Well that's a grim portrait. [First-year dorm] on Crotalus Commons

DH Amelia Pierce

November 04, 2011 8:16 AM

HoH Speech, continued from Cascade Hall by DH Amelia Pierce

She gave them most of the walk from the Cascade Hall to the corridor containing the portrait of Gunther the Zombie to mull over her name. She also pointed out some landmarks as they walked. They would all need to find their way back to the Hall for breakfast, anyway, and a few landmarks would probably help.

For those purebloods who were up on the Who Not to Talk To List, they would need the time to deliberate how they were going to handle having their Head of House be a disowned liberal muggle-loving Quidditch-playing unmarried thirty-six year old woman with an adopted daughter who was not only a lesbian but a co-founder of DISCUSS.

It was a lot to think about but they'd run out of time. She indicated the large painting beside which she had come to stop. Its less than handsome subject was nearly the same size she was. "This is Gunther the Zombie," she introduced him. "He guards the entrance to our Commons. To enter, you will need the password. Do not share it with anyone not in Crotalus. Only House members are allowed inside. Once you tell the password to Gunther, he will allow you to pass."

She looked around to make sure they were all paying attention. This was one of the more important pieces of information she'd be giving them tonight. "The password this week is Excalibur." As she said the word, she turned to look at Gunther, and his portrait swung open on hinges as she finished saying it. "Follow me inside, please," she instructed and stepped over the couple of inches of wall that stood below the portrait, and into the room beyond. Older students would probably have to duck if they got taller than about five and a half feet tall, but the eleven year old first years would be able to walk right in. (Though her own head would fit under the top of the opening without ducking, it was a near enough thing that she ducked anyway as she stepped through; she was 5'5".)

There were a half dozen matching armchairs and couches, with maroon upholstery and silver trim. The carpet was gray and the walls were a tasteful shade of red that Amelia, for one, had been relieved to find was not as vibrant a hue as she might have feared when she first heard the House colors were red and silver.

Once everyone had filed in and the portrait closed behind them, she tapped the bulletin board that stood beside the room's entrance. "The password changes about once every week. I recommend checking here before you leave in the morning to make sure you have the current one." She pointed out the relevant spot where Excalibur was currently being displayed. "If you forget the password, keep walking down the hall past Gunther and you'll see a door with my name on it. If I'm around, I'll let you in. If I'm not, my wards will let me know you're there, and I'll get to you as soon as I can."

The rest of the bulletin board was fairly empty aside from the password, but that didn't mean what wasn't there yet was any less important. "The other thing the board is used for is announcements and sign-up sheets, like the Quidditch one that Marissa should be putting up soon. I encourage any and all of you to try out. First years are allowed on the team. The Captain this year is Marissa Stephenson, and her assistant is Sam Bauer. They are also your prefects, along with Rachel Bauer. So you can go to any of them or me if you have questions about anything."

Moving away from the wall and bulletin board, Amelia took place in the middle of the room and stood up straighter, as befitted a more formal lecture. "Curfew is at ten. Fighting and disrespect of your Housemates will not be tolerated. I am not afraid to dock points or give detentions no matter who your families are."

She felt confident that her small disowned branch of the Pierce family gave her a position that did not lend itself to intimidation by even the most wealthy and influential purebloods. She knew who was important but there was nothing they could do to touch her. She was her own Matriarch so she had no one to answer to and, short of her job, there was nothing they had the ability to take away from her. "Everyone is equal in this House." She frowned at them, hoping she looked the part of stern Deputy Headmistress despite not quite being thirty-seven yet.

"That said, Crotalus will be your home for the next seven years. As long as you follow simple courtesies, we should have no problems. My office can be reached from the hall outside, or from that door right there," she pointed it out. "Anyone is welcome to stop by at any time to discuss any subject. I'll do my best to resolve any issues or problems you may have. Or, if you just want to talk to somebody about something, I can do that, too."

She paused for another moment, then pointed toward the leftmost of the two staircases leading out of the room. "Boys, your dorms are up there. Girls, you have the stairs to the right. Look for the door with your year number on it. Boys are not permitted up the girls stairs, and neither are the girls allowed in the boys corridor. Any attempt to ignore this rule will be met with forceful and magical eviction. As you have been duly warned, I will not accompany any student attempting such to the Hospital Wing. They will need to get there on their own." In all truth, they probably wouldn't need the Hospital Wing at all (she'd even heard stories that the Pecaris used to call that particular effect the 'corridor ride') but she saw more harm than good in sharing that information. Implying it would result in serious personal injury was far more effective.

"Does anyone have any questions?"

OOC: You are now allowed to post anywhere on the site, though obviously, your character doesn't have access to the other common rooms. Please keep to the standard posting rules and minimum posting length (two paragraphs, each paragraph averaging around five sentences). Have fun and welcome to Sonora!

Subthreads:

Well that's a grim portrait. [First-year dorm] by Cepheus Princeton with Gareth Whitebriar, Cepheus, Cepheus

Moving In [Girls' First Year Dorm by Shiloh Romano] with Alexandra Deveraux, Shiloh

1 DH Amelia Pierce HoH Speech, continued from Cascade Hall 20 DH Amelia Pierce 1 5

Cepheus Princeton

November 04, 2011 1:33 PM

Well that's a grim portrait. [First-year dorm] by Cepheus Princeton

When their apparent Head of House introduced herself as being a part of the Boston Pierces, he made sure to keep that name in mind. He looked for Gareth, his European acquaintance, and then followed their Head of House to their common room where he wrinkled his aristocratic nose at the portrait. That was certainly grim. He scoffed a little and muttered this to his neighbor. He had never been a fan of the living dead of any sort. It hardly existed, anyway. If he ever gained any authority in this place, he'd be changing that portrait first thing. At least the password was decent. Excalibur. Another word to keep in mind, though it wouldn't last. The doorway was quite tall for him. Cepheus was a bit small for his size, but his father was 6' and some, so he didn't mind it too much at the moment.

Ah, Quidditch sign-ups. He would have to wait for them to be posted, but that was all that was really keeping him going at the moment. He was going to try out for Seeker since he was a bit too small to be a beater. Brutes played those roles, his father had told him. Cepheus sometimes didn't agree with his father's opinions, but he kept it to himself. He'd always kept everything to himself. He looked at Gareth, wondering if he would try out for the Quidditch team as well. It was nice having an ally in this foreign place.

The Deputy Head's next comment made his attention snap back to her. "Everyone is equal in this House." Either that meant everyone in this house was from a noble family, most likely American families, or that she was a blood-traitor or a liberal. Which also gave the Boston Pierces a bad reputation. The sharp, brooding look on his face, made his blue eyes cold as he appraised their head, but she was still their Head of House, so he couldn't be sure what to make of her. He'd get seven years to know her, anyway, and he'd need to get to get to know her better since she was the Quidditch coach.

Cepheus sighed, letting up his appraisal and headed up to the male dorms once they had been dismissed. He found the room for first-years and smirked. It wasn't bad at all. Walking through the room, he found his things already next to a bed. His caged tawny was there, hooting irritably. He ignored it as he always did. It was small owl, fitting his size but not his ego. Father had promised to give him an eagle-owl just like his when he was older and taller. At least he had an owl; that was enough at the moment. He walked across the room with his bird and opened its cage. "Go hunt or something," he told it, and the owl hooted at him and obeyed. It was quite attached to him, apparently.

His unnamed owl left and Cepheus sighed and brought the cage back to his bed. There were very few people in his year; Sonora couldn't be a very large school, or something. He shrugged. "I guess it's mostly just you and me, Gareth," he said with a little smirk.

40 Cepheus Princeton Well that's a grim portrait. [First-year dorm] 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Shiloh Romano]

November 04, 2011 9:01 PM

Moving In [Girls' First Year Dorm by Shiloh Romano]

The halls felt both familiar and foreign to her as Shiloh followed quietly behind her professed Head of House. There was much of the Mediterranean in the materials of Sonora, the adobe and tile and stone. It made her think of her summers at her grandparents' large villa in Sicily. The smell of the blood-orange blossoms, the smooth bark of the olive trees, and the hint of the sea with its taste of salt on her tongue and in her hair-- none of these were here in the varied halls of Sonora, but if Shiloh closed her eyes for just a second, she could imagine it, and the thought was more than enough to stretch a very contented smile across her lips. That smile vanished, though, once Gunther the Zombie was introduced.

More than a little intimidated, she skittered behind her neighbor, unabashedly using the neighbor's shoulders as a guard against looking at the awful painting full on. Just who would commission such a thing? Not to mention decide to give it sentience? She shuddered; no way would she be able to approach the terrible painting on her own. Nervously, she glanced at the only other girl in their small group of four and inwardly prayed that she would be a nice and friendly sort of girl, the sort of girl who wouldn't mind helping out roommates with potentially odd requests. Shiloh tugged on her almost completely loosened braid anxiously; she hoped so.

She closed her eyes as she stepped through the portrait, her short legs nearly tripping over themselves in her haste to get past it. She bumped into the neighbor unknowingly guarding her and murmurred a quick apology before moving out and into the open. Thankfully the Crotalus common room was absent of additional undead artwork. In fact, it was very normal and lush and comforting; very slowly, that smile from earlier returned. Shiloh was only eleven-years-old, and like most eleven-year-olds, was entirely unaware of the difference a smile gave to plain features. In her case, the simple expression gave her plump cheeks and round face a brightness, a simple happiness that was positively infectious. Even her stern Papa could not help himself when his youngest and only daughter greeted him with one of her smiles.

It was not strange, then, that Shiloh had grown up quite spoiled despite her fairly isolated upbringing. She had grown up without knowing of anything bad or rotten or unfair, and in her mind, the world was a wonderful place full of roses and sunshine. She very firmly believed that the world would stay as such as long as she, along with the rest of society, obligingly followed the rules presented to them. And so it was with earnest seriousness that she absorbed each of the directives her Head of House presented to them. She was too distracted in this pursuit to tuck away the mentioned family her Head of House claimed to be from.

Once released to enter the dorm rooms, Shiloh half-skipped toward the stair leading to the rooms proper before remembering herself. She turned to her fellow first years and gave a short wave. "Very nice to have met you!" she called and then reigned in enough of her excitement to only take the stair at a fast walk and not a full on run. In the room, she came to a full stop, her hands lifting to cover her mouth in open pleasure.

It was wonderful! Two four-poster beds filled the space, each coupled with a dresser and wardrobe, a night stand for knicknacks, and a single shelf. Her trunk, satchel, and toiletry case had been delivered and waited for her perusal and unpacking. She side-stepped the luggage and, with a hop, bounced up on the bed. It was just as soft and warm as hers had been at home. The comforter felt deliciously soft under her hands. She stretched and gave a very contented sigh. Her parents, her brothers, and Mr. Georges had all been right; Sonora Academy was a wonderful place and already she loved it.

The creak of door opening a second time forced Shiloh to sit up, finally removing the ribbon that wound through her braid. "Hello! I'm sorry I didn't wait for you below, I was just too anxious to finally see our room!" She hopped down from the bed and smoothed down her skirt. Still smiling, Shiloh finished her greeting, "I'm Shiloh Romano, only daughter to Enzo Romano and second grandaugther to Andrea Romano. Very pleased to meet you."

0 Shiloh Romano] Moving In [Girls' First Year Dorm 0 Shiloh Romano] 0 5

Gareth Whitebriar

November 04, 2011 11:54 PM

Better than fluffy kittens I suppose by Gareth Whitebriar

Gareth stood with the other first years when they were called together by their new Head of House. He noticed with interest that she was the same woman who’d given them the color changing potion. Her introduction left the eldest Whitebriar stunned. Most of the walk to the new dorms passed in a blur as Gareth tried to digest the information. He was pulled from his troubled thoughts by Cepheus’s comment about the zombie portrait and he gave a quick nod of agreement. Not that the gruesome image bothered him overly much, but the small girl hiding behind him seemed rather afraid of it.

The Whitebriar branch was closer to liberal than any of the other branches but some things were still just not done. And unfortunately his new Head of House was apparently all of them. Gareth wondered for the first time if his parents were aware that such a female held a place of power in the new school. How was he suppose to treat her? In the end he decided that polite indifference would serve him best. The woman was a figure of authority he was expected to deal with for the next seven years, and she was the Quidditch Coach. It wouldn’t do to get on her bad side.

Once they were dismissed Gareth headed up to the boy’s dormitory with Cepheus. He’d never had to share a room before, but at least he was sharing it with a fellow European instead of some American. “That’s fine with me, more room for us.” Gareth replied. Better to have just one roommate, instead of three or four.

0 Gareth Whitebriar Better than fluffy kittens I suppose 0 Gareth Whitebriar 0 5

Cepheus Princeton

November 05, 2011 4:32 PM

I think I'd prefer kittens to the ugly living dead by Cepheus Princeton

Cepheus sat down on his four poster and sighed. He had never shared a room before, but it was nice that they had so much space for just two beds. He stretched and then put his hands on his stomach. "Where in Europe are you from?" he asked. His accent sounded like he was from Western Europe, but one could never be too sure. Nevertheless, he would be a good companion to have. He could hardly stand Americans already.

"Have you ever visited America before?" he had to ask. He missed Europe so badly. He wanted to be back home, but he tried his best to be strong. He hated being here already, and it was only his first day. Swallowing, he unpacked the photographs of his friends and family and placed them on his night table. Everything else he could unpack later. He looked at the photographs for a moment before turning back to his companion.

"You thinking of joining the Quidditch team?" he asked after Gareth had answered his other question. He needed to stay away from the topic of home for a little while. Once they were better acquainted, friends, even, and once Cepheus was used to being away from home, they could talk about it. For now, he was just grateful that his one roommate was from the same continent as he.

40 Cepheus Princeton I think I'd prefer kittens to the ugly living dead 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Gareth

November 08, 2011 12:01 AM

Cats are evil by Gareth

Gareth was neatly unpacking his trunk when Cepheus asked where he was from. “Brookshire Manor, outside of Glynneath, Wales. And you?” He answered absently as he organized his books on the shelf next to his bed. All of a sudden a rush of homesickness filled him. The desert was nothing like the thick forests surrounding his home. Why couldn’t I have attended Hogwarts? He wondered, but he knew there was nothing to be done. The choice had been made, and Gareth simply had to live with that choice.

“No, this is my first time in America.” The words held a small sneer. Why Grandfather thought it was important to garner influence in America he’d never know. “What brought you to Sonora?” He wondered why his fellow European ended here instead of Hogwarts. Perhaps the Princeton’s had a similar plan to the Blackbriar’s.

To the question of Quidditch Gareth replied. “Yes, I’d like to get a chaser or beater position.” As a first year his chances of making the team weren’t great, and he denied that the idea of not making the team for another year pleased him. “Will you be trying out?” Gareth asked, wondering what positions Cepheus was interested in.

0 Gareth Cats are evil 0 Gareth 0 5

Cepheus Princeton

November 08, 2011 3:06 PM

Not all cats...Egyptians used to worship them, you know. by Cepheus Princeton

Ah! So he was a close comrade. "The Princeton Manor in East Horsley, Surrey." He wrinkled his nose. "No one would know where that is here so I've got to tell everyone I'm from London." He didn't care too much that he had to claim that, since his favorite aunt worked there, but London was too busy of a place, and too crowded, for such a manor. At least he had home to think about while he was here. And Quidditch. He sighed and gazed out the window, wishing he had the trees right outside his window where he could watch the leaves fall.

"Mine too," Cepheus said. Ah, what brought him to Sonora? Cepheus smiled bitterly. "Father sent me here to make some American friends. To be 'culturally educated.' Not by choice, obviously. If I had a choice, I would've gone to Hogwarts with my other friends." Dorian and Emma must be having a fine time there. At least he had people to visit there, if he could ever do so. Georgina had gone to Beauxbatons because her mother was French, but at least it was still in Europe. He was in a whole new continent now. Unfortunately. "And you?"

Cepheus was glad Gareth was going to try out for Quidditch too. If the team was made up of crazy Americans, at least there would be someone he knew. When Gareth added "beater" as the list of positions, Cepheus blinked. Gareth would be a good beater, unlike Cepheus who was a little scrawny for his age. He hated not being broad-shouldered like his father, even if he knew it would come in time.

"Yes, definitely. It may be the only thing keeping me going," he said. "I want the Seeker position, but I heard that the captain is the Seeker, so there may be little luck with that." Cepheus sighed. "I never want to be a chaser, and I'm too small to be a beater. I'm not sure what'll happen, to be honest."

40 Cepheus Princeton Not all cats...Egyptians used to worship them, you know. 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Gareth

November 08, 2011 10:20 PM

And they’ve never forgotten that by Gareth

“Yes, London is an interesting place to visit, but I would hate to live there.” Gareth despised the crowds, tightly cramped buildings, and lack of open spaces that made up the vast majority of large cities. But, he had visited London on a few occasions and it was pleasant for the short time that he was there. He still preferred the dense forests around his home to city life however.

He finished unpacking and flopped onto the bed as Cepheus explained that he’d been sent here to make American friends. “Hmm, it seems Grandfather had a similar idea.” Gareth mused. “He decided that the branches had enough influence in Hogwarts and that it was time to expand that influence to other schools.” His tone clearly showed what he thought about the project. Couldn’t Grandfather have waited just one more year? But no, he wouldn’t be joining his older cousins at Hogwarts. At least he wouldn’t be the only one banished to America. All the younger kids of all the lines would be sent here or to the other school.

“Seeker would be a good position for you.” Gareth agreed, noticing Cepheus’s small build. He would be light and fast. “Perhaps they will decide they need someone smaller anyway? As the captain I’m sure they are an upperclassmen, it would make sense to give the position to a first year if they were skilled enough to hold it. But I doubt first years will be given positions unless the team is in desperate need of players.”

0 Gareth And they’ve never forgotten that 0 Gareth 0 5

Alexandra Deveraux

November 08, 2011 10:33 PM

Getting acquainted by Alexandra Deveraux

As she followed the rest of the group of new Crotali through the halls, Alex tried to think about the implications of her Head of House – the same House both her mother and the family scandal had been in – being a Boston Pierce, but found herself distracted by learning the way, by the other students, by the murmurs of the paintings on the walls. The Louisiana Careys were not the wealthiest branch of the family, nor did they have the benefit of having been in their place since before the country was a country, so this was the grandest building she’d ever been in except for when she attended the Reunions. And she was going to be living here.

Not alone, of course. There was going to be another girl in her room. As they walked, Alexandra found herself glancing at the other girl every now and then – just glancing. Certainly not studying. Well, maybe studying a little, but who could blame her for that?

No one, she thought. No more than she could be blamed for recoiling from the portrait guarding their commons. Mother had told her a few things about Crotalus, but she had never mentioned that. It was lucky for Alex that her mother wasn’t present, because she would have had to say something that wasn’t proper for a respectful daughter about this omission of Victoria’s from her school preparation.

As she glanced around the group to see their reactions, she caught her roommate glancing at her as well, and she flushed as she looked at her shoes before defiantly raising her eyes back to the painting. She wasn’t going to be afraid of it, however horrible it looked and moaned at her in German.

She listened to the speech Miss Pierce gave them, keeping her hands clasped in front of her to keep from fiddling with anything, and didn’t hear anything too unexpected until the other girl announced it had been nice to meet them all and…ran away. Alex blinked, startled. They hadn’t so much as introduced themselves yet – she had thought it would be normal to do that here, then walk up to the dorm together, and talk on the way.

Of course, she remembered again how little she knew about all of this. She had Lissy, but no brothers, no sisters, nothing like that. She had some friends, after a fashion, but they were all Careys. It wasn’t the same as people outside, she knew. So maybe she was wrong about how things should work. She went up to the dorm alone.

Once she got there, though, a different answer awaited her. She found herself smiling, though she disliked her smile because she thought it made her mouth seem even wider, her face sharper, and her nose larger, from a sort of startled amusement.

“And you,” she said. “I am Alexandra Deveraux, of the Louisiana Deveraux, only daughter of Charles Deveraux and only granddaughter of Alexander Carey.” She realized that sounded strange and added, “My mother is his daughter.” She went to the bed with her trunk at the end and sat down on it. “Do you have any family here?” she asked, following her own thoughts and tying them in with being excited about their room. “Or have you?”

0 Alexandra Deveraux Getting acquainted 215 Alexandra Deveraux 0 5

Shiloh

November 09, 2011 3:18 PM

That's only a half skip away from friends! by Shiloh

Shiloh tried to remember where in her memory house the Deveraux family lived; it was a French-sounding name, so perhaps she had put them in the parlor, by the large water color. Or maybe in the gazebo with the band, near the french horn. Carey was far easier to place; Carey sounds like carriage, so they would be by the stables. And since the carriage is drawn by five horses, that surely meant there were five branches. She tried to remember if one of those branches was from Louisiana or not; the effort forced a small furrow to her brow. The furrow and the effort were both lost the moment the thankful distraction of a question was asked.

"None of my family has ever gone to Sonora Academy," Shiloh replied, mindful to not swing her legs. It was hard to resist, seeing as the bed was so tall and her legs so conveniently short. "I have five older brothers, but they're all so much older than me and so close in age that Momma and Papa had them tutored privately."

It was strange growing up with siblings already practically adults themselves. Marco, the brother closest in age with only a thirteen year gap ahead of her, had accepted an apprenticeship with a reknown potions master by the time Shiloh had reached an age old enough to hold a conversation that did not revolve around dolls or make-believe stories. And her other brothers had all moved on to college or families of their own by her third birthday. Shiloh even had five nephews, the oldest of which was only two years younger than her.

"It was our footman, Mr. Georges, who suggested that I come here, actually." Shiloh hushed her voice; what she was about to divulge, after all, was technically something she wasn't supposed to know. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, it's just that the door was open, and Mr. Georges was in casual attire, which had looked so odd to her, that she just had to stop and take a peak. "He told Momma and Papa that I should be around more people my age and that it would be good for me and that Sonora Academy was an excellent school."

She did not share the part where Mr. Georges had said that little girls with only adults for friends would surely grow up strange. Shiloh hadn't ever considered it odd that her friends were all adults; after all, the only people in the house were grown-ups. Who else was she to play with and talk to? Her mother had forbidden her from spending more than an hour a week with her dollhouse, and her father preferred for her to not read so much. What else was she to do?

"You know, I'm a little disappointed actually," she admitted after a moment more, re-considering the room. It seemed intended for a larger number of occupents to her revisionist eyes. "I was looking forward, just a little, to sharing a room with a bunch of girls. Not that you aren't wonderful, Alexandra," she hurried to reassure. "I think it might have been nice, though, to have a full room. . ."

0 Shiloh That's only a half skip away from friends! 0 Shiloh 0 5

Cepheus Princeton

November 09, 2011 3:55 PM

Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a cat. by Cepheus Princeton

Cepheus nodded in agreement to Gareth's comment. London was crowded and tight. He loved his home in Surrey much better. He lived near most of his family too, which was good and bad. Mostly good, since Dorian was the closest. The city was fun but fast, and Cepheus would prefer going fast on his broom than being forced to go fast by society.

Gareth was a kindred spirit, he was. Nearly everyone in his family had gone to Hogwarts, and his father had decided that he would go to America for him. Grandfather didn't mind the decision too much. Sometimes Cepheus was a little frightened of what would happen to the family under father's rule only because he was so adamant and stubborn about everything. Gareth obviously didn't like being here as much as he did. Perfect. They'd be great roommates.

"Thanks," Cepheus said. "I have practised an awful lot," he confessed. Father had drilled him and his brothers in Quidditch. They had to be well-rounded and make the Princeton name proud. Quidditch games were often used in business as well, Father had said. Gareth was doubtful of first-years making the team which set ice Cepheus's heart. He would make the team. He didn't want any old position. He wanted to be a Seeker. Beater would have to wait.

"I had better make the team," Cepheus said passionately, "or else I might throw myself to the desert and die. It's bad enough being in America. If I can't play Quidditch, that just adds more salt to the wound." He shook his head. "I hope we both make it. Otherwise Crotalus is refusing two, I'm assuming, skilled players."

40 Cepheus Princeton Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a cat. 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Alexandra

November 09, 2011 10:10 PM

And half a skip isn't very far at all by Alexandra

Alex’s eyes widened at the mention of five older brothers. She didn’t even notice that they had, she was surprised enough. Since her mother’s family was small, without many children yet, and her father’s almost wasn’t there anymore, she found it hard to imagine having five anythings, never mind brothers. Maybe especially brothers. The only boys in the Louisiana Careys right now were Charles and James, and they were both little, not really old enough for her to have anything to do with.

She nodded, though. “Most of my family has been tutored as well,” she said. “My mother came here, but…no one since her. Even her brother was taught at home.” That had been before the troubles, just a decision of Grandfather’s to make sure his heir got as thorough education in politics and rhetoric and other subjects not taught at school as he did in magic, but it had been continued since Gwenhwyfar…did the things she did. They had just made marriages as best they could from home, making sure to send everyone through all the summer parties to keep society from thinking there was something wrong with them and being safe, keeping everyone where bad influences couldn't hurt them. It seemed to have worked pretty well, since everyone but Lissy, who was too young, and Gregory, who wasn't very old either, who'd gone through that was married and Frank and Eleanor had a son.

Now that wasn’t going to work anymore, though, or at least Grandfather thought that it would be better if they at least tried to go outside again. So now, Alexandra was here, seeing if the school itself was still good and those girls who’d gone wrong had just been freaks of nature, the sort of thing that happened every now and again in even the best families but didn’t reflect the family overall.

Mr. Georges the footman had said it was an excellent school, though, and said it well enough that Shiloh’s parents had agreed, so she would have to tell Grandfather. Write to Grandfather. She wouldn’t see Grandfather or anyone else to tell them anything until December.

She was about to feel homesick, missing sitting beside Father while he read until she had to go to bed and her familiar room and Mother coming in to brush her hair before she went to sleep and supper with her grandparents every day except Monday, Friday, and Saturday and Lissy and everything else that was familiar, when Shiloh began to talk again and she smiled slightly again. “I was curious about what it might be like, too,” she admitted. “It’s just me at home – I have my cousins, my mother’s cousins’ kids, but no brothers or sisters, and I only see Lissy – she’s from Mother’s branch, they’re in Louisiana like us – a lot.” She smiled at the other girl. “But I like you, too, and we’ll have fun with just two of us,” she said firmly. “I know we will.”

She could not mess this up. This was going to be wonderful, and she was going to do everything the family wanted her to do, be everything they wanted her to be, and more. She wasn’t going to be a failure or abnormal. She was, she was sure right then as she smiled at her new roommate, going to be all right.

0 Alexandra And half a skip isn't very far at all 0 Alexandra 0 5

Gareth

November 11, 2011 12:13 PM

I prefer being a Wizard by Gareth

“I think it’ll depend on the composition of the old team. Linus said they’d made it into the finals two years running, so that’s a fair indication that at least the team isn’t total rubbish. Also, I’d assume that there will be a few team members who’ve graduated, so that’ll open up a few slots.” Gareth reasoned. He knew from his older cousins who played on the Hogwarts teams that the likelihood of a good team being broken up to make room for firsties was slim, but that there would probably be a few vacancies for the firsties to compete for.

“When do you think tryouts will be held?” He wondered. This would be the firs time he’d have to compete against people who weren’t family and friends and even though he was a good size for a first year he could admit to feeling a bit intimidated. Blackbriar’s weren’t as influential over here as they were in Europe, and the secondary lines weren’t even terribly influential over there yet. So it would all come down to skill instead of connections. Which he supposed was the entire point of this whole rotten affair, to make the proper connections.

Gareth stretched, shifting uncomfortably on the bed (not his bed). It would never be his bed, just the bed at school, and no matter how comfortable the mattress, or fluffy the pillow it would lack that indefinable sense of home that his own bed gave him. Wrinkling his nose he said with exasperation “Merlin even the air smells wrong here!”

0 Gareth I prefer being a Wizard 0 Gareth 0 5

Cepheus

November 13, 2011 12:09 AM

Nothing beats being a wizard. by Cepheus

Cepheus nodded, agreeing with Gareth's reasoning. Linus had provided them with lots of helpful information about the school, and he was grateful for it. He knew that the Quidditch teams at Hogwarts didn't take first-years usually. Dorian had been disappointed with that, as Emma, but they got to practise anyway. At least here, Cepheus was lucky. He thought it would be weird to actually try out for something. His father had shielded him from most competition, though their biggest competition was to climb up the pureblood ladder.

"Hopefully soon," Cepheus replied to Gareth's question. He was curious about tryouts as well and he didn't want to fail. Even if he was passed up for a better upperclassman, he would still be disappointed. Father had always told him to be the best that he could be, to make the Princeton name as proud as it once was.

Cepheus let out a laugh at Gareth's remark, though it sounded a little too bitter. He was still feeling rather melancholy. "I know what you mean," he said, a slight lump in his throat. He tried to swallow it down, but ignored it instead. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to imagine his large bedroom at home. This would have to be his new home now. He had to force himself to get used to it.

"Father warned me about horrible American food," Cepheus remarked. "At least it isn't as terrible as he'd guessed it would be." Thank Merlin for that. "Food'll be one comfort." Quidditch was the other, if he made the team. Cepheus shifted and looked out the window, wondering when his owl was going to come back. If the owl was good for anything, it was for being a familiar comfort.

0 Cepheus Nothing beats being a wizard. 0 Cepheus 0 5

Gareth

November 13, 2011 3:04 PM

My thoughts exactly by Gareth

Gareth nodded in agreement as he pulled his DADA text book off the shelf before settling on the bed again. “True, the food wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I’d heard that Prairie elves weren’t as apt as their house elf counterparts when it comes to these things, but I don’t think they botched the meal.” He said as he idly flipped through the pages, pausing now and then to read a caption or when a word caught his attention.

Maybe it wouldn’t be all bad. Sonora wasn’t Hogwarts, it never would be, but maybe it would be just as good as Hogwarts would have been. If nothing else he knew that his sibs would be joining him soon enough, them and the Brownbriar cousins. He wouldn’t be here alone, Meggs was here, and now he had Cepheus who would probably end up being a good friend. So all was not lost, simply…a change of plans. At least that’s what he was going to continue to insist to himself.

“So are you looking forward to classes? I’ve never taken classes outside of personal tutors before,” he admitted. The only competition he’d had was his younger brother Enion, their sister had her own tutor and so she didn’t study with the brothers. Enion was a year younger and Gwen two. His younger brother did prove to be adequate competition, he’d always been better at book work, next year he’d be attending Sonora as well.

0 Gareth My thoughts exactly 0 Gareth 0 5

Cepheus

November 13, 2011 6:08 PM

I'm glad we agree, then. by Cepheus

Cepheus thought he should probably unpack now, but he didn't want to. He was terribly lazy sometimes, something his father said would be the death of him, but he couldn't help it. Forcing himself to do something he didn't feel like doing always put him in a bad mood. Cepheus agreed with Gareth to an extent. He had never heard of Prairie elves, though he supposed that was what these American house elves were supposed to be called. Whatever. As long as they were useful and cooked well, he was content. He was suddenly curious as to what they would look like. Would they be the same? Cepheus shook his head. It was a stupid subject to be thinking about.

"Same," Cepheus told him. "My cousins and I, second cousins, were tutored together, so that's all I'm used to. Actual school will be interesting." Dorian and Theo had been great friends to have class with. Mostly Dorian, really. He and Dorian were very competitive when it came to marks and getting on the tutors' good side. Theo was usually more interested in playing jokes on the tutor in some way, which irked Cepheus only when he was waiting eagerly to receive his marks.

From what he'd heard, apparently Rupert, his younger brother, was going to come to school here as well in two years. If all went well, that is. Leo was probably going to be lucky. He'd probably get to go to Hogwarts. Cepheus was sometimes jealous of that boy, but he couldn't do anything about it. There was a sudden tapping at the window, and his nameless bird rapped loudly. Cepheus, a bit annoyed, went to open the window. There was a breeze outside, but it was too warm to enjoy. He closed the window as his owl went dutifully into its cage.

"You have any animals here?" Cepheus asked. "I should probably name this owl, too," he continued, gesturing to the little one. He wasn't exactly up to naming the owl since he had no real attachment to it. "You have any suggestions?" he asked, looking up at Gareth.

0 Cepheus I'm glad we agree, then. 0 Cepheus 0 5

Gareth

November 16, 2011 12:29 PM

It is easy to agree with the truth by Gareth

“Well, it will give us a chance to meet people outside of family.” Gareth agreed. The different branches of Blackbriar certainly offered enough children to make up a class of their own, but still they were family and he’d known them his whole life. He had friends at home, but didn’t really get that many opportunities to simply meet random strangers. Now he was in a school comprised entirely of people he’d never met before, except for his cousin but that hardly counted.

“No, I thought about bringing one of our owls but father said it would be pointless seems we’re so far away. It’s not like I know anyone on this continent to sent mail to anyway.” Gareth said. After living with the menace creature his sister had the audacity to call a cat Gareth refused to keep one of the beasts as a pet. And he had no interest in keeping a rat. Aside from his hawks Gareth had little use for pets.

From the tone Cepheus used when talking about his owl it sounded like his roommate felt the same. “A name. Hmmm.” Normally his sister demanded the right to name pets and such, everyone just let her seems it wasn’t worth the tantrum she’d throw if she didn’t get her way so Gareth didn’t have much experience in the art of naming animals. Getting up from the bed he looked the bird over, reaching up he itched it’s breast feathers lightly. “How about Almond?” He offered figuring that would be a good enough name for either gender.

0 Gareth It is easy to agree with the truth 0 Gareth 0 5

Cepheus

November 16, 2011 9:36 PM

Not in all cases. by Cepheus

Cepheus wrinkled his nose at the name Gareth offered. Almond? Sure, his bird's size fit the name, as did the colour of its feathers, but almond was a food. He didn't want to name his bird after something he ate. "I'd like to stay away from the food category," he said, looking at the darn owl. He didn't want to give it a good name he'd give his eagle owl, but he was rather picky. Maybe he'd just leave it nameless for now. He'd call it Bird, or something less stupid.

"I'm terrible at naming animals," he confessed. He had several crups, cats, and a peacock or two at home, but he'd never actually named them himself. Well, besides his crup. He'd gotten the animal for his fifth birthday. It wasn't large, but it was definitely loyal and he loved it. He wished he could've brought it with him. He was indifferent to cats; mangy animals, he called them, and he ignored them and they got cat hair all over his things and ignored him. His mother loved them which was the only reason why he tolerated them.

Cepheus remembered that he was supposed to be thinking of a name for the owl, but he couldn't decide. He stopped trying and flopped back onto his bed. "Don't bother yourself with it. A name'll come to the owl when it comes." Maybe never. Cepheus sighed. "I just want to get this term over with and go back home." He was feeling homesick, and though he didn't want Gareth thinking that he was a cad, he was comforted by the thought that Gareth was going through the same thing. "Not that father would let me go to Hogwarts, though."

0 Cepheus Not in all cases. 0 Cepheus 0 5

Gareth

November 18, 2011 10:09 PM

To each their own by Gareth

Giving the nameless bird one last scratch Gareth shrugged and returned to his abandoned bed. “I don’t usually name animals, that’s Gwen’s thing really.” He explained after Cepheus rejected his bird naming attempt. It didn’t matter much to him either way, Almond was simply the best thing he could come up with on the fly.

A low chuckle could be heard at Cepheus’s confession. It seemed the pair of them were well matched as roommates. And any pets we own will simply remain nameless he thought. It did make Gareth wonder what other things would come up. His sister took care of the naming of animals, what other things happened in the background that Gareth never really thought about? What other things would he realize he relied upon family for?

It wasn’t a pleasant thought, making him both homesick yet determined to stand on his own. Better to learn how to do so now, when he was 11 then learn it as an adult starting his own household. Perhaps that was why magical schools were often boarding schools? So that children could learn their own independence and become less reliant upon family while still being relatively safe in the learning? Perhaps we’ve been sent to learn more than just our lessons here he mused. A yawn broke though his rambling thoughts and Gareth decided to leave it for some other time.

0 Gareth To each their own 0 Gareth 0 5

Cepheus

November 25, 2011 2:15 AM

Independence is quite overrated. by Cepheus

Cepheus nodded and relaxed. He didn't who Gwen was, but he was getting a bit sleepy. He was glad Gareth seemed to understand his situation. They'd be amicable roommates, thank Merlin. He had been worried about that coming here. Coming here. Cepheus knew he had the responsibility of taking care of the family business in the future, when he was...older, but now he was young. He wanted to play with his mates, get into a little mischief, fool around. He didn't want to be here forced to make friends with Americans and learn how to fit into another culture. He thought of his home and his mother and pitied himself a little. Father didn't believe in self-pity, but Cepheus did during times like these. He didn't want to have to be independent yet.

Cepheus sighed. "Well, I'm getting tired. That ride here was absolutely ghastly." He sat up and pulled off his shiny black shoes. "I'm going to sleep, if you don't mind." He'd might as well get used to sleeping in the presence of another. At least there was just one and not loads of them.

He paused and then took out his wand. He went to the toilet and, after a few simple cleaning charms and changing into his pyjamas, was ready for bed. He set his alarm and then rubbed his eye. He'd have to wake for breakfast tomorrow, and then he'd unpack all his clothes. He'd worry about laundry later. He got into his bed and sighed. "Goodnight Gareth. I hope we both survive this school year."

0 Cepheus Independence is quite overrated. 0 Cepheus 0 5

Gareth

November 26, 2011 4:16 PM

Overrated, but expected by Gareth

Gareth attempted to suppress another jaw splitting yawn when Cepheus headed to the bathroom. Getting use to the massive time change between here and home was going to be more difficult than he’d expected. One large hand snagged his pillow and dropped it on his face, muffling the whine of exhaustion that threatened to escape. But, Gareth wanted to take a shower before bed so he wouldn’t have to worry about it in the morning.

Ewwww morning! Mornings as a rule were not Gareth’s favorite time of the day. His mother always teased him that he was a bear before noon. I’ll have to warn Cepheus Gareth thought fuzzily as he waited for his roommate to finish up. He just hoped the other boy wasn’t a morning person. It was almost a personal insult to have to deal with one of those cheery happy to greet the new day types when all he wanted to do was roll over and go back to sleep.

Once Cepheus finished Gareth stood, grabbed a towel, his wand, and some pajamas he went to shower and get ready for bed. He’d wanted to get a bit more reading done, but suddenly it was all he could do just to remain upright in the shower. Once finished he nearly fell into bed after dousing the lights “Goodnight Cepheus, if I’m out of sorts tomorrow just ignore me, mornings aren’t really my thing.” He offered before climbing under the blankets.

0 Gareth Overrated, but expected 0 Gareth 0 5