Looking For Friends OPEN Closed

Marcus Gabriel entered the Great Hall, which buzzed with the lively chatter of students as they partook in the first meal of the day. The boy stared around in awe and excitement, once again appreciating the splendour that was Hogwarts. His eyes took in details that he hadn't managed to during last night's Sorting Feast, as the Hall had been dark, lit by several large braziers along the walls, as well as the candles that had floated overhead. Now, however, the enchanted ceiling mirrored the clear blue sky outside, which allowed a lot of natural sunlight to shine through the large windows.

This was his first year at Hogwarts, and although he was trying to treat this like a grand adventure, he couldn't help but also miss home—his parents, his little brother and sister, and just...home. He'd never spent time away from his family before.

He wore the Gryffindor colours with pride, the golden lion emblem on his chest symbolising bravery and courage, which he liked to think were qualities that he possessed in spades. With that in mind, he approached his house table, his eyes scanning up and down the benches. He saw older students laughing and chatting with each other, while the younger ones, like himself, tried to soak up every detail of their surroundings while also trying to eat a hearty meal to see them through until lunch time.

Marcus found an empty seat and settled down, his heart racing with anticipation. The long wooden tables were laden with an array of breakfast foods: golden toast, steaming bowls of porridge, fresh fruits, and pitchers of pumpkin juice. The aromas of sausages and bacon wafted through the air, making his stomach rumble. He began piling food onto his plate and glanced up, across the table, at a girl he'd noticed getting sorted a few people before himself last night. He gave her a brief, friendly smile before going back to his food.

While he ate, Marcus couldn't help but let his mind wander to the lessons ahead. He was especially excited about Defense Against the Dark Arts, a subject he felt a deep connection to because of his father. Michael Gabriel had filled Marcus' childhood with stories of his own Hogwarts days and the importance of being prepared to face any obstacle that might come his way.


OOC: Hope you don't mind me joining. I saw the OPEN tag and that nobody else had responded yet, so I thought I'd take the honour of being first.

Anamika sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast. She still couldn't believe she was here! She lost track of how many times she dreamt of sitting at this very table.

She glanced down at the long table. It was filled with everything one could think of. It had all her favorite dishes! It was just like how her sister described it!

She took some of the food and put it on her plate. But... she felt weird eating alone. Mostly everyone already had their friend groups. She saw only a few people sitting alone like her. She glanced at the two that were closest to her. A guy and sitting a bit further to him a girl. Should she try to talk to them..? But she always had trouble being the first to talk. After that it was fine she'd take on the conversation.

She picked on her food, debating whether or not she should go up to talk to them. They both seemed friendly. And they looked alone too. She decided she'd talk to them after the meal.

She then turned her attention back to her food; it was truly delicious. The house elves were so talented! She mentally thanked them for the meal before continuing to eat. She looked around the Hall, now that it was morning the ceiling was enchanted to look like a sunny day. She was still so intrigued by everything here. She couldn't wait to explore.

Sneaking food off the table near @Camden Blair, @ Marcus Gabriel and @Anamika Rajeev

Gemini walked into the Great Hall. He was a little late and ran over to his house table, only to find all the food had been eaten by the others. He scanned the large room, before his eyes landed on the Gryffindor table. There was food left there... He wasn’t really much of a rule breaker, but then there wasn’t technically any rule saying *you can’t go to other tables* so maybe if he was quiet he would be fine.

He wrapped the standard black cape/coat around himself to cover the yellow of his house colour, before grabbing a plate and walking through the crowd to the Gryffindor table.

He was nearly done getting his food when he bumped into a shy looking, auburn haired and slender girl.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I’ll stop bothering you now, I’d better be going. See you around!”

He didn’t want to be seen as an untrustworthy person, but some of that was hardly true. He did not want to see any of them again lest they recognise him, and he wasn’t leaving because he thought he was bothering her.

Marcus frowned slightly after he received nothing but a blank stare from the girl opposite and looked down at his plate as he chewed on some bacon. He exhaled before his eyes moved up and down the table, taking in the newly arrived students.

He noticed another girl staring at them further down, so he raised his hand in a slight wave, only to see her quickly look down at her food. He frowned again. He eyed a Hufflepuff who was wandering their way from his own house table, raising an eyebrow as he, for some reason unbeknownst to Marcus, attempted to cover up his house colours. He stared at the boy as he knocked into the other Gryffindor but didn't say anything quite yet in her defence, as he was quite aware that girls could stick up for themselves. A fact that had been drilled into him by his mother—and yet he was expected to stick up for his little sister.

"Make that make sense," Marcus thought idly as his thoughts switched briefly to his family. He watched as the boy mumbled to the girl, making an excuse to leave, before he gave a slight shrug in response. "Or, you know, you could just sit down and eat your food like a normal person," he said, not sure if the boy would hear him. "I mean, I know our house sigil is a lion, but we don't bite. As far as I'm aware."

He eyed the rest of his table with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Mentions: @Marcus Gabriel, @Gemini Johnson & @Anamika Rajeev
WC: 243/200
Date: 2 September 2024
Speech: “Abbey’s thoughts”

Abbey was late for breakfast. She hadn’t expected the day to start this early and had slept over her alarm as well. What felt like an awful morning got even worse when she got down to the great hall and saw the empty plates where the food once was. No no no! It can’t be empty already! Abbey though to herself as she slowly ran towards the Hufflepuff table and the empty plates at the table. After she had seen the food magically appear at the feast yesterday she had now just assumed it was never going to be empty. She couldn’t go through the day without eating breakfast! Breakfast was usually Abbey’s favourite time of the day. Breakfast was what kept her energy up and what made her all happy and positive.

The now a bit grumpy and upset girl looked around the room. Scanning the people around her. There were still people eating and it was still some food left at the other tables. She just now realised the little “drama” thing happening at the Gryffindor table. A Gryffindor boy seemed to be standing up for a girl that had just gotten bumped into or something. Abbey wasn’t sure, but she was curious. She stood by the edge of the hufflepuff table glancing over at them trying to understand what was going on.

@Marcus Gabriel@Gemini Johnson

Anamika looked up from her food to see the boy from before looking in her direction. Just then he raised his hand in a slight wave. Before she could even think it through, she looked down at her food in a swift movement.

Oh! Why had she done that! She squeezed her eyes shut regretting what she had done. It was her chance to make a friend! How could she mess up so badly! She swallowed as she opened her eyes and looked at the boy again, he was looking at the Hufflepuff boy who came to the Gryffindor table.

Right then the Hufflepuff Boy bumped into a girl and they both seemed very awkward as they muttered apologies to each other. Anamika wondered why he was trying to hide the yellow color of his uniform. She didn't see a problem with other house member coming to their table. It would be great to be friends with people from other houses too.

Anamika finished her food and as she got up, she decided to talk to the boy who waved at her before. She walked up to him feeling quite nervous. What if he had not waved at her but at someone behind her? She shook her head trying to clear those thoughts.

She slowed down as she approached him. "Hello."