(Iris Potter - PoV)
The Great Hall is a lot more crowded today.
I think so, anyway.
It's hard to be certain since I keep my eyes glued to Coeus's back as we make our way to the table.
I-It should be fine. I was here yesterday. And for the Sorting. Everyone should have it out of their system, right?
...
Pretending helps a little, at least. Enough to keep Coeus from doing anything.
Not that I don't appreciate it!
The fact he is actually willing to help...
Taking my seat, I stare blankly at the table.
...
So long.
I waited for so long.
Hoped.
...
begged...
...
So many times.
...
For someone...anyone...to help.
...
Now...Now I have people willing to start a fight with a crowd full of wizards for me. To nearly knock themselves out...
...
for...me?
...
Not even to save me, or protect me. Just because I was uncomfortable.
No, they are willing to go...a lot further, when it's important.
...
I jerk back as a plate is shoved in front of me.
"Food!" Coeus exclaims, taking a bite out of the toast he is waving around.
"Eat!" he demands, following sort himself.
Nodding, I turn towards my plate.
My full plate.
That I can refill as much as I want.
Without getting yelled at. Or sent to the office. Or hit. Or locked in the cupboard. Or...
"Are you ok?"
Looking up, I find Daphne staring at me across the table.
Shrugging, I continue to pick at my food.
"Yeah."
I am so hungry, but trying to eat...
...
Maybe...Maybe later.
Daphne continuing to stare at me certainly isn't helping.
...
"Coeus," I sort of explain.
She nods.
"That is a given. About yesterday? Or did he do something new?"
"He blinded half of Slytherin for staring at me."
...
I try not to fidget, as Daphne's gaze becomes far more intense.
This is not working how I had hoped.
Slowly, she turns to look at Coeus as he talks with Draco in between eating as much as possible. Something about the other boys' new room?
(Daphne Greengrass - PoV)
What...in...Merlin's...name!
I tolerate the idiot for years and get iced. She knows him for a couple of months and he blinds anyone who even looks at her?
Wait. He threw that spell at me right after I started talking to her...
...
Coeus...
Wha-
My attention is rather forcefully diverted away from the irritation when she jerks her plate off the table, just in time for an owl to land right in front of her.
The, admittedly gorgeous, snow-white owl glances around the table...disdainfully(?) before turning its attention to Iris.
...
Did...Did I just get looked down on by an owl?
"Ahh...H-Hedwig..." Iris stutters out, shrinking into herself as...Hedwig...
...
"Iris," I begin, "Is..." before trailing off with a sigh.
"Why is...your(?) owl glaring at you?" I ask.
"I...promised...I would visit her...after we got here..."
She flinches when the owl...Is the owl berating her?
"Oy!" Coeus interrupts, pointing his fork at it.
Rapidly chewing his food, he (thankfully) swallows before continuing.
"Leave off her! It's been a day! We've been busy!"
Hedwig snaps at him.
He...clacks his teeth back.
Of course he does.
"Screw you too! How many times did you almost die on your flight over, huh?
Less than us, I am sure...
The bird tilts its head.
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
He sniffs.
"We had to tame my murder cart. Rescue the asshole. Blow up a door. Deal with that mess at Hagrid's..."
He trails off before shaking his head.
"So! Back off, you bloody flying chicken!"
Hedwig gives a low, warning warble before turning back to Iris and lightly headbutting her.
"Sorry..." she mutters, rubbing the owl's head.
Hedwig gives a...Since when can owls harrumph?...before turning her attention to Iris's plate, picking away a few choice bits.
...
Not fair...
Slumping in my seat (decorum be damned...) I watch the utterly dejected-looking girl across the table.
How am I supposed to be upset at her?
Slumped over herself, awkwardly petting her owl (that just scolded her)...It is like trying to be angry at a puppy.
...
Ugh...
And of course Coeus just...takes the whole thing in stride. The weird owl fits in just fine with his...Blackness.
...
Closing my eyes, it is all I can do not to slam my head into the table.
It is not fair...
...
"Oh, come on! Not the bacon again!" a voice complains.
Ugh.
Wait, bacon? I would bet my house (the physical one) this involves our little group.
I am proven correct the moment I open my eyes. Hedwig appears to have abandoned Iris's plate in favor of the main platters in the center of the table.
I am so glad I got here early.
"What? The bacon?! Oi! What do you think you are doing you stupid bird!"
Aaaand I sigh as Coeus starts yelling again.
Hedwig's head slowly rotates to look at him.
She does not make a sound. Just stares.
"Don't look at me like that! You heard me! That's the bacon you are stealing!"
I lean over to Tracey as Hedwig continues to try to stare him down.
"Remember, Tracey. Duck and cover."
She barely glances at me before nodding.
"Of course. And I managed to snag an empty platter before it disappeared," she replies. "So I have a shield too!"
I blink at her.
That...blast.
"That is a good idea," I admit.
Why did I not think of it?
Well, my first instinct was to hide behind someone else.
...
Crap.
On the one hand, it is generally sensible. On the other? I do not want to become a useless princess!
"Brother," Phoebe interrupts Coeus's ongoing argument with the owl.
"Remem-" suddenly cutting off, she sighs and palms her face.
"What?"
I am pretty sure I can just barely hear her mutter "Idiot" before Hedwig barks at him.
"Listen here yo-"
"Oh enough of this!" one of the older students speaks up at last. "It's a bloody bird! Deal with it or I will!"
Said bird quickly turns its attention to him with a threatening *clack*.
"I said enough!"
Reaching into his robe, the boy draws his wand.
Err...Tries to draw his wand.
I assume, at least. He gives up the attempt pretty quickly when Hedwig's claws go for his face.
And now he is a bit busy yelling and crying, curled into a ball as Hedwig savages him.
She is...terrifyingly fast.
...
"Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhhh!"
Or...maybe just terrifying.
"Ahhhh!"
It doesn't take long for a Hufflepuff prefect to (hesitantly) approach the table.
"Are...Do you need help with the...owl(?)?" he asks one of our prefects.
"No, no," the girl replies, sipping her drink as she watches her classmate get mauled. "He's 'dealing' with it."
"..."
"Ahhh!"
"Are...Are you sure?"
She nods.
"He was quite confident."
Ouch.
Point made.
Our prefects feel no obligation to save anyone from their own stupidity.
Not necessarily a surprise, but still...
"Ahhh!"
Ouch.
...
"H-Hedwig!"
Iris draws everyone's attention by actually speaking up for the first time.
"That's enough, girl. I think he yields. Right?"
I'm...not sure exactly what the noises he makes as Hedwig finally relents her attacks actually are, but yes. I probably would consider them a yield.
*Screeech!*
Unfortunately, I...am not sure everyone agrees.
Iris takes a deep breath before standing up and walking over to the downed student.
"Hey. Sorry. Could you, umm, say the words? She is, uh, being kinda picky."
*Mumble mumble*
"I know. But you need to say it first. Otherwise..." she points up at Hedwig, who is flying around the room, drifting lower each pass, and shrugs. "I dunno how much longer she is willing to wait."
*Slightly louder mumbling*
Iris nods.
"You heard that, right Hed?" she asks.
The owl ceasing its death glare and coming to land on her shoulder seems answer enough.
And I take it back. Hedwig doesn't fit the Blacks "just fine," she fits perfectly.
"Right," Iris says, turning to the table. "So. I think, uh..." Iris waves a hand at the guy on the ground. "He needs to go to the hospital wing. And might need some help getting there?"
...
"Y-Yeah. Yeah," another boy says, slowly standing up. "I, err, I got him?"
Iris blinks at him.
"Umm...great? Thanks?"
"Right..."
Making his way to his friend (and keeping well away from Iris and Hedwig, who keeps her eyes locked on him the entire time) he helps...whoever, up off the floor before half carrying him out of the hall.
...
Iris remains where she is, awkwardly fidgeting and refusing to look at anyone.
...
"Err...Right. I should...sit," she mutters.
Once she takes her seat, Hedwig flutters off her shoulder, landing on the table and proudly strutting to her original spot.
Only to freeze when she finds the platter nearly empty.
Her head whips to the side, and everyone follows her gaze.
Coeus, of course. He...
I rub my face.
While she was utterly mauling one of our seniors, someone with years more experience than us, Coeus took the opportunity to steal the food they were arguing over.
Matching the owl's gaze, staring her dead in the eyes despite her bloody talons, Coeus picks up a piece of bacon and stuffs it in his mouth.
*Crunch crunch crunch*
I always wondered why Phoebe doesn't use her abilities more often.
I understand now.
She must be exhausted keeping this absolute idiot alive.
"What?" he asks, as if he hasn't done something absolutely insane. "I left some for you!"
Hedwig's eyes narrow.
"Hed," Iris speaks up, once more drawing attention.
"Can you...let it go?" she asks, slowly reaching out and stroking the owl's head with a pair of fingers.
...
Hedwig shrugs her off.
Giving Coeus a long, lingering glare, Hedwig harrumphs once more (again, I didn't know they could do that?) before turning back to the platter. Snatching up a few pieces, she takes off, quickly disappearing out the owl window.
...
A cup slams into the table.
"Well!" our prefect starts. "That was certainly something. One of the more memorable breakfasts I've had, at least. It's usually dinner and a show!"
She stands up.
"Unfortunatly, it's that time, firsties! We are already running a bit late so, hop hop! We've a lot of ground to cover if you want to make it to classes on time."
