#3 Breakfast

Sinead and her sister had made their way down to the great hall shortly before the owl post arrived. Kaitlyn went to sit with her friends and Sinead took a seat not far from Rebecca and Laliee, whom Sinead vaguely recalled smiling at her when she spoke up about joining the Quidditch team. The youngster sat down and when her breakfast appeared before her, she began to eat slowly, giving the Gryffindor table a wary glance.

Just then the owl post arrived and a owl dropped a Daily Prophet in front of her. She paid the owl and picking up the paper, she unfolded it and read it as she was eating. "Heh...." Sinead smirked inwardly at the headline article as she was not overly fond of Muggles. However she did her best to keep her outward expression emotionless. She finished her breakfast and continued to read the paper, when whispers of a rumor reached her. The fact that this rumor involved certain members of Gryffindor house had caught Sinead's interest and she looked up.

The young brunette glanced towards the Gryffindor table again and was delighted to see that several of them scowling and that the girl in question seemed pale and a little ruffled. Remembering Snape's statement in the common room the previous night, Sinead decided it was now or never to speak out about it. Normally she stayed well away from trouble if she could, but she knew something like that could happen again with someone either getting hurt or killed as a result.

Her decision made, Sinead got up and without glancing at any of the tables, she made her way to the staff table warily. "Excuse me Professor Snape.....may I have a private word with you in your office after breakfast please?" She says politely once she had approached where the professor was sat.

Eleanor could feel more and more eyes on her as the rumor spread through the Hall, and her resolve to bravely sit there and take it was starting to crumble. Jacob and Thomas hadn't shown up yet--probably, like most teenage boys, they were going to lie in as long as possible. She wondered if there was some way to talk to them before they heard this gossip from someone else, though even as she thought it, she knew it would be impossible. Rumors spread through this school like wildfire and it would be unstoppable by any single person.

She flinched as Marrow's voice startled her, having heard nothing but grumbles and grousing from her housemates thus far, but she quickly gave him a reassuring smile, not wanting her reaction to his unexpected presence to frighten him off. She was just relieved someone was willing to talk to her.

At his question, Eleanor glanced down at the table with a heavy sigh, "No, not really. Someone's spreading a rumor about me--have you heard it? That I turned in Jacob and Thomas for being out past curfew? They're going to be so mad...they probably won't even care that it's a rumor and not true, everyone's talking about and believe it and soon they'll hear about it and probably believe it, too."

A tear escaped and she hastily wiped it away, hoping no one noticed as she didn't need further fuel for people to target her about--being considered a traitor was bad enough without everyone knowing her feelings and pride were hurt.

"You probably shouldn't be seen talking to me." Eleanor explained to Marrow, remembering that he was new, "If they think you're talking to a traitor, they may label you one as well, and you don't want to start off the year by the entire house targeting you."

"Hi!" Adeline told her brother excitedly in greeting, always happy to see him, especially after it had been so long. As Elara turned her attention to someone she didn't know, Adeline turned her focus onto her brother and an older student, who she recognized as being the one who put together the tea party the previous night.

When Mathias discarded the paper, Adeline picked up a stray copy and looked it over, subtly summarizing it aloud for him out of habit, "Wow, I can't believe someone's been pranking muggles with unexplained noises and lights. Some people have zero concern for the Statute of Secrecy. I wonder who would do something like that?"

"Classes," Adeline told her brother when he started speaking of plans, "And nothing else planned yet. I'm sure I'll find something to do to pass the time. You?"

Her attention faltered as students around her started whispering about a Gryffindor student who possibly betrayed her house, and she looked at the Gryffindor table in surprise. She sure wouldn't want to be the one who that group decided wasn't trustworthy as she could imagine the girl was about to have a very bad day.

Ryan entered the Great Hall muttering under his breath about the stupidity of five million stairs.

There was a lot of chatter going on but he ignored it, yawning widely on his way to the Ravenclaw table. He sat by himself, not in the mood to look for Gerald or Danielle though hoped they were nearby. He'd stayed up talking to Gerald the night before until having to force himself to go to bed before that chair became his bed for the night. 

His mind only focused on waking up and getting fed, Ryan yawned again while he smeared excessive amounts of jam on his toast. It took a while to remember how to function, not used to having to wake up on his own and earlier than he did at home. Once the Great Hall came back into focus and he could keep up with the chatter, Ryan turned his attention to the Daily Prophet.

That diminished his appetite. Ryan wondered if his family were scared of the sounds and noises too; he certainly would have, even knowing it was magic not UFOs. He shuddered, hoping it was just some sort of weird prank and not something else. Pranks were meant to be funny, right? He wasn't so sure, as some stuff he had to go through were called "pranks" too and they weren't very funny. Not to him, anyway. 

He briefly considered seeking out a fellow first year and say hi, as he was told to learn to be more social once he got to Hogwarts, but Ryan didn't have the energy for it. He'd been socialising and talking to others way more in the last few days than for as long as he could remember. It was exhausting and he was sure to mess it all up sooner or later. It was better to just keep to himself and wait for a class or something.

On that thought, Ryan clutched his timetable and analysed it. 'Ugh.' He slouched grumpily. 'Just homework.' That afternoon too. What the heck was he supposed to do until then? 

Lucas glanced up from reading more in the Daily Prophet when Lailee spoke. He hesitated with a serious expression for a few seconds then offered her one of his usual charming smiles. 'Oh, Karmett, if you wanted to know if I'm single - you just have to ask,' he joked.

He used her surname to make his point, but otherwise showed no grudge of hostility. That wasn't his style, though he doubted many realised he wasn't all that nasty after all. What was the point in guilt tripping or lording things over people anyway? It wasn't their fault he was annoying and difficult to like. Well, not entirely their fault anyway.

Realising he didn't answer her question, he sighed and focused on his breakfast. 'We can talk. After breakfast is fine, whenever.'

When she mentioned Anise and Becca initially tried to resist whatever was going on with Amara and Megan, Lucas snorted in mocking of such a foolish decision. 'I'm amazed you've all survived this long, to be honest.' He bit into his apple, briefly giving the Great Hall and Gryffindor table another curious glance.

'Ah, Rebecca.' Lucas leaned to make the conversation more between them. 'Amara has what you need - she'll get it to you sometime this morning. Assuming she's not busy going on a murder spree, of course. I'd deliver it myself, but you know. Her area of expertise, I daresay.' He almost mentioned she'd brewed the potion last night so she had it since he hadn't seen her yet that morning, but it was too much information for a public space during breakfast. Surely Becca would understand though.

With that deal almost done, he considered reminding Lailee of their deal as well but didn't particularly want to be around her or talk to her today so it could wait. Instead he indicated towards the staff table - directing their attention to a 4th year from their house who approached Professor Snape.

'No tacic whatsoever.' Lucas scoffed, shaking his head in sympathy for the girl.

He finished his apple and tossed the core at a first year, who squealed in fright and terrible attempt to catch it. He nodded at Nathan and glanced to hear the answers to his questions, also curious where the murder-duo were as surely they'd be hungry by now. Especially after the events at dinner. Though he intended to make himself scarce if they did show up.

Pleased to get to talk with Nathan, Lucas gave the other boy his attention. 'Plans? Oh, you know me - I always have plans. Never a dull moment.' He glanced away, sipping his pumpkin juice to buy time. He and Nathan shared a dorm and got along well enough, as it so happened with dormmates who weren't necessarily friends, but did he want to get to know him more? It could prove useful.

Somehow, he still had no idea how Nathan actually liked to spend his free time.

'I haven't decided exactly how to spend the morning yet though, no. Lots of ideas but...' Lucas shrugged. 'What about you? Anything interesting on your end?' He'd find out what Nathan had in mind first before making a decision or taking away a chance to talk himself out of having company. It would be stupid to say he's free and then be offered something utterly boring.

Got to have an escape excuse ready to go, after all.