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Post by Headmaster on Jan 18, 2009 21:20:53 GMT -5
Thump. Thud. Thump.Rain wasn't an uncommon feature of the early autumn season -- it was only September first, and there would probably be more storms to come. The storm outside had let up a considerable bit in the past half hour, but people who spent every year in this part of world knew it would most likely deepen again. Not even magic could truly suppress the beast that was rain; not even magic could change the world for the better. But magic had a way of working wonders, and it was the job of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to teach young minds of the United Kingdom about their abilities. September first meant the first day of Hogwarts, and classes would be starting very soon. The chills and thrills of the start of term buzzed around the castle - especially the Great Hall - and even the dullest of dull couldn't help enjoying themselves among others' company. The house-elves had busied themselves in the kitchens; most of the professors had filled their places behind the staff table; the returning students had sat down at their respectful House tables; and the first-year students, eager and surprised and certainly, most definitely scared, were waiting for their turn to place the Sorting Hat atop their heads. And as the last Z was called and she sat down in her new House, silence fell across the room -- the Headmaster now stood in his spot, his wise, sharp eyes surveying the diverse group of witches and wizards seated far below himself. His gaze lingered on a few interesting pupils, ones he remembered quite well for their outstanding deeds -- or their grotesque attraction to trouble. A gentle, whole-hearted smile curled onto the man's lips, and he raised a single hand into the air to silence the remaining few students who had refused to be quiet. "Ten years," was all he said, clearing his throat and pausing for a few minutes. "A single decade has passed since the end of the most terrible, heart-shattering time -- I need not remind any of us in this room of the events that fell into place ten years ago, though some of us are rather too young to remember them from their own minds. But that is glorious in and of itself! We all sit here, alive and well, and we must recollect the past only as a reminder of what once was, and what we must prevent. "We have lived a decade in peace, devoid war, and with all the bright young minds I see before me, we can keep it that way. We must. And now I must ask you to join me - as well as the fellow professors - in a celebratory toast -- but first, I believe a few start-of-term announcements are in order. Settle down -- you can fill your bellies later! "I would like to welcome back the professors who will be filling your eager minds with knowledge... among them are your Heads of House. "Professor Thomas Middleton of Ravenclaw House will be teaching arithmancy. Professor Avery Parker of Gryffindor House will be teaching astronomy. Professor William Burch of Hufflepuff House will be teaching ancient runes. And Professor Amelia Decessum of Slytherin House will be teaching Transfiguration and animagi."
He paused after each name, giving the respective professors a moment to stand and make themselves known to the pupils. He paused again, naming each of the other professors... "Professor Audra Brigid McKlennon, Charms. Professor Aaric McLurcan, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Professor Natalie Summers, Flying. Professor Dinah Mills, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Carsyn Brothers, History of Magic. And Professor Abella Marie Byrne-Moreaux, Potions."
As he named the last professor present, he cleared his throat once more and looked around for a moment. "It was seem that a few of our professors are missing, as of late -- those of you interested in divination or muggle studies are out of luck; you won't be able to sign up for those classes at the moment. I apologize for the inconvenience." He would have to hunt down the missing professors later. "Prefects and Heads are on hiatus this term -- it would seem that we are unable to choose anyone at the moment, and we ask that you wait another term. This merely means there are more responsibilities on behalf of the professors, but I'm sure they don't mind such a simple task. Classes start very shortly -- professors, have your classes ready by early Tuesday, January 20 at the latest!" The headmaster let out a light chuckle and clapped his hands as if applauding for something -- and food appeared on all the tables: there was lamb, kidney and steak pie, rice pudding, pumpkin juice that never emptied, pot roast, biscuits, potatoes, gravy, carrots, chocolate cake, fried chicken legs, grilled chicken, and various other delicious, spectacular dinner items. "Let the feast begin!"
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Aaric McLurcan
Staff
Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor
Posts: 14
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Post by Aaric McLurcan on Jan 18, 2009 21:53:02 GMT -5
It was strange to walk the halls of Hogwarts again, at least for Aaric it was. It was stranger to be seating at the table facing the four houses when only few short years ago he was sitting at one of those tables before him. He tapped his fingers lazily on the table, looking from his left to his right every now and then, noticing the first time that most of the teaching faculty seated were only around his age yet he knows none of them on personal level. Dazed, he was lucky enough to catch the mention of his name, getting up almost at once, nearly knocking the goblet before him it had not been for his quick reflex. He quickly gave a short nod before slumping back into his chair...
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Dinah Mills
Staff
Herbology Professor Care of Magical Creatures Professor
By trying to hide, I stay so cold inside
Posts: 51
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Post by Dinah Mills on Jan 18, 2009 22:23:36 GMT -5
Sitting back in her chair Dinah regretted the impulse she had followed in putting her long hair into a complicated updo. Her hair was much too long to use this hairdo for any length of time. The way this feast was going it would be a very long time indeed and she was already beginning to get a migraine. Casting a quick glance around at the other teachers she hoped they wouldn't notice or mind. Reaching up she swiftly untwisted her hair and let it fall around her shoulders. She knew the students wouldn't notice. Once the kids got food in fornt of them it was pretty much a done deal on where their attention would be.
Running her fingers through it's dark length a few times she finally let her eyes peruse the table. She recognized a few people but not well enough to speak to. Dinah hadn't exactly been the most sociable of creatures while at school. Vowing to change her ways, at least so they would like her enough not to kick her out when one of her experiments went awry. Seeing another teacher nearby glance around Dinah nodded and smiled at him. She almost laughed at him when he started so suddenly at the mention of his name but then realized her name was being called. Swiftly standing she nodded at the students and headmaster before returning to her seat.
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Thomas Middleton
Ravenclaw Head of House
Arithmancy Professor
when i arrive, i bring the fire.
Posts: 45
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Post by Thomas Middleton on Jan 18, 2009 22:39:31 GMT -5
"WOOOOOO RAVENCLAW FOR THE WIN!" Thomas blurted out at the mention of his name. He was prone to odd outbursts, the Headmaster knew this, and hopefully he wouldn't be getting sacked. Chuckling nervously, he plopped back down in his seat and rubbed his hands together eagerly. Never mind the whole introduction thing -- food was much, much, much more important in his eyes. He awaited the glorious clapping from the Headmaster that most people knew would signal the arrival of their food. Finally, it came, and a tiny, barely audible yelp of glee escaped his throat.
Next to him was a young woman whom he couldn't remember for the life of him, but judging from her age, she was probably at Hogwarts around the same time she was. Swallowing his rather large mouthful of chicken, Thomas turned to her and said politely, "Helloooo! My name is Thomas Middleton, what's yours?" Did it start with a D? Maybe it started with a D. Hmmmm. She looked like she started with a D. You know how you just get that vibe about what a person's name is just by looking at them? Well, she looked like her name would start with a D. As you can tell by this rambling.
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Post by Annabelle Delacord on Jan 18, 2009 22:42:17 GMT -5
Food! Did she emotions he was hungry. No wait, Starving. Ah yes that was a more adequate word to describe why her stomach was grumbling at her so. She glared at it as she skipped into the great Hall. She didn't need for the whole world to be aware that she's slept in and missed not only breakfast but lunch and was now beyond famished. She had a bad habit of intentionally sleeping off time whens he was excited about something...in this case it was her return to the castle she's been trying to waste the hours away to.
She gazed around the great hall a bit taken a back, She'd forgotten how magnificent it was in here. She walked to the table the seated her house mates. Her fellow darling Hufflepuffs. She plopped gently onto a seat her eyes going wide and she bit down on her lip to keep her mouth from watering like some animal. She Watched the sorting ceremony with amusement and applauded and cheered for every student sorted as Hufflepuff. A flash back to her own first year playing at the back of her mind.
Finally all the little ickle firsties were sorted and The Headmaster stood to speak. Her gaze wavered across the staff table as each professor was introduced. The Headmaster's final words rang in her ears and her gaze turned with the speed of light to the table and her plate and she scrambled to fill her plate with macaroni and cheese, veggies, and any other meatless wonder...plus snagging a darn good roll. Easily said, she was happy.
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Mike Blaze
Ravenclaw Sub Admin
Sixth Year
Indestructible, determination that is incorruptible.
Posts: 315
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Post by Mike Blaze on Jan 18, 2009 22:50:46 GMT -5
Mike Blaze who had entered the Great Hall late, missing the Sorting Ceremony, but just in time for the welcoming words from the Headmaster, took a seat at the Ravenclaw table. Not focused all that much, you could tell he was paying hardly any attention from his glassy stare. Though, at Professor Middleton's "WOOOOOO RAVENCLAW FOR THE WIN!", Mike had the urge to throw in, "RAVENCLAWS!" extremely loudly, he did it right after Thomas Middleton's statement so Mike didn't interrupt the Headmaster's next words. Smirking, he coughed a little bit, to cover up for what he said.
Once the food appeared, Mike began pulling anything he saw towards him, having not eaten all day, just for this, of course he was hungry. Before beginning to eat, he gazed over his shoulder at the other three tables. His eyes scanning the Gryffindor table, curious to see if he could spot Audrey.
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Amelia Decessum
Slytherin Head of House
Transfiguration Professor Animagi Professor
This is me when I'm not eating children for lunch.
Posts: 49
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Post by Amelia Decessum on Jan 18, 2009 22:51:52 GMT -5
Ugh, a new term!
In some ways, the start of a new term was exciting -- Amelia could teach new students every now and then, and sometimes, they weren't all useless sacks of potatoes. But there were still students who hadn't left school yet, and over the years, she'd made a big list of students she disliked. Transfiguration was a difficult class for the little runts; if they were smart, they'd stay on her good side and do their work, and maybe they would pass. Just maybe.
"And Professor Amelia Decessum of Slytherin House will be teaching Transfiguration and animagi."
She took a moment to finish the line she was writing (just because she was at a feast didn't mean she couldn't finish her last-minute work), she stood up and waved - assorted bracelets jiggling - at the Slytherin table, a daring smile curling on her lips as if to say, "Try me." Brushing the hem of her dark green, strapless minidress, her jade eyes moved to the Gryffindor table for a moment before she sat back down. Oh, she certainly had ideas in store for them. Or did she?
Before continuing her writing, Amelia glanced at the other staff members along the table. Her eyes lingered on the other three Heads of House -- all three males, and she was the oldest of all four. Experience certainly overtook status in her book, though, and she had no problem with whom she was. "Always trying to make a scene," she said quietly, not caring if anyone around her heard. She didn't particularly like the other three; they simply lacked the proper etiquette that she knew came with their title, but she couldn't blame them -- young boys never learned.
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Post by Moki Kagawa on Jan 18, 2009 23:12:52 GMT -5
Moki closed her eyes and craned her head back in impatience. The Sorting seemed to be taking FOREVER. This was the third Sorting Ceremony she'd sat through (without participating in, that was), and she was beginning to understand the phrase "third time's the charm." Clearly, the staff of Hogwarts felt they hadn't perfected mind-dulling speeches and bland introductions before, but Moki was sure they'd hit it dead-on this time around. Okay, so if you took the monologues at face value, they weren't that bad in themselves. It was mostly the fact that it was late at night, Moki hadn't eaten in eight hours, and the ceremonial stuff seemed endless. She sighed audibly, rubbing her stomach with one hand, a forlorn expression on her face. "I'm sorry, stomach," she muttered. "I can't help it that they won't give us any food... big meanies. Nobody has any sympathy for sticky little girls anymore... or maybe I'm just too old for them to care about, maybe that's it!" She pouted.
Her self-pity fest was interrupted by a laugh from the Headmaster. "Let the feast begin!" Moki breathed a sigh of relief and began piling as much food as would fit onto her plate. She bit into a roll with a vengeance it probably didn't deserve, looking around the Great Hall. There were a lot of new faces, but she saw a bunch of her old friends, too. She turned her attentions back to her heaping plate of food and happily munched away, oblivious to the world.
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Kaylee Ekhardt
Staff
Librarian
Ahhh! Attack of the bell people...from Planet Ding-Dong
Posts: 28
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Post by Kaylee Ekhardt on Jan 18, 2009 23:18:30 GMT -5
Ugh. Kaylee. Stop Frickin fidgeting! You don't need the students or your fellow staff thinking you to be on drugs or something. She sighed lightly to herself glancing at her sides and smiling at Dinah whens he recognized her. Her focus, she must admit drifted in and out as the Headmaster trailed on. It wasn't that he was a bore war or anything, oh contrarily he was very intriguing. She simply had the attention span of a gnat. Yeap, no other possible way to explain it.
She looked out at the students, feeling a tinge of her age when her gaze halted on the Ravenclaw table. Not long ago at all had she herself been at that very table gazing up from the feat onto the Headmaster and staff, and now...she was the staff? Twilight zone theory anyone?
She couldn't help but giggle when one of the staff members exploded with a bit of Ravenclaw alumni spirit.
She reached then for her glass but accidentally knocked it over and she fluttered apologetically "Oh jeez, look at that, gah I am ever so sorry" not bothering to glance up and see whom she had invaded with her clumsy tenancies. Instead she was fumbling for a napkin, or well...several. It was rather the mess. Liquids could be so darn tricky. Spreading as they did. Evil really. A normal wizard of her status would normally wipe out their wand to clean the mess, but she was an odd soul, only using magic when she absolutely needed to do so, she wasn't one for using her wand when she could fix something simple, though being the klutz she was she probably should.
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Post by Reginald Lancelot on Jan 18, 2009 23:21:33 GMT -5
"Ooooh, food."
Reggie was sitting down at the Hufflepuff table, his mildly overlarge Hufflepuff robes sort of consuming his body. They were like, eating him, or something. LIKE LETHIFOLDS! Oh my. He made a mental note to see when he had Defense Against the Dark Arts because he liked that class, and hopefully they would learn about Lethifolds. Mainly because, well, they sounded pretty interesting. And he heard they ate people or something, and he wanted to know if that was true or not.
ANYWAY, HE CERTAINLY WAS HUNGRY AS A LETHIFOLD. Hunger gets what hunger wants. Reggie's conscience giggled at this, but it was an internal giggle -- not an outer one. Reggie didn't giggle, he chuckled, because that was the much more manly thing to do. Putting all of that to the back of his brain, the little Hufflepuff put a heap of roast beef, carrots, and potatoes on his place, then smothered it all with ketchup. Mmmm, ketchup. When Jesus walked the Earth, Reggie was thoroughly convinced that all he ate was ketchup. Or maybe Sir Lancelot. Or Arthur. Anyway, famous people ate ketchup, that was all there was to it.
"HI, ANNA-IZZLE!" he shouted down the table at the girl he had met on the train. She was the only person who he could see that he knew, so he felt the need to shout at her. Ah, the misfortunes of being acquainted with Reggie.
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Amelia Decessum
Slytherin Head of House
Transfiguration Professor Animagi Professor
This is me when I'm not eating children for lunch.
Posts: 49
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Post by Amelia Decessum on Jan 18, 2009 23:42:27 GMT -5
... by properly applying the animagus technique, there are several...
Amelia decided to set her quill down for a moment to at least enjoy a few bites of dinner. She was glad the house-elves remember her vegetarianism -- she wasn't in the mood to stalk the kitchens, barking at them... or growling. Either way worked. She picked up her fork and, instead, twirled a bit of vegetarian spaghetti, putting it in her mouth and letting the flavour soak in. The little creatures really did know how to cook! She took another bite, sipping some grape wine to wash it down...
"Oh jeez, look at that, gah I am ever so sorry"
Something cold and wet had managed to move along her parchment and steadily off the table, dripping onto her legs... Amelia stared at her dress for a moment before sliding her chair backwards and picking up her wand. Standing up, she first dried the papers with a mental evanesco charm and then herself, but her dress! Oh, her beautiful, silk dress! Not even she was that powerful; she would have to visit a laundryman later.
Clearing her throat, Amelia put her wand back on the table and glanced sideways at the culprit. "Miss Ekhardt," she noted, sitting back down and making herself comfortable. There was no sense making a big scene in front of all the students, and she really didn't have the energy to do anything, so she settled for a quiet little stare. "Magic has a way of working wonders..." she said, going into somewhat of a trance that she usually did when she made long speeches. "I would think that years of Hogwarts would teach you a little more... wizarding etiquette, but I suppose everyone makes mistakes." Clearing her throat once more, she pushed her plate aside and continued writing. What was Kaylee's job again? "Are you this much of a klutz around your books?"
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Post by Katelynn Creperum on Jan 18, 2009 23:45:40 GMT -5
Alas, another term was starting. And she still had two more after this one. It was terrible.
Katelynn sat down at the Slytherin table, soaked to the bone in her robes. Her blonde hair hung limply around her face, resembling more straw than anything at the moment. To put it lightly, she was in her most unattractive state. Damn you, precipitation! And so far, she had yet to see Danny. She hadn't found him on the train, so she had taken to sitting with a couple random Slytherins. She wasn't friends with them, but she didn't completely despise them. They were younger than her, by a year or so, and they seemed keen on asking her opinions on matters that she didn't give half a damn about. But it was better than sitting with a bunch of idiotic Hufflepuffs.
Her mind was completely elsewhere during the entire speech, concentrated more on where Dante was and the state of her appearance. She was brought out of her reverie at the sudden arrival of food on the platters before her. Oh, right, eating. As she tucked a lock of her damp hair behindher ear, Katelynn reached forth and ladled a generous amount of stew onto her plate. Nothing else came across as appetizing to her -- not that the stew did, but she was slightly hungry, so she figured she should at least consume something. She took a tiny, unenthusiastic bite, glancing up at the staff table as she did so. There was Professor Decessum, still Head of House. Most people viewed her as much too strict and evil (in the playful, she-gives-us-too-much-homework way), but Katelynn admired her, in a way.
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Post by Dante Blair on Jan 18, 2009 23:58:35 GMT -5
She's just a friend, Dante...
He had to remind himself every day since that time during the summer. Before leaving so suddenly, Katelynn has kissed him on the cheek... but it was just a friendly gesture! Dante had to tell himself that they were just good friends, and nothing more... I mean, he didn't want to be anymore, did he? Did he...? No, Dante Blair was just Dante Blair, and he and Katelynn were totally platonic! Stupid teenage hormones!
Almost completely soaked (he knew a few charms, so he wasn't completely soaked), the fifth year followed the other students into the Great Hall. He hadn't seen Katelynn since the day back in the ice cream shop; part of him was glad, because he didn't know how he'd react after that day, but another part of him had longed for her just as much (maybe more) as it usually did. And now, walking into the Great Hall and toward the Slytherin table, his heart did a flip, dropped, and beat faster all at the same time. There was Katelynn! Oh no... there was Katelynn.
Biting his lip in a rather frustrating, nervous manner, Dante walked over to the girl. No, he wasn't nervous! Katelynn was just being a friend! "Um... hey," he said, pushing a tiny second year a little bit away and sitting down beside Katelynn. "How are you?" He moved some damp hair aside, where it stayed; his hair had gotten plenty wet. His soft brown eyes stayed locked on Katelynn for a moment, a gentle smile on his lips. He wasn't blushing, he didn't think; that was a good sign.
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Post by Alfred Doohinger on Jan 19, 2009 0:04:36 GMT -5
"Damn house-elves ... can never cook a decent meal around here, the meat is all dry and whatnot ... I'll have to complain to the Headmaster about them, yessirree ..." Alfred ranted on and on to the air, fully aware that nobody was listening to what he was saying. Nope, that was the problem with people these days, never thought to listen to their elders who had infinite more wisdom than them. What complete arse faces. They would get their come-uppance, oh yes! Their valuable tax dollars were going towards old people like him, hahahaha, what ignorant fools! Alfred just so happened to be sitting by Amelia Decessum, because he wanted to annoy her. "Damn woman, it's twenty degrees outside, don't ya know how to put some clothes on? That dress looks like something my mother wore back in 1832. I thought you kids were up-to-date when it came to clothing shit." Apparently not, he thought, stuffing an entire sausage into his mouth. It was terrible, yes, but he was a starving old man and he did love sausage. Then, the woman next to the crazy dress woman spilled something everywhere. "Thank Jesus and all his saints that went all over that dress, damn thing needs to be thrown away in the first place."
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Kaylee Ekhardt
Staff
Librarian
Ahhh! Attack of the bell people...from Planet Ding-Dong
Posts: 28
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Post by Kaylee Ekhardt on Jan 19, 2009 0:19:41 GMT -5
Kaylee's eyes went wide and she bit down on her lip to resist from fluttering all the more with senseless apologetic ramblings. Obviously Amelia cared not. Her lips pursed slightly as she mustered up a retort to Amelia's sharp tone "I prefer to not let my self be rules by my wand" she smiled keeping her triumphant 'aha' to herself as she successfully cleaned the once flooded table "I find it a bit lazy to use magic and spells for every little this and that" she realized the last bit didn't need to be added buts he couldn't help it, once she started talking she found it hard to shut the hell up.
She tossed the soaping wet napkins behind her, not because she didn't care weather or not the house elves got stuck cleaning it up,actually normlaly she'd feel horrid making them clean up after her....but because she felt the sudden need and urge to dispose of the evidence. the evidence that she had harmed Amelia's dress. Her guilt faded slightly a giggle fluttering lightly from her lips as she heard Alfred ranting and raving at Amelia, what could she say? She was ever so easily amused.
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