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End of Term
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 06-21-19 19:04
The Great Hall was decorated in yellow and black to signify Hufflepuff earning the House Cup. The Hufflepuff students were ecstatic to have the honor, but there was a general feeling of happiness in the Great Hall because it was the last day of school. Tomorrow, students would depart Hogwarts, either to Hogsmeade or to board the Hogwarts Express for London.
"If you wait any longer, you won't have any breath left to speak!" Filius exclaimed, before forking a large piece of roast beef and stuffing it into his mouth.
Minerva wasn't feeling very full yet, but she knew her colleague was right. Better make her speech while she had the stamina for it.
Still chewing the big bite he'd just taken, Filius tapped his fork against his crystal goblet. The chime that ensued gradually silenced the room. Minerva stood up, looked out at the smiling faces at the four house tables, and cleared her throat.
"Good evening. I would like to formally welcome you all to the End of Term Feast. I hope you are enjoying the meal, and I hope your last night at Hogwarts is a pleasant one.
"It has been a very good school year. Hufflepuff, I congratulate you on earning both the Quidditch Cup and House Cup this school year. Well done."
Minerva paused for the cheering that came from the Hufflepuff table and the polite clapping from the other tables. Then, she turned to her left where Aaron and AJ were sitting.
"Professor Miller and Professor Hodfuffer, as Head of Hufflepuff House and Deputy Head of Hufflepuff house, I commend you."
They nodded their heads in acknowledgment and smiled at the Hufflepuffs, who cheered some more.
Minerva turned back to the four long tables stretched the length of the Great Hall. "To the graduating seventh years, I wish you the best of luck. Know that you can always come to me if you seek advice or just need someone to listen. You will be missed."
She paused, taking in the scene. Was this really the seventh time she had made this speech? Has it really been that long since Albus' death?
Albus was dead and Voldemort was alive. There was something very wrong with that scenario, especially considering that for most of the years since Albus' death, Voldemort had been deceased as well.
Minerva's brother was still in Ministry custody but was not yet in Azkaban. He was still being questioned about his alleged involvement in recruiting youth for the Death Eaters. There wasn't much he could say… literally… which created a major roadblock for investigators. Why Menelaus was still being held when other Death Eaters or loyalists were already imprisoned, Minerva simply didn't know.
"Minerva."
She blinked and turned to Filius, who offered her a small smile and brought her back to the present. She turned back to the students, some of whom wondering what sentimentality had made their Headmistress get such a faraway look on her face.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening. Safe travels, and a fond farewell."
Minerva sat.
At the Feast
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 06-22-19 04:13
Tiberius kept staring at his brother from the staff table. Now that his brother was graduating Hogwarts he felt like he would loose all the control over him. He had approached Titus in the afternoon, suggesting they should have dinner one of these days to celebrate his graduation. Titus gracefully told his brother he would think about it, but Tiberius understood right away there wasn't going to be any meal together. Titus was still deeply mad at him, and he did not seem eager to forgive him yet. Tiberius decided to give his brother some space. Titus didn't have much money on his own, nor a permanent place to stay. Tiberius believed it would be a matter of time until his brother contacted him for help, or tried to go to Endhope Abbey. If he did so, he would know.
Tiberius had improved the security of the manor, in case the mysterious Caligula Nott would invade it again. Declan's revelation about the Roman Emperors had made Tiberius win some interest on the subject. He had bothered Declan with questions, and he surprised Azaelea more than once in the library by asking her for some books on the topic. Unfortunately his efforts were in vain, because he didn't find anything that could give him a clue about this strange case. Tiberius thought about sending a letter to the boy, and track down the owl who would deliver the mail, but he realized that would be very unethical. He could get in trouble if the school knew he was sending letters to his future students just because. Of course he could claim he and this Caligula were related but he wasn't sure of that yet and so he decided to abandon the idea. By now, he had already accepted that only in September he would know more about all this. Until then he had to be patient.
Meanwhile Titus was seated at the Slytherin table. He was seated in front of Bruno, and his golden plate was filled with all his favorite dishes. He wanted to eat them all again, before leaving Hogwarts. He was experiencing a sentiment of panic. In the past, when he left on summer holidays, there was always the certainty that Hogwarts would be there for him next year. Now that security feeling had vanished. Titus felt as if he was being thrown down a cliff without a safety net. Like all baby birds he would have to learn to spread his wings and fly, in order not to crash on the floor. His parents were not there for him, and he would rather turn himself into a beggar than to ask Tiberius for help. He would have to learn to manage his money and to do things he was not used to do before as laundry, or cooking. Last summer, while living at Diagon Alley and working at Florean's he was a little lazy in these sort of tasks, because he knew the house elves would attend to his clothes as soon as he got back to school and that he did not need to learn how to cook because he would eat decent meals again once back at Hogwarts. Now that was going to change. Titus' plans consisted on going to work for Florean's in the summer and wait for his NEWT results. Only then he would decide if he would apply to St. Emrys, or if he would enter the workforce. There was also the visit to his father in Azkaban and perhaps something related with the Team Delta Echo. But he could not know that and so he was not thinking much about it at the moment. His mind then went to Arielle. He was already imagining her visiting him at Florean's where he would get her free ice creams. He was looking forward to seeing her dressed in summer robes, far more attractive than the school uniform. If he managed to do buy tickets, maybe they could go to the Emrys Fest together.
"Wouldn't it be great if they were waiting for us in London? My parents want to wait for me at Platform 9 and 3/4, I think my mother is going to offer me a new broomstick as a graduation present, but I will have to make some excuse if they are really there..." Bruno said, interrupting Titus fantasy about Arielle's summer robes. All he could think about were the Death Eaters.
Titus kicked him under the table. Bruno was not very careful, speaking about this in public. Even if he had been vague due to the spell they had to submit to, Titus didn't think it wise for Bruno to still comment about it in such a public space as the Great Hall.
"Quiet!" He muttered. "Eat your food."
Bruno sent him a furious glance and turned his attention to another colleague, ignoring Titus the rest of the meal. Titus thought Bruno was a fool. With all the security measures provided by the Ministry of Magic there would be no way any Death Eater or associated would calmly wait in the train station for their new possible recruits.
Eating
Author: Declan
Date: 06-22-19 19:31
"I wasn't going to overeat," Declan states, somehow overly full already yet still considering another helping of an excellent potatoes gratin. And a Scotch egg. Maybe more of those carrot medallions.
Beside him Cameron Weatherby gives a small, amused snort. "Don't we say that every feast?" He gives his wife a sidelong glance. "I can't say I'm eating for two like some people."
Now Declan's laughing as well. Zabrynna pokes him. "Be nice."
"If you poke me in the stomach again I may make a not nice spectacle in front of everyone."
"I'd comment on you stuffing yourself to the point of stomach upset but that would make me the pot and you the kettle."
"Don't make me laugh again. I'm too full for that."
On his other side Cameron leans back so that Kissy can make a request of Declan and Zabrynna. "Since we aren't going on the Muggle Studies trip, if we give you some money would you bring Everett and Calista something from Peru?"
"Of course. We'd be happy to."
"And something for the new baby," Zabrynna says, nodding in agreement.
"While you two are in Peru, where will Rand be?"
"He and the three cats are going to my parents. They say they don't get enough chances to spoil one of their grandchildren. They and Zabrynna's dad have been so great, treating him as one of their own."
As if he knows he's the topic of conversation Rand looks to the head table, eyes flicking to Declan and Zabrynna then back to the plate in front of him. "Do I want more of something I've had or try something else?" he muses aloud. "Are any sweets out yet?"
"Should start showing up soon. In the meantime, pass me that bowl, will you?"
Rand obliges Oliver by passing the requested dish. Taking it Oliver notes, "You've been quieter than normal tonight."
Rand shrugs. "Too busy stuffing food into my mouth."
Oliver nods in understanding, his own mouth now full. In truth, eating is only part, a small part at that, of why Rand hasn't said much. He keeps thinking about how it's been over a year since learning his mother had been killed. A year and he still has days of wanting to curl up and be left alone except for Rogue. Melanie was gone a long time before that but at least Rand had hope then that she was still alive and might one day come back for him, might one day want to be a mum to him again.
Such sadness overcomes Rand that he wishes he could get up and go to his room in Gryffindor tower, climb into bed, and pull the curtains tightly shut. Much as he'd like to do that, he can't. If he left the End of Term feast early either Declan or Zabrynna would come looking to check on him, or Oliver or Grace would, or all of them. If he gave the excuse of feeling sick, he'd have to go see Madam Pomfrey, which would mean she, and whomever came looking for him, would miss the rest of the feast. That would make him feel guilty on top of everything else.
Plastering a smile on his lips, Rand nods towards a fruit tart that's just appeared nearby. "Pass me that, will you, Oliver? Thanks."
Bittersweet
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 06-23-19 01:32
"What is the matter? You keep playing with your food," Estine noticed.
Sophie offered her friend a half smile.
"Nothing...just feeling nostalgic, that's all."
Her last school year at Hogwarts couldn't have ended in a better way, with her house winning the House Cup. Like all the other Hufflepuffs Sophie had entered the Great All in a happy mood. But as the time passed, and the meal began, the notion that this would be the very last feast she would attend at Hogwarts started to sink into her mind. She was experiencing a feeling of accomplishment and pride for having graduated, but at the same time sadness and pity because she was leaving behind a place she adored, and that had been her home for seven years. It was the end of a cycle.
"Please don't start with that sort of talk," Estine begged, adding some gravy to her steak. "I don't want to start crying. We can't think about the past. We need to focus on the future. You're getting married soon!"
Estine's last sentence produced a genuine smile on Sophie's face. Her wedding day was indeed approaching. Honoria and her future mother in law, Wilhelmina Pole, had showered her with letters regarding the preparations of the ceremony and festivities. Sophie had no choice but to accept that the two elder witches took control of everything. She had been at school, focused on her NEWTs, and she was not given the chance to contribute much to what was happening out there. Jasper also explained to her how much this wedding was important to his mother, and how the Pole family had some traditions that his parents wished to be respected during the wedding. As for Honoria, Sophie knew how much her stepmother loved these things and she felt that this was her way of thanking her for setting her up with Jasper in the first place. So in a docile way she had stepped aside. For her, the only thing that really mattered was Jasper, and she was looking forward to start her new life with him. She had projected their little apartment at St. Emrys campus, where she would initiate her studies in Astronomy, and he would start a new job in some law firm.
"Your eyes just sparkled," Estine teased.
Sophie laughed, and suddenly her appetite returned and she was able to enjoy the rest of the feast.
(Magnus) Pumpkin Juice
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 06-23-19 04:23
Magnus was a little upset at the start of the feast because Slytherin had not won the House cup, but that feeling was forgotten as soon as the food arrived. He was officially on summer holidays, and to make things better, Ned had invited Magnus to spend a week at his home and attend Quidditch Con with him and his family. Magnus had never been to a wizarding home before and he was very curious about it. At the Quidditch Con he would be able to meet some famous Quidditch players and also some reporters.
"But I must warn you about my sister Nelia. She is very annoying."
"That's all right," Magnus replied. "I wish I had siblings."
"Well you can have her, if you like! She stole my wand last summer and tried to use it on her favorite doll to try and make it talk. She ended up setting fire to her bedroom's lavender curtains. Dad had to go to an audience at the Ministry of Magic with Nelia to explain that he had not given a wand to a minor."
Magnus laughed. He wanted to add some more pumpkin juice to his glass. The jar with the juice was a few centimeters away, in front of Akira Gunderson.
"Hey Gunderson, will you pass me the pumpkin juice, please?" Magnus asked with reluctance.
On the very last edition of this year's Hogwarts Herald his article about Hufflepuff's victory had stood out. The adventure of entering the girls' locker room had made the students curious about his article. Akira's own article about the summer holidays and what activities the students could do while out of the school did not impress the readers.
"Here you go McCourt," Akira said, passing him the jar.
At first nothing happened and Magnus thought that Akira was in a good mood like everyone else. But then, when he raised the jar and started to pour the orange liquid into his glass, he felt the jar pulling away from his hand. Soon his robes were covered in pumpkin juice as well as his plate.
Akira and his friends laughed. Magnus shot them a furious glance. He started to use a napkin to clean his robes, after putting the half empty jar down. Ned tried to think of a spell that could help Magnus, but as second years they weren't still familiar with potent cleaning spells. They ended up using just napkins. Magnus ruined plate vanished from the table and a new empty one appeared. He served himself again with food and kept staring at Akira.
"I think you've been right all along Ned."
"Huh?"
"You were right when you said there was someone targeting me, since last year. It all makes sense now...It's Gunderson! He sees me as a true rival for the school newspaper. I have been blind all this time time, but he won't caught me by surprise again," Magnus declared thinking he had discovered his enemy.
Little did he know that Akira had nothing to do with the jar accident. It had been Belinda who was seated a few seats away. She had noticed Magnus picking up the jar and not missing the opportunity she used her wand to jinx it. This would be her last attack against him this year. However, for the next year she had grandiose plans against the Mudblood who dared to carry her family name.
Talking With Hagrid
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-23-19 19:45
At the start of the end of term feast Niccola chose to begin the meal with Lilith at the Slytherin table. She eventually moved to sit with Savannah at the Gryffindor table. She isn't ignoring Estella or Ingrid or any of the boys so much as wanting to spend a little time with the two seventh years at their last feast as Hogwarts students.
Brandon, for some reason being overly clingy, began the evening at the head table smooshed as close as he could get to Saffron without actually being in her lap. She wonders if his clinginess is a result of him declaring today that he doesn't want her going on the Muggle Studies trip but instead come with Nic and him to horse riding camp. He doesn't want Aaron going to Peru either but knows that the trip won't take place without his dad.
He'd abruptly abandoned her a few minutes ago to go sit with Bran and Kurt, telling her as he hopped out of his chair, "I'm going to be in Ravenclaw."
Hagrid, who'd been sitting on Brandon's other side, says to Saffron, "Oi think Gryffindor fer that one."
"Or Hufflepuff. Brandon is smart but he seems a better fit with one of those two rather than Ravenclaw. Nic I can see as either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor."
"She's eleven this year, roight?"
"Yes, in November. Seems like only months ago I had her and was having to hide her."
"Dark days those."
"Very. On a much brighter, happier subject, Aaron and I are so glad you're doing the Muggle Studies trip this year."
"Oi thort about it in the past but with me size on one of those aeroplanes...," Hagrid heaves his shoulders and shakes his head.
"We would have found a way to accommodate you any of those times if you'd only said something."
"Oi know. 'ave hit taken care of now. Yer moight not recognize me. You'll think Oi've become a metamorphmagus."
Saffron pats Hagrid's hand. "As long as you're happy and have a good time." Spotting a dessert just past Hagrid she grins, "Are those pots crème brûlées?"
"Looks loike different kinds." Hagrid's massive hand hovering near the crème brûlée pots gives them a dollhouse sized appearance.
"That one with what looks like peaches, please. If my father was still living I'd ask not to tell him that I think the house elves here make a better crème brûlée than he did."
Hagrid selects the same kind that Saffron has and over their candied peach crème brûlées he asks her for more information about the Muggle Studies trip itinerary, clearly eager to see the various sights of the Peru trip.
(Asher) Plans for the Band
Author: Jolyon
Date: 06-24-19 18:34
Asher sat at the Slytherin table with Malden and wondered if it would be inappropriate for him to loosen the button on his slacks. He'd eaten his fill, this being his very last feast at Hogwarts. Every last dish, from the appetizers, to the main course, to the desserts had been absolutely divine. Asher had made sure to eat a little bit of everything.
It was a shame that Slytherin hadn't come out on top to close out Asher's seven years at the school. That would have definitely been the icing on the cake that Asher most certainly had no room to eat.
Technically, Slytherin shouldn't be able to lose any points at this juncture in the evening, so what if he did unbutton his pants? Anyway, he was wearing his school robes one final time, so it's not like anybody would notice.
Malden elbowed him in the side.
"Watch it!" Asher exclaimed, holding out his hands as if he might blow at any moment. "I'm at my bursting point."
"Sorry," Malden said. "I was only thinking we need to come up with our practice schedule. I checked––we're all riding the train tomorrow, so we'll get a compartment together and work it out."
"I can't believe you got us in at Emrys Fest. We're not any good."
"We're not that bad, really. And besides, we're going on early, which is when some of the less experienced bands sometimes go on," Malden explained.
"How would you know that?"
Malden shrugged. "Your girlfriend's sister's friend's half-sister's cousin used to manage the concert or something."
Asher stared at Malden. "What?"
Malden rolled his eyes. "I talked to Tessa Filby. She connected me with someone who knows someone. That's how we got on the list."
"Okay, but have you considered that we might not be available to perform that day? What if…" Asher lowered his voice. "What if we get summoned for you-know-what?"
"Then I guess the show will go on without four of the band's members," Malden replied with a shrug.
"Is that your answer for if one or more of us don't make the cut," Asher asked. "It could happen."
"Don't be so negative. We're completely on the right track," Malden answered. "I have no doubt in my mind that you and I will make it. Tate too. As for Nott…" Malden looked down the table and shook his head.
Asher sighed. "Well, are we having new T-shirts made this year?" he asked, changing the subject back to the band.
Malden's eyes brightened. "Good idea. We can talk about that in the compartment tomorrow."
Feasting (Schuyler & Artie)
Author: Charlie Weasley
Date: 06-24-19 20:04
"Have any summer plans, Schuyler?"
Schuyler looks up from the massive slice of chocolate cake he'd been plowing through. Blinking, almost owlishly, he directs his attention to Agnes Frink. She stares back at him in a way that makes him wonder if he has chocolate smeared on his chin or his nose. He makes a swipe at both before answering.
"Quidditch Con. Emrys Fest, especially if my dad's band is playing. Family holiday. Mostly just hang out at the gaming center in Hogsmeade. What about you, Agnes?"
"Emrys Fest for sure. Maybe I'll see you there. Not sure about Quidditch Con. Say, could you get your aunt's autograph for me? I need three to have all of the current Harpie's and she's one of them."
"Yeah. Sure. Get me the other two names and maybe Aunt Ginny can get them for you too."
"That would be great! I'll owe you a game or five at the gaming center. Oh, wait. That's your aunt too. Buy you something from the bakery or sweets shoppe then."
"You don't need to do that but if you're in Hogsmeade, I won't turn down food."
Agnes giggles. "It's a date. I mean, when I'm in Hogsmeade, me buying you some sort of sweets."
Schuyler has the fleeting thought that Agnes has decided to flirt with him. The thought is fleeting because at the moment he's more interested in eating as many of the desserts as he can before the feast officially ends. He shovels another big bite of the chocolate cake slice into his mouth while his eyes go to another cake, one that looks to have caramel frosting. Schuyler loves caramel so some of that one is definitely next. Or the caramel pie. Or both. Yes, both. He can alternate eating them.
That decided Schuyler nods along to whatever Agnes is now saying about the band line-up at Emrys Fest, half expecting her to ask for autographs of all the Dragon members.
A little ways down the Gryffindor table Artie watches his brother for a moment then shakes his head. Beside him Miranda asks, "What?"
"How does he still have room?"
"Who has room for what?"
"Schuyler, for pudding. He's had ten times what I've had," Artie exaggerates and he knows it but he doesn't think by much.
"Maybe he's about to grow. Are you coming to swim tomorrow evening?"
"Probably. There's a cook-out, right? So, yeah, I'll probably swim. You taking the train?"
"Yeah. I told Cecily I would," Miranda says of one of her friends and roommates who's sitting nearby.
"If you change your mind you can come to my house instead."
"I know and I thought about it but I decided to tell Cecily I'd be on the train."
"Ava's going to pout."
"I'll see her tomorrow afternoon at the cook-out."
"Not the same as having one of the girls to hang out with all day."
"Ava has plenty of friends. It's not like she's all alone unless I come visit. She's even got Dominique, Rose, and Victoire right there and she sees Dominique almost every day," Miranda says of their one cousin who is only seven days younger than Ava.
"Which is why she likes seeing you and Larkin and Audrey and Lucy."
"Tell her to plan on sleeping over tomorrow night. Mum won't mind. How's that?"
"That will work. Maybe I'll see if Georgie can come home with us." Artie reaches for some sort of square that has oatmeal and cherries and almonds.
"I thought you couldn't eat anything else."
Artie grins at Miranda, "I have to try and keep up with Schuyler so I'm going to force it down."
Miranda shakes her head, muttering something about boys being stupid. Artie doesn't call her on it because first he has to figure out how to get the oatmeal bar down when there's nowhere else to put it and then figure out how to eat some of that sticky toffee pudding. He's soooo far behind Schuyler he'll need to take some snacks with him to the dorm to eat through the night if he's to catch up.