Great Hall

---

---

---

"Hah! Catch me if you can!" A loud and hyper voice yelled as it moved throughout the Great Hall, echoing as the whole room silenced to see what idiot was yelling to early in the morning. Of course the voice would belong to no one other than Fang Chung, belonging to the house of Gryffindor and being in her 4th year of attending Hogwarts. Perhaps this was why she was such a trouble maker.

But the real question was, where exactly was she? Her voice kept on laughing, idiotically, as she seemed to have travelled around each and every House table. Suddenly one of the student toppled over after giving out a yelp, "Ack, sorry!" Her voice shrunk backwards a little.

Just like any other person would suspect, Fang was using the Invisibility Charm again to cause trouble and havoc. After bumping into the student, she seemed to have lost focus and the spell wore off, revealing her, who was still in her bedtime clothes with messy hair and tired eyes, but a stupid grin on her face as she ran off, shouting and screaming, dodging one of the professor's grips as she continued her dash.

It was like a cat chasing a mouse; pointless. Of course Fang wouldn't be caught. The professor was far too slow to get her, especially if she was rushing throughout the hall with that unlimited amount of energy she seemed to have, "Get back here, Chun! You aren't allowed to be running around so early in that clothing! Get changed! And stop shouting!" The professor screamed out at her with the little breath he had after sprinting so far just to attempt to catch her.

Fang stopped at the end of the Gryffindor House table and saying with a tilt of her head, "And exactly why should I do that? These are comfortable! Much more comfortable than those robes!"

She had hardly done anything wrong, well, except for screaming, and only listed out her opinion. But this seemed to have only annoyed the professor even more, seeing how he frowned and began to chase after her again as she started she chase once more, "Chun!" He shouted with anger while she only giggled childishly and began to run around the Great Hall even more, and even faster, grabbing food off every and any table that she found to look appetizing. If someone was going to run so early in the morning, why not grab a snack while at it?

---

---

Mr. Loire a charms professor at Hogwarts, was heading towards the Dungeons when hearing faint screaming. Horrified of what it was about, he quickly walked towards the Great Hall. Hoping that someone wasn't going through a lot of pain.

As he had gotten closer he was hearing a loud and familiar yell Mr. Loire sighed, walking even quicker down to the Great Hall and he peeked through the entrance to see who was making the ruckus. Knowing who it was,"Fang Chun! Stop this, this instant!" Quickly walking in her path to catch her, and if he did he would look down and glare at her. "Why aren't you dressed in your school clothing? You know this isn't setting a good example." He calmed his voice down, trying to convince her to get dressed. She'd never do this when he was teaching, and he was glad for it. But, whether it was his class or any other place in Hogwarts, he had to enforce the rules.

Shaking his head,"If you keep lollygagging around, you might end up stubbing a toe or something." Though, that might not bring her down, he was still concerned about safety. "You might even hurt others around you. If you want to run around do it in the courtyard," Pausing before continuing to talk again,"When you get dressed." Pointing his finger towards the door, he looked up at the professor he seemed to be out of breath. "I'm sorry, sir. She will be handled by me immediately."

Smiling kindly as the fellow professor began to leave. He stopped smiling and looked down at Fang Chun. "Great student in class but, horrible example to first years." Rather disappointed in Fang Chun for causing so much trouble, it wasn't as bad as bullying but, she still was breaking the rules. "Please go change, and fix yourself up child."

---

---

---

Fang stuck her tongue out while she continued to run around the Great Hall, stick causing havoc, many of the students at the tables either ignoring her or plugging their ears. Most people heard her running around like that for four years, as it was her fourth year at Hogwarts making trouble like always.

Suddenly, a voist burst through the hall, "Fang Chun! Stop this, this instant!"

Fang nearly tripped and fallen, most likely landing on her face and getting a bloody nose as she did the year before before she hit someone else. After looking up, she felt a shiver down her spine as she tried to say with a smile, "H-Hey Mr. Loire!" It didn't work too well because of the angry aura she seemed to have sensed around him.

He glared, "Why aren't you dressed in your school clothing? You know this isn't setting a good example."

She sighed and muttered quietly to herself, not meaning to be heard, "Not you too...." She then said in her regular voice, "But doesn't everyone know not to follow my lead? That's common sense, right?" She grinned foolishly, "I bet ya even the first years know that!"

"If you keep lollygagging around, you might end up stubbing a toe or something."

"Oh trust me, sir, I've done that plenty of times." She nodded, recalling once before in her second year when she began to hop around and someone accidentally opened the door right as she walked into it, and quite forcefully too. It was so bad, Fang had to use crutches for a week before hobbling on her way, "But its alright! It only lasted two weeks or something!" The teacher was probably more concerned for the students around her rather than herself since Fang really didn't care much about her state.

"You might even hurt others around you. If you want to run around do it in the courtyard," He started.

Fang seemed to have thought about it, as if she was actually given an option, before saying quietly, "Mmm... not a bad idea. Maybe I will." She said, sounding as if she was just agreeing with herself, "But-"

"When you get dressed."

A small grumble came from Fang after hearing that as she gave a petulant expression, "The robes are so uncomfortable though! And this is my fourth year having to wear them every day! Tch, I bet you that woman I bought them from gave me the itchiest pair just because I didn't tip her like everyone else did..." She scowled, biting on her thumb a bit as she thought back again while Vincent began to apologize to the professor that had to chase her around the Great Hall endlessly.

"Great student in class but, horrible example to first years." She saw him look down at her disappointedly.

Fang gave off a apologetic smile and shrug while she said, "Sorry, Sorry. I can't help but have to go wild sometimes! It could have been that one candy that a 3rd year gave me! Dunno what it did, but it probably have a charm on it or something."

"Please go change, and fix yourself up child."

"Yes, yes, I'm going, I'm going." Fang groaned while sluggishly walking out of the Great Hall. The Common Room was so far away, in her eyes, and she really just wanted to stay in her bedtime clothing. But what could she do? The only teachers Fang really favored were Ms. Gordon and Mr. Loire, so she'd have to keep their impression of her good enough. At least on the edge.

Along the walk to the end of the Great Hall, the attention of the whole room slowly drifting from her, she saw Cindy Owen, a friendly Ravenclaw that Fang took a liking to as she smiled and said, "Did they manage to catch you this time, Fang?"

"Yup. Well, kind of!" She began to explain, still walking, but at a slower pace, "Mr. Eddisole was too slow to get me and I had some fun messing with him, but I have to listen to Mr. Loire, so..." She drifted off, deciding to leave the obvious ending to Cindy as she beamed and waved before leaving the hall, heading towards the Great Staircase to get to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Just afterwards came Claire Rook, a Hufflepuff in her 5th year, as she did like a lot of people, “Careful, Chun. If you get detention, when will you have time before our next game to practice protecting your lovely lions from all my brilliantly aimed bludgers?”

"Obviously!" Fang said confidently, making a thumbs up, "Don't worry, Claire! Grynffindor will certainly win against Hufflepuff, and all the other teams this year! In fact, we're going to win House Cup this year too!" She said, now sounding a little cocky, but that was just her in her daily day.

(OOC: Moving to Quidditch Pitch in next post)

Claire Rook pulled her hair in a loose ponytail as she stomped up a single flight of stone steps and through a door into the entrance hall next to the foot of the grand staircase. One of the perks of her dormitory’s location was that there was no messing about with moving staircases until after breakfast, once she’d had the chance to eat and wake up properly.

A couple of hundred teenage student in a single hall having breakfast always amounted to a good bit of noise but there was a little more ruckus coming from the great hall this morning. As she approached the noise settled mildly, a teacher stood in the doorway and Claire hung back as he spoke to the apparent perpetrator of noise and mayhem.
Fang Chun stepped past the teacher and out of the hall, not looking particularly repentant after her little talking to, wearing a grin and her pyjamas.
“Careful, Chun,” Claire called out with a friendly smile to the Gryffindor beater. “If you get detention, when will you have time before our next game to practice protecting your lovely lions from all my brilliantly aimed bludgers?”

"Obviously!" Fang said confidently, making a thumbs up, "Don't worry, Claire! Grynffindor will certainly win against Hufflepuff, and all the other teams this year! In fact, we're going to win House Cup this year too!"
Claire rolled her eyes, "You keep telling yourself that." She smiled and headed into the hall.

“Good morning, professor,” she grinned at the teacher, Vincent Loire, as she passed him. Being a Hufflpuff himself she quite liked the young professor, especially his stand on bullying; he was one of her favourite teachers. But as she stole past him into the hall she half expected some stern word. He was quite serious and she, well… she was less so. She tried her best to be responsible; but never saw the harm in some good-natured inter-house banter.

The smell of food drew her attention. British breakfasts could be a bit heavy but the house elves were very good at making sure that there was always something for everybody’s tastes here.
Claire soon found herself at a table with a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast, and a steaming mug of tea. She wrapped her hands around the warm cup, savouring the heat when letter dropped unto the table in front of her and familiar looking short-eared owl landed on her shoulder. Claire almost slopped all her tea in her lap.

“Dammit, bird!” She hissed, setting her teas carefully on the table. “Ow. Ow! Claws!”
Old Zachariah’s perpetually cranky-looking owl, stopped needling her shoulder, unhooked his talons from her robe, and in a flurry of flapping feathers took off again. By whatever means the wizarding world had for long distance, as in: international, postal services, her sister’s letter’s always ended up being delivered via her grandmother’s neighbour, Zachariah. The greying haired man was the first wizard she’d ever met, and now, pretty much, a friend of the family. He was even more cantankerous than his bird appeared, but good-hearted, and most everything Clare knew of duelling magic and curses she’d learnt from him.

Rubbing her shoulder, Claire tucked the letter into her bag and hurried to finish her breakfast. It was almost time for classes and she was hoping to run into someone who could remind her what fifth years had first up.

Dioda was simply staring at the food in front of her. She sighed reluctantly as she took a bite. She stomach protested against it, but she had to eat if she wanted to go through the day. She just wanted to go back to sleep, and maybe she would. She was too tired to handle the teachers and she hated it if they'd brag about her not talking. She just didn't want to talk, it was that simple. She didn't want to answer any questions that teachers asked and she wouldn't. 'I just need some sleep right now... I'm too tired to handle anything else...' Sadly, skipping lessons was not a thing she did a lot because she was scared to miss a lot of important stuff. Stuff she needed to go to the next year and she would need to know. Dioda wasn't sure what to do, get some sleep or just drag herself through the day.

Someone came to sit beside her, ''Hi Dioda, how are you today?'' was her response. Dioda turned to face the girl she had no idea of who she was. She frowned slightly at her, gave a forced small smile and looked back at the table, at her plate that was now empty. ''I'm fine, I guess,'' she answered softly. She rarely talked, but it would be so polite to talk back. She didn't want to be mean towards other students if they weren't towards her. Dioda froze as Lilyanna took a strand of her hair. She wasn't sure why, and she wasn't bothered to ask. She was too scared the girl might hurt her.

Lilyanna took a pen and started drawing on her own hand. Dioda looked away from the girl and up to the ceiling, thinking silently. 'Why does she interact with me? I am not bothered to interact with anyone... She's from a different house too...' She sighed and closed her eyes.

"Well Di, I am going to join the rest of my table." Dioda narrowed her eyes as she watched Lilyanna. She didn't like the nickname Di, and she wouldn't let anyone call her that. Yet before she could tell the girl not too, the girl stood up, said "You're so gorgeous." and left. 'Gorgeous? Really? I'm not interested... Gross.' Dioda rested her head on the table, almost saddened by the words. She sighed and tried to decide whether to go to her lesson, or catch some sleep. Deciding it was better for her, Dioda got up and left the Great Hall to catch some sleep.

↷ Xing Hei

It was early in the morning, but Xing was already up to his feet, refreshing himself on one side with the cold water and on the other side his memories, while standing in front of the mirror without even glancing up to it, so engrossed was he into the book he currently read. It was about potions - obviously - his passion. Well, his passion that he showed everyone, a fake impression of his also acted character in front of the crowd. He might smile so charmantly, but if you look closely, those smiles never reached his eyes. His eyes which turn anyone deeply to the cruelty of cold winter days, where only fear followed the lonely man. He had been up for about two hours now but until now, he did not bother to step outside. He was sure that it would be meaningless because the breakfast is probably not going to be ready yet. Truly, he hated mornings, he hated himself due to his restless sleep, where nightmares seem to seek him everytime. Despite that experience though, he would have never seen to be in any way disturbed by that. The fake smile always rested on his face, letting everyone now he was okay. He was alright. And there is nothing for anyone to worry about.

He usually kept everything for himself, and would never trust anyone to an extent of close to irritation of anyone should bother in asking about his life which he thought of his own business, where no one had the right to interfere. Even his little half brother, who did not like him anyway. An unusual pain is piercing through his heart; always is it likewise, he hated how he felt. That strong urge to be by his brothers side, having a usual relationship with it. But of course, that woman had to destroy everything, had to destroy his own dear life. It was truthfully annoying. If Xing wouldn't have been so reserved like he was, he would probably sigh right now, complaining in silence. However, he was the type of person who holds everything in, did not dare to leek any of his sentiments out, in the fear of being heard. Of being looked through like a plain book.

Slowly stepping to his bed, he noticed that all surround him are still in middle of their dreams, far from awake. It was nothing to wonder about though, having the morning to be still early. Even so, Xing knew just too well that he already could grab something to eat below and started off the day. He was positive that he was not the only one either. With that thought, he placed back his books in their places where he put them, all in a nice order. Generally, he always was a person who disliked mess and appear to often manage his belongings well, only not to bother having an headache finding things which needs to be find. And nothing was more easy than putting them nicely right from the start - a mature thought which was another radical difference between himself and his brother.

After awhile, he'd quitted the dorms and finally after awhile walking through the hallways and greeting politely some teachers with his good student manners, he reached the great hall. A nice smell approached him at the time he opened the doors - and the familiar sight appeared in front of him, letting him having that strange feeling of coming back home. A silly feeling; with that, he dropped the subject, left it ignored and walked to the table of which he was assigned to from when he started to go to Hogwarts - a time which seem to be so long ago now, almost unreachable. The 11 years old him already figured that he would end up in Slytherin; not because of an unreasonable instinct, but the very deep insight and understanding his nature, which truthfully not anyone could do.

"Good morning, Dioda," A gentle and still foreign voice escaped his lips as he passed the white haired woman, though she seem to not noticing him. It would be too much if one say that Xing liked the girl - he probably loved her company which always brought silence and almost none disturbance, something rare he could find where everyone have the urge to talk needless things; conversations, which never contain any meaningful informations. Small talk which could just disappear. That's why he was quite disappointed not having her as a company when he took his breakfast. Despite Xing's deep indifference about his surroundings, he had felt the desire to keep a nice image of himself; and someone like that would never eat alone like a loner. Sighing in his thoughts, he went to the other Slytherin students, preparing to hear useless talk.

↷ Yean Hei

Yean was, like always, outside. It'd developed into his hobby to sneak out of the windown and climb up to the academytop, only going for the chance to be alone and stare up to the skies. Strong wind forced his natural maroon hair to dance wildly, made a mess out of them as they began to rest again, alongside the wind which slowly began to calm himself. Now, only a nice morning breeze felt curling through every part of his body, letting him slowly become in touch with the shy but gentle warmth of the morning sun. While thoroughly savouring the morning while having his eyes closed, he slowly noticed his little problem. Hunger overcame him and forced him to open his eyes, dissatisfied. Although a part of him still want to stay on his spot, he was afraid that his stomach wouldn't want to argue any further.

A bit cursing himself for not smuggling any food into the dorms, he carelessly jumped then skillfully grabbed the window frames in his fall, then with one try pulled himself back into the dorms, uncaring about the noise he'd made. Honestly, he couldn't care less - all of them had to come back to reality soon enough, so why not waking all them up now? While played with the thought of doing a little prank, he changed his clothes into the hateful robes and obediently closed the door with little noise as possible. There is, surprisingly, still manners in his rough and grumpy skin.

Yean felt nothing but tiredness going to this academy - why was he here again? He remembered that his dad told him to, saying that he was also here although Yean was sure that he made it clear that he wanted to do something else. Something, which had nothing to do with the world of magicians. But that did not mean he was not interested in that, although he had to admit he was a bit too naive as he was still in his first years. Still having the thought that it would be something exciting; and nothing as bothersome and sometimes difficult to understand as now. He was told to read books with such details and so many complicated formular that his head might just explode on the spot. Well, he was never the type of person who would be fitting in learning things which he is not interested in - truthfully he was not dumb. He was only too lazy for some things which did not even picked his attention. That's why up until now he still preferred the world without magic, the world where his physical abilities had a better use than here.

Then he remembered how they confiscated his skateboard, and his mood sinked again, made him even more looked like a delinquent. Unlike his brother, he couldn't care less about the impression he might have given other people - he was him and that simple reason was probably why he got himself end up in Gryffindor. Well, that did not mean he was unsocial in anyway though; in fact, he was known to talk many things which half of it was probably garbage. The complete opposite of his half brother after all - a fact he just wanted to forget. He was sick of always being compared to his half- brother. There is nothing about him that Yean did not hate - he would never forgive him and that will be it between them.

He entered the great hall, noticing quite many students present - a nice surprise. Yean always hated silence so he warmly greeted so many company. Ignoring the presence of Xing, he stepped with an unusual rushed pace to the Gryffindor table. To be honest, he was glad that he was not in the same house as his brother. It would just make his stay in Hogwards like hell, uncomfortable and even more unenjoyable than how things already are. Throwing that disturbing thought, he spotted Lilyanna, an odd girl in her seventh year, who still behaved like a curious child. Yean could never hate someone like that though; and in general, he could never hate a girl - or a somekind woman in her case. She attracted him somehow and made his curiosity also arise and her company was indeed pleasant in an amusing way. "Mornin' Rose, pretty early today. What do you recommend?," He asked, a question that he often posed. He'd liked the way she express herself for quite long so it started to become a somekind of habit.

Claire had finished breakfast, although she still had some of her tea left, when she saw Xing Hei come into the hall. A fellow fifth year student!

She couldn’t recall whether they had potions or transfiguration first up. She’d been considering searching the depths of her bag for the piece of parchment that had been handed to students on the first day of term and had outlined their class timetables. Hers was probably now it was in a sadder state than it had been over a month ago as she’d ceased caring for it once she’d fallen into her schedule. So when Xing came in she slung her bag over her shoulder, picked up her mug, and wandered over to the Slytherin table to go ask him.

She got some dirty look from some of the Slytherins as she set her mug on their table and took a seat on the wooden bench beside Xing. She, naturally, ignored these looks, having little patience for such things and never really being to really respect the habit of segregating houses. She calmly took a sip of her tea, gazing over the rim, challenging anyone to question her, and demonstrated her indifference. Then, setting the mug down again, she turned to Xing.

As usual he was not exactly smiles and sunshine, he looked tired but his expression was composed and impassive.
“Good morning, Xing,” she smiled. I hope you slept well, she wanted to say. But it looked like he hadn’t, so she bit her tongue. “So, um…” She racked her brain for something that she might say to him. “How did you go with last night’s potions homework?”

That seemed a fair enough question. She was pretty sure that Xing was good at potions, and they were both in the same year class. They’d been assigned the homework task of writing about an ingredient of choice, describing its properties, and the effects that other common ingredients and brewing procedures had on it. She’d chosen salamander blood, with its healing and rejuvenating properties, since it was an important ingredient in a strengthening solution, one of the potions on the fifth year’s curriculum. Otherwise, she usually she would have gone for some plant ingredient because of her affinity for Herbology. All this went very quickly through her mind as she waited hopefully for reply for the Slytherin boy beside her.

↷ Xing Hei

If it's not about some women, it is about bragging their wealth, trying to figure out who was the best, the richest, the most handsome, the luckiest - and whatever else there is to brag about. Xing soon adapted to that situation, where everyone tried to stand above anyone else, but refrained to do the same. He'd agree there and smile here, but there is nothing really a truth coming out of his mouth when talking to those 'brats' like he called them secretly. Well, their naive nature was easy to manipulate so he did not really case about his status in their group. Such things were a pain in the ass. Fortunately for Xing that his father once were a great magician, also there in Slytherin, and so he was easily accepted in groups, who only wanted members with high standards. 'Idiots' - if we're talking about Xing's opinion about those flies.

"Today, I will be getting the newest model! It has such a speed that no other will compare to!" He heard one bragging with such proud that'd make him puke. "It will be coming this noon, you see," Like he cared. But he smiled and congratulated which made him even higher of himself. Proud he exclaimed more or less the same, just rephrased it; trying to make everyone jealous. Honestly - Xing was sick of it; sick of those talks that won't ever find its end. Sick of this whole academy life he'd lead just a tad too long now. He was tired acting like a good student. And he wanted to raise and objection about everything that'd been bothering him up until now - tell them face to face that they are so good damn losers - because the money they all posses do not even belong to them. It was so pathetic. He was so pathetic, even intended to hear that useless jabbering.

Suddenly, the chit- chat ceased until silence was among the Slytherin, all eyes seem to be fixed on something... or more like someone. It was a Hufflepuff. A woman. And plus, she named Claire Rook. Xing sometimes had the same classes as her, so he knew. He knew what kind of a weird Hufflepuff woman she was - almost made him wonder why she ended up in that house. Xing did not like her the moment she began sweet talk, but in the other hand, he couldn't entirely hate her either - he would lack of reasons likewise. Nonetheless, that woman suddenly dared to come to the table of Slytherin, and really had the guts to sit next to him - honestly, he was confused. But only a smile was decorating his face as he responded. "Good morning, Ms. Rook," Like always, polite and never failed to express a distant. He knew that the other Slytherin students won't like him to help someone from the other house - they all were strict with those, who seem to want to betray. And additionally she was a troublemaker - not someone that should be accepted in that high class group of them. Even by knowing that, he still gave her an answer. Finding that situation a good excuse for doing what he wanted to do. Not like he is obliged and chained to be by their sides forever - those pigs. Without him, they won't ever succeed, he knew it. "How did I go, you ask? Fairly well. Is there anything which causes you problems?,"

The second he said that, he stood up, smiled to his Slytherin ‘friends’ and then announced: "Then I will be helping this young lady, and I just hope, you all will continue doing good with your studies," With other means, do not count on his help anymore. "Have a nice day failing," Those were the last words he spoke as he dragged Claire along, away from the Slytherin table. Kind of relieved he said that, he again showed a smile to her new company. "So? Where can I be any help to you?,"

Lilyanna Rose Diem

Lily had started devouring her food as if she would never eat again. She imagined all the dishes were various fictional food items that she saw in her mind. Doing so, she occasionally smiled to herself with her funky food names. She then heard a familiar voice behind her, one she knew to be Yean, as he was the only one to ever call her by her middle name. She found it endearing, but she also just thought it sounded very pretty, so she never asked him to call her otherwise. Spun around and put her feet up to her chest leaning towards him, "Everything." she whispered, about several inches from his face, glowing. She was of course referring to the magical foods in which she had just made up. Or maybe she wasn't. "Rainbow marshmallow upsidown pudding." she said, as she pointed to what was clearly nothing of the sort. "Actually..." She grabbed his rainbow marshmallow upsidown pudding and took a bite of it. "Try it!" she said excitedly, as if sharing her own food. She held out a spoon in front of his mouth. "Aaaaah.." For a split moment she took a look around, the room seemed to be dispersing. "Oh no we're going to be late!" she gasped as she grabbed bread and stuffed it in her mouth.

She got up and ran passed various students, stepping on a few toes along the way. She had never been late for anything before, and she didn't want to start now. She was to get to quidditch, which she was definitely excited about. She loved flying and her position was fun in itself. Surely this year they would triumph over the others, she had the utmost faith in everyone. Lily was scolded by a few teachers as she ran passed. She however, seemed to always have a hard time staying scolded as because she did so well in all aspects of classes the professors often let her off lightly. Quidditch practice was still never the same as the real thing, while people did take quidditch practice seriously, the real games were much more exciting. It was during those games that she usually came away with lots of bruises. When she got to the quidditch pitch she realized that everyone was already there and sighed to herself. She was usually the one to be there first.