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Before the Sorting Ceremony
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 11-03-13 08:41
Professor Flitwick stood at the top of the stairs leading into the castle and awaited the first year and transfer students, who were being carried across the water in small boats. The boat carrying Hagrid docked first, and he subsequently guided the students up the slope to where the short Charms professor stood waiting.
If Hagrid's enormity came as a surprise to the students who had never seen a half-giant before, so did Flitwick's diminutiveness. Even standing on the very top of the stairs, the students nearest to him towered over him and made it difficult for those standing behind them to see the tiny professor.
After they were all gathered before him, Hagrid said, "This is Professor Flitwick. He teaches Charms an' is Deputy-Headmaster. He'll take yeh inter the castle fer the Sortin' Ceremony."
"Thank you, Hagrid," Professor Flitwick said.
He turned to the new students and exclaimed, "Welcome to Hogwarts! In a moment, we will go inside the castle and enter the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony. During the ceremony, you will learn which of Hogwarts's four houses to which you belong. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
He went on to explain the points system and then said, "I know you all have many questions, and you will have all of them answered, but first it is time for the Sorting Ceremony. Follow me, please!"
Hagrid opened the double doors, and Flitwick led the new students over the threshold, through the entrance hall, and then into the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was packed with students dressed in black robes bearing their respective house crests. Straight ahead was the long staff table, with Professor McGonagall seated in the largest chair in the middle.
Professor Flitwick strode forward with the pack of new students at his heels. He gathered them in front of the dais and then climbed up alone to a three-legged stool on which there was an old, raggedy hat. To the surprise of those who had never seen the Sorting Hat, what looked like a tear opened wide and the hat began to sing.
The Sorting Ceremony, Part One
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 11-03-13 10:53
After the Sorting Hat finished its song, which recounted a basic history of the school and described the characteristics of the four houses, Professor Flitwick summoned a scroll and unfurled it. The bottom hit the floor, which would have been surprising if he weren't so very short.
"We will begin with the transfer students!" Professor Flitwick announced. There were four of them, and they stood out amongst the eleven year olds.
"Justin Hodges!"
A boy with blond hair who looked to be around fourteen years old stepped forward. Professor Flitwick flicked his wand at the hand, raising it so that it hovered high over the stool. Justin sat down, and Flitwick lowered the hat onto his head.
"Difficult, very difficult," the Sorting Hat murmured into Justin's ears. "Where to place you? … I know! HUFFLEPUFF!"
A cheer went up from the Hufflepuff table. Justin removed the hat from his head, set it on the stool, and then joined his new housemates.
"Raz Kohen!"
A boy with brown hair nervously climbed onto the dais, approached the stool, and gingerly picked up the hat, as if afraid it might bite him with its unusual mouth. Raz sat down and put the hat on his head.
"Far from home, you are… But you are brave, yes, and clever. Hmm… Where do you belong? … Better be... RAVENCLAW!"
Raz seemed surprised by the decision but smiled and joined the Ravenclaw table, who were happy to receive their newest member. His foster sister, Rylee Marks, cheered him on from the Slytherin table.
"Sorina Matthews!"
The oldest of the transfers stepped forward and placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Sorting Hat shouted, after only a few seconds, seemingly very confident with its decision.
Sorina's new housemates erupted into cheers again and enthusiastically welcomed their newest member to their table.
"Niccolo Zabini!"
The last transfer, a dark-haired boy of around thirteen years of age, climbed onto the stool and set the hat onto his head.
"Ah, another Zabini! I know just what to do with you!" the Sorting Hat told him. "SLYTHERIN!"
Grinning, Nico went to join his friends at the Slytherin table.
(Netherlands to Unknown Location) Task Complete
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 11-03-13 11:03
Fingertips slipped through my hair as I sat in the hotel room, going over the plans for the Peace Palace's section that was dedicated to the Wizarding International Criminal Court, and ultimately the holding cell where Hans was being held. She had, thanks to a polyjuice potion gotten close to the man a few times within the span of time she'd been working on this task for Adriana, however, had she not been distracted with trying to find her daughter as well (despite Adriana's assurance that she would aid her) the task would have been completed some time ago.
"I need to get this done, because I cannot be certain that the Fairchild brat will not soon begin leveling my daughter's safety as a way to keep me inline – as she intends on keeping me in-line much like she could potentially do."
I said aloud to myself, sighing softly as I once more tucked the scrying mirror into the velvet bag and back into my suitcase. The Mirror had been of little usefulness only managing to add a little bit more detail to where my daughter was being held. I needed to stop being distracted, and ultimately I needed to get my ass back to the Peace Palace and bring about the end of Hans' life.
I needed to get moving, and I wouldn't have time to do much more once I managed to slip the untraceable poison into Hans' evening meal. I would have to get out of the building and apparate instantly to get the hell out of there before I could get found out. It would be Jacob Biebaut who would be taking the fall for the death of the prisoner, but that was quite alright, and he would return to work in the morning with all the details of his poisoning Hans, and no memory of myself. Memory charms were fun things, and I was quite good at them.
Polyjuice potion was taken and I was soon dressed in the required uniform, with the proper badging and identifying marks. Jacob's wand tucked in my pocket, the poison slipped into the small vial tucked into the base of the watch that I had made for just such maliciousness. The walk to the Peace Palace was a simple one from the Muggle Hotel that I'd stayed in, under a false name of course – that and Muggle Hotels were easily overlooked.
Once I was in the Peace Palace, and going through protocols and various other things, I headed into the kitchens where I would be dealing with gathering trays, labeled for various inmates. The fare wasn't much, but it would be suitable to ensure that Hans' final meal was laced with the poison that I had selected to immobilize him and ultimately ensure that he breathed his last. Pushing the cart through, I worked through the trays, before pausing just out of the line of sight of anyone and adding the poison to Hans' meal.
I opted for something a bit more creative than a simple Avada Kedavra spell that could be traced back to my wand, or Jacob's and could kill Hans without the use of a spell being cast that could be heard by others. However, if I truly wished to ruin poor Jacob's life in the murdering of Hans, I could for go the poison all together and cast the killing curse with the man's wand – though there was, as always, when using a wand that was not suited to the weilder to backfire, and I was not readily prepared to deal with potential backfireing of a killing curse thank you very much.
"Your meal..." I said, sliding the tray into the cell.
Hans would hear the sound of the cart moving off into the distance once the tray was delivered. I ensured that the sound of the cart moving off into the distance continued until it was well out of the way. I on the other hand lingered a few moments, hiding in the shadows where I could see Hans' form in the cell, watching him as he began to eat the meal that I had delivered to him.
The poison would be nearly untraceable, nearly undetectable under a Muggle or Wizarding type of autopsy, and ultimately it would look like th man died a natural death. Either way, the man would be dead and I would have carried out the deed required of me by Adriana Fairchild. The moments the sounds of struggled breathing began to rise from Hans' cell, I was on the move. I would use the mirror to ensure that he was dead, once I was safely out of this building and perhaps out of the country. That and I still had very little time before the polyjuice potion wore off, and I did not wish to be caught as the effects of it wore off.
I had easily shrunk down my bag and it fit in my pocket, so I was carrying nothing when I left the Peace Palace and apparted in an alleyway about three streets down in a Wizarding part of the city. I arrived at the Abbey with moments to spare, as the polyjuice potion wore off.
Shedding the uniform from the Peace Palace, which would be reduced to ashes as to further remove trace evidence of where I'd been I would move into the Abbey, drawing the mirror out of my bag once I returned it to its normal size. With a touch to the mirror's glassy surface, I brought about the image of Hans' holding cell.
A lackey came to check to see what I needed, "Tell her that I have returned and Hans is dying as we speak."
I turned my attention back to the mirror, and watched as the panic set in, the fight for his life as slowly his body began to go rigid as the immobilization agent set in. Another touch to the mirror and it zoomed into his face, and I watched as the light soon faded from his eyes just as the guards ran into his room. I was also, pleased to see that there was no food left on his place, not that the poison would have been detectable through the food anyway.
"Good night sweet Hans..." I murmured, a light smile upon my lips. That task was done, and now I could focus on what I needed to get done. Namely finding my daughter.
Hufflepuff, The Best Fit (Justin)
Author: Plum
Date: 11-03-13 12:00
Up until the moment Justin sat down at the Hufflepuff table he'd half been expecting his mother or father to show up at some point and tell him it was time to go home. Even now, surrounded mostly by strangers, only a few of whom he met on the train, along with Eden Jenkins and Marlow MacDougal whom he does know, Justin wouldn't be the list surprised if everything were halted just to he could be marched back to school in Sydney, his parents done with humoring him.
Jordan and Plum, along with Alex, had been who saw him off on the Hogwarts Express. Justin wasn't as nervous as he thought he might be at the prospect of starting a new school and meeting so many new people, or even at how different things were from Sydney's yet also being much the same.
The train ride itself had not felt as long as it otherwise might have, largely because of those he had met over the summer introducing him to even more people. There was listening to everyone speculate about the upcoming year. Who's replacing someone called Flint? Which house will win the Quidditch Cup? The House Cup? The inevitable questions of why is Justin transferring to Hogwarts? Does he play Quidditch? Does he have a girlfriend? What's Sydney's School of Wizardry like?
Everything passed in somewhat of a blur and before he knew it, Justin was donning black robes adorned with the Hogwarts crest, disembarking from the Hogwarts Express, and looking for the oversized Hagrid, whom Plum had told him about. He'd shared a boat with other older students, transfers like him, and with them had gone to the head of the line lead by the diminutive Professor Flitwick into the Great Hall.
Justin had been told all about the Hogwarts houses by his father, Plum, Anthony, and some of their friends. Even having that knowledge he'd had no idea what house he'd end up in. That he ended up in Hufflepuff didn't came as any sort of surprise or shock. It is the best fit considering what he knows. Ravenclaw was the least likely of the four, in his opinion. Justin's a good student if he works at it but it takes take work and like others his age, sometimes slacking off to have some fun or to just be lazy wins out over the nose to the grindstone bit.
Running off from Sydney's and leaving home as he'd done instead of facing the problem head on wasn't very brave. It was more cowardly than anything else. That takes Gryffindor out of the equation.
Not handling things himself, taking care of the matter in a way he knows would have solved things or at least put him more in control removes Slytherin as an option based on what he's been told of Slytherins.
Hufflepuff really was the best fit. Justin can live with that, at least for the time being.
Though some of those sitting around him are eager to introduce themselves and probably ask some of the same questions he'd been fielding all day already, they wait until the rest of the Sorting Ceremony is complete, which allows Justin time to take in everything for the moment.
The Morgans - Minus One at the Start of Term Feast
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 11-03-13 12:21
"Karma Jade, please stop tugging on your robes."
"Yes Jui you can bring your coloring book and crayons."
Nuri was, thankfully not talking yet and was in her sling, fast asleep while I'd worked on getting her older sisters ready for the Start of Term Feast earlier this evening.
Dexter was still missing, and KJ and Jui both wanted to come to the Start of Term feast, and I couldn't bring myself to leave Nuri with a sitter while her sisters got to come to the feast.
At the moment, the girls sat staring at the stool where each of the new transfer students would be sitting to have the Sorting Hat placed upon their head and the pair of them had giggled when the hat had sung it's song.
Both of her oldest had cheered when the transfer students had been placed in their new houses, and Jui kept returning to her coloring book as there were pauses in the action and KJ was nestled at my left side attempting to take in all of the action. I couldn't even begin thinking of the day that my children will be standing before their classmates, waiting to be sorted into one of the four houses, and I desperately hoped that Dexter would be there to see it as well.
"Mama, look! I think they are starting the first years." Jui said as she pointed toward the group of first years as Professor Flitwick once more turned his attention to the scroll.
I checked on Nuri, who was settled in her sling, cooing lightly. The three month old little girl was delighted with the enchanted ceiling and the sounds of the great hall. I shifted slightly, lifting her out of the sling and let her take in the sights and sounds of the Great Hall. She cooed and babbled merrily as the Sorting Ceremony continued.
Ignoring the Screams
Author: Abdul Hazrat AlGunud
Date: 11-03-13 13:55
"What have you to show for your efforts?"
The tone of voice was sharp and seemed to imply a lack of patience. The reply came in a tone of voice that conveyed both deference and fear.
"Master, as you know, our previous experiments upon the creature have focused upon the probing its memory and trying to ascertain its exact origin."
"Akhirom, please do not simply recite a list of your previous failures."
"Of course master, I was merely explaining what has led to our current course of inquiry. If you will observe?"
On the floor, below the balcony on which the two speakers resided, a robed figure stood near a table carved of red sandstone. Chained to the table was a something that, at first glance, might be mistaken for an ordinary human. Until one glimpsed the two tentacles that protruded from the area around the neck. The tip of each tentacle had been covered in a bag composed of brass mesh. In turn, each bag was chained to the table.
At signal from the balcony, the figure near the table produced a blade and leaned over the table. A few deft motions of the knife and the robed figure held-up a severed tentacle for those on the balcony to view. Meanwhile the trapped creature screamed curses and threw itself against the chains, seeking to attack its tormentor.
A raised eyebrow was the only response to the experiment. "Master, observe the creature's reaction."
"Thus far, all I have observed is you indulging in some idle torture-for-pleasure. That and a great deal of noise."
"Observe the stump of the tentacle, master."
Turning his attention from the speaker to the chamber below, the one addressed as "Master" saw the stump of the tentacle writhing against the stone table. There was very little blood. Within moments, it became still and began to stiffen. The robed figure on the chamber floor hastily retreated toward the foot of the table. In the space of approximately one minute, a new tentacle had sprouted from the stump. It thrashed and growled, straining toward the figure at the foot of the table.
"I take it you have tested this procedure on other portions of the creature's anatomy?"
"Yes, master. We have amputated a finger, an ear and an entire foot. In every case, the results were identical to one obtained in this demonstration."
The response to the last statement was silence. It seemed to last for hours, but in reality only lasted a few seconds.
"Has it spoken yet?"
"Only the occasional curse, interspersed amongst the growls, master."
"Remove one of the eyes next. If it regenerates the eye, then proceed to test some of the internal organs. Do not damage the tongue yet. Maybe it can be persuaded to speak coherently."
"As you command master."
"Keep me informed of your results."
With that statement, the speaker departed. The remaining figure in the balcony gestured to the one who stood near the table. In short order, screams began to fill the chamber and echo out into the surrounding passages.
The Sorting Ceremony, Part Two
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 11-03-13 15:25
Professor Flitwick rolled the scroll slightly, raising the bottom from the floor, and announced, "And now the first year students!" He read the first name on the list, "Alice Acker!"
The newest Acker to attend Hogwarts, Alice, was a miniature version of Alcmene and Amelia. She climbed onto the stool, waited for Flitwick to magically lower the Sorting Hat onto her head, and in short order was sorted into GRYFFINDOR! like her two older sisters.
"Kurt Blackwell!", the younger brother of Callie of Slytherin House, was sorted into "RAVENCLAW!"
"Jeb Burleigh!" was sorted into "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Philippa Carew!" went to "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Stefan Carondolet!" joined "SLYTHERIN!"
"Alys Ellis!"
A blonde girl stepped forward and sat on the stool. She seemed a bit nervous but not overly so. Flitwick used his wand to lower the Sorting Hat onto her head, being far too short to do it manually.
"Hmm… Very particular, you are," said the Sorting Hat. "Organized, efficient, responsible… You belong in… RAVENCLAW!"
Seemingly pleased with the revelation, Alys smiled and removed the hat from her head. She left it on the stool and went to join the Ravenclaw table.
"Estella Finch!", younger sister of Katheryn, was also sorted into "RAVENCLAW!"
"Nichole Fisher!", a girl, with long, curly hair, joined "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Remedy Foster!"
A blonde-haired girl sat down on the stool. The Sorting Hat mused for a while and then shouted out, "RAVENCLAW!"
She jumped down and sat next to Estella at the Ravenclaw table.
"Bowen Goodnight!"
A boy with shaggy brown hair came forward and sat down on the three-legged stool.
"Hmm… You have courage… Yes, I know just what to do with you… "GRYFFINDOR!"
Bowen grinned and joined the Gryffindor table.
"Carmen Holloway!", younger sister of Blake, was also sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Sagitta Howell!"
A girl with curly, auburn hair approached the stool. She sat down and waited for Professor Flitwick to lower the hat onto her head.
"Let's see," the Sorting Hat began, "another Howell… Very bright, yes, but also very determined… I think you belong in… SLYTHERIN!"
Pleased but also wishing she and Remedy could have remained together, Sagitta went to join her new Slytheirn housemates.
Next came "Bran Hyland!", the younger brother of Hope. Like his sister before him, he was also sorted into "RAVENCLAW!"
Professor Flitwick rolled up the scroll some more and opened his mouth to call out the next name…
First Term Without Christopher (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 11-03-13 18:27
A little tired despite the somewhat early hour on a Saturday night and the adrenaline charged hall as the Sorting Ceremony takes place, Catriona wonders if it's because Christopher isn't here. This is the first time in her Hogwarts experience that he's not at school when she is. Even when one of them was in the hospital wing, the other was around. The exception was Christpher's first year when Cat wasn't yet a student.
Though a little sad at not having Christopher at the Hogwarts the 2007-2008 term Cat concedes that not having him around while she's preparing for the NEWTs might be a good thing. She did help him with studying but some of those study sessions were spent only partially studying even if she does like reminding him of how she wasn't at all a distraction. She helped him get ready for those exam. He grins at her and pretends not to be sarcastic when saying, "Of course you weren't a distraction."
Clapping when another new student is named to Ravenclaw, Cat thinks that even if her best friend isn't here, she does have friends. One of those friends, who is also a roommate, is sitting to her left. In the lull of one student being Sorted and jumping off the stool to run to the Gryffindor table, she leans over and asks Megara Flynn, "Are things any better between Errol and you?"
"Some. When the Sorting and any speeches are over, remind me to tell you about Elsinore Hottentot."
"Elisinore Hottentot?" Cat giggles.
"I meant to tell you before now but when I'd owl I was always writing about something very specific and when I'd see you in person it wouldn't be on my mind."
Another student is Sorted with the Great Hall exploding into yet another round of applause, with the loudest cheers and clapping coming from the student's newly appointed house. Cat takes a drink of water while doing a count of the students remaining to be Sorted, wanting things to get moving along so the food will appear and she can talk more with Megara.
The Sorting Ceremony, Part Three
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 11-03-13 18:55
"Abernathy Jones!"
A girl with blonde braids came forward and sat down on the three-legged stool. The Sorting Hat mused to itself for a moment and then said, "A voracious reader… clever… cautious… You belong in… RAVENCLAW!"
"Mulberry Jones!", Abernathy's twin, came forward next.
"Quite different from your sister, aren't you?" asked the Sorting Hat. "Adventurous… curious… Must be… GRYFFINDOR!"
Mulberry leapt off the stool, nearly taking the Sorting Hat with her. Professor Flitwick summoned it back and called out the next name on his list of first years.
"Jane Linton!" was sorted into "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Nala Mansoori!" also went to "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finley Pride!"
A girl with long brown hair came forward and sat down on the stool. Professor Flitwick flicked his wand at the Sorting Hat so that it magically lowered onto her head.
"Interesting… very interesting…" the Sorting Hat began. "Strong, independent, brave… Better be GRYFFINDOR!"
Finley smiled and went to the Gryffindor table.
"Brom von Roon!" came next and joined "RAVENCLAW!"
"Sarafina Sutton!" became the newest member of "SLYTHERIN!"
"Igraine van Tassel!"
A pale girl with long, auburn curls stepped onto the dais and approached the stool. She sat down and placed the Sorting Hat onto her head.
"Hmm… another van Tassel… I know just where you belong! SLYTHERIN!"
Igraine smiled and removed the Sorting Hat from her head, leaving it on the stool for the next student, who was "Pelinore Turner!" He joined "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Chip Winters!" was sorted into "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Phoebus Yewbeam!" went to "GRYFFINDOR!"
And finally, "Iago Zaid!", was sorted into "SLYTHERIN!"
Thus concluded the Sorting Ceremony.
Family Ties (Paris)
Author: Peregrinus Hartcrofte
Date: 11-03-13 19:48
Nephele joined Pippin on the terrace of their hotel room, to find her paramour lost in profound contemplation.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
A smile broke across Pip's face. "And a ha'penny for change. I was just recalling Platform 9 ¾, when we saw Valeria off. She … hugged me. Don't get me wrong, it was lovely; I just wasn't expecting it. Dare I hope that your niece approves of me?"
Nephele's laugh warmed Pip better than his rapidly-cooling tea could hope to. "I gave up trying to understand Valeria a long time ago. I think, at her age, if I tried to understand her, she would just pull away harder."
"Well, as unexpected as it was, it was much more pleasant than my last visit to King's Cross."
"I imagine so. No follow-up visit to St. Mungo's."
Pip shivered visibly. "Not my first encounter with Dark Magic, by any stretch – not even the first time I heard one of the Unforgiveable Curses – but it doesn't get any easier."
Nephele rose from her seat, walked behind Pippin, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He leaned back into her, inhaling her perfume, which had come to mean so much to him during their time together. "Next time, love – and I'm sure there will be a next time – remember that I have your back. When that day comes, whomever dares will understand why it's not wise to cross a Mockridge. Or a Parkinson."
"The poor bastard won't know what hit him." Pip turned his head, and repaid her loyalty with a kiss.
(Edgar and Evelyn) Before the Speech
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-04-13 03:21
"Alcmene, I did it!" Young Alice Acker exclaimed, waving at her older sister, from her seat. She then greeted her other sister ,Amelia, with the same enthusiasm. She couldn't be happier for belonging to the Gryffindor house.
The Sorting Ceremony had ended and before the welcoming speech the students started to raise their voices engaging themselves in enthusiastic conversations. Edgar Steele hoped this would be Gryffindor's year. After three years attending Hogwarts, he thought it would be more than fair to have his house to come out victorious in June.
His stomach growled and he realized how hungry he was. Edgar only had one chocolate frog at the Hogwarts Express. The rest of the time was spent trying to have a conversation with Luke about his holidays in the sea, while his eyes tried to avoid looking at his cousin holding hands with Alcmene. Edgar did not see that coming at all and he just thanked Merlin they did not started making out right in front of him. They just hold hands and looked at each other from time to time.
Edgar wanted to have a conversation with Luke once they went to the dorms. He was a bit offended that his cousin didn't tell him about this. He had no idea Luke had feelings for Alcmene and he just hoped he had been able to hide well his surprise at the train. He had excused himself, saying he needed to use the bathroom, and he felt thankful when he met Winifred Hicks, from Hufflepuff in the corridor and he was able to have a friendly chat with her, buying him some time away from Luke and Alcmene.
At the moment the pair was seated in front of each other but they were not doing anything. Edgar wondered if Evelyn knew about this and he made a mental note not to forget to ask her tomorrow, once they had a class together. He looked at his empty plate hoping that soon he would be able to put something into his stomach.
Meanwhile at the Slytherin table, Evelyn had taken the brief pause to take a better look at the new transferred students. First she studied the Zabini boy seated at the same table as her and then the newest Ravenclaw who clearly was not British. She studied the other two students at the Hufflepuff table.
"I heard he's Australian," Dinah said, her eyes also on Justin Hodges. "He's cute!"
Evelyn and her friend giggled but Evinrude didn't do so. Instead she was looking at another boy with a dreamy look. Evelyn was already used to the way Evinrude looked at her brother; however she doubted that anything would happen between the two of them. During the weeks Evinrude had spent at their house Edgar didn't notice the way she looked at him. Whenever he was around she would blush and give him short answers, not able to maintain a decent conversation. If she couldn't speak to him, how would he even notice her? Evelyn decided not to worry about that for now and just enjoy the feast.
Lately she was feeling better with herself because when she went to buy her things for Hogwarts at Diagon-Alley, her mother had taken her to Madam Primpenelle's Beautifying Potions. Under her mother's guidance, Evelyn had bought a potion that was suited to her age and would help her with her skin problems. Her face had suffered several improvements already and she was feeling good her looks. She was even going to allow herself to eat some chocolate cake as dessert, the one she liked so much. With a cheerful smile, she glanced at the High Table, waiting for the speech that would official initiate the school year.