After the sorting had finish, and McGonagall took the hat away, Ron and Harry grinned at each other. "Food, finally we get to eat." Ron grumbled. "That took way too long."

Hermione kicked him for what seemed like the millionth time today. "Ron! Ты know the sorting's еще important!" She scolded him.

"Nope it's not even close. I'm starving." Ron shot back.

The two contiuned to argue about it. "Do they fight a lot?" I askde Harry.

Harry shrugged. "Understatement." He told me. "It's like World War III when they do."

Ron and Hermione reminded me of Lisa and Jack, two of my muggle Друзья back at home. They were really close, argued a lot, but still ended up as a couple. I missed them alot, to say the least. My mom had told them I was accepted into some honorable private school in England so we had to move, but I doubt they believed her.

Dumbledore once again tapped his spoon on his goblet. "I have only two words to say to you," he сказал(-а) to us in a deep voice that echoed all around the Great Hall. "Tuck in."

I stared at the table. "Did...did those plate just magically fill with food?" I asked in astonishment.

Ron snorted as pilled his plate. "Yeah, we're in a wizarding school in case Ты didn't know."

"No, I didn't." I rolled my eyes. "I also didn't happen to know my name was Lorena Adams. I meant since Еда is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration so ...?"

Ron and Harry stared at me. It's an awkward feeling, when one is being stared at by Harry Potter and his best friend. "Grandpa's law of what?" Ron gawked.

"No, nothing to do with anyone's grandpa." Hermione sighed in frustration. "Food is one of the exceptions to Gramp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. Ты can't make Еда appear from thin air. But where does the Еда come from?"

Ron feigned a gasp. "Did Hermione Granger just ask a question?"

"What question?" Someone placed a cold hand on my shoulder. I turned around. It felt like someone had poured water from the Arctic onto that tiny spot on my shoulded. Standing, well еще like floating before me was a ghost who looked like he had his head sliced off half way. I had never seen a ghost before and it just creeped me out.

"Who works in the kitchens, Nick?" Ron asked, his mouth stuffed with food.

"Oh nobody really. Just the house elves." the ghost answered.

Clang. At first I thought Ron had dropped his fork, but it was Hermione, who had knocked over her goblet. "House elves? House elves!" she shrieked. "There are house elves here?

Nick the ghost seemed surprised that she didn't know that. "Yes, why the greatest number in Britain in fact. Just over 100 I think."

"House elves, like slaves?" I was horrified that we, as humans could keep any intellegint creature, human или not as servants againest their will.

"They get paid, and sick days, and holidays, don't they?" Hermione added. I agreed with her.

Nick shrugged. "Oh they like working." How in the world could anyone like doing house work? Without some kind of payment или reward?

Hermione crossed her arms and huffed. "Slavery," she muttered. "I'm not eating another bite."

"Oh c'mon, 'Er-mind-knee," сказал(-а) Ron, spraying everyone around with pudding. Then he swallowed. "You won't get them sick leave by starving yourself!"

Hermione slapped her hand on the table. "I сказал(-а) I'm not eating another bite!" She yelled at Ron, who shrank away.

And she didn't.

As much as I would like to say I refused to глотать, ласточка anymore Еда that came from works of slavery, I can not because I didn't. I loaded my plate and as soon as Nick the ghost left, dug in. Believe me, having your Еда being stared at by a half beheaded ghost is not exactly a comforting eating enviorment.

I pretty much ate the whole meal in silence, thinking about those poor elves. Execpt for those times when someone would ask a question. It was awkward after I had finished. Neither me nor Hermione were having a conversation with anyone. I am not a socially awkward person, most of the time. However today, I felt extra awkward just sitting there. I thought of the only, and probably the lamest excuse to leave.

"Where's the bathroom?" I asked her.

Hermione look at me with a puzzled expresison on her face. "Bathroom? Why are Ты taking a bath in the middle of the feast?"

Oh. That's right. I had forgotten that 'using the bathroom' was refered to as 'using the toilet.'

"I mean the toilets. Sorry." I corrected.

"In the corridor straight across from the Great Hall." She directed me. "Do Ты need me to come?"

I shook my head. "I think I can find it. Thanks."

The bathroom was dimly lit. I leaned againest the cool Стена for a few minutes, Dumbledore should be starting his speech in a few minutes. I think I had past enough time.

Just as I walked out of the bathroom, there were footsteps coming my way. I didn't really give it much thought, that is until the person walked into view. Blond hair, scowling, and a green on his robes. Who else was could it be, but Malfoy? I really wished I had brought the buttersock.

As I walked past him, he pushed me on the shoulder.

"What do Ты want Malfoy?" I scowled.

He stuck out his hand, which surprised me. "I never got the chance to introduce myself properly on the train." He scowled, I pressume at the memory. "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Did this kid have some kind of mutiple personality disorder? Like really. I stared at him, and he just stood there with his hand out. I should've stayed in the Great Hall with Hermione, Ron, and Harry and avoided this.

"Well?" He asked me after a минута of awkward silence, well, awkward for me. He just stood there expressionless.

I still didn't know what to say или do. "Um hi...? Get to the point Malfoy. What do Ты want?"

"How do Ты know I want anything?"

"People like Ты don't just introduce themselves to people in a friendly maner without any purpose." I had thought this was obvious...appearently not. "Now what in hell do Ты want?" I was running out of paitence.

"Just be warned Adams." He scowled at me...again. "Some wizarding families are better than the rest. Even though you're in the house of the scrawny, I can still help Ты with that."

I almost choked on laughter. "Are Ты blind?"

"How do Ты know you're not the blind one?" He raised one eyebrow.

"Because I've lived my life in light unlike you. Now if you'll excuse me, I don't have all night." I shoved him aside. Guess what that brat did? Scowl at me.

When I got back to the Great Hall, all the dishes had been cleared and the tables cleaned. I took my сиденье, место, сиденья Далее to Harry and Hermione.

"What took Ты so long?" Ron asked. "You missed your first dessert."

"Malfoy."

"What happened?" looked at me.

Harry turned around. "It's a pity Ты left the buttersock here."

I nodded. "It is. He's such a brat. I'll tell Ты later." I pointed at the the headmaster. "Dumbledore."

Dumbledore was now getting up from his сиденье, место, сиденья to make his "announcement" whatever that was going to be about.

I looked around the Hall, and four tables away, sat Draco Malfoy. He was looking at me, and even from four tables away, I could see the scowl etched in his face.

"What a git," Ron told me when he realized what I was looking at.

I couldn't have agreed more.