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Looking At The New Headmistress
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 07-26-07 11:24
While still at the train station, Coco had hurried to say hello to Hagrid. She'd seen him several times over the summer when she'd take the Knight Bus to Hogsmeade then walk up to Hogwarts to see her Aethonon Hazel. Then it was dash to catch up with Fritz and other friends to board one of the carriages up to the school.
After arriving, Coco had produced some food for the Thestral pulling the carrieage she rose and patted it on the head. For those still not aware that the carriages aren't charmed to guide themselves between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, it must have looked an odd sight to see the raw meat in Coco's hand vanishing as the petite blue haired girl spoke in a low voice to what looks like nothing more than air.
Taking a moment to wash her hands, Coco rejoins Fritz, Bradley, Cecilla, and Gertrude. As the five take their seats at the Ravenclaw table, Gertrude asks, "Has anyone seen Rebecka?"
Cecilla shakes her head. "Didn't see her at King's Cross, on the train, or coming up just now."
Bradley asks, "What about Cael? I've not seen him around either."
They scan the Great Hall but with every student except first years and transfers flooding into the large room, it's not easy find anyone specific. Gertrude looks to the head table. "Look, there she is."
Heads turn for their first real look at Harriet Snider. Cecilla murmurs, "She looks larger then that Daily Prophet picture. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. People look larger in their pictures then in person."
Bradley shudders, "Has she never heard of a razor? What's with the mustache?"
Fritz shrugs, "I've read that some women have hormonal problems."
Cecilla giggles. "That shouldn't keep her from shaving though."
"Maybe she were 'it wif a Dark Harts spell an' no matter 'ow often she shaves, the mustache intantly comes back." Coco says, not really paying attention to making sure she's speaking with good diction and elocution. Realizing that, she gives herself a mental kick to be more watchful. If speaking well is ever going to come natural, Coco tells herself that she'll need to be very diligent to the point of no longer having to actually think twice about it.
Bradley laughs and says, "I'd like to know that spell. I have a few female relatives who might actually look better with a mustache."
"Has anyone noticed she's only got one eyebrow?" Fritz asks.
"Which one, left or right?" Gertrude replies, looking again to the head table to study Harriet Snider's face.
"Both," Cecilla giggles again.
"She might not be all that pretty, but maybe she's really nice," Coco says, always trying to find something positive about a person. She smiles inwardly. That came out sounding pretty good.
"I hope so," Gertrude says, making a face at how unattractive the new headmistress is. "Still, I really don't want to have to see that face before every meal."
Splitting Up (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 07-26-07 13:10
The carriage ride from the train station had been insteresting. At the end of term, riding the carriages down in the bright light of morning had been nice. Riding the same horseless carriages at night had a certain thrilling, ghost story effect. Or at least in Etta's opinion.
Entering the Great Hall for Start of Term feast, the nervousness of going through Sorting a year behind her now, Etta nudges Alexa. "Going to miss not having all eyes on you this time?"
"Not me!" Alexa firmly exclaims.
Olive shakes her head, "Me either. Jill? Cora?"
Cora shrugs, "Can't say that I'll miss it."
Jill's response is, "Did you see the looks of the first years as Hagrid was leading them towards the boats?"
"Did we look like that?" Etta asks.
"I expect I looked worse," Olive admits. "I was still so new to this whole Wizarding thing and my parents' deaths were still fresh, and Emerald's stress. I probably was pale as a ghost."
A ghostly figure goes floating by, "Hey! I resemble that remark!" he laughs.
The girls say hello to one of the many castle ghosts then give their attention back to the chaos of students filing into the Great Hall. Etta sighs, "I wish we could all sit together."
"Me too," Alexa states. "I think it's silly that during a celebration like Start of Term Feast we are segregated by house instead of getting to be with all our friends."
"You think Professor Snider would consider letting us mingle during the next feast?" Cora asks.
"Say, that's a good idea, Cora. We could petition her about it," Jill enthusiastically says.
Etta smiles broadly, "Yeah, a very good idea. For now, though, I guess we should split up and go to our house tables."
The friends frown at the thought but do split up, Cora going to join her male second year cousins, Alastor, Hadrian, and Daniel, at Ravenclaw, Alexa and Olive heading to the Slytherin table, and Jill following Etta over to Gryffindor.
A Letter from the Past
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 07-26-07 14:46
“You didn’t sleep well again.”
I looked up as Sirius took a seat beside me. I could tell that no matter how much care I took with my appearance, nothing could hide the dark bags and fatigue that lined my face.
“What did you dream about?”
I couldn’t tell if it was concern or curiosity that prompted Sirius to ask these questions. Either way, I had no answers to give.
“I can’t remember,” I repeated tiredly. I rubbed my arm as a chill raced through my body.
Frowning slightly Sirius silently stared at me for a moment as if trying to pull the forgotten nightmares from my memory. Shaking his head suddenly, he reached into his robes and jerkily pulled out a letter addressed to me. As he handed it over, I looked at him in confusion.
“Who is this from?” I asked, noticing the seal was already broken.
“It’s from the Ministry of Magic,” he replied a bit sheepishly.
“But why…?”
“The letter will explain everything,” answered Sirius in a rushed tone.
Feeling confused but also curious, I unrolled the parchment and began to read it aloud.
“Ms. Drucilla Eternal-Black.”
“That’s how you liked being addressed back then,” muttered Sirius. “Sometimes you would even drop the ‘Black’ off of it.”
I opened my mouth, a protest forming on my lips, but then shut it again since I really had no idea how I liked being called before losing my memory. Instead I continued to read the note, but this time to myself.
Ms. Drucilla Eternal-Black;
It is with great regret that we write to you this day after learning of your severe condition. Being a valued member of the Ministry it is only after considerable debate that we regrettably must inform you that your position in the Department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts has been withdrawn. Your desk and belongings have been packed and are available for you in the main lobby for pick-up. If your condition should ever clear up, we at the Ministry of Magic would be quite pleased to welcome you back to our team.
Yours very truly,
Head Wizarding Resource Manager…
I laid the parchment carefully on the table as I let the words sink in.
“I work for the Ministry of Magic?” I finally asked.
“Worked,” corrected Sirius, then grimaced slightly. “I’m sorry. I should have explained things sooner but with everything that had happened…” He waved his hand distractedly, leaving the sentence hanging.
That’s when I noticed the date on the letter. It was dated precisely one hour after I had awoken in the storage closet, after losing my memory! Indeed, word traveled fast in the wizarding world.
“I want to go,” I said softly.
“What?!” Sirius looked alarmed. “Dru, you can’t be serious. You can’t be mad that I kept this letter from you. It didn’t seem important at the time. You must understand…” Sirius stopped talking as he must have noticed the surprise in my face.
“I want to go to the Ministry and pick up my belongings,” I clarified but still felt the jolt of surprise (pleasure?) stirring inside.
“Oh! Well yes, of course. We can go…”
“No,” I interrupted. “I want to go alone.”
Both Sirius’ eyebrows shot up at once. I knew what he was thinking. Other than a few tentative times that I had gone to the shops in Hogsmeade and flooed to St. Mungos, I hadn’t traveled anywhere alone since losing my memory.
“Drucilla, I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Sirius spoke as if patiently trying to explain something to a slow child.
I could feel a slight pang of annoyance but pushed it away. Now was not the time to get upset. Instead I answered, “I think it’s a great idea. I’ve been holding your hand too much these last few months. It’s high time I learned to do things on my own.”
I was happy when Sirius didn’t push the matter further, but was confused by his scowl as he suddenly stood up and left the room in a quick, angry stride.
Making A Promise
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 07-26-07 16:57
Pyrrhus leans for to the right, knocking the Quaffle off course. Flora Lynch sighs. "I really thought I had you with that one."
"Nearly did. You're showing a definate improvement," Py assures.
There had been a little league practice this morning following by a workshop. Those attending this particular workshop were all members of the same Ministry department, out for a day of bonding over the chance to play with professor Quidditch players. With Start of Term Feast this evening, Viktor had left immediately after the workshop ended.
Py had been ready to call it a day as well, eager to get home to have a cuddle with Isolde while filling each other in how each of their days went. Before Py could reach the dressing room to clean up and change, Flora had intercepted him. She'd strained some muscles recently and although healed thanks to a potion, the muscles are on the stiff side. Flora feels like her game is off because of that and wants some extra time practicing one-on-one with a keeper.
Even though it meant putting on hold going home to Isolde, Py was happy to help. He tosses the Quaffle back to Flora, "Go again?"
"Nah, I think I'm done in. Thanks for helping."
"You're one of our best. Have to make sure you're in shape for our first match."
They reach the ground, Flora with the Quaffle tucked under her arm, and start for the dressing room. A man's voice says from behind them, "Pyrrhus? A word, please?"
Py says to Flora, "See you," then turns around and walks in the direction of Edmond Jeffers.
Edmond asks, "Buy you dinner?"
"Too short a notice," Py says with a shake of his head.
"A drink then?"
Py thinks about saying no, asking to reschedule, but he ends up saying, "Yeah, okay. Just one."
On the walk to The Three Broomsticks Edmond asks Py question after question about practices, the workshops, and life away from the pitch. Once seated with butterbeers in front of them Py says, "What are you really wanting? I know you didn't come to offer me dinner just to chat me up about the Humbatas."
Confronted with the question, Edmond gets right to the point. "You've not said anything to Paul and Eliza about me, have you?"
"No, not yet."
"Why? Are you embarrassed?"
"I've just not figured it out yet. What am I supposed to do? Go up and tell them, 'Oh, you know how you thought my biological father was a Death Eater and dead? Well, he's neither. He's not calling himself Graham Hipworth anymore and he lives like a Muggle.' Is that how you see it happening?"
"Sort of." Edmond takes a drink then with the tip of one finger makes swirly patterns in the condensation the bottle's left on the table. "I just thought that by now you'd have said something. I'd like to see them."
"So why don't you break the news to them?"
"I could. I didn't want to step on your toes. We could do it together."
"That works I guess," Py says not sounding overly thrilled. "I'll find out when they could have guests for dinner and let you know."
"Promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
Before the Sorting
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 07-26-07 20:30
Professor McGonagall waited in the entrance hall for the first year and transfer students who would be arriving at the castle after an enchanting journey by moonlight across the lake. Already, the other students and Hogwarts staff, including the odious Harriet Snider, sat in the Great Hall and awaited the start of the Sorting Ceremony, which would commence shortly.
When the first batch of new students trickled into the entrance hall looking wide-eyed from both nervousness and excitement, Professor McGonagall straightened her back and glanced from face to face, attempting to determine which of the new crop would be the troublemakers and which would be good, well-behaved students. The last few students came into the room, three heads standing above the others. Professor McGonagall knew these to be the three transfer students newly enrolled at Hogwarts.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Professor McGonagall began, glancing from face to face. "My name is Professor McGonagall, and I am the Deputy-Headmistress of the school. In a few moments, we will walk through those doors." She gestured to the double doors behind her. "Once inside the Great Hall, you will be sorted into one of four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Your house is your home, and your housemates are like your family."
She eyed the few she thought might be the troublemakers in the bunch, though it was difficult to tell so early into their first meeting. Raising her hand towards the four hourglasses set into the niche over her shoulder she said, "At Hogwarts, you earn points for your house by doing well in your classes and by being helpful and well-behaved. You lose points for your house if you break the rules. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the House Cup, a very great honor.
"Now," she went on, glancing at each face in turn once last time, "follow me into the Great Hall. The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly."
The Sorting Ceremony: Part One
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 07-26-07 21:06
Professor McGonagall led the first year and transfer students into the Great Hall and had them gather before the raised dais at the front of the room, at the back of which was the head table where all the Hogwarts professors were seated. It gave Minerva goose flesh to see Harriet Snider sitting in Albus Dumbledore's chair.
Professor McGonagall approached a three-legged stool upon which sat a ragged old hat, but she didn't touch it until after it had completed its song. She smiled inwardly as she watched the faces of the new students, who hadn't expected to see the tear on the hat turn out to be a mouth, much less one capable of song.
When the hat fell silent, Professor McGonagall conjured a scroll and announced, "We will begin with the transfer students."
She looked down at the first name on the list and called out, "Cailyn Spicer."
A girl of about sixteen years of age with smooth, white skin and brown hair stepped onto the stage and approached the three-legged stool. Professor McGonagall lifted the hat and waited for Cailyn to sit down before replacing it on top of the girl's head.
"Interesting..." the hat murmured to Cailyn alone. "Very interesting. Curious, determined and not afraid to ask questions. Friendly and good company. Hmm... GRYFFINDOR!"
Professor McGonagall pulled that hat from Cailyn's head. She climbed off the stool and let the jubilant cheers guide her to the Gryffindor table.
The next name on the list was: "Marcus Vampiro."
An extremely pale boy roughly the same age as Cailyn approached the three-legged chair and sat down. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
"Hmm..." the hat mused. "A runaway, you are. Dark. Complex. Longing for a place to belong. Better be SLYTHERIN!"
Marcus stepped down from the stool after Minerva took the hat from his head and went to join his new housemates at the Slytherin table.
The final name on the transfer list was: "Alex Whitmen." Professor McGonagall already knew that Alex was the son of the new History of Magic professor, Ivy Whitmen. Alex was a good-looking boy around sixteen. He sat down and calmly waited to see where the Sorting Hat would place him.
"Hmm... interesting. A good son. A good friend. Inquisitive, bright. You belong in RAVENCLAW!"
Alex jumped off the stool, barely giving Professor McGonagall a moment's time to snatch the hat from his head. After Alex joined the Ravenclaw table, Professor McGonagall scrolled down the list to the names of the first year students still waiting to be sorted.
"Catriona Amherst."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Bianca Bonfamille."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Adella Darling."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Kate Dewhurst."
The young girl sat down on the three-legged stool and tried not to tremble as she waited for the Sorting Hat to select her house. She was sorted into "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Mark Farnon."
The young boy eased himself onto the stool and stared down every face in the Great Hall with utmost confidence. The Sorting Hat placed him in "SLYTHERIN!"
Next came: "Felicia Flaversham" who joined "SLYTHERIN!"
Felicia leapt off the stool to sit at the Slytherin table, and Professor McGonagall moved to the next name on the list.