#19 - Not Quite Dinner Time

Orla had floated on a high back from her ingredient hunting, elated from her eventful and exciting adventures. The day felt long and easy, especially now green was returning to the view out of her dormitory window.

It was this view that she studied as she wrung out the water from her hair, dressed again for dinner after she'd washed off all the mud. The ingredients sat wrapped in her robes, her journal next to them ready for some bed time journalling later. Orla patted the little parcel fondly, before her grumbling tummy sent her hurrying upstairs for dinner.

Orla didn't notice that most of the students she passed weren't heading in the same direction, so it was a surprise to see that she had arrived early at the Great Hall - it was not quite dinner time. She fussed at her wet fringe, combing it into place with her fingers as she listlessly wandered in front of the doors.

When she dropped her hand, it revealed MJ Birdwhistle sitting on a bench - Orla beamed at her and wiggled her fingers in greeting.

"Hullo MJ! Mind if I join you?"

Orla hopped over and slid onto the bench, happy to be invited to hang out for once. Her cheeks hurt from how much she was smiling today - she rubbed her face as she scooted over a little more, noticing that she'd sat a little close to MJ. She was sure it was proper to give a new friend some personal space.

"People watching!" Orla exclaimed, following MJ's gaze with her own. "You'll have to teach me your watching-ways."

When MJ mentioned her hair, Orla tucked it behind her ear, a little shy. It was a bad habit - particularly in draughty castles - but she'd always preferred letting her hair air-dry. 

"Oh, no, I didn't swim!" She replied, immediately feeling the urge to swim in open water. She would have to ask at home for her swimsuit before the summer. "I got so mucky while I was finding potion ingredients today, I had to scrub my shoes and get a wash before dinner."

Orla kicked her legs, scuffing the soles of her shoes on the stone floor. This was a very agreeable way to wait for dinner - it was so easy to talk with MJ in comparison with Orla's own housemates.

"MJ, I had such a good day! I got so many ingredients and saw -" Orla stopped and leaned a little closer, lowering her voice. "I think I saw a merperson today!"

Orla pressed her lips together, as though she and MJ were sharing a great secret as the two students hurried past them. Her eyes widened and as MJ taught her how to people watch, Orla thought she could almost sense the espionage in the air.

"People watching is mad, your granny must have some imagination on her!" Orla giggled, meaning it in a positive way of course. "Imagine if they were spies and they have failed their mission because we know their secret!"

Orla followed the students up the staircase with her eyes, a fierce look of triumph on her face. She turned back to MJ once they rounded a corner and disappeared from view. Her heart was doing funny thumps in her chest, and she found she had to actively try and keep her voice at a regular volume instead of yelling from excitement.

"MJ! I also love ingredient hunting, I used to do it all the time back home in the forest and in the river and sometimes with my Da and it's just...!" Orla wiggled and put her hands between her knees, feeling a tide of babble trying to spill out of her mouth. She took a deep breath. 

"I love it too, it would be so fun to do it together! I can bring some of my jam jars to share, and show you this class Frogspawn spot!"

Here, she leaned close again, twisting her mouth when other students strayed too near. 

"I'm almost certain it was a merperson," she said, the thought making her a little doubtful. "I gave them a clementine after I noticed they were watching me. I slipped in the mud looking for toadstools and disturbed the lake over by the birch tree...oh, I bet it was a merperson MJ! Would you come visit with me next time I go?"

Orla fiddled with the hem of her school skirt, suddenly feeling shy for asking someone to spend time with her. It was never her chance to decide how someone else spent their day - it was always the other way round at home. 

"How has your day been so far? Are you as hungry as I am?"

Orla had turned, propping a knee on the bench so she could face MJ and speak properly. The other leg dangled and jiggled, betraying the buzzing feeling Orla was trying to temper. 

"Oh, my da isn't magic! I'm a wee half 'n' half!" She laughed, remembering how clueless her dad was about even the most basic herb or flower. "We had a vegetable garden, but it was mostly my Aunt Cara who did that sort of thing..." 

Orla pouted a little - Aunt Cara was an old, cranky woman who guarded her garden with sharp words and threats of a walking cane to the knees. Orla was envious that MJ was able to help with growing and tending to things.

"You must be so good at Herbology already!" Orla tugged on her hair, looking a little sheepish. "I haven't even tried to grow something of my own...the Greenhouse is like another planet to me."

She laughed again, but it was a little hollow. It was a genuine worry that she would be terrible at growing anything - she tried not to think about the orchid her dad had given her for one birthday, wincing as she remembered how unbelievably crispy it had gotten before crumbling to dust one morning.

When MJ expressed worry about her fall, Orla blushed and put her hands between them, palms up, showing the small scratches there where she'd landed on the pebbly shore. 

"I'm grand, it wasn't a bad fall," she smiled, tucking her hands under her legs. "I've broken my wrists and arms and two toes before! My ma says I must be made of rubber."

When MJ suggested asking Professor Fairburn about what merpeople would prefer to eat, Orla felt a warmth bloom in her chest. It was so nice to be believed, and MJ was so clever! They would definitely have to ask the Professor - it would be terrible to offer something that made the merpeople ill, and that idea wouldn't have occured to Orla.

"You have a ferret?!" Orla squeaked, eyes wide. "Oh he must be so cute! And snuggly!" She imagined MJ snoozing with a fluffy noodle, and grinned. Hopefully her own pet would be up for some snuggling soon.

"Do you like the food here? It's a little different from what I normally got at home, but ohhh it's so tasty!" As she said this, her stomach gave a loud growl, and Orla flushed red, then smiled shyly.

"Even if we can't sit together to eat, I'm so glad we got to sit together now."

"Mhm!" Orla replied. "Dad lives in a muggle town on the mainland so no magic allowed there at all!" 

The Entrance Hall had become busier while she and MJ chatted - more students were milling around, eager for a good hot meal after their busy days. It made Orla feel a little more self-conscious.

"That's so nice of you," she said, smiling. "I'd love to go with you in the morning and see what you're growing! I actually just got my garden pot yesterday - Hagrid was so nice and oh wow, I want to pet Fang so badly!"

Orla fidgeted, feeling super hungry now, but she brought her attention back to MJ when she mentioned climbing trees. Her favourite past-time!

"No way! I love climbing trees too! That's how I broke my wrist the first time," she laughed, wincing a little. It was a very long fall, and it was at her dads too, so she'd had to wait for her Ma to come set the bone. Da was mad with worry and wanted to phone an ambulance, but Orla was so terrified by the idea that he agreed to do it the magic way. 

"It definitely hurt, but you kind of forget about it - it doesn't stop me wanting to climb the biggest trees I find."

She remembered the scolding she got the last time she broke her arm - her family was livid with her, especially as it was her wand arm, and as punishment she'd had to chase the ghoul from the attic. The memory was icky, so she was glad when MJ began talking about her ferret.

"Woozle sounds so cute, he must really trust you! I have a rat named Bó," she smiled, a little sadly. "We aren't friends just yet, but I hope we can be soon." 

The space around them was crowded now. Orla yawned and stretched, feeling a little sore from her very busy morning, then stood up, looking down at MJ with a smile. The doors to the Great Hall were creaking open.

"I can't wait to eat," she laughed. "I hope you enjoy dinner, MJ! It was really nice talking with you!"

[ooc: exit]