(Kitchen) An insatiable hunger

[vicky]

Arising before the suns rays graced God's sweet earth Vicky had stolen silently out of her dorms, only hearing a few girls mumbling in their sleep, one saying over and over the name Russell for some reason, Vicky's mind didn't particularly wish to make the startling connection there. So she'd made it free and clear out of the common room, pleasantly surprised that nobody else was up just yet, even though Ravenclaws tended to be eager beavers when it came to work they didn't quite get up dead early, they were teenagers still afterall. But strangely enough Vicky had woken up, for once not from an all too vivid dream, that had been earlier in the evening, but for no apparent reason at all.

Sitting up in bed and wiping her sleep ridden eyes she hadn't been able to spot anything that could have awoken her at all. Quietly descending from the Ravenclaw tower she made her way steathily to the kitchens, doubting any prefects or teachers were quite crazy enough to be patrolling about for miscreants when the pearly light of dawn would soon pierce the low cloud cover. The kitchens were what only can be described as massive and filled to the rafters with glorious food that Vicky could only dream of usually. The house elves never seemed to sleep, or perhaps they kept a guard to welcome their guests so generously at whatever hour of the day or night. Greeted with food shoved happily under her nose, the tantalizing smells assailed her soft nose, she wanted to decline as really she wasn't hungry just yet and didn't want to upset her routine of breakfast, but she couldn't bear to see their little faces so crestfallen when she had politely refused before. So taking a small helping of toast with a little smearing of butter she smiled happily at the house elves thanking the three about her who kept bringing her food, accepting a little blackcurrant jam she tucked into her small but very adequate early morning breakfast wanting to save herself for breakfast proper, which she was still determied to enjoy. Besides she needed to watch her weight.

Chattering amiably with the house elves whom she directed to sit down as she found their countless bobbing bows and curtsying rather distracting, she asked conversationally but also out of pure interest and curiousity about not only the workings of the kitchens but also what their days held. The threesome were more than happy to regale their tales of their rather monotonous days, though they seemed perfectly contented, if not delgihted to be serving the famous school of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry. Vicky couldn't help but wonder how she would cope with such an ordinary routine day in day out, she loved not particularly adventure as such but excitement and activity in her life, if it was solely chattering with her friends then that would more than suffice. Then as the house elves took their leave having food to prepare they made sure Vicky had all she required, which was still far too much then hurried off busily to their duties.

Vicky's smile soon faded, it was times like these when she was alone and she had time to think when her mind wandered and assessed her life very critically indeed, pining mostly for her insatiable hunger for love. It was an aching pain that surfaced when she was alone like now, that was partly why she desired and loved company so very much, even having notes to jot down was sometimes companion enough, but trying to focus solely upon her delicious food was impossible, her dear heart panged for love, but not just by friendship but a true and endearing relationship with a suitable companion, a man she could share all her troubles with, and he would understand completely, there was a very long list of precisely what she needed in a man and her vacant expression, of looking far off into the future came into her soft blue eyes. She looked penseive as she mused over and over the man of her dreams.

[Laura Parkhurst]

Laura pushed open the painting of the fruit and waved behind her saying, 'thanks guys!' Two voices could be heard outside but soon died as Laura closed the make-shift door. She walked into the kitchen, wide-eyed and looking around, mouth open in awe. She had gotten up early to go for a tour of the castle at dark with her brothers and they had agreed to let her explore the kitchen by herself. She was glad she did because this was not something the twins were good at, finer detail. The finer detail in the little things in the kitchen caught Laura's eye immediately.

But soon something else caught her eye. Many many house elves rushed at her. Laura was lucky she was tall for her age otherwise she might have been overwhelmed by then (not that she wasn't intimidated). She held out her arms and tried to push them away but they were strong for such small creatures. Laura knew that it was a loosing battle so gave in to their wishes and let them bring her food and drink. The crowd around her scattered and saw a much older girl then her.

'Hello,' Laura said, 'what are you doing up so early?' She walked to where the girl was seated and joined her, sitting on her legs and leaning on the table on her elbows. She beamed a smile and rocked back and forth, bubbling with energy. She couldn't explain why she had so much energy, the castle was big and she had been walking around it for at least two hours. And still she could run a marathon. She imagined herself running races with all her muggle friends back home and drifted into though about them and how much she missed them. But they wouldn't be home now so she didn't feel so bad.

[richard]

Richard had once again fallen asleep while trying to complete his work, the last time I remembered glancing at his watch it was quarter past two in the morning, the next time his blurry eyes fell upon his watch it was now almost half four and someone was moving through the common room. Looking up he saw the infamous Vicky Thompson, he had always thought her a very good looking girl but with two yeas separating them he always tried to look the other way.
However now he had been woken up by her and he did not want to go to bed or carry on with his work Rich decided to follow her, although by this time she had got quite a lead on him.

Jogging after her he saw her disappear down towards the kitchens, so slowing his pace to make it look like he had not followed her all the way Rich made his way carefully only to see yet another Ravenclaw appear in front of him. Not sure how he had missed her before he wondered into the kitchen, thankful that she seemed to take the interest of the house elves away from him. But it meant that he continued to stand in the background and listened into the conversation of the other two Ravenclaws. Although he could not help himself he had to move forward and ask the most obvious question that had ever been put to the world.

“I think the question that we should be asking is why we are all awake at this time of day. Is it something about being in Ravenclaw that our brains work so fast that we can not sleep?”

With a small grin Richard sat down next to them both at the table and looked around at all the food. It was far to early to eat anything and even the smell of the food was starting to make his stomach turn.