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Post by jessimyre on Jul 21, 2008 18:25:33 GMT -5
"Yes, it is delicious." Sydelle rejoined the conversation. "Oh, a card." she remarked, and turned it over. The card showed a picture of a young man with black hair, bright green eyes and a lightningbolt scar smiling up at her. As she watched in amazement, he removed his glasses, wiped them on his sleeve and replaced them to twinkle up at her once more. He looked to be in his late twenties.
"The picture moves!" she exclaimed in wonder. She turned the card over to read the other side.
"Harry Potter" the card read, "Harry Potter is the only known survivor of the killing curse. He is most noted for his defeat in 1997 of the most powerful Dark Wizard ever to rise when he was only 17. Harry Potter is also the English Seeker and one of the best flyers Quidditch has ever seen." she read.
She looked up, her mouth full of questions, how did the pictures move? What on earth was Quidditch? Who was the Dark Wizard and how did he defeat him?
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Post by blossom on Jul 22, 2008 8:45:27 GMT -5
Rafael grinned back at Deylani, still surprised at how natural it felt. When he was in the presence of his brothers, or his mother, he rarely smiled, and his eldest brother had often remarked nastily that Rafael's face seemed frozen in a permanent expression of misery. With Deylani and Sydelle, however, he felt bouyant and happy, and smiling was the only way to fully express that.
He laughed as well when Sydelle's eyes widened at her card and she exclaimed in amazement "The picture moves!"
"Well of course it does," Rafael replied, nonplussed, "What else would it do?"
He wasn't sure if Sydelle heard though, as she seemed absorbed in reading the card. Glancing at it, Rafael saw she had Harry Potter - one of the most common cards, along with Dumbledore and Merlin. Rafael had a collection of Wizard Cards, but they were hidden under a loose board in his wardrobe at home - if his older brothers or mother found them, they burnt the cards of wizards like Harry Potter. Rafael, on the other hand, was in awe of their amazing feats.
Sydelle, when she looked up, also seemed amazed - but Rafael wasn't sure if it was at what she had read of the most famous wizard alive. Rather, she looked somewhat perplexed, as if she had a lot of questions but couldn't decide which was most pressing.
"Something wrong?" Rafael asked, nibbling on his own chocolate frog.
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Post by jessimyre on Jul 22, 2008 17:39:50 GMT -5
"No," she answered, "Nothing wrong at all."
So she began asking her questions, each in turn and listening in wonder for the answers. As they talked the train moved on. Before long, there was a change in the engine and kids began moving about outside their compartment, carrying pets, neatening their school robes and laughing and calling to one another. They must be nearly there. It was still light, the air of a cheery summer outside and the surrounding countryside looked hilly and wild.
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Post by twilightblade on Jul 27, 2008 5:22:53 GMT -5
Deylani had as many questions as Sydelle, but she didn't ask. She was too busy absorbing the information her father had never given her about the magical community. And now she also understood why he had never spoken much about his own past.
Things were making so much more sense now. She sat very still, watching Sydelle and Rafael immerse themselves in a lively back-and-forth conversation. The other girl was still petting her dog, and didn't seem to be interested in joining in. Well, that was all right. There was less chance that she would get pulled into the conversation now.
She shifted to glance out the window, seeing a much wilder country that she could have expected for this part of England. But then, who ever said they were in England anymore?
Deylani gave a silent laugh and turned her attention to her belongings. If the countryside and the increasing noise from outside the compartment were any clue at all, then they were nearly at Hogwarts.
She tucked the remains of her lunch away and zipped her duffle bag shut. This should be interesting.
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Post by jessimyre on Jul 27, 2008 8:10:51 GMT -5
"Oh, goodness." Sydelle said, "We're stopping. We must be nearly there! We'd better change into our robes." she said, noticing that every student cramming themselves into the corridor within eyesight was wearing Hogwarts robes.
She reached up to her trunk and with a bit of difficulty owing to her short stature, opened her trunk in the overhead storage compartments and pulled out her new, freshly pressed robes. Lucklily she had packed them last and didn't have to rummage for them. She pulled them on quickly, and hastily replaced her wand in its case and stuffed it into the trunk. The train was almost at a halt and she could just make out a platform in the twilight.
"How are we going to carry our trunks up to the school?" she asked, directing her question more to the older girl than the others.
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Post by blossom on Jul 27, 2008 13:05:11 GMT -5
Rafael wondered for a panic-stricken moment if he would have to change into his robes in a carriage full of girls, then relaxed as he realised he would just have to pull them over his clothes. It seemed they were very near Hogwarts though, so he followed Sydelle's lead in reaching up to the bags overhead and rummaging for his robes.
"How are we going to carry our trunks up to the school?" He heard Sydelle ask as he pulled the robes over his head.
"W-Well I think," he said in a muffled voice, wrestling with his robes, "Gabriel told me that we leave our trunks on the train and they get taken up to the school."
He turned round, robes finally straight, and realised with some embarrassment that Sydelle had been talking to the older girl. "I think," he repeated, red faced. "Is that right?"
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Post by twilightblade on Jul 28, 2008 0:41:31 GMT -5
"How are we going to carry our trunks up to the school?" Sydelle's voice interrupted Deylani's thoughts and she glanced over at the blonde.
Shifting in her seat, she stared down at her duffle bag. She really wouldn't have that much trouble carrying it. She could help at least one other person with a trunk.
"W-Well, I think, Gabriel told me that we leave our trunks on the train and they get taken up to the school."
Rafael's muffled reply made Deylani glance up at the others, startled, as she realized she was the only one who might be planning on carrying her things inside. She held back a frown and slipped her wand inside her robes before slowly setting her duffle bag back down on the floor.
Rafael had just pulled on his robes and was looking a bit red-faced as he said again, "I think. Is that right?"
She looked around at the other's luggage, then shrugged. "Looks like the only thing that really can be done for trunks."
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Post by jessimyre on Aug 3, 2008 7:04:19 GMT -5
Is mi still playing in this one?
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Post by twilightblade on Aug 4, 2008 17:30:27 GMT -5
I'll try to pm her at WF. Also, the train should announce that they leave their luggage in the compartment...says so in the first book anyway.
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Post by jessimyre on Aug 4, 2008 18:23:26 GMT -5
At that moment, a magnified voice came out of, it seemed, thin air.
"Would all students please leave their luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
"Well," Sydelle shrugged, "That answers that question."
The train slowed right down as it came into the station and eventually stopped altogether with a great hiss of steam from the engine. Sydelle felt her excitement rise again, they were here! She joined the crowds of students thronging the corridor and climbing down from the train.
The sun was sinking slowly over the horizon and twilight was upon them. All the older students seemed to know where they were going so she started after them until she heard,
"Firs' years, firs' years over here please! Firs' years!"
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Post by blossom on Aug 5, 2008 6:43:46 GMT -5
Rafael watched out the window as the train pulled into the station. He felt a bubbling excitement about finally reaching Hogwarts, but it was weighed down by a heavy knot of anxiety in his stomach. Even if Sydelle and Deylani hadn't heard of his family, most first years probably would have - and certainly the olders students would know of his brothers' reputations.
And then there was the Sorting to come ...
Still, for now he tried to ignore his worries and concentrated on not being crushed by the throng of students vying to be the first off the train. It was difficult, not least because of the whispers around him.
"Is that another Levy?"
"I'll bet he's just like his brothers. That family's pure evil."
"Well, Gabriel's not so bad ..."
"He might not be as openly vile, but there's still something sly about him."
Rafael swallowed, and tried not to let it affect him. He was nothing like his brothers. They'd see that eventually ... he hoped. Seeing Sydelle's blonde hair in front of him in the crowd, Rafael tried his best to focus on following her.
"You really think the little one will be as bad as Samael?"
"He's a Levy. Of course he will be."
Ignore the whispers. Ignore the whispers.
"Firs' years, firs' years over here please! Firs' years!"
Rafael heaved a sigh of relief, glad to get away from the older students. He turned around -- and stopped dead at the giant of a man calling. Twice the height of even the tallest man, his face was almost completely obscured by a wild tangle of black hair and beard. However, the eyes that looked over the crowds of students seemed kind.
This, Rafael realised, must be Hagrid, the Hogwarts' groundskeeper and professor of Care of Magical Creatures. His older brothers always spoke of Hagrid with disdain and scorn, meaning Rafael was predisposed to like him. But Hagrid probably held an equal amount of distaste for Rafael's family.
Oh well ... here goes nothing, taking a deep breath, he started through the crowds of students towards the half giant, following the other first years.
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Post by jessimyre on Aug 5, 2008 18:29:47 GMT -5
Sydelle was unusually speechless at the sight of the giant of a man calling to the first year students. He was enormous, miles taller than any human she'd ever met, it seemed and almost as wild. His tangled black hair and beard had a few greys running through it, his glittering dark eyes seemed cheerful and kind. She - along with the other students kept back, shy and unwilling to go too near.
Sydelle turned to see Rafael come up to stand beside her, it seemed he was equally as awed as she.
"Come on now, don't be shy!" the great man chuckled to the tiny students crowding around him. "I am Rubeus Hagrid, Professor of Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts and head of Hufflepuff House." he boomed to them, he seemed positively deligted to have them all coming to the school for the first time. In his right hand he held up a bright lantern, a welcome light in the gathering dusk. In his left he held a wand. He seemed loath to stow it in a pocket or let it out of his sight for a moment. Sydelle felt the same way about her own.
"This way please." he told the students, "We are taking the scenic route up to the Castle." and he turned to lead the group toward the dark lake.
"Hagrid!" a boy's voice in delight as the last of the first years ran to catch up with the group. The teacher turned in delight.
"All righ' Ted!" he answered, pleased to see the boy.
"Are you really Head of Hufflepuff?" the boy asked. Hagrid looked down at his wand and by the twitching of his beard it seemed he was smiling. What little of his cheeks could be seen had turned a rosy red.
"Oh Hagrid!" The boy gasped, "You have a wand!"
"Yes, Luna Lovegood made it me, special like. I had a promotion." he said quietly, "We've got a new Keeper of Keys and Grounds now, you'll get to meet 'im at supper."
Suddenly Hagrid changed the subject. "'Ow's your Grandmother then," he asked of the boy.
"Fine, she said she'd send you an owl in the morning." the boy replied. He alone of the students seemed unafraid of the great man and seemed to know him outside of school.
"And 'arry?" Hagrid asked.
"Fine." the boy laughed. "He promised to visit you soon."
"You see that he does, then." Hagrid smiled gruffly. The boy fell into line with the other students. He wound up right next to Sydelle.
"Do you know him?" Sydelle asked shyly. The boy turned and grinned.
"Sure do." he answered, his touseled hair a vivid orange which seemed to be drawing a lot of attention. "He's a very good friend of my family. What's your name anyway?" he asked, "I'm Teddy Lupin."
Introducing him as an NPC, thought he could join our group of friends, be another boy for Rafael to hang out with.
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Post by twilightblade on Aug 5, 2008 19:05:14 GMT -5
Deylani had followed Sydelle and Rafael off the train, but had lost them in the crowd the instant she spotted the towers of Hogwarts in the distance. Her entranced stare was broken only by a booming voice calling, "Firs' years, firs' years over here please! Firs' years!"
She started, then hurried toward the huge man who was waving them on. His wild brush of curly dark hair concealed the smile she could hear in his voice and she knew at once that she'd probably get on with him quite well.
Spotting Rafael and Sydelle only a little ahead, she wove her way through the many other students--all shorter than she was--to reach them. She reached the two just in time to hear another boy, with bright red-orange hair, introduce himself as Teddy Lupin. Strange. His name seemed almost familiar.
She squeezed in next to Rafael, which oddly enough, wasn't too hard, as the other students seemed to be avoiding him. "Hey." She smiled at him.
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Post by jessimyre on Aug 5, 2008 19:40:00 GMT -5
Sydelle introduced herself and then turned her head slightly when she heard Deylani's voice. She felt a thrill of anticipation as the four of them walked together down a gentle slope to the great lake. There was a fleet of little boats, each with its own lantern. It seemed they would be taking a little ride across the lake.
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Post by blossom on Aug 6, 2008 7:18:26 GMT -5
"Hey," Rafael smiled back at Deylani, grateful to have her and Sydelle beside him as they followed Hagrid down to the lake. Teddy Lupin didn't seem to be bothered about being around him either, which eased some of Rafael's anxiety. Rafael knew of him of course; Harry Potter's godson was almost as famous as his godfather.
"Righ'!" Hagrid called as they reached the boats waiting for them at the shore. "Four to a boat, firs' years! Four to a boat!"
Rafael glanced at the others; him, Sydelle, Deylani and Teddy. It seemed they would all share a boat.
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Post by jessimyre on Aug 6, 2008 18:35:33 GMT -5
Teddy was first in to the boat, Sydelle followed him. It seemed she and the others were already forming a friendship. She hoped they would have some classes together, it would ease the tension of not knowing the other students, of which there were many.
Professor Hagrid had a boat to himself and the others were filling quickly with chattering children, all eager to get their first glimpse of Hogwarts which, for the moment was still out of sight.
Hagrid looked around, saw that every boat was filled. "Goodness me," he muttered to himself, "at this rate we'll need more boats if next year's numbers go up again."
He cleared his throat.
"Righ', all aboard?" his deep voice rolled around the little beach. Small boats, their lanterns offering a cheerful light sat just off the sand, side by side and filling the small beach from end to end.
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Post by twilightblade on Aug 26, 2008 17:36:08 GMT -5
Deylani gave the others a tentative smile, then stared out across the lake toward the other shore. It wasn't like she could see much more than water, but she wanted to see the castle, to see Hogwarts.
Something splashed and she turned her eyes just in time to catch a glimpse of a wide tail disappearing under the water. She took a deep breath of the lake-scented air and smiled. "This should be fun..." she murmured under her breath.
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Post by jessimyre on Sept 14, 2008 23:19:55 GMT -5
Before long they had completed the boat journey and were waiting nervously in an anteroom off the Great Hall. Sydelle was terrified, what would they have to do? She hadn't learned any magic although a beautiful piece of birdsong had erupted from her wand when she tried it so perhaps that was enough?
The rest of the students were also shuffling around together with nervousness. Even the most confident of the wizard-borns were fidgeting.
And then, the door opened and a round faced young Professor came in.
"Well!" he smiled warmly at them all. "Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor Longbottom. The sorting is about to begin, will you all please follow me?" he asked the group of nervous students.
Along with the others, Sydelle followed the Professor into the Great Hall. The room was aptly named. It was the most enormous hall she had ever seen with a very high ceiling which looked as though it opened onto the sky itself. Hundreds of white candles hung, suspended in mid air above their heads, lighting the room with a bright warm yellow glow.
Hundreds of students sat, watching them at long tables. Each table had a large banner suspended above it, red and gold with a lion, green and silver with a serpent, yellow with a badger and also a blue banner with some sort of bird on it. Sydelle supposed these were the house tables.
Before they knew it the group of first years were lined up along the bottom of the Dais which sat the Staff table, a pedastal and a little stool with a hat sitting on it. Sydelle gazed curiously at the hat. It was plain black and fairly clean. Perhaps they had to pull something out of it?
At that moment, the hat's brim parted at the seam and it began to sing a song. Sydelle listened in amazement.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, the most defining school, Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the world its true. I am the Sorting Hat, the second of my kind, I know where to put you, it is all in your mind.
Just try me on and I will see, exactly where you'll be, Which House will suit your personality. But bear in mind, although we may be split into four, We are as one, blessed with a gift as have hundreds of those gone before.
We can only progress and live in peace and fun, If we all unite and support our kind, standing together as one. We welcome you to Hogwarts and trust you will do well, For all learning starts here at the first most basic spell.
Some don't be shy, step up here and put me on your head, I will know just where you'll go and with whom you'll break your bread. Four great founders left their legacy and you'll carry on just that, I will place you with your kind for I am the sorting hat!"
The hall burst into applause and the first years followed suit. Sydelle heaved a sigh of relief, they just had to try on a hat! That would be easy.
"This one isn't as good at making up songs as the last hat." Teddy chuckled. Sydelle was about to ask him how he knew and what had happened to the old hat when the Professor standing by the hat cleared his throat for their attention and the first years fell silent.
"I will call your names in alphabetical order. When I call you please come up and sit on the stool, the Hat will tell you which House you're in and you may then go and sit with your new House." he told the group.
Sydelle's heart pattered nervously as the Professor held up a list of names in one hand and the Hat in the other and began to call up the new students one by one.
"Abbott, Kasey." was the first student. The sorting had begun.
All too soon the Professor called out, "Beaufort, Sydelle." and the young girl locked her eyes on the hat so she didn't have to look at the others. She tripped over the step as she went up onto the dais and flushed bright pink with embarrassment as a low ripple of laughter echoed around the hall.
She sat on the stool and the Professor put the hat on her head. It slipped down over her eyes and almost immediately she heard a little voice in her ear which made her jump.
"Oh yes, you are very kind hearted and willing to help others, you set a lot of store by friendship and loyalty. I know exactly where we are going to put you. I think you will do very well in..." and then the Hat shouted the last word to the entire hall, "Gryffindor!"
The Professor whipped the hat off her head and Sydelle got up smiling nervously as the Gryffindor House to her right began cheering for her. She made her way down to the table and found a spare seat on the end next to a tall red haired girl who seemed to be a year older than her. She turned to watch the rest of the sorting, glad that it was over for her.
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Post by blossom on Sept 15, 2008 6:21:43 GMT -5
Rafael peered out from the queue of first years, his heart racing and his stomach a knot of anxiety. He clapped along with the rest of the hall for each student, particularly so when Sydelle got Sorted into Gryffindor, but couldn't help wishing that he could avoid this. He knew his family was expecting him to be put in Slytherin, but Rafael wanted nothing to do with it and was dreading the Sorting.
He could see his brothers sat at the Slytherin table: Zephyr, in his last year, upright and tall, his flashing green eyes watching the first years with contempt; Samael, a fifth year, with long white-blond hair unlike the rest of his family's dark hair and the same blue eyes as Rafael; Gabriel, in third year, the most like Rafael in appearance, his nose in a book, as always.
Rafael swallowed nervously. What would his brothers say if they could hear the thoughts running through his head?
All too soon, it was time to find out. "Levy, Rafael."
There was a hush. Shaking with nerves, Rafael stepped out of line and began the long walk towards the dais. He could see the smug smirks on the faces of the Slytherins, and the looks of disgust and judgement on the rest of the students. As when he had gotten off the train, whispers surrounded him.
"Another Levy."
"What's the point in this then? We know he's just going to go to Slytherin."
"All that family are pure evil ..."
"Why McGonagall ever let them into Hogwarts ..."
Rafael felt his cheeks burning, and tears pricked his eyes. Swallowing them back he concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. The stool with the Sorting Hat seemed a long way off, the whispers of the students growing to a low buzz in his ears.
It was with relief that he finally stumbled up the dais and sat on the stool. The Professor placed the Sorting Hat on his head, and the last thing Rafael saw before the dark material slipped over his eyes was his brothers, all watching him expectantly.
"Ahh, another Levy. Difficult, very difficult," said a little voice in his ear. Rafael struggled not to jump. "You have brains, oh yes, and talent ... you would do very well in Slytherin, with your brothers."
No! Rafael almost screamed internally.
"No? Are you sure?" said the Hat. "Yes, perhaps not. You regard kindness and friendship highly, and don't deny this even to your family. That takes bravery ... are sure you don't want to be in Slytherin? No? Then I know exactly where to put you. You'll be in Gryffindor!"
The last word was shouted to the entire hall. There was a silence even more profound than before, as if every person in the hall had sucked in their breath. Professor Longbottom pulled the hat from Rafael's head and looked at him in surprise. No one moved to clap or cheer as they had for every other student.
Rafael felt his cheeks burning again as he moved off the dais. He could feel his brothers staring at him in shock and fury, along with the rest of the Slytherins. The Gryffindors looked a mixtured of surprise and uncertainty.
Then someone clapped behind him.
Whipping his head round, Rafael saw Professor McGonagall applauding, a smile on her face. Hagrid joined in, and then rest of the teachers. Slowly, the Gryffindors also starting clapping, but very halfheartedly.
Sure his face was positively scarlet by now, Rafael scurried to the Gryffindor table, sliding in next to Sydelle and trying to make himself look as small as possible.
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Post by twilightblade on Sept 15, 2008 17:34:59 GMT -5
Deylani had applauded as hard as anyone else as the other students were sorted, but didn't understand why no one cheered for Rafael. So when he started down the steps of the dais in dead silence from the rest of the school, she shrugged off the idea of keeping anonymous and started to clap as hard as she could just as another teacher on the dais started to clap too.
She didn't stop the grin that spread over her face as she shouted to him, "Good luck Rafael!" when he seated himself at the Gryffindor table, his face a bright red.
A few of the people around her gave her strange looks, and three young men at the Slytherin table positively glared at her. She shrugged again and turned her attention back to the sorting hat. There were still so many people ahead of her, but her rising excitement made the time fly by so quickly that before she realized, the professor had called out, "Solei, Deylani!"
She stepped forward, keeping her gaze firmly fixed on the Sorting hat. She'd only just figured out that she seemed to be the only foreign student at Hogwarts. Would that be a problem? Would they want to throw her out?
Gingerly, she sat down on the stool, and had the dubious pleasure of not having the hat slip down over her eyes like it had on all of the other first years. Sometimes she really didn't like being so much taller and bigger than other kids her age. She could see everyone staring at her.
A whisper in her ear almost startled her into jumping off the stool, and only the fact that she had clamped her hands around the edge of the seat kept her in place. "So...you are so proud, proud of your intellect...and strong. And your friends, you seem to shake in caring for them...wouldn't you like to be in Slytherin? No?" The hat paused as she stared hard toward where Sydelle and Rafael were seated. She wanted to be with them. They were the first people she'd met that she really wanted to stick around. "You do have friends." The hat sounded more satisfied. "Then, you'll be in...Gryffindor!!"
The word rang out over the hall, and with a sigh of relief, Deylani plucked the hat from her head and handed it to the professor with a quick half-bow before striding down the steps toward the Gryffindor table.
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Post by jessimyre on Sept 15, 2008 18:11:19 GMT -5
Sydelle forgot her own embarrasment at tripping immediately that Rafael was called to try the hat. She couldn't understand why everyone was so quiet although she heard the whispers about his family being evil and she frowned, he didn't seem like that. The whole train ride he seemed to be friendly if shy, and nice. Sydelle refused to believe that her new friend could be evil.
So when the Headmistress, and then Deylani began to clap she joined in despite the stares from the other Gryffindors around her. She smiled encouragingly at him as he sat beside her, face crimson and trying to act normally.
Teddy Lupin was sorted shortly afterwards, into Gryffindor too. The hat barely touched his head when it shouted the House name and it seemed Teddy's family were as well known as Rafael's although for different reasons because he got the loudest cheer from their table yet as he walked down to sit beside Rafael.
"Don't worry, we'll stick with you." Teddy hissed to Rafael under the cover of cheering. Then Deylani was sorted and she too, joined them at the table. Sydelle beamed at them all, it seemed things were going very well for the start of the new year. She already had friends and they were all in Gryffindor together.
Before long the first years had all been sorted and a respectful hush fell over the hall as the Headmistress rose to address the students.
Professor McGonagall was an imposing witch with her hair drawn back in a tight iron grey bun, a crooked hat sat over her flashing eyes. A pair of spectacles hung around her neck on a silver chain and she wore magnificent robes of Midnight Blue with silver trimming. She gazed around the Hall, her age in no way diminishing her aura of power and authority.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I trust you will all help our newest students settle in and I trust you will all do your best to maintain this school's reputation and long and noble history of training some of the best witches and wizards the world has ever seen.
We will begin the feast momentarily but first I have some notices for you all. First Years will please take note that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, as is the village of Hogsmead for all first and second years. Please be reminded that all Weasly products are banned as are Fillibuster Freaks, Enchanted Eels and this year there has been a ban imposed on Thought Quills. Each House Common Room has a full list of forbidden products on its notice board, you would do well to read it." she paused, allowing her words to sink in.
"You are now sorted into your Houses and this will be your family for the duration of your stay here. You can earn points for your House by putting in extra effort into your work and any rule breaking will lose points for your House. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will win the House Cup."
A loud cheer errupted from the Ravenclaw table. Sydelle guessed that they had won the cup the previous year judging from their reaction.
"Yes, indeed." the Professor allowed them some leeyway before glaring at the table and immediately silence returned. It occured to Sydelle that the Professor was quite strict and demanded respect from the students. And got it.
"I would like to now introduce our new students to the staff this year." the Professor continued.
Would somebody else like to do this next bit?
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Post by blossom on Sept 16, 2008 7:25:53 GMT -5
Okey dokey!
Rafael felt a lump rise in his throat when his friends stood by him. The Gryffindors around him had had mixed reactions; some had ignored him, some had glared at him with frank suspicion, and some had nodded and smiled encouragingly. It had made the knot of anxiety in her stomach seem even larger. Having Sydelle, Deylani and Teddy sat around him, however, made him feel more confident, less scared, and he sat straighter to listen to McGonagall's speech.
"I would like to now introduce our new students to the staff this year," she was saying, then turned to introduce each staff memeber from the right to left.
"Professor Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures," this was the giant who had greeted them at the lake. The Gryffindor table in particular cheered for him, making his cheeks glow red.
"Professor Longbottom, Herbology," this was the cheerful, round-faced Professor who'd met them outside the Great Hall, and who knew Teddy Lupin.
"Professor Higgins, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Head of Gryffindor House," a young woman, smiling, her brown hair twisted up in a knot.
"Professor Trelawny, Divination," a pale, thin woman with short black hair, huge spectacles and more jewellery that Rafael had ever seen one person wear before.
"Professor Binns, History of Magic," even paler than Professor Trelawney, the History of Magic professor was a ghost. Rafael had heard the story - he had gotten up to teach one day, and had left his body behind.
"Professor Vector, Arithmancy," an older man, with greying dark hair and a serious expression.
"Professor Knightley, Transfiguration and Head of Hufflepuff House," another young woman, this one with a mass of curly blonde hair and a cheerful demeanour.
"Professor Gillies, Ancient Runes," an elderly, black man with a shock of silver hair.
"Professor Osment, Potions and Head of Slytherin House," a younger man with longish black hair and an cool expression.
"Professor Ridd, Muggle Studies," a slightly older man, with long, sandy hair and half-moon glasses.
"Professor Scarlett, Astrology, and Head of Ravenclaw House," a black woman with vivid red hair like her name.
"Madam Hooch, our flying instructor," a silver-haired woman with amber eyes.
"Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse," a plump, kind looking woman who nodded and smiled.
"Miss Pinch, the librarian," a thin, woman like her name, Miss Pinch looked a disagreeable sort.
"Mr Grawp, our groundskeeper," a huge giant, even bigger than Hagrid, was squeezed in at the end of the table. And, stood just beside him --
"Mr Filch, our caretaker, and his cat, Mrs Norris."
There was a polite, if half hearted, round of applause from then students, then Professor McGonagall raised her hands for silence once more.
"Just before we eat, I would like to take the opportunity to say a few words with the first years particularly in mind - though some of our older students would do well to take note as well," McGonagall spoke firmly, but Rafael caught a twinkle of amusement in her eye and guessed that she was really very fond of everyone at Hogwarts.
"While you are here we will teach you how to use your magic, the gifts you are all naturally imbued with. But what you do with those gifts is up to you. Know that trying to live up to a reputation, or trying to live one down," Rafael could have sword McGonagall looked straight at him, "Is a sad waste of talent - your talent.
"It is not your level of skill, your bloodline or your House that makes you who you are. It is the choices you make. We, your teachers, will strive to do everything in your power to help and nurture you during your time at Hogwarts, but in the end it is the only person that you have to answer to is yourself."
McGonagall paused to let her words resonate within the hall. Everyone was silent.
Then, with a smile, she raised her hands again, "Now, let the feast begin!"
Suddenly every table in the hall was laden with every kind of dish imaginable, all piping hot and cooked to perfection. The aroma wafting from them was mouth-watering, and the students dived on the food, hungry from a day of long travel.
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Post by jessimyre on Sept 23, 2008 18:35:51 GMT -5
"Oh wow!" Sydelle's eyes widened as the feast appeared before them and other students began to load their plates. A wave of sound rose throughout the hall as the students and even teachers began to chat and discuss their holidays. Above it occasionally a giggle could be heard, or a bass tone could be picked out.
"Did you hear her?" Teddy asked his friends, "Live up to a reputation? I know she was talking about me, she looked right at me!" he exclaimed. "But it doesn't matter, I have a reputation to live up to whether I like it or not." he added cheerfully. Sydelle noticed that the problem didn't seem to concern him at all and she was suddenly glad for him.
"This is fabulous." she commented, "I won't be able to eat breakfast tomorrow after all this!"
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Post by blossom on Sept 24, 2008 6:16:57 GMT -5
"She was talking about me too - living a reputation down," Rafael said, a little dejectedly. He glanced over his shoulder at the Slytherin table, but his brothers were no longer looking at him. Rafael wasn't sure whether to be glad or nervous, and returned his attention to the incredible spread of food before them.
Despite his nerves, Rafael found his was ravenous and began piling chicken drumsticks, sausages, roast potatoes on his plate, then poured gravy over the whole lot. Teddy grinned at him, his own plate covered with an uneatable amount of food. The girls appeared to be a lot more restrained - or civilised - than them, but Rafael didn't care. He was hungry.
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Post by jessimyre on Sept 25, 2008 5:53:54 GMT -5
"Really?" Sydelle asked around a mouthful of potato. "Why's that? Why do you two have reputations to live up to?" she swallowed and then added, "or down to?"
"You must be muggle born." the older girl next to her laughed good naturedly, "Otherwise you'd know both answers." Sydelle didn't feel at all worried about this statement, she had so much to learn and so much to know about the wizarding world. She turned her honest blue eyes on Teddy first.
"Oh well you know, my parents died fighting in the Great War ten years ago, both got an Order of Merlin First Class for it, Nan keeps them in the front room to show them off. And well my Godfather is Harry Potter." he shrugged, tucking into a roast chicken leg.
"Oh." she said, slightly confused. She didn't know much about any Wizarding wars and her Muggle Primary school never taught that sort of history. "Oh!" Sydelle suddenly realised, the wizard she'd seen on the Famous Wizard card from her chocolate frog on the train. "Oh wow." she said, her eyes brightening. "I can see what you mean!"
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