Another Day, Another Lunchtime ((Aurora))

[Darren Gibbs S1]

How boring could school life get? Darren was only a first year, and had only started a matter of weeks earlier, but he couldn't help but find the whole experience so, well, boring. All of the older students treated him like a baby, just because he had only just started, they all acted as if he was another cute first-year, who was completely ignorant to everything. He had even just about got used to the way the castle worked, all the moving staircases and the locations of them, where he was meant to be going for his next lessons...he wasn't stupid, by any stretch of the imagination. He wasn't exactly the brightest spark, but he wasn't stupid. He knew what he knew, liked what he liked, and nothing and nobody could change that.

But for now, he would just have to face it, and right now he was sitting for lunch in the Great hall, surrounded by hundreds of other hungry students...it was a madhouse! But he was in no rush particularly-the only homework he had was from that morning, and he didn't mind doing it at all-he had had double potions with the Gryffs, and Snape-one of his favourite teachers, followed by Defence Against the Dark Arts, another one of his favourites, this time with the Ravenclaws. It had been a good day so far, and he wasn't about to spoil it by rushing so he could get extra work done. He had Herbology and History of Magic that afternoon-HoM alone would give him enough time to get whatever he had to do done. He'd much rather do homework then listen to Binns go on about the Goblin Wars or something equally as dull...

So he ate up his lunch slowly-today ham sandwiches and chicken drumsticks, with a goblet of pumpkin juice, followed by a slice of chocolate fudge cake. Licking his fingers clean after finishing, he left the Slytherin table, and aimed for the door, not looking where he was going. He suffered for this-he ended up bumping into an older girl-another Slytherin, probably about 3rd or 4th year perhaps. "Sorry...sorry...my fault...not looking where I was going...sorry..." He apologised to the girl. "Anyway, I'm Darren. Darren Gibbs. Who are you?" He asked the girl, waiting for a reply.

[natxthexrat]

Aurora walked down the stairs, hoping there was still enough time left for her to eat lunch. She rushed down the hall and opened the door to the Great Hall, when a first year, a Slytherin boy accidentally bumped into her. He introduced himself as Darren Gibbs. Although Aurora was in a hurry to get food, she thought it only polite to at least introduce herself to a fellow Slytherin.

"Nice to meet you Darren. I'm Aurora." Aurora tried to flash off one of those dazzling smiles that the older, more sophisticated students flashed off so easily. She thought she did a decent job of it.

"I think I've seen you in the common room before. This is your first year here, right?" Aurora waited for Darren's reply.

[Darren Gibbs S1]

"Nice to meet you too, Aurora. " Said Darren, as he smiled politely. Well, Aurora seemed to be a nice enough girl, and a Slytherin. He highly doubted that he would have even talked to anyone but a Slyth in that situation. They were the only ones that actually properly took pride in their pure-bloodedness...others just took it for granted. Well, their loss. People like them don't deserve to be pure-bloods, but he chose not to waste his time with them, even if he was being hypocritical, seeing as his own brother had been a Gryffindor.

Then Aurora said something else. "Yeah, I'm a firstie, and we're in the same house, so you probably have seen me, But don't hold my age against me! Just 'cos I'm young don't mean I'm any less of a good wizard, oh no. What year are you in then?" She was definately older than him, he thought to himself, she's not in any classes with me, and I didn't see her at the sorting ceremony...maybe a 3rd year? All that mattered was that she was older. But what the hey, he'd talk to her...she was a Slyth, after all.

"And why're you in such a rush? You seemed to be walking quite fast just then? If you really must go, then...I don't wanna keep you waiting..." True. He may be a Slyth, and he had a reputation for being somewhat unruly at his primary school, but he was still fairly polite and couteous, when he wanted to be. He would like her to carry on talking-he didn't have anything better to do, afterall-but he didn't want to keep her if she had something important to do.

[natxthexrat]

Aurora smiled warmly. This boy was definitely a Slytherin. He would not let Aurora think of him as a cute little first year, no matter how hard she tried. Aurora did respect that kind of trait in a person. She decided to stay and talk to Darren Gibbs...that is..if he wanted to.

"Wow, Darren Gibbs, you definitely are a Slytherin...I don't need to look at your robes to see that." Aurora said. "You wont let me think of you as a cute little firstie if even for a second! I like that. You really aren't like other first years." As a reply, Darren asked her if she was in a rush to go somewhere. He seemed eager to speak to her, and Aurora was glad for some company, so she thought she'd invite him to sit down with her.

"Well, I sort of was hoping to get some food in before my next class.." Darren looked a bit disappointed. "...But you are welcome to sit with me..if you want..." Aurora was tired of spending yet another lunch time alone doing her horrid homework, so she hoped Darren would agree to come sit with her...after all, Aurora had come to realize that Darren was very mature for his age.

[Darren Gibbs S1]

Darren nodded at what Aurora was saying. She was right-she was intelligent, a bright kid. No, Darren was definately not a cute little firstie, and he'd try to make as many people as possible believe him. Well, he wouldn't like to give the wrong impression and be treated like any other 11-year-old. Oh, no. Darren was special, and didn't he know it! He would change the world someday, given the chance. The world needed more people like him-aiming for the top, and not letting anyone or anything stop him. Too many people he felt took second best, not trying hard enough to reach their ultimate dreams. That was part of being a Slytherin-high aims, great expectations, and a higher-than-average success rate.

Well, Aurora seemed like a respectable Slytherin. Not anyone would be able to recognise Darren's Slytherinity after just a few words he'd said. Then while he was in his own thoughts, he heard the older girl say something else. She was asking him whether he'd like to sit with her while she ate. He pondered for a moment over this...he'd already eaten, so he didn't need to go back-in faxt, it's be better if he just left to get other things done. However, Aurora seemed like a girl who recognised him, and appreciated him-it was hard to find anyone like that these days, even around Hogwarts-and so he enjoyed talking to her. In the end he decided that he'd accept her invitation-well, people were always telliing him to eat more anyway. He was getting skinny, even though he seemed to eat like a horse!

"Um, yeah, sure. I'll sit with you if you want. Well, I don't have anything else to do really, and you seem to be a rather intelligent girl, you make a lot of sense-not many people do around here. So yeah, I'll sit with you, if you don't mind. I only have some potions homework to do, which I'm not fussed about yet-I can get it done later..." True. It wasn't due in until the lesson in a weeks time, so he had ages to do it. And he liked potions, so once he got started he would probably go on about whatever it was for a while, with no trouble. So he walked with the 3rd year girl back over to the Slytherin table, and sat down.

"So...what's it like being an older student? I can't wait till at least next year-I hate being a firstie. Everyone acts as if I'm stupid. I'm not though. Not at all. It's horrible being treated like a little kid, don't you agree?" He picked up a sausage roll from a big plate infront of him, and took a bite. "Even being in the top class at primary school was better, even if we were younger. At least we were treated with authority, and given special privelages. But that's life though, isn't it?" He finished his sausage roll, waiting for a reply.

[natxthexrat]

Darren accepted her invitation to go eat with her...she wouldn't have minded if he didn't, but he did, so they headed off to the Slytherin House table.They had a very polite conversation, Darren did most of the talking. He went on and on about how he hated being a first year, she didn't blame him. Although, Aurora didn't complain about it as much as Daren did. Aurora could always make the best out of a bad situation. Aurora stayed silent for a while, so she thought she'd better reply, just so Darren didn't think she wasn't listening...that would be very rude.

"Well, I'm not that much older, there's still a couple of fifth and sixth years who used to push me around a bit...butthey stopped as soon as they realized i wouldn't take any crap from them."Aurora said. "Otherwise, being an older student is pretty great, you get lots more respect than those younger kids." Aurora picked up a slice of toast while she waited for Darren to respond.

[Darren Gibbs S1]

Darren listened to what Aurora had to say. She was right-although she was older than him, it was only 2 years. But 2 years can make a lot of difference. Anything can happen in 2 years. But he totally understood what she was saying, about having a lot more respect than 1st year, yet still getting crap from the older students.

"Hmm, I see what you mean. the older kids probably see you as one of the young ones, and treat you like you're still a 1st year to start with. Yeah, you may be younger, but you're generally a lot more, well, mature I'd think in 3rd year. I can't wait to be older. Being 11 frankly sucks. Changing schools, then being treated like a little kid, just cos you're the youngest in the school. I suppose in 3rd year you get treated better by the teachers too, right? And get looked up to by the 1st years more. Even if the work load's tough, I'd prefer to be older than a firstie. Only 2 months or so have past, and I'm already sick of it".

Darrens thoughts then switched to what he was going to do when he finally got to leave this place at the next oppurtunity. Christmas. Yeah, that would be a good time. He liked Christmas as it was, with all the presents and things, but this year it was gonna give him the chance to get away from this boring place, where he was treated as worthless. He decided to share his thoughts with Aurora, trying to not seem too rude, not letting her get a word in edgeways.

"So, what're you doing over Christmas then? Are you going home, or staying here, or something else? Me, I'm just going home...anywhere's better than being stuck here for 3 weeks with nothing, when you could be at home doing whatever. So...any plans yet? Or don't you know?" he sat there, waiting for a reply from Aurora.