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Sorted (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 07-26-07 21:33
Catriona hadn't wanted to be the first of the first years to be sorted. At least there were transfer students to go ahead of her. She watched them closely for signs of the burning and stabbing Fergus told her about. None of the three let on that the procedcure of being Sorted is a painful one.
Professor McGonagall called Cat's name. With a gulp she stepped up and took a seat on the stool, trying extremely hard not to show how scared she was to have the Sorting Hat placed on her head. Working hard not to scrunch up her face in anticipation of the pain, Cat relaxed somewhat when the Hat settled onto her head and gave a laugh that she thinks only she could hear.
"Mustn't believe everything cousin's tell you. Intelligence despite believing the cousin. No House Poltroon for you."
The Hat the said for everyone to hear, "RAVENCLAW!"
So relieved there was no pain nor any House Poltroon, Cat nearly missed the Ravenclaw pronouncement. It sinks in only after Professor McGonagall has lifted the Sorting Hat from Cat's head. Getting off the stool, knees quacking for some reason, probably from the relief that there is no pain and there is no way for Cat to show dishonor by being sorted into House Poltroon, Cat locates the Ravenclaw table.
Sorted into Slytherin
Author: Marcus Diavolo
Date: 07-27-07 08:00
Marcus got off the stool right after the hat said “Slytherin!” He was happy about the house he got into. So happy he actually smiled. He unfortunately though revealed his fangs when he smiled. Many of the Slytherins seemed scared of him and just stared at him. His walk though was almost opposite of what he was feeling. He was slow and grim looking. He joined the other Slytherins and sat across from Griet. He then pulled out a corked beaker full of animal blood. He pulled out the cork and drank some. The other kids were squeamish at what he was doing. He then waited for the feast to begin.
How Many to Gryffindor This Year?
Author: Oreileah McCoi
Date: 07-27-07 08:31
Orei sat near Madeline, Bailey, and Jared as they all watched the sorting ceremony unfold. Hoping that several of the new students both transfer and first year alike would end up in Gryffindor. So far the prospects were dim, only two had come to join the Gryffindor table after the transfers and first group of first years had been sorted. Cailyn Spicer, a transfer from where Orei wasn't sure, and Adella Darling, a first year joined the end of the table.
There was a pause and Orei cast her gaze toward Ravenclaw, they'd gotten two, a transfer student, a boy named Alex Whitman, and a first year girl named Catriona Amherst. Slytherin seemed to be getting quite a few new students this year, including one who looked rather interesting, Marcus Diavolo. Orei shook her head, and looked toward Hufflepuff, she'd seen Kate Dewhurst being sorted into the house, and expected it, because she knew that Bronwyn had been a Hufflepuff, and families tended to end up in the same house (case in point, the Weasley's who had all been Gryffindors).
Orei looked toward Jared, she wanted to talk to him about the Quidditch trials, and the season for the year, she'd gotten some awesome tips from the Ireland National team when she'd spent time with them this summer. Yes, it had been an entire day and then some when she'd been in Ireland that she'd done workshops and some mockgames with the team. "Jared...need to talk to you later." She murmured across the table, knowing that he would hear her because there was a lull in the noise in the great hall as they waited for McGonagall to finish the sorting.
The Sorting Ceremony: Part Two
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 07-27-07 10:08
Professor McGonagall scrolled to the next name on the list and called out, "Roger Gesner."
The boy took his place on the stool, listened to the Sorting Hat's thoughts and then found himself a member of... "RAVENCLAW!"
Next came: "Hugo Hathi."
He was sorted into... "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Blake Holloway" joined... "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Wilhelmina Kluck."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Eric Ling."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Ramona Mickle."
A girl stepped forward and stepped onto the raised dais, approaching the stool and hat more out of curiosity than fear and nervousness. She sat down and allowed Professor McGonagall to set the hat down over her head.
"Hmm... interesting," the hat said to her ears alone. "Intelligent, but sometimes lazy. Kind, but sometimes stubborn. I know just what to do with you... RAVENCLAW!"
Ramona waited for Professor McGonagall to remove the hat from her head before she joined her new family at the Ravenclaw table.
"Joanna Porter" came next.
She was also sorted into... "RAVENCLAW!"
Then came "Polly Potts" who joined... "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Hunter Rabnott."
There were some quiet cheers from his various family members scattered throughout the Great Hall as he stepped up to the stool and waited for the hat's verdict. "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Robin Sluefoot."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Gus van Tassel."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Taran Tremaine."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Aleydis Vanderbilt."
A small girl with blond hair came forward and sat down on the stool. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
It said, "Curious. Very curious. Not like the other Vanderbilts you are. Sweet, kind, and loyal. You belong in HUFFLEPUFF!"
Surprised, yet delighted, Aleydis hopped off of the stool and went to the Hufflepuff table, not hearing the shocked "WHAT?" her sister Cornelia had exclaimed from the Slytherin table.
The last first year to be sorted was: "Demetrius Whitmore."
The Sorting Hat placed him into... "HUFFLEPUFF!"
As Demetrius went to join Aleydis at the Hufflepuff table, Professor McGonagall removed the stool, hat, and scroll of names to the side of the room and then moved to sit in her usual place at the head table, even though the person seated exactly to her right was Harriet Snider, who rose to her feet to address the Great Hall as soon as Minerva sat.
Portkeying (Euphemia Smythe-Jones)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 07-27-07 10:36
As Eloise, Euphemia checks the time. With a nod to Ryland Yaxley, the two begin making the three portkeys for the trip to the "interim" location. Touching her wand to her hat, "Portus," she wonders if any of the twelve, Ryland being excluded, will be quitting once they learn what's actually happening.
Ryland holds two of the portkeys and Eloise holds her hat turned portkey. Standing on the dias again she instructs, "Gather around, please."
When everyone's attention is again on her, Eloise says, "In a moment we will portkey to the first stop. As most of you know, for security reasons, many of the schools of magic do not allow apparating onto the grounds. For this reason, we will portkey near the school gates and walk from there. We have three portkeys. Please divide up."
It only takes a few seconds before they're ready. Eloise counts down for them, "Three, two, one," and then they are off. Eloise clutches tightly to her hat and hopes everyone else is hanging on as well. She doesn't want to lose anyone in transit.
Eloise blinks and they are on the lane that ends near the gates of Hogwarts. She hears murmuring around her as the professors take in their destination. Some are Hogwarts graduates, Lawrence Masterson most recently so, but some attended other schools. Of those, few, if any, have been this close to the gates of Hogwarts.
Turning to address the staff once more, Eloise explains, "Hogwarts is where we will be working. Follow me please."
A House Elf is waiting for them. He opens the gates and after all are through, closes the gates once more then leads them up to the brightly lit castle. Once in the entrance hall, Eloise holds up a hand to halt their progress. "We are to wait here. It shouldn't be long."
The House Elf vanishes into the Great Hall. He'll be back to let them know when to enter.
Changes (Harriet Snider)
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 07-27-07 11:14
Harriet watches the Sorting in between scanning the four long tables of, for the most part, bright faced, eager students. The fact that many of them don't belong here is entirely lost on them. They'll know soon enough. The days of Albus Dumbledore the blood traitor are over. A new regime is in charge.
The Sorting is finished and now it's time for Harriet to make the customary welcome speech. Rising, Harriet walks around to the podium. She smiles benevolently, thinking about how history is in the making and she's right at the forefront.
"Welcome, new and transfer students. Welcome back, returning students and staff. By now, you all know that I am Harriet Snider, new Headmistress of Hogwarts. It is tragic that Albus Dumbledore has yet to be found but school must go on. Changes were necessary. In time, change is always inevitable.
Change is a major theme for us this year at Hogwarts. Some of you will embrace the changes. Some will vehemently protest and oppose the changes. For those of you with such a mindset, rest assured that we have full Ministry backing. First of all, Cuthbert Binns is no longer the Hogwarts History of Magic professor. Please welcome Ivy Whitmen in that position."
Harriet and others clap for Professor Whitmen and as everyone wonders what other changes are in store, there is a stirring at the tables in front of Harriet and at the one behind. She pauses to let the room go quiet again.
"As of this second, pureblooded students will not be educated alongside half-bloods, Muggle borns, and" Harriet fixes a stare at a couple of the Slytherin tables, "half-breeds."
There's another stir, louder this time. Behind her, some of the staff are vocalizing protests. Harriet ignores them, pushing on. She makes eye contact with a House Elf at the main entrance to the Great Hall.
"Current staff will teach you non-pure students."
The doors open and in walk fourteen people. Harriet opens her arms broadly in a welcoming gesture.
"Welcome new professors! Students and non-pureblood teaching staff, please meet the professors for the pureblood students." Harriet calls out the names she's memorized, not knowing any of the faces except two, and one of them isn't a professor.
"For Ancient Runes, Urmaleen Closterfob; Arithmancy, Phoenix Everard; Astronomy, Helveticus Moon; Care of Magical Creatures, Elektra Warbeck; Charms, Carmella Flume; Defense Against the Dark Arts, Ryland Yaxley; Divination, Bathurst Askew; Herbology, Lawrence Masterson; History of Magic, Bruno Pilliwickle; Muggle Studies, Zinnia Marcasite; Potions, Augusta Spudmore; Transfiguration, Nina Whitehorn; Flying Lessons and Quidditch, Theodosia Batuti."
The roar in the Great Hall is deafening. Harriet patiently waits. When the noise subsides enough, Harriet raises her hands again, this time calling for more quiet.
"Ryland, please come forward."
The tall, nice looking man who appears to be in his mid to late thirties, walks quickly up the center aisle. When he reaches the podium, Harriet tells those assembled, "I am most happy to introduce to you your new Deputy Headmaster, Ryland Yaxley."
There are more gasps. Harriet looks over one shoulder to see Minerva McGonagall white faced. Harriet shoots her a little smile and earns herself one of those if looks could kill glares.
Harriet raises her wand. Another table appears, pushing the former head table back. Ryland waves the other professors at the doors to come sit. One woman remains at the Great Hall doors, looking on, an extremely smug expression on her face. Harriet does not say a word about who she is or why she's still at the doors. Harriet just plows on ahead.
"Tomorrow, all pureblood students will report to the Great Hall after breakfast with each set of your uniform robes. A purple ribbon will be put at the hem of each set of robes to serve as an instant visual of your pureblood status."
"At breakfast and every other meal henceforth," Harriet waves her wand again and a purple line bisects each of the house tables, "Purebloods sit to the front of the table. Nons sit to the back."
"When you go to your dorms after the feast has ended, you will find new arrangements. Purebloods will not be sharing rooms with nons. Ah yes, before I forget," Harriet turns to look at the two tables of professors, "The new Heads of Houses are for Gryffindor, Carmella Flume, for Hufflepuff, Theodosia Batuti, for Ravenclaw, Urmaleen Closterfob, and for Slytherin, Bruno Pilliwickle."
Harriet smiles broadly, extremely pleased with the proceedings. "There is more but I think you all have enough to absorb for the moment. Let the feast begin!"
Food and drink appears on the tables. Harriet vanishes the podium then walks to the new head table to sit at the center with Ryland Yaxley on her left.
Arrival and Utter Shock
Author: Lawrence Masterson
Date: 07-27-07 11:36
When they'd portkeyed from the Swiss Academy location, Lawrence hadn't truly expected to land before the Gates of Hogwarts, but that is exactly where they landed. This would be their "interim" teaching location. Ok, so it wouldn't be all bad, he knew the layout of Hogwarts backwards and forwards from his attendance, and he'd graduated but two years ago.
They waited in the Great Hall, for the house elf to return. There was idle chatter between he and a few other Hogwarts graduates, as to just what was going on. Either way, all were anxiously awaiting the entrance into the Great Hall and the feast. However, that anxiety was quickly squashed at least in Lawrence when they entered the Hall and heard the remainder of Harriet Snider's speech.
Segregation of Hogwarts? Division of Pureblood, Muggle-born and halfbreed witches and wizards? Dumbledore would be furious...in fact so would a large majority of the staff that Lawrence had had, no doubt Minerva McGonagall as well. Yaxley was the new deputy Head Master of Hogwarts? Why had this woman usurped McGonagall of her position?
Could this actually stand with the Ministry? Then again it must have been a ministry approved idea, or it wouldn't have actually come to pass. Lawrence moved up and seated himself at the newly appeared table, choosing a seat that overlooked Hufflepuff table, which means he was sitting next to Theodosia Batuti, the new head of Hufflepuff House. He caught sight of Ariella sitting at the table between a few of her other classmates. She looked as confused about this as he did.
The appetite that had been building within him quickly faded with the realization of what had happened to his favorite place in the world with Dumbledore's disappearance. He hadn't even realized that Dumbledore had been gone, until he came in and found Harriet Snider making the welcoming speech. He'd have to talk to McGonagall when he got a moment or two after the feast.
He did eat a little bit, keeping his thoughts to himself, wondering if there would be a way around this foolish segregation by blood of the Hogwarts students. What would it do to Quidditch? Would there be two different Quidditch teams for each house? Two House Cups given? Or would the house still be expected to work as one unit like before?
Bad Surprises
Author: Ariella Beck
Date: 07-27-07 12:18
Professor Snider's speech brought forth one surprise after another, and none of them good. Never had Ariella imagined a divided Hogwarts, one in which the pureblooded families were favored over the rest. She thought such beliefs as blood status segregation had died out with the fall of Voldemort, but realized what a foolish notion this was. Although Voldemort had died, all of his followers had not, and there had been plenty who may not have supported Voldemort in life but still supported the old ways.
"You realize what this means, don't you?" Alanna whispered.
"Hogwarts won't be the same place we've known and loved," Ariella replied. She glanced up at the new head table that blocked all the old professors from view. Her eyes met Lawrence's, and what Alanna had in mind suddenly became very clear.
"My boyfriend is going to be my teacher," Ariella moaned quietly.
Alanna shook her head. "This isn't right. This just isn't right. If Dumbledore were still here..."
"But he's not," Ariella interrupted sadly. "He's not and now everything's going to change, and I fear not for the better." She glanced around the room, seeing many different expressions on the faces of the other students. Some were confused by Snider's speech. Others were angry. Many were upset. Some still were smug.
"I think we'll be okay," Alanna whispered. "We're purebloods. Snider's obviously favoring us above the rest. I just feel bad for everyone who's not pureblooded."
"We might not be the intended victims in all of this, but I still don't think we'll be entirely okay," Ariella replied wisely. "She's trying to make us elitists. She wants us to think just like she does. I'm sorry, but I just can't and I know you can't either."
"I guess it's safe to assume that most of those new teachers weren't in on this. Lawrence didn't know, did he?"
"He would have told me had he known," Ariella responded. "He looks just as confused and upset about all this as the rest of us."
"Do you think you two... I mean," Alanna started, unsure of how to phrase her question.
"I don't know," Ariella said. "We can't possibly anymore, can we?" she asked, looking crestfallen. She realized then that this was the first Hogwarts feast in seven years during which she didn't have much of an appetite.
What?? (Hank & Jane)
Author: Rolf Haaken
Date: 07-27-07 13:41
Jane's pretty sure her mouth has been hanging open from the moment Professor Snider said, "As of this second, pureblooded students will not be educated alongside half-bloods, Muggle borns, and half-breeds." When the purple line dividing the tables appeared, Jane had jumped. The Ravenclaw line was right at her elbow. Come tomorrow, she'll be on the other side of it. Makes Jane not want to eat meals in the Great Hall.
Beside her, Doug is just as open mouthed. Directly across, Hank looks alternately amused and appalled. He leans halfway across the table, "Can she really do this? It's a joke, right?"
"Who's that woman at the doors?" Jane asks rather than bothering to answer questions Hank already knows the answers to.
Doug shakes his head. "She came in with the other professors."
"Segregated. We're going to have segrated classes," Jane hisses, outraged. "It's criminal."
"How can the Ministry allow this? You don't think it's You-Know-Who? Maybe he's not dead afterall," Hank begins theorizing.
"Say, where's Professor Isuki?" Jane asks, realizing for the first time that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor isn't at the head table, or former head table or whatever it is.
Doug, even though knowing he can't be heard over the din, lowers his voice to ask, "You don't suppose she found out about all this and they made sure she wouldn't be around to spill the beans?"
Hank's eyes widen, "I bet they did. They waylaid her just like Snider waylaid McGonagall. You could tell McGonagall had no idea she was about to be made ex-deputy head."
"You don't suppose Professor Isuki is... dead?" Doug looks fearful as he glances to where the Professor Snider sits enjoying her food.
"No one seems worried about her absence. There's no new professor like for Professor Binns. What's that about anyway? Why isn't Professor Binns teaching History anymore?" Hank picks at his food as he talks.
Jane, looking afraid as well, says, "Maybe they don't know about Professor Isuki yet. And I guess Professor Binns being a ghost is no longer deemed suitable as a teacher. Should one of us pretend to go to the lavatory but go see if Professor Isuki is anywhere about?"
Hank surprises her by offering, "I'll do it."
Getting up, Hank walks resolutely towards the doors, a pained expression on his face as if he can't get to the loo soon enough.