[August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Tags: August 2009 August 30 2009 Herschel Reid Figaro Sellaphix Liviana Wiedman Sophie Flickwick Gracie Slant Tracy Jones Deus Deres Ferreole LeBeau Ignan Storm Sebastian Cadmon Alix Bonham Olivia Foley Jazelle Hawke Winifred Oliver Baxter Fox Zoe Torret Marlon Kaminski Xiomara Hooch Raven Whitman Joshua Harcroft Church Comer Obderedria Pienas Heliotrope LeJean Milton Steinbeck Ligeia Canterbury Dingy Mercedes Posada Annette Lotusorder Rico Posada Myrni Levartian Victoire Bisclavret Kelvin Watkins Tapendra Trishna Wren Spicer Blake Knight Sasha Snow Caitlin Norwood Jordyn Dimbleby Teodosio Medici Odessa Eisley Migs Nagde Alice Hunter Deus ex Machina Cecile Fontaine Etienne Miroux Demitria Strelnikov Lucy Matthews Seraphin Olivier Alvis Norling Bai Li Yang Turner Macabee Taryn Dickenson Huxley Ward Alexandra McGee Yolanda Valdaine Kitty Li Magdalena Eisenberg Blossom Rose Diedre Timkowski Ambrose Pepper Samuel Lambright Dilly Morris Leopold Sandusky Dessa Share Aurora Bainsadottir Read 4521 times / 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) on January 14, 2012, 10:59:24 PM The great hall was in better shape than it had been in years. The cleaning crews over the summer had everything glistening, and the decor this year was extravagant- intended to be impressive to the visiting schools. The great hall had more tables than it had in years past- a table added for each of the schools they were hosting. Above each house table hung bright flags, charmed to wave in the windless hall. House crests were emblazened on the flags- the lions appeared to be roaring, eagles were flying, the snakes were slithering, and the badgers were baring their teeth. Not to make their guests feel left out, there were animated flags above their tables as well- with school crests as fantastically rendered on cloth. And finally, above the staff table hung a grand banner that had all of the school crests on it- the words "Tetrawizard Tournament" scripted beneath.The walls were hung with paintings from all over the world- Herschel had made sure there was wizard art to compliment as many visiting countries as possible. The house elves had prepared a magnificent feast featuring cuisine from all over the world- ready to expose the students right away to foreign culture in one of the best ways ever, with delicious food. He wanted to the set the tone immediately that this was more than just about being champions and competing.Herschel's robes were newly tailored just for the event. They were an homage to his former house of Ravenclaw- a swirl of dark blue and bronze. They were fancier than his usual wear, accompanied with a bow-tie charmed to change colors. He looked every bit the traditional pureblood that he was.It was time to allow the students to enter the great hall and get settled before the sorting. He had prepared his speech to welcome the new students and hoped to give the other headmasters (and headmistress) a chance to speak as well, if they chose. He would be introducing new staff members, announcing Storm as his deputy head master, announcing prefects- so much to do! It was going to be quite an exciting evening."Good evening students!" Herschel called out as the great hall doors opened, ready to receive everyone. "I am pleased to welcome all of you- new and old- to Hogwarts! Please, find your seats and get comfortable. Talk amongst yourselves as we get ready to receive our first years and do the sorting for this exciting new year!"((First years, please check your PMs! There will be time for you to get sorted- be patient!)) Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #1 on January 15, 2012, 01:26:41 PM Well, a turn up for the books. Since the Daily Prophet had announced Herschel's appointment, with a sidenote about his own, there had been a mixed reaction from the parents and other members of the public. One had written to the Prophet to foretell certain doom surrounding Hogwarts as he could not be trusted and would undermine the wonderful leadership Herschel would supply. It called for his immediate resignation from the post even before he had undertaken much of the work. Ignan understood this - he was obviously already an unpopular choice with the weaker-willed parents who answered sobbing letters from their sons and daughters who found his lessons hard, but Ignan had hoped the end of year exam results would have made them understand it was for the student benefit he was. He was also a controversial choice for his non-Hogwarts education, and additionally because he had not yet served a full year of service to the school. Then again, due to last year's upsets and misfortunes, who had?So here Ignan found himself, dressed in formal dark, academic robes (not vastly different to the previous year) with Sorting Hat, scroll and three-legged stool safely stowed in a small pouch (with magically enlarged capacity) in his cloak pocket. After ensuring everything had been well in the Great Hall, Ignan had left to await the arrival of the first years from the boats. Apparently it was customary for the entrance of first years to be by boat, whereas the rest arrived from the train by thestral-pulled carriage. A romantic notion, but attending such a school was extraordinary. At a towering 6ft2in with white hair and sour expression Professor Storm was anything but a welcoming view for any First Years, and he certainly had no tolerance for anyone who had decided to swim instead. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #2 on January 15, 2012, 01:53:15 PM Sophie was seated among her house peers and felt fifty million miles away from Ollie (though she was just down a bit, well within sight line), Lucas (likewise at the Ravenclaw table), and though she refused to voice the sentiment, Deus who was awash in a sea of Monarchy faces and green. She was trying not to think about him, of course, because she was well aware that he would not be thinking about her. It was an out of sight out of mind kind of relationship for him, and if she were not going to make herself insane over the next year she would have to try to do the same. She was failing miserably, but maintained a sunny smile as she listened to her housemates chatter. Headmaster Reid's gaunt features were surprisingly welcoming, perhaps because his tone was so warm. She already had a certain affinity for the man, given that he had agreed (though she was not entirely sure of all the terms) to allow Ollie back to school. After spending nearly every day of the last two months together the idea of returning to Hogwarts without the girl had been panic inducing. She made a mental note to take him a tin of buscuits later, if she could get him to spare a moment of his time. She wanted to talk a bit about S.A.W.S. and his feeling on their existence as a student group. Snark had been so anti-everything-they-stood-for (whatever her reasons were), Sophie couldn't help but be a little hopeful about the new Headmaster... even if she had called his new Deputy a bully last year. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #3 on January 15, 2012, 01:57:17 PM Sebastian had spent the morning nestled in his office on the third floor, sipping cups of tea and thumbing through his well-worn copy of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, sure that this would be the last moment of peace for a long while in which to do so. Though he was returning to Hogwarts after a year's absence, he hadn't felt nervous like he had done in 2007. Back then, Sebastian didn't know any of the students, and, on top of that, it was his first job in England after spending a dozen years teaching at the Salem institute in America. Now, however, he only had two years of new students.Of course, the thing many of the teachers were worried about was the arrival of the three foreign schools. Sebastian was content that he at least knew those from the American school, and he was sure that his social skills - the only thing he thanked his parents for gifting to him - could get him through any formal interactions with the deligates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.An hour before the feast, dressed in his finest dark robes, Sebastian had headed down to the Great Hall to see if he could lend his wand to helping put the finishing touches on any decoration, as well as to see which other teachers were downstairs. A few were littering the huge room, the majority of space taken up by the massive tables which stretched along the length of the entire room. The workers seemed to be well ahead of schedule, with the decorations giving a very multicultural feel to the hall.Offering his services, Sebastian found himself helping to lay cutlery on the eight tables, ensuring that the knives, forks and spoons were meticulously laid out until the signal was given that the Hogwarts express had pulled up at the station, at which point he moved towards his place at the staff table among the other professors. It was not until the doors opened, and the students streamed in, that Sebastian felt a small knot in his stomach tighten. The Hogwarts year had officially begun. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #4 on January 15, 2012, 03:04:41 PM Myrni took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She sat at her desk in her small office adjoining the Arithmancy classroom. She thought back to how a year ago she was in a similar situation (only more hectic) and her nerves had been all over the place. A lot had happened in the time since then and Myrni admitted that she had considered not returning for the new school year given all the stress. But she loved teaching and she loved her students and she was hoping that the new year would be fresh.For one thing, Myrni would begin the year in the position of Gryffindor Head of House, a role that she had taken taken great pride in despite her house's disappointing performance in the end of the year points standings. She was optimistic that they would fare better, even if their performance would be more a reflection on the school as a whole.As a means of displaying her house pride, Myrni had requested that Camille Hanover-Macgregor make her a new set of robes. The woman had made her robes for the previous year in cerulean and emerald green, her favorite colors. But the new robes were beautifully done in red and black and were versatile enough to be worn with either color on the outside. For tonights festivities, Myrni decided to wear the more low keyed black on the outside, covering the rest of her outfit which payed homage to the school and both of her positions.Glancing at her clock, Myrni realized that she should head down to the Great Hall. She arrived just as the doors were thrown open and the students welcomed inside. Before heading up to the staff table, Myrni made her rounds to some of the returning students of her house, welcoming them back for another year. After encouraging pats on the shoulders, half hugs and smiles, she excused herself and headed off to greet her fellow professors.Myrni immediately took a seat beside the Charms professor, a former colleague from her teaching days at Salem. She smiled over at him and said, "Good Evening, Professor Cadmon. Are you excited for the new year?" She paused and added after a beat, "I admit I'm interested to see some of our old Salem pupils and how they're going to fare with the tournament." Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #5 on January 15, 2012, 04:44:30 PM Ollie was a mix of confusing emotions as she sat at the Hufflepuff table, for the first time in a year. This just felt absolutely foreign she did not particularly know how to handle herself. The Great Hall looked spectacular and was a see of people. She had missed the shuffle of people at dinner and it was one of those things she had not really noticed she had missed till she experienced it again. Though the feeling of sitting here after so long felt completely strange. There was no Fauna next to her like she was used too. It felt sort of painful to think that Fauna had finally graduated and Ollie had not been here to cheer her on throughout the year. Was it strange she missed her ten times more than she had last year, while sitting here at the table. Though she had to know that Fauna was off doing what she was supposed to be doing. At least she had Fig around, he always brought a smile to her face.Ollie kept looking over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of her best friend. After spending so much time with her she felt so far away from her, even if earlier they had been spending the train ride together laughing away. Still felt miles away from Sophie. Goodness she was here, she was actually back at Hogwarts and it was a rush of emotions. She really had the Headmaster to thank for that. She was so pleased to be given the opportunity and she was thankful. As he mentioned the sorting she got rather excited to see where Alex would be sorted, her little werewolf companion.Lucky for Ollie there were foreign students to distract from her, or at least she hoped. Any other year for her to return she knew she would be the major topic of discussion. Thank Helga for the fact she returned the same year as the Treta-wizard tournament. Ollie was particularly fond of the idea of meeting with other foreign students. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #6 on January 15, 2012, 05:27:42 PM Mercedes Hair shined black sitting on the train to her first year at Hogwarts. She was so nervous, her hair went yellow. She grabbed her twins hand. "Everything is gonna be fine Cedes" Rico said reassuringly. She squeezed his hand tightly. Was it only yesterday morning that she was laying in bed back in Dublin, her mother stroking her pink hair, coaxing her to wake up? The train stopped and Cedes looked out the window. Her eyes grew wider and blue, her hair turned orange, "We're here!" She squeaked, crushing Rico up against the glass.She had never seen a place so grand. The turrets had a shiny clean look about them, everything looked perfect. The first years were hustled off the train and into boats holding 4 to 5 people She sat down with Rico and three other girls in the 6 boat on the dock. One was short and had glasses reading a book, the one to the right had fiery red hair and spotted with freckles, and a fraction of a scar peaked out from the neck of her T-shirt, the other one was extremely tall, with a long ballerina neck and dirty blonde hair, her bag had her name embroidered onto the bag, Annette M. Lotusorder. "What a funny name" Mercedes thought to her self. The three girls immediately started chatting about there classes and such. Mercedes dug around in her bag and pulled out a large grey beanie and pulled it over her hair. Her hair grew short and fit perfectly in the hat. She couldn't stop starring at the castle. The things she would learn this year! The things she would see! How often to you get the chance to witness the Tetrawizard Tournament. Mercedes could speak quite a bit of French so she could communicate with the foreign students.They docked and began to climb the steps to the school "¡Qué tan grande!" Rico exclaimed, Mercedes nodded, the castle was huge. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #7 on January 15, 2012, 05:49:12 PM Annette had gotten up bright and early to finish packing, clean out her owl's cage, and comb her hair. She tossed on her school robes, thought better of it, took them off and put them in her trunk again. She rode to King's Cross Station in her mother's car. Her father was so excited and took the day off to see her to the train.She saw Lexi and Alice at the train station. They one by one used the entrance to platform 9 3/4 and there, on the rails was the Hogwarts express, a beautiful red steam engine. The more Anni looked at it the more she thought it looked like a dragon. Annette and her friends got on the train and sat in a cushy red car with pretty, velvet seats. She looked across the hallway into the other box next-door and saw a girl with color changing hair sitting next to a boy with black hair. Annette pointed it out to her companions. Alice explained that the girl was most likely a Metamorphmangus.When they got off the train, Anni's robe pockets were full of sweets from the trolley on the train. Annette saw the Metamorphmangus girl and followed her and the boy she was with onto the 6th boat docked. She sat down next to Alice and Lexi looking at the girl with the rainbow hair, but she had put a cap over her hair that had seamed to get shorter to fit in the hat. She lost interest and started talking to Alice and Lexi about classes and the Tetrawaizard Tournament.They glided over the lake. The lights in the castle looked amazing. If Annette were to write a letter home, she wouldn't have a word to explain how her new school looked when she first saw it. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #8 on January 15, 2012, 05:54:57 PM Josh was sat at the Gryffindor table, excited as usual for another year at Hogwarts. With the Tetra-Wizard Tournament, it would no doubt be busier than ever for the Prefects, needing to keep an eye on students from 5 schools. Looking around, he met Charles' eyes, acknowledging his brother with a quick nod. The Sorting would be starting soon, and Josh couldn't help but wonder how the new crop of Gryffindors would fare. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #9 on January 15, 2012, 06:55:32 PM Zoe had taken a seat at the Ravenclaw table, excited for the new year. Of course, the young witch had come back having learned five new spells, something her father did with her every year, some of them she was hoping to try out now that she didn't have to only use magic with her father's supervision and permission. Snowy wasn't in her usual position and instead sat on her owner's lap, enjoying being pet by her master's hand. Zoe gently stroked the cat, something that she could do easily and without thinking. This was so the Ravenclaw could consentrate on the new headmaster, Herschel Reid.Zoe turned her head to look at Ayla, her best friend. She found herself also looking at another student, Olivia Foley. She knew that Olivia was coming back, as she had attended a bonfire party with the main celebration of that being that she would come back, but seeing her in the Great Hall just seemed to make it all that more real.On top of the new headmaster and the return of Olivia, this year was the Tetrawizard Tournament, what an event! Even though Zoe was too young to compete herself, that didn't stop how excited she was for this event! Zoe had attened the welcoming party in Hogsmeade and met a few of the international students, and the ones that she had seemed pretty nice. She knew that the Salem students spoke English and Zoe did know a bit of French from her mother, but the language the Durmstrang students spoke was still a complete mystery. Hopefully most of the important stuff they said would be in English.Zoe glanced down at Snowy, who was peacefully purring. "You ready for another year girl? I know I am." A soft meow was the only responce from the cat compainion. Yule Ball, year before O.W.L.s, the tournament, the new headmaster, and just a whole other year of learning, there was no doubt in Zoe's mind this year would not be eventful. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #10 on January 15, 2012, 07:01:14 PM Winifred was absolutely giddy about the start of the new school year! She was a fourth year now, would be turning fifteen soon, and there was going to be a slew of new boys around from the foreign schools, and she could only hope they were as dashing as she expected them to be. Winnie had taken a lot of time that morning to get ready for the train ride and the feast afterward. Her mother had helped her to fix her hair and charmed it to stay in place until she took her evening shower. She had even been allowed to apply her own makeup (courtesy of the wonderful kit her aunt had sent her last year) before leaving the house.The young Hufflepuff girl was growing up, and quickly becoming a woman. This year was going to be the best so far! She had even gotten a wand over the summer- a real and proper wand, from Ollivander's. Winifred's new wand was eight one quarter inches long, made of Bubinga wood. The core was Unicorn Tail hair. It was a swishy wand with a bent handle. Winifred was so excited to get the chance to use her brand new, real wand during classes. Coming into the great hall, she looked around at those already there- spying new faces at the staff table, and saw the added tables for visiting schools. Winifred giggled as she looked at the boys sitting there, waiting patiently for the feast to start, and headed to the Hufflepuff table.Winifred plopped down across from Olivia Foley- the werewolf girl, and smiled brightly at her before turning her attention to the staff table. She wondered how long it would be before the sorting started, and whether or not Hufflepuff would get any fun kids sorted into their house. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #11 on January 15, 2012, 07:18:50 PM Baxter wasn't sure how he felt about coming back to Hogwarts. Naturally he was excited to return- but it was going to be much different from his previous year. He had dropped two of his electives- opting out of Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. He was worried he would live to regret the decision, but his father and Tapendra had been right- he didn't need to work himself to death, and this year was too important to spend the whole time with his nose stuck in a book- however promising that prospect might seem.His uniform was impeccable, as usual, and he was looking forward to seeing his classmates. He looked a lot different than he had before the summer. Tall and lanky before, Baxter had begun to fill out- becoming broader, showing that he would one day be built a lot like his father. His hair had also been cut. Before it had been down to his shoulders, and now it was cropped very close to his head. He carried himself differently, too, as though he had found some kind of confidence that had not been there before. Baxter sat down near another fourth year- Zoe Torret. He wondered how different things were going to be this year. There was a new headmaster, he could see new professors, and some that had to be visiting. Baxter also glanced around at the tables of visiting students. Hogwarts was going to be filled to capacity this year. Hopefully it wouldn't make classes more difficult. At least most of those visiting weren't in his own year. (Though he did have to admit it made him a little sad that he wasn't yet old enough to compete.) Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #12 on January 15, 2012, 07:25:11 PM Victoire sat at the head table of professors during the whole affair; she'd been told it was a 'Sorting Ceremony' and that all the other heads would be attending. Of course, such trivial endeavours such as housing systems seemed rather redundant, but as always, appearance was of the utmost importance. It'd be useful in some way for her students to observe the quirky and eccentric customs of their Anglo cousins - and to identify how counter-productive this entire Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff rivalry was. What happened to individual progress and the voice of the collective? Beauxbatons students weren't cloned by any stretch of the imagination, but competition and teamwork were easily instilled without the rigour of age old houses.Sitting a few chairs away from the newly appointed headmaster, Victoire was a matronly vision to say the least. Her clinical white dress grazed her kneecaps, filled with ample hips and bosom. The whole look was diluted by a fussy waterfall bow construction at her collar, and a plume of cyan cape followed. It was very Victoire. Impressions meant everything, and although some of her fashion choices were risqué to say the least, she was determined to look the glamorous femme fatale without losing four stone and dying her hair jet-black. More head angel than femme fatale, if one was going to be honest, but stylish nonetheless. The buzz of anxious, excitable chatter quietly filled the Great Hall as Reid introduced the ceremony, and Victoire gave her colleagues an omniscient glance. Despite her objections, it was rather quaint - some could even argue she was starting to enjoy the dusty old castle with all its tradition and butterbeer and British wackiness, but nothing could ever beat the Palace. In the moments that the headmaster wasn't addressing Hogwarts en-masse, she gave him a nod. "It'll be interesting to see the seedlings you've selected this year, Reid," she joked, her accent tinged with likeable mischief and jest. "Let's hope some of them absorb a little French va va voom my children are bringing, eh?" Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #13 on January 15, 2012, 08:09:10 PM This had been the first summer for Kelvin that had felt too long, usually it was just the opposite, but not having your mother speak to you for several months takes its toll on you. He didn't know what he had expected earlier, and he would never claim he had wanted it, but he had hoped his mother would see him off. Entering the school had made it hit home that she had not even bothered to try to mend anything before he had left for London this morning.He grabbed a seat at the Ravenclaw table across from Zoe and Baxter, two of his year-mates, and managed to put a smile on as he sat down. After all he was finally back at Hogwarts. Away from home. Away from his mother. And he had a long list of spells he hadn't been able to practice at home that he was dying to cast. Skip to next post Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #14 on January 15, 2012, 08:35:44 PM Tapendra had taken his usual spot near the right side of the Headmaster, nearer the Electives professors. He gave Myrni and Aileen polite nods as he sat, his smile slightly tempered at the new professors around them - he hadn't been introduced to most of them yet, having been busy making sure his things were back in the Astronomy tower. They were, though they were in a giant pile of trunks and suitcases in the center of the room. He wasn't about to let the elves try and clean without him being there. They didn't know what half of that was, let alone where it went. Their table was bigger this year, the center having been given several larger, fancier chairs - for the school heads, he assumed. Somehow all of this pomp - which would probably last all year - was making taking dinner in the tower sound better than ever. Especially if he was expected to dress like this all year round. He, like Myrni, had chosen not just to dress more formally, but to go with the house colors. The more traditional wizarding robes he wore felt odd and heavy, though they fit him well - Darian had seen to that. The price tag wasn't one he'd be forgetting any time soon, though. The black was layered with blues and silvers, and it worked, but he wasn't sure how one ate effectively with big sleeves. Still, wizards had managed it for centuries...Ignan wasn't around - likely off escorting the first years. Tapendra enjoyed a small, private snort of laughter. Somehow, being greeted by Ignan's dour scowl was a far cry from...who had greeted them last year, anyway? Maybe it was more akin to McGonagall's strict expression. That had certainly scared the stars out of him as a first year. With any luck, Ignan would have the same effect and they wouldn't have any chaos at the Sorting. He adjusted his glasses awkwardly, mostly lost on what to do but wait for Ignan to return with the students and wait for the rest of the professors to arrive. And wait for food to show up; he'd skipped lunch, and the empty plate and goblet weren't helping him forget that fact. Skip to next post
[August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) on January 14, 2012, 10:59:24 PM The great hall was in better shape than it had been in years. The cleaning crews over the summer had everything glistening, and the decor this year was extravagant- intended to be impressive to the visiting schools. The great hall had more tables than it had in years past- a table added for each of the schools they were hosting. Above each house table hung bright flags, charmed to wave in the windless hall. House crests were emblazened on the flags- the lions appeared to be roaring, eagles were flying, the snakes were slithering, and the badgers were baring their teeth. Not to make their guests feel left out, there were animated flags above their tables as well- with school crests as fantastically rendered on cloth. And finally, above the staff table hung a grand banner that had all of the school crests on it- the words "Tetrawizard Tournament" scripted beneath.The walls were hung with paintings from all over the world- Herschel had made sure there was wizard art to compliment as many visiting countries as possible. The house elves had prepared a magnificent feast featuring cuisine from all over the world- ready to expose the students right away to foreign culture in one of the best ways ever, with delicious food. He wanted to the set the tone immediately that this was more than just about being champions and competing.Herschel's robes were newly tailored just for the event. They were an homage to his former house of Ravenclaw- a swirl of dark blue and bronze. They were fancier than his usual wear, accompanied with a bow-tie charmed to change colors. He looked every bit the traditional pureblood that he was.It was time to allow the students to enter the great hall and get settled before the sorting. He had prepared his speech to welcome the new students and hoped to give the other headmasters (and headmistress) a chance to speak as well, if they chose. He would be introducing new staff members, announcing Storm as his deputy head master, announcing prefects- so much to do! It was going to be quite an exciting evening."Good evening students!" Herschel called out as the great hall doors opened, ready to receive everyone. "I am pleased to welcome all of you- new and old- to Hogwarts! Please, find your seats and get comfortable. Talk amongst yourselves as we get ready to receive our first years and do the sorting for this exciting new year!"((First years, please check your PMs! There will be time for you to get sorted- be patient!)) Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #1 on January 15, 2012, 01:26:41 PM Well, a turn up for the books. Since the Daily Prophet had announced Herschel's appointment, with a sidenote about his own, there had been a mixed reaction from the parents and other members of the public. One had written to the Prophet to foretell certain doom surrounding Hogwarts as he could not be trusted and would undermine the wonderful leadership Herschel would supply. It called for his immediate resignation from the post even before he had undertaken much of the work. Ignan understood this - he was obviously already an unpopular choice with the weaker-willed parents who answered sobbing letters from their sons and daughters who found his lessons hard, but Ignan had hoped the end of year exam results would have made them understand it was for the student benefit he was. He was also a controversial choice for his non-Hogwarts education, and additionally because he had not yet served a full year of service to the school. Then again, due to last year's upsets and misfortunes, who had?So here Ignan found himself, dressed in formal dark, academic robes (not vastly different to the previous year) with Sorting Hat, scroll and three-legged stool safely stowed in a small pouch (with magically enlarged capacity) in his cloak pocket. After ensuring everything had been well in the Great Hall, Ignan had left to await the arrival of the first years from the boats. Apparently it was customary for the entrance of first years to be by boat, whereas the rest arrived from the train by thestral-pulled carriage. A romantic notion, but attending such a school was extraordinary. At a towering 6ft2in with white hair and sour expression Professor Storm was anything but a welcoming view for any First Years, and he certainly had no tolerance for anyone who had decided to swim instead. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #2 on January 15, 2012, 01:53:15 PM Sophie was seated among her house peers and felt fifty million miles away from Ollie (though she was just down a bit, well within sight line), Lucas (likewise at the Ravenclaw table), and though she refused to voice the sentiment, Deus who was awash in a sea of Monarchy faces and green. She was trying not to think about him, of course, because she was well aware that he would not be thinking about her. It was an out of sight out of mind kind of relationship for him, and if she were not going to make herself insane over the next year she would have to try to do the same. She was failing miserably, but maintained a sunny smile as she listened to her housemates chatter. Headmaster Reid's gaunt features were surprisingly welcoming, perhaps because his tone was so warm. She already had a certain affinity for the man, given that he had agreed (though she was not entirely sure of all the terms) to allow Ollie back to school. After spending nearly every day of the last two months together the idea of returning to Hogwarts without the girl had been panic inducing. She made a mental note to take him a tin of buscuits later, if she could get him to spare a moment of his time. She wanted to talk a bit about S.A.W.S. and his feeling on their existence as a student group. Snark had been so anti-everything-they-stood-for (whatever her reasons were), Sophie couldn't help but be a little hopeful about the new Headmaster... even if she had called his new Deputy a bully last year. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #3 on January 15, 2012, 01:57:17 PM Sebastian had spent the morning nestled in his office on the third floor, sipping cups of tea and thumbing through his well-worn copy of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, sure that this would be the last moment of peace for a long while in which to do so. Though he was returning to Hogwarts after a year's absence, he hadn't felt nervous like he had done in 2007. Back then, Sebastian didn't know any of the students, and, on top of that, it was his first job in England after spending a dozen years teaching at the Salem institute in America. Now, however, he only had two years of new students.Of course, the thing many of the teachers were worried about was the arrival of the three foreign schools. Sebastian was content that he at least knew those from the American school, and he was sure that his social skills - the only thing he thanked his parents for gifting to him - could get him through any formal interactions with the deligates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.An hour before the feast, dressed in his finest dark robes, Sebastian had headed down to the Great Hall to see if he could lend his wand to helping put the finishing touches on any decoration, as well as to see which other teachers were downstairs. A few were littering the huge room, the majority of space taken up by the massive tables which stretched along the length of the entire room. The workers seemed to be well ahead of schedule, with the decorations giving a very multicultural feel to the hall.Offering his services, Sebastian found himself helping to lay cutlery on the eight tables, ensuring that the knives, forks and spoons were meticulously laid out until the signal was given that the Hogwarts express had pulled up at the station, at which point he moved towards his place at the staff table among the other professors. It was not until the doors opened, and the students streamed in, that Sebastian felt a small knot in his stomach tighten. The Hogwarts year had officially begun. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #4 on January 15, 2012, 03:04:41 PM Myrni took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She sat at her desk in her small office adjoining the Arithmancy classroom. She thought back to how a year ago she was in a similar situation (only more hectic) and her nerves had been all over the place. A lot had happened in the time since then and Myrni admitted that she had considered not returning for the new school year given all the stress. But she loved teaching and she loved her students and she was hoping that the new year would be fresh.For one thing, Myrni would begin the year in the position of Gryffindor Head of House, a role that she had taken taken great pride in despite her house's disappointing performance in the end of the year points standings. She was optimistic that they would fare better, even if their performance would be more a reflection on the school as a whole.As a means of displaying her house pride, Myrni had requested that Camille Hanover-Macgregor make her a new set of robes. The woman had made her robes for the previous year in cerulean and emerald green, her favorite colors. But the new robes were beautifully done in red and black and were versatile enough to be worn with either color on the outside. For tonights festivities, Myrni decided to wear the more low keyed black on the outside, covering the rest of her outfit which payed homage to the school and both of her positions.Glancing at her clock, Myrni realized that she should head down to the Great Hall. She arrived just as the doors were thrown open and the students welcomed inside. Before heading up to the staff table, Myrni made her rounds to some of the returning students of her house, welcoming them back for another year. After encouraging pats on the shoulders, half hugs and smiles, she excused herself and headed off to greet her fellow professors.Myrni immediately took a seat beside the Charms professor, a former colleague from her teaching days at Salem. She smiled over at him and said, "Good Evening, Professor Cadmon. Are you excited for the new year?" She paused and added after a beat, "I admit I'm interested to see some of our old Salem pupils and how they're going to fare with the tournament." Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #5 on January 15, 2012, 04:44:30 PM Ollie was a mix of confusing emotions as she sat at the Hufflepuff table, for the first time in a year. This just felt absolutely foreign she did not particularly know how to handle herself. The Great Hall looked spectacular and was a see of people. She had missed the shuffle of people at dinner and it was one of those things she had not really noticed she had missed till she experienced it again. Though the feeling of sitting here after so long felt completely strange. There was no Fauna next to her like she was used too. It felt sort of painful to think that Fauna had finally graduated and Ollie had not been here to cheer her on throughout the year. Was it strange she missed her ten times more than she had last year, while sitting here at the table. Though she had to know that Fauna was off doing what she was supposed to be doing. At least she had Fig around, he always brought a smile to her face.Ollie kept looking over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of her best friend. After spending so much time with her she felt so far away from her, even if earlier they had been spending the train ride together laughing away. Still felt miles away from Sophie. Goodness she was here, she was actually back at Hogwarts and it was a rush of emotions. She really had the Headmaster to thank for that. She was so pleased to be given the opportunity and she was thankful. As he mentioned the sorting she got rather excited to see where Alex would be sorted, her little werewolf companion.Lucky for Ollie there were foreign students to distract from her, or at least she hoped. Any other year for her to return she knew she would be the major topic of discussion. Thank Helga for the fact she returned the same year as the Treta-wizard tournament. Ollie was particularly fond of the idea of meeting with other foreign students. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #6 on January 15, 2012, 05:27:42 PM Mercedes Hair shined black sitting on the train to her first year at Hogwarts. She was so nervous, her hair went yellow. She grabbed her twins hand. "Everything is gonna be fine Cedes" Rico said reassuringly. She squeezed his hand tightly. Was it only yesterday morning that she was laying in bed back in Dublin, her mother stroking her pink hair, coaxing her to wake up? The train stopped and Cedes looked out the window. Her eyes grew wider and blue, her hair turned orange, "We're here!" She squeaked, crushing Rico up against the glass.She had never seen a place so grand. The turrets had a shiny clean look about them, everything looked perfect. The first years were hustled off the train and into boats holding 4 to 5 people She sat down with Rico and three other girls in the 6 boat on the dock. One was short and had glasses reading a book, the one to the right had fiery red hair and spotted with freckles, and a fraction of a scar peaked out from the neck of her T-shirt, the other one was extremely tall, with a long ballerina neck and dirty blonde hair, her bag had her name embroidered onto the bag, Annette M. Lotusorder. "What a funny name" Mercedes thought to her self. The three girls immediately started chatting about there classes and such. Mercedes dug around in her bag and pulled out a large grey beanie and pulled it over her hair. Her hair grew short and fit perfectly in the hat. She couldn't stop starring at the castle. The things she would learn this year! The things she would see! How often to you get the chance to witness the Tetrawizard Tournament. Mercedes could speak quite a bit of French so she could communicate with the foreign students.They docked and began to climb the steps to the school "¡Qué tan grande!" Rico exclaimed, Mercedes nodded, the castle was huge. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #7 on January 15, 2012, 05:49:12 PM Annette had gotten up bright and early to finish packing, clean out her owl's cage, and comb her hair. She tossed on her school robes, thought better of it, took them off and put them in her trunk again. She rode to King's Cross Station in her mother's car. Her father was so excited and took the day off to see her to the train.She saw Lexi and Alice at the train station. They one by one used the entrance to platform 9 3/4 and there, on the rails was the Hogwarts express, a beautiful red steam engine. The more Anni looked at it the more she thought it looked like a dragon. Annette and her friends got on the train and sat in a cushy red car with pretty, velvet seats. She looked across the hallway into the other box next-door and saw a girl with color changing hair sitting next to a boy with black hair. Annette pointed it out to her companions. Alice explained that the girl was most likely a Metamorphmangus.When they got off the train, Anni's robe pockets were full of sweets from the trolley on the train. Annette saw the Metamorphmangus girl and followed her and the boy she was with onto the 6th boat docked. She sat down next to Alice and Lexi looking at the girl with the rainbow hair, but she had put a cap over her hair that had seamed to get shorter to fit in the hat. She lost interest and started talking to Alice and Lexi about classes and the Tetrawaizard Tournament.They glided over the lake. The lights in the castle looked amazing. If Annette were to write a letter home, she wouldn't have a word to explain how her new school looked when she first saw it. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #8 on January 15, 2012, 05:54:57 PM Josh was sat at the Gryffindor table, excited as usual for another year at Hogwarts. With the Tetra-Wizard Tournament, it would no doubt be busier than ever for the Prefects, needing to keep an eye on students from 5 schools. Looking around, he met Charles' eyes, acknowledging his brother with a quick nod. The Sorting would be starting soon, and Josh couldn't help but wonder how the new crop of Gryffindors would fare. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #9 on January 15, 2012, 06:55:32 PM Zoe had taken a seat at the Ravenclaw table, excited for the new year. Of course, the young witch had come back having learned five new spells, something her father did with her every year, some of them she was hoping to try out now that she didn't have to only use magic with her father's supervision and permission. Snowy wasn't in her usual position and instead sat on her owner's lap, enjoying being pet by her master's hand. Zoe gently stroked the cat, something that she could do easily and without thinking. This was so the Ravenclaw could consentrate on the new headmaster, Herschel Reid.Zoe turned her head to look at Ayla, her best friend. She found herself also looking at another student, Olivia Foley. She knew that Olivia was coming back, as she had attended a bonfire party with the main celebration of that being that she would come back, but seeing her in the Great Hall just seemed to make it all that more real.On top of the new headmaster and the return of Olivia, this year was the Tetrawizard Tournament, what an event! Even though Zoe was too young to compete herself, that didn't stop how excited she was for this event! Zoe had attened the welcoming party in Hogsmeade and met a few of the international students, and the ones that she had seemed pretty nice. She knew that the Salem students spoke English and Zoe did know a bit of French from her mother, but the language the Durmstrang students spoke was still a complete mystery. Hopefully most of the important stuff they said would be in English.Zoe glanced down at Snowy, who was peacefully purring. "You ready for another year girl? I know I am." A soft meow was the only responce from the cat compainion. Yule Ball, year before O.W.L.s, the tournament, the new headmaster, and just a whole other year of learning, there was no doubt in Zoe's mind this year would not be eventful. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #10 on January 15, 2012, 07:01:14 PM Winifred was absolutely giddy about the start of the new school year! She was a fourth year now, would be turning fifteen soon, and there was going to be a slew of new boys around from the foreign schools, and she could only hope they were as dashing as she expected them to be. Winnie had taken a lot of time that morning to get ready for the train ride and the feast afterward. Her mother had helped her to fix her hair and charmed it to stay in place until she took her evening shower. She had even been allowed to apply her own makeup (courtesy of the wonderful kit her aunt had sent her last year) before leaving the house.The young Hufflepuff girl was growing up, and quickly becoming a woman. This year was going to be the best so far! She had even gotten a wand over the summer- a real and proper wand, from Ollivander's. Winifred's new wand was eight one quarter inches long, made of Bubinga wood. The core was Unicorn Tail hair. It was a swishy wand with a bent handle. Winifred was so excited to get the chance to use her brand new, real wand during classes. Coming into the great hall, she looked around at those already there- spying new faces at the staff table, and saw the added tables for visiting schools. Winifred giggled as she looked at the boys sitting there, waiting patiently for the feast to start, and headed to the Hufflepuff table.Winifred plopped down across from Olivia Foley- the werewolf girl, and smiled brightly at her before turning her attention to the staff table. She wondered how long it would be before the sorting started, and whether or not Hufflepuff would get any fun kids sorted into their house. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #11 on January 15, 2012, 07:18:50 PM Baxter wasn't sure how he felt about coming back to Hogwarts. Naturally he was excited to return- but it was going to be much different from his previous year. He had dropped two of his electives- opting out of Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. He was worried he would live to regret the decision, but his father and Tapendra had been right- he didn't need to work himself to death, and this year was too important to spend the whole time with his nose stuck in a book- however promising that prospect might seem.His uniform was impeccable, as usual, and he was looking forward to seeing his classmates. He looked a lot different than he had before the summer. Tall and lanky before, Baxter had begun to fill out- becoming broader, showing that he would one day be built a lot like his father. His hair had also been cut. Before it had been down to his shoulders, and now it was cropped very close to his head. He carried himself differently, too, as though he had found some kind of confidence that had not been there before. Baxter sat down near another fourth year- Zoe Torret. He wondered how different things were going to be this year. There was a new headmaster, he could see new professors, and some that had to be visiting. Baxter also glanced around at the tables of visiting students. Hogwarts was going to be filled to capacity this year. Hopefully it wouldn't make classes more difficult. At least most of those visiting weren't in his own year. (Though he did have to admit it made him a little sad that he wasn't yet old enough to compete.) Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #12 on January 15, 2012, 07:25:11 PM Victoire sat at the head table of professors during the whole affair; she'd been told it was a 'Sorting Ceremony' and that all the other heads would be attending. Of course, such trivial endeavours such as housing systems seemed rather redundant, but as always, appearance was of the utmost importance. It'd be useful in some way for her students to observe the quirky and eccentric customs of their Anglo cousins - and to identify how counter-productive this entire Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff rivalry was. What happened to individual progress and the voice of the collective? Beauxbatons students weren't cloned by any stretch of the imagination, but competition and teamwork were easily instilled without the rigour of age old houses.Sitting a few chairs away from the newly appointed headmaster, Victoire was a matronly vision to say the least. Her clinical white dress grazed her kneecaps, filled with ample hips and bosom. The whole look was diluted by a fussy waterfall bow construction at her collar, and a plume of cyan cape followed. It was very Victoire. Impressions meant everything, and although some of her fashion choices were risqué to say the least, she was determined to look the glamorous femme fatale without losing four stone and dying her hair jet-black. More head angel than femme fatale, if one was going to be honest, but stylish nonetheless. The buzz of anxious, excitable chatter quietly filled the Great Hall as Reid introduced the ceremony, and Victoire gave her colleagues an omniscient glance. Despite her objections, it was rather quaint - some could even argue she was starting to enjoy the dusty old castle with all its tradition and butterbeer and British wackiness, but nothing could ever beat the Palace. In the moments that the headmaster wasn't addressing Hogwarts en-masse, she gave him a nod. "It'll be interesting to see the seedlings you've selected this year, Reid," she joked, her accent tinged with likeable mischief and jest. "Let's hope some of them absorb a little French va va voom my children are bringing, eh?" Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #13 on January 15, 2012, 08:09:10 PM This had been the first summer for Kelvin that had felt too long, usually it was just the opposite, but not having your mother speak to you for several months takes its toll on you. He didn't know what he had expected earlier, and he would never claim he had wanted it, but he had hoped his mother would see him off. Entering the school had made it hit home that she had not even bothered to try to mend anything before he had left for London this morning.He grabbed a seat at the Ravenclaw table across from Zoe and Baxter, two of his year-mates, and managed to put a smile on as he sat down. After all he was finally back at Hogwarts. Away from home. Away from his mother. And he had a long list of spells he hadn't been able to practice at home that he was dying to cast. Skip to next post
Re: [August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!) Reply #14 on January 15, 2012, 08:35:44 PM Tapendra had taken his usual spot near the right side of the Headmaster, nearer the Electives professors. He gave Myrni and Aileen polite nods as he sat, his smile slightly tempered at the new professors around them - he hadn't been introduced to most of them yet, having been busy making sure his things were back in the Astronomy tower. They were, though they were in a giant pile of trunks and suitcases in the center of the room. He wasn't about to let the elves try and clean without him being there. They didn't know what half of that was, let alone where it went. Their table was bigger this year, the center having been given several larger, fancier chairs - for the school heads, he assumed. Somehow all of this pomp - which would probably last all year - was making taking dinner in the tower sound better than ever. Especially if he was expected to dress like this all year round. He, like Myrni, had chosen not just to dress more formally, but to go with the house colors. The more traditional wizarding robes he wore felt odd and heavy, though they fit him well - Darian had seen to that. The price tag wasn't one he'd be forgetting any time soon, though. The black was layered with blues and silvers, and it worked, but he wasn't sure how one ate effectively with big sleeves. Still, wizards had managed it for centuries...Ignan wasn't around - likely off escorting the first years. Tapendra enjoyed a small, private snort of laughter. Somehow, being greeted by Ignan's dour scowl was a far cry from...who had greeted them last year, anyway? Maybe it was more akin to McGonagall's strict expression. That had certainly scared the stars out of him as a first year. With any luck, Ignan would have the same effect and they wouldn't have any chaos at the Sorting. He adjusted his glasses awkwardly, mostly lost on what to do but wait for Ignan to return with the students and wait for the rest of the professors to arrive. And wait for food to show up; he'd skipped lunch, and the empty plate and goblet weren't helping him forget that fact. Skip to next post
[August 30th] Welcoming Feast (Open to All!)