Belle sighed, absentmindedly stroking Merlin's soft grey fur and staring in the fire. She was glad it was cold enough for a fire. Though she'd kill for some marshmellows to roast, like she and her mother did during Christmas break. But her mother was in London, Belle was at Hogwarts, and her friends were galivanting somewhere around the castle. She wished she had tagged along, but decided to sit by herself for a while. Big mistake now. She was bored, and when she got bored, Belle could get lost in her own mind.

Althea was just walking around that day, enjoying her time in her commonroom. She was still getting used to this whole "head of house" thing. Some students took well to the new person in power, and others, not so much. Some people didn't like the new rules, though they really weren't new rules. There was just rules that reemerged. No food in the commonroom. Quiet hours are between 8 PM and 6 AM each day. Altercations should be dealt with in private, and if needed,  in front of Santucci herself.

But now, she walked around the commonroom sprucing up a little. She had sewn new pillow cases for the pillows on the couches, and busied herself with fluffing them, and picking up broken quills. She sighed. The commonroom was so quiet. It should have been full of her little badgers all having a good old time. But it was quiet except for one boy sitting at a table doing homework, and another badger staring at the fire.

"Evening Belle!" Santucci said with a bright smile, as she dusted the coffee table. Sure, house elves did this, but this was like her own home. It was her home. This was her den. And the students, well, as strange as it seemed, she loved them like her own children. "How is it going my dear?" She said with a polite smile sitting down next to the teenager.

It took a few moments for Belle to snap out of her thoughts, and she blushed in embarrassment when she did. She brushed some of her hair from her face and smiled a small smile, "Sorry.. It's going alright, I guess. Just.. Sitting here?" She sighed and turned to better face her, "How are you today, ma'am?" She asked softly.

Belle wasn't very good at conversation. She could manage well enough, but it wasn't her strong suit.