Lonely Breakfast (Open)

[Guinevere King]

Guinevere King was no stranger to eating alone. Even at home during her breaks her parents never took the time out of their schedules for a meal. And so, as she sat down for breakfast at the far end of the Slytherin table, she was surprised to find herself a little upset at the thought of breakfast alone. It was a new month and her first day at the new school and she was determined to start anew. However, looking around at her fellow students, she didn't know how to initiate conversation with them. After all, at her old school, she was like everyone else. She had heard the nasty rumors about Hogwarts from her father. They accepted anyone here.

Thinking about her supposed father caused knots in her stomach. For so long she had followed his beliefs, listen to his preaching about the wonder of being a pureblood. That was all before the rumors started flying and her world changed. Guinevere King - a half-blood? Her mother's past indiscretions shouldn't have caused her so much stress. But Guinevere could not take another day at her old institution. Her father, still willing to put up the act, pulled some strings to get Guinevere into Hogwarts. And so she here she sat, with empty stomach, a heavy heart, and a full mind.

For now, Guinever had decided to keep her history a secret. She still didn't know who her real father and she wasn't sure if she wanted to meet him. At the moment, though, what she really needed to meet was some friends. So giving what she thought was a friendly glance around the table, she tried to look for a conversation starter. Three and half years was a lot of time to miss and Guinevere knew she would have a hard time fitting in. It couldn't hurt to try, could it? Guinevere wasn't so sure she believed it wouldn't.

[Connor Manning]

Breakfast was a big event for Connor. He piled his plate high with french toast, five pieces for now, and there was always more if he wanted it. The Slytherin prefect whistled a slow tune as he readied his food, cutting a banana up into slices and letting them fall onto the french toast. He didn't know if anyone else was eating as much as him, as he never really paid much attention to what others ate when he was at meals.

He helped himself to some morning tea first, stirring it absently with a light poke of his wand, it continued to spin around even as he turned his attention elsewhere and left it to it's own devices. Everything was set, bananas setting lightly on his toast, he looked around for syrup. Connor was always one to have a sweet tooth, and smothering his breakfast in the thick sticky liquid would be the final step towards getting him able to eat. The only problem was he couldn't find the syrup dispenser. He turned in his seat, glancing and seeing one diagonal to him, in front of a blond hair girl who was looking quite a bit lost. " Hey.. Can you pass me the syrup? " He asked the girl, indicating the container by pointing to it, a small smile on his face.

The girl didn't look at all familiar to him, so he guessed she was new. Connor had taken to hanging around the common room, trying to get to know his house mates. He felt obligated, at prefect, to at least know everyone by name. " What's your name, eh? " He asked, his easy going smile still in place.

[Brenton Douglas]

Time was flying, and Brenton could feel it. Sometimes he wished even he could fly, that would be so cool! Unfortunately he couldn't, at all. Even riding a broomstick was more of a chore than anything else and he felt horrible about telling Claire how great he was at it, and then wasn't able to show off. Things had happened and he'd never gotten off the ground on that stupid piece of wood his mammee bought him that summer because he'd insisted on it. Brent even knew that meant she wouldn't be eating more than a can a bean a night for a long time because of his expensive needs, but he didn't care. Too much.

Sitting at the Slytherin table, Brenton looked down at the large golden colored plate, piled high with steaks, soldiers, toast, and hash. That looked really good to him, though he wasn't sure he'd be able to eat it all in one setting. Brenton was still a little on the small side for his age, and he knew it. Didn't matter, it was a part of the requirements to be a Prince in his family. If Brenton were any larger he would be outcasted by his family, put on the wall of shame in the royal hall decorated in deep, passionate purple.

Then again, that was as likely as his dad was to return any time soon to his mammee.

Playing with his fork, stabbing here and there at the soldiers on his plate, but never allowing them to reach his mouth. Instead he just picked and picked. As a girl sat down not too far from him, his amber eyes glanced upwards and watched curiously. He didn't know her, really didn't know any of the older students, knowing they'd make fun of him and push and poke if he talked to them. Good thing his glasses were always in his back pocket and never on his face.

When another say and spoke, Brenton's eyes traveled to his face. He was at least familiar, one of the Prefects, but that's about all Brent knew about the guy. When he spoke up about syrup, the younger Slytherin made a face and tried to hide it beneath a napkin. He wasn't very fond of the stuff, and was kind of glad the kid seemed to ignore hiim to talk to the girl.

[Guinevere King]

Suddenly Guinevere felt many eyes on her. Spotting a basket of toast, Guinevere moved slightly out of her seat to grab a piece. With the slight adjustment in her seat she peered out of the corner of her eye at the lurker. The boy looked younger and just as lost as she was. She took a bite out of her toast and took a deep breath. She smelled the breakfast feast before her but none of it smelled appetizing.

Content with her meal, Guinevere sat with an empty plate except for the few crumbs that had fallen from her piece of toast. She felt the eyes of the young boy on her but she refused to look at him. She didn't trust anyone at this school. She had heard the rumors from the Daily Prophet - any of them could be affected. So until the disease cleared she would have to be content with herself. After all, she wasn't that bad of company was she? Her family had enough shame without her contracting such a commoners disease. Dragon pox? Not for Guinevere!

Lost in her thoughts she barely heard the older Slytherin ask her for the syrup bottle that sat next to her. When she didn't answer immediately he even had the nerve to ask her name. Guinevere didn't know what to do. Reluctantly she picked up the syrup bottle.

"Sure, it looks like you need something sweet," Guinevere chided, thinking to herself afterwards it sounded more like an insult. Deciding she didn't want to totally alienate him she added, "My name is Guinevere."

As she picked up the bottle of syrup to pass it to the older Slytherin, her hand touched his. She dropped the bottle and had a look of shock on her face.

"You're not infected are you?" Guinevere's question rang through the silent moment.

[Connor Manning]

It took several seconds for the girl to say anything, and Connor glanced quickly around the table, wondering if there was anyone else who would be able to pass him the syrup. His eyes fell on a small male Slytherin several seats away. Brenton was his name... Connor remembered him from the train. Just as he was about to ask the younger boy to pass the container over, the girl looked at him. ' Oh, nevermind... ' He thought to himself, preparing to just get and walk the distance himself.

' Sure, it looks like you need something sweet, ' Connor wasn't sure how this sort of comment should be taken, so he merely nodded his head.

" Guinevere. That's a very pretty name, I'm Connor. " He mentioned to her, reaching for the bottle as she passed it to him, his hand brushing lightly against hers in the process of doing so. The girl dropped the bottle which in turn knocked over a bowl, sending scrambled eggs up into the air. ' What the hell...' Connor looked down to the mess, wondering what that was about. He started to reach for his wand from his pocket just as he heard the girl's question. An almost hesitant smirk befell his face, and he shook his head at her.

" Almost everyone's been cured of the Pox, but to answer your question, no. And I do not have any other contagious diseases, just so you know. " He answered her, his voice letting on his amusement.

[Tallulah Skeffington]

[/Crashes]

With a grimace Tallulah walked into the Great Hall for breakfast. Her light brown eyes looked around the hall, looking for a familiar face. As she looked around her eyes settled on the Ravenclaw table. Whatever form of happiness vanished when she didn't see Dante sitting there. He probably ate already...I'll see him later. Grumbling a string of words that really didn't make sense she turned toward her table and walked over. Dark hair flew behind her as she walked to her table.

Tallulah noticed a small group of people sitting together. Feeling in the charitable mood she decided to sit with them. Her presence would surely improve the conversation. As she walked forward the click of her heels sounded her entrance. She found a seat near an older boy, their house prefect. Connor was his name, she was sure. She sat with with feline grace, a pale hand fixed her skirt as she sat down. A girl sat at the table. She must have been new. Tallulah had never seen her. She pursed her lips, looking the girl over. Having no qualms she gave the girl a smirk. The girl looked somewhat familiar. Tallulah guessed they may have met at some parties, but she wasn't sure.

She grabbed a bowl of oatmeal, looking at it. It needed syrup. A jar of syrup was near her, not being used. "You using this?" She asked the boy to her left as she pointed at the syrup.

[Guinevere King]

" Guinevere. That's a very pretty name, I'm Connor." Guinevere was used to hearing that her whole life and often was pretty startled by the interest in her name. After all, she lived in a world where someone could be named Albus Dumbledore and still be adored by nearly all. Guinevere fell in the minority herself. Her father had told her horrible stories about the former headmaster. Connor was the Slytherin's name and Guinevere made a note of it.

As Guinevere passed the bottle to Connor and sent the scrambled eggs flying, for a brief moment, she took in his features. Waving her wand with a smile and cleaning up the mess she caused, she couldn't help but notice that he didn't look half bad. In fact, he seemed quite normal. She wanted to know the important things about him before she made any decisions. She didn't want to fall in with the wrong crowd here, her family had enough shame.

Still, she knew she was certainly mad people didn't take better precautions with their health. She was a frail girl. She hadn't come into much contact with disease as a child and she was always quite healthy. She heard so many rumors and to see this boy laugh as if it was a frivilous matter left her feeling a bit angry. In the aftermath she wondered if the nerves could be something more. Connor's bemused comment about the dragon pox rang in her ears.

"You know," she added after he had the syrup securely in his hand, "A contagious disease isn't a laughing matter. I don't know what they teach you in this place. Really, it was a serious thing and I am surely not getting that. Do you know how long it took to get my skin this smooth?"

Her snide and loud comment caused several other Slytherins to look up at her and she merely waved them away with her hand. She knew the second year probably still had his eyes on her, but she ignored it. Looking over her schedule, she passed it to Connor. "You know I could really use some help finding my way around this castle."

She kept her grip on the schedule a bit firm before she let him hold it completely. "Well, are you at least a half-blood?"

Their brief raport was interuppted by a girl she had seen in the common room earlier. She asked for the syrup and Guinevere looked up at her. "Do you have a knack of interrupting conversations dear?"

Guinevere thought she was just trying to get to know her. In fact, for Guinevere, the fellow Slytherin seemed the kind of girl she might like. Which is a high compliment for someone from Hogwarts.

[Brenton Douglas]

Amber eyes flitted back and forth between the Prefect and the girl as they interacted. Well, sort of interacted. One wanted the syrup for some awful reason and the girl was either ignoring him or she wasn't sure what he was on about. Maybe she found syrup as disgusting as he did? Not likely. And then she said something about the PRefect needing something sweet. Turning his eyes to look at the older male, he wondered if the girl thought he looked like a sour puss, in Brenton's opinion he didn't, he just looked tough with all of his piercings.

Going back to looking at the plateful in front of him, he started to dig in until he heard the girl flip out about infections! As far as he knew the school was nearly whipped clean of the disease that had gone around, but what if it was going around again? That just wouldn't do, he would have to go and have the nurse give him a bit more medicine to take care of it. But something more important was happening, eggs were flying upwards and coming back down...right on his head.

"Hey!" he cried out when they landed. What was with that? It wasn't fair nor right. But the Prefect was flirting with that one girl, and that just made Brenton tune them out with one last glare, until another girl joined and asked for that sticky sweetness, too. And when the other girl rebutted, Brenton snorted into his plate, still trying to wipe some of the egg out of his hair.

[Tallulah Skeffington]

"Do you have a knack of interrupting conversations dear?"

Tallulah's eyes went over to the new girl. She was trying (and failing) to say something witty to her. "Do you have a knack for looking like you just don't belong? Because you're doing a great job love." She smiled, a fake one at that, but she still smiled. Who did this girl think she was? Light brown eyes looked over the girl again, clearly finding something she despised. As she met eyes with the girl again a small giggle escaped her lips. She turned back to her oatmeal, giggling once more.

After she finished her quite laughing she looked at her watch, seeing that she had plenty of time to waste. She now found what she wanted to waste her time on. This new girl seemed like someone who was up to he challenge.

She found her spoon and took a bite of oatmeal, her eyes watching this new brat who entered her world. For what she could tell this girl thought very highly of herself, something that Tallulah also did, and yet she never looked like a prat while doing it. Tallulah turned her head to the boy sitting near her. He was small and reminded her of a mouse. Her eyes only stayed on him for a second, going back to her target. The new girl.

[fairchild1]

[Because even little boys need their rewards. ]

One rolled their eyes.

The other giggled.

The one shook her head in disgust.

And yet, still, the other covered her mouth trying to suppress the giggles.

“Our house is filled with idiots,” Selene said as she stood in the door of the entrance way into the Great Hall. The twins had watched the entire scene, and though none of what was said could be heard, the picture was cute all the same. That was, until the fair leader was dethroned with eggs… that made Selene smirk and snicker. “That could be our cue, my fair sister.”

Chandra was still giggling from the eggs landing on top of the mean kid’s head. Chandra wasn’t sure what to make of Brenton Douglas quite yet, but all year he’d never been too nice to them. Selene ate it up, but Chandra always felt as if he was just a spoiled brat. The one thing she did know though, was that Selene was right… you could literally smell the fear from him whenever they passed or walked into a room. He was all talk… and no walk.

“Whatever do you mean, Selene?” Selene laughed slightly at Chandra’s question and put her arm around her sister’s shoulders, whispering sweet schemes into Chandra’s ear. “Oh! We couldn’t!” Chandra said, her eyes opening wide as she shook her head and looked into Selene’s eyes. “Darling… we’re only playing. No one’s going to get hurt. And look at the older kids…” Selene pointed, snorting at the events that were taking place. “They’re so stuck on themselves they don’t even notice him… we ought to give him something to be really noticeable about…” she paused, laughing softly and looking back at Chandra. “He is the leader, after all…”

“…And a leader should be noticed and above the rest…” Chandra quoted exasperatedly as if she’d heard the lecture a million times from Selene… and frankly, she had. It was now her turn to roll her eyes, and she nodded. At least they weren’t hurting him… per say.

Swaying, the two walked carefully and as silent as they could. They didn’t want the distracted Brenton to hear them in any way, and as they got closer, both hearts the girls had started to race. Chandra covered her mouth again as she could just see the reaction that even she would admit, would be rather hilarious. Seeing the older girls and their ‘oh-so-nice’ prefect distracted slightly, Selene and Chandra both leaned over just slightly… both girl’s mouths at either ear of the Douglas boy….

In soft… hissing tones… they both, in unison spoke.

“We just looove, eating little egg covered boys for breakfast…” He thought they were scary before… Chandra let out a little giggle, just knowing how horrible that was and Selene just thought to herself how Brenton Douglas had seen nothing yet.

[Connor Manning]

' Do you know how long it took to get my skin this smooth? ' Connor smirked slightly, wondering what that had to do with anything they were talking about. He shrugged his shoulders, made a mental note that this small blond girl was a bit conceited, and didn't answer. It was a rhetorical question, after all. He only shook his head, slightly amused at her. " I'm not saying a contagious disease is a laughing matter. I'm just telling you, it's pretty much gone. " Connor accepted the bit of parchment in his hand once the girl let go, looking over her schedule. He nodded slightly as he read it before handing it back to the girl. " Well, as your resident Prefect, I guess I could do that. " He hadn't ever shown anyone new around too much before, but supposed if the girl needed help he should assist.

' Well, are you at least a half-blood? ' Her question surprised him, but he nodded his head all the same. " Yes. And I suppose it matters to you, then? " He asked with a curt nod, knowing it would be ignorant to say that people didn't care.

The appearance of another Slytherin was noted, just after Connor heard a small exclamation from the little Slytherin boy. He smiled slightly at the kid, doing his best not to laugh just a bit at the eggs incident. " Sorry, mate. " He said with a light nod of his head before he turned to Tallulah, another younger Slytherin girl. Connor watched the banter between the younger girls, again trying his best not to laugh. As Prefect, he felt like he should say something to the two of them, but he also just wanted to let them duke it out by themselves. All the same, though, he handed Tallulah the syrup. " Here you are. "

The twins slinking up slowly didn't go unnoticed by Connor. He glanced at them briefly, wondering what they were up to, and then looked back to both Guinevere and Tallulah. The first years were probably just on their way to breakfast, like the rest of them.

[Guinevere King]

Guinevere hadn't expected the girl to be an equal match. No, not equal but better. The dark haired girl meant every word of her nasty comment. Guinevere felt a mix of emotions swell up in her as varied as the aromas that filled the Great Hall. Anger, hurt, and strangely a sense of awe filled Guinevere. She was out of her environment and her sense of wit was suffering. Seeing the girl smirk, Guinevere knew how satisfied she must feel. After all, Guinevere had felt that emotion time and time again.

Turning her attention back to Connor, Guinevere grabbed her schedule back from him. "Yes. And I suppose it matters to you, then? " Yes, Guinevere thought.

"No," She said aloud however. "It's mostly only my father who cares. Not that I am denying how proud I am of my heritage." If I knew what it truly was, she thought.

Guinevere was surprised at how concerned she was to make friends with the small group of people she had met. More and more people started to crowd around the table and as the food began to disappear, Guinevere relunctantly put some on her plate. Her lunch was not until much later in the day.

As the crowd piled in, Guinevere, seeing the most awful sight, coughed as she swallowed her orange juice. As the juice splattered on her chin a little, she wiped the juice and laughed at the oddly contorted girl who walked in. Well, girls? Looking at the girl she donned her superior, she laughed and began to make comment under her breath.

"Those two are sure unseperable," Guinevere said, laughing at her own joke. "Good thing I don't have to buy clothes to fit that body. Honestly, my clothes are expensive enough."

[Brenton Douglas]

At least they weren't slimy, that was saying something for him considering Brent preferred runny eggs to hard cooked, but he wasn't the one that flipped the bundle over onto someone else either. His eyes focused on his plate, angrily stabbing at the food without it going to his mouth. He was angry! How dare they! They only peasants and he, a Prince, and they'd just thrown eggs at him?! This place was unsuitable for someone of his stature, for someone from his heritage!

When he heard the apology, he glared at his Prefect. He was so keeping laughter held within, and it was bugging Brent to no end. Laughing at a Prince? Ridiculous, worthy of a beheading! And as the older boy's eyes traveled from Brenton, the younger snake went back to glaring at his breakfast. Hannah had left the school and it was bothering him, he didn't know why she'd left, but she had. Without word he knew of. Maybe Jeremy knew something? Probably, his best mate usually knew the goods on Hannah.

And then the creepiest thing happened! He heard it, felt it, it was that thing! Whipping around he saw one in his face, he turned the other way, and there it was again! What in bloody hell was going on? His face palled and he wondered if anyone was going to do anything to save him from the monster? It wasn't a person, or two even, it was a hydra!

"What'd ya wan'?" he asked, not bothering to hide his disgust at their form. His dirty blond hair swept back and forth as his head turned this way and that to looking from one sour face to one sweet. Even though it was kind of neat, he'd never admit it aloud to anyone.

[fairchild1]

What a question to be asking… and yet Selene could only smirk as Douglas’ head moved back and forth to look from her sister, to her, and back to her sister again. Chandra just giggled a bit because it was funny that he was freaking out slightly. The disgust on his face Chandra believed to be fear, just as Selene had convinced her it was. She covered her mouth to stifle the giggles and sighed slightly.

Selene on the other hand could hardly contain her enjoyment either, as her smirk grew. “Look sister… it’s as if he thinks we actually want something from him?” Selene rolled her eyes and scoffed slightly. Her eyes darting from Brenton toward her house Prefect and the other girls. She’d not heard the comments being made, for she was too distracted with more important matters.

However, Chandra didn’t hear anything either. What was worse than being a Siamese twin, were the people who had no idea of what it was like to be them… so, the young Douglas boy was a great distraction, if not anything else. “Indeed, Selene…. Other than what we’ve already said we wanted.” Again another giggle… she wasn’t as good with the taunting as Selene was…

Selene put an arm around Brenton’s shoulders, Chandra doing the same, encasing the boy in the twins grasp. “Plus…” Selene said with a slight lift of her shoulders. “Someone has to show you some attention…” she laughed slowly and shook her head. “Because after all,” looking up at Chandra she had the perfect thing to say. Chandra only rolled her eyes slightly, worried about what was going to happen next.

Getting closer to his ear, Selene whispered a diss she knew the leader of any kind of pack would hate… “Misfits have to stick together you know…” and though it was true, Selene knew that Brenton Douglas thought he was above them. Didn’t everyone think that? So, it was a harsh thing to say… almost comparing him to them… Chandra didn’t hear what her sister said, but she smiled all the same.

“And we’re here for breakfast….” She piped up… ruining any mood that Selene could have possibly just set.

[Tallulah Skeffington]

" Here you are. "

She looked over at Connor and smiled at him. Her light brown eyes shifted, only for a second, over to the new girl, then back to Connor. She took the syrup from him, nodding. "Why thank you Connor." Her voice was velvety smooth as she spoke. She poured a little syrup into her oatmeal and stirred the syrup in. Sighing quietly she looked away from the table and over to the Ravenclaw table. Her eyes searched again for Dante. He wasn't there. Pouting she turned back to her table. Still the same group of people to bore herself with.

Tallulah smiled darkly at the new girl. The look the girl gave her was very satisfying. Turning her head she flicked her bangs away from her eyes. After a few seconds the rush from making the new shut up, if only for a second went away. Rolling her eyes she looked down to her food and took a bite. Gosh this is boring, she though as she looked around the table. Everyone was so out of it today. She closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath.

"Good thing I don't have to buy clothes to fit that body. Honestly, my clothes are expensive enough."

Tallulah snorted quietly at this comment. Not out of humor but out of the sheer ego of this girl. What did she think? Everyone should kiss the ground she walked on? Looking over her way she looked at her clothes and shrugged inwardly. They weren't that nice, if they were she wouldn't have said anything. Saying something like that is just begging for eggs to be thrown on her. Tallulah laughed quietly and glanced over at the nameless girl. Covering her mouth she tried to stifle her laugh. She was just too easy to laugh and poke fun at.

Pouring herself another cup of pumpkin juice she noticed some...thing walking up. It took her a few seconds to put together what was going on. Brat Girl must have been talking about these two, Tallulah thought as she spooned another mouthful of oatmeal into her mouth. They were weird looking, one doesn't see Siamese twins every day. But it mattered not. They were occupied with annoying the little one who looked very cute with egg on him.