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(Susan) A Bad Start
Author: Wendy Mills
Date: 10-07-14 13:57
The Hogwarts Express whistled, a last reminder to all the students still outside that they needed to embark. Susan Fricks hugged her mother once again, whishing she wouldn't have to let go in a matter of seconds. She hasn't been able to sleep well last night, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety about her very first day as a Hogwarts student. She had tossed and turned in her bed unable to rest, her mind creating innumerous scenarios about today. What house would she be at? Would she make any friends? What if she had no place in any of the four houses? She hasn't been able to eat much at breakfast in the morning, even if her mother had insisted on her to doing so.
"Come on Susan, or you'll miss the train!" Andrina called, a few yards away. She was in a hurry to go and meet with her friends and swap funny summer stories after a long time without seeing them. Susan thought with bitterness that she had no one to swap stories with yet. "Susan! We have to go NOW!"
With reluctance, Susan left her mother's arms and as she walked towards the train with hurried steps she made her mother promise once again to write to her. Mrs. Fricks assured her daughter she would do so and she wished Susan a good school year. The last image Susan had from her parents before the doors of the train were closed was of them waving goodbye while her sister .Rose, was blowing kisses to her and Andrina.
"All right, let's find out which carriage we had left your luggage at."
Susan nodded and followed Andrina. Earlier her older sister had helped her put her trunk with all her things inside an empty carriage. Susan thought she wouldn't mind being in a carriage on her own. The idea sounded more tempting than being among a big group of older students who would want nothing to do with a first year. Unfortunately the carriage wasn't empty. There was a blonde girl seated by the window and for Susan's horror she had her cat, Buttercup, on her lap. She was petting it while the cat's cage was open. Susan thought that was very rude and on that very moment she began to loathe that girl, whoever she was.
"Are you a first year?" Andrina asked the girl and she nodded.
"Good! My sister is a first year too. Her name is Susan."
"Hello Susan. I'm Patricia."
"Hi. I believe that is my cat, Buttercup."
She walked into Patricia's direction and took the cat from her lap. The girl muttered an apologize and excused herself saying the cat was so cute she wasn't able to help herself. Susan put the cat back in its cage and sat in Patricia's opposite side. Andrina ignoring her sister's rude behavior, said goodbye to Susan, telling her she was going to seat with her friends, but later she would come back to check on her. Susan wanted to beg her not to leave her alone with Patricia but Andrina had vanished really fast, eager to end her older sister's duties.
"I also have an older sister," Patricia said. "I wanted to stay with her and her friends but she told me I should make my own friends. For an Hufflepuff she can be really mean at times. Luckily I will not be in the same house as her," she declared in petulant tone.
"You're not?"
"No. I am going to be a Ravenclaw. What about you?"
"I don't know. How can you know you're going to be a Ravenclaw? Have you been told about the house selection process? Is it a test? Do we have to cast a spell? Because I don't know any spells yet…" Susan was feeling nervous again.
"I have no idea how it's going to be. But all I know is if they don't let me stay in Ravenclaw, I will write to my father and ask him to come and fetch me. "
"My mother told me that all the other houses are just as good as Ravenclaw; that I should be happy with whichever house I end up at."
"Not me. I will feel miserable if I don't end up in Caleb's house."
"Who's Caleb?"
Patricia didn't answer to Susan's question. Instead she touched her pocket which was filled with coins and she asked out loud when the trolley was going to pass by. According to her sister Sophie all kinds of sweets were sold and she really wanted some chocolate frogs. Susan just shrugged her shoulders. She disliked Patricia. Secretly she wished for them not to end up at the same house. She was supposed to make friends but at the moment it seemed the contrary. Susan was having a bad school start.
Flying High
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 10-07-14 19:07
Selma Hollingberry takes the vacant spot next to Ginny and sets down the drink she'd brought with her to the stands. "Have I missed anything?"
"Not really. Coach only just got them in the air." Ginny sips on her own drink of strawberry lemonade.
Two of the longtime Holyhead Harpies have announced retirement and a third is taking a long term leave for family reasons. Though the team still has plenty of players and only seven can play any given match, the coaching staff (and probably the team owners) like having a certain number making up the team. Rather than give individual tryouts over the course of several days, a single tryout date was set for today. A number of hopefuls are about to begin the first phase, which involves being put through paces with a series of drills. Many of the current Harpies are watching from the stands, waiting for the scrimmages they will needed for later.
Within a few minutes it becomes apparent that one of those trying out has an issue or three. Those in the stands can see her giggling as tries to catch a quaffle well before it reaches her and then gets hit in the face by it.
Niki Marks snorts, "Either she's bloody nervous to the point of being uncoordinated or she's on something."
After several more minutes of watching her spastic efforts, often accompanied by some sort of giggling or full on laughter Selma says with disgust, "I know why she's been told to get off the pitch."
Ginny agrees with Selma. "She's definitely flying high even without her broom."
Tess Goshawk says, "Wonder what she's on."
Niki replies, "That stuff called Temptation maybe?"
"Ecstasy. Or it's variation Mandy*." Selma is frowning so deeply her lips almost disappear.
"Sparkle," Ginny throws in. "Why would she ruin her chances to go professional by taking something just before tryouts?"
"Maybe she only wanted to take the edge off her nerves and over medicated," Niki replies.
Selma says, "Bloody stupid is why. Damn, but this is bollocks. She should have been removed from the pitch ages ago."
Tess suddenly smirks. "I bet she's related to someone."
That gets them to thinking who the young woman might have connections to that would keep her in the tryout despite being so clearly on a trip for which she does not need a broom. By the time the scrimmage portion begins, speculation on who she's related to has run from the serious to the silly. As Ginny and her teammates reach the pitch to be broken into scrimmage squads comprised of a mix of them and those trying out, they are arguing over who gets to have her on their team.
Ginny can't believe her bad luck on being assigned to the same squad as this drugged disaster, whose name is Joleen. Within the first five seconds of the scrimmage match Joleen's participation becomes moot when Gwenog Jones thankfully takes her out with a bludger hit. That Gwenog is on the same squad with Ginny and Joleen is never mentioned, not even by any of the coaching staff, as Joleen is carried unconscious from the pitch.
Some of those on both squads stifle laughter as the match resumes, Ginny among them, feeling mean about it but unable to help herself.
*Mandy is the UK term for what is often called Molly in the US. Though Molly can also refer to drugs related to Ecstasy, it and Mandy also can mean the same drug used for Ecstasy but that is relatively adulterant free.
Shiny Red Engine
Author: Calliope Torres
Date: 10-07-14 21:15
"Calliope Indigo Pilar Torres..."
My mother's use of my full name brought a smile to my lips. It would most likely be the last time I heard her full name me until she could either come visit me at school or I would be going home for breaks between terms.
"Yes Mama?"
"Do not forget to write me when you get a chance. I expect an owl from you no later than two days after your arrival at school. Let me know your schedule, and let me know if you need any other materials for your classes."
She looked to my older brother, Lev, and smiled, "The same goes for you young man, I want to know your schedule and if you need anything else for your classes."
Lev and I both obediently nodded our heads and we were not about to risk a howler within the first week of school by forgetting to write home to our mother to ensure that she had our schedules and knew which house we'd gotten sorted into, as well as how their trip on the train had gone.
The final whistle blew, and after quick hugs all around, Lev and I joined the other students on the train, most of the compartments were filled already because we'd taken so long to get on, but within a few moments we were seated in a compartment with a couple of older students.
"Hi! I'm Raz and this is Rylee."
The girl nodded her head and offered us both a smile, pushing a hand through her dark brown hair.
"I'm Calliope and this is my older brother Lev."
"Pleased to meet you both, are you transfers?"
I shook my head answering Raz's question, "I'm going to be a first year and Lev is a year older than me, and was homeschooled last year."
"Very cool," Raz said with a smile, tilting his head for a minute.
"Are you from Spain?"
I grinned up at the older boy and nodded, "We'd lived in Spain for most of my life, until my father decided to retire and then we moved to Newcastle upon Tyne. Why, we moved to England, I've no idea, but now I'm going to Hogwarts instead of a private magic academy in Spain."
"Very nice, I'm originally from Israel. I now live with Rylee and her family, I have a sister who is I think in another compartment with a friend of hers that is also starting this fall as a first year. You'll meet her at the Sorting Ceremony, her name is Etana."
Raz, Lev, Rylee, and I talked for a little while longer before we fell into silence and I turned my attention to the window, as Casimir, my Siamese cat curled up on my lap, nipping at my fingertips in a silent demand for attention.
Taking The Train (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 10-08-14 15:24
Since starting Hogwarts, Caerwyn has rarely ridden the Hogwarts Express. As a Hogsmeade resident there's little reason to but today he is. He might have decided to go into London and take the train anyway as a way to start off his last year at Hogwarts but his main reason is that he's now the seventh year boys prefect for Hufflepuff. Augustus Hodfuffer had held the position from third through sixth year. Caerwyn is replacing Gus because his friend has been named Head Boy for the 2008-2009 school term.
One of the prefect duties involves patrolling the Hogwarts Express on the journey from King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade Station. Caerwyn doesn't want to fall down on the job his very first official day as a prefect so he decided he'd ride the train at least the first day of school and the last. Whether a prefect or not he would have definitely ridden it the last day of school as it most likely would be his last opportunity to ride that particular train.
Caerwyn had gotten up this morning and had a family breakfast before double checking he had everything packed. Dad will see to his trunk when the carriage comes around to pick up students who live in Hogsmeade. Gus and Caerwyn didn't see the point in bringing Velvet to London and having her on the train all day so Dad will also get the cat into her carrier to go on the carriage with his trunk.
The only thing Caerwyn didn't pack are a set of robes with his prefect badge attached. The robes and his Hufflepuff tie are carefully folded and in box small enough to fit into his pocket. Being 17 and licensed to apparate, Caerwyn left Hogsmeade around 10:30, the box in his pocket. No reason to attract unnecessary attention to himself by wearing the robes on the short walk from where he appeared near King's Cross, through the station to Platform 9 3/4. No real reason to wear the robes until he's walking the train during any shifts as prefect.
Once to the platform, he'd quickly found Gus and some of their other friends. Talking and laughing in the midst of the chaotic noise as students arrived with family members, the bustle of trunks and other items being carted onto the train and stowed, people happily greeting friends, and the bidding goodbye to parents and younger siblings, Caerwyn can feel the thrum of anticipation, excitement, and even nervousness coming off the crowd around him.
When the time comes, he boards the train, not having to worry about where to find a seat because now he can go to space the prefects always claim as their own. Once there, he makes a point of congratulation his friend Johanna Steele on being named Head Girl and Felicia Flaversham taking the seventh year girls Slytherin prefect spot.
There's a huge flurry of activity as the platform is cleared of students rushing to get on the train, locating friends, and finding places to sit. Before they know it, 11 am is upon them and with several several blows of the train whistle, the Hogswarts Express slowly begins pulling from the station.
Caerwyn sits back in his seat with a smile. Seventh year has now unofficially begun. Or perhaps it's official. Either way, it's difficult to believe that six years at Hogwarts have already gone by and another is starting.
(Beatrix) Drama
Author: Griet
Date: 10-08-14 18:51
The long ride on the Hogwarts Express always started with a meeting led by the Head Boy and Head Girl to the gathered prefects. For the returning prefects, like Beatrix, it was old hat. She knew what her duties were and could do them in her sleep. The only new things were the new faces in the group. It was these new prefects, eight fifth years and two seventh years, who really benefited from the meeting. Even though she already knew the routine, Beatrix tried to listen to Johanna and Gus (Hodfuffer, not van Tassel), but all she could think about was douchebag Preston, sitting across from her in the oversized compartment.
She supposed she should thank him temporarily taking her mind off the other guy who was constantly on her mind, and these days not in a good way. After the initial shock wore off following Ash's admission that he didn't care for her romantically, Beatrix had been sad. After wallowing in her grief for a good while, she dried her tears and got angry. Very, very angry. As far as she was concerned, Ash could shove his request that she become friendly with Rowan again. Beatrix wanted nothing more to do with the Westwick family. It's really too bad they hadn't stayed cursed forever.
At long last, the meeting ended. Beatrix was on first patrol and set off to do her job as far away from Preston as possible, but she also wanted to inform Cate about her schedule. The girls had stashed out a compartment upon first boarding the Hogwarts Express, so Beatrix knew just where to look for her friend. She made her way down the corridor, keeping an eye out for shenanigans as she went, when she suddenly saw Ash emerge from one of the loos. He turned in her direction and paused, uncertain whether to proceed or turn the other way, but then he set out with every intention of being kind if they did in fact cross paths.
Beatrix wasn't having it, though. She ducked into the nearest compartment to avoid him altogether, only to discover she had entered the one compartment she didn't want to be in. Rowan, who was reading a paperback book, glanced up in surprise. She wasn't the only person in the compartment. A couple of Hufflepuffs from their year were there too.
Beatrix gave the compartment a brief once-over to determine if Ash might occupy one of the empty seats, realized she couldn't tell based on the number of trunks stowed in the overhead bins, and decided then and there to eject herself from the compartment. She burst out into the corridor and collided straight into none other than Preston, who once again saved her from thinking about Ash. Ash, incidentally, was sharing a compartment with Rowan but had gone to visit with Willow and was no longer in the corridor.
Beatrix extricated herself from Preston's grasp after he tried to steady both himself and her and said, "Hands off, you jerk!"
"I'm a jerk?" Preston asked, looking bewildered. "Is this because of Cate?"
"What do you think?" Beatrix spat.
"Look, I'm sorry she's feeling hurt, but I had my reasons for breaking things off," Preston began, looking truly apologetic.
Beatrix jabbed a finger at his chest. "None that I could see!"
"No offense, Beatrix, but last I checked, our relationship wasn't a ménage à trois. It was just between me and Cate, so what could you possibly think you know about my reasons for ending things, or anything about our relationship at all?"
"Fine!" Beatrix exclaimed. "Maybe I didn't know everything, but I do know that it is bad taste to break up with someone via owl post!"
"We were on summer break!" Preston exclaimed. "We were both busy. Our communication had mostly been by owl by that point anyway!"
"Keep telling yourself that's a valid excuse," Beatrix retorted, finally lowering her finger from his chest. "All I see is a coward and a sorry excuse for a man."
"You know what you are, Beatrix?" Preston said after a brief hesitation.
"I think it would be wise if you restrain your impulse to say anything further," entered a new voice into the conversation before Beatrix could retort.
She immediately tensed up, knowing and feeling Ash directly behind her, even though he wasn't touching her at all. Preston gave the Slytherin a brief glance, then dropped his gaze to Beatrix once more, before deciding he really should walk away before he said something he regretted. He turned and headed back down the corridor. Beatrix was tempted to follow him if only to avoid Ash, but she moved to the side of the corridor, turned and glanced briefly at him, and then waited for him to enter his compartment.
He hesitated for a moment that felt more like an eon and then entered his compartment. The door wasn't even shut yet before Beatrix moved down the corridor to find Cate.
Crowded Compartment
Author: Finley
Date: 10-09-14 18:27
Finley sat at the window in a crowded compartment and stared at the passing scenery. The Hogwarts Express was in the countryside, and fenced-in fields and the occasional livestock animal were all anyone looking out the windows could see. Finley wasn't exactly bored. She had passed the first few hours of the train ride getting to know some of the others in the compartment, eating snacks from the trolley, and exchanging Chocolate Frog cards. Finley nevertheless hoped they would reach Hogwarts soon.
She looked at Phoebus, who sat across from her. His head was tipped to the window, and he appeared to be sleeping. They had met at Platform 9 3/4, after Hagrid had come to once again collect her from the orphanage. Finley had thought to ask him about her destroyed cloak but had changed her mind in favor of Mrs. Yewbeam. Mrs. Yewbeam promised to send the golden cloak by owl post once she mended it.
After saying their goodbyes, Finley and Phoebus boarded the train and found a compartment for themselves. Their privacy was short-lived when a first year appeared, boldly inquiring if she could join them. Finley and Phoebus could hardly say no. The girl, who was a brunette and only a little bit shorter than Finley herself, introduced herself as Eirene McLaggen.
Eirene was an only child and lived in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. Her parents had both attended Hogwarts themselves. She had plied them for information about her future school after she received her letter, eager to learn everything about where she would spend the next seven years of her life. To say that she knew all the ins and outs about her new school was an exaggeration, but Eirene felt certain she knew more than most of the other first years on the train.
Others entered the compartment after Eirene, so that every seat was eventually filled. Among them were Alys Ellis and her sister Blakeney, second year Hufflepuffs Chip Winters and Jeb Burleigh, and another first year who looked impossibly small and hardly spoke one word.
Finley turned back to the window and thought about her parting with Leroy. It had been easier on both sides this time, though Finley still couldn't help but worry about her Muggle friend. He wasn't a very confident person, not like young Eirene seated next to her on the bench. Finley could almost picture Eirene overpowering Charla with a mere glance. She snickered at the thought.
Her laughter in the otherwise quiet compartment drew the attention of those not napping. Finley shook her head to show she was laughing at a private joke, but then she said aloud, "We'll probably get there soon. Eventually, we'll want to change into our robes."
"I think I'll change now," Eirene stated, popping up from her seat to fetch a set of plain black robes from her trunk. "I'd rather not wait till there's a queue at the loos."
A few of the others decided Eirene made a good point, but Finley stayed seated. Phoebus was still asleep, but because they were getting close to the castle and would all be sleeping in their dorm rooms a few hours after arriving, Finley nudged his foot with hers. He barely moved, so she kicked him a bit harder.
"Hey, what?" he blurted out.
"If you keep napping, you won't be able to sleep tonight," Finley told him.
"So?"
"So, we have class tomorrow. I think you would prefer a good night's rest."
Phoebus looked like he wanted to argue, but he knew Finley was right. He stayed up the rest of the trip, and when it was certain they were nearly to the castle, they both changed into their school robes.
A Compartment Of First Years (Ingrid & Rex)
Author: Saffron
Date: 10-09-14 18:55
Ingrid Hyland takes in the expression of discomfort on Rex Applewhite's face. "Ate too many sweets from the trolley, didn't you?"
"No, not at all," Rex fibs.
"You could at least clean up the wrappers."
Rex looks around him and at the floor around his feet. "Sorry," he mumbles, gathering up the detritus from over indulging.
"You won't want any of the feast."
"By the time we get there and go through Sorting, I'll be plenty ready for all that food."
Another new to Hogwarts student sharing their train compartment asks, "What's this about a feast?"
Ingrid says matter-of-factly, "Start of Term Feast. Mounds of food. You don't know about it?"
"No. I don't know anything about Hogwarts. I didn't even know there was a school of magic until I got a letter and then someone came to visit us and explain."
Rex gives Ingrid a raised eyebrow and says just as matter-of-factly, "Muggle-born."
"What does that mean."
"Muggles are non-magical. That is unless you're a squib."
"Squib?" Confused twists an otherwise pleasing face.
The rest of the train ride to Hogsmeade is spent with Rex and Ingrid, with a little help from the other two in the compartment, explaining certain words and telling what they know from older siblings, parents, and others about Hogwarts, the feast, the Sorting, and there is an effort to explain Quidditch, which ends with Rex stating, "I guess you'll just have to see for yourself to start understanding what Quidditch is."
Hope Hyland opens the compartment door. " Ingrid, Rex, won't be long till we're there. You might want to get changed into your robes."
Hope, already in her robes, vanishes as quickly as she appeared, likely on her way back to whichever compartment she and her friends are occupying. The Muggle-born looks from Rex to Ingrid. "You know her?"
"My sister," Ingrid explains.
"You are? But she's ,"
"Asian and I'm not. She and our brothers are adopted."
"Cool."
Ingrid shrugs. "Yeah, I guess. One thing I have never understood though is that Hope has this group of friends - Rex's sister Savannah is one of them - since like birth. The story is that our mums all met when in an exercise class for pregnant women and ladies who've just had babies. Hope's adopted so why was my mum in that class?"
Rex says, "Huh. I never gave that any thought. You ever ask your mum about it?"
"No. I can't decide if I should or just let it be."
"I'd ask."
Ingrid makes a face at him. "I know you would."
Rex grins at her. "I hope we're in the same house."
"So you can find ways to annoy me. Yeah. I love you too." The sarcasm is so obvious, everyone in the compartment starts laughing as they begin rooting around to find their robes to get changed, all feeling both excited and nervous about arriving in Hogsmeade and going on to Hogwarts from there.
Express Conversation
Author: Niccolo Zabini
Date: 10-09-14 20:22
Summer had flown by, and his fourth year was about to begin, but Niccolo couldn't complain. As much as he wasn't a fan of school, he was going to put in an extra effort to improve his marks this term. It wasn't so much for himself, but for his family's expectations, both current and future. He took as seat in an empty compartment as he waited for Petula and Valeria, and leaned back to reflect on the past year. After moving in with his cousin, everything seemed to fall into place, and he was betrothed to Petula Parkinson. With an agreement between the Zabini and Parkinson families. Nico and Pet had been formally presented at gatherings over the summer, something Nico was learning to tolerate.
Deep in thought, Niccolo?" Pet questioned as she sat next to him, Valeria taking the bench across from them.
"Of course, you know how much I like to think." He believed her heard a laugh, but when he looked, her face was stoic. "Val, where's Anton?" He asked the blonde who just glared at the mention of the other boy. Nico had picked up on the growing tension between Anton and Valeria after Nephele's wedding, and he couldn't help but tease them about it. Pet had warned him, and knowing his life was on the line on Val's bad side, he left them alone for the most part. His situation with Petula was much simpler and let them avoid the awkward teenage emotions.
Val shrugged and looked to Petula, then Nico. "I'm not his keeper."
That made Nico chuckle, but earned him an elbow from Pet, a silent threat not to continue. "Well, I'm sure he'll be along."
The trio sat in silence for a moment as the train started off, and Anton finally joined them. Looking forward to the new term?" He asked as he took a seat next to Val.
Nico shrugged, "I suppose. Though I intend on far less detentions this year." There was a hint of a mischievous smile on his lips.
"You better behave this year, Niccolo. Blaise and Father wouldn't be pleased if you messed up your education."
"You're right, and neither would you, Petula dear." Nico said with a teasing tone.
"Don't you forget it, Nico darling." Pet said, with an equal tease, the nicknames they used were purely fun and somewhat sarcastic, at least at this age.
"Never. Now, I am looking forward to not spending trips to Hogsmeade alone and running errands for you ladies."
Pet smirked, "We'll still need you to get us some things…"
"Yes, Pet, you will still get special gifts."
Petula gave him a soft smile, appreciation showing in her eyes, one of the few gestures of closeness they shared, and it was gone as quickly as it came.