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The Sorting Ceremony: Part One
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-27-19 16:54
After Hagrid delivered the first year students to the castle, Professor Flitwick welcomed them to Hogwarts, introduced himself, and gave a little background about the school. It must have been quite something to meet someone so large as Hagrid, followed by someone as diminutive as the Deputy-Headmaster. With the exception of a few, like little Georgie Weasley who was no stranger to Hogwarts, the first years took everything in with wide eyes.
At last, it was time for the Sorting Ceremony to begin. Professor Flitwick led the group of first years into the Great Hall. They strode down the center aisle, stopping at the very front of the dining chamber. Professor Flitwick continued to the three-legged stool, on top of which sat the Sorting Hat. Those who didn't know what to expect, gasped at the sight of a tear in the hat moving and gaped when the hat started singing.
The Sorting Hat's song was a bit more serious than usual, given the current climate at Hogwarts. The lyrics were cautionary and advised vigilance as well as the courage to do good, not harm. Upon the song's completion, Professor Flitwick conjured a scroll.
"Nelson Amadopolis! Please step forward." Professor Flitwick used his wand to levitate the hat and indicated that the boy sit down on the stool. With another wave of the wand, the hat lowered onto Nelson's head. After a few moments, the hat announced, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Professor Flitwick removed the hat again and indicated for Nelson to join his excited housemates at the Hufflepuff table.
"Joshua Blackthorn!"
Upon settling on the boy's head, the Sorting Hat murmured, Another Blackthorn. I know just what to do with you…! "RAVENCLAW!"
A loud whoop came from the Ravenclaw table. Joshua ran off to join brother Jordan and his other new housemates.
"Vincent Bouvier!" came next and was sorted into "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Myra Brecknock!"
The Sorting Hat whispered to Myra, Another Brecknock… Ah, but not quite like your brother, are you? Better be… "GRYFFINDOR!"
Next came, "Alexandra Crumm!"
Hmm… Very difficult. Brave… Bright… Hmm… Let's say… "RAVENCLAW!"
"Deborah Dippet!"
The Sorting Hat mused, Another Dippet… Hufflepuff or Slytherin? Hmm… You belong in… "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Gavin Ellis!"
A cocky boy sidled up to the stool, sat down, and put the hat on his head before Professor Flitwick could magically lower it.
Another Ellis… Interesting… Whatever it takes, eh? I know just what to do with you…! "SLYTHERIN!"
With a grin, Gavin pulled off the hat, tossed it onto the stool, and just like that, was the very first new Slytherin joined their ranks.
"Haley Ellis!"
A blonde girl stepped forward and waited patiently for Professor Flitwick to put the hat on her head.
Yet another Ellis… Hmm… Good instincts, good insights… Sincere…Better be… "RAVENCLAW!"
Pleased with her placement, Haley joined siblings Alys and Franklin at the Ravenclaw table.
Professor Flitwick, meanwhile, unfurled more of the scroll and then read off the next name.
Ravenclaw (Joshua)
Author: Saffron
Date: 08-27-19 19:20
Having had an aunt and uncle who have long worked at Hogwarts, which has meant lots of visits to Aunt Saffron's and Uncle Aaron's flat and to family oriented Hogwarts activities, plus with a brother already a student and Uncle Sage's sister-in-law Libby here, not to mention all of Aunt Saffron's friends' kids, Joshua wasn't one of the first years awed by Hagrid, or the Great Hall's enchanted ceiling, or surprised by Professor Flitwick's diminutive size.
He did enjoy riding the Hogwarts Express but wishes he could have gone up to the engine. Is there an actual engineer or House Elves or is it entirely run on magical spells? He'd asked a few older students but they looked blankly at him and every time he tried talking to the witch with the snacks cart other students would interrupt wanting to buy sweets and drinks.
Joshua also quite likes the rowerless row boats. He wishes he could go out on the lake with one sometime. Maybe Aunt Saffron or Uncle Aaron could help out with that. Or Hagrid. Hagrid's always been nice to him when Josh has been visiting.
Josh had known all about the Sorting Ceremony but like most he'd not seen the Sorting Hat until his first Sorting, which is actually still taking place. Luck of having a surname starting with a B for a ceremony taking place in alphabetical order means he's already been Sorted but there are still a lot who are waiting. He'd expected Ravenclaw but the adults in his life have told him he has qualities that would fit the other houses as well. Libby told him just the other day she'd love to have him in Slytherin and hearing that Jordan had laughed and said Josh was a shoe in for that house. Josh had laughed too but deep down wondered if Jordan truly hadn't been joking. Not that Josh is against Slytherin. It's just that from everything he knows of the four houses, Slytherin and Hufflepuff are the two he'd least expect. He wondered if Jordan was joking because his brother sees something in him that Joshua doesn't know about himself.
Giving his full attention back to the Sorting, Josh wonders of those remaining, who will end up in which house?
The Sorting Ceremony: Part Two
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-28-19 18:40
Professor Flitwick cleared his throat and called out, "Octavia Faircloth!"
The young girl stepped forward, sat down on the three-legged stool, and waited for Professor Flitwick to lower the Sorting Hat onto her head. It slipped over her ears and down her forehead, almost covering her eyes.
Yes… Sweet and kind… You belong in… "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Professor Flitwick magically removed the hat from Octavia's head. She climbed off of the stool and sat next to Deborah at the Hufflepuff table.
"Festus Flaversham!"
The young boy strode forward, climbed onto the stool, and allowed Professor Flitwick to put the Sorting Hat on his head. No sooner was it there that the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
With a grin, Festus went to the Slytherin table and joined his older sister there.
"Cassandra Flefferfore!"
Hmm… Intelligent, diligent… Better be… "RAVENCLAW!"
Next came, "Philippa Hainault!"
A girl with long hair approached the stool and sat down.
Yes… Courteous, gentle, kindhearted… You belong in… "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Gage Hodfuffer!" was next.
The Sorting Hat mused, Another Hodfuffer… Where to place you? I know! "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Cammie Ling!" was also sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!"
Then Professor Flitwick called out, "Carina Malfoy!"
The Sorting Hat murmured, Another Malfoy… I know just what to do with you…! "SLYTHERIN!"
The next name was, "Caligula Nott!"
The Sorting Hat chuckled. Malfoy, Nott. A new generation, eh? Ah… How interesting… Yes, very interesting indeed… Better be… "RAVENCLAW!"
Caligula joined his new housemates at the Ravenclaw table.
Only a handful of students remained to be sorted. Professor Flitwick unfurled the scroll some more and then called out the next name on the list.
Predictable And Expected (Carina)
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 08-28-19 20:18
When the Sorting Hat said for only her to hear, "Another Malfoy… I know just what to do with you…!" Carina knew that meant she was to be a Slytherin even before the Hat proclaimed as much to the entire Great Hall. Rising from the stool to walk to the table where students adorned with green and silver accents applaud the naming of another member, she thinks a Malfoy being named to Slytherin House is oh so predictable and expected.
In the weeks leading up to today Carina had toyed with the idea of entering Hogwarts under a different last name. Her mother's name had been Wright. Mama Cecily that is, not Narcissa. Carina's father rarely mentions Cecily and would prefer Narcissa to have been Carina's mother but anyone who can do simple, basic math knows that a woman who died in 1999 could not give birth to a baby born in 2002, even if that woman was a witch.
No one would have preconceived ideas about Carina Wright. Carina Wright could be named to Gryffindor - something that would delight Carina simply for the perverse enjoyment of annoying the family - and no one would think twice. Carina Malfoy put in Gryffindor would have been an entirely different matter. There would be shock and surprise. People might wonder how often the Sorting Hat incorrectly placed a student.
If she had thought she might actually become a Gryffindor, Carina might have pressured and manipulated to arrive at Hogwarts as a Wright. She might also have said nothing because there might be an excess of gleeful delight at people looking at her and wondering how a Malfoy was Sorted into Gryffindor.
Carina also considered coming in as a Wright just so she could avoid the oooh a Malfoy, no need to Sort her. Everyone knows where she'll end up.
Perhaps attending Beauxbatons wouldn't have been such a horrid ordeal after all. No. Carina gives a minute shake of her head. Beauxbatons would be ghastly. Durmstrang is far too frigid. There's always that school in Brazil. If Carina put her mind to it she could get her father to let her go there. Her lips quirk upwards slightly in a small smile. Talk about annoying the family. Dad would be so irritated with her if she were to owl tonight, writing she has decided to attend Escola Mágica de Brasil. He'd do his best to convince her that since she's already at Hogwarts she should stay but Carina knows how to manipulate her father. As most of her maneuvering would be by letter his agreeing to let her go to Brazil might take a few days more than if she were working on him in person but in the end she'd get her way. She always does.
Giving her full attention to the rest of the ceremony, Carina wonders if she'll have any roommates or somehow manage to have the first year girl's dorm all to herself. How lovely would that be?
The Sorting Ceremony: Part Three
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 08-29-19 18:49
"Viola Oliver!"
The sister of Vincent sat down on the stool and waited for the Sorting Hat to decide where to place her. The hat mused a while in silence before it murmured, Could be Ravenclaw, but I think… "SLYTHERIN!"
Looking a bit astonished, Viola crossed over to sit next to Carina Malfoy at the Slytherin table.
Next came "Hannah Powell!" who was sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Seymour Smithers!" was sorted into "SLYTHERIN!"
"Violet Verona!" also joined "GRYFFINDOR!"
The last name on Professor Flitwick's scroll was, "Georgie Weasley!"
The Sorting Hat wasted no time in making a decision. "GRYFFINDOR!"
As soon as Georgie had seated himself next to Hannah at the Gryffindor table, Professor Flitwick banished the scroll, hat, and three-legged stool and joined the other staff members at the Head Table. Professor McGonagall stood up to give her speech.
"Good evening, and welcome to another school year at Hogwarts. Congratulations to all first years on your sorting. Know that your new houses are your home and your housemates your family.
"I would like to address a serious matter. If you have read the news, then you know that dark wizards have infiltrated the castle walls. You will notice that security has increased in and around the school. I am asking everyone to be vigilant and to report suspicious activity to a teacher, prefect, or a member of law enforcement. Please do not hesitate.
"I would also like to bring to your attention a counseling service for anyone who needs it or simply wishes to talk to someone about any matter at all. Some of you were closely connected to those directly involved in the dark activity here at Hogwarts. I know that the most recent developments must have come as a shock.
"Allow me to introduce to you two psychologists who will spend some time here each week," Professor McGonagall indicated to two strangers seated at the High Table. "Amoret Needlehouse and Walter Phelps."
The two individuals stood and then seated themselves again.
Professor McGonagall said, "Ms. Needlehouse and Mr. Phelps are available to meet with anyone about any topic. Please don't hesitate to reach out to them.
"Now, for those students interested in trying out for their house Quidditch teams, the trials will take place on Saturday, September 14th. Please see the notices posted on your house boards or see Professor Krum.
"Club Day, an annual showcase of the different clubs and organizations at Hogwarts will be on Saturday, September 21st right here in the Great Hall.
"Lastly, I wish to remind all returning students and make clear to all first years that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. Should a student venture out of bounds, there will be a guaranteed loss of points and detention. Bear in mind that the Hogwarts grounds are under constant patrol and getting caught will be doubly certain.
"Now, without further adieu…!"
Professor McGonagall's sentence was cut off when two individuals slipped into the Great Hall, followed by a sour-looking Nymphadora Tonks, who was on duty. One was a thin wizard with patchy dark hair on his head, beady black eyes, and tiny glasses perched on his nose. His cheekbones were very angular, and he had a slight five o'clock shadow. He carried in his hand a briefcase. The other individual was a witch. She had hair the same dark color pulled into a severe bun, a pointed nose, and wore business robes with pronounced shoulder pads. She, too, carried a briefcase.
For a moment, Minerva wondered if they were lawyers, ready to serve her with a subpoena to court. Then she remembered Kingsley's warning, that an independent investigation was to take place at Hogwarts. These two were probably involved.
When they didn't speak or move from the back of the room, Professor McGonagall announced, "Let the feast begin!"
As the words were said, lavish dishes appeared on every table. The students, whose attentions had been drawn by the late arrivals, turned to the food and began to eat and converse with each other.
Minerva debated leaving the High Table to talk to the newcomers, but she decided she didn't want to ruin her appetite.
(Violet) First Year Conversations
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 08-30-19 07:37
Violet was pleased to have joined Gryffindor House. Her mother had been in Gryffindor and would be thrilled to hear the news. The Sorting Hat had mentioned her bravery at a young age, something Violet couldn't remember because she'd literally been an infant during the worst part of her life. She was born in a community for nons and then immediately separated from her mother. The separation from the mother she'd barely known and a father she'd never met had lasted an entire year. Fortunately, all had ended well.
Violet supposed she would have been okay with ending up in Ravenclaw, though the Sorting Hat hadn't mentioned her possessing qualities like hard work and brilliance. Violet had been a good student prior to starting at Hogwarts, so she definitely didn't think she was too lazy or dumb to make it as a Ravenclaw. Besides, her father and favorite uncle Carloman had been members of Ravenclaw House.
The girl Alexandra that Violet had met on the Hogwarts Express had gotten sorted into Ravenclaw, which was just another reason why Violet would have liked to have joined that house, too. Violet suspected they could be good friends, and perhaps they still could, even in different houses.
Violet turned to her new housemates. She was sitting next to Georgie Weasley, who she didn't know-know but kind of knew, because his aunt was a very good friend of her parents.
The current conversation among the first year Gryffindors was whether they'd expected to end up in that house. Georgie, of course, wasn't surprised in the least, though he brought up the fact that one Weasley was in Ravenclaw. Hannah Powell mentioned the prevalancy of Hufflepuffs in her family. Cammie Ling's much older brother had also been in Gryffindor House.
Gage revealed he was adopted and didn't know about any biological connections to Hogwarts, but the Hodfuffer clan was huge and spread across all the Hogwarts houses. In fact, first year Gryffindor Myra Brecknock was his cousin. Myra contributed that one of the professors was her uncle and a former Hufflepuff, hence his secondary title as Deputy-Head of Hufflepuff House.
Talk shifted to the food, which was varied and delectable. Then the topic of dark wizards at Hogwarts came up, along with the security at the school. Violet's family had a connection to a dark witch. When her parents had been at university, unbeknownst to them, one of their roommates had been a Death Eater. The ensuing revelation had led to them temporarily having bodyguards. Violet couldn't picture there being enough guards for every student and teacher, but she hoped that the security at Hogwarts would be enough to keep everybody safe. The events with the Death Eater had taken place before she was born, but she knew from her parents how serious that situation had been.
The first years wondered who the two stern-looking individuals at the back of the Great Hall were. They had removed quills and notepads from their briefcases, which had been shrunk to fit in their pockets, and were busy taking notes. Violet thought they might be reporters.
The pink-haired witch standing near them eyed them with peevish look on her face.
"That's Tonks," Georgie volunteered. "She's an auror. She's friends with my parents."
The group watched for a little while and then changed subjects, this time to who liked Quidditch and was considering trying out for the house team.
Hufflepuff!
Author: Philippa Hainault
Date: 08-30-19 13:01
Hufflepuff! Its colors were yellow and black, its emblematic animal was the badger. Philippa's maternal grandmother, Isabella, had been a Hufflepuff. She met her once, before she died, when she was a toddler but of course she couldn't remember the encounter. Her aunt Margaret often spoke about her. She had married her grandmother Isabella's son, while Philippa 's father had married one of Isabella's daughters. One of her Philippa's had been named after her.
In the end, Philippa was not sorted into neither of her parents' houses. It was funny because her grandfather Maximilian liked to say Philippa resembled his first wife, her paternal grandmother. He said it was the shape of her mouth and something about her eyes. But it seemed like in terms of personality she took it more to the other side of the family.
What would Richard, uncle Margaret and her grandfather think of her new Hogwarts house? She was eager to write them a letter, and share with them what happened abroad the Hogwarts Express, write about her first glimpse into the huge castle as she sailed the lake on a small boat, and then the first years's entrance into the refectory known as Great Hall. Philippa lived in a big house and she was used to space but she never thought Hogwarts would be so big and grandiose.
She had met some other first years in the train. Some had become Hufflepuffs like her, others had been sorted into other houses.
"Could you pass me the peas, please?" She asked to the girl seated to her right.
"Here you are,"
"Thank you! I'm Philippa by the way. Philippa Hainault."
"My name is Deborah Dippet, and this is Octavia Faircoth."
"Nice to meet you both!"
She engaged herself in a conversation with both Deborah and Octavia, trying to get to know them. After all these would be some of the girls she would have to share her bedroom with for the next seven years! She hoped with time they could become friends.
At the Feast
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 08-31-19 03:03
Tiberius completely ignored the presence of the witch and the wizard carrying briefcases, that had entered the Great Hall, alongside with Tonks. His eyes were fixated on Caligula Nott. When the first year students marched after Filius Flitiwck, ready to be sorted, Tiberius tried to guess who among the boys could be Caligula. There was a boy with a confident walk, and a somewhat cocky expression on his face, which at first sight Tiberius thought to be Caligula. That boy revealed himself to be Gavin Ellis, the very first member of the Ellis clan to be sorted into Slytherin. He then focused his attention on another first year boy, which had his hands on his pockets, in a very Slytherin indolent pose, while waiting for his turn to be sorted. His name was Festus Flaversham, and the Sorting Hat was very quick in his judgement, sending young Festus straight into Slytherin. Tiberius tried another guess, but he got wrong one more time. After his third attempt he decided to wait.
Finally Flitiwick called Caligula's name. Tiberius leaned over the staff's table, to get a better look. He was disappointed with what he saw. He was expecting someone confident like Gavin, or even an arrogant child, carrying with pride the Nott family name. Instead he saw a fair haired thin boy stepping forward, with a nervous smile on his face and a mist of curiosity and excitement on his brown eyes. His robes were brand new and perfectly tailored for his size. They were not the second handed robes some of the other students carried, inherited from older siblings, or those bought in cheaper shops, made of lower quality fabrics. It were the robes Tiberius had paid for. But the robes were a mere illusion because the person who carried them did not seem worthy of the name Nott. The Sorting Hat's choice seemed to confirm so, because Caligula was sorted into Ravenclaw, not Slytherin. Of course not all Notts had been Slytherin, there had been exceptions in the past, but they had been rare, and Tiberius couldn't remember a single case in the last four or five decades.
Caligula joined his other housemates at the Ravenclaw table. Tiberius noted he seemed a little but confused, but as the food arrived and the feast finally started he did not seem too much upset to become one of Rowena Ravenclaw's disciples. Tiberius kept watching him, barely touching his food. Who was exactly Caligula Nott? This boy was like a riddle he could not solve.
Meanwhile Caligula was at his seat, enjoying the feast. While the other first years were being sorted he tried to analyze his own sorting process. The Sorting Hat did not even mentioned Slytherin to him. He did not take too long to place Caligula at Ravenclaw. There had been cases where the hat barely touched a student's head before shouting a house name. Others it would take a good deal of time. With Caligula, the Sorting Hat didn't seem to have done a lot of thinking, but it also did not automatically sent him straight into a house. Caligula had been expected to be sorted into Slytherin, like almost all the Notts before him. His mother would often speak about him being into Slytherin, as if it was already meant to be. But in the end he got Ravenclaw. He was afraid what his mother would think when she found out. He knew she would be disappointed. Caligula himself was not upset with the Sorting Hat's choice. He had been surprised and confused, but he completely trusted the hat's judgement.
"You didn't tell us your real name was Caligula," Joshua Blackthorn said. "Or that you are a Nott."
Caligula shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't like the name Caligula," he admitted. At the Hogwarts Express he had just presented himself as 'Cal' to the other first years. Like his mother said he had bought sweets from the trolley to everyone present, which gave him some popularity. "Everyone calls me Cal."
"Are you related with Professor Nott?" Alexandra Crumm asked. Caligula learned on the train that her aunt would be their Astronomy teacher. When they left the compartment Alexandra walked alongside another girl named Violet, who had been sorted into Gryffindor.
"Professor Nott?" Caligula asked back, looking at the staff table.
And that's when he saw the man looking at him and his mother's words echoed in his head: When he looks at you, do not deviate your eyes from him. Don't look down, or away. He will stare at you and you stare back at him, understand? If you don't it will seem like you are weak.. He did what his mother told him, even if his instincts were telling him to look away. The two Notts stared at each other until finally Tiberius looked away. The boy struck to him as insolent, defiant and disrespectful for keeping the eye contact without backing out. Who was this boy after all?
"I don't think so…?" Caligula replied to Alexandra, shrugging his shoulders once again.
"Hey, who would like going back to the lake someday on a boat?" Joshua asked.
"I'm in!" Caligula replied.
And just like that he and Josh (Joshua asked him to call him Josh), were planning to go back to the lake for a boat ride, and tried to convince Cassandra Flefferfore and Alexandra to tag along, even extending the invitation to Violet.
McCourts at the Feast
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 08-31-19 10:22
It was a bit strange to be back at Hogwarts without Sophie. When the main course was replaced by the desserts, Patricia couldn't help thinking about her older sister at the sight of the apple pie, Sophie's favorite desert at Hogwarts. Since she was not around anymore, Patricia felt somewhat responsible for her siblings now. She would have to be sure Elmer wouldn't wear himself out physically due to his fragile condition, keep an eye on Eileen at the Ravenclaw tower, to check if she was well, and be sure Belinda behaved herself and did not make out with her boyfriend in such a shameful way around the castle. She hoped that as a prefect she would never discover Belinda inside a closet with Conrad Ellis, because she knew she would have to apply some punitive measures like taking house points from Slytherin and Hufflepuff and that Belinda would most likely stop talking to her for the rest of the term.
She took a glance at the Gryffindor table, just to be sure Elmer was well. He seemed happy and was talking to his housemates. Her eyes then swept the table until she found Anderson Acker. He was talking to his sister Alice.
"You're welcome," Tom Howard said.
"For what?" Patricia asked.
"You were staring at Anderson. You didn't even know he existed until you went to my pool party. Now you cannot take his eyes off him, and he cannot take his eyes off you. So…you're welcome."
"Of course I knew he existed! We had classes together for five years, for Merlin's sake."
"Liar," Tom replied, and added a piece of trifle to his golden plate.
"And he is not even looking at me right now."
"But he was, just a minute ago." Patricia didn't tell Tom but she was hopeful he had indeed stared at her. Tom was also right when he said Patricia barely knew who Anderson was before his pool party. She had been so devoted to Caleb that there were a lot of people she had not paid much attention to before. Anderson had been one of those people. "What happened to the other Gryffindor guy, that you hang out with last year?"
"Hercules? Oh he was nice and I liked to spend time with him. But…he is no Anderson," without even thinking she almost purred his name out.
"You're welcome," Tom insisted.
Patricia shoved a big piece of chocolate eclair into her mouth in order to stop talking and embarrass herself even more.
Meanwhile, Belinda was seated at the Slytherin table, next to Julia. She had cheered when Gavin Ellis joined Slytherin and sent Conrad a smug look. Gavin had become her second favorite Ellis sibling. She wondered if one day when older, Gavin could become a potential member of Team Delta Echo. Or Carina Malfoy. Belinda had been excited when she heard the Malfoy name being called. Not now, because Carina was still too young but if in the future she could recruit Carina, she was sure the Dark Lord would appreciate that. There was also a Nott, but he had been sorted into Ravenclaw, which couldn't mean anything at all but if he was related with Professor Nott it would be too risky to approach him.
Belinda had assembled the Team Delta Echo at a compartment of the Hogwarts Express, with the excuse they were talking about the band. Nevertheless Belinda was careful because the encounter took place when the prefects were meeting, in order to assure that when they were out patrolling, they would not think it too strange to see such a mixed group together, even if it was for matters related with a band. There were also adults patrolling the corridors, thanks to the school's additional security measures. But they would not know who they were and wouldn't really pay attention. She had not seen them since the Emrys fest. Most looked concerned and scared, due to Asher's arrest and the national hunt for Malden. Belinda knew they needed to be comforted and reassured. She was not the oldest of the group, but she acted like a true leader when she spoke to them.
"We all regret what happened to our band colleagues, Malden and Asher. I am sure some of you are thinking about quitting the band. Well you are welcome to do so, if you wish. Leave the compartment, if that is what you think you should do. There will be no hard feelings…" she informed. However her eyes were telling a different story. If they left there would be consequences. No one moved.
"We are not going anywhere," one of them declared.
The other nodded their heads in agreement.
"Good," Belinda said. "Despite what happened the show must go on. Our band will continue to grow and develop. But we have to be careful: there are a lot of people who do not wish to hear our music right now. But I can assure you my friends that one day they would have no choice but to do so," she smiled with malice.
Not a single word was said about the true nature of Team Delta Echo. They all talked about the band. But they all knew very well what was behind that entire conversation. It had been a small meeting but Belinda left the compartment satisfied.
"If you ask me I think they are exaggerating a little bit with all this counseling service thing," Reginald Price said. "It's not like Malden McGonagall was killing people while he was studying here. In fact Slytherin won a Quidditch cup when he was the captain. Are we supposed to be traumatized by that?"
Walter Wickham sent him a curious look. He had been staring at Julia for a while but the moment the word 'Malden' was said he become quite alert. Belinda knew as a prefect he was supposed to be watchful. In her mind, he was like a spy, listening and doing Headmistress McGonagall's dirty work. She decided to ignore Reginald for now, and instead she started talking to Libby and Julia about their summer.
At the Ravenclaw table Eileen was talking to Bernice about their new electives. Eileen had chosen Muggle Studies and Care with Magical Creatures, while Bernice had opted for Arithmancy & Divination and Ancient Runes. Bernice had been trying to inquiry other third years about their choices to see who would be in the same class as her, since Eileen wouldn't. She was happy Cheyenne Wentworth had also chose the same electives as her.
"What electives do you think Gareth Martini-Blackwel has chosen?" Bernice asked. She seemed hopeful he had picked the same as she did.
"How should I know?" Eileen asked.
"He could have told you. "
"If he did I don't remember. Why?"
"Well…I think he's cute."
"Really? I don't find him that cute. I prefer Erik, from our house."
They both looked at Eirk Haaken who was seated a few chairs away and giggled. Bernice thought he was cute as well.
"Or maybe Alfred" Eileen added, glancing at Alfred Acker, seated at the Hufflepuff table. The way she said the name of the youngest of the Acker's siblings, was almost an identical copy to Patricia when she said Alfred's brother name.
While Eileen and Bernice where discussing cute guys, and laughing about it, Elmer too was scouting around the students. However his goal was a little bit different. He was wondering who looked like a Death Eater or a servant of You Know Who. He set up his mind on hunting them down and deliver them to Headmistress McGonagall. He imagined she would award him no less than 100 points to Gryffindor and he would win a medal.
Gryffindor had not won the House Cup for many years. Everyone was hopeful that this would be it and there was talking about the new seeker who would replace former captain Leonine Marchbanks. Elmer was upset his father would still not allow him to play. He thought he could be very good at it, catch the snitch in all the matches and bring the needed glory to Gryffindor. He thought that with Guildford's birth his father wouldn't care if he got tired and sick, because now he had a healthy son, but it seemed nothing has changed. Elmer was glad for that, but at the same time he was upset. So he decided if he could not play quidditch then maybe he could catch some Death Eaters and make his house finally win a house cup.
Start of Term Feast
Author: Ellis
Date: 08-31-19 14:01
Alys sat at the Ravenclaw table with Abernathy, who chatted about a Terror Tour she and sister Mulberry had gone on over the summer. Both had had such a good time that they were hoping to be employed by the company, or perhaps some other travel agency, after graduating from Hogwarts. Alys only half listened to what Abernathy said, though. Her mind was not right, and she knew that she ought to take up Professor McGonagall's offer and talk to one of the counselors.
Earlier while on the Hogwarts Express after the meeting in the prefects compartment, Alys and Chip had gone together to join his girlfriend Kaycee, Jeb Burleigh and Jane Linton in a different compartment. The Hufflepuffs had been discussing a big party that had happened over the summer, one none of them had been invited to but had heard about through the grapevine. The big thing that happened at the party, besides alleged hook-ups, was the fact that several boys had dressed up as Death Eaters to terrorize girls at the party.
Alys hadn't found it very funny, given the current circumstances in the wizarding world and at Hogwarts, but she lost her cool when she heard that not only had Conrad been at the party, but he'd participated in the faux-Death Eater attack on the girls. She'd jumped up right away and hunted Conrad down in a compartment occupied by others who'd been at the party, including Charles Fairfax and the party's host, Tom Howard.
"Are you out of your mind?" she'd screeched.
Conrad hadn't known whether to pull Alys into the compartment with him or step out into the corridor, but in the end, he did the latter. Fortunately, she lowered her voice to an angry whisper.
"What the hell were you thinking dressing up as a––" she looked around to make sure nobody was listening and hissed, "Death Eater!? Do you have any idea how stupid that was? You could be hauled in for questioning! You could get arrested! It's not a joke, Conrad!"
Conrad wiped the smile off his face and said, "We were just messing around, Alys. You know that none of us would actually join the Death Eaters."
"Do I?" Alys countered, thinking about Asher.
Belinda emerged from another compartment, giving Conrad an excuse to escape his sister's ire.
Conrad was still thinking about Alys' outburst, now many hours later. He understood why she was upset. If he found out Belinda had joined the Death Eaters, he probably would feel moody and blindsided, too. But couldn't Alys see the humor in anything anymore? He and the other guys hadn't meant any harm. They'd just wanted to have a little fun with the girls. Surely, law enforcement could tell the difference between real evil and a joke.
Over at the Slytherin table, Gavin felt like he was finally where he truly belonged. He could tell that Slytherin was the best house of the four available and that his housemates were like-minded for the most part. He already got on well with Festus and Seymour and felt that knowing an older student like Belinda gave him an advantage.
Haley, meanwhile, was seated at the very front of the Ravenclaw table. She was not very close to Franklin and even farther away from Alys. She learned that Alexandra was the oldest of five sisters. Haley shocked Alexandra when she revealed that she had seven older siblings (4 girls, 3 boys) and eleven younger siblings (7 girls, 4 boys), and another brother on the way. Haley knew it was crazy, but it sounded even crazier when she said it outloud.
She did her best to point out her older siblings, all of whom were at Hogwarts, though this was Alys' last year. Alexandra, meanwhile, pointed out her aunt, who would be their Astronomy professor. Haley hoped that Professor Goode would be as nice as her niece!
End Of The Feast
Author: Saffron
Date: 08-31-19 20:12
At the Hufflepuff table CJ DeMarco has his head down, turned so he can look at his plate. "Do I want more before they hurry us out of here or am I already so stuffed I'm going to have to sleep right here all night?"
Joe Brecknock on one side of him asks, "How can you even think about more food?"
On his other side Adiran Balfour suggests, "If you're going to sleep here anyway, might as well eat until you can't." He says this even as he reaches for the last slice of a mixed berry tart.
CJ sits back up and points to what's left of a caramel banana cake. "Just pass me the whole platter, would you?"
Shaking his head but laughing Joe requests of his roommate, "When you get sick in the night from all that food, CJ, do me a favor and be quiet about it."
Farther down the table Rex Applewhite is toying with the last few bits of sweets on his plate, his eyes scanning from one end of the table to the other, wondering who at this table will be filling Duncan Dippet's chaser slot on the Hufflepuff House Quidditch team. He also wonders if the others from last year's team will be returning. He plans to keep the keeper position so hopes no one tries to unseat him from it at the Quidditch trials.
At the Slytherin table Wallace Rex is having similar thoughts about Quidditch. He wants to remain on as his house's keeper and thinks he has a good shot at it given he made last year's team as a first year. Will any of this year new crop of firsties go out for Slytherin keeper?
Wallace also wonders who else will be on the team. He'd be surprised if Belinda, Doug, Sylvestor, Charlotte aren't on the Slytherin team but there are two open positions now. Asher Kent had been a beater and Malden McGonagall was a chaser. Wallace still can't wrap his head around the fact that in a couple of short months those two graduated from Hogwarts, Asher got sent to prison, and Malden is a fugitive.
Done with eating and seeing no reason to sit around and wait for the mass exodus from the Great Hall that tends to go hand-in-hand with the end of a Hogwarts feast, Wallace pushes back from the table thinking to get a head start. He pauses a moment to remember what the new password is then gets up to go, roomie David Peakes falling in step with him, asking Wallace what he thinks of Allison McReady.
At the Ravenclaw table Wallace's sister Jaclyn has not had a single thought about Quidditch. Since boarding the train this morning her thoughts keep circling around the fact that this is her OWLs year. She's supposed to like learning, like studying yet the thought of OWL prep makes her wish she could skip fifth year altogether. She simply has this growing sense of foreboding that she will do badly on all of them and be forced to repeat fifth year. Maybe she's got budding divination powers and should speak with Professor Sachervelle. Sighing, Jaclyn hopes she can sleep well tonight. It wouldn't be at all the thing to show up to the first day of classes tired and draggy.
Estella Finch is having similar thoughts to Jaclyn but about the NEWTs. She wouldn't mind having had two years instead of one as a buffer between the OWLs and the NEWTs. She thinks she'll do well enough on the NEWTs. Her desire for more time stems from a whole rethinking over the summer of her future. There's been no overt, obvious pressure on Estella to pick a career path but it's there. She thought she knew what she wanted but now she's questioning certain decisions. Maybe it's time to consider taking one of those gap years after graduation.
Directly across from Estella, Ingrid Hyland keeps looking to where Cornington Marchbanks sits at the Hufflepuff table, thinking he needs to ask her out. A part of her wouldn't mind if Kurt Blackwell would ask her out but the other part of her thinks, ooooh, he's like a brother. How gross. Definitely better if Cornington did. Or if Cornington would tell his gorgeous cousin Wiggy about how great a catch Ingrid would be. Sure, Wiggy's older but in two years she'll be out of Hogwarts and no one would think twice about an age gap.
Ingrid's brother Douglas is also thinking of the opposite sex. Douglas might only be twelve but, suddenly, he is rather taken with Alectrona Nintwinty-Flister. He'll have to see if she, and others of course to hid his mooning over her, want to form a regular study group.
The two Blackthorn brothers are sitting side by side, their only thought of girls being those who played for Ravenclaw last year and wondering if Eileen and Chloe will attempt to retain their positions on the Quidditch team. Jordan is definitely trying out in two weeks as he wants to stay on as a chaser. Joshua is thinking of trying out though he isn't sure for what position. There's also the fact that no one on last year's Ravenclaw team graduated so could be tough to make such an outstanding showing at trials that he would be selected over someone from last year's squad.
With the feast about officially over Kurt Blackwell as head boy is on the verge of giving a signal to Grace Valentine and Vincent Oliver, the two Ravenclaw fifth year prefects, to gather the new Ravenclaw first years to lead them to Ravenclaw House. He nudges Bran Hyland, who took Kurt's seventh year prefect position, and attempts to catch the eye of Alys Ellis, the other seventh year prefect. He stops though when Brom Von Roon grumbles to Bran, "How is it you're Kurt's replacement and not me?"
Bran shrugs. "Don't know. I wasn't there when the choosing was done."
Kurt suggests, "Maybe names are drawn. I don't even know if it's house heads who choose or Flitwick or McGonagall or if they have a big meeting about it or what."
Brom shakes his head. "I know exactly how it is," he asserts. "You have an in with a professor. It's how you got head boy, Kurt. To fill the prefect position they chose someone else who has an in with a professor." Using his fork to point Brom indicates others around the Great Hall wearing prefect badges: Oliver Towneley at the Gryffindor table, Edwina Trainor, Bertie Nutcombe, and Cornington Marchbanks at the Hufflepuff table, Grace Valentine at their own table, and Libby Copperpot and Sylvestor Trainor at the Slytherin table. "Every one of them and you two have ins with professors."
Bran's face crumples in confusion. "How do those two Hufflepuffs and Sylvestor Trainor have ins?"
"If I understand right, the girl, what's her name, Edwina? She's Sylvestor's sister. They are cousins with that Libby girl and that Libby girl's sister is Professor Sacheverelle's sister-in-law. That one there who's Hufflepuff's seeker, Bertie, he dates Edwina, who is cousin to Libby, who is practically family with Professor Sacheverelle. Marchbanks there is nephew of Professor Hodfuffer. That girl Grace's mother is Briar Rose, the baker, right? The baker who sees Professor Somerset, who is also the uncle of Towneley over there."
Kurt takes a deep, calming breath before pointing out, "If your theory is true that would mean more of us would be prefects. It would be Estella instead of Alys and Ingrid instead of Patricia."
Brom brushes him off. "Yeah, whatever." He pushes back from the table, not waiting for everyone else. Glowering, he leaves the Great Hall as Kurt sighs and says, "Ignore him as usual."
Bran shrugs again. "Fine by me but don't be surprised if he gets hexed in his sleep giving him a week long bed head complete with sheet creases on his face."
Laughing, Kurt stands to give his attention to watching all the fifth year prefects rounding up their first year charges.