|
|
(Sorina Matthews) Hufflepuff
Author: Adina Blackwood
Date: 11-04-13 06:37
I'd met Adina briefly before she'd gone to Greece to spend time with her dad, which had left me alone for the bulk of the summer and right now I am trying to deal with the fact that not only did I have a sister, but I was attending Hogwarts, and that in and of itself was kind of intimidating. Though, I'd been to other magical schools before - thanks to my dad having to move around a lot. But, ultimately I was glad we were finally settling down in London and I had a full family to call my own.
Life was rough after my mom had died, and ultimately I kept encouraging my dad to date because I was old enough to be on my own soon enough, and he needed to get on with his life, instead of throwing himself into his work. Adina, Arthur and I had hung out on the Hogwarts Express, and ultimately we had been separated so they could go in with the rest of the returning students and I'd had come across the lake with the rest of the transfers and the First Years.
Both Adina and Arthur were in Slytherin, and I'd gotten sorted into Hufflepuff, this would no doubt make Quidditch an interesting thing this year, but it's quite alright. I looked forward to getting to know my step-sister a bit more and hopefully we will get along well enough.
I was one of seven new additions to the Hufflepuff table, and I was also the oldest of the transfers, starting as a Fifth Year, and that meant I'd be taking OWLs at the end of the term, which wouldn't be so bad, considering I'd be taking the equivalent if I was attending school elsewhere.
Legs curled beneath me on the bench, I let my gaze drift over the noisy confines of the Great Hall studying the faces of my classmates, most of which I will meet when I attend my first classes tomorrow.
It would take a few minutes before my attention returned to the chaos that was the Great Hall and my focus settled on the High Table, hopefully the speech would begin soon. Adina had said that there would be one before the food appeared on the tables.
Between Sorting And Any Speeches (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 11-04-13 16:36
One finger tapping on the table with ill disguised impatience Mason's slight scowl is lost on friend Boris. He nudges Mason, head nodding in a tilt in the direction of some girls seated at their table. "Evelyn Steele looks nicer than I remember."
Too engrossed with wanting McGonagall and whomever else is going to give a speech to hurry the hell up and speak so the food will appear on the tables and the actual feast can commence, Mason hadn't paid much attention to anyone but those getting Sorting Ceremony since entering the Great Hall. He's bloody hungry despite having eaten two sandwiches and crisps on the train along with an assortment of sweets bought off the trolley. He'd not seen Evelyn and her clique while on the train, nor at King's Cross Station or Hogsmeade Station.
With Boris expecting some sort of response Mason glances down the table to where Evelyn sits with some of her friends. "Yeah. Something's different."
Boris stares her direction for another few seconds before shifting his attention to another Slytherin female. "Something's different with Whitney Widowmaker too."
"Her hair color is a little different. I heard her on the train talking with Daisy Khan." Mason stops tapping the one finger on the table only to start running the same finger around the rim of his goblet. "Are you just going to notice there are differences in some of the girls or are you going to actually talk to any of them this term?"
Boris colors. "I talk to girls."
"Saying 'Here. You dropped your quill,' and 'Pass the toad in the hole,' doesn't count."
"I don't see you saying much else to any of them."
"I have entire conversations with them and not only about school assignments."
"Like who?"
"Jasmine Doyle."
"What did you talk about?"
"How I have a father who's a wizard but who lives as a Muggle and what does my mother think of Hogwarts and the Wizarding World in general."
"Do you like Jasmine?"
"We're friendly so I guess you could say we're friends. I'd go out with her if that's what you're asking. There's a couple of others I wouldn't mind going on a date with."
"Liannah MacDougal I know about. Who else?"
"Daisy."
"I wouldn't mind having some one on one time with Whitney," Boris confesses though it's nothing Mason didn't already know. "Hydrangea Marchbanks too from our year."
Mason considers challenging Boris to ask someone on a date, even if only to the commons, but there's movement at the head table, which means any speeches may be about to start. He directs Boris's attention there, both of them going quiet.
Professor McGonagall's Speech
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 11-04-13 17:12
"I welcome you all to another year at Hogwarts. Returning students, I trust you had a pleasant summer and that you are ready to return to your studies. Fifth and seventh year students, you have a very important year ahead of you. It would be wise not to delay your O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. preparations. I know your professors are more than willing to guide you in your studies.
"And to our new students, we welcome you to our school and hope you will find Hogwarts to your liking. As always, your house prefects are there to assist you in answering questions, as are your Heads and Deputy-Heads of Houses. Also, my office door is always open, should you wish to speak to me about any matter."
Professor McGonagall took the time to introduce the Heads and Deputy-Heads of the four Hogwarts houses and then said, "Allow me to introduce our newest staff member, Professor Cloris Mockridge. Professor Mockridge has kindly agreed to teach lower years Transfiguration."
There was a smattering of applause around the room.
Professor McGonagall waited for the Great Hall to quiet down and then said, "I wish to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is off limits unless a teacher specifically instructs you otherwise. I trust no one wishes to lose house points. Do your housemates a kindness and heed my warning.
"Now for some final announcements: Quidditch Trials will be held on Saturday, September the Fifteenth. Please see Professor Krum for more information. Club Day will be held the following Saturday for those students interested in learning about the clubs and student organizations on offer. Lastly, third year students and older must remember to turn in their permission slips for Hogsmeade visits, the first of which will be on Saturday, October the Sixth.
"Once again, welcome all to Hogwarts. Let the feast begin!"
There was jubilant cheering. The empty plates and platters suddenly overflowed with food of all kinds. The feasters waited no time in helping themselves to the aromatic meal.
Professor McGonagall returned to her seat next to Professor Flitwick.
"Well done, Minerva!" he squeaked. "Well done, indeed!"
"Thank you, Filius. Let us hope this school year is less eventful than last year," she said, thinking about the Rita Skeeter articles in particular.
"Here, here!" he agreed, lifting his goblet.
Watching Colleagues and Students
Author: Cloris Mockridge
Date: 11-04-13 19:31
Cloris glanced out over the students while the plates filled. Minerva had not given much detail, which she appreciated. She preferred to have more knowledge than her students, and going into the first class meetings, that would be a useful thing. Looking over the Slytherin table, she made eye contact with her granddaughter and nodded her head slightly. She repeated the gesture when Petula looked up as well. The two second-years, and their friends, were possibly the only students who would know what to expect in her classroom.
Turning her head slightly, she smiled at Celeste Quigley and Severus Snape. She didn't know Celeste well, but she was rather fond of Severus, enjoying the dry humor and razor-sharp wit that rested under his dour demeanor. "Severus, I meant to thank you for your assistance with Nephele's proficiency exams. She mentioned that you helped smooth the way after Horace Slughorn's unfortunate disappearance."
Dark hair slid over sallow skin, his hook nose dipping as he acknowledged her thanks. "I am always pleased to assist my former students, at least when they deserve it," he said in his quiet rasp. "Even if they were terrible heathens during their time here, though Nephele certainly wasn't."
"If only you could claim the same of my granddaughter?" Cloris asked, raising an eyebrow and laughing when Severus only nodded. "Valeria is rather a handful. I am, however, thankful that she will at least be prepared when it comes to my class. I heard quite a bit about Professor Flint, and I fear students who believe that is how Transfiguration should be may be in for quite a shock..."
A sardonic grin crossed the potion master's face as Cloris turned her attention back to the various tables. Her eyes lingered a moment on the third year Gryffindors, she had heard of the duel after the feast the previous year and she wondered if perhaps some needed reminded that children should not be punished for the deeds of their parents. But that was probably something to be covered in History of Magic, when talking about the recent war and it's after-effects. And even then, there would be those parents who felt it too soon to learn about things that had touched far too many so dearly. A quick glance at Professor Morgan, who was teaching the lower years, told her that wouldn't be a topic to broach. The woman had her hands full, and Cloris had, of course, read about her husband's disappearance. Tragic, really, the Mockridge Matriarch thought, but then, at this point, if there had been no ransom demand and no body found, one also had to wonder, did he want to be found?
Her eyes continued their journey around the hall, random glances that might make no sense to another, but that gave her a clear idea of her surroundings at all times. It wasn't only the younger Slytherins who were paranoid, some of the House Alumni were worse. After all, there are always those ready to attack, a wise witch or wizard is always on the ready.
(Bowen) Learning New Things
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 11-05-13 07:09
If someone told Bowen Goodnight he would be studying magic at a boarding school where there was no electricity and the teachers were dressed with funny robes, being one of them some sort of dwarf, he would have laughed and tell that person that he or she had gone crazy and needed to see a doctor.
The talking hat had also been a very awkward moment and overall Bowen didn't know if he should panic or just laugh about the whole thing. But almost everyone else didn't seem to give much importance either to the dwarf teacher named Flitwick or the already gone talking hat. Instead they were getting busy filling their plates with the delicious food that had appeared out of nowhere and chatting with each others. Bowen was pleased to discover that at least wizards and non magical people ate the same way. He thought that at this stage he wouldn't be surprised if they used another type of cutlery, or maybe they would drink from their noses or ears.
"I'm glad we were sorted into the same house," Pelinore Turner told Bowen, while he drowned his stake in gravy.
"Me too."
Bo had met Pelinore on the train. Just like him, Pelinore didn't seem to know much about Hogwarts, although his mother had attended the school when she was a student. Bowen learned that Pelinore's mother was a witch, but he didn't mention his father a single time. Bowen did not make questions about it. They had shared sweets with each other and Pelinore initiated him on the chocolate frog card collection. Bo now had five brand new cards and he had fun reading about the people in it. He had no idea that Merlin existed for real and Pelinore had laughed about his ignorance. However, later Bowen had the chance to avenge himself when Pelinore made a confused expression when he mentioned David Beckham, the famous football player.
"Too bad Jane is a Hufflepuff now," Bo added.
He had also met a girl named Jane Linton on his journey to Hogwarts. Jane had been the one telling them to put on their robes because they were almost arriving to Hogwarts and they had shared with her the small boat that led them to the school.
"Hufflepuff it's not so bad. It's the Slytherin students you will want to avoid," Pelinore warned.
"Why?"
Bo looked around. He still didn't know which table belonged to which house and after a brief moment he was able to locate the table where all the students except the new ones were wearing green and silver ties and a serpent on their crests. They seemed pretty normal, just like all the other ones.
"Gryffindor and Slytherin are rivals. They don't like us and we don't like them. Of course we are encouraged to get along and be friends, but that's just prefects' talk."
Pelinore had spoken with passion; he was already loyal to his house even if he had only joined it fifteen minutes ago. Bowen tasted his chicken casserole thinking about his colleague's words. He decided that for now he was not going to dislike any member of Slytherin house until he had any reasons to. After taking a sip of pumpkin juice (a drink Bo never had before but he was learning to like), he asked:
"Hey, Pelinore, what was that thing the Headmistress was talking about? Kidich?"
He thought he had heard Mrs. Ross saying that word once or twice, but he had never managed to ask her what that was.
"Quidditch," he corrected Bowen. "It's a sport. The best one out there, if you ask me. It's played on a broom…"
He listened to Pelinore with attention and interest, asking him a few questions once in a while, to make sure he understood the game.
A New Year
Author: Roisin Rae McCray
Date: 11-05-13 16:54
"How was your summer?" Cassidy asked, unable to resist any longer.
The two seventh years had sent many owls over the summer, but Roisin had neglected to mention any events. She even neglected to respond to any of Cassidy's questions, annoying her friend by changing the subject. It definitely wasn't her best summer, but it wasn't her worst either. She had gone home to an empty house; Nin explained that her aunt would come for her the next morning. Wisteria took her and Philippa to Scotland, where they stayed at the Royals Scottish Academy of Archaeology and visited Torhousekie on a daily basis. Weeks passed without word from Ailbe and Rosie finally asked about him. Her aunt looked at her, took off her lime green spectacles, and said, "Your uncle is about to do something very foolish and he doesn't want you around to see it."
She left it at that and Rosie didn't ask anymore. They finished in Scotland and returned to Wales, where things were calm compared to the past year. Wisteria never left her study and George was in Muggle England with his older children. Pippa followed Roisin everywhere, asking many questions about Hogwarts. Then one morning Rosie found herself eavesdropping outside her aunt's study, where she sat with Albert. He asked if she was certain Ailbe was dead, and she said that she was.
"It was fine," Roisin replied, her voice shaking.
"You're lying. Something happened." Cassidy's face lit up as a thought came to her. She looked around at the first years. "You've got a cousin here now, don't you?"
Rosie nodded. "Philippa Carew, in Gryffindor."
It was why Pippa went with them to Scotland. Wisteria wanted them to get to know each other and be on good terms for Hogwarts. They were constantly reminded that blood was important, and that their first duty was to each other. No matter what, they would always share McCray blood and they were bound to each other. While there might be disagreements every so often, it was necessary that they always make peace. Wisteria's speech ended with, "You are each other's first priority when it comes to Hogwarts, even above your education."
"This year will be fun," Cassidy said. "And its our last, which is even better."
"Maybe." Roisin shrugged, not in the mood for any optimistic planning. "I just hope no one else I know dies."
Belonging
Author: Finley
Date: 11-06-13 18:58
Finley had never seen anything like the Great Hall. It was far more spacious than the cafeteria at her old school and much more impressive than the dining room at the orphanage, though that wasn't very hard to top. The ceiling was the most amazing part of the Great Hall. Finley had heard an older student state that it was enchanted. Enchanted! Imagine that!
Right now, the ceiling looked like the night sky. It was midnight blue with silver, twinkling stars, and occasionally, a comet zipped by in a shower of glittering light. The Finley before Professor McGonagall's visit to the orphanage would have thought there was a projection screen on the ceiling, but the new Finley knew better. Still, she could hardly believe her eyes!
Hagrid had told her about the four houses during their shopping trip to Diagon Alley and had revealed that he had belonged to Gryffindor during his days as a student at Hogwarts. Maybe for that reason, Finley thought she might like to be in Gryffindor too. When it came her turn to sit with the Sorting Hat on her head, Finley had waited with bated breath to learn where she belonged. She felt very happy to be a part of Gryffindor House!
She looked over at the High Table and beamed at Hagrid, who waved at her with one of his giant hands.
"Did he really take you shopping?" asked Phoebus Yewbeam, one of the first year boys newly sorted into Gryffindor. His hair was quite yellow, but he was handsome for an eleven year old and would probably grow to be tall and well-formed.
"Yes, he did," Finley replied, thinking back to that very interesting summer day. She didn't add that they had only purchased the cheapest things. Her robes were secondhand and to her eyes seemed slightly faded compared to the crisp, new robes of her new housemates. She hoped that no one else noticed.
"What was it like growing up in an orphanage?" Phoebus asked.
"I don't know," Finley said, shrugging her shoulders. "Hard, sometimes. Okay at other times."
She missed Leroy and felt bad about leaving him alone with Charla. She hoped he could hold his own in her absence.
"What was it like growing up with a normal family?" Finely asked, half-teasingly, but a part of her really wanted to know.
"What family is truly normal?" Phoebus asked, smiling crookedly. "Merlin's beard, but this food is the best I've ever tasted!"
"What does Merlin's beard have to do with any of it?"
"It's an expression, Finley!" Phoebus exclaimed.
"You wizards talk funny," Finley said.
"Hey, you're one of us now."
Finley smiled. She had never, ever in her life felt included, and now she was a part of something real. She had finally found where she truly belonged!
How Is That Possible? (Marion, Katheryn, Hope)
Author: Saffron
Date: 11-06-13 19:04
At the Hufflepuff table, Marion can't decide if she's miffed or not that Bran, Estella, and Kurt all made Ravenclaw. Out of all her friends and now the first of the younger set she's still the only Hufflepuff. How is that possible?
Feeling a little disgruntled, Marion wonders if her mum was right after all. She should have been Slytherin. Does the Hat ever make mistakes? It did seem to mull over things before announcing her for Hufflepuff. Could the Sorting Hat have been considering her for Slytherin? Not that Marion really wants to be in that house. Some of them aren't very nice. Callie and Lilith are but they've been friends their entire lives. Would they be nice, be friendly with her if she'd only met them here as first years?
At the Ravenclaw table Hope and Katheryn sit with heads close together. "Kurt I can understand but how did my brother get sorted into our house?"
Katheryn, eyeing her sister sitting further down the table with Kurt and Bran, snickers, "Better question is how did Estella, called me Sinead, get Ravenclaw?"
She reaches for a dish of au gratin potatoes. "I meant to ask on the train, why is Douglas to tan?" Douglas is the younger of Hope's brothers and is the only one of the four Hyland siblings not adopted.
Hope asks, "Remember when I mentioned we had three extra for a few days? Douglas lucked out and missed the chaos. He was invited by one of his friends to some sort of outdoorsy camp."
Two friends, who are also cousins, shift to talking about the transfers, trying to guess what year each is in, what they think it will be like having two extra courses now that they have added electives - Care of Magical Creatures for Katheryn, Muggle Studies for Hope, and Arithmancy & Divination for both of them - what boys they think have become cuter over the summer holiday, and whether Professor Mockridge will be a better Transfiguration professor than Professor Flint.
They also talk to those around them, all the while steadily eating, trying to make sure to keep room for dessert.
(Igraine) Individuality
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-07-13 01:22
"So you're Gus van Tassel's sister! I had no idea he had siblings."
It was not the first time this question had been asked to Igraine and she was starting to believe that her brother was some king of celebrity at Hogwarts. She had heard some older girls talking about him at the train while she circulated from compartment to compartment trying to find a seat. He was a prefect and he was also a Quidditch a player. Apparently he was considered to be very handsome and most of the girls wished they could be the object of his attention. But it seemed like he had a girlfriend, although Igraine was not able to learn her name yet.
"We…we don't live together," Igraine replied, putting a large amount of chips on her mouth so she wouldn't have to give any more details to the older girl.
She knew Gus hated her and the feeling was somewhat mutual. Since she was little she knew her father was not like everyone else's: not only he used different clothes and had no car but he was also rarely present in her life. Things started to change a bit when Gus had gone to school but still her father was never there during all the important dates such as Christmas and summer holidays. Igraine had watched her mother for years, begging Edmure to divorce his wife but he would say he did not have the courage to do so. Igraine's mother used to tell her when they were alone that she was a fool to love a man to the point of waiting faithfully for him to end his marriage and come to her. She would always say that one day she would get tired of waiting, but of course that never happened.
Things had changed when Igraine received her letter from Hogwarts. She already knew a little about magic and its existence because when her father came to visit he had never hidden his nature to her. The letter had made her father gain the courage he so much needed to break things with up his wife. Igraine had learned that it was all because he was afraid she and her son would find out the truth when she arrived to Hogwarts. And so he came clean with his wife, and he was expelled from his home, living now with Igraine and her mother.
Igraine knew her father loved her and her mother, but she also knew he wanted his old life back. For a long time he had the best of both worlds, living almost like a double life, but now that was over.
The first time Igraine had met her brother Gus, she ended up pointing her wand at him, even if she knew no spells at all and she had no idea what she was doing. But she had disliked the way he had spoken to their father and she felt he needed to stop it. They never had a proper conversation but she wasn't really expecting that to happen. Igraine had planned to come to Hogwarts, ignore Gus by pretending he did not exist and live her own life. But now that task would become harder because she had been sorted into Slytherin and she knew they would end up bumping into each other quite a lot because they shared the same house table and the common room.
It was worst now due to Gus' popularity. Igraine wanted to stand out as an individual and not because she was his sister.
"So, with your brother being a prefect, do you think he will close his eyes when you break the school rules?"
Igraine turned her head to see who had spoken. It had been a girl with light hair who was seated at her right.
"I wouldn't count on that," she replied, not able to avoid the small touch of irritation on her voice. She was not going to accept any favors from Gus.
"I was just joking. I'm Sarafina Sutton and this is Iago Zaid."
Igraine looked at Iago who was right in front of Sarafina. Their eyes met and they both nodded in recognition. Then Iago's attention went back to his plate.
"Igraine van Tassel," she greeted, looking again at Sarafina.
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm from London. Where do you come from?"
Igraine smiled, happy that finally someone was taking an interest in her person and not on her brother's.
(Gus) Dessert
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-07-13 05:17
"What were you thinking?! You're a prefect and so is he. You were supposed to give the example, not punching people in the middle of the train."
"Spare me your sermons, please," Gus replied to Johanna.
Since Headmistress McGonagall finished her welcoming speech that Johanna had been reprehending him from what had happened aboard the Hogwarts Express. Gus was starting to think that it had been a bad idea to tell her about it and that he should have just kept his mouth shut. Johanna seemed to defend that, no matter how rude Mark had been to Kate, Gus should have just raised above the situation and leave. Maybe later he could report the situation to a teacher. But Gus thought that a punch was far more effective than telling, for example to Snape, the head of the Slytherin house, what Mark had said. Besides he didn't want to run to a teacher whenever he needed his problems to be solved. He took care of the issue right there on the train and it was with satisfaction that he had seen Mark walking away.
"He's lucky I didn't throw him out of the window," Gus added.
Johanna rolled her eyes: sometimes Gus liked to exaggerate. He didn't notice her gesture because he was too busy filling his plate with every type of dessert he could.
"The rumor is spreading," Felicia warned. She had been quiet so far, not wanting to join Johanna in the sermon. "Everyone is saying you punched Mark because you have a secret passion for Kate. Apparently someone heard you say her name when you hit him."
Gus looked at the Hufflepuff table, hoping Kate hadn't heard about the punching episode yet. Of course she would just laugh at the part related to the secret passion. Most of the times, the school rumors were exaggerated. Gus just didn't want to tell her what Mark had called her, if she asked for a justification. She had already been hurt by him and Gus didn't want Kate to suffer anymore because of him.
"I just hope Joanna doesn't buy that story," Gus replied.
Joanna Porter was a clever witch, but he was still afraid to deal with her fury if she thought for a moment he had his mind on someone that wasn't her.
"I'm just glad I don't have classes with him!" Felicia said, savoring a piece of lemon tart.
"I have Fitness & Athletics, which is not so bad. Accidents can happen when people play sports together. Farnon might stumble and fall..."
"Gus!"
"I was kidding, Johanna."
"It didn't sound like that at all. Maybe it's time to change subject. Are you happy your sister was sorted into Slytherin?"
Gus took a look at little girl with curls, seated at a far distance from him. He then felt like cursing Johanna for bringing up that topic to the table. He would rather talk about Mark and imagine the many ways he could injury him during the Fitness & Athletics class when Coach Krum wouldn't be looking at them. He even thought about the possibility of a bludger hitting Mark's head during the Quidditch trials sent by an experienced younger student who was aspiring to gain a position as a beater. He would even prefer to speak about classes which were far from being his favorite thing.
"Half-sister," Gus corrected. "And I would only be happy if she hasn't joined the school." Igraine was a constant reminder of his father's infidelity. "That said, I am satisfied she joined Slytherin. It would be a double shame if she had become a Gryffindor."
"She's cute and she has your nose," Felicia said, provoking him.
Gus shot a furious look at her and stuffed a large piece of apple pie into his mouth, refusing to say more. He had already planned to ignore Igraine's existence for the rest of his time at Hogwarts and do his life as if she did not exist. And he didn't want his his friends to remind him of the contrary.
First Impressions
Author: Niccolo Zabini
Date: 11-07-13 20:28
Hogwarts, was it going to be just another school? So far in his thirteen years, Niccolo Zabini had gained most of his schooling through his family or private tutors. Being in an actual school could prove problematic, he had a hard time keeping focused. The summer had been interesting as he adjusted to life with his cousin, and he was embracing his place in their pureblood society. All a welcome break from his mother and her quirks, she had been off ever since his brother ran off with some muggle bint, but that was in the past now, a fading feeling of anger and hate. Life with Blaise, and attending Hogwarts subsequently was a new start.
Nico took a seat at the Slytherin table near Petula and company with a satisfied smirk. He knew he was going to end up in the The first years were in the process of being sorted and everyone else was either watching in anticipation or waiting for the feast to begin.
"That went well, as expected." He was gloating, but he was fighting a sort of internal struggle. Nico felt the need to be his usual snarky self, but there was more to him, whether or not he let others into the deeper aspects of his character was yet to be seen.
McGonnagal's speech ended and the food arrived, and the teenager was easily lured into the feast as he studied the architecture of the Great Hall and all of its enchantments. He glanced around the Slytherin table, noting some girl kept looking at him, when he questioned what her problem was, Valeria and Petula just looked at each other, clearly there was tension between the girls, and Nico had a feeling the other girl, was no match for their high class society.