Professor Fawcett
January 21, 2011 9:25 PM
Welcome to Aladren (cont. from Cascade) by Professor Fawcett
From the Cascade Hall, John led the first year Aladrens through the school to the doors of the library. “This is the library,” he informed them. “You should treat this place with the highest amount of respect. I assure you, nothing Ms. Diaz may do to you will be half as unpleasant as what I will do to you if you do not.” Of course, he couldn’t say that with absolute certainty, since the librarian was new and therefore someone he still needed to get to know, but he would do his best to live up to that promise if it came to that. He hoped it wouldn’t. John had little patience for those who disrespected books. “We have the great privilege and honor of living within feet of this resource, and many Aladren students think of it as an extension of our home. I encourage you to do likewise.” He opened the doors and stepped through. “Follow me, and keep up. The route is complicated, and I would not like to have to arrange a search party tonight.”He led them through passage after passage through the stacks, which extended far away in every direction after a short period of time. The Sonora library was impressive, for a school its age. Finally, however, they reached the back wall, and John paused near a very worn book, placed just where the first years could comfortably reach it. The spine read Birds of Prey. “When you wish to enter the common room, you must pull this book out, and the wall will recede to reveal the entrance. You may not show this place to those outside Aladren. I would highly recommend, too, that you avoid trying to enter the commons of other Houses.” That some of them would learn where those places were, either by accident or just to know, he was sure, but he really did not want to deal with the headache of paperwork that would result for him if they tried to barge in.
Once he was sure they had all seen which book he was talking about, John pulled it, and the wall moved aside, showing a glimpse of the common room beyond. He led the way through, letting the wall close up again behind them.
Though the deep blue and black of the décor could be initially offputting to some students, the room was ultimately constructed for the comfort of its residents. There was ample seating in the form of deep, comfortable chairs and sofas, some of it around the large fireplace and its hawk-motif hearth rug, some around tables and desks, and some in nooks by themselves, where an individual could curl up to read, or perhaps pull a few chairs together for a study session. There were also bookshelves, a few chess sets and other games, and a large bulletin board beside the entrance, which looked far more entrance-like from this side. John stood on the hearth rug, ushering the students into the seats closest to it to listen to him speak.
“This is the common room. You may come here to socialize with your housemates, do your work, or otherwise enjoy your leisure time. Other things you may find of interest in that time are the library and the Labyrinth Gardens, though I’d advise you to take a friend and a meal bar along in the Gardens until you know them better. Important announcements will be placed on the bulletin board, including Quidditch sign-ups. I highly encourage all of you to join the team, and speak to our captain, Head Boy Daniel Nash, if you have any questions about that.” Since June had seen the losses of Mr. Fitzgerald, Miss Valson, and Mr. Wright – excellent young people if Mr. Wright was a little strange; John would miss them – the team was in sore need of players, as he understood it.
“My office can be found through this door, or at one just down the hall. I am your Potions professor as well as your Head of House, and also widely read and practiced in magic and magical theory, so do not hesitate to ask if you require assistance in some way. The staff in general is also usually pleased to offer aid to those who ask for it. Your success here is important to each of us. This includes your House prefects, Mr. James Anthony and Mr. Edmond Carey.”
He pointed toward the staircase leading out of the commons. “Your dormitories are up the stairs and down the corridor to your left. You should never attempt to enter the girls’ side; if you are foolish enough to do so, you will fall through the floor and land there.” He pointed to a deliberately uncovered section of stone floor. “It will be very painful, and you will very possibly need to visit the medic once you have been embarrassed in front of anyone who happens to be here, so I would recommend that you simply refrain from trying.” There weren’t many cases of that, thankfully, though he’d heard rumors of past Pecaris using the trick for entertainment. “You will receive your schedules at breakfast tomorrow. Are there any questions regarding this speech, Aladren House, or Sonora that you’d like to ask at this time?” Teachers were meant to permanently influence students’ lives; Quentin was one of those rare students who, John was fairly sure, had far more of a permanent impact on his teachers’ lives than they had on his.
OOC: You may reply to this, ask John questions, or not as you like. You may also now post in other places around the school, though not on other House common room boards. Site posting rules apply at all places. Welcome to Sonora!
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Professor Fawcett
Welcome to Aladren (cont. from Cascade)
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Professor Fawcett
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