The Dining Hall

[Annabella Annaheim]

Annabella and her friends, plus a little brother, entered the dining hall. Forest branches covered the ceiling and little orbs of light danced through the branches. Disappearing and reappearing. Rumor had it they were spirits of birds and fairies of long past. If one approached you it could mean you were about to have good fortune, or impending death depending on which legend was told.

Chattering echoed off the walls, Annabella looked over to see a swarm of kids trying to sit next to the new transfer. Annabella had learned that his name was Thomas Belby. He came with his mother to America over summer and now resided in Maine. Probably similar climate to the rainy and cloudy UK. Most of the students buzzing around him asked if he knew the infamous Potter family and anything else just to hear his accent. Thomas was a Ravenclaw back in Hogwarts and was put into Horned Serpents' house due to his excellent grades. Which just so happened to be Rachel’s house as well.

Rachel Drizzly, an 8th year, was clearly interested in him. Rachel, Annabella, and Ferne were good friends in their first and second years. However, once Rachel’s family split, things changed. She suddenly got a no-mag cellular phone and her hair done by the best hair wizard in LA. She no longer had any time for Annabella’s adventures and Ferne's monologues on human biology.

“Poor guy.” Annabella sighed.
“Poor guy? He has the best Ilvermorny girls dying to talk to him. I think he will live.” Pierce sat down behind an empty wooden plate. “I’m starving.”

As everyone sat down to eat Horned Serpent’s head of house gave a few quick announcements about rules and regulations of the dining hall and the dorms. Once that was complete food began appearing in the silver serving dishes in front of them. The first feast together was always the best. Herbed roasted chicken and wild rice appeared before the four friends. Fern's brother, Drew, marveled at all the food. Getting up a few times to get chicken biscuits from another table until Ferne snapped and called the chicken biscuits over to them landing in front of Drew.

After the main course desserts appeared filling the giant dining room with sweet scents. Peirce saw a group of guys hanging out in front of some pies and dismissed himself to go over and join them. Drew had introduced himself to another first-year leaving the girls to enjoy ice cream and pie by themselves.

“Are you signed up for Transfiguration with Boggle Tuesdays and Thursdays?” Ferne asked looking over her schedule squinting as the lights danced around casting uneven light. The dining hall was great for eating but less so for studying and reading due to the constant subtle change in lighting.
“No, I am Wednesdays and Fridays.”
“Ouf, I was hoping to have you in that one. Remember when we turned twigs into no-mag money and bought no-mag items in town? What were those again?”
“Scented hand sanitizer.”
“I need more of that.”

Annabella looked over to see if they had any classes together. Astronomy and Apparition. Annabella was excited to finally be able to take Apparition so she could finally go visit friends over summer. 17 was the age in the wizarding world, you could use long-distance apparition. Which was exactly what Annabella needed to get out of her boring town in Iowa and start seeing the world. Annabella smiled, it was going to be a good year.