disgust and shifted himself closer to the Cecilia to dodge the pumpkin juice spray from the older boy. "Hey, watch it." Rolling his eyes at the third-year's profuse apology, he asked, "What was that for?"

Hearing the hint of competition in Donald's choice of words and tone, Miyu merely responded with a shrug, an amused expression on his small face. "I dunno - I don't think the positions are up to us to decide. Like, we have to go for tryouts and stuff to see if we truly deserve that place." After inhaling half the eggs on his plate, he continued with a grin, "I don't care much about the Seeker position - I'm totally cool with Chaser, so don't worry about me fighting with you over something trivial."

On the topic about school brooms, Miyu's eyes widened. "Really? Awesome!" The joy was replaced by a wry smile in the next second. "Though, I've heard about how ancient the school brooms are from the other first-year chatters on the train moments ago. Even rumors about how some poor souls got carried away by the school brooms into some place called 'Forbidden Forest' and never heard of again."

He flicked a finger on the golden goblet lightly. "With actual ghosts floating around the school like this--" He looked up at the four translucent figures floating around the Hall, interacting with the other students as they drifted by, "--they really make horror stories a hundred times scarier than usual."

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Donald Westwood | @sophie2

Donnie turned bright red after spraying pumpkin juice everywhere and gave his friends another sheepish smile. He hoped that they would not think any less of him for his actions. It was a mistake after all and everyone made them, right? The 13 year old was pretty sure that this was the case. However Donald did raise a bit of an eyebrow at @sophie2’s comment at Gryffindor. ”Sorry....” he started again feeling a bit intimidated by the older girl. ”...it was an accident. I swear. I apologise and hope you can forgive me for my rudeness. I am so sorry again.” he took a deep breath to try and centre himself a bit and stop his damned apologising.

”Although....i will have you know that my older sister is a Gryffindor.....” he said with a small glance towards the girl in question. ”....but given how she eats you might have a point.” he sad about to make a quip about his sister eating and looking like a pig but decided against it. Maybe that would be too vulgar. Besides if she heard of him insulting her like that it would not end well for him. He would admit to being something of a coward in that respect.

Donald couldn’t help but smile at Miyu Kisaragi as he teased him slightly over the tryouts. ”Well I will still have a good two years advantage over you.” he concluded logically ”Although chaser is my second choice as well. And don’t worry. A rivalry can be friendly.. If, next year, you still want to be seeker than go for it. It not something I want to have a fight over myself.” he smiled at the newest Ravenclaw hoping that he hadn’t discouraged him.

”I think it probably due to budgets that they don’t change the brooms. If they still fly, they suppose it is adequate for the flying lessons.” he said to the duo ”Although I don’t really understand why they don’t continue past the first year myself. Sure we master the basics but the more advanced stuff?...Then again I guess the brooms won’t take anything beyond the basic.” he said thoughtfully ...and I guess the weight of some older students would snap the brooms anyway. he added in his own mind not aimed at anyone in particular.

He nodded in agreement to Cecilia ”The ghosts are mostly fine. Some can be a bit....sulky. Especially the female ghosts for some reason. Most of them are alright to chat to. The Grey Lady, the Ravenclaw ghost, she can be interesting to have conversations with.” he said to the lad in a reassuring manner. He remembered how scared he had been when he first seen the ghosts in the school. The Bloody Baron was an especially nightmare fuel sight.