Open look out - she's back! (aka finding tori)

[Victoria de Lacey]

The noise of the Great Hall was familiar, and yet it was still strange because it felt like she hadn't heard it in forever. Even though the situation in Durmstrang wasn't like this, it was still somewhat chaotic, so she hadn't missed out on that much, other than just the fact that her friends were here. She'd made some in Durmstrang she supposed, enough to write to them now that she was back, but it was her friends here that would make her want to come back ultimately. She'd told them she wouldn't stay away any longer than this, and she'd already lied to them once - of course she hadn't realised at the time it would be a lie when she'd said she was only going to Durmstrang for a semester.

Even then. It was still weird being back.

Tori hadn’t realised how much she’d missed it until now - the clatter of plates, the chatter bouncing from house table to house table, the floating candles above, the ceiling mirroring the dusky September sky. She slid into her seat, fingers tracing the worn edge of the bench as if testing to see if it still fit her. Durmstrang had been different - colder, harsher, quieter in ways she hadn’t expected - but it had taught her things Hogwarts never could. Still, as the smells of roast chicken and pumpkin pasties filled her nose, Tori felt something unclench in her chest. This was home.

She reached for a roll, tearing it apart with quick fingers. Her eyes darted around the hall, catching familiar faces, some surprised to see her, some already leaning toward friends to whisper. She wondered how much had changed in a year. How much she had changed. She didn't think it would be too different, since it had only been a year, but what did she know really? Things sometimes had a way of doing things over time that you didn't realise. She knew she looked a little different at least. Her hair was longer, she was a bit taller. She'd grown into her robes this year and they didn't feel all loose on her like they had last year - which meant she'd have to buy more later, probably. Merlin, it did feel a little weird to be back - but she was glad she was.​

 

[Lilith Ilves]

Fourth year was here and it was weird that they were a little over halfway through school already. This year was going to be another good one though, Lilith knew it. She knew it especially true because one of her best friends, Tori, was back. As soon as she could Lilith got up from her seat in the great hall and rushed over to the Gryffindor table, Eoghan not too far behind her. She had one single task in mind. And that was finding Tori.

Her eyes didn't have to search for long, though the girl had changed since she last saw her Lilith could pick her best friend out in a crowd any given day. She hadn't given her the name Asterope, which meant lightning, for nothing. No Tori had always been someone you couldn't miss. The Ravenclaw all but shot towards the Gryffindor and grabbed her from behind into a hug. She was so happy to have her back at last. "You are back!" She stated happily, though it was rather obvious. "Merlin I missed you, your hair looks amazing! Must have been that German weather huh?" Lili wasn't done hugging Tori quite yet, she'd seen her during the last break but not after that due to being at home and returning only a little while before school started and all the hassle of a new school year had been a lot.

 

[Susie Lagowski]

Susie sat quietly at the Hufflepuff table, picking at her broccoli. She’d recognised the back of Tori’s head the second she’d seen it, but she hadn’t got up yet. Not even to say hello. There was an odd feeling in her chest, like a heavy weight, pinning her place. So Tori was just going to waltz back in here, and Susie was supposed to be happy? She’d promised one semester. The anticipation of seeing her again at Christmas had carried Susie through the entire term - through tedious essays and difficult exams and awkward conversations with Freddie’s professors. It was the one thing she’d been looking forward to - even more than Christmas itself.

And then Tori had just… changed her mind. Decided to stay at Durmstrang for the whole year. Whatever friends she’d made there, they were clearly better than Susie. All that excitement, all that holiday anticipation had turned off like a light. Was Tori ever coming back? Or would it always be ‘just one more semester’?

Maybe Susie was being a drama queen. Maybe Tori hadn’t done anything wrong, really. But even now, the excitement was gone. Watching Lilith swamp the Gryffindor in a big hug, Susie wondered if she was just a horrible, terrible person. Then she remembered how upset she’d been at Christmas and decided no: she wasn’t. Or if she was, she didn’t care.​

 

[Eoghan Blyth]

Eoghan knew Tori was planning to come back this year but it would have been a lie to say he was completepy convinced that would actually happen. He'd gotten his hopes up at Christmas and while he understood her choices, it meant that until he saw the Gryffindor back in the flesh he wasn't going to pin all of his hopes on it.

As Lilith got up from their table, Eoghan followed after her a short distance away, as though he simply wanted to see for himself if it was true. If she was back that would be great, he'd missed having her around the school and he knew others had too. Passing by the Hufflepuff table, his eyes located Susie; someone that he'd gotten considerably closer to last year because of Tori's absence. He was the one that had had to tell Susie that Tori had postponed her return, and recalling the way she'd kept to herself after the initial announcement in their second year, he wasn't surprised to see the Hufflepuff hadn't made any move to greet their friend.

Eoghan frowned a little as he watched her picking at her food. Something about her was definitely unusual, or at least more unusual than normal. Taking a detour towards her, Eoghan bent down to lean his palms on the table beside her, voice quiet enough only Susie could hear, "she's here now." Whatever else had gone on between them was in the past, and if they couldn't enjoy the time they had with Tori now she was back, then the time spent missing her would have been in vain. "You should speak to her, when you're ready." Eoghan wasn't going to force Susie to join them, but he did think she would feel better if she could reunite with her friend.

 

[Teddy Pirrip]

Teddy sat further down the Gryffindor table minding his own business for once in his life.

 

[Jasper Beese]

Jasper sat down opposite Tori staring at her like he still didn't quite believe she was really sitting there after a year away. He knew a little about why she was away for longer than she said, but he still had more questions that he wanted to ask. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it when Lilith came over. Jasper didn't know her well and hadn't spoken all year so he was a little shy. He looked across the hall at Susie watching, so instead he grinned and gave her a wave, throwing his energy in her direction instead. He hadn't fully registered that she was talking to someone.

 

[Felix Layton]

Fifi was practically grinned from ear to ear from across the table every time he made eye contact with Tori. He didn't know of that was down to how they'd left things last time they'd seen one another or whether he was just glad to have his rriend back, but he couldn't help it nonetheless. He said nothing as Lilith approached her though, that wasn't something he wanted to get in the middle of, so he did the smart thing and kept mostly to himself for the duration of his dinner.

 

[Victoria de Lacey]

Tori couldn't believe everyone who'd come to see her, and she grinned at Jasper and Felix before she was suddenly enveloped into a hug by, she could only assume Lilith as she noted the brown hair. "Ah- Vega!" She was so excited to see her friends again after so long. She turned her head to look for Yew, who she'd been sure was with Lilith only a moment ago, and saw him at the Hufflepuff table, and it looked like he was talking to Soos. Well, she had a gift for her anyway, so she'd hopefully be able to give it to her soon, maybe after the ceremony was completed and the feast was done. She didn't want to interrupt anything more than she already had. She had a gift for everyone else too, but she wanted her best friends to have theirs first. "I missed you so much! Come and sit please! How's everything? How was school? Congrats on winning the house cup and top points earner you legend!"

She glanced at Felix as she spoke to Lily, trying not to make it too obvious. They hadn't had the chance to really speak properly about anything when she'd seen him, and Esme - her roommate was easily going to be... probably the most awkward to talk to, she wanted to ask about that to. ​

 

[Lilith Ilves]

Lilith smiled at Jasper who was looking past them towards he Hufflepuff table and glanced there herself. Eoghan had stayed a bit back to talk to Susie. Lili grinned even more when Tori told her to sit and she did so without much more convincing, noticing the subtle glance at Felix from Tori. Fair enough, there had been a lot going on with the two when she'd left he school so the Ravenclaw could hardly fault her best friend for looking to the boy.

"Oh you heard about that?" It was her turn to be a little shy about it. "It was nothing really, I just did.... a lot?" She admitted, frankly she'd done as much as she could for her house to win and it wasn't like she hadn't enjyed all th extra work either. "Everything's been good, looking forward to new year and classes wit you again." She said with a smile, "how was Germany? I'm sure we all want to hear all about your time there!" Lilith said eagerly glancing Jasper's way as if o look for confirmation from the Gryffindor to her statement. Though she'd have o grill her best friend about a certain boy later on, but that was left to when they weren't surrounded by everyone in the great hall.

 

[Stefan Zhefarovich]

Stefan would have been earlier if it had been easier to ask some older students to conjure flowers for his girlfriend, who had been really hard to hide from on the train. And now, he was among the students lagging behind in entering the Great Hall. He’d spotted his girlfriend and now he was holding a small bouquet of flowers—red roses, red peonies, yellow daisies, and sunflowers. When the Sorting Ceremony had been over, he carefully made his way down the hall, bouquet held behind him.

It was slightly difficult to approach her with a girl in blue robes—a Ravenclaw, Lilith, he would guess—enveloping her in a hug. But that only meant his Herzchen had a blindside and was distracted. Which he completely capitalized on by standing on her other side, opposite possibly-Lilith, and presented her with the bouquet he’d managed to gather. “Welcome back to Hogwarts, Herzchen,” he said, grin and all.

A squeal and an armful of Tori was what he got and he laughed as he had to drop the bouquet in order to catch her. “Surprise!”

*sweetheart​

 

[Felix Layton]

It was cute, really. To see all of Tori's friends gathering around her. If she didn't know if she'd be missed, Felix hoped she certainly did now. Minding his own business, the fourth year had turned his attention back to his food when another older student came over, practically lifting her off her feet with an overcompensating bunch of flowers. He didn't know who he was or what he was doing, but it was a bit strange a random student was here to surprise her unless they'd already met.

The blonde swallowed, a mix of confusion and a desire to make sure she was okay brewing in the back of his mind. Was he, jealous? He didn't think so, but the act of someone else treating her this way certainly raised a few questions. "Didn't know you brought back a boyfriend, Tor," he remarked, unable to stop himself. There was a moment at the party, that he'd considered whether he liked Tori more than he should, especially seeing her reaction to Cassie. "Now you'll have someone else's hair to play with," he shot her a small grin before standing from the bench.

There was a reason Felix didn't want to be involved with anyone. Before anyone had a chance to stop him, Felix grabbed a bread roll from his plate and strolled out of the Great Hall.

 

[Victoria de Lacey]

"I heard about a lot of things, don't you worry!" Tori said, looking over at Lilith to get involved in a conversation with her. Because of that she didn't notice the great hall doors, or the person who was approaching from there, so she was surprised when she saw flower held out in front of her and when she turned to see who they were from she couldn't hide the way her squeal just slipped out as she threw her arms around him. "OH MY GOD!" She could not believe he was here right now. "What the hell? What did you do, did you even tell your mother you were here? Does she know? Do your cousins know? Stefy!" She didn't even notice Felix had gotten up and left as she flung herself at her boyfriend whom she had not at all expected to see.​