(I might join in.)

Blade Edwards sauntered into the Great Hall, he had missed the start of the term feast, having arrived too late. He knew which side to sit on, since the professor had told him, but he didn't really care so he flopped himself at the nearest table and started to eat his breakfast.

Zoe scanned the new boy who unceremoniously flopped in front of her. The shy girl decided to leave him alone.

Magnus didn't notice the new boy, since he was busy drawing and eating at the same time.

Niamh was lost in a little world of her own (as usual during breakfast), but as she went to spear another piece of food with her fork, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Looking across to where Zoe () was sitting, she realised there was a new boy sitting opposite, his flame red hair contrasting with Zoe's shades of blue. Niamh wasn't sure if it was the hair colour or the confident way he walked, but there seemed to be something about him that just attracted attention. Shaking her head to clear it a little, she went back to eating, but found herself glancing in his direction from time to time.

Blade could swear he felt eyes on him but he ignored it and took a tiny piece of bacon and slipped it inside of his pocket before continuing to eat. Zoe wondered if he had an animal inside his pocket and was trying to look without gaining his notice.

Niamh finished her breakfast and looked around the Great Hall, trying to not look too obviously in any one direction. She spotted what looked like the new boy putting some food in his pocket, and wondered if he was saving it for later, or if he had a mouse or something in his pocket. She looked away before anyone could realise she was staring, and idly flicked through her Arithmancy book, although she kept flicking her eyes towards a certain person as she thumbed through the pages.

A little nose popped out of Blade's pocket, then suddenly what looked like a little tailless rat hopped out of the boy's pocket and then ran full out in a little burst of fur. Blade didn't seem too concerned or maybe he hadn't noticed? But the little critter made its way for another house's table, when the boy suddenly waved his wand and the little animal zoomed back into Blade's hands. It had been a wordless summoning. He smirked at the little squirming hedgehog and shook his head before petting it's nose. Zoe couldn't help it, she squealed. "Ooh it's so cute! What's yer hedgie's name?" she asked.

"Claire," the boy replied tucking the hedgehog into his pocket.

Niamh found herself spellbound by the little creature that escaped form the new boy's pocket, and impressed at the apparently wordless summoning charm he'd cast to get it back. Realising she'd actually been holding her book upside-down, she realised that curiosity was getting the better of her, and headed over to the table. "Hey Zoe," she said to the blue-haired girl. She went to speak to the new boy, but wasn't too sure what to say. After a moment's silence, she thought she'd better say something, but the best she could think of was "that's a nifty little pet you've got". Squirming slightly at such a dumb start to a conversation, she wondered what it was about him that made her so incapable of making a sentence.

"Morning, Niamh," Zoe said smiling.

Blade looked up at Niamh. "Thanks," he said. He pulled the hedgehog out of his pocket and let both staring girls get a better look. It was easier this way, he'd seen how Zoe was slowly move to the edge of the bench.

Niamh had just enough time to say "Did you have a good break?" to Zoe before the new boy took the critter from his pocket. "Is that a hedgehog?" Niamh asked, transfixed by the little critter, "that's so cool!"

Socializing was hard.

"Aye, I did," Zoe replied. "Did ye as well?" She then added, "his hedgie's name is Claire. Pretty isn't it?"

Blade nodded and handed Nimah the hedgehog. It curled into her arm looking cute.

Magnus was oblivious to what was going on in the Great Hall as he drew, but Zoe had noticed Toru looking around the great hall. She was shy herself but she waved the Hufflepuff over. The more the merrier right?

By the time they reached the Ravenclaw table they were convinced of the worst and only squeaked softly when they arrived. “H-H-Hi…”

Jona skipped into the Great Hall, gurgling noises from his stomach reminded him how late he was this morning. Duncan was still sleepy so he left her safe in the room; he'd bring back a strip of bacon for her later. Scanning the hall, Jona beamed when he noticed his best friend sitting with his new friend. Continuing the morning skip, he hopped on over to sit by his fellow Hufflepuff. He nudged Toru and said teasingly, "You're just a regular social butterfly over here! And I thought you were shy..." He winked.

Jona eyed the boy in dark colors who seemed to keep to himself. If that's what he wanted to do then that was fine, but Jona wanted to talk.

He waved at Zoe and Toru and Niamh, but it was to the new guy that Jona said, "Hey, you're pretty cool. I like your vibe."

Zoe smiled at Toru. "Hi. Ye wanna sit with us?" She was amazed at her own boldness. She was aching to talk more to the other boy but he seemed rather reluctant.

Magnus was drawing a picture with a jellyfish swimming up to a mermaid.

Zoe smiled when she saw Jona. "Hey Jona, good morning to ye."

Blade looked up at Jona. "Thanks," he said. "Though, I'm wondering what my vibe is." It was the most he'd spoken so far.

Jona shrugged, not having an answer for the boy with red hair. "I don't know either. But, it's you and I like it." He smiled and nodded at his expert explanation then turned to Zoe.

"So, did I miss much? Wait, I was just thinking on the walk over here. Zoe, is this your last year here?" the sadness in Jona's voice was unmistakable, though he steadied his eyes on her's and tried to puff out his chest as a show of strength. The bravado wasn't a very good one and it was plain to see that the thought of her leaving hurt him.

"Alright then," Blade said.

"Nee much, just meeting the cute hedgie from the new boy," Zoe said. The girl suddenly went from smiles to sorrow. "Aye," she said, "I wish it was nee." She started tearing up. The entire holiday was focused on what the teen would do when she graduated so it added to the pressure. She finally had friends--what would happen once she was gone? Everyone would forget her. She'd fade away again never to be noticed. That alone was far too much for Zoe but what would she do for a job? She simply had no idea.

As he watched Zoe's face darken, Jona could almost hear her internal downward spiral. He regretted mentioning her soon departure and would give anything to provide her with the comfort and support she needed to feel safe leaving. She was, after all, his first and very best friend at Hogwarts.

"Hey," He said quietly as he urgently grabbed her hand. "Don't think you can get away that easy!" He winked, trying to lighten the general mood and hopefully boost her self-esteem. "I don't think anyone will be able to fill the shoes you're about to leave behind. Like, best prefect EVER! Huh? Oh, what's that?" Jona cupped his hand around his ear to listen to unsaid words spoken by invisible people. "Well, you're right. I guess I will have to infiltrate Ravenclaw myself and try my best to keep Zoe's legacy alive."

Suddenly, Jona knelt to the floor, not unlike a proposal pose, keeping a hold of Zoe's hand. "Miss Zoe Parker, I promise - ney, I pledge to uphold all that your character symbolizes once your physical being had passed through these halls for the very last time. Never shall students question the effects your presence hath thereto left upon thine place - " He began fumbling words, running out of things to say and eventually gave up with a sheepish grin. He dropped her hand and got back in his seat, summing it up with a simple sentence: "Point is, I'll miss you."

Niamh nodded to Zoe, transfixed by both the new boy and Claire the hedgehog. Finally realising she hadn't said anything for what must have been ages, she plucked up the courage to try stringing a decent sentence together. "So your really cute hedgehog's called Claire, but I've got no idea what your name is," she said to the new boy. She paused for a second before adding, "I'm Niamh, which is spelt totally different to how it's pronounced."

Niamh was a bit too preoccupied with her thoughts to notice Toru and Jona come over, but Paddy had spotted the small gathering of students by the Ravenclaw table and decided to head over to say hello. She paused as she noticed Jona kneeling in front of Zoe, wondering if she was interrupting something important, but decided it wasn't going to be too terrible if she went over and joined in.

Toru blinked a bit as they processed Zoe's question. It was quote the opposite of where their mind took them. Sitting sounded nice, especially since they didn't really talk to anyone new at the Feast. They opened their mouth to say something, but was cut off when Jona showed up with a comment about them being a social butterfly. "I-I am an antisocial moth a-at best..." They grumbled softly before quietly taking a seat, leaving room for Jona to sit beside Zoe - especially after that beautiful speech.

They shifted their gaze to Magnus' drawing and brightened happily. "I-It looks lovely, Magnus," Toru softly whispered in his direction hoping he heard the compliment. They also heard mention of a hedgehog from a nearby Griffindor? Today was shaping up to be interesting for sure.