By luck of positioning of the houses, Niccolo Machiavelli has managed to get himself a seat as near to the physical centre of the Hall as it is possible to be, directly opposite his two best friends. It's also a convenient seat because the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclas tables, that runs up the middle, is sometimes used by a student of one of the lower years, some of which seem to have urgent things to say to Mac.