8:10 AM

Vienna Pascal was an early riser. Every day, she would wake up at precisely 7:00 AM, never a minute earlier and never a minute later. Today was no exception. By eight, she was refreshed, dressed, and ready for breakfast. Vienna made her way to the Great Hall and sat down at the Slytherin Table. Everywhere she looked, the room seemed dreadfully empty. Understandable, she supposed, considering that it is a Saturday and all. Most of her peers did not enjoy a set routine like she did. It was not in her nature to be spontaneous and it was not in theirs to be like her, which was a shame really.

The past month has been terrible to her. Boring wasn’t the right word, but it was the first that came to mind. In this world, only two things could bring Vienna out of her permafrost state. One was Quidditch and the other: a good old-fashioned argument. Neither has presented itself in recent weeks. The very thought of it made her sour. Vienna sighed and clasped her hands together. Her cold green eyes surveyed the food set before her with lacklustre appetite.

Muffins.

Always the damn muffins.

A small frown marred her features.  Vienna picked up a nearby teapot and poured herself a cup of tea. The faint aroma of jasmine rose up to greet her but did nothing to improve her mood. Methodical as always, she dumped two teaspoons of sugar into her cup and stirred in a clockwise direction. Once the sugar has dissolved, she set down the spoon to her right on the table and took a small sip. The burning liquid warmed her up immediately. People must think her terribly stringent but this was not the case. Vienna simply liked…order. Everything must be done in a certain way or else it would bother her to no end. Obsessive-compulsive wasn’t the right term, but it was the first that came to mind.

Vienna eyed the muffins wearily but debated against obliterating them into the thin air. She really hated muffins, the blueberry ones especially. Plate after plate, she pushed them down the table so they would no longer be in her sight. Her lips twitched in annoyance as she did so.

Muffins.

Always the damn Muffins.

Waking up, Randilyn looked around to see that once again everyone else in the dormitory was already up and moving. Her groggy eyes looked at her roommates, who were already dress and making their way towards the Great Hall.

No one bothered to wake up Randy, how pathetic. Once again she was kicked out of the circle after just yesterday making a rude joke to one of the girls. It was probably the fourth time this month but just like usual Randy would go up to the girls and try to start up a conversation. All she really wanted was some friends. Without her knowing they would make fun of her. What a sad life.

She quickly changed into her school robes and started to walk out the room until she noticed her reflection in the mirror, her hair was a mess. There was nothing Randy could do about it, she didn't know how. With puberty taking a toll on her and all. So without further to due Randy walked to the Great Hall all alone as usual.

When she entered the Hall the fresh smell of food overwhelmed her. Just what Randy needed food to comfort her. Sitting alone, she looked around to find her favorite, MUFFINS. Like everyday Randy was too late and all the Muffins were gone. She heard snickers in the background so she looked around. Apparently Abigail got the last one and wasn't nice about it. Pouting, Randy stood up and looked around to see if the other houses had any. She noticed the Slytherin table had a couple left. Not noticing the danger, Randy walked to the table and found a lady looking rather mad.

"Ummm.. Miss. I was... w-wondering if I could have a muffin... My table is out." It was a curse to be late. The Slytherin looked rather scary to Randilyn and she clearly had no idea what she was getting herself into.

Vienna looked up at the approaching second-year and wondered just what the girl could possibly want. She surveyed the young Hufflepuff in mild distaste, noting the nervous way she held herself and her less-than-presentable hairdo. Neely would be absolutely scandalized if she saw. Her housemate’s preoccupation with appearance and fashion was legendary among Hogwarts students. If she was here now, the Hufflepuff would never hear the end of it. Vienna tilted her head to the side and arched an expectant eyebrow while waiting for the girl to make her case.

"Ummm... Miss. I was... w-wondering if I could have a muffin... My table is out."

The fact that the girl addressed her as "Miss" struck her as both flattering and sweet. She must have had a decent upbringing. The intimidated stutter aside, Vienna was not wholly unimpressed with the young Hufflepuff’s impromptu question. After all, not everyone had the guts to walk up to a vexed-looking Slytherin and ask for a muffin. Either that, or she was just really hungry.Vienna's gaze softened. She pushed a plate of blueberry muffins towards the girl and smiled thinly, “Help yourself.” How anyone could like these things was beyond her.

Vienna stirred another spoonful of sugar into her tea and gestured towards the Hufflepuff table. “It’s rather rude of your friends to not leave you with anything,” she remarked with a small laugh, “tell me, do the Hufflepuffs always eat this much?”

The comment was not meant to be insulting but Vienna could never tell when it came to these things. Granted, she wasn’t the most considerate person, but she wouldn’t go out of her way to antagonize strangers unless they really deserve a good tongue-lashing.  In any case, she hoped the girl would not take offense to what she said. Too often do people misinterpret her twisted brand of humour for verbal abuse.

Taking a muffin happily, Randy's eyes widened with joy. The thought of actually eating a muffin was mouthwatering but now that he actually had one in her hands she couldn't help but feel overjoyed. The simple things in life usually made people the happiest. For some reason or the other, no one really knew why unless you were a self absorbed person. Not thinking, she took a seat across the Slytherin and took a big bite out of her muffin. It wasn't Randilyn's fault, she actually didn't know the danger in being in a place she wasn't supposed to be. Usually things went over her head. "Tanks for duh muufin." she said with food in her mouth, how unladylike.

It’s rather rude of your friends to not leave you with anything, tell me, do the Hufflepuffs always eat this much?”

Swallowing, she eyed the Hufflepuff table. Randilyn nodded to both statements. Her "friends" at the table were rather rude to poor Randy. Not only did they laugh at her for being such a... well she had no idea why they were so cruel, and they never shared anything. They ate way too much to think about others. Maybe her friends weren't cruel, and maybe they weren't her friends at all. Everyone just thought that Randy was funny looking, it was a good thing she smelled good all the time, and everyone probably thought that she didn't care what people thought about her. But in truth, she kind of did.

"No no... it's my fault for not waking up earlier. I didn't mean... to... I hate waking up late. Don't you?" The way others would probably take the Slytherin's remarks were totally different from how Randy saw it. She thought the lady had compassion and so she decided to welcome herself and sit down.

Vienna watched as the girl munched happily on her muffin. The Hufflepuff’s candour and lack of table manners both fascinated and repulsed her. The girl made no attempt to swallow down her food before talking and Vienna caught a lovely glimpse of the half-eaten muffin chunks in her mouth. Having lost her appetite, she set down her tea and pushed it away.

Vienna arched an eyebrow as the Hufflepuff youngster sat down across from her without the slightest hint of reservation. The girl must have misinterpreted her silence and grudging generosity for a Good Samaritan’s kindness. Vienna was very much taken aback. She had forked over the muffins without asking for anything in return, what more could the girl possibly want? Only pity and decorum kept her back from saying what was on her mind: “Your presence makes me very uncomfortable, child. Please leave the room because I want to be in it”. Vienna pursed her lips and sighed inwardly. Picking on a second year didn't exactly do wonders for one’s reputation. She bit down her annoyance and clasped her hands together so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

“Naturally,” Vienna answered her question with a thin smile and did not elaborate. Why must all Hufflepuffs be so socially impotent when it came to recognizing social barriers and respecting personal boundaries? It was already bad enough that the school decided to serve muffins for breakfast, Vienna did not have the patience or the indulgence to humour anyone or anything else today.

She nudged forward a few more plates of muffins towards the Hufflepuff. “If you want, feel free to take more of these back to your table. Vienna smiled meaningfully, “I’m sure you and your friends will enjoy them splendidly.”

The moment she spoke these words, a hint of dread stirred in her stomach. Already she could feel it, the Hufflepuff was going to misinterpret her forced politeness again. Etiquette be damned, she really should've been more blunt.