General The Hufflepuff Table 2017 - 2018 Closed

The moment he sat down on the table, he began nursing his bruised feet- he really doesn't understand how could accidentally kicking the chair hurt this bad- Vincent winced and hesitantly, slowly began to twitch his toes in the shoes, only stopping once the pain has subsided into nothing.

He suddenly decided that, he really doesn't want to imagine what would a stubbed toe feel like if something like this is already so painful.

When he finally looked up, he couldn't help but notice how everyone seem to be busy with the food, or forming into groups; he placed his hand on his lap, wiping his hands on the fabric before he took the plate and began scanning the dishes nearby.

Without his book, he felt incredibly naked and exposed and he simply couldn't wait to be dismissed and to rush towards his trunk-which is supposed to be in his dorm room but he isn't quite sure. However, if he couldn't have his book right now the next best thing would be to busy himself with something else right?

Decision made, he began taking a little from each and every dish-noticeably taking more from any sweet dishes he found. Almost instinctively, he took several crackers into his palm and was about to stuff it into his pockets before he realized-

He is not in Bourton-on-the-Water anymore.

There won't be any crows or strays he could feed here.

Awkwardly, he picked one out of the small pile and placed it into his mouth, nibbling as he pondered the strange heavy feeling he has got the moment of his realization; he didn't like this feeling much, it feels...painful, almost like...he misses his home already.

Vincent frowned, 'Don't be an idiot, he chided himself, 'It is only the first day.' He finished the rest of the crackers in record time before he went back to the food on his plate, trying not to think more about his home, where his dog, Cyrus and his father are at right at this moment.

He wonders if he is weak for thinking this way; after all, he is mature enough to be away from home right? The other children doesn't seem to upset about being away from home, he noted glumly, feeling worse now that he is seemingly the only one that is too childish to be independent like them.

'But...I am in a new school now; Hogwarts!,' He brought his fork to his mouth, 'The best school in all of UK! Even the Harry Potter graduated from here...and many more amazing wizards and witches...' He attempted to cheer himself up, but as time went on and the chatter only seem to increase in volume, he decided that he still very much preferred the quiet atmosphere back in his village.

And preferably, the company of his dog, Cyrus, as well.

Sarafina looked over, realizing another person had sat down. He looked very uncomfortable. She knew what that felt like. Socializing was he most awkward, but it helped when you had friends and someone talked to you first. She wanted to step up and do that.
“Hey,” he turned to him, hoping she didn’t startle him. “Welcome to Hufflepuff. I’m Sarafina, but I go by Fina for short. How are you? What’s your name?” She asked, hoping she didn’t sound too intrusive or talkative. Hopefully he understood that she was just trying to make another friend. It would make all of their lives easier if they knew more people. She brushed a strand of raven-black hair out of her face when it decided to fall over and block her vision. It was annoying, but she wasn’t willing to cut it. It helped her in awkward situations when she needed to hide behind something. She turned a bit, so that he would know she was talking to him. She wished she didn’t look to weird or as awkward as she was feeling. She was forcing herself to be social, and she wasn’t sure if it would go well. Talking wasn’t her thing.

After being sorted into hufflepuff,skyla went to the table and looked for a seat,finding one and sitting down,her body was shaking with fear and anxiety ,she wasn't good with socialising and usually preferred to not start conversations or friendships, she didn't want to talk right now either ,thinking she would make it awkward with her not being used to it,so she decided to take out her sketchbook and draw hogwarts,or atleast what she had seen of it ,it was pretty good as she was an a-level artist in her old school , and drawing usually calmed her down in these situations ,she looked up at the food but decided not to eat,well she never usually did,and had gotten used to it,so she continued her artwork and soon finished with the sketch ,at this point she was pretty happy with it and decided to finish it later when she had more time .
Sighing she looked up at everybody,who were all talking by now,so she didn't bother in trying to make friends unless someone asked ,to shy to talk to anyone at this point .
"Hah.. I hope i like it here..not like at home" she thought to her self ,simply sighing and looking down

Vincent startled when he heard someone speak to him, and when he turned around he was surprised to that it was the black haired girl seated next to him. The first thing he noticed however, would probably be just how freckled her face is and how tall she is compared to him.

While he has never claimed to be particularly tall by any means, he has always been rather short even for his age and the girls are even taller than him but 'still' he thought petulantly.

He quickly swallowed the food that was in his mouth, before replying-hoping that his voice wouldn't come out sounding weird, "H-hey," Vincent felt himself wither slightly when he noticed how high pitched his voice sounded like, before he hurriedly cleared his throat, "Uh, thanks. Nice to meet you Fina."

Despite the fact that he is internally wincing at how odd his voice sounds-with it being too high pitched in the beginning then turning throaty after he cleared his throat- he managed a smile at the girl and moved jerkily to continue cleaning off his plate before he remembered that she asked his name and he should probably introduce himself before he make a bigger fool of himself.

"S-sorry, uh, my name is Vincent Eastender, but j-just call me Vincent...or um, I don't know, what sounds good? I-I don't think an-yone's given me a nickname before..." He stammered out, the blood already rushing back to his fact. Did he sound weird? Did he make a mistake? Was his introduction too weird? Too stupid?

Realizing that now he is actually holding a conversation, (it is more of an introduction, but this is probably the most he has spoken to another person outside his family) Vincent felt the shaking in his hand calm slightly. Since he could talk somewhat normally now, surely he can...change for the better, right? He didn't know, and didn't take too long to ponder about it before a question popped into his mind.

His mouth opened slightly, but when he was about to speak he realized that no sound came out; he immediately ducked his head in embarrassment and coughed in an attempt to cover it up. "Y-you are first year as well?" He managed to ask.

"And, um, S-sarafina is...a really nice name," He offered, unsure of what to say next-but it is true, it is a really nice name, Vincent mused, he could almost imagine a singer with a name like that. "It sounds like...you are singing-uh, not in a weird way, just-um, it sounds...pretty?[/i]"

Suddenly, a sigh sounded in front of him and when he looked up, he could see another girl with very interesting features. He thought back to his bluish-black hair and blue eyes, and decided that it really couldn't be compared to the girl's.

She has blonde hair that ends in black tips and silver eyes; Vincent blinked and temporarily looked away from Sarafina, though not before shooting a smile at her, then looked directly at the girl.

"A-are you...alright?" He asked lightly, that it was almost drowned out in the hustle and bustle of the great hall.

"A-are you alright?" A voice asked skyla,turning her head to look at them,it was a boy with black-blueish hair and blue eyes ,realising she starting to shake again,she whispered "I-I'm f-fine..." she hoped it hadn't sounded like it was to her ,but she wasn't sure,she knew she would act like this,which is the reason why she never talked mostly .
"Um.. "she mumbled,trying to think of what to say without stammering ,which turned out to be a fail.
"W-wh..who a-are y-yo-you.."
She mentally face palmed for stammering again,as it had not come back in years ,she guessed being a totally new place brought this one ,she waited for a reply still shaking ,hoping she wouldn't be rejected like she was at home , this was a chance to start new,she couldnt mess it up again..right?
Or could she..
Thoughts raised through her mind until she couldn't take it ,and put her hand on her face trying to stop shaking so violently
I messed up so bad ..again..she thought to herself ,she didnt think she would be like this ,not this time,
She got herself to calm down after a bit,but was still waiting ,she looked back at the boy her silver eyes dull once again

She was surprised the boy heard her through the loud chatter of the hall.
“H-hey,” He cleared his throat, “uh, thanks. Nice to meet you Fina.” She thought he was done and was about to say something, but he continued on. “S-sorry, uh, my name is Vincent Eastender, but j-just call me Vincent...or um, I don’t know, what sounds good? I-I don’t think anyone’s given me a nicknames before,” he stammered. The pain of conversations brought back memories of her doing the same thing. She smiled to try and help him feel a little more comfortable. She remembered what it was like the be socially awkward. “Y-you’re a first year as well?” He asked. She nodded in answer.
“Yeah, I got here just before you did.”
“And um, S-Sarafina is... a really nice name. It sounds like...you are singing-uh, not in a weird way, just um sounds...pretty?” He said. She smiled at the compliment, a little surprised at his answer.
“Thanks...um, a-actually I do like singing,” she gave a surprised laugh, trying to cover up her slight stutter. She was fearing that her old habits of talking were coming back. At least she had managed to go a bit without stammering or just not being able to talk in general. Social anxiety was hard on people these days. She saw another girl walk in. Vincent smiled at Sarafina, then turned to see her too. He asked if she was okay, but Sarafina could hardly hear it through the other people. She doubted the girl had heard him, but maybe she had.
Looked like she might be making even more friends. The girl answered and Sarafina let a conversation go on between them between saying,
“You can sit by us if you want.”

Skyla wasn't sure what to say when the girl said she could sit with them,but nodded and mumbled "t...thank you" and sat with them ,she had calmed down now ,so she could speak clearly without stammering and stoped shaking
"I'm..I'm skyla." She said, putting her hair infront of her eye again hoping they had not seen the scar covering it ,she didn't no how to continue the conversation,so she quietly waited for response after saying"and you are..?"
Hoping her quiet voice could still be heard through the hustle and bustle,as she didn't want to speak any louder ,she placed her sketchbook on the table still open to the drawing of hogwarts,as she had nowhere else to put it and didn't want to be holding it for a while. Sighing ,her mind went back to the times where she was hurt for her artwork,being the only art kid she had no one to relate to,and was also bullied for the fact she was hard working,she snapped out of it and forced a smile,since there was many people there must of been some like her , and these had made her feel welcome ,and greeted her with kindness.she would start new,and meet others on the way.

Sarafina smiled as the girl answered and sat down beside them. “T-thank you,” She said. “I’m...I’m Skyla. And you are...?”
“I’m Sarafina,” she quickly added, “but you can call me Fina for short.” She caught a glimpse of a scar by the girl’s eye before she quickly covered it with hair. Sarafina wasn’t going to ask about, since she knew it could be a touchy subject, and she didn’t want to pry into the other girl’s business. Skyla left her sketchbook open. It was a beautiful sketch of Hogwarts. Sarafina liked drawing too, so she decided to bring it up. She tried not to be awkward about it.
“That’s a really good picture,” she said, pointing. “I like drawing too,” she added. She smiled at the girl, an attempt to get her to feel more comfortable. She thought that others should be relaxed. It was hard for her, but that shouldn’t stop the people around her. It was easier for her to get someone else calm than to get calm herself. She always seemed to tense up in social conversations, a bad habit she needed and wanted to stop, but couldn’t. She was surprised she hadn’t stammered while talking to the girl, another bad habit she had. She scooted over to give the girl more room. It was very tight seating, and the kids seemed crammed together around the table.

I'm safrina" she said quickly,adding "but you can call me fina for short"
Skyla nodded "sky for short..."she said ,
Looking at her picture ,quickly looking up when she said "that's a really great picture " "I like drawing too"
Skyla smiled "t-thank you" ,the smile quickly faded however ,as she thought she could make it better ,but left it as it was,as she wasn't usually given compliments ,despite how hard working she was .
She flinched when the girl moved closer to her ,it felt weird to be close to so many as it was , never mind hoping to make friends at the same time,but maybe she had found some in these two,she finally felt welcomed ,she hadn't felt like it in a long time,and smiled gently asking "w-what do you like to draw?" She said,trying to keep the conversation going as the topic had turned to art at this point .
Skyla had always preferred to draw her own characters,landscapes or sketches of animals and people in her own style ,and also drew comics in her free time.
She was glad she had come so far,and hoped not to mess up this now ,her social anxiety had gone,she didn't want to mess it up.

Quinn was about to answer when he saw Sarafina greet another boy that set next to him. An interesting boy like himself and from what he could possibly a bit shy. Maybe something more than that, The boy reminded him a lot of one of his friends from Dublin. Seamus a socially, awkward boy that was basically the polar opposite of Quinn, however he was very dependable when you needed him. He suddenly heard "You can sit by us." Which came from Sarafina and snapped him out of his train of thought.

That's when Quinn noticed along with the inky-black haired boy that another girl joined them. Most noticeably was a scar under one of hers something that he desperately wanted to ask about. He refrained though learning too many times that some things are just best not to ask. At least for the moment.

With all those thoughts out of the way he thought it best to reassert his presence. "Hey there you two I'm Quinn Healy nice to meet ya!" He exclaimed rather happily. In the back of his mind he did hope he did not come off as too happy. Quinn knew better than most how...exhausting his personality could be. "I apologize for not introducing myself earlier I got...lost in my own thoughts something I do quite often. Always been the curious sort, but hey that's fun seeing where one's curiosity can take them right? Right, I'm starting to ramble" He laughed smiling at the three.

"Well as I said earlier, before I started to ramble it is a pleasure to me-" He interrupted himself leaning over to see the drawing in the girl's sketchbook. "Wow, that's an amazing drawing!"