009 -- Eating in the Great Hall That Night

As we sat down, I was still staring at my sad friend. I looked up to see a smug, satisfied looking Jo, with a sullen Alex sitting across from her. It was clear who had won the race.

"I think it was a tie, " my friend told me, trying to smile. "So we both came in third, really."

We took our seats and waited for Marius to come in. He walked in slowly, rubbing an apple on his robes and half smirking at us. His fox, we noticed, was staring out from under the table at him. Marius grinned broadly.

"You just can't compete with a purebred Scotsman, eh guys?" he told us, laughing. "Good job Felix!" He winked at all of us, and asked, "Why are you all out of breath, eh?"

I grimaced at him. How cocky! Taking a chunk out of the roll I had grabbed, I threw it at him lightly. "What do you mean, out of breath?!" I asked indignantly. "Who's out of breath? I'M breathing just fine....now, anyway." I smiled, tearing another chunk off the roll and eating it. I was starving now. Beside me, Loki was fairly wolfing down his own food.

Marius laughed, sitting down at the table and plucking a grape off of the bunch sitting on a platter midtable. He threw it at me. "Who does a lad need to bewitch to get a spot of tea around here?!" he roared, spotting the tea kettle and pouring some for himself. He sliced a chunk of the roast we were all eating, cutting a piece for his fox, who was waiting patiently under the table. "Ahh, tea for me and roast for Felix." he said happily.

Alex looked up. "I have no idea what you just said Marius. I could hardly understand the Scottish when I lived here. My parents couldn't either; they told me not to speak to them again until they could learn proper English. No offense." she added. We all stared at her in shock, and then, as one, looked over to Marius for his reaction. Loki even spit out some of his food.

But Marius just laughed her off, waving one hand dismissively. "My apologies then Alex that you couldn't have been from the great land of Scotland, unfortunately we are a pretty selective group. Fine breeding and all that. But with any luck we'll find you a good Scotsman during your stay 'ere at Hogwarts!" He popped some grapes into his mouth, and washed them down with a swig of tea.

Alex must have realized what she had said, because she blushed to her roots. "I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed. "I didn't mean it like that!"

I wondered what she did really mean, then, but I let it go and listened.

"I really am sorry. I'm Scottish too, but I didn't realize what I had said." She looked down, ashamed. I felt she deserved it, but still decided to change the subject.

"Don't be upset, Alex! If Marius isn't angry, I'm not, either." I bit into my roll, and then, without warning, yanked another one off the table and threw it at Marius.

It hit him in the face, and Loki and started laughing. Marius looked down at his plate to see what had hit him, and then he laughed again, too. "Well look here!" he said, "I wanted a roll, and one rains down on my plate! This school really is magic!"

Loki wiped his eyes. "Geez Marius! Rolls really like you today!" he choked through his laughter.

"Aye, and grapes seem to like you!" he joked back, picking up a whole handful and pitching them back. We both ducked, grapes rolling off our heads and shoulders. Somewhere in the mess of flying food, Alex muttered that she needed rest, and left, her shoulders slumped. I decided not to notice her again. I didn't know what her problem was and couldn't understand it. Jo and walked out at some point, too, but I didn't notice her departure, either.

In the confusion that followed, Felix also made another appearance. He was apparently done with his roast, and had popped up on the chair to steal his master's.

"Oy! Felix! That's my dinner, mate!" Marius roared, ducking under the table after his fox. We heard them scuffling around, and I, throwing a wicked grin at Loki, grabbed a whole bunch of grapes and hopped down off my chair.

Outside the table and the fight going on underneath it, I started plucking the grapes off and chucking them under the table, hoping they were hitting Marius and not Felix. Loki was laughing and before long had joined me, throwing them as well.

Eventually Marius emerged, brushing off his clothing while Felix licked his lips happily, having won the fight.

"It's not fair!" he growled at his fox. "I was ambushed!" In a quick movement, he had yanked his wand back out of his pocket and had it pointed directly at Loki's face. In an instant the atmosphere changed. My face fell and I could see Loki looked uncertain. But Marius was holding back grins.

"If you don't cut it out, I'm going to shine a mildly bright light in your face!" he threatened jokingly. We both broke into giggles. I leaned over and ruffled the fur between the fox's ears.

"Did you win, Felix?" I asked him.

Meanwhile, Loki was done laughing. He sighed contentedly and smiled at us.

"Well, I'm done with dinner and it really is bedtime. Goodnight guys!" He turned and left the hall without looking back, his hands in his pockets.

"G'night mate!" Marius called after him. He turned back to me and Felix. "Well, I hope you two are happy."

"I think Felix is really quite pleased with himself." I said, standing. I looked down at the chair and saw the sleeping kitten, Frey, still wrapped up in my scarf.

"Wait Loki! Your kitten..."I called, but he seemed to be gone already. I looked back at Marius. "It's not like him to just forget his cat." I said quietly.

"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. He must be preoccupied." Marius said to me, sticking his hands in his pockets and looking thoughtfully at the door.

I leaned down and scooped up the tiny bundle. "Well, you can just come sleep with me tonight." I told the drowsy kitten inside. I looked back at Marius. "So, what else is there to do in a big castle at night?" I asked him, wanting to wander.

"Actually lass, I think Felix and I are hitting the hay, too." he said back to me. He tipped his hat, and I giggled. "Goodnight miss! Adventures await us tomorrow!" He strolled out with the fox, whistling to himself.

I watched him go, stroking the kitten's fur gently, and then raised my eyes to the enchanted ceiling. This ceiling had been fascinating to me since my first day here. I'd never seen anything like it. Bewitched to look like the sky outside, it was smoky gray tonight and the clouds were rolling across it as though there was no ceiling at all. I looked around at the empty tables as the lights dimmed, and sighed. It seemed like it was time for bed, anyhow, and I walked quietly out the door after Marius.