JADE FOUND herself sitting in between Mandy and Luna in the Great Hall. On her right, Mandy was telling Michael Corner about her trip to Italy, and on her left, Luna was twirling her hair around her index finger.

Jade noticed she had long, slender fingers, and nails that looked like they had been chewed on. The end of her ring finger nail was jagged, like she had just recently bitten part of it.
She shouldn't be staring at the girl, but she was just so fascinated by her.

Mandy nudged her, glancing in Luna's direction. She glared at her, not wanting to try and make a move yet. Luna seemed oblivious to every interaction made between Mandy and Jade, instead watching the ghosts fly about the Hall. Mandy was distracted by a loud crash! coming from the entrance to the Hall, which relieved Jade. Peeves had dumped water all over a second year Hufflepuff, who appeared to be crying, though it was hard to tell with all the water running down her face.

"Peeves is such a mischievous creature." Luna said, observing the Hufflepuff as she fled to her friends, who were casting drying charms.

"He is a poltergeist, after all." Terry replied.

Luna nodded her head slightly, as if acknowledging his statement. Before the conversation could continue, Professor McGonagall strutted into the Hall, with over a hundred first years following her. They were by far the biggest group of first years Jade had ever seen.

The Sorting ceremony did not take as long as expected, as the Hat was very quick about its choices. Ravenclaw gained about twenty-five first years, who sat timidly at the head of the table. The jubilee ended as Headmaster Dumbledore rose, giving his annual beginning of the year speech.

It was somber this year, with the Hall seeming grayer, and the candles seeming dimmer. Was it because the magical Hall was mourning Cedric? Was it because Voldemort was back? Jade wasn't entirely sure.

The Headmaster was interrupted by a small tut tut from the professor table behind him. A stout woman wearing all pink stood up, and walked towards the front.

"She looks like a toad." Anthony whispered to Mandy, who giggled. Jade rolled her eyes jokingly, but he was right, the woman really did look like a toad.

She spoke in a squeaky, high-pitched voice, shocking some of the Ravenclaws at first. But, once she started to drawl on, people began to slouch and close their eyes, falling asleep during the feast. Jade blocked most of Umbridge's speech out, instead focusing on the way Luna's leg bounced up and down every so often and how her own leg did the same.

Once she had finished, the feast began. Anthony began to shove chicken into his mouth, leaving stains all over his face and his new sweater.

"Anthony, at least have some sort of respect for yourself." Jade said, handing him her napkin. He pushed it away, piling more and more chicken into his mouth.

He mumbled through all the food, saying something that sounded like "I can do whatever I want", but Jade wasn't entirely sure.

Terry stared at his friend in disgust, his nose scrunched up and his mouth twisted into a frown. Michael Corner sighed next to Mandy, shaking his head at Anthony. Jade picked at the two sausages remaining on her plate, unsure if she could finish them after eating three while watching Anthony's disgusting display.

"Are you gonna eat those?" Anthony indicated towards the sausage with his fork, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

She picked up her plate and rolled them on to his, rolling her eyes as he scarfed them down. She ate a few boiled carrots, and set her fork down.

"I think I've over stuffed myself."

Luna smiled, not looking up from her plate as she did so. She had barely touched any food, having eaten a small bit of potatoes and a couple pieces of chicken. Jade smiled back, though she wasn't sure if Luna saw.

Before Anthony could take any more chicken, the feast disappeared and was replaced with desserts. Jade sighed dramatically as she reached for a pumpkin tart.

"I don't know if I can eat anymore, I might explode." She stuck her tongue out and rolled her head back, sighing again.

"I would prefer it if you didn't explode." Luna laughed, grinning at Jade's exaggerated reaction.

She got her to smile and laugh. That was all that mattered to Jade.

She forced the tart into her mouth and swallowed it, raising her fists in the air triumphantly. Anthony clapped slowly, and then proceeded to take four treacle tarts and swallow them whole.

As Luna laughed again, Jade watched her head fall back and saw the happiness radiating from her.

This was going to be a good year.