A Feast Under the Stars RPG PV Dean Saunders Closed

Dean watched with a mixture of amusement and admiration as the new Hufflepuff, Elisa, made her entrance. Her excitement was like a ripple of energy, spreading through the Hufflepuff table and brightening the faces of everyone around. The Great Hall, with its high, arching ceiling enchanted to mirror the twilight sky, seemed to twinkle in response to her joy. The floating candles cast a warm, golden glow over the scene, their light reflecting off the gleaming plates and silverware. He'd been through what she had just a few moments prior, being introduced to all by his name and his house. He'd received the same enthusiasm as he'd come to sit next to his new peers, his heart throbbing. The excitement hadn't worn off and yet and he felt giddy.

He couldn't help but chuckle as Elisa exclaimed her house name with such fervor. He watched as her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, a fun contrast against the yellow of the Hufflepuff colors adorning her. Around them, the hall was abuzz with the chatter and laughter of students, the air filled with the scents of a sumptuous feast. Plates piled high with delicacies from every corner of the wizarding world lined the tables, but for a moment, they seemed secondary to the excitement of meeting new housemates.

"Hi, I'm Dean!" he replied, his voice easygoing and friendly. The bench beneath them was worn smooth from years of use, a testament to the many generations of Hufflepuffs who had sat there before. "Yeah, it's an amazing evening. First nights at Hogwarts are always special, apparently, but there's something extra magical about tonight, aye? It's because I'm here, I know it." He joked, gently nudging her shoulder with his own.

Elisa's energy was contagious, and Dean found himself smiling wider than he had all evening. He noticed the way her eyes sparkled with unshed tears of happiness, her emotions raw and genuine. It was moments like this that reminded him of the unique bond shared by those in Hufflepuff - a bond of camaraderie and acceptance.

As the sounds of the feast continued around them, with the occasional clink of glasses and the soft hum of conversation, Dean felt a sense of belonging envelop the table. It was as if the very walls of Hogwarts were whispering stories, welcoming Elisa and all the new students to their new home.

"So, Elisa, first night at Hogwarts and you're already spreading joy like a pro," Dean said with a grin. "Will you teach me? Honestly, it's my first night here too but I haven't made half the impression you have! You're a true Hufflepuff to the core, for sure! Me, I wanted in on the Gryffindors at first but honestly I prefer it here. The food seems so much better, no?"

The moment Dean introduced himself, there was a tiny second of hesitation that crossed Elisa's face. Her habitual shyness rushed to the foreground, freezing her expression momentarily in a look of stunned surprise. I'm talking to a boy, Elisa thought. It wasn't something she had much practice in. From a young age, her mother had instilled in her the fear of befriending the mischievous opposite sex. Unbeknownst to her, the warnings were more to guard her daughter from distractions in her studies than from actual danger.

Yet Dean exuded such warmth and friendliness that Elisa felt instantly at ease. Her mother wasn't there to disapprove and besides, her heart told her that she was safe. More than safe. She knew it in her gut: she was in the presence of friends, of a family. A family of kindred souls with whom she could be herself and express all the joy bursting from within her. Her shyness would wait behind scenes... there was no use for it now. The new, more social and cheerful side of Elisa returned to the stage once again.

As the Hufflepuff boy continued talking, Elisa felt as if she had always known him. As if talking to him was as normal and easy as tying her shoes. She couldn't help but feel surprised, however, at the thought that she could spread joy like a pro. Elisa, spreading joy? Sure, she did tend to smile a lot, but usually, they were reserved, polite smiles devoid of the cheer that was now inhabiting her.
But this idea pleased her immensely. The thought of lifting others' spirits, bringing light to heavy hearts, kindling happiness in grieving souls ... well, that seemed like a purpose worth living for.

"Me? Spread joy? Am I really doing that? I would certainly love to share my happiness with everyone, all the time, if I could! Is this what it means to be a Hufflepuff?" she asked, her eyes twinkling cheerfully as though the stars above were shining through them. If that was what it meant to be a Hufflepuff, Elisa couldn't possibly imagine wishing to be in any other house. "I don't know anything about this house, really, or Gryffindor, or the other houses. But I can feel it deep in here," she said, placing a palm on her heart. "We belong here. Do you feel it too? Being in Hufflepuff.. it's like coming home!"

Her face glowed happily as she said this. She felt like she could hug everyone at the table. In her exuberance, she nearly made a movement to hug Dean, but resisted just in time. There seemed to be more joy in her tiny figure than Elisa could contain. A silent wish glowed within her heart. The wish that Dean and her would become good friends.

"The food! Oh, I haven't tried anything yet!" she said, giggling. She grabbed a warm bread roll and took a bite, her eyes widening. It was the best bread roll she had ever tasted. "Yes, indeed. The food must be amazing if this is how good their bread tastes!"

Dean's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and delight at her reaction. He could see the brief flicker of shyness crossing her face, but it quickly gave way to a genuine, bubbling enthusiasm that seemed to match the lively atmosphere of the Great Hall. The floating candles above cast a warm, flickering glow, reflecting off her excited eyes and illuminating her face, which was alive with a newfound joy.

"Yeah, being a Hufflepuff is all about that – spreading joy, being kind, and feeling like you're part of a big family," Dean said, his voice bubbling with excitement. He felt a sense of pride swell within him; pride in his house and the values it stood for. "And you definitely seem like you fit right in!"

Elisa's wonder at the concept of being a source of joy and happiness made Dean smile even wider. He could see in her the embodiment of what he loved most about Hufflepuff: the sheer, unadulterated joy of being oneself and sharing that happiness with others.

"I reckon being in Hufflepuff means just that. It's about being happy, helping others, and feeling like you've finally found where you belong," Dean explained, his words carrying the weight of his own experiences and the happiness he found in the house.

As she mentioned the food, Dean's attention momentarily diverted to the array of dishes before them. The Great Hall's tables were laden with all sorts of delicacies, from hearty roasts to delicate pastries, each dish more enticing than the last. "Oh, you've got to try the pumpkin pasties! They're brilliant!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm matching hers. In the small amount of time he'd been seated, he'd already downed a good amount of food, his stomach almost full already.

Dean watched as she took a bite of the bread roll, her expression one of pure delight. He chuckled softly at her reaction, thinking that her joy over something as simple as a bread roll was a perfect example of the wonder that Hogwarts could instill in its students.

"And trust me, it only gets better from here," Dean said, grinning. "There's so much to try, so much to see. And hey, if you ever need a taste-tester or a tour guide, I'm your guy! I haven't been here long but my dad came to this school before me and he told me a bunch of stuff! Like how to have all the best food and how to forge signatures for Hogsmeade. Also all the good stuff to do there! He was in Ravenclaw but he was kinda devious."

The clinking of plates and the murmur of conversation around them added to the homely atmosphere, making the Great Hall feel less like a dining room and more like a gathering of friends and family. Dean grinned a little wider, sliding a plate of roasted potatoes towards his new friends. "Where are you from? What's your family like? If we're gonna be buddies, you gotta tell me stuff about you," he hummed, a nod accompanying his words. Dean's happiness seemed to seep from his pores as he took a hearty bite of a donut. His mouth full, he spoke: "And also, you need a class buddy! i could be that for you!"

Elisa held her bread roll in both hands, taking little mousy bites now and again, while she listened to Dean's every word. Her eyes sparkled and her heart swelled with gratitude as he described more about Hufflepuff, confirming her intuition. She couldn't have imagined a more perfect and desirable house to be part of. A house that valued joy, kindness, family, helping one another... Well, it was exactly the sort of home that she had always yearned for.

Elisa's stomach seemed to jolt awake at the mention of pumpkin. "Pumpkin! Where?" But her eyes were quick to spot them. She pounced, grabbing two from a basket nearby. "Whoa," she exclaimed in amazement as she took a first bite. "How are they doing this? Is food in the wizarding world always these delicious?"

"And trust me, it only gets better from here," Dean said, grinning.

Hearing this awakened the first whispers of concern within her mind. This first day seemed so perfect...impossibly so. Could tomorrow really be just as good? And the thought of Dean talking to her not just that evening, but tomorrow and possibly the day after that... that was starting to sound like someone else's life. Elisa had mostly known loneliness. Was that truly about to change? But the joyful atmosphere and Dean's aura of friendliness was like a shining light, banishing the shadows of her anxious thoughts. And in the magic and magnificence of that starry first night, Elisa trusted his words wholeheartedly.

"Buddies? Oh I'd love that!" She clapped her hands in glee. "Did you know, I'm a Muggle-born. I know nothing whatsoever about Hogwarts or magic or the wizarding world. So I would love a tour guide!"

It felt so strange to think about life outside of Hogwarts. It already seemed so far away, almost unreal, and like an unpleasant dream in comparison to the beauty of that evening and of Hogwarts itself. She was usually a very private person, unaccustomed to talking much. But she felt so comfortable and safe around Dean that sharing felt so much easier than normal.

"I'm from Barrow-in-Furness, a cute little port town by the sea. I live with my parents, my Lola - that means grandma - and my older brother, Mark. But, I'm the only witch." She paused to take a big bite from the pumpkin pasty. "My family is, um..." She thought briefly of her parents and how to describe them. Feeling her body suddenly tense, she decided to skip them for now.

"My grandma is the kindest, funniest old lady you'll ever meet. I'm sure she would be a Hufflepuff if she were a witch! It's hard to take life too seriously when you're with her." Elisa said, her face aglow with a loving smile, all tension melting away at the thought of the old lady. "My older brother... he doesn't get along with my parents, so he's rarely home. But he has a good heart and is always worrying about me."

Elisa glanced timidly at Dean, wondering suddenly how any of that could possibly interest him."What about you? What's your family like? That's so cool that your father went to Hogwarts!"

Dean's eyes twinkled with a blend of amusement and genuine interest as he leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. The soft glow of the Great Hall's floating candles cast a warm light on his face, highlighting his youthful features and the eager curiosity in his expression. "Barrow-in-Furness, huh? Sounds ace," he said in a relaxed tone, his voice tinged with the easygoing nature of a kid his age.

"Muggle-born and the first witch in your family? That's seriously cool," Dean remarked, his eyes widening a bit as he imagined what that experience must be like. He took another bite of his pasty, his movements unhurried and carefree.

He laughed softly, a genuine sound that echoed his carefree nature, when Elisa mentioned her grandmother. "Your Lola sounds brilliant. Bet she's got the best stories ever. It'd be awesome to hear some of them," Dean said, his eyes shining with sincere interest and a bit of wistfulness. He could almost picture the lively tales Elisa's grandma might tell, filled with humor and warmth.

As the conversation shifted to his own family, Dean's demeanor remained relaxed, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. "Oh, my family? They're pretty great. Dad's a wizard, was in Ravenclaw at Hogwarts. Always up to something with his books and magical stuff," Dean said, grinning broadly. The mention of his father brought a sense of admiration to his tone, mixed with a touch of awe for the magical world he was part of.

"Mum's a Muggle, so life's like a bit of both worlds for me. Football with mates one day, learning spells the next," he continued, his voice light and filled with a sense of wonder. There was a certain magic in the way he described his life, a blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Dean leaned back, his expression thoughtful for a moment, then broke into a warm, easy-going smile. "Yeah, that's us. I like it, though. Makes life interesting, you know?" he said, his laughter mingling with the ambient sounds of the bustling Great Hall.

His eyes ran over the table and he picked a pork bun to try, bringing it to his lips but stopping just before the food touched his skin, an idea dancing in his head. "Since you're new to this, you must feel so overwhelmed! I'm already a bit crazy and I've been living in this all my life. Man, I don't know how you do it but honestly if you need help I can totally try! I'm not super great at school but I try, that's what my mom says, and I can definitely try with you! Or if you don't know stuff, like owls!"

Dean's eyes lit up with a playful twinkle as he listened to Elisa's stories about Lola Tawanan, his grin growing wider. "Lola Tawanan, eh? That's a fantastic nickname. I bet she's a riot!" he chuckled, his laughter filling the air with a light-heartedness that seemed to echo around the Great Hall. Sounds were muffled in the background and they felt like a gentle whisper against his ears.

He leaned in a bit closer, the warm glow from the candles casting a soft light on his eager face. "My dad's got tons of stories. Some of them are pretty wild! He wasn't exactly the rule-breaking type, but he sure knew how to have fun. Maybe one day I'll tell you about the time he accidentally turned his quill into a canary." Dean's eyes sparkled with mirth at the memory. He chuckled to himself a little, before pausing, his eyes on his newest friend.

At Elisa's admission of being overwhelmed, Dean nodded understandingly. "It's a lot to take in, for sure. But hey, you're doing great! And I'm here if you need any help. Hogwarts can be a maze sometimes, but it's an awesome one to explore. I haven't been able to see much of it yet but it looks really fun. Have you seen the moving staircases? They're so funny. I think the profs know we might get overwhelmed too! It's like my first time being so far away from my mum and dad so it's a bit scary but we can get through it, aye?"

Dean's curiosity peaked as he considered her question about his own excitement for Hogwarts. "What am I excited about? Blimey, where do I start? I love Quidditch, but I'm also really into duelling. There's this whole world of spells I never knew existed! And the places here... the Forbidden Forest, the lake... it's all just so incredible!" His enthusiasm was infectious, his words tumbling out in an excited rush.

He leaned back, his gaze drifting towards the enchanted ceiling, then back to Elisa. "But you know what's the best part? Meeting new people like you. Hogwarts is full of surprises, and I reckon we're gonna have a brilliant time discovering them together." Dean's smile was genuine and warm, a reflection of the joy and wonder that Hogwarts inspired in him.

Elisa couldn't wait to hear all the stories about Dean's father, but most especially, she couldn't wait to have stories of her own. Having spent most of her life shut in at home, the idea of getting into adventures really excited her. She had the feeling that if she continued to hang around Dean, they would soon have their own collection of entertaining tales. She would come home at Christmastime and surprise everyone with her thrilling stories.

"Oh yes, I really can't wait, Dean!" she exclaimed, rising slightly off her seat in her excitement. "We should start exploring asap and get into adventures of our own, you know? The castle is so big and I bet it's full of mysteries and surprises! A moving staircase, you say? I've been stuck at home most of my childhood, so, I kind of want to make up for it and really live each day here to the fullest! The lake, the forest.. oh I just can't wait!" Her whole face was lit with anticipation at the exciting future that awaited them.

Elisa listened attentively as Dean spoke about the things that he most looked forward to. "Quidditch? Oh, I read a bit about it in our textbooks! I can't wait to try flying on a broom and zipping through the sky!" Elisa exclaimed, her voice rising almost to a shout in her excitement. "What position would you want to play? I want to be beater or chaser! Maybe beater especially!" She swung her arms, imagining herself being up in the air on a broom, swinging at a bludger speeding in her direction. "It must be so thrilling," she added. "I want to try duelling as well. Although I'm a little nervous about trying, since I have no idea if I can be any good at magic."

Elisa smiled warmly back at Dean, full of gratitude and joy at having found some a kind and fun-loving friend. "I'm really happy to meet people like you as well," she said. Her eyes lowered to her lap as she blushed slightly. "I already feel lucky to meet even just one friend as kind as you are."

Elisa couldn't help but worry that the friendship blossoming between them now was only a product of the magical night. And that in the morning, poof, she would again be friendless, just like at home. In an effort to reassure herself, she turned to Dean timidly and asked, "Do you want to do something together tomorrow? Maybe give me a tour, or explore the grounds or inside the castle together?" She bit her lip and closed her eyes, her heart pounding in fear of hearing the dreaded "no" of rejection.

He hadn't met many people yet, still discovering everything that Hogwarts could give, but at every smile he received, he felt his heart swell with gratitude. He looked back to his newest friend, listening to her words with unabridged attention, his head bobbing up and down as he nodded, again and again.

Dean's hand reached for a bun, then a second, which he plopped in front of Elisa a little mindlessly. "Apparently we get to start flying real soon! I heard some older years talk about it and it's like this whole thing. The professor is cool but kinda stern and like scary so you know, don't get too intimidated," he said, taking a big bite of the bread he'd picked. The sounds of the hall buzzed all around him but he singled Elisa's voice out, doing his best to not get sucked into other conversations, his excitement spilling over. "I really wanna be a chaser, I think! But honestly I don't know all too well. I mean, my dad and I went to see a few small competitive shows you know but I could barely see anything, I was so tiny so everyone was blocking the way. But being a beater seems really cool, you can just hit stuff it's neat," he giggled, a grin spread wide on his face.

He shuffled on his seat, his legs kicking back and forth under the table. Elisa's gentle speech made his cheeks blush with red and he looked down at his plate, a dumb, childish smile on his lips. "Hey, no need to get all soggy like that! You're gonna make so many friends you won't even know how to deal with all of it, I promise. And like, you can also make girl friends! 'Cause you know, I'm a dude so like I can't help with stuff like hair and all of that so you're gonna have to find people for that. So honestly, don't stick with just me, you're fun you can get lots of friends!"

He went in for a big scoop of mashed potatoes when he heard her question and he paused in his movement, his eyes drifting to Elisa's face. Her eyes were closed, as if she was praying and he somewhat found it cute. "Dude, yeah! We could like go to the lake or something? I hear it's really nice right now and we could even like go on it if it's frozen. Like ice skating or something, I don't know," he chuckled. "Or we could go and look at the classrooms or something? I don't know, there's like so much to do here you know, it's a lot."

He shrugged, leaning back a little, his eyes running over the hall. A multitude of colours popped in his vision and he watched as people laughed, ate and spoke, this eerie, happy feeling floating in the air. "Or we could just go raid the kitchens, I heard it's right next to our dorm, and then we could go out to the grounds and have like a picnic or something, with snacks. And maybe we can read over our classes because I haven't even started yet and we have our first course in like, not long so. What do you think?"