|
|
The Sorting Ceremony: Part One
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 10-10-15 04:53
After Hagrid escorted the new students to the castle from the boats, Professor Flitwick led them into the entrance hall, where he introduced himself, the four Hogwarts houses, and the house points system. Then he asked them to follow him into the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony.
The double doors were thrown open to admit the first years students. Professor Flitwick marched up the center aisle with the others following and then stopped them before the dais, on which he alone set foot. He approached a battered old hat on a three-legged stool, which came alive all of a sudden and sang an introductory song that was a little solemn in tone but nonetheless welcoming. Then, Flitwick produced a long scroll and read the first name on the list.
"Abraham Albright!"
A boy with dark hair and light eyes climbed cautiously onto the dais and then approached the stool. He picked up the Sorting Hat at Professor Flitwick's urging, sat down on the stool, and put the hat on his head.
"RAVENCLAW!" it shouted, after a moment of deliberation.
Abraham looked relieved to have his sorting over so soon. He joined his cheering housemates at the Ravenclaw table.
"Frederick Benwick!" came next and was sorted into "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Professor Flitwick read the next name on his list. "Liberty Copperpot!"
A very sure-of-herself girl came forward and put the hat on her head. After a brief moment of silence, she heard the Sorting Hat's voice in her head. Another Copperpot, at last! Hmm… Precocious, assertive, cheeky… Better be… "SLYTHERIN!"
Smirking, Libby left the dais to sit at the Slytherin table, where she was congratulated by her new housemates.
"Georgiana Elliot!", a girl with long, golden, curly hair, went to "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Conrad Ellis!"
The younger brother of Alys and Blakeney sat down on the stool. Another Ellis, murmured the Sorting Hat. Yes… Charming, good-natured, entertaining. I know just what to do with you… "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Happy to be joining at least one family member's house, Conrad beamed and went over to the Hufflepuff table.
Next came the twins "Esmerelda Harper!" and "Jacob Harper!", both of whom joined "RAVENCLAW!"
Professor Flitwick read the next name on the scroll. "Blair Hazelton!"
Blair stepped up to the Sorting Hat and placed it on her head. The Sorting Hat whispered in her ears for a few minutes and then loudly announced, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Smiling, Blair pulled the hat off of her head, left it on the stool, and sat down next to Georgiana.
"Belinda McCourt!"
A confident girl stepped forward, ready to learn her fate. Another McCourt! exclaimed the Sorting Hat, seemingly amused by all the familiar surnames on the list of first years tonight. Strong-willed and perceptive. You belong in… "SLYTHERIN!"
With a grin, Belinda got off the stool and sat down next to Libby at the Slytherin table.
Professor Flitwick called out, "Maud Montgomery!"
Professor Quigley's niece walked over to the stool and sat down on it. She pulled the Sorting Hat over her ears and listened as it spoke only to her. A bright girl, you are! Yes, I know just what to do with you… "RAVENCLAW!"
Maud joined the Ravenclaw table to loud cheering and clapping.
"Albert Nutcombe!" was next and went to "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The Sorting Ceremony: Part Two
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 10-10-15 17:09
"Vincent Oliver!"
A boy came forward and sat down on the three-legged stool with the Sorting Hat on his head. He listened intently as the hat deliberated where to place him. Hmm… Where to put you? Imaginative, inventive… Yes… Better be… "RAVENCLAW!"
Vincent set the Sorting Hat on the stool and then went to join his new housemates.
"Reginald Price!" came next and was sorted into "SLYTHERIN!"
Professor Flitwick read the next name on his scroll. "Rand Prinsloo!"
Professor Douglass' ward climbed onto the stool. The Sorting Hat took little time in making its decision. Ah, yes… You have courage and strength… You belong in… "GRYFFINDOR!"
With a smile on his face, Rand sat down at the Gryffindor table and accepted congratulatory claps on the back from his new housemates.
"Jaclyn Rex!" went to "RAVENCLAW!"
"Kaycee Sickleby!"
Once on her head, the Sorting Hat mused, Hmm… difficult. I see bravery but also kindness… Hmm… Gryffindor or Hufflepuff? Where to place you? I think it should be… "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Next, "Hercules Sims!" was sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!"
Professor Flitwick called out, "Jordan Thompson!"
A girl with long, dark tresses sat down on the stool and ran her fingers nervously through her hair before settling the Sorting Hat onto her head. You are one for camaraderie, yes? I know just what to do with you… You belong in… "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Disappointed to be separated from her closest friends but accepting her lot, Jordan joined her new housemates at the Hufflepuff table.
"Oliver Towneley!" joined "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Edwina Trainor!" went to "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Grace Valentine!"
Grace climbed onto the stool and waited to learn if the Sorting Hat would place her with her two friends in Gryffindor, if she would join Hufflepuff like her brother Caerwyn had, or become a Slytherin like her father. Hmm…, said the hat. Talented, determined, unique… Hmm… Better be… "RAVENCLAW!"
Surprised with the Sorting Hat's decision, Grace sat by Jaclyn at the Ravenclaw table.
The final two students were "Julia Vernon!" and "Walter Wickham!", both of whom joined "Slytherin!"
With the Sorting Ceremony now completed, Professor Flitwick rolled up the scroll, banished it, the Sorting Hat, and the three-legged stool, and moved around the High Table to sit next to Professor McGonagall.
A New Ravenclaw (Vincent)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 10-10-15 19:07
Vincent Oliver did enjoy the train ride but really wishes that the Hogwarts term began by arriving by Floo or side-along apparition to Hogsmeade then going up to the school from there. He could have slept later this morning, spent the day goofing off, and getting in a little more time giving his younger sister Viola a hard time about how he now has a wand and she doesn't.
While it's true he did goof off on the train, it's not the same being able to do it around your house and yard as it is trapped on a train. There were also some haughty, aloof, and sort of snotty people scattered about the train. Others were pretty nice, cool, and some actually fairly fab.
Vincent's cousin Devon is one of those nice ones. He hasn't a doubt she would have been nice even if she weren't related and had never met him before. That's just Devon.
Devon made sure to introduce him to some of her friends and even introduced him to a few younger than she is, like her friend Duncan's cousin Grace. As it turns out, Grace and some of her friends went to Hogsmeade Primary Day. Vincent did not. It's not that his mum or dad are against something like that school. It's just that his mum was entirely homeschool prior to Hogwarts as so was his dad. They didn't see any reason to change things up.
Upon arrival in Hogsmeade, Vincent was at least prepared, sort of, for Hagrid. He'd thought Devon might have exaggerated some about Hagrid's appearance but seeing the large person for himself he now thinks she might have downplayed things. He was not, however, prepared for such a short professor. He thinks Devon mentioned a Flitwick but not that he is vertically challenged. Vincent can't help but wonder if the deputy headmaster is a dwarf of some sort.
Vincent was only a little prepared for how the Great Hall looks all done up for the feast. Devon had once tried to explain it but gave up saying she didn't do justice to the description. The only time he's seen it before was during the day at one of those family invited deals with games and such. Tonight is much more impressive.
Somewhat surprised at being declared a Ravenclaw, he is glad he'd gotten to meet a few earlier who were already Sorted and at the Ravenclaw table, like Grace Valentine. Devon said Ravenclaws tend to be supremely smart and love to study. Vincent likes learning new things, tinkering with things, and has always done well in the coursework his mum got through the Ministry but he wouldn't have ever said he loves to study or is supremely smart. He thought he might end up in Hufflepuff like Devon, though maybe that was just wishful thinking on his part since she's family and though older, being in the same house with her would be a comfort as he learns the ins and outs of Hogwarts.
Seated now at the Ravenclaw table, Vincent quietly learns the names of a few others seated near him as they wait for the rest of the Sorting to end and, he's told, at least one speech, before the food arrives and the feasting begins.
(Aderyn) Fourth Year Feast
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 10-10-15 19:10
It was her fourth Start of Term feast, and ultimately they were always delightful. The awe and delight on the faces of the first years, and ultimately the shock factor when they learn that it is the aged hat that will decide what house they are to be placed in for their time at Hogwarts.
She remembered her own first year and ultimately the frustration at Broderick, Cai, and Angharad who had refused to tell of how the sorting was done. Allowing her to find out for herself exactly how she was to be sorted.
She pushed a hand through her hair, watching a trio of first years - a pair of twins and their dark haired friend. She frowned lightly when the dark haired girl was separated from her friends. It sucked, she'd been the only one of her family members who had been placed in Ravenclaw and ultimately things were going well for her.
She smiled at Essie and Jacob who had seated themselves at the table next to her, "Remind me tomorrow and I'll show you where the Common Common room is, it's where you and your friend can hang out."
The pair of first years blinked a moment, before the boy offered her a smile.
"Thanks, that'd be great," he turned to see his friend...the dark haired girl sitting at the Hufflepuff table.
"I'm Aderyn, and you are?"
"Jacob and this is my sister Essie...Esmerelda."
Essie frowned at the mention of her full name and prodded at her brother, "Just call me Essie...that's Jordan..." She motioned to the dark haired girl as if Aderyn hadn't been paying attention to the sorting ceremony.
"I'll show you tomorrow morning on the way to breakfast and you guys can show Jordan where it is," Aderyn said with a grin.
"I'm starving, hopefully there will be food soon," Jordan said, turning his attention to the High Table, wondering what else that they would have to listen to before they could ultimately eat.
Aderyn chuckled, "You sound like both my brothers when it comes to food. I also bet you've managed to eat quite a bit from the trolley on the train as well."
Jacob laughed and nodded, "Not too much, but enough. Though, now I'm hungry again."
They talked a bit more, Jacob and Essie asked a few questions here and there as they waited for the food to appear.
Speech
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 10-11-15 06:50
Professor McGonagall rose to her feet when Professor Flitwick tapped his fork against the side of his goblet to silence the Great Hall. For a long moment, she looked out at the many faces at the four house tables. Some bore typical expressions, such as excitement and happiness to be among school friends again. Others appeared a little drawn and weary, no doubt from the consequences resulting from yesterday's attack at the Ministry of Magic. Minerva knew that many in the Great Hall had suffered some kind of loss yesterday.
She herself had not responded to the call for help, though many of the Order of the Phoenix had. It was thought best that she remain at Hogwarts, just in case the Ministry attack was some sort of diversionary tactic. It turned out not to be, as far as anyone knew, but better to be safe than sorry.
Minerva finally cleared her throat and said, "Good evening. Welcome to Hogwarts. I would like to begin by offering my deepest condolences to anyone who lost family or friends yesterday. We live in increasingly troubled times, but rest assured that you are well-protected and looked after here at Hogwarts. My office door is always open, should you wish to talk about yesterday or anything else, and the same is true of your Heads and Deputy Heads of Houses, and any other member of the Hogwarts staff.
"There are some changes to announce. First, Professor Jones is now married and will be known as Professor Goode. Second, Professor Fanshawe has left us to pursue alchemical research. Perhaps we will see her again in the future, but in the interim, Professor Schnackenpfefferhausen will be taking over teaching Alchemy.
"Please be advised that Quidditch tryouts will take place Saturday after next. Club Day is scheduled for the following Saturday. Students eligible to visit Hogsmeade must have their permission slips signed and turned in before the first trip on the third of October. Finally, students are free to roam the grounds at their leisure. However, the Forbidden Forest is off limits. Anyone caught out of bounds will be issued detention and lose points.
"Once again, I welcome you to Hogwarts. Let the feast begin!"
Relatives
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 10-11-15 14:22
Seated at the High Table, Celeste had a good view over the four different tables at the Great Hall. She had watched with attention the Sorting Ceremony and when Maud's name was called, she found herself leaning forward on her chair, to take a better look at her niece. She waited impatiently as the Sorting Hat made up his mind. Finally, after what it seemed an eternity, Maud had been sorted into Ravenclaw.
Ravenclaw…Celeste couldn't say she was disappointed, because like all the other three houses, Ravenclaw was an excellent house. However, she had eluded herself during summer, thinking that her niece, blood of her blood, would become a Slytherin. Maybe she would not fall into such mistake if she knew her niece better. But Maud was still a stranger to Celeste, and she was looking forward to bind with her here at Hogwarts. She thought about what happened yesterday at the Ministry of Magic and how many people had lost their loved ones. It had been such a tragedy, one that would leave scars in the lives of many people present today at the Great Hall. Celeste had been very lucky she had not lost any loved one yesterday and the feeling that the Death Eaters could attack again, at any time, made it urgent for her to get to know Maud better and spend time with her.
Celeste took another glance at the Ravenclaw table, looking for Maud. There she was, offering her empty cup to one of her housemates, as he used the jar to serve her with some pumpkin juice.
Maud thanked the helpful boy named Abraham Albright, who had finished filling her cup with the orange drink. Almost everything above the table was delicious and she tried to serve her plate with a little bit of everything. She was happy to have become a Ravenclaw, like Susan, and it only had been a shame Blair had not shared the same fate. After all, the sorting ceremony had not been as random as she thought, and it seemed like that old magic hat could see deeper into someone's mind. Right away Maud tried to memorize the names of her new housemates: there was Grace Valentine, Esmeralda and Jacob Harper, who were twins, Vincent Oliver and Jaclyn Rex, among others. And Abraham, of course.
She and Susan had shared a smile, when she joined the Ravenclaw table, but now Susan was engaged into a conversation with one of the girls of her year. So Maud tried to meet the students of her own year. Someone mentioned the Astronomy class, and Maud pondered if she should share with everyone that her aunt was one of the teachers. She decided not to do so. She didn't know Professor Quigley well enough and even if she was her father's sister, she didn't see them as being more than just distant relatives. She looked to the table occupied by the professors and she found her aunt looking at her. They looked away at the same time, Maud feeling her cheeks turning pink, with embarrassment.
The first year took a sip from her cup, unaware that there was someone else watching her. It was Caleb Quigley. He was seated not far from the group of first years and he looked at Maud, glad she had been sorted into his house. During the summer their aunt had told him that she would be joining Hogwarts, and although she had mentioned many times her desire to see Maud in Slytherin, he had rooted for her to become a Ravenclaw like him. His wish had been granted.
"I'm surprised the visits to Hogsmeade have not been cancelled," Ector commented, his mouth filled with roasted potatoes, making it almost hard for Caleb to understand him.
"My mother didn't want me to go the village this year. She said if there's another attack like the one yesterday she won't let me out of the castle again."
"Your mother is so overprotective, Caleb!" Ector teased, finishing chewing the potatoes. "First she didn't let you go to the St. Emrys Fest, now she wanted to forbid you to go to Hogsmeade... What will be next? Not allow you to try out for the Quidditch team because you might hurt yourself?"
"No, she would never do that. She lets me play all the Quidditch I want," Caleb replied.
Because she knows I'm not going to try out, he thought. But he was never going to tell that to Ector.
Many Thoughts
Author: Jolyon
Date: 10-11-15 14:43
Professor Kent sat at the High Table with the other Hogwarts professors and helped himself to glazed carrots. He was thankful for another year of teaching, especially in light of what transpired yesterday at the Ministry of Magic. He hadn't lost any family in the attack, but he did know some of the victims personally. It was strange to realize that he would never see them again. When death came suddenly and tragically, it always came as a shock.
Having a routine to fall back into would certainly help distract Jolyon from thoughts pertaining to yesterday's events, though it was hard shaking the images he had seen in the morning's newspaper from his mind. He could only imagine how living the tragedy firsthand affected someone. Those who had been at the Ministry during the attack probably suffered mentally and emotionally, and those who lost parents, siblings, or other family or friends, probably weren't faring any better.
He took a bite of carrots and then scanned the Great Hall for his children. Arielle was at the Gryffindor table, eating a plump sausage. She talked animatedly with her friends and kept glancing down the table at the first years recently sorted into her house. At the Slytherin table, Asher sat next to his best friend and looked like he might want to flick peas at someone at a neighboring table. Jolyon truly expected him to do it, but Asher seemed to have doubts. Perhaps he didn't want to be the first member of Slytherin House to lose points.
Jolyon ate another bite of carrots and thought about Emrys Fest. He had gone with Merrie, though their renewed relationship was supposed to have been on the down-low. Perhaps they should have chosen a less public venue to reconnect, because when it was all said and done, Asher caught them kissing and outed them to Merrie's sister. Jolyon hadn't broken things off with Lorrie yet, if only to ensure that moving on with Merrie was what he really wanted. That had been another mistake.
After a rather big row between Jolyon, Merrie, and Lorrie, which mercifully took place at home and not at Emrys Fest, the former wasn't given a choice about which witch should be his girlfriend. Lorrie broke things off with Jolyon and stormed out on Merrie without accepting her apology. Neither Jolyon nor Merrie had heard from Lorrie since.
Asher, of course, got a big kick out of the drama, while Arielle was delighted that her parents were finally back together. Although Jolyon could have done without the drama, he was happy things were working out between him and Merrie again. Maybe this time they'd get it right.
They had discussed her possibly being his date to the Start of Term Feast but had ultimately decided to spend the evening apart. Arielle might be pleased to see her parents together at the High Table, but Asher would rather not. Even though Asher would have to accept them one day, whether he wanted to or not, Jolyon and Merrie agreed it best not to upset him on the start of another school year.
"Turkey?" asked Hagrid, holding out a large platter containing a pile of turkey legs. To an ordinary wizard, the platter would be very heavy, but Hagrid was no ordinary wizard.
"Yes, thanks," Jolyon said, accepting a turkey leg and adding it to his plate.
Hagrid helped himself to two turkey legs and then passed the plate down the table. Jolyon, meanwhile, cut off a piece of turkey and took a bite. It was absolutely delicious, just like every other dish he'd tasted so far at the Start of Term Feast.
A New Hufflepuff
Author: Jordan Thompson
Date: 10-11-15 18:07
Food.
More food than she could ever imagine was spread out before her. She had no idea where to start when all of it appeared upon the table. She'd heard about the feast, the unimaginable amount of food that pilled the five tables entirely to fill all those within the school on this festive Start of Term. She tilted her head lightly, biting her bottom lip - she had absolutely no idea where to start.
Finally, she settled upon a bit of roast beef, roasted potatoes and carrots, gravy on the whole lot. That was her first plate. She'd had little more than a few bits of sweets from the trolley and the bag of popcorn that she, Jordan and Essie had split with the two others in their compartment. She was hungry, and she knew that her two best friends were hungry as well - and she wondered if there would be any food left on the Ravenclaw table when Jacob got done eating.
She'd finished the first serving of food she'd added to her plate and ultimately added some sausage, some of the glazed carrots, and more of those delicious roasted potatoes. There was also a fluffy, buttery dinner roll added along with a bit of butter on the inside.
She was quiet, taking in her surroundings and listening to the conversations around her, studying her housemates - those of her year and those that were older. She turned her attention to the high table, and wondered what her professors were like, what things she was going to be learning. If they were anything like the coursework she'd done through the ministry the last year or so leading up to her coming to Hogwarts.
"Could you pass the gravy?"
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She turned to the boy sitting next to her, she attempted to recall his name - thinking he was one of the first to be sorted.
"Sure, Frederick right?"
She handed over the silver container holding the gravy and the boy nodded.
"Yeah, your friends, those twins it sucks that they got sorted into a different house."
"It kinda does, but we'll figure out a way to spend time together between classes and things like that."
"Cool, I don't really know anyone yet, and didn't really talk to anyone on the train."
"Well, you're welcome to hang out with me. I'm Jordan."
They talked while they ate, each having no less than four plates of food. Dessert had not yet begun appearing on the tables - and Jordan at this point was wondering if she would even have room.
Feeling Included For Now (Jaclyn)
Author: Saffron
Date: 10-11-15 18:12
Ravenclaw. It's just as her dad, Austin, had predicted. Her mum, Henrietta, had pegged her for Gryffindor. Jaclyn had sort of hoped Gryffindor for the sole reason that her cousin Savannah is one. Or Hufflepuff because that's what Rex is.
As she scans the length of the Ravenclaw table she knows she's not entirely alone. Savannah's inner circle includes Hope and Katheryn, faces she spots further down. Savannah had told her which house each of her circle is in but Jaclyn is feeling a little muddled on that at the moment. If she hadn't already known Hope and Katheryn she probably couldn't have picked them out from the brief time of seeing them on the train today before joining in with some closer to her own age.
Her eyes find others at this table she knows through Savannah and Rex. There's his good friend Ingrid, who's in his year and is a younger sister of one of Savannah's besties. There are also three other siblings of Savannah's friends, older than Rex and Ingrid, Bran, Kurt, and Estella. Not entirely by herself in Ravenclaw but not quite the same as if she were in a house with one of her cousins.
Some of the first years she met on the train today are now part of Ravenclaw House. She learned that a number of them already knew each other, all having been at Hogsmeade Primary Day. Jaclyn was not taught primarily at home as some are until Hogwarts but attended a small, one room type school run by a friend of her mother's. There were never more than 15 to 20 of different ages enrolled at any given time.
At first, Jaclyn worried that she'd feel an outside or be shut out entirely by those who were already friends. She could not put into words how relieved she is that so far that hasn't been the case.
The Sorting entirely over, a short speech by the intimidating looking Headmistress McGonagall, and the food just started appearing on the table. No one had thought to mention that part to Jaclyn. She'd pictured servants of some sort or even a line of dishes parading from the kitchen, wherever that might be, to settle on the tables. Jaclyn doesn't let her surprise keep her staring for long. She'd been nervous enough on the train about fitting in that she'd barely nibbled the sandwiched Mum had packed and hadn't bought a single thing from the trolley, not even a sweet.
Accepting a plate of roast chicken from one of her neighbors, Jaclyn smiles, says thank you, and joins in one of the conversations going on around her.