[Sirius leans back, his arms folded confidently over his chest.]
I'm not telling you. Then you'd know. It's better if you're surprised.
[It's over! James says, a little too loudly. People look around at him, but he could care less, he's grinning with anticipation down at his empty plate. Any minute now, it's going to start.]
[He falls quiet; instead of offering a rejoinder, he simply listens to the speeches - a few more words, no more - and then the food appears. It's...astonishing. Almost as if someone was aware of their desires, an assortment of puddings appear at once before Sirius and Peter - sticky toffee pudding, bread and butter pudding, trifles, cakes, all of it. There are soups, rich and fragrant, buttery-crisp bread, roast beef and roast chicken and shepherd's pie, cheeses and green beans and crisps and everything. There's a sudden gasp of delight when it appears, an appreciative silence; and then, with a whoop, everyone begins tearing in, piling food high on their plates.
Miles starts a bit nervously with nothing more than a bit of soup in a tureen going unnoticed by the other students, not wanting to intrude.]
[Sirius is with those piling his plate high--too high, with too much food--mostly puddings, as he'd threatened, though he's got to go for a few of the savory dishes as well. His mother would be disgusted at his greed and lack of restraint, but he's been egged into it, catching the frenzy from the other students. He'd begun with a few manners, but they've all but left him not twenty seconds into the feast, and he's grabbing for things right along with James--
Until he notices Miles' empty plate. Empty, that is, until then half of the things that Sirius is grabbing begin finding their way onto it.]
[He gives a flustered little exclamation as a bit of bread, beef, and an assortment of biscuits with cream in the centre of them land on his plate. He laughs, then, still self-conscious but grateful - because it's certainly not like he couldn't get food for himself, but it's sort of funny and nice that Sirius is looking out for him like that.
When a big blob of steaming mashed potatoes lands on his plate, he laughs - ]
Is that your plan to get me eating puddings, then -
[And that makes Miles grin, happy and broad and perhaps a touch embarrassed, because it means that...Sirius is just looking out for him, just like he did on the train. Sirius Black is a very good person, Miles thinks to himself, and he's so happy that they're friends; and he resolves to look out for Sirius in turn, resolves that no matter what comes their way, no matter how the Slytherins might be cruel to Sirius for joining the ranks of the Gryffindors, Miles will have his back.
But in the meantime - he snakes out a hand, grasps a spoon, and slips a scoop of roasted courgettes onto Sirius' plate.]
[And he laughs right in return. He abandons his efforts to get the vegetables on Sirius' plate, instead snatching up his fork to shovel a few into his face - ]
[He starts making choking vomit-y noises, leaning heavily on James--who yells and shoves him, laughing. When that's not an effective enough deterrent, James picks up his spoon and lobs potato at Sirius--but misses, and the glob spatters onto the table in front of Miles--]
[At his old school, Miles would have reacted to that with a prim, disapproving frown and then gone back to reading his book. At best. At worst, he'd have given a stern lecture about wasting food. If he hadn't done that, really, people would have looked at him strangely - because that was just who he was, the boy who didn't say much aside from follow the rules -
He doesn't fully know who he is here, though. Not yet. And there's something sort of exciting about that - about the fact that he can dip his own spoon into the potatoes and, laughing, caught up in the moment, fling them back -
Only to hit the boy sitting next to James, a third-year with an amazing proliferation of freckles. His eyes go wide at once; he gasps.]
[Everyone around the freckled boy is laughing--and sheepishly, he begins to grin as well, wiping the potato from his face and letting it spatter off of his fingers onto the tabletop.]
He's a bad shot-- sorry--
[Sirius is laughing as well by now, as is James, and Peter is nearly in tears he's laughing so hard at the mistake. Don't let it happen again, the boy says, but his words lack any real threat. This is how Gryffindors do things, after all.]
We'll get him to improve his aim. Promise.
[And we'll make him play Keeper, not Chaser, James chips in, cheerfully.]
[He bobs his head in a half-bow of deference, the gesture awkward and clumsy and quite thoroughly inappropriate; his face is bright red with embarrassment. But no one is furious, no one is even remotely angry, and after a moment he looks up and gives a very embarrassed smile of his own. The freckled boy just keeps grinning, and shakes his head, laughing, Firsties, and the whole thing - which would, he suspects, be cause for cold hatred at the Slytherin table - is shrugged off.]
Sorry -
[That's directed, though, at Remus, who's the only one of them not really laughing. After a moment, though, he smiles and shakes his head as well. And so they settle down a bit, and Miles actually eats a bite of food - it's good, it's so good - and enjoys it for a moment before his curiosity takes over.]
[A keeper! James says, like that explains it. He blinks at Miles, confused, a grin already starting on his face. Don't you-- no, I s'ppose you wouldn't. It's quidditch!]
I've told him about quidditch. We're going to show him how to play, and how to fly--
[It's like a goal-keeper in football, Remus explains, kindly. I don't play either but I know that much.]
[Miles turns to Remus, face lighting with interest. But a moment later, he's looking enthusiastically back at the others, as well.]
And I could do that, definitely. I've played as goalkeeper before. [To keep him away from running, admittedly, but that didn't need to be revealed - ] So if I got good at flying -
[That's a really nice thought - a really, really nice thought - even if Peter looks suddenly nervous, mumbling, Well... But Miles is quite taken with the idea, and grins, asking - ]
Okay, so I'm keeper, then. What are the rest of you all? On the team?
[Sirius declares it immediately, sitting up a bit straighter. James laughs, and applauds a little-- Definitely a Beater. Uhm, I like Chaser-- Remus, you can be Seeker--
Maybe not, Remus says, with a twisted little smile, but he's clearly flattered.]
You're titchy, you're definitely Seeker out of any of us. And Peter, you'd be another Chaser, I s'ppose-- you're not fierce enough for a Beater--
[I'd rather be Keeper, Peter says, but James shakes his head.
[Miles flinches back just a bit, because - he doesn't remotely like the idea of stealing this from Peter. But nor is he, for all that he's shy, and for all that he did shrink a bit, particularly timid; he doesn't immediately insist on Peter taking over. Instead, he looks over at the other boy and says, earnest and forthright:]
We can have an equal contest. Whoever performs better can take the position.
[You should've been in Hufflepuff, James says, but he laughs and kicks Miles under the table, and somehow that kick comes off as fond. All right, a contest. They do trials in real quidditch anyways, I s'ppose.]
He's taking one of my brooms. D'you have a spare, James? Remus can probably use one of my others, but--
[How many d'you have? Peter asks, a little awed, and Sirius shrugs, quickly, staring at his plate.]
[Miles sees his sudden self-consciousness. Peter looks as though he's about to ask some follow-up question; Miles steps in as quickly as he can to intercept it, smiling - ]
Only one, once we're done stealing from him, I suppose.
[And he reaches out to bump Sirius with his elbow.]
[Later, once everyone has sorted themselves out, in terms of hierarchy and understanding and order--later, they will know not to ask about Sirius' family, or wealth, or any of it. But that will come later. For now, Sirius feels a surge of gratefulness--that Miles doesn't need to wait to learn his cues, that he picks up on it. He's embarrassed, still, but grateful, and he smiles back at him.]
Yeah. 'Course.
[And then, briskly, loudly--]
Hey, there's desserts up already--give me that pudding, that looks good--
[And Miles can see how glad Sirius is, and files that away. Sirius is not proud of his wealth; he's not proud of his name; and Miles rather...respects him for both of those things. It's like the conversation they had, back on the train: one is to be respected for one's character and actions, not for one's name or background. And Sirius has committed himself wholly to that, and that gets Miles' admiration.]
Have you had even a single vegetable -
[And James laughs, Lay off, lay off! And Peter is fully distracted by the puddings, reaching out for one and plopping a spoonful down on his plate, right atop a chicken bone. Miles contents himself with the potatoes and the beef for now, smiling to himself as they continue to eat.]
[They eat--all of them, along with the rest of the school--and Sirius, too used to formal family dinners and neat portion servings and organised meals--takes entirely too much for himself, and eats until he's far too full. Eventually, he shoves his plate away, with a little sigh--just as Dumbledore stands to announce the end of the feast.
The room erupts in noise as every stands and begins moving at once. Prefects begin herding their first years away, but Sirius lingers, glancing over at Miles.]
[And Miles, in spite of his protestations about eating well and all that...in the end, ate rather more puddings than vegetables - but that hardly matters. Later, he'll be better; this was the feast. And he's about ready for a long night's sleep by the end. Ridiculously, in all the excitement, he's forgotten utterly about the disfigurement on his leg - no matter the panic it caused him before - and so it's almost a surprise when Sirius suggests - ]
Oh! Oh, yes, we should -
[Though Miles looks at the prefect.]
Though - will we be able to find our way to where we're supposed to stay?
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carisma_sensei
i don't want mean characters only nice ones
Date: 2013-11-06 03:52 pm (UTC)I'm not telling you. Then you'd know. It's better if you're surprised.
[It's over! James says, a little too loudly. People look around at him, but he could care less, he's grinning with anticipation down at his empty plate. Any minute now, it's going to start.]
Then why do you play the ones you do
Date: 2013-11-06 06:16 pm (UTC)[He falls quiet; instead of offering a rejoinder, he simply listens to the speeches - a few more words, no more - and then the food appears. It's...astonishing. Almost as if someone was aware of their desires, an assortment of puddings appear at once before Sirius and Peter - sticky toffee pudding, bread and butter pudding, trifles, cakes, all of it. There are soups, rich and fragrant, buttery-crisp bread, roast beef and roast chicken and shepherd's pie, cheeses and green beans and crisps and everything. There's a sudden gasp of delight when it appears, an appreciative silence; and then, with a whoop, everyone begins tearing in, piling food high on their plates.
Miles starts a bit nervously with nothing more than a bit of soup in a tureen going unnoticed by the other students, not wanting to intrude.]
i only play nice guys what are you trying to say
Date: 2013-11-06 07:41 pm (UTC)Until he notices Miles' empty plate. Empty, that is, until then half of the things that Sirius is grabbing begin finding their way onto it.]
Well "nice" isn't exactly right
Date: 2013-11-06 08:16 pm (UTC)[He gives a flustered little exclamation as a bit of bread, beef, and an assortment of biscuits with cream in the centre of them land on his plate. He laughs, then, still self-conscious but grateful - because it's certainly not like he couldn't get food for himself, but it's sort of funny and nice that Sirius is looking out for him like that.
When a big blob of steaming mashed potatoes lands on his plate, he laughs - ]
Is that your plan to get me eating puddings, then -
um excuse you they are nice.
Date: 2013-11-07 10:32 am (UTC)[Sirius wrinkles his nose at Miles, like don't be stupid.]
Hardly any of those are puddings. You said you didn't want puddings--and anyway, I'm not stupid enough to be so obvious. Pudding warfare comes later.
[He punctuates that with a slab of shepherd's pie, and a little grin.]
I guess it's hard to argue Sirius' niceness in this tag
Date: 2013-11-07 12:41 pm (UTC)But in the meantime - he snakes out a hand, grasps a spoon, and slips a scoop of roasted courgettes onto Sirius' plate.]
Now I know to be on my guard.
yes i'm always right it's true
Date: 2013-11-07 05:03 pm (UTC)[Sirius laughs--even though he's scowling, he laughs, and shoves the courgettes aside with his fork.]
Disgusting! Take those back--
[He scoops up a few and tries to dump them onto Miles' plate, sloppy even in his efforts.]
You are not nice however
Date: 2013-11-07 07:35 pm (UTC)Oooh, delicious -
lies and slander
Date: 2013-11-07 08:43 pm (UTC)[He starts making choking vomit-y noises, leaning heavily on James--who yells and shoves him, laughing. When that's not an effective enough deterrent, James picks up his spoon and lobs potato at Sirius--but misses, and the glob spatters onto the table in front of Miles--]
UGH I know it is you're the best :c
Date: 2013-11-08 12:26 am (UTC)He doesn't fully know who he is here, though. Not yet. And there's something sort of exciting about that - about the fact that he can dip his own spoon into the potatoes and, laughing, caught up in the moment, fling them back -
Only to hit the boy sitting next to James, a third-year with an amazing proliferation of freckles. His eyes go wide at once; he gasps.]
Oh - I'm so sorry -
or are YOU the best
Date: 2013-11-08 07:06 am (UTC)He's a bad shot-- sorry--
[Sirius is laughing as well by now, as is James, and Peter is nearly in tears he's laughing so hard at the mistake. Don't let it happen again, the boy says, but his words lack any real threat. This is how Gryffindors do things, after all.]
We'll get him to improve his aim. Promise.
[And we'll make him play Keeper, not Chaser, James chips in, cheerfully.]
I think we're co-besties
Date: 2013-11-08 12:56 pm (UTC)[He bobs his head in a half-bow of deference, the gesture awkward and clumsy and quite thoroughly inappropriate; his face is bright red with embarrassment. But no one is furious, no one is even remotely angry, and after a moment he looks up and gives a very embarrassed smile of his own. The freckled boy just keeps grinning, and shakes his head, laughing, Firsties, and the whole thing - which would, he suspects, be cause for cold hatred at the Slytherin table - is shrugged off.]
Sorry -
[That's directed, though, at Remus, who's the only one of them not really laughing. After a moment, though, he smiles and shakes his head as well. And so they settle down a bit, and Miles actually eats a bite of food - it's good, it's so good - and enjoys it for a moment before his curiosity takes over.]
What's a keeper?
i'll drink to that!
Date: 2013-11-08 03:53 pm (UTC)I've told him about quidditch. We're going to show him how to play, and how to fly--
[It's like a goal-keeper in football, Remus explains, kindly. I don't play either but I know that much.]
no subject
Date: 2013-11-08 08:47 pm (UTC)[Miles turns to Remus, face lighting with interest. But a moment later, he's looking enthusiastically back at the others, as well.]
And I could do that, definitely. I've played as goalkeeper before. [To keep him away from running, admittedly, but that didn't need to be revealed - ] So if I got good at flying -
no subject
Date: 2013-11-08 09:30 pm (UTC)He's right, you probably would. Even if he doesn't know anything about quidditch--and you don't, either--
[We'll show you how to fly, James promises, grinning, both of you, and Remus wrinkles his nose a little, but seems pleased despite his misgivings.]
We could practically have a quidditch team ourselves, just the five of us.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-08 09:57 pm (UTC)Okay, so I'm keeper, then. What are the rest of you all? On the team?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-08 10:48 pm (UTC)[Sirius declares it immediately, sitting up a bit straighter. James laughs, and applauds a little-- Definitely a Beater. Uhm, I like Chaser-- Remus, you can be Seeker--
Maybe not, Remus says, with a twisted little smile, but he's clearly flattered.]
You're titchy, you're definitely Seeker out of any of us. And Peter, you'd be another Chaser, I s'ppose-- you're not fierce enough for a Beater--
[I'd rather be Keeper, Peter says, but James shakes his head.
That's Miles.]
no subject
Date: 2013-11-08 11:11 pm (UTC)[Miles flinches back just a bit, because - he doesn't remotely like the idea of stealing this from Peter. But nor is he, for all that he's shy, and for all that he did shrink a bit, particularly timid; he doesn't immediately insist on Peter taking over. Instead, he looks over at the other boy and says, earnest and forthright:]
We can have an equal contest. Whoever performs better can take the position.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-09 06:55 pm (UTC)He's taking one of my brooms. D'you have a spare, James? Remus can probably use one of my others, but--
[How many d'you have? Peter asks, a little awed, and Sirius shrugs, quickly, staring at his plate.]
A few. I dunno.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-09 07:26 pm (UTC)Only one, once we're done stealing from him, I suppose.
[And he reaches out to bump Sirius with his elbow.]
Thanks. I appreciate it.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-10 03:41 pm (UTC)Yeah. 'Course.
[And then, briskly, loudly--]
Hey, there's desserts up already--give me that pudding, that looks good--
no subject
Date: 2013-11-10 04:15 pm (UTC)Have you had even a single vegetable -
[And James laughs, Lay off, lay off! And Peter is fully distracted by the puddings, reaching out for one and plopping a spoonful down on his plate, right atop a chicken bone. Miles contents himself with the potatoes and the beef for now, smiling to himself as they continue to eat.]
no subject
Date: 2013-11-11 12:27 am (UTC)The room erupts in noise as every stands and begins moving at once. Prefects begin herding their first years away, but Sirius lingers, glancing over at Miles.]
We ought to find the hospital wing, yeah?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-11 02:14 pm (UTC)Oh! Oh, yes, we should -
[Though Miles looks at the prefect.]
Though - will we be able to find our way to where we're supposed to stay?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-11 05:50 pm (UTC)[Pomfrey, Remus supplies, again, though his forehead is wrinkled in some small worry. The castle is really large, you know.
Sirius waves a dismissive hand in reply. He's already having just a few misgivings, but his pride won't allow for those to be expressed, so--]
We'll be all right! C'mon, Miles--
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