New Friends Closed

banner by Oliver Brown

time: n/a

location: great hall

clothing: school robes

mentioning/interactions: Rita, Oliver

Ebony watched the boy leave the Great Hall in tears. She felt bad for him, having been embarrassed many times before. She just hoped nobody would bully him for it afterwards.

"Yeah, hopefully this won't happen again and the professors will be lenient. I'm thankful this hasn't happened to me before but I also feel bad for him, if you know what I mean," she whispered back to Rita, attempting to speak properly with some food in her mouth. She swallowed then said, "is it ok if we stay here for a while more? Or at least, I'm going to. I'm not half done with this," she stabbed at her potatoes and rice, "You don't have to, if you don't want to."

She shoved another mouthful of potatoes in her mouth and grabbed the wet handkerchief, trying her hardest to squeeze all the water out of it but it was still as wet as the Great Lake, no matter what she did.

"Anyone knows a drying spell?" she joked, then said, "I guess that's gone." She threw the handkerchief back onto the table and continued her meal

ll she could think about was how the boy was almost done with his work, but it was then ruined. That was another reason why she didn't like doing homework in the Great Hall.

It was noisy, filled with screaming students of all years; first years, sixth years... all of them in one place. It wasn't very pleasant and always smelled of food. There was always the danger of someone sending a pancake flying into your head. The candles were pretty, but the Great Lake was prettier and the library was a lot more peaceful.

She wondered how people managed to concentrate in the Great Hall. It was ideal for a game of wizard chess, or a meal with friends (where else would they go) but it wasn't great for homework, in Ebony's opinion.

Rita smiled at Ebony when Ebony agreed to stay the great hall with her longer. "I am Glad that Ebony agrees to stay here for a little longer. We can have some small chat and I can try to know more about Ebony! Maybe we can be friends!" Rita thought with a smile, feeling glad that Ebony agreed to stay here for longer.

"Yeah, we still get plenty of time before the afternoon classes starts, Ebony, so maybe we can just stay here and chat for some time as we continue to enjoy our lunch here in the great hall!" Rita turned to Ebony when she finished eating that bite of steak, "So, how about we talk about our hobbies? I really like music, outdoor sports and activities, meet up with new people and old friends, and food! What about you? What are your interests and hobbies? Do we share the same hobbies?" Rita looked at Ebony with a smile as she waited for Ebony to respond to her, then put some meat and veggies into her mouth and continued to finish the food in her plate while occasional looking at Ebony and paying attention to what Ebony wanted to say.
Word count: 202
@Ebony Vetra

banner by Oliver Brown

time: n/a

location: great hall

clothing: school robes

mentioning/interactions: Rita, Oliver

Ebony proceeded in putting food in her mouth. The potatoes, the chicken, the rice, it was all delicious, but she had to say her very first feast at Hogwarts was still the best. None of the other meals could compare to that one. As she was admiring the ever-present candles hanging from the ceiling that never seemed to burn out (the effects of magic, of course), Rita said they could be friends. Ebony smiled so wide, glad that Rita was such an easy person to talk to and that she had said they could be friends. Ebony found herself becoming more sociable, less awkward, and having more friends. The best part of becoming a second year was that you were no longer the newbie, and Ebony found that it had a big impact on social life. She made so many more interactions with different people from different houses this year, and she was glad. Of course, she still very much appreciated the friends she had made in her first year and how they had been there for her. They would always have a place in her heart, but there was always room for more. Ebony felt that she was slowly warming up to Rita. "Yeah, that'd be great," she replied, smiling broadly. She was so caught up in her own thoughts she almost forgot to speak. When Rita asked her about her hobbies, she had to go with the one thing that always lingered in her mind and that she always longed to do. "I absolutely love drawing. I'm not brilliant, but let's just say its something I'm decent at for once," she responded, "what about you?"

Rita also smiled when Ebony agreed to be friends with her. Ebony is also a quite nice Ravenclaw, although she seemed to be a lot introverted then Rita and talked a lot less than Rita. That was absolutely fine, Rita understood not everyone is an extrovert, and Rita always enjoyed meeting wizards with a diverse of personalities. Anyway, it was at least good for Ebony to open up and talk about herself a little bit, maybe due to Rita`s extroverted and calm personality. "Maybe it`s true that every introvert needs an extrovert, at least they can try to open up and come out of their shells a little bit. I`m glad that I can help Ebony do that. Someone had said that introverts rule, and it`s always interesting to meet up with some introverts and be able to see their power!" Rita thought with a smile.

"Well, I am not that interested in drawing, and my drawing is like the things little children draw. I think painting and playing with the colored paints is more interesting, though I am also not good at that. Maybe you can teach me to draw and paint one day! I like music more that art, listening to music, singing, playing the piano, etc. Music is part of my life! I also like outdoor activities and sports, Quidditch, and meeting up with people in general." She responded to Ebony with a smile. Drawing and painting was never Rita`s thing, but Rita understood everyone have different hobbies, and she would be happy to learn drawing and painting if Ebony could teach her one day.
Word count: 269
@Ebony Vetra

banner by Oliver Brown

time: n/a

location: great hall

clothing: school robes

mentioning/interactions: Rita

Ebony felt even more lifted in terms of spirits when they continued to talk. Rita was so easy to open up to, so calm and so extroverted. Everybody needed an opposite sometimes, and Ebony felt that Rita was that kind of person for her.

She was amazing at initiating conversation, carrying her through topics and allowing Ebony to socialise. It had never been easy for her, opening up to people, but it was easy to do that with Rita, and Ebony was glad.

Rita was such an awesome friend already and she regretted not meeting her earlier. Maybe life would have been easier.

Rita said that she wasn't really interested in drawing. Ebony wasn't very disappointed, as she understood that not everybody liked what she liked and had different hobbies than her, similar to how everybody's personalities were different.

Rita did say that she liked music and the outdoors, though, so Ebony felt even closer to her.

''I love the outdoors, as well, the reason why I really love hanging around the Grounds and the Great Lake. I'd love to go there with you, sometime," she said to her.

At the mention of Quidditch, Ebony perked up a lot. She was already extremely happy at the prospect of having made a new friend, but now she felt sugar-high. "Quidditch is one of my favourite things, too, it is amazing. Ooh, imagine if we play each other, I'm sure that will come by some time or the other," she rambled, grinning.

Ebony was quiet and an introvert, but one thing that made her on fire and maybe one of the only things that could get her talking like crazy was competition.

Rita smiled when Ebony responded to her, saying she also liked outdoors and Quidditch. It was clear that Ebony was a lot introverted and talked a lot less than Rita and Rita sadly was not that interesting in drawing, they also shared a bunch of other hobbies. The Second Year Hufflepuff was just obsessed with going outdoor to meet up with new people and old friends, take part of in variety of activities and events, and to play Quidditch and other outdoor sports. She liked to go to the courtyard, the grounds, the campgrounds, the great lake, the outdoor club area, literally anywhere outdoors. Going out and doing all kinds of interesting things outdoors on campus was definitely much more interesting than staying indoors to do the boring and difficult homework and take dull lessons, at least for Rita.

"Sorry that I am not that interested in drawing, I guess everyone just have different hobbies. But I am glad we share some common interests! I am obsessed with going outdoors, courtyard, grounds, campgrounds, great lake, outdoor club area, literally anywhere outdoors! We definitely shall meet outdoors sometime in the future! And glad you are also a Quidditch player! I am a beater, which position do you play? I think Huffle will definitely play against Raven sometime in the future! And we can also practice Quidditch together! By the way, you seem to be such a nice girl, would you like to be my friend? Sorry I am talking too much again, clearly a lot more than you!" Rita responded to Ebony with a friendly smile, hoping the Ravenclaw girl was not upset with Rita clearly talking a lot more than her, anyway, it was just that Rita was a lot more extroverted than Ebony, and could never learn to shut her mouth.
Word count: 303
@Ebony Vetra

banner by Oliver Brown

time: n/a

location: great hall

clothing: school robes

mentioning/interactions: Rita

E^{bony's mind was still half on the outdoors and Quidditch, so her full attention wasn't on what Rita was saying. She smiled at the large chunk of words that Rita had just said, and just nodded, not knowing what to say. But then she caught that Rita said she was talking too much. Her mind was confused and muddled as she fumbled on a response. "Wait, me? You want me to talk less?" she asked, startled. Nobody had ever asked her to do that before; they either told her not to speak (in terms of parents or professors) or speak more (in terms of friends), but nobody, and that was to say, nobody, had ever told Ebony to be more quiet. She was already anti-social and quiet all the time, but maybe if Rita had told her that, it meant that her social skills were improving. She forced herself to look on the bright side. Did Rita think she was too quiet but talk too much at the same time? Did she hate her? She started doubting herself and her heart started to fall as if gravity was pulling on it. She also caught something about Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw playing each other, so she nodded in reply. "Yeah, we're definitely going to have a game sometime later this year," she said, though she wasn't sure if she had heard clearly.}

"What, Ebony thought I am telling her to talk a little less? She is clearly taken about what I am talking to her. I am apologizing to her that I am speaking a lot more than her. Ebony don`t have to talk more or talk less, I understand she is clearly an introvert, so it`s OK that she don`t talk much. Anyway, for me, it is always interesting to interact with an introvert as an extrovert, and I really like to meet other people with different personalities with me." Rita thought when Ebony surprisingly told Rita that she is telling Ebony to talk less.

"Haha, you are clearly mistaken, I am saying I am talking too much. You are fine. It is always interesting to meet people that have different personalities with me. It is nice to spend the lunch break chatting with you. Maybe we can be friends some time." Rita responded to Ebony with a smile, "Yeah, if there is a Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw sometime in the future, then we should play against each other. We can also practice Quidditch together in the Quidditch training pitch. It might be interesting. Anyway, I think the lunch break is going to end soon. Do you have anything else to ask me? Else, maybe I should leave the great hall and prepare for afternoon classes. What do you think?" Rita turned to Ebony when she finished talking, and waited Ebony to respond. Rita had finished her lunch, and could not think of anything else to talk to Ebony, so she was thinking about leaving the great hall. Rita wondered if Ebony thought the same as she waited for Ebony to respond to her.