Meeting with Team Fifteen on Magical Arts Room and Sports

Regina Parker

January 19, 2013 11:37 AM

Meeting with Team Fifteen by Regina Parker

Reggie had seen groups beginning to meet shortly after the list was put up. She really didn’t see what the point was so early on when no mention of the challenges thus far. What were they supposed to do? Go around and say hello and nothing more? When she had seen her name at the top of one of the teams, she knew that it was likely because she had been made Prefect. She was okay with being a leader. Her grades were pretty good all things considered, having received nothing less than an E in any of her classes. Her best being an O in potions and Charms. But without knowing what the challenges were, who was to say that brains mattered? Reggie was not athletic, her small 5’3 frame was tiny. The only sport she had ever really done was skiing and that was at leisure.

Anyway, she had seen so many teams begin to get together that she felt it might have been for the best if she at least attempted something now. If nothing else, getting to know one another on a more personal level wouldn’t hurt anything. She knew Nora to be the new Aladren Prefect, but her knowledge of the girl stopped there. Eris was in her house and had transferred in last year and Waverly did the baking club. But that was the extent of her knowledge of them and she knew nothing of the two younger girls. It wouldn’t hurt to flesh out their talents and skills now so that they could be a little bit prepared for when the first challenge came around.

She had sent a quick note to all the members advising to meet her in the sports room in MARS after dinner so that they could have a quick team meeting. She didn’t think any of them would have an issue with this, but sometimes girls could get huffy about things. Either they came or they didn’t. It was their choice.

Reggie sat and waiting quietly on the bleachers that were currently in the room. When the other girls began to arrive, Reggie gave them a bright smile. “Hello Ladies.” She said, deciding to stay seated. “So, it looks like we’re a team. I figured, we might as well use the time we have before the challenges to get to know each other and to figure out our best strategies on how to work well together.” She stated. “For those of you who may not know me, I’m Regina Parker, Teppenpaw 6th year and Prefect. Everyone calls me Reggie. My best subjects are Potions and Charms, but I can handle myself in DADA and Transfiguration just as well and I’d say that I’m pretty creative, or, so everyone says.” She said after taking a second to think about what she had to offer.

“So, who wants to go next?”

6 Regina Parker Meeting with Team Fifteen 187 Regina Parker 1 5

Eris Ackart

January 21, 2013 2:38 AM

Go Team 15! by Eris Ackart

Eris was still riding the high of her summer. Even though the feast hadn’t quite ended the way she’d expected, she was finding it incredibly hard not to be happy. Sure, she wasn’t on the same team as her new boyfriend, and maybe he was on the same team as one of his closest female friends, but Eris wasn’t jealous. Or at least that’s what she kept telling herself. She was, however, chuffed to be on the same team as Waverly.

She didn’t know Nora, of the second years on the team, but she was also excited that Regina was their team leader. From what Eris had gathered, she was kind of the brains behind the fancy dress party last year, and that had been the catalyst for her entire summer, so in her books, Regina was pretty awesome. The fourth year also couldn’t imagine it would hurt to have two prefects on her team. Overall, even though Quidditch was cancelled, Eris was pumped for the challenges and was looking forward to getting to know the girls better.

It took a little more time than she’d expected, but she found her way to the sports room just fine and took a seat on the bleachers with the rest of the team, smiling as people entered because she couldn’t seem to stop. She listened intently as Reggie told them a little more about herself, and was surprised to find they weren’t all that different.

“I’ll go next!” Eris said, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. “I’m Eris Ackart, 4th year Teppenpaw. I guess transfiguration is my better subject, but I’m decent with wand work in general. I was on the Teppenpaw Quidditch team as a reserve last year, but know how to handle a broom. My dad works for the government, so I have a bit of political knowledge, and I’m fair when it comes to artwork, particularly painting. Not that I think that’ll really come in handy, but you never know…and that’s it!” She said decisively, turning her gaze toward the person who would speak next.

0 Eris Ackart Go Team 15! 0 Eris Ackart 0 5

Effie Arbon

January 22, 2013 11:53 AM

Hurrah, teamwork etc. by Effie Arbon

It was a good job that the school had decided to assign the students challenges, and designated teams, during Effie's second year, rather than her first. She was not thrilled by being thrown in with people with whom she would not normally associate – some teams had definitely faired better in this respect - however, she had learnt, through observation rather than experience, that mixing with the lower classes was not going to result in immediate banishment by her own her class, especially when one was being forced into the situation by some mandate from the staff.

Whilst generally unmerciful in her case, the staff had shown her the small kindness of placing her on a team with Isabel. She was doubly glad of this as she and her friend were making their way down to the MARS rooms together. Whilst it had been described as a team meeting, Effie was highly suspicious of the fact it was being held in the sports room rather than the hall, where most other teams had met. Perhaps their team leader was paranoid about spies. And, she reassured herself, whilst it was the case that this girl had been given a minor degree of authority over her, she had not been given the power to force Effie to do things against her will. The only way that she would be mounting a broomstick for any other purpose than riding gently in side-saddle would be if she was placed under the Imperius Curse. As that was illegal in all civilised countries of the world, she very much doubted that the school rules allowed it.

She took a seat awkwardly on the uncomfortable stadium-style seats, a little reassured by the obvious lack of sporting equipment. Regina Parker – why she wanted to be known by a boy's name when her own name was actually rather pretty was beyond Effie – seemed only to want a brief run down of their skills. This was something of a relief, although it would be the first time Effie had really interacted with the non-Purebloods of the school. She was glad that she was required more to speak to them than with them, as she felt that might be somewhat easier. From what she had observed last year, it was not particular fashionable to highlight one's superiority over such people too strongly. This seemed odd to her, as she had always been taught that everything about the way her family did things was the right way. Therefore she saw little sense in adapting it just to spare the feelings of people who didn't really matter. However, she did not want to be deemed rude by Isabel, nor turn the entire room against her. Even if no one was forcing them all to like each other, they did at least have to be amicable for a year. She listened to the introductions of her other team mates, trying to gauge the appropriate level of information and general tone. After Regina spoke came the British girl, who apparently had desires on playing Quidditch. Effie had also heard that she was dating a crippled Muggleborn so she marked Eris down as someone without a great deal of self-respect.

“My name is Effie Arbon,” she introduced herself. Her tone was fairly neutral. She was not ready to be warm and gushing, eager to make friends from her team mates but nor was she treating them with open hostility. “I come from a magical background and thus have been studying the core school subjects for a number of years. I would therefore place myself as above average for my year group,” it was not decent to brag but she felt she had expressed this is a suitably declarative manner, backed with evidence, for it not to seem so. Besides which, Regina had asked for a profile of their skills. “I do not feel that any of my subjects really has a lead over the others. I am capable of flying as a means of transportation in a side-saddle position,” she only covered this as Eris had, and to make Regina aware of what she would be comfortable being asked to do. She sincerely hoped that flying would not really be involved and did not see how it, practically speaking, could be in a fashion which accommodated everybody's needs. A side-saddle position was suited to straight forward, practical flying, which was not much of a competition. More elaborate stunts required the additional grip provided by an astride position. It was well known to the staff that many students were uncomfortable with riding in this position and thus a challenge that was dependent on it would be discriminatory. “As you note, artistic skills may be less likely to come into play but in that field I am skilled in dance, embroidery and other similar, ladylike pursuits.”

13 Effie Arbon Hurrah, teamwork etc. 238 Effie Arbon 0 5

Waverly Canterbury

January 22, 2013 12:29 PM

That was really heartfelt by Waverly Canterbury

When Waverly had seen the team lists, she had been very pleased. This school year was just starting out so well for her. She got to be on the same team as Eris, one of her good friends here, and Reggie, a girl Waverly very much admired. Reggie had been the one who put together the party last year which Waverly had really enjoyed. Not only did that mean that Reggie was awesome, but that she was hard-working too. It wasn't easy to put a party together. Nora Dobson was another girl that Waverly had seen around but didn't really know. Nora was known to be smart, though, so that was a plus. Altogether, Waverly thought they had a pretty good team.

Though the challenges meant that there would be more work for her, she wouldn't have to play Quidditch this year, not that she had been planning on it. She was, however, going to have to put the Baking Club on hiatus because of it. She didn't think the club would have enough consistent meetings to really make it worth it. It was okay, though; she had plenty of time to bake on her own.

They were going to meet in one of the MARS rooms, a place Waverly knew very well. She had gone into the music room to practice piano for the last three years and had improved since then, thanks to her dedication and the room's beautiful piano. She, Clara, and Bri had gone there to practice for the Midsummer Concert last year too. The only room Waverly hadn't stepped into was the sports room. She hadn't really had a reason to until last year, but then she had been on the Quidditch team and, after practices, she didn't want to get on a broom for the rest of the day.

Though Brandon was constantly in mind, she was getting through school life well. The thought of him wasn't too distracting most of the time. Right after a yummy dinner, Waverly went straight to the MARS room and found herself smiling. The room was just like a mini pitch, a perfect place to practice. The girls were in the stands, so Waverly went up to join them and sat down next to Eris. She smiled at her friend and whispered, "I'm really glad we're on the same team!" before Reggie started talking.

The introductions started and Waverly listened to Reggie go first before mentally shaping her intro around Reggie's. It wasn't too difficult to know what her skills were. Eris went next, and then Effie Arbon. That was the Effie whose sister had danced with Rup at the ball thingy. Effie was pretty and she wondered if her sister was just like her. It was obvious, however, that Effie was one of those purebloods, the snobby ones. Oh well. She thought they could get through this. Waverly's green eyes turned to the other second-year in their midst, wondering if she was one of those purebloods too.

After Effie went, it was Waverly's turn. "My name is Waverly Canterbury and I'm a 4th year Pecari." She hummed in thought for a moment. "My two best subjects are Charms and Transfiguration and I can get by in DADA. I'm pretty good at spellwork in general. Talentwise, I can bake and ride a broom, unfortunately not side-saddle. I'm also really good at multi-tasking, but that might just be a fun-fact." She smiled at Reggie. "I think that's it!" Waverly turned to the next person.

19 Waverly Canterbury That was really heartfelt 218 Waverly Canterbury 0 5

Isabel Raines

January 29, 2013 9:31 PM

Hoping for the best for everyone by Isabel Raines

Isabel was nervous about meeting with her team for the challenges, especially since she didn’t know most of the girls on it, and all but Effie were older than her. She thought she would have been more comfortable in some of the first years had been on the team, but they weren’t, so she was probably the youngest person on their team because of her late birthday, or at least very nearly. She had only turned twelve less than a month before school started. She was glad to be with Effie, then, as they walked to the meeting, facing a girl they had kind of snubbed the year before and who might, then, not be too happy to have to deal with them now.

She listened as the leader – Reggie Parker, a sixth year – began talking, smiling tentatively in the older girl’s direction even though she wasn’t sure Effie would like that. Smiling was a default thing with her, a way of keeping things friendly, at least as long as they could be or until she at least figured out if they even should be. Mamma and Catherine both recommended it, and she guessed they knew better than she did.

She listened as they all went around, talking about themselves and hoping they would somehow miss her turn, would just assume she was Effie’s shadow and that was all they needed to know about her. They didn’t, though, so she straightened up a little and smiled at the group instead of at Reggie specifically.

“I’m Isabel Raines,” she said. “Second year, Crotalus. I, um, think I’m about average at most things in classes, but I’m a good dancer.” She felt more than a little inferior beside the other girls, but tried not to let that show as she kept smiling, her hands still in her lap over her pale blue dress.

0 Isabel Raines Hoping for the best for everyone 241 Isabel Raines 0 5

Nora Dobson

January 30, 2013 7:07 AM

That's all we can ask for. by Nora Dobson

One might expect Nora to be highly competitve when it came to the team challenges but she really wasn't. Not that she would have minded winning, of course, but usually she was just more about learning stuff and getting honors for herself. Though she supposed winning the challenges would be one. She guessed she was still on some high from being named prefect that it was hard to get too stressed out or intense about something else, though Nora did hope to be Head Girl in two years.

Maybe her feelings about winning would have been different had she been the actual leader of the team. Not that she minded Reggie doing so, but if Nora had been the leader, she probably would been more competitive, seen winning as a step that could lead to her being Head Girl. Unless, of course, people from other teams resented her for winning and didn't vote for her, but the Aladren had never been one to hold back just in order not to make others feel bad. Nor was she ever one to try and do anything but her best. Nora sincerely doubted anyone would have a problem with her being on their team.

And looking around at the people on her team, she doubted she'd have much problem with them either. Reggie Parker was a prefect, which meant the staff clearly thought she was capable, the same as they did Nora. The older girl was Hope's roommate and on those occasions when Hope mentioned her roommates, she said that Reggie was a nice person, quite friendly. Plus, the Aladren had had classes with her and had impressed Nora as, if not being a genius, at least being fairly intelligent.

Eris and Waverly were two girls she remembered from the book club. She hadn't been too impressed with Waverly's rather insulting to her values book choice and had wondered why Eris had shown up in the first place, but both girls seemed very enthusiastic, easy going and easy to get along with. Nor did they seem stupid either. Intelligence was very important in Nora's eyes. The two second years she didn't know at all, though she had heard of their families. Other than that, all she had to go on were the yearbook awards, Isabel had gotten princess and Effie had gotten well behaved. Not generally bad things necessarily but not anything she could guess a person's skills from the way she could something like Biggest Brain, a title Nora had won, for example.

She listened to each person give their strengths, starting with Reggie. The fifth year was glad that her assessment of the older girl's intelligence had not been wrong. Intelligence was key in just about any situation. Even Quidditch had to have strategies. That was probably why Aladren kept winning. She also agreed that Reggie was pretty creative after her thing in the concert. Hope had had a fairly important role and said it was one of the most fun times she'd had at Sonora-and it hadn't even involved Russell Layne, so that was really saying something for her cousin. Nora figured creativity would also be an asset for any problem solving tasks they might encounter. It seemed to work for Evan.

Eris spoke next and she was just as enthusiastic as Nora had assumed she would be. She didn't see how political knowledge would come in handy anymore than artwork would, unless they had some trivia challenge that included it, in which case it would come in very handy. As for anything artistic, well, the fifth year was pretty sure Evan would have them all beat there. Still, Nora was glad they had someone willing to fly if need be. Given the type of families the two second years, as well as herself, came from, she doubted they would want to. For her personally, flying was something she'd been discouraged away from, and unlike other interests her mother would rather she not pursue, Nora hadn't been interested enough to do it anyway. Eris was sure to be a useful person to have around.

The next person to speak up was Effie Arbon. Having heard of the family before,the Aladren wasn't fooled by Effie's not using the formulaic pureblood introduction and something in Effie's demeanor suggested that Nora wasn't supposed to be. The fifth year was pleased to hear that the girl was above average in all subjects, so far, they were doing pretty well on that. Partially because Nora really didn't have much patience for stupid people.

Then came Waverly, who like Eris seemed pretty enthused about things. As Nora didn't have any issue with doing the challenges, that failed to be annoying to her. She was glad to know that the Pecari was also good at Charms and Transfiguration and if for some reason one of the challenges was a cooking competition, the fifth year was sure she would be glad the other girl was around since she most definitely did not bake. Nobody in her family did but Waverly quite clearly didn't belong to the same sort of family that Nora did. It was also pretty good they had another flier on the team.

Finally, Isabel Raines spoke up. She was only average in classes,according to her, but Nora didn't see that it would be an issue given everyone else being good enough at things for her not to be a detriment.Besides, the second year seemed kind of nervous, despite her smile, at least to the Aladren's eyes. Much like Waverly and baking, her dancing would be a specialized skill in case they had a dance competition or something. Plus, Nora had had dance herself, so she knew that it could help with balance.

Now it was her own turn. "Well, I'm Nora Dobson, fifth year Aladren," She decided to forgo the proper greeting given the two second years had and it had a tendency to make non-purebloods assume one was snotty. That was not the impression she wanted to give when she had to work with these people all year. "I'm good at all subjects, including astronomy. I also know psychology and magisociology" Both subjects she planned to do independent studies in next year. "I can fly if I have to, we didn't really learn it side saddle back when I took lessons so I learned the regular way and I have been trained in dancing too, but mostly ballroom."

11 Nora Dobson That's all we can ask for. 197 Nora Dobson 0 5

Reggie

January 31, 2013 7:02 PM

Exactly! by Reggie

As each of them went through and discussed what their strengths were, Reggie wrote them all down so that she could strategize with them and work on who should take lead during certain challenges that required a certain skill set. It was good to have this all written down. She also wanted to discuss what things they definitely did not want to do. This way, if they knew ahead of time what someone wasn’t comfortable with (like Effie riding a broom normal) a different team member could fill in for them. Besides, it was always best to know what they were fabulous as well as what they were worst at in situations like the one their school was presenting them.

Scratching down that Eris was a flier, good at Transfiguration, artistic with paint, has political, Reggie moved onto the next person, Effie Arbon. That was the girl, Reggie was sure, who had the secret tea-party that hadn’t been so secret because they felt appalled by a costume party. This amused Reggie. She neither cared for the politics of Purebloods, nor let it affect her in any way. If people didn’t like her for something she couldn’t control that was their issue, not hers. She wasn’t sure what exactly Effie was studying prior to coming to Sonora that she felt like she somehow ranged above others in class. If Reggie wasn’t mistaken, everyone but Waverly came from Magical backgrounds and were also likely educated prior to coming to Sonora. Of course, unless Effie had somehow illegally secured a wand before turning eleven and thus did magic without authorization, then Reggie could agree that she was probably above her classmates. Or, at least, equal to Third Years.

Reggie made no comment of this, of course, it wasn’t her place and she quite frankly, didn’t care what her family did. Eventually, they’d likely get caught if they continued down that line of believing they were above the law. That was what her mother always told her and her mother was the law, so Reggie tended to believe her. Instead, Reggie wrote down that she was skilled in the core subjects, side-saddled flier (whatever that meant), and that she danced.

Waverly confirmed that she was skilled at Charms and Transfiguration with a little in confidence for Defense as well (Reggie didn’t think baking was going to be essential, but she wrote it down anyway, including it up in hers as well since she baked with her grandmother all the time), and flying. Well, at least they had a couple of fliers so far. That was something.

Isabel seemed less confident than the other second year, but there was nothing wrong with that. Reggie could flesh out some of the girl’s skills as time went on. For now, she simply put ‘dancer’ down. Their last member was Nora. Nora entirely impressed Reggie with her knowledge in Psychology and Magiosociology. She couldn’t fathom why a fifteen year old would need or want to study those things, but more power to her.

“Okay, so we have some fliers, mainly Eris and Waverly, although we can probably call on Nora too if we have to. And some dancers, which will help in case we need some limber people or there happens to be a dance challenge, so that’ll work for Effie and Isabel.” Reggie commented while she looked over her list. “We all seem to be pretty safe in the magic categories, so uber bonus to us!” Reggie did a fist pump in the air to exaggerate the statement. “But… is anyone have any real strength in Care of Magical Creatures? I mean, I could certainly identify a creature and whatnot, but is everyone on par with that? I don’t know what sorts of things they’ll be putting us up to, so I want to make sure that all subjects are covered pretty well.” Reggie explained, looking at each of them.

“So, now for the hard part.” Reggie began. “Just as much as we need to know our strengths, we need to also evaluate our weakness or things that you aren’t comfortable with. Like Effie did with flying in a straddled position. These will not leave this room and if I hear anyone mentioning it later on, I’ll know that there is someone in here that cannot be trusted with valuable information.” Reggie warned. She hated people who gossiped and told other people’s business.

“I’ll start. I am not at all athletic. I can ski, but that’s more leisure than anything. Also, I’m not a fan of flying at all. I’ll do it if I have to, but I won’t be happy about it. But most of all, I am terrified of the dark. If one of these challenges means we have to be completely in the dark, I’m going to need some heavy support.” Reggie advised them. By now, her friends were probably aware of her phobia and most certainly her roommates since Reggie had a light crystal with her at night, but she didn’t think it was common knowledge, especially since she loved horror so much. “Okay, next!”

6 Reggie Exactly! 187 Reggie 0 5