Dinner For One (open)

[Maxwell Arnold Waller]

The Great Hall was a place for all Hogwarts students, but for Max it felt like it only belonged to him. Something about the room made him feel attached to it, he felt comforted by the walls and the ceiling that seemed to open to the sky. The floating candles danced and flickered as he entered the extravagant room alone. There were a few small pods of students here on there, either sitting at tables, or walking to and from. He glanced around, hoping to see a fellow Gryffindor, or maybe a friend from another house. Unfortunately, dinner had finished a few hours before, the hours no approaching 10 pm. He had only a short while before he would be forced to head to his Common Room, and decided to take a seat at his usual spot at the Gryffindor Table, only a few short nudges away from the exit. This is where he sat after being sorted in his First Year, and it's where he would sit at almost every major feast. He didn't know many people that had a 'spot' at their table, but he wasn't like most people so it didn't bother him too much.

As he took a seat, and reached out for a small scone sitting on a centerpiece, he was left with his thoughts. This could either end very well, or very wrong. Max took this risk and contemplated what his year at Hogwarts was going to look like. What classes would he be in? Who would he spend most of his time with? Girlfriend? Quidditch? Okay, of course Quidditch, but would he possibly make Captain this year? So many questions running through his mind left Max feeling a small mixture of fear, anxiety and excitement, but mostly excitement. As he chewed in his scone, he decided he would pull out his course list and really settle on his classes. "You'll be finished before I get up" Max said, muffling the words threw the partially chewed scone still in his mouth.

The small piece of parchment now laid in front of him. The Hogwarts Crest crept across the top of the crumpled paper. The words, written in ink, asked Max to please list his classes below on the lists, and to be sure that he met all prerequisites before applying. The due date was that evening, and Maxwell was infamous for leaving anything and everything to the last minute. He pulled out his favorite quill, a simple black one that had been his grandfather's, and his ink also in his favorite color, maroon, and began to fill the form out, speaking out-loud simultaneously.

"Charms for sure. Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and maybe Herbology? Ugh, I suppose I need Transfiguration. I wonder if I get credits for Quidditch? Maybe Muggle Studies, haven't tried that yet. And...hmmm...Astronomy? No. History of Magic? No. Maybe that's it?"

Max set the paper back down and stared blankly. His markings left a scribbled and far from organized list of what could either be groceries, or classes. It would have to do and hopefully the officials would know that it was what it was.

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[Scarlett Viceroy]

Scarlett was happy to be back at Hogwarts...

She had missed the Arthurian charm of the giant castle and it was her home away from home. One thing she loved about it more than others was the view it gave her from the grounds of the stars at night. It wasn't the same view back at home in the grassy foothills but it was still a magical site to behold...

So magical in fact that it was nearly 10 o'clock when Scarlett realized that she had been out in the trees for hours and had once again missed dinner. Grabbing her deep crimson velvet cloak she gracefully made her way down out of the giant oak and sprinted across the grounds her cloak flying behind her in the soft night breeze...

Hoping not to be too late as to procure any penalties Scarlett swiftly made her way through the grand entrance of the castle and in the shadows danced her way to the Great Hall, hoping there might be a few crumbs left to chew...

As she came upon the massive doors they were a jar and Scarlett could hear someone talking. Perhaps that meant there was still some dinner left, she could feel her tummy grumble angrily at her for missing another meal...

Scarlett quietly floated into the room as she listened and looked. There at her house's table sat a fellow Gryffindor. She wasn't sure who he was but it seemed he was having a bit of a tough choice in selecting his lessons for the term. She couldn't help but giggle just a bit at the young man's uncertainty, and she thought she was bad at making up her mind...

"Charms for sure. Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and maybe Herbology? Ugh, I suppose I need Transfiguration. I wonder if I get credits for Quidditch? Maybe Muggle Studies, haven't tried that yet. And...hmmm...Astronomy? No. History of Magic? No. Maybe that's it?"...

Scarlett surveyed the tables not finding much sustenance so she approached the fellow Gryffindor with hopes of easing his troubled mind...

"Astronomy...you should try Astronomy." the words came out soft but firm. They cut the silence of the grand dining hall but the sweet tones danced from her lips quite drastic in relation to the hooded figure standing from which the sweet voice came...

[Maxwell Arnold Waller]

The list wasn't anywhere near Maxwell's best work, but it would have to do. List-making was obviously not something he would mention on a resume, but nonetheless he felt it would only get worse if he tried to do it all over again. He continued to munch on his cold scone and wonder if the classes he listed would be sufficient for graduating. He wasn't good at recalling what the requirements were, and was often ridiculed by his father for simply doing the things he liked, something Max had difficulty understanding.

"Astronomy...you should try Astronomy."

A startling, yet strikingly inviting voice from behind Max caused him to turn a bit too quickly, completely unaware that a hooded figure had taken position quite close to him. The Great Hall was known for magnifying the most dull noise into something even the most elderly Professor's could hear, and the fact that this person had managed to deceive even the largest, most echoey room in the whole castle both impressed and frightened Max at what else this superhuman was capable of...maybe they had used magic.

A quick up-down look of the character revealed a beautiful cloak that Max had never seen before, vibrant yet dark and full. The face was covered by enough shadow that he couldn't tell who, or what was behind the cloak. The voice seemed feminine, but one could only assume who it was without the help of light, the candles floating above them simply not doing justice to his eyes.

A small moment passed as Maxwell analyzed the situation, before realizing that anyone that was in the castle must belong there, and turned the rest of his body along the bench, now facing the person who had startled him only a few seconds beforehand.

"Oh, uh...do you like Astronomy?" He asked politely, but with a small hint of confusion.

He had no idea what to say, not only did he not know who this person was, but he also didn't know their intentions. He decided to play it safe until he could figure out what exactly was going on.

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[Scarlett Viceroy]

As Scarlett stood quietly behind the fellow Gryffindor, she assumed since he was at her house's table she offered her advice of a choice of class for the term. Unexpectedly the young man seemed to almost jump at the sound of her voice. Perhaps she was too light on her feet sometimes...

He quickly turned the top half of his body around looking about in a rather spooked manner. She hadn't meant to scare or disturb him like that and she apologized quickly, realizing that perhaps a quiet silence being broken by a hooded figure could make one a bit uneasy...

"I'm very sorry..." she spoke softly with a sincerity that ran deep in her tone. "I didn't mean to startle you, I missed dinner and overhead your diliema for the upcoming term and thought I might offer some friendly advice?" She ended her apology with an explanation that sort of ended like a question. Hopefully it didn't come out as confusing as all that...

She had only offered up her choice on Astronomy because next to Divination and Charms it was one of her most favorites, and the boy seemed to be having a bit of trouble making up his mind. Scarlett felt a bit embarrassed for spooking the young man, which made her remember she was still hidden beneath her cloak. She noticed him inspect her cloak and then after a moment he tried to speak as he collected himself and turned completely to face Scarlett, with her now practically standing between his legs...

"Oh, uh...do you like Astronomy?" the young man asked with a mix of polite curiousness and confusion. Scarlett took a small step back and pulled out her wand slowly, knowing that she was doing a terrible job at trying to ease the young man's edge or nerves now so she quickly broke out with a sweet tone...

"Oh yes, very much! It's one of my favorite classes..." she started to explain as she delicately lowered her hood and opened her cloak pulling her wand out noticing the young man's possible nerves. She held it close to her to where the tip was near the bottom of her chin and to almost whisper...

"Lumos Maximus!" she softly whispered, not wanting the entire castle to hear her with in the grandness of the Great Hall. Her wand quickly shot up a bright light that illuminated almost her entire being. The light danced over her flowy knee length day dress but more importantly it illuminated her face. She wanted the boy to see she meant no harm and that she was nothing to be uneasy about...

"I thought a bit more light might put your nerves at ease, I'm sorry again for startling you." she said softly. The light from her wand lit up her face and made her crimson hair glow and her emerald eyes sparkle like the stars themselves that she so loved to study...

Scarlett's face wore a soft, tender smile as she moved the wand from her face and continued to explain her advice to the boy. "I love the stars, I always have. It's like I'm drawn to them or something!" she gushed as her smile grew a bit bigger. "I'm Scarlett by the way, Scarlett Viceroy of Gryffindor" she greeted extending her free hand both in apology for earlier and in greeting...

When she moved her wand, however, it began to illuminate something else...the young man's face before her glowed to life. It was a rather striking face, she had to admit and it was one that felt vaguely familiar. He certainly must have been a Gryffindor after all it made so much sense. His dark eyes were matched with a face that seemed like a mix of boyish good looks on a young man at the verge of adulthood. It was a very nice mix in Scarlett's opinion. It was a very pretty face for a boy, she hoped she hadn't blushed.

[Maxwell Arnold Waller]

Maxwell did have to admit that he was slightly startled, but quickly brushed off at her sincere apology. She seemed kind enough and if she wanted a conversation she definitely consulted the right person. Not only was Max very friendly, he loved talking about anything and everything. He must have gotten it from his mother, who was a well-known organizer of parties and social events. She loved a good conversation.

As she peeled the hood back and responded to his question about Astronomy, he felt his smile grow a wee bit wider. Not only did this girl seem to know a thing or two, she also had a beautiful face, framed by hair that was a vibrant, yet natural red. She raised her wand and gave the room a bit more light than what had been taking place beforehand. This helped soften the harsh shadows in the room, and gave Max the opportunity to see the young woman's face much more clearly.

"Thank you." Maxwell said in response to her lighting the room. Although he felt very comfortable in the Great Hall, it was very late in the evening and the lack of the usual crowded echoes made Max feel a bit vulnerable. The young girl spoke again, this time about her love of the stars. Maxwell loved the night sky as well, and could relate the feeling of being drawn to them. Some of his first memories were star-gazing with his dad in their backyard before they moved to London. He greeted her smile with a pat on the bench next to him, an invitation to sit down if she decided to accept.

"Well Scarlett, its very nice to meet you. The name's Maxwell, but most people call me Max."

When he discovered her house, he seemed a bit shocked. "Gryffindor? That's peculiar. I am as well! Sixth Year. A bit strange we haven't yet might, hey?" He asked, genuinely surprised that he had spent over 5 years at the school and not noticed her presence. Although Hogwarts was a large place, and was home to student a-many, you'd think that they would have somehow managed to cross-paths over the years.

"What brings you out so late at night anyways?" He asked, taking his last bite of scone and now chewing a bit more formally. He didn't want this pretty girl getting the wrong idea about him, especially so soon in their introductions.