Ravenclaw House Table: The Sorting Ceremony and Feast

"I'd say we're all kinda like that, mate. Though you seem to be doing fine in this social situation, huh?" Todd mused, grinning lightly. He turned to Bri and put a hand over his chest, mouth gaping as if in astonishment. "I say! Offending my manliness like that! Very rude, very rood indeed. Now I cannot ever fight you so as to show how much that offended me. So there."

His eyebrows drew together in thought, not expecting that one. "Sly? Hmm...sounds pretty alluring. So Jim is the cute one and I'm the sexy mysterious one."

Bri looked at Jim, shaking her head, "Not exactly, but you can be. I think. I don't know," she said, the ever-present smile not fading from her face. Todd and Jim seemed to be making her smile more than the last 16 years of her life combined, and that in itself was a feat. She didn't laugh much, and you could say the things she was saying were from a whole 'nother side of her personality that she hadn't discovered before.

Brie raised an eyebrow at Todd's antics, stifling a laugh, "I've been called rude.. oh, the horror! I shall never live the same way ever again!" she wailed, closing her eyes and throwing her head back with the back of her hand on her forehead.

"Yes, Sly. What did you want it to be, stupidhead or something? You should be honored-- I don't give guys nicknames very often. Yes, yes, your assumptions are right, but I'm gonna have to think up a better one for Jim, anyway.. I think he deserves better," she said, smirking at her own joke. Was she.. flirting? No, she couldn't be.. could she?

Jim was laughing at Todd's mark offensiveness, so much that it actually occurred to him that he hadn't laughed like this in a while. Especially here. This actually made him...feel good, normal. He just hoped that Todd and Brieanne would stay friends with him when the full moon drew closer and his temper was easier to set off. That was when he usually got into fights with bullies or just didn't say anything at all.

"I guess so," he said in response to Todd's comment. "Believe me though, me acting like this is like a miracle in itself. You should have seen me last year. I was more like Grumpy than anything else." He laughed again as he looked to Brieanne. "Don't know if I can help you with that. I lack creative imagination."

Todd stuck his tongue out at Bri. "Well, if you're looking for cute nicknames for Jim, there's Hugglebear. Or Fuzzywompous. But those are a bit long, aren't they? Or you could switch. Bri the Cute and Jim the...Drowsy?" he mused, nostrils twitching slightly in amusement at this whole conversation in general. He was extremely happy at the moment, which was a pleasant change from the usual. "Yeah, though, this year so far seems to be pretty cool. I suppose we're all acting a bit outgoing?"

Evaine sat across from Jim as the black hair girl keep quiet to herself as she took a sip of her drink before picking out her favorite foods. Her eyes glanced over at Jim and the others but quickly looked down 'just keep quiet..' she thought resting her chin on the palm of her hand picking at her food with a bored look on her face. Over hearing there conversations her lips curled into a smile but not to big for them to see it then took a bite of her food.

Brieanne nodded at Jim's statement, reaffirming it soon afterwards, "Me, too. Last year I just sat here and read.. I guess I didn't meet you two soon enough, did I? And don't worry, Jim - I'll have an awesome nickname for you in no time," she said, grinning.

"Hugglebear just sounds creepy to me," Brieanne said, wrinkling her nose, "Are you sure you're not an undercover creepo?" she joked, sticking her tongue back out at him, "I've got a new nickname for ya, Todd.. Toad! But don't worry, hun, you're still sexy and mysterious," she said, winking at him.

"You owe the whole outgoing thing to me," she said in a fake gloating tone, "If I hadn't of heard you talking about me, you wouldn't of talked to me and we wouldn't be having the greatest conversation in the world right now! So, yeah, like.. you're totally welcome," Brie said, giggling cutely afterwards.

She noticed Evaine sit across from Jim and she smiled, "Hi, Evaine. How are ya?"

Jim grinned. "I look forward to it," he said. No doubt Brieanne would come up with something clever. Or funny. "Praise Bri for bringing us together!" he said loudly, pretending to bow right on the table before dissolving into a fit of laughter. He had to write to his parents and tell him about this. They wouldn't be able to believe it.

He looked over, seeing that Brieanne was addressing somebody. Jim was sure he had seen the girl before, maybe in the common room or some of his classes, but he couldn't think of her name. Luckily, Brieanne said it, so he wouldn't have to look like a total dweeb. He gave a little wave. "Hiya," he said, hoping that that was greeting enough. She looked kind of quiet, much like him and the others, and he didn't want to say anything that would make her think she was a freak.

Evaine snapped out of her thoughts when Brieanne said hi, lifting her head up looking at them eye to eye then she waved "Hey Brieanne, I've been great." she slightly laughed "How about you? Had a nice summer I hope?" she said then paid her attention towards Jim "Hi Jim." she said kindly knowing who he was cause of them being in the same classes and house but never had the guts to talk to him. "So you finally going to join Quidditch team this year?" she asked

Todd smirked, shrugging one of his shoulders. "I can never be sure I'm not an undercover creepo. Though if I am, I'm rubbish at the undercover part, hm?" he conceded, sticking his tongue out at Bri for the 'Toad' thing. "For the meantime anyway, Jim will be known, in my mind, as Hugglebear Sleepyhead."

He grinned at her little giggle, thin glanced around when he saw Jim and Bri's gaze shift to somewhere else. He blinked before giving a nod in greeting, trying a friendly smile.

Bri laughed after Jim praised her, taking up a braggish tone, "Yes, yes, praise me for my feats! I am just amazing and beautiful and I CAN RULE THE WORL-- well, maybe not the world. BUT THIS TABLE WILL DO!" she concluded, doubling over in laughter.

Brie sat still for a while after that, trying to compose herself. She took a deep breath in before she continued talking to Todd, "Yep, you're rubbish at the undercover part.. never have met a guy that's willing to call someone Hugglebear Sleepyhead. It's funny."

"That's great, Evaine!" Brie's face darkened a little bit at the mention of her own summer. Truthfully, all she'd seen was evil, treachery, and Death Eaters, but she didn't want to lose her new friends.. not this early, "Yes, well.. my summer was alright. Could've been better.. but we're here now, right?" she responded, looking down at the ring on her finger. 'This thing will be my downfall,' she thought angrily, blinking a bit before shifting her position on the bench.

Evaine bit her lower lip feeling bad that she upset Brieanne "I Im sorry if i offended you Brieanne. I didn't mean to." she said then lowered her head 'Maybe i should keep quiet forever.' she thought as she played with her food again 'im such an idiot.'. Evaine eyes glanced over at Todd giving him a warm smile.

Jim's head whipped around to look at Evaine. She knew that he rode a broomstick? He swallowed, suddenly feeling embarrassed. He could have sworn that he always practiced when nobody was watching. He always had that mind-set that people would laugh at him if they saw a guy practicing moves on a broomstick, but not be on the Quidditch team. Luckily, Brieanne and Todd came into the conversation, steering it towards a different topic. Jim sighed in relief, wiping the sweat off his forehead. It was a stupid thing to keep a secret, but Jim didn't exactly want to tell people he could ride a broomstick and have them be like "Cool! Show us some moves!", and then he end up totally failing. That would be a great thing to do in front of his new friends.

Todd's statement made him laugh. "I sound like the name of a stuffed animal in a toy shop," he said. He didn't mind, though. It was better than "freak", "weirdo", and "creep". He laughed at Brieanne's antics, but noticed when she suddenly went quiet and withdrew a little. He was surprised that she could go to funny to shy in a matter of seconds. It seemed like even though they were clowning around a bit, their quiet selves were still right underneath the surface. He nodded at her statement. "Yeah, we're here now. And hopefully, we can make this year a little better than the ones before." He smiled at the three teenagers around him.

'we can make this year a little better than the ones before. Im already failing at making friends.' She thought having already embarrassed Jim not knowing he was keeping his amazing skills a secret and upset Brieanne "Like that's possible." Evaine mumbled to herself feeling as this year will be worse that the ones before for her. She took a deep breath then exhaled before speaking "Yeah you right," she said throwing on a fake smile

Brie looked at Jim, an obvious look of intrigue on her face, "You fly too?" she asked, smiling, "I do too.. it's a kind-of secret. I have a Firebolt at my uncle's home.. he just decides when I use it. I keep an extra one in my dorm. I'm planning on trying out for Quidditch this year.. it's my last year, better make it count," she said, looking at the ceiling, "Maybe you could come and secretly practice with me sometime.. secretly.""

Brie raised an eyebrow at Evaine, shaking her head, "You didn't upset me at all, Evaine.. what made you think that, hun? I've just been having some rough times lately.. nothing you caused at all. It's okay," said she, flashing a warm smile at the girl.

'Your personality changes have gotta give, Brie,' she thought to herself, yawning soon afterwards.

Oh God, not Quidditch again. Jim turned red, hoping that the others wouldn't see it. "Yeah. I've got a...a Cleansweep 11. Not the best in the world, but it...suits me just fine." Oh jeez, I sound like a dork. I need to shut up. But he was surprised to hear that Brieanne was going to try out this year. "You...you are?" he asked. It looked like she was in the same boat as him. "Maybe. We'll...we'll see." He still didn't know how he compared to other Quidditch players. Sure, he thought he was good, but was it enough to go against some of the other students that had been on their House's team for years? He wasn't sure, and the thought of it made him nervous.

It looked like Evaine was still a little quiet from what she had said earlier. Jim knew the feeling. He often berated himself for stupid things he said. "So, um, Evaine, do you...do broomstick stuff too?" Broomstick stuff? Really? That's what you ask her? Some eloquent speaker you are.

Evaine sighed with relief that she didn't say anything to screw up a possible friendship with Brie "You all so fly too? she asked with a somewhat confused look "I thought you where just the quiet reading type? For years I've just seen you sit in the far back reading." Eva said but smiled at her for wanting to try out for Quidditch "Well I hope you do try out for Quidditch brie you have my vote."

Evaine turn her head towards Jim placing her index finger on her soft pink rosy lips "Um sadly no the last time I tried flying my older sister knocked me off and i broke my arm and leg so Ive been scared to get back on a Broomstick. I think I was ten when that happened. But you Jim have some mad flying skills i kinda watched you practicing last year, why haven't you ever tried out?" she asked then took another sip of her drink

Jim gave a little laugh, rubbing the back of his neck while he blushed again. "I guess we're all kind of a...secretive type? I mean, I'm sure some people have hobbies that they prefer to do when nobody's watching." He gave a little laugh before drinking some more pumpkin juice. "Oh, um..." He paused a bit before answering Evaine's question. "Well, I wasn't sure if they would...take me, you know? I mean, I've been on the edge of the social group for so many years. I thought they would just...laugh if I showed up to tryouts." He swallowed, hardly believing he was admitting this.

Brie smiled at the two, taking advantage of the moment and holding up her book, it being titled 'The Raven's by Edgar Allan Poe. "Well, in both our cases, I think we all need to learn to not judge a book by its cover. Some of us quieter folk can be and are just as good as those who've been on the team for years. I just choose not to indulge in publicly showcasing my talents.. there will be a time for th

Evaine giggled thinking Jim was cute when he blushes "Well then there loss with the way I saw you pull those moves, some of your moves i"ve never seen before." she said smiling at Jim "I'll always be your number one fan okay" she winked at him then turn her head towards Brie "Same thing go's for you too Brie." she gave a light giggle before resting her chin back on the palm of her hand "Sometimes I wish i wasn't so scared to fly My other older sister tried getting me back on but I can't trust her more than I trust the other." she said twirling her fingers threw her hair "Um jim you have a pumpkin mustache." she said then leaned over the table to whip it off.

Jim nodded at Brieanne. "That's right. Seems like too many people around here do that." He glanced over at the book she was reading. "Big Edgar Allan Poe fan?" he asked. He had read a few of his short stories himself, but that was it.

"Thanks Evaine," he said, giving her a smile. She was pretty nice once she came out of her shell. Jim made a mental note to hang out with her more often. He gave a little cry of surprise as Evaine leaned over to wipe his face off. "Thanks, Mom," he joked, laughing. His mother had a habit of doing that when he was a kid, mostly when he was eating sticky stuff like ice cream or jelly.

Evaine laughed sitting back down "Sorry force of habbit my mother use to do when i was a kid." she blushed rubbing her index finger against her cheek smiling then her smile turned into a small frown thinking of her mother and how she ignores her, yells at her and treats her like she's not her own daughter anyone since her father died. "So um Jim mind if I tag along the next time you go flying?" she asked kindly

Jim looked up at Evaine's question. "You really...wanna watch me? Um, I guess so. I mean, if you want to. I just hope I don't, you know, fall off or something." He gave a little laugh, but he was already feeling nervous about it all. Nobody had really watched him ride on his broomstick before, except his parents, but they didn't count. Nobody at the school had seen him do it and he was worried about messing up.

Brie was quiet for the first time since they got to the table, and then she looked up at Jim, "Yeah. He's my favorite.. makes me think, y'know?"she said, looking back down at the slightly torn pages of the book. She listened to Evaine and Jim converse as she took breaks from reading, smiling at Jim's blush. 'Hmm.. they could be such a cute couple given the time to bloom.. I wish I was as free as they are. My ove life is nonexistent.. and whoever came up with arranged marriages should be shot in the face,' she thought, obvious bother on her face as her thoughts consumed her.

Evaine nodded yes as her cheeks turned a slight pink "Yes i could love to." she said cupping her hands together giggling, Evaine wanted to see what other moves he could do plus she wanted to get to know him and hopefully become friends with Jim. "I um.." she blushed not wanting to tell him she wanted to hand out with him not knowing if the others or even Jim would tease her. Hearing his response about falling she looked at him eye to eye "If you think I'll be in the way i chould hide so you wont see me. I don't make you nervous Jim."

"No, no, you shouldn't have to...hide yourself," Jim said, tripping slightly over his words. "I'm just giving into my nerves too much. I'll work on it. Promise." He didn't want Evaine to think she was in the way just because he was nervous. He promised that he would get a grip on himself so she could watch him freely. He looked over at Brieanne, noticing a troubled look on her face. And he doubted it was because of whatever she was reading. He bit his lip, not wanting to pry, but he didn't want her to think he didn't care about her problems. "You okay?" he finally asked, hoping he wasn't butting in on whatever she was thinking about.