The Starting Feast

[Neoma Tsylence]

Neoma had recognized Nicholas from when she had first entered the hall. As he spoke, she realized that she had not been sorted into his house. That was fine, but then which staff member was her Head of House? Hmmm... a puzzler which she pondered staring at the members seated at the Staff Table.

This was until her favorite Professor said a name that silenced the entire hall like magic. Harry Potter. Neoma felt completely out of place as she had now idea who this apparently famous boy was. She still felt sad that he had died, and by a car accident no less. Neoma grew solemn, but she wasnèt overtly affected because she still had no face, deeds, or persona to associate with the name. Maybe someone will fill her in later.

When the food appeared, all bets were off. These Huffelpuffs knew how to splurge when it came to food. No doubt about it. It didn't bother Neoma so much, but it was amusing watching someone of them stuff their faces.

[Stevie Copeland]

Stevie was solemn the whole time through the speech, and lifted when everyone else did. Soon, the food appeared on the table. One would think that Stevie would shout 'Oh, awesome!', but this was not the case today.

Halfheartedly, he took some food, and ate it slowly, as everyone else just grabbed and tore at it. He was definitely the odd one out already, but then again, he wasn't that hungry. Maybe it was because of this.

Stevie forced himself to eat. He wanted to not be hungry throughout the night, and he knew he just might if he stopped now, like he wanted to. Right now, Stevie was just trying to figure out what to do. Would he be outright open to anyone, and risk coming across as annoying? Or, would he stay quiet and risk alienation from his fellow students? This just made him even LESS hungry, and left him feeling sick to his stomach. Yet, he continued to force himself to eat.

[Shellivia Nos Taronin]

When Nicholas came back Shellivia nodded to him, her face sad.
"That was a very nice speech," she said softly, "I'm sure his family is very grateful. He was a kind man."
A large assorted salade appeared in front of her, and she didn't have time to even raise her fork before Butter, chattering with delight, jumped out from one of her pouches and began pilaging from it. She looked as though she wanted to stop him, but ended up laughing once her squirrel stuffed enough greens and pine nuts in his cheeks to tripple the size of his face.
Turning back to Nicholas she looked past him for a moment to get a better look at his children.
"So, you said you might be able to better introduce me to your herd?"

[Thomas Bertrand Angelo]

Thomas listened to the speech with apathy
Ah the wondrous harry potter gone from this world. Oh what woe, what sorrow...
He raised his glass and drank with the rest nearly gaging on the liquid.
Dear gods what is that!?! Trying to hide the look of disgust on his face he peered at the strange liquid.
Squash juice?! What is wrong with these people? Don't they drink wine like normal wizards?
He kept his thoughts to himself, however and began eating his food slowly, carefully tasting the food to make sure there weren't any unexpected surprises. The other people at his table talked a lot but mostly to each other. He caught the eye of a couple of girls and looking up at them, he flashed them his signature smile and skillfully moved his hair out of his eyes, all the while looking at them. They all blushed and quickly dropped their eyes.
Too easy, he thought, but smiled to himself anyway; at least some of the people here had taste.
He politely passed a platter of poorly cooked potatoes to a nearby student and continued to chew on a piece of bread. He needed to find someone here with enough brain cells so that he could be well informed of what normally went on in this school. He looked around trying to judge his table mates intelligence levels, but they all looked very dull and stupid while they were stuffing themselves. Still he gazed around the other tables trying to find one person who did not look like an imbecile.

[Dónall Kennedy]

Dónall had noticed the new-comer when he had first sat down at his House table, but he had paid him no notice; that was treating him the same as any other of his peers.

They were seated close, though there was empty space between them. Don decided not to be friendly, but to sate his curiosity. He moved down a bit and attempted a conversation with the 'new bloke.'

"Hullo, the name's Dónall" he said, sticking out his hand in a polite fashion.

[Thomas Bertrand Angelo]

Thomas looked to the person sitting next to him.
The boy had had the same bored expression that he had had during the whole ceremony.
I wonder if he has figured out how pointless school is as well, he thought to himself.
He extended his own hand and shook Donall's in a light almost limp wrist sort of way.
"Thomas Bertrand Angelo" he said politely, his accent ignoring the h and the s so that his name was Toemah. He looked the boy straight in the eye to see what he would do.

[Dónall Kennedy]

'Aha, a Frenchy.' he thought to himself. 'Not bad.'

Don shook the boy's hand, without breaking eye contact, and inquired, "Quite an interesting little ceremony we have here, hm?"

He pulled back his hand slowly and picked up his fork to play with. He seemed completely uninterested, even in in his own question.

[Thomas Bertrand Angelo]

Keeping a detached expression Thomas leaned back a bit and tilted his head to one side.
"Yes, interesting. This segregation of students is unique, I think, to this school. Though I can see how it benefits everyone, keeping the people apart." He chewed on another piece of bread thoughtfully. I wonder...
"I myself am not used to seeing such a diversity of...people, especially with the professors." He let the sentence hang wondering if Donall would pick up on his hint.

[Dónall Kennedy]

His eyes lit up at the blond haired boy's words. Don then squinted his eyes in concentration, and chose his next words very carefully. "Yes, well, Hogwarts is known for it's tolerance, I suppose."

Bringing his voice down to a whisper, he continued. "In that Hero boy Potter's day they even had a Werewolf on staff."

[Thomas Bertrand Angelo]

Thomas' lips curved ever so slightly into a smile.
The boy knows how to play; this is good.
"Tolerance is a good thing, except if it goes to far I suppose and erodes the value of having standards. isn't that why we have tests here? I wonder if they will tolerate student failing quite so calmly." He said the words casually as if only having an idle conversation about nothing.
"Oh? So the hero was taught by a Werewolf, I suppose he too learned this tolerance of Hogwarts. This school is trying all sorts of new things not found elsewhere. These things have never happened at Beauxbaton."
He brought his voice down to the same level as Donall's but kept his eyes moving around the room.

[Elsbeth Pierce]

Elsbeth surveyed the room, observing the students interacting with one another.

The Gryffindor table was noisy as usual, with the Hufflepuffs a close second. Most students were either eating or socializing. Or both.

The Ravenclaw table was slightly quieter, though a few students here and there were discussing things.

The Slytherin table was a whole different story. Most were quiet, observing their Housemates or the room while eating their dinner. Some were talking in a hushed manner; Dónall and the new transfer student, she noticed.

'Nice,' she thought to herself, 'Looks like Mister Angelo will fit right in. Never seen Dónall so friendly before, though...'

[Dónall Kennedy]

'Failing? Is that why he's here?'

Dónall nodded in understanding.

Pretending to ignore some of Thomas' words, Don then moved the conversation in a different direction. Using his peer's last name, as he did with everyone, he asked. "So, Angelo, what year are you? I'm Sixth."

[Thomas Bertrand Angelo]

Thomas quirked an eyebrow at the use of his surname. Angelo?
Besides that he made no other facial expression but to turn and smile at another girl who then blushed and looked away.
Turning back to Donall, he sighed slightly.
"Year? I am graduating, so that will make me in my seventh would it not?" He ate a few strips of meat carefully.
"Last year," he started, "all professors who taught me asked me to choose my profession. I suppose that means you have yours all picked out?" His tone was a bit condescending, but not towards Donall, more as if it was for the idea in general.

[Dónall Kennedy]

Don chewed his food thoughtfully, then responded. "A Curse-Breaker, but I'm keeping my options open. I just told them what I knew they wanted to hear."

Interested in how Thomas might've interacted with those in authority, he inquired the same of him. "What did you tell the nosy buggers?"

[Dr. Althea Lannsman]

Althea raised her glass higher at the mention at the the fallen who fought along side Harry Potter. Her expression was on of deep thought. She listened to the remainder of her husbands speech, and joked a little on her pumpkin juice at the mention of a duel with Orynn. It was pretty obvious that the news of the duel was as new to her as to everyone else at the hall, except for maybe Orynn.

*Cough, cough* "Excuse me,...a..duel?...With HIM above all people?" She tried to whisper to him as she continued to try and clear her throat... "Are you sure he's...*cough*... not going to cheat?"

Her coughing caught the attention of the first few students who were sitting nearest the head table. A few eager Hufflepuff students were half tempted to jump out of their seats to aid the choking nurse, but they settled back down when she finally managed to clear her throat for good.

"I'm sorry," She said to the centaur, not meaning to ignore her dinner conversation.