[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?
[Remus' warning had made Miles a bit nervous - but, well, Sirius seems so enthusiastic and confident that Miles can't help but believe in him. So he clears his throat, but then squares his shoulders and gives a bit of a nod.]
Right - all right. We'll see you three later?
[Don't get eaten by a troll is James' cheerful admonition, coupled with a firm punch to Sirius' shoulder.]
How can I, they'll have the only troll in Hogwarts locked up in the Gryffindor dormitory.
[In other words, James--and even James has to laugh at that. Sirius is still grinning when he and Miles break away from the other three.]
This way-- we have to get away from the prefects, they won't want us going on our own--
[He has no real idea where he's going, beyond a vague idea--but like hell that's going to stop him from striking out. Beyond the glow of the Great Hall, the other corridors seem a little darker, but he leads the way without any fear.]
[Miles cannot quite say that he follows without fear. Not that he's frightened of the castle; he doubts very much that there are any trolls of anything of the like. No; rather, he's afraid of that comment about getting away from the prefects - because he'd really sooner not get in trouble...But nor is he going to back out. Not when Sirius is so enthusiastic.]
[This is such a bad idea. This is such a horribly bad idea. And yet there's something so wonderful and thrilling about pattering down these darkened corridors with Sirius, on the very first adventure that Miles has ever been on in his life.]
[Miles says that with open delight, just about beaming at the man - the ghost - the magical apparition - whatever it is. This is strange and marvelous; he grins at the painting, and then remembers his manners - ]
Oh - forgive us. We have to get to the hospital wing. Are we going the right way?
[The man in the painting fortunately ignores Sirius' protests for the chance to be useful and give information. He sniffs a little, lifting his chin--but points in the direction that they were headed. Left at the end of this corridor, and up the small staircase. Don't turn right, whatever you do, young man. And mind your friend! Not all paintings at Hogwarts are so generous as the Great Wizard Umber.
Sirius sniffs back at him, imitating that imperious little chin-lift.]
Can't be too great, can you, no one's ever heard of you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
carisma_sensei
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--
no subject
Date: 2013-11-11 06:43 pm (UTC)Right - all right. We'll see you three later?
[Don't get eaten by a troll is James' cheerful admonition, coupled with a firm punch to Sirius' shoulder.]
no subject
Date: 2013-11-11 09:41 pm (UTC)[In other words, James--and even James has to laugh at that. Sirius is still grinning when he and Miles break away from the other three.]
This way-- we have to get away from the prefects, they won't want us going on our own--
[He has no real idea where he's going, beyond a vague idea--but like hell that's going to stop him from striking out. Beyond the glow of the Great Hall, the other corridors seem a little darker, but he leads the way without any fear.]
no subject
Date: 2013-11-11 09:58 pm (UTC)It will be staffed at this hour?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-12 12:15 am (UTC)[That sounds... far more ominous than he means. Oops. He wrinkles his nose a little and looks back at Miles.]
But that just means she'll be able to sort you out really quickly.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-12 12:56 am (UTC)[This is such a bad idea. This is such a horribly bad idea. And yet there's something so wonderful and thrilling about pattering down these darkened corridors with Sirius, on the very first adventure that Miles has ever been on in his life.]
It'll - Oh!
[He swings around, eyes wide.]
That painting moved!
no subject
Date: 2013-11-12 12:22 pm (UTC)[The painting in question--of a man in a large floppy hat, with a huge red feather curling over the top--leans after them. Shouldn't you be in bed?]
It's hardly eight o'clock!
no subject
Date: 2013-11-12 01:11 pm (UTC)[Miles says that with open delight, just about beaming at the man - the ghost - the magical apparition - whatever it is. This is strange and marvelous; he grins at the painting, and then remembers his manners - ]
Oh - forgive us. We have to get to the hospital wing. Are we going the right way?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-12 06:33 pm (UTC)[The man in the painting fortunately ignores Sirius' protests for the chance to be useful and give information. He sniffs a little, lifting his chin--but points in the direction that they were headed. Left at the end of this corridor, and up the small staircase. Don't turn right, whatever you do, young man. And mind your friend! Not all paintings at Hogwarts are so generous as the Great Wizard Umber.
Sirius sniffs back at him, imitating that imperious little chin-lift.]
Can't be too great, can you, no one's ever heard of you.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-12 11:03 pm (UTC)[Miles is grinning, though, when he elbows his friend hard in the ribs. He covers that at once by bowing to the painting, and saying - ]
Thank you, Great Wizard Umber.
[And the painting sniffs in approval, and Miles grabs Sirius by the wrist and pulls him along before he can insult him even more - ]
no subject
Date: 2013-11-13 03:41 pm (UTC)Why d'you think he told us not to go to the right?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-13 06:41 pm (UTC)[He says that with a grin, but then looks over, sot of enchanted by the possible adventure of it - ]
Why, do you think it's something bad?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-13 07:51 pm (UTC)[He peers ahead of them, like he'll be able to somehow see the answer as to why.]
We should definitely go to the right.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-13 11:45 pm (UTC)Don't be ridiculous!
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:oops pt 2
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: