Oriel was still smiling when suddenly he was being wrapped up in a hug by Ellie. He couldn't hear what she said, and couldn't see the movements of her lips, although he had an inkling that she was talking by the fact that warm air was tickling against his ear. She was either speaking, or breathing on him for no particular reason.
The former Hufflepuff returned the embrace - he enjoyed hugs! - and then stepped back so that he could see her face when she spoke.He was still smiling at her, his vivid blue eyes dancing with light.
"Hi Ellie," he said, because she was someone he felt comfortable around and so he didn't mind speaking. His voice always sounded a bit flat, because he couldn't hear and thus had never been able to learn inflections and the like. Which made him self conscious around strangers. But not around friends.
"How are you?" he asked, his fingers moving as he spoke, out of habit, signing out the words as he verbalized them.