Promise. on Cascade Hall

Headmaster Bulla

April 02, 2008 5:22 AM

The Start Of Term Feast by Headmaster Bulla

An new year, a new batch of students to take over the position of first years. Manfred had been spending the day up until now mostly in his office, finishing up last minute paperwork for the new year which was just beginning and was rather glad to have escaped it now, especially as he could hear the students noisily making their way inside from the Gardens where the wagons looked to have almost all arrived. He finished the walk from his office, down the Hall of Plants and into the lobby before the Cascade Hall.

"Evening, Mims," he greeted the Portrait of the old professor who kept score of the house points. "Ready for a new year?"

"We shall see, Headmaster," the portrait said stiffly, frowning down at a group of younger students who had been enjoying their reunion a little too much for his taste.

"We shall indeed," Manfred nodded, before moving on through the doors and making his way up to the Staff table. "All prepared, I hope!" he said to the staff already there, only slightly in jest. "I hope you've got enough potion prepared, Marian. It looks like we're just about ready to start." He gave himself a self-critical last check over and then, satisfied that he was quite presentable, moved to his own seat and stood behind it. He watched the students for a minute, and then have the nod for the potions to be brought in before taking his seat for the initial ceremony.

Each of the new students was handed a goblet, filled with a potion somewhat unique to Sonora. It was clear and bubbling and its recipe a strictly held secret. When drunk, the drinker would turn the colour most associated with the house they were meant to be in. Which meant all of those who turned bright blue were called towards the Aladren table, while those who went deep red were summoned to join Crotalus, the muddy brown first years were raucously cheered over to Pecari and the others, who weresunshine yellow were warmly welcomed to Teppenpaw, each by the older students already assembled and well used to seeing this spectacle. The colours didn't last long, generally a few minutes at the most, but that was generally quite long enough for the house to be obvious and the unsuspecting first years to get quite a surprise. Manfred waited until things were starting to settle down again and then stood.

"Good evening," he started, voice loud and carrying over the noise. "And welcome to another year at Sonora Academy. I hope you have all come back - or started with us - sated from your summer adventures and are new ready to settle into the learning routine. But, before that - and indeed before the feast that the Prairie Elves have spent so long preparing for us today - there are a few announcements to make. Firstly, and ironically, about the end of the year. I know it's still got quite a long time to go, but if you have any interest in running a stall or entertainment at the Festival to be held then please start thinking about what it is you want to do. Forms will be handed out before the Midterm holidays which you can fill out and return if you want to participate by more than just showing up and enjoying the day.

Secondly, I would like to congratulate Professor Yuma. Over the summer she has completed a course she was taking at nights and so, sadly, I must inform students that Sonora will no longer be offering Divination as a course. However, Miss Yuma, as she will now be known, will not be leaving us, but rather will be serving Sonora in the capacity of Guidance Counselor. Her office is being set up at the moment, but should be ready within the week for students wishing to speak to her. The third announcement requires six students to join me for a moment. Would Mr Gunther Heinrich of Aladren, Miss Lila St. Martin of Crotalus, Mr Saul Pierce of Pecari and Miss Pepper Jones of Teppenpaw please make their way up here - and of course Mr Zack Dill, and Miss Jennifer Zucchero as well, please."

Manfred already had the small box out of his pocket as he made his way around to the front of the table to greet the summoned students, and he opened it as soon as the first four were all there. Zack and Jennifer he asked with a wordless gesture and a kindly look to stand to one side for one more moment.

"Congratulations," he informed the four, in a voice intended for them rather than the room at large. "You have all been selected to serve as Prefects for your houses. Remember this is a position of both privilege and responsibility. You will have the power to give and take points, and will be expected to assist your Head of House and the Head Boy and Head Girl if a situation arises. I'm sure you will do us all proud in your new capacity."

He handed them each their prefect badges, bronze metal embossed with the badge of Sonora and the word 'prefect' underneath, then straightened himself back up to address the school once more.

"These four students have been chosen to join the ranks of our school prefects. I'm sure you will all wish to congratulate them," and here he paused so that the four could get their due in applause. "Thank you. And thank you to our new prefects too. You may return to your seats." He beckoned Zack and Jennifer over. "Last, but most certainly not least, I would like to present our new Head Boy and Head Girl with their official badges of office." He pulled out the two last badges from the box, but left it open for the moment as he handed them to the two seventh year students. They were a little bigger than the Prefect badges, one of which Zack already wore, and the Quidditch Captain badges, one of which Jennifer had pinned to her uniform, although were of the same basic pattern - the school crest and the title of their newly official role embossed smartly into the metal. "I'll need the interim presumptive badges back," he said quietly to them both, taking advantage of the congratulatory noise the rest of the hall had erupted in.

He put the badges, when they were handed over, back into the box and closed the lid, returning it to the safety of his pocket.

"And now, I'm certain you're all quite starved from your journeys and the endless speeches and would like to get to the food. So, without further ado, the feast."

He waved his hand and each and every table was suddenly groaning under a multitude of dishes plates and jugs, each filled to the brim with one or another of a quite impressive variety of foods and drinks. Enough, indeed, that no student had yet found the feast lacking, and no student was ever likely too. Apparently, Manfred noticed, Tuppy had been quite influenced by the feast they'd had at the ball last year as well. There were certain dishes he recalled from it that had shown up again.

"Enjoy!" he said, before taking his seat, feeling quite pleased with how things were starting out.
\r\n\r\n

Subthreads:

Kicking it off by Kyler Kent with Mark Johnson, Saul Pierce, Kyler

I have a special interest by Professor Sadi Powell with Simon Tellerman, Sadi Powell

Someone save me from my misery by Cecily Smythe with Alexis Ashwood, Laurie Cider, Cecily, Renaye and Josh Warren, Josh (with a smidge or Raye)

Food! I need food! by Elly Eriksson with Irene, Elly

Feeling smug by Oliver Abbott with Lutece Anthony, Oliver

Is this supposed to happen? by Jera Valson with Seamus Michael McFarlan, Tyrone Astin, Jera

Crotalus! Yes! by Amelia Smythe with Sophie Xuereb, Amelia, Sophia

Eager little... prairie dog? by Kaden McIntyre with Mollie Buchanan

Being blue is a first. by Ian Grimm

Third Year...Wooot! by Talitha Cumni

Calling any gullible first years... by Ash Craven

I've always been told not to accept drinks from strangers.. by Joey Phillips with Hannah Cooper-Forrester, Jaeven 'Jae' Dimitri, Hannah C-F, Joey

Getting this over with (Tag Geoffrey S.) by Jennifer Zucchero with Geoffrey Spindler, Jennifer, Geoffrey S.

Back to school by Professor Lorraine Taylor

Acting natural by Ronen Cooper with Brett Hodges and Echo Elms

More than a little nervous by Amara Drense

Good thing I rehearsed. by Lila St. Martin

Pecari sounds like a good House. by Marina Velasquez with Finley MacGregor

39 Headmaster Bulla The Start Of Term Feast 2 Headmaster Bulla 1 5

Kyler Kent

April 02, 2008 5:37 AM

Kicking it off by Kyler Kent

So this was the famous Sonora. This was the place his mother had been buzzing about all summer. Ever since his letter, she had been worrying over everything that he may possibly need. "What if you need something? How do I get it to you? I don't know anything about this school! Is this the best academicly for Kyler? What are the people like? What if the, wagon, was it, gets hit by a speeding meteor and hurtles towards earth, landing in a toxic waste dump and he becomes mutated, reaking havoc over the world?!" So that last part was exagerated by his mind. As for the academic stuff, don't care. Really. Don't care. The people, yeah, that's a big deal to him. If everyone here was school-obsessed, he may have to find a way to educate them on all the possibilites of magic. It's magic, people! M a g i c! Anyway, Mom was just worrying because she was going to miss him. Kyler was exactly sentimental, but he was going to miss her too. When his letter came, Dad had done a "That's... weird..." sort of thing, but said, "Okay, kiddo, I guess you're a wizard." He'd probably hear about the whole That's-weird thing later. One time when Dad was mad, he'd blame the magic for altering his mind or something. It probably made him think he had an exuse to be defiant now. Whatever... Mom, whom he was missing already, had exclaimed how exciting it was, exactly like a movie she had done once. She hugged him and told him what a great opportunity it was, while brushing his smooth brown hair out of his eyes. "Jeez, Mom, chillax!" He had said, not fighting her hug though.

It had freaked him out at first, being a wizard and all. It left him with a lot of questions and he wondered where this magic had come from. He got over the anxiety, but he still wondered... Neither Mom or Dad were magic. They weren't exactly normal though. She was a producer and Dad was a stunt-man so he had never had a normal life. The whole not-normal life was exactly how he liked to live. Growing up in Colorado, climbing the Rockies, going to Mom's premieres, and visiting places all over the world for filming, sometimes with no more than an hour's notice, was so cool! Never boring. And now he was going to Arizona to attend a school for Witchcraft and Wizardry? Super coolness.

Kyler looked down at the bubbling potion in his hand and tipped it, not hesitation. His skin was changing colors!
!!!! ???? !!!!
Wild.

Kyler held his new dark hand in front of his brown eyes, grinning at the effect of the potion. He looked towards his Pecari house table and bounded towards it. He planted himself in an empty seat, looking around at the surroundings. Dude. There were waterfalls! On the walls! Kyler tuned in to the speech the Headmaster was already half done making. He caught something about a festival at the end of the year. That would be something to look forward to... The speech ended and food filled the table. Kyler loaded up his plate and turned to the person next to him.

"Hey," he said, "I think I want waterfalls on my walls."

0 Kyler Kent Kicking it off 0 Kyler Kent 0 5

Professor Sadi Powell

April 02, 2008 1:14 PM

I have a special interest by Professor Sadi Powell

Sadi had made her way to Sonora in her usual fashion: Apparition. She was wearing her customary plain brown robes and her hair was fastened, as usual, in a neat bun. In many ways this year was the same as any other, but there was one rather important difference. Her daughter Jera had received an acceptance letter to Sonora Academy over the summer and, after several long family discussions, it had been decided that she would indeed become a student.

Seated nervously at the staff table, Sadi wasn’t aware of anything else as she watched the first years enter the Hall. She’d sent Jera on the wagons, along with the rest of the new students – she didn’t think it would help to single her out in any way. Jera had every right to be treated the same as all the other students and Sadi would to her best to ensure this happened.

At least she wasn’t alone; Sadi had now become the second of the current faculty to have a daughter attend the school. Should she have any worries or concerns, Sadi knew that she would be able to approach Drake and ask his advice. She hadn’t done so yet, but the year had barely started and already Sadi was envisaging potentially difficult situations.

On the other hand, she was incredibly excited to be able to see Jera so often, rather than just during the holidays and the odd weekends when she returned home. This year, she would still return home at weekends to see her husband, but he would have to endure the majority of the year on his own. Toma had expressed his support in favour of Sonora, and although he would miss his family, he did not want them to think of him over their own desires.

Barely listening to Manfred, Sadi watched, perched quite literally on the edge of her seat, as Jera took the potion and her skin turned… blue. Sadi let out her breath in a long sigh. Part of her had wanted Jera to be in Crotalus, so Sadi could keep an eye on her at close range. Still, Aladren was okay (she might have worried somewhat if Jera had been sorted into Pecari – their common room was notorious for being the target of spells and pranks), and Sadi knew that Kiva took good care of her students.

Still watching her daughter, Sadi barely heard what Manfred said, though she applauded automatically at the prefects (luckily she did manage to catch the name St Martin mentioned for Crotalus). She was brought back to the present when the person sitting beside her spoke.

“I’m sorry,” Sadi replied, tearing her gaze from Jera, “I was on another planet. What did you say?”

0 Professor Sadi Powell I have a special interest 0 Professor Sadi Powell 0 5

Cecily Smythe

April 02, 2008 1:15 PM

Someone save me from my misery by Cecily Smythe

“You don’t have to talk to me. You don’t have to sit by me, you know,” Cecily had said over and over again,

“I know that,” Amelia replied, “but I want to.” She smiled broadly and Cecily gave up her attempts to be free. Certainly she loved her sister and had initially thought the idea of them going to school together was a wonderful one. Of course now they were on the wagon together, and Amelia was being as irritating as she possibly could, Cecily was begin to have thoughts that tended in quite the opposite direction.

Firstly, she thought Amelia would make an effort to be polite and considerate, as Cecily herself had been when she’d started the school the previous year. Milly had other plans though – she was obviously trying to be as loud, boisterous, and generally obnoxious as possible. Her attitude irritated Cecily not only in and of itself, but because her sister was one of those people who just seemed to get away with things like this.

Secondly, Cecily had enjoyed a whole year being a real individual, and not being compared to Amelia. Now, of course, that was a thing of the past, since her friends would no doubt meet Milly and then the comparisons would begin. It was so unfair.

Thirdly, Milly looked like the older sister. Fair enough, at Sonora their year groups would sort out that mistake instantly, but Cecily nevertheless resented being shorter than her younger sister, and the other ways she looked younger merely added insult to injury.

All in all, Cecily was pleased when she could escape, leaving Amelia with all the other first years, and heading into the Hall where she sought out a familiar face – right now even Renaye Warren would be a comfort. “I have had the worst journey here,” she complained as she took a seat at the table.

0 Cecily Smythe Someone save me from my misery 122 Cecily Smythe 0 5

Elly Eriksson

April 02, 2008 1:16 PM

Food! I need food! by Elly Eriksson

Elly was starving by the time she got off the wagon. No matter how you looked at it, it was one crazy long journey for her to get to school for the start of the year, and she hadn’t eaten through its entirety! Last year she’d only come from Wyoming; that hadn’t taken half so long. She had remembered to keep a day bag with her, containing her wand, a bottle of water and gifts for her friends she’s bought in the last week of the summer, but she hadn’t thought to pack any food. By the time the wagons landed at Sonora her stomach was making funny noises. Elly flung on her uniform robe haphazardly over her jeans and vest top and headed straight for the Hall, tripping over her own flip-flop encased feet as she did so.

Glancing curiously at the new first years as she passed, Elly found her way to her usual seat at her usual table and folded herself into it. “I need food!” she moaned at the table. Still, not everyone had arrived yet, so the food she so desired would be a long time in coming. While she waited, Elly rested her head on the table top, her orange curls not falling as widespread as usual, seeing as she’d tried braiding her hair to keep it out of the way. It was too long again and in need of a trim, but Elly wasn’t getting her hair cut purely out of protest to her mother. Instead she’s taken a leaf out of Caedence’s book and wore it in a long, albeit messy, plait down her back. Elly remained sitting slumped over, facing where the staff were seated so she could watch for when Bulla was going to start talking - that would indicate that food would soon be on its way.

0 Elly Eriksson Food! I need food! 92 Elly Eriksson 0 5

Oliver Abbott

April 02, 2008 1:17 PM

Feeling smug by Oliver Abbott

It had taken longer than usual for Oliver to wrestle his way out his mother’s farewell embrace. He rather suspected that with all the drama between Julian and Charlie of the holiday that she would really miss having her only well-behaved child around. This smug thought was with Oliver all the way into the Hall, at which point it finally deserted him. There was no reason for him to be smug here at Sonora. Not that this was necessarily a bad thing; Oliver was one of the rare few who actually enjoyed school. Plus he was lucky enough to be on the Quidditch team. Add in the fact that he got his own dormitory and didn’t have to spend each afternoon arguing with his older brother, and Oliver changed his mind about not being smug at Sonora. Here was as good a place as any!

He was pleased to be back – he was looking forward to Quidditch practises, and to charms lessons, and to good Sonoran food, and all sort of other things. Of course going to lessons all day and having to put up with Lutece were never pleasant occurrences, but Oliver was learning to tolerate both with increasing ease. As he found a seat, Oliver cast his eyes over the first years, most of them looking nervous as they waited to be sorted. Oliver remembered watching his unusually pale skin become a rather bewildering shade of red – that was two years ago now, although it felt like much longer. Oliver had reached his third year, and could take extra subjects now, if he wanted to.

The first years were soon sorted and the Headmaster began his Opening speech, including the announcement of the new prefects. Oliver didn’t really know who Lila St Martin was, but he clapped for her anyway. Then he applauded Jen again, because he thought she’d make an awesome Head Girl.

Finally the food was served, and, like any growing boy, Oliver was keen to dig in. Spying a dish he liked the look of, he said to the person nearest, “Could you pass the chicken wings?”

0 Oliver Abbott Feeling smug 99 Oliver Abbott 0 5

Jera Valson

April 02, 2008 1:18 PM

Is this supposed to happen? by Jera Valson

Her robes were too big. Funnily enough, that was the main thought going round and round in Jera’s head. Not that she was starting a new school, not that she was in a room with more people than she had ever seen in one place in her entire life ’til now, and not that her father was left all alone at home. No, Jera’s main concern was that her new uniform (minus the house badge, because she hadn’t been sorted yet), was too big all over. She felt as though she was drowning in it.

Minutes passed by, and Jera continued to glance nervously between the staff table and the other hundreds of students, trying not to focus on either for very long in the danger that she might start to freak out if she thought about it for too long. The sorting didn’t come a minute too soon; anxious to establish where to sit, Jera gulped down her potion.

Almost scared to look, Jera cast her eyes over her hands, spread out in front of her, and then blinked. Was she supposed to be blue? Feeling oddly numb, Jera wasted no time in following other blue first years to a table that apparently held other members of their new house. Taking a deep breath, Jera summoned her courage and sat down in one of the empty seats.

“I’m Jera Valson,” she introduced herself, tucking a strand of her straight, dark hair behind her right ear. “Blue is Aladren, right?”

0 Jera Valson Is this supposed to happen? 112 Jera Valson 0 5

Amelia Smythe

April 02, 2008 1:19 PM

Crotalus! Yes! by Amelia Smythe

Amelia waited with the other first years, hating being part of a crowd. She’d enjoyed pestering her sister on the journey from home, but now Cecily had gone to find her friends. And Amelia was left standing with the other children who didn’t know yet where they fit in.

Although she was acting excited, most of it was just a front; Amelia was terrified. Besides, the last year when Cecily had been away at school had been the best year of her life! She’d received all of the attention, rather than having to share t with Cecily, and she’d made all of her own decisions, rather than having to come to a compromise with her sister. Plus she’d borrowed some of Cecily’s school books over the summer, so she knew she could teach herself the spells if she really wanted. A large part of Amelia just wanted to continue being taught at home, and let Cecily come to this stupid school if she wanted.

Of course, Amelia couldn’t deny that the other part of her did want to be here. It was where she could make friends of her own, and talk to whomever she wanted, and do whatever she wanted without her parents watching over her. Not that her parents were restrictive in any sense of the word, but Amelia was looking forward to seeing what life was like without them around.

Anxiously Amelia waited until she was sorted. Cecily had told her what was going to happen, so Amelia took it in her stride when students around her started changing to weird skin tones. Milly drank from her own cup, and was delighted, but not surprised, to see her skin become the deep red representative of Crotalus house.

Deciding she had already bothered her sister enough for one day, Amelia turned to the nearest other red person she could see. “Hey, we’ll be in the same house,” she said, smiling. She brushed her blonde hair over her shoulder in a would-be casual manner. “Do you want to sit together?”

0 Amelia Smythe Crotalus! Yes! 121 Amelia Smythe 0 5

Kaden McIntyre

April 02, 2008 2:12 PM

Eager little... prairie dog? by Kaden McIntyre

Kaden decided, while he saw the first few students drink that potion and turn various colors, that if his Aunt Kimberley hadn’t assured them that drinking the potion was totally safe, he would have been incredibly suspicious at this point. And my sister said it was so nerve-wracking for her, the Scottish boy thought, shaking his head. She just had to put on a hat. And my whole family’s been Gryffindors since god knows when. He watched his cousin Tyrone with some sympathy—with a last name beginning with A, he was very nearly the first person to be sorted. His cousin did not look best pleased. Yes, it was a very good thing his aunt had gone to Sonora. Otherwise, adventure or not, he would have felt a little uneasy about the whole business. As it was, however, he would be the only non-Hogwarts student—which meant, for once, he would get to be the center of attention when he told school stories. He grinned as he looked around. He’d definitely get some interest, if he just mentioned a room with waterfalls like this.

Finally it was his turn, and he drank the potion with only internal hesitation, noting with some interest the bubbling (it was a very strange texture, especially for a boy not used to drinking Muggle soft drinks). As he did so he carefully watched his skin.

That was a truly unnerving effect, really it was. The yellow made him snicker a little (it reminded him of the curtains in his little cousin Lizzy’s bedroom). Having taken careful note of where the other kids whose skin had turned yellow was, he didn’t hesitate at all as he moved to the Teppenpaw table—except, that is, for an apologetic wave at his cousin, who looked even less pleased with his current situation than before. Not being overly bothered by the color of his skin (as a child of pureblood family with rambunctious children) he smiled brightly at his new housemates as he slid into a seat.

Kaden sat somewhat impatiently through the speeches—after all, he’d figure out by the badges who was a prefect, he didn’t need to know at this exact moment—and all but pounced on the food when it was served. He looked around with an eager, curious gaze and listened attentively to the table conversations as he ate, even if he remained silent himself. This really was rather exciting, wasn’t it?

0 Kaden McIntyre Eager little... prairie dog? 0 Kaden McIntyre 0 5

Mark Johnson

April 02, 2008 5:06 PM

With a mouthfull of food. by Mark Johnson

Hopeful and loving goodbyes is what Mark got from his parents, if somewhat estranged. Mark’s Dad always said he was special, “That’s why he made that half court shot when he was eight,” his Dad said proudly when he got the news that he was a wizard. How else do you explain an eight year old making that shot at the buzzer to win a basketball game with 1.2 seconds left on the clock to win the junior league he was apart of before he came hear.

Mark’s mom however merely accepted that he was different, but still loved him just the same. She still had to cope with the news and thought that it might just be a joke for the school, but that all changed when Mark came home with a big old barn owl that his Dad bought him so he could write home. Mark always thought it was funny to scare his mom by sending her a letter or two while he was upstairs just to see if the owl would bring it to her. After the third time though, Mark’s Mom threatened to take the owl back if he did not stop doing it until he got to school.

After he arrived at Sonora, Mark couldn’t wait to write about how cool the place was. How often is it that an eleven year old kid gets to ride in a horseless wagon and see that the main hall has waterfalls for walls. ‘Hopefully my mom won’t freak when I tell her about the potion,’ Mark thought as he drained the potion in two or three gulps.

In no time his face changed into a muddy brown, and Mark was a little dismayed by this. “Why couldn’t mine have been red like the Chicago Bulls colors or something.” Mark said to himself. His attitude changed however when he saw the fellow Pecaris cheering him over to their area. ‘Well the color does match my hair I guess,’ Mark thought as he happily walked over to join his fellow housemates.

Mark barely paid any attention to Headmaster Bulla’s speech besides the part about the school prefects. ‘Saul Peirce is the authority huh, well I will have to give him a run for his money,’ Mark thought lively of what he could do to push the prefects buttons. Nothing mean, but more just to annoy. He was just a student after all.

Then the food appeared, and Mark remembered just how hungry he was. Mark may be a very lanky kid, but ate like a id three times his size. Loading his plate, Mark started stuffing himself when he noticed a kid next to him who said , “Hey…I think I want waterfalls on my walls.” Mark laughed, “Yeah! Maybe we could find a spell to do that.” He said.

Going back to his food for another minute or two, Mark started refilling his third plate. He then turned back to the kid and said with a mouthful of food, “The nae i ark ohnson. Ahts ors?” \n

0 Mark Johnson With a mouthfull of food. 0 Mark Johnson 0 5

Seamus Michael McFarlan

April 02, 2008 8:55 PM

I think this is the way of it by Seamus Michael McFarlan

Cascade Hall was bursting with noise. Seamus could hear it as he waited with the other first years. He was still a bit queasy from the bumpy ride on that strange wagon all the way from Ireland. Da had offered to take him as far as Apache Junction and pick up the shorter ride that boarded at Superstition Mountain, but Seamus would have none of it. He was eleven, almost a man now and he would arrive as a man, not a baby accompanied by his daddy.

This was great! It was everything Aunt Kate said it would be. Not the dark, damp castle-y interior of Hogwarts. It was open and airy and awesome. He’d lived surrounded by the green fields and ancient forests of Ireland. The desert air and scenery, no matter how landscaped, was like an alien planet and it was all his!

No sisters to boss him around...and see he lacked for nothing. No mother treating him like a child…and making his favorite cookies. No grandparents watching his every move…and giving him treats on the sly. No cousins playing with his stuff…and with him. No more Aunt Kate making him study his catechism harder…and telling him marvelous stories about the stars and planets.

Suddenly, Seamus realized that he knew absolutely nobody here. He bowed his head and stared at the floor. He scuffed at a tile with his shoe. Seamus would never have believed until today that one could feel so alone in a crowd of so many. He shuffled in with the rest of the First Years and risked a look around.

There really were waterfalls dancing merrily down the walls! The chandeliers were works of art. Tantalizing aromas filled the air. It was as if he stepped into a faerie castle, a caisleán siog. A grander place, Seamus was sure, did not exist in the mortal world.

A goblet was passed to him. Not wanting the label of coward placed upon him, he downed it without hesitation and became part of the human rainbow. Looking down at his hands he saw they had changed to a brilliant blue. He ran his hand self consciously, knowing how garishly his dark auburn hair would stand out against his cerulean skin. Following the rest of the sapphire students, he sat at the table that was assigned to the House that would become his home away from home. He heard someone say the name was Aladren.

Using his “company manners”, he listened politely until the Headmaster finished his speech, Seamus took note of one name he’d heard over and over again this past year. A young man at the far end of his table stood up and came forward. So this boy belonged to Seamus’ own Aladren. Applauding as wildly as if he had known him all of life, Seamus made a mental note to send an owl off right away. His aunt would be pleased when she found out that Zack Dill made Head Boy.

The food was served and Seamus, suddenly starved began filling his plate with any offerings within reach. A blue, hued girl said her name was Jera Valson and asked if blue meant Aladren.

“Aye, that’s what I hear.” Seamus grinned impishly at her. “This must be the best House in the school. I can tell because we’ve the prettiest girls sittin’ down to its table.”

Feeling more and more himself, Seamus took a big bite of fried chicken and washed it down with half a glass of milk.

“Oh, I’m forgettin’ me manners,” he said jauntily. “I’m Seamus Michael McFarlan.” He wiped his hands on the lap of his school robes. “Pleased to meet you.”

\n

0 Seamus Michael McFarlan I think this is the way of it 111 Seamus Michael McFarlan 0 5

Saul Pierce

April 02, 2008 9:21 PM

At least the food's not chasing you down a hallway by Saul Pierce

Leaving the clan known as the California Pierces had been as drawn out an affair as it usually was. Fortunately, Simon had been at the campsite and willing to apparate Saul right to the school (as part of the Staff, Simon could come and go as he pleased) so there hadn't been any worries about missing the wagon this year. His mom had kissed him and told him to be a gentleman to Briony, and his dad had winked at him and told him to not to do anything he wouldn't do (which, honestly, wasn't saying much), and his Aunts had hugged him and told him to make sure that pretty girl knew she was welcome to visit any time, and his cousins had shoved and elbowed him and taunted that Saul-has-a-girlfriend, and his Aunt Regina had given him a stern look and told him not to get in too much trouble.

Oddly, despite it being Saul's fifth year, not a single one of them mentioned the CATS exam even once. It didn't occur to them, and it didn't occur to Saul either.

Once at Sonora, Simon sent him on his way inside ("Get lost, kiddo, I've got work to do before everyone else get here") which told Saul as plain as day that Simon was trying to keep something secret from him (his older cousin wasn't very good at keeping secrets once his tongue started going) but Saul had dismissed it and figured Simon just knew something about the Festival that the staff wasn't supposed to tell the students yet.

Later, at the feast, when Bulla called him and bunch of other kids up front, Saul wished he'd pressed for more details. Because this was the point where prefects were supposed to be announced, and . . . cool! Pepper was called, too!

"Whoo! Good job, Pepper!" Saul called across the room to her as they both got up and moved toward the Headmaster, punching a fist into the air in congratulations. He nodded to the other two from his year, as well, but he didn't really talk to Gunther or Lila so much (he may have talked at them a bit more frequently, but he couldn't recall many instances of them actually returning conversation), and besides, Pepper was way prettier.

Saul was still waiting for Bulla to tell him this was a giant April Fool's joke five months late, but then then badge was on his robes and he was being sent back to his table. And Simon was smirking at him, like he also got the joke but it was just for them and nobody else knew it.

This was so freaky.

Prefect.

Dude.

Then he shook off the weirdness and nodded over to his friends, but bypassed Echo, Elly, and Meredith in favor of plopping down near the first years. Last year, his tour group had been sadly lacking, so this time he was going to recruit during the feast.

The kid sitting across from him had just said something involving mostly vowels but with just enough consonants thrown in to make it verge tantalizingly close to English. Saul grinned brightly at him and stuck out his hand. "Welcome to Sonora and Pecari, Ark Onsen. I'm Awl Earce." Then he realized how his name sounded phonetically without its first initials and rolled his eyes at himself. "And I swear I'm not a rabbit." He couldn't resist grabbing a piece of lettuce, though, and nibbling on it before turning to the kid Ark Onsen had been addressing. "And you are?"\r\n\r\n

1 Saul Pierce At least the food's not chasing you down a hallway 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Simon Tellerman

April 02, 2008 10:01 PM

Do you have a whole group of them? by Simon Tellerman

Simon was bursting with the news except he couldn't tell it. That would ruin the surprise. The decision had been made before the summer had even begun and he'd sat on it for so long and hadn't fumbled it in front of his cousin even once. Today, though, was different. Today, Saul would find out what the staff had decided in regards to prefects. Simon didn't dare to even talk to the kid for fear the news would come pouring out. So when they'd gotten to Sonora, Simon had sent him away and busied himself with groundskeeping work that could have waited until tomorrow.

For the first time since he'd begun working at the school (not even for Saul's sorting had Simon delegated it), Simon turned the task of getting the wagons put away to the elves and made it to the Staff table before the Headmaster began his speech. He tried not to watch Saul, but once Bulla began talking, he had to. And there! Yes! Simon snickered at the look of shock on his cousin's face.

As the kid walked back to his table, their eyes met and Simon smirked at him and rolled his eyes, but gave him a discrete thumbs-up. Then Saul's attention was back on his peers, so Simon decided to do likewise. Sadi was seated next to him. Not someone he'd talked to much before but that was hardly likely to stop him.

"I said," Simon repeated when his first attempt at conversation went unheeded, "You have no idea how hard it was to keep Saul's prefect-ness a secret from the family. All. Summer. Long." Thank Merlin he didn't live with them full time anymore or he never would have survived.

1 Simon Tellerman Do you have a whole group of them? 14 Simon Tellerman 0 5

Kyler

April 03, 2008 4:22 PM

That would be interesting... by Kyler

Kyler grinned at the kid next to him as he agreed with his waterfall statement. His mind, for a moment, went up to the dorm where his spellbooks (spellbooks!) were, thinking if maybe he could change the dorm... He looked back around as the kid, apparently Ark Ohnson (weird name), introduced himself. It took him a second to realize that Mark Johnson had a mouthful of food. Didn't matter. He had just earned himself a nickname (until he came up with a new one). As Kyler was about to reply, another, older student showed up, taking a seat. He was one of those prefect dudes! Opportunity to get on good side? Right now.

"Welcome to Sonora and Pecari, Ark Onsen. I'm Awl Earce." Kyler's grin returned at hearing the name mix-up. The dude seemed to realize it too because he went on, "And I swear I'm not a rabbit." Kyler laughed as he took a bite of the lettuce on his plate though. Way to go, man. Authority figure with humor.

"My name doesn't really work with the whole Ark Onsen-thing," Kyler said, "Kyler Kent just isn't as cool when it's remixed. It's pretty cool when left the way it is though!" He flashed a grin to let them know that he wasn't really conceited, just liked to joke around.

Kyler looked around at the surrounding tables, wondering what they were all about. What was with the potion? How did it decide what house they went to? Magic, duh, but what did it consider? Hey, maybe 'Aul' knew.

"So is 'Aul' short for Paul?" he said, before pulling out his real question. "And what's the deal with houses? What does the potion seperate us based on?"

0 Kyler That would be interesting... 0 Kyler 0 5

Irene

April 03, 2008 4:53 PM

throws a cookie by Irene

Irene was back! The framiliar view of Cascade was such a relief to see after the long journey on the wagon. An even better sight would be her fellow Pecaris! Saying a goodbye to the twins, she set out for the table. The Headmaster had started his speech, but Irene didn't really pay attention. She looked around at the incoming firsties and was reminded when she was one of the two years ago-- Whoa. Two years ago! Had it really been that long? So much had happened in these past years that it had flown by. And now she was a third year! Man... Irene spotted Elly's unmistakable hair as her face was resting on the table. Irene's pace quickened, concerned that maybe something had happened. She pulled up a spot at the table, but as she was about to ask, Elly let out, “I need food!” Irene grinned and patted the top of her hair.

"In a bit, Elly," she said. Bulla was just calling up the new prefects. Irene's ears caught the name of one of her teammates and she cheered as Saul walked up. Soon enough, the speech had ended and food filled the tables. Irene placed a hand on Elly's forehead and lifted her eyes upward. "There you go," she said grinning.

Irene noticed that Elly's hair had grown longer. It looked good! Renaye had suggested, in plain terms, "Cut your hair, Irene. Time for something new and fun!" Okay. She took a page from Raye's books and had gone with bangs. She had grown her hair out a bit so that it was a good few inches below her shoulders now. Irene liked how it made her eyes stand out more. She was very happy with the effect.

Summer had been so... dull. For the first part. Renaye and Josh had gone over to Laurie Ciders until July! July! She almost died of boredom. It wasn't until they got back that the summer kicked off with a great game of Quidditch ((Irene still had her hopes on being on the team (for real) this term)). In late August, Irene and the twins got grounded for a week. But it was so worth it! Renaye had woken her in the middle of the night, saying, "Can't sleep. Let's do something ridiculous!" Irene groaned that she wanted to sleep, but Renaye yanked her out of bed. A few minutes later. The twins and Irene had set up a tent in the woods and were roasting marshmellows. Yes, they had snuck out, but camping under the stars with her two of her favorite people was amazing!

"So," Irene said, her mouth slightly full of chicken, "Summer. Whatcha do?"

0 Irene *throws a cookie* 0 Irene 0 5

Ian Grimm

April 03, 2008 6:08 PM

Being blue is a first. by Ian Grimm

Ian Grimm thought the whole adventure a bit overplayed. His parents had prepared his favorite meal on the eve of his departure; his new trunk was carefully packed with the exact right amount of school supplies and clothing. He had declined the addition of one of his family’s owls; he was not a fan of animals in general and did not think of them as ‘friends’ like some his age might. It wasn’t as if he could engage an owl in conversation or a game of spades. His brown eyes considered the people that had joined him on the wagon ride; he did not see any likely prospects for cards there as it was. Many of them, possibly first years like himself, seemed unable to control their excitement. There was nervous chattering, knee jostling, and perhaps the most annoying, gum snapping.

He kept himself occupied with a slim biography covering the achievements of Leith Clurican, one of the school’s founders. He found it incredibly convenient that whenever he read, he had the ability to ignore any and everything around him. Even that obnoxious gum snapping.

Ian put the book away carefully in his satchel once the wagons finally reached their destination. It was his first sighting of the school, and Ian found himself oddly charmed by it. St. Jude’s School was made up in classic New England styles, with pillars and colonnades galore. The Academy had a grounded feel to it, as if it had sprung from the earth during its creation. He made a mental note to see if the library had any books about the school’s physical construction. In the midst of being ushered into what he presumed was the main hall (Cascade Hall, if his memory served him correctly), he covertly slid away his glasses and stubbornly ignored the slight blur that now marred his vision.

His first impression of the Headmaster was curiosity. His father had a colossal amount of files tucked away in his office, and Ian had managed to read through a good seventh of them during the past year. There had been no listing for a Bulla, Manfred nor was there any additional mention of the Headmaster under such headings as Sonora and Education. Perhaps it was for this reason that Ian was sent to Sonora Academy and not Salem for his schooling. Despite what his parents did for a living, Ian knew that they both preferred a background without any kind of tarnishing.

Ian preferred knowledge himself; the more he knew about a person, place, or thing, the better prepared he was to make the most of the situation. Which was why, when after his unwilling sip from the goblet he turned blue, he did not shy away from his new station. Aladren was precisely the right kind of house for him. He briefly squinted at the table that sent up a cheer once he joined their ranks, and attempted to put those faces to memory. Several more first years joined him, and he politely clapped along with his house at their entrance. He paid no real mind to the introductions that were thrown across the table, and he did not particularly resist a suggestion that he spread out and mingle with others. He took a seat elsewhere, unintentionally ignoring those who took their place around him, and began the task of considering what to eat. He avoided the salad; it had lettuce. He passed on the various casseroles; too much cheese and cream for his preference. He finally settled on a platter consisted of breaded chicken breasts and carrots.

Except, of course, it was beyond his reach. Ian mentally sighed, and considered, for a brief moment, whether he could trust himself to use his wand to summon the platter over. That consideration took into account that his Accio charm was never practiced and only ever observed, and that if the platter came to an unfortunate end, he would be out on what he now really wanted to eat. He turned fractionally to his left, one of his hands smoothing over his slightly windblown dark blond hair.

Without his glasses, it was a bit difficult to tell whether his neighbor was male or female; his preferences would make the neighbor a boy, as he found girls to be both unnaturally silly and ridiculously cheerful. Either way, as long as the platter came his way, he would attempt to stay polite. “Excuse me. Would you hand me that platter over there? The one with the breaded chicken?”

0 Ian Grimm Being blue is a first. 110 Ian Grimm 0 5

Talitha Cumni

April 03, 2008 7:07 PM

Third Year...Wooot! by Talitha Cumni

Talitha bounced into Cascade Hall. She had a fun summer but missed her friends and professors. She looked different too. She’d grown a bit, perhaps an inch or two. With all her time spent outdoors, she’d gotten rather trim. The biggest change, however was above the neck. She’d started wearing a touch of makeup everyday and found she liked the results. A bit of vanity allowed her to be happy that her long, dark eyelashes would never need mascara.

The most dramatic difference was that her hair, formally long enough to touch the top of her hips when it wasn’t braided was cut to just above her shoulders. The look was flattering and she felt as though she was about ten pounds lighter. She loved how it didn’t hold in the summer heat and bounced as she walked. Everybody but her father complimented her, declaring it pretty and assuring her it made her look very grownup. Her father went into mourning.

Thanks to her Mother’s anti-nausea potion made especially for the ride to school, Talitha was ravenous. She couldn’t wait to see all her friends and catch up on what they did over the summer. Sadly, she didn’t write as many owls as she’d intended to, being so busy herself. She wrote Adam, Elly, Lutece, Hyana, Holly, Lucie and Jae. Telling them about the unimportant, yet blessed days of summer vacation.

The Headmaster’s speech droned on. That was until she heard some rather distressing news. First of all, there was no Divinations classes! Talitha so looked forward to those. She didn’t have the Sight, but her Nana did and she’s hoped to understand her world a bit better. Secondly, Lila St. Martin was prefect! Who in the world could such a bigoted snob who had absolutely no since of diversity and understanding make such a high status? At least Jennifer was Head Girl. If she had any problems Talitha could go to her.

In spite of the disappointment, Talitha was starved. When the feast was declared opened, she started filling her plate with every thing that was fattening and delicious and totally against her mother’s edicts of what a healthy diet should consist of.

“Can you pass the croissants?’ She asked of the person to her left.
\n

0 Talitha Cumni Third Year...Wooot! 102 Talitha Cumni 0 5

Saul Pierce

April 03, 2008 8:05 PM

I don't recommend it, actually. by Saul Pierce

"Saul, actually," Saul corrected when the one named Kyler Kent tried to call him Paul (was that a set of KK initials? Saul would need to find a girl KK for him to date - it seemed to be working for the EEs). "My family's got enough Pauls without adding me, too," he added with a vague wave toward the staff table where his cousin sat. Not that Simon ever answered to Paul without his middle name also being included, but that wasn't the point. "And, you know, giving your kid the initials PP is just cruel."

Before he could go into a further analysis of people with double initials at the school, though, he realized that Kyler had asked a question that Saul should, in his capacities of tour guide, older student, not to mention his new if inexplicable prefect status, answer. "Anyways, the school's got four Houses - Pecari, which you guys are now a part of, Aladren, Crotalus, and Teppenpaw. The theory is that kids who are similar will get along, so each House has a major personality characteristic.

"Aladrens are smart and geeky and spend all their time in the library doing homework." Or so Saul understood it. Saul himself had never set foot in the place short of major emergencies when he was trying to find somebody and thought they might be there. "Crotali are, uh, I think it's supposed to people who follow rules." Saul shrugged as if to say he wasn't convinced such people existed. "There's more purebloods there than in other Houses, but not all Crotaluses are snobby.

"Teppenpaws are nice. So far I haven't met anyone to disprove that, though one of the Beaters - Lexi - on their Quidditch team is downright vicious on the Pitch. And in Pecari, we've got the cool folks. Adventurous or something, I think, is the big word for us. We've got the pranksters and troublemakers and interesting people here.

"Like, Stephen Baxter. And the Cravens. And Elly. And loads of others. Stephen's awesome. He discovered the corridor ride. That's where you run up the girls' hall and pow! You get dropped right in the middle of the common room. Everyone should try it at least once. The Cravens are the Quidditch Captains. They're - uh - different. Those three are all seventh years. And Elly is a fourth year. She's the one that'll turn the common room white with snow during midterm and do some other prank at the end of the year. Echo, also in fourth year, is the founder of the noveling club, and Brett, in third year, organizes soccer scrimmages. Uh, also in third year, Jae is, in his favorite wording, madcoolawesome. And for second years, um. Ronen, Holly, and Raoul. Don't know much about them. Holly's a bit of a girly-girl and I don't know how she got put with us. Ronen's cool. Into Quidditch and sports and stuff. Raoul," Saul shrugged, "French kid. Hangs out with Holly."

Saul took a moment to think of anyone else that might be critically important to tell them about. "Matt and Meredith are in the fourth year, too, and they're awesome. Caedence is a little scary sometimes, but she's cool. Likewise for Morgaine in Fifth year. And Cissy in Third. Watch out for Cissy. Irene in Third is awesome. In sixth year, there's Conner and Adam. Conner's got the same last name as me, but we're no relation. They're pretty cool. In seventh, there's also, um, Lizzie and Mia who are both all right. Mia's also a prefect, as is Conner.

"I think that's everybody. Oh! The Duprees! Danae's in the same year as Elly and Meredith. Fourth. And Talen's the year below that. They're pretty quiet most of the time. So, Pecari is a pretty cool lot, all together. You guys'll probably fit right in." This snap assessment was based on the fact that Kyler laughed at his joke and Ark talked with his mouth full. Both fine traits in a person.

"You need me to point anybody out, just let me know. I know pretty much everyone, at least by name and sight." Which, come to think of it, was probably why he'd been chosen over Morgaine who kept to her room like she was afraid of associating with the rest of her housemates. Maybe it wasn't so weird after all.

Even if he was only barely passing most of his classes.

1 Saul Pierce I don't recommend it, actually. 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Tyrone Astin

April 03, 2008 8:21 PM

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. by Tyrone Astin

Tyrone had listened with Kaden to his mother’s stories about Sonora. He knew she’d been in Aladren, knew their colors were blue and black and their house symbol the hawk (which, though he would only admit it over his dead body, was actually kind of cool). But, honestly, he didn’t care. At all. He wanted to be home again. Home in green hills and long summer days and even longer winter nights, and even the damned sheep bleating…

Even if those waterfalls were rather interesting looking, and the way the light sparkled made the little blond boy’s eyes glaze over slightly as he leaned in towards one of the walls while waiting for his turn to be sorted. And that didn’t take long—he was one of the first names, with his last name starting with A. …Why do they make us drink something like this? he thought sulkily, trying not to blush with embarrassment. It’s not like public humiliation is a good way to start a school year… He slunk over to the Aladren table, trying to ignore the cheers and friendliness of his new classmates, and just sank into the one of the seats and huddled there, refusing to look up from the table. He wasn’t going to make this easy. He didn’t really notice who the prefects were, although he did note with some interest that the Head Boy was in his house.

He ignored most of the speech, and dove at the food when it appeared. After a moment, he realized that perhaps he ought to restrain his enthusiasm, and spent much of the next few minutes trying very hard not to look like he was enjoying every bite. It took superb acting skills.

Hunched over as he was, it was easy to ignore most of the conversations, as he did almost entirely. Staring at his hand—now finally back to its regular color (maybe being early in the list had been good, after all…) he registered only absently that there was an Irish voice speaking.

And then he did a double take, and turned to the boy next to him. In an instant his face had turned from the rather sullen expression he’d had to something approaching open, and his amber eyes almost glowed. “Oh, you’re Irish!” His thick West Highlander accent was immediately apparent. The blond boy smiled. “I’m Tyrone Astin,” pronouncing his first name T’rone (as he would be quick to point out to any Southern idiots—in his opinion—who pronounced it “Tie-roan”). “Da said I was named for the county m’grandma came from. In Ireland.” His smile turned a little wry. “Seems t’ve been quite the scandal. Also seein’ as she was Muggleborn and m’ great-grandpa-and-ma apparently weren’t best pleased.”

His speech was odd—thick accent mixed with a hint of more cultured vocabulary—but he seemed entirely unaware of it. Realizing he had just said more about his family than he usually said over the course of a year to strangers, he shut up, and blinked as he realized he was being a little rude. With a mental shrug, he nodded to Jera to include her in his abrupt ramble, and then looked down at his food, somewhat at a loss. People-skill have never been his forte.

0 Tyrone Astin Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. 0 Tyrone Astin 0 5

Lutece Anthony

April 03, 2008 9:22 PM

You know, your company is rather enjoyable by Lutece Anthony

Not that Lutece Anthony had been expecting something like this at all when she first entered Cascade Hall as a first year. Not that she had even been expecting it at the end of her first year, really. Not that anybody who had associated with her in her time at Sonora would be expecting a development such as this. But the fact remained: the third year Crotalus had been anticipating her return to Sonora for the past month and a half. Perhaps longer. It was a rather unusual feeling, and Lutece was sure that she would be dwelling on that a tad bit more if she weren't so thrilled to be back at Sonora. After an entire summer of listening to her parents scream at each other and avoiding her siblings and not being able to see her friends, the girl had come to the conclusion that Sonora was infinitely better than anything Maryland could offer her at the moment.

Liss was of the opinion that there was a divorce coming in the near future. Judging by the sheer amount of conflict that had occurred over the summer (and yielding to Liss's experience with their mother's first divorce, years ago), Lutece had decided that she was probably right. However, the girl didn't feel especially involved in the matter. She didn't know if that was an effect of being at boarding school most of the year or what, but that was how it seemed to be working out. It felt odd, not to care whether her parents were together or not. Well, Lutece supposed she did care, at least a bit. But not nearly as much as she felt she should, which inspired a strange feeling in Lutece: that of guilt.

However, the brunette was thrilled to be back at Sonora, with her friends and Quidditch. When she walked into Cascade, she was surprised to find her stomach squirm a little bit at the sight of Oliver. That, she determined, was distinctly odd and usually the sign of a crush. Lutece having a crush on Oliver? It was simply unheard of. He was still geeky as ever, and he probably still hated her from that very first Potions class. She was sure that Lucas was as cute as ever, and there were the Spanish boys too. Why Oliver? Why?

The firsties got themselves sorted by changing colours, but Lutece wasn't paying attention. Actually, her blue-green eyes were sort of half focused on nothing in the distance instead of the rest of the hall. That is, until Oliver asked her to pass the chicken.

"Sure," she said absently, her mind elsewhere. Lutece sounded considerably nicer than she usually did, probably because of this. Slowly, she zoomed back into real life. "How was your summer?"

0 Lutece Anthony You know, your company is rather enjoyable 100 Lutece Anthony 0 5

Sadi Powell

April 04, 2008 8:26 AM

A whole group of interests? by Sadi Powell

“You have no idea how hard it was to keep Saul’s prefect-ness a secret from the family,” Simon repeated. It took a short moment for Sadi’s brain to process the information and its semantics to register.

“Oh, yes, of course,” she said, once her mind had caught up with her. “I can imagine.” In the midst of her own family excitement, Sadi had forgotten that Simon also had a close relative amongst the students. Adding a small sample of the wide array of food to her plate, Sadi asked, “Do you find you have to keep secrets often?” She was thinking about announcements, such as prefects, school events, and the like, and whether she would ever be in a position where she would be required to conceal information from her family. At least it wouldn’t be such a tremendous feat as Simon had endured; after all, Sadi’s small family consisted only of Jera, Toma and herself. Hiding something from two people was bound to be easier than trying to keep a large congregation of relatives in the dark.

Glancing over to find her daughter again, Sadi noted that the blue had started to fade. With the relatively secluded life she’d lived so far, Sadi wasn’t sure whether Jera would have difficulty talking to other students, yet Jera seemed to be already talking with some other first years. Excellent.

0 Sadi Powell A whole group of interests? 3 Sadi Powell 0 5

Ash Craven

April 04, 2008 1:48 PM

Calling any gullible first years... by Ash Craven

OOC - this is mainly set on the paths, but as it effects what happens in here, ie a character's reaction to the potion, and I figured this thread is where most people are beginning, I thought it would make more sense to put it here.

IC
Seventh year. Seventh and final. Damn, how had that happened? There was one thing he'd always wanted to kick term off by doing, and now looked to be his final chance. It was shame Sorrel couldn't join him, but she'd said she had to meet up with Stephen first thing. Ash hoped it was to beat the guy into a bloody pulp like he deserved. Even though Sorrel's depression had seemed to subside once she and Stephen began writing to each other, Ash still thought he needed a few good kicks for getting her into that state in the first place.

Strolling around the drop-off from the wagons, he hunted for his prey. Firsties. Ones who didn't look like they were there with siblings or any other relative. Ones who looked totally unnerved, and didn't look like they had a clue as to what was going to happen.

"Hey, you're new, right?" he asked, spotting one such creature. He didn't really wait for a response, as he knew they were. "Here, let me show you where you're going," he did his best to sound casual, and like he was being friendly - a kind, helpful older student. He hoped his looks wouldn't betray him too much there. Guys over six foot, built like brick walls could be nice. "So, you've got your sorting tonight..." he began, conversationally. "Man, I always wish someone had told me about that. Oh, it's nothing to worry about in itself," he added, "and I know I can't tell you, it's against the school charter. But I will give you this bit of advice," he continued, "you gotta do your best to fit in with your house. As soon as you demonstrate that you belong there, the effects of the sorting will wear off. The effects don't hurt or anything," he stressed, trying to sound reassuring, "you'll see what I mean when you're sorted. But you stay like it until you show you're really meant to be in that house. It's how they make sure no one gets put in the wrong place."

Making some excuse about needing to check something in the library before dinner (just like a good, responsible student), and wishing them luck, he'd left them then to stew over what he'd said. Maybe even pass it around a bit, and hopefully not meet with any contradiction from anyone who knew better. Now it was dinner time, and he settled down, watching the first year he'd targetted. He couldn't wait to see how they'd freak when they thought they were going to stay either blue, red, yellow or brown until they'd proven themselves!

13 Ash Craven Calling any gullible first years... 50 Ash Craven 0 5

Simon

April 04, 2008 1:57 PM

Yes, a special interest group by Simon

Simon nodded, pleased that someone was commiserating with him over the whole not-being-able-to-tell-anybody-about-Saul thing. He felt much better about it now. Also, the secret was out, as well, so the pressure was off and that was a relief, too. He'd write to Gina tonight and make sure everyone else knew as soon as possible. This was big news.

"Naw," he answered her question. "I couldn't tell him about Manfred's big secret about the ball last year, but that was really the only other time I had to keep something in the dark. I could spin wild tales about that, though, and Saul didn't expect anything different. This time I wasn't even supposed to have a secret. That's much tougher."

Simon pointed his chin at the little girl Sadi's eye kept drifting toward. Unless Simon missed his guess, there was a little bit of a family resemblance, which probably accounted for her interest. "Who's she?" He smiled and his blue eyes sparkled as he guessed, "Your little sister?"

1 Simon Yes, a special interest group 14 Simon 0 5

Alexis Ashwood

April 04, 2008 8:43 PM

Surprisingly, I may be able to do that by Alexis Ashwood

Alexis walked towards the Crotalus table as fast as possible once arriving to Sonora. She had spent the whole carriage ride with Josiah and couldn't stand another moment with him. She felt like she might explode! She supposed, though, his extra annoying attitude was revenge for the events over the summer.

She had joined an organization, P.U.R.E., which asked for the extermination of mudbloods and halfbreeds. Well, Alexis wasn't ready to exterminate, but she was sure as heck ready to torture. So she asked Chrysi, her favorite cousin of all time, to ask Hyana, the stupid mudblood, to the ball celebrating Joey's and Chrysi's engagement. Alexis had used that to get Hyana and Joey in so much trouble, she doubted the two would be able to see each other again.

So, remembering that thought, she happily sat down at the table. She watched in amusement as the firsties drank the potion. She remembered turning as red as her own hair last year. She had always known she would be sorted into Crotalus. Alexis just hoped that this batch of firsties were actually proper, and quite unlike what she heard about the Warren twins. Quidditch? Ugh. Maybe she'd try out for beater, but that would only be if Josiah tried out for his team.

“I have had the worst journey here,” a girl said as she sat next to Alexis. She turned her golden hazel brown eyes to look at the speaker, to see it was Cecily. She hadn't known the girl that long last year, for she had been to absorbed in running the wretched mudblood Hyana out of the school. Once she had been successful, she began to be more social with her roommates, and had found Cecily quite enjoyable to speak to. At the girl's words, she gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I can understand that, me too." she sighed. "But why was it so awful for you? I can't imagine it being worse than your date to the ball, that Josh Warren." She shrugged, ignoring her own ball story. If there was ever a ball this year, she would find a date, and she would never be foreced to go with Josiah again.

0 Alexis Ashwood Surprisingly, I may be able to do that 117 Alexis Ashwood 0 5

Mark Johnson

April 04, 2008 10:02 PM

Oh, but I would by Mark Johnson

Saul is cool and everything, but he sure can talk,’ Mark thought as Saul was talking. “Wow Aul Earce, you must be one popular kid here.” Mark said when he caught a break in Saul’s introduction of classmates. Mark also figured if he was going to be called Ark here that Saul’s new nickname would be Aul in accordance with there greetings.

Actually, Mark wasn’t paying attention to the names, but He heard the first sport that was played here and Mark was exited. Soccer would be great, it wasn’t basketball, but it was a start.

Then again there was one thing that Mark caught on too. “One of the Beaters - Lexi - on their Quidditch team is downright vicious on the Pitch.” Saul said. ‘What the heck is Quidditch?’ thought Mark as he listened on to Saul’s ongoing chattering. Mark was overexcited and just wanting to learn all he could now about this place.

Then when Saul finished, Mark found his opening. “Alright Aul. That’s all well and good, and I’m sure the people are great, but there is one question I have to ask since I’m new to this whole magic thing. Truth be told I didn’t know about this world of yours even existed till a month ago. What is this thing you call Quidditch and what is a beater?” Mark said looking over to Saul and after he pondered for a second he added, “Is there some sort of basketball team here too? It‘s my favorite sport and the first thing I ever did magically. I was eight and I made a crazy cool 40 foot half court shot at the last second to win the junior league I was playing with.”

Mark couldn’t get the full grasp of things yet, but he did have an amazing imagination. He just couldn’t wait till the pranks got started. “Maybe I could be in on them this year,’ Mark thought.

\n

0 Mark Johnson Oh, but I would 0 Mark Johnson 0 5

Joey Phillips

April 04, 2008 10:16 PM

I've always been told not to accept drinks from strangers.. by Joey Phillips

This was weird. This entire thing was so weird. It might even end up being too weird for Joey to handle. However, he might not mind that. He had only promised he would try it. Surely if everything was as completely bizarre as it looked, his parents wouldn’t mind if he came home to normal people.

The wagon-ride thing had been possibly the strangest thing so far, but it was also the first redeeming feature of this ordeal. The wand-buying, and the robes, and everything all came straight out of his brother Zachary’s fantasy novels (or straight out of the covers, at least, since there was no way Joey was going to look any closer). The wagons, however, were definitely not in anything he’d ever seen before. So maybe this whole thing was reasonable, in a sick, twisted way. Maybe Michael was right, and this school would end up being cool after all.

Clutching the Rangers cap Michael had given him before the departure, Joey followed the rest of the students (or, at least, he assumed the ones he was following were the students) into a large room, and was handed…a goblet. Seriously, it had to be a joke. Nobody used goblets back home, and particularly not with some unknown beverage in them. Maybe this was a ‘don’t drink the koolaid’ sort of situation, and this was some kind of ritual sacrifice to some dark, demonic creature. Except those kinds of things definitely didn’t exist, and if any of the people around him knew he was thinking about that, then he’d be deemed a loser and a geek before he could spit.

Joey hesitated for a second before drinking anything, but when nothing else seemed to happen to any of the other kids, he took a sip as well. It didn’t taste like anything was…Geez, he was turning brown! It was poisoned after all! He had only left home to be killed by a group of weird fanatics of some sort who probably had no friends in high school.

Yet, for some reason, nobody else seemed to think anything strange was going on, and all the other first years, or whatever they were called, had turned colors too. And some of them were starting to head off to the four different tables. He followed the others who had turned brown, checking his skin to see if anything was changing every second or two. It had to wear off eventually, after all.

Breathing a sigh of relief once the dye, or whatever it was, had faded from his skin, he looked around at the people sitting next to him and ignored the speech the principal-person was making. Surely one of them had to have some clue what was going on. “Hey, I’m Joey Phillips,” he said, more bravely than he felt, once the speech seemed finished. All he had to do was think how Michael would react, and then he would be fine. Everything would work out great. “So, I guess we’re in the same house-thingy, then.” He fought the urge to clutch the cap to his white-blond hair once more or glare, make himself look a little tougher than his regrettably delicate features did naturally. Surely nobody would be mean to someone new, particularly since he hadn't done anything wrong. Yet.
\r\n\r\n

0 Joey Phillips I've always been told not to accept drinks from strangers.. 0 Joey Phillips 0 5

Hannah Cooper-Forrester

April 04, 2008 11:45 PM

I'm not strange by Hannah Cooper-Forrester

Hannah hadn’t meant to come to Sonora looking like this. Honestly. Well sure, when she finally lost a game of Shuntbumps with the local kids, she had intentionally fallen in the muddiest patch of ground she could find. When she’d wrestled Ritchie K. to the ground for being the one to beat her at the game and making fun of her for being a girl (and a freakishly tall one, at that) well, she’d meant that too.

She hadn’t meant to come to Sonora looking so disheveled. Hannah had merely meant to get the Muggle jersey Shayne had given her as dirty as possible. Because really, who was intimidated by a team named after red socks? Certainly not Hannah. She thought her mother would want to clean her up, or at least, reprimand her for behaving in such a manner. She expected that her mom would go off on her hypocritical rant about the dangers of brooms. Most of all, she thought that her mom would cancel her date with Shayne to be with Hannah.

But none of this occurred. Instead, her mother asked if Hannah was okay, laughed when her daughter declared her victory over the nefarious Ritchie K., and demanded that Hannah wash her face. Stomping out of the room, she returned back to the kitchen with her freckled face clean, though her light brown banana curls still carried the remnants of dried mud. Adjusting her pigtails, she was just about to recommend that her mom cancel her date and stay home to help Hannah prepare for school when her mother announced that the wagon was already here. Disappointed and decidedly a mess, the eleven-and-a-half year-old could do nothing but hug her mother and try her best to keep any tears from leaving her hazel eyes.

She wished her mother still coached Quidditch at Sonora, so Hannah wouldn’t have to worry about leaving her. It wasn’t that her mother couldn’t take care of herself, in fact, that was the problem. Hannah’s mother might forget why she even liked her daughter and run off with Shayne instead, and then Hannah would be all alone. Well, not completely alone – she’d have her cousins. But she’d rather live with her mom, thank you very much.

As her cousins had told her all about the Sonoran sorting process, the girl confidently gulped down her drink without any fear. She wondered what house she’d be sorted into – chances where, she’d be with a cousin. Aladren was the only house she didn’t have a cousin in, and Hannah was no nerd, as any of her previous teachers would confirm. Secretly she hoped to be with Ronen, because Ronen was in Pecari. Both of her parents, and all of her uncles had been in Pecari. As she watched her skin change color, she was quite pleased to observe that her skin was beginning to resemble the last of the dirt that still resided on her bare arms and baggy jeans. She was a Pecari, a true Cooper child.

Spotting Ronen, she gave him a thumbs up as she made her way over to the table where he sat. Taking the first empty seat she could find, she folded her dirty arms as she realized that someone was talking to her.

“Hannah Cooper-Forrester,” she recited her regrettably long surname, fully aware that this was far from the last time she'd be called on to do so. She raised her eyebrows ‘house-thingy’? Didn’t this kid know anything?

“Pecari, it’s called Pecari,” she said, as if it was obvious, which it was, “It’s the best house they have here.”

0 Hannah Cooper-Forrester I'm not strange 0 Hannah Cooper-Forrester 0 5

Saul

April 05, 2008 12:27 AM

Then say 'accio food' next to a hotel restraunt by Saul

The one thing that Saul always forgot about new incoming muggleborns was that they didn't know what Quidditch was. It usually only mattered for the first week or so before they caught on, but it never ceased to take him by surprise when they inevitably asked about it. Still, it was something he was glad to tell them (of course, Saul so enjoyed the sound of his own voice that there was very little that he wouldn't be overjoyed to tell them everything about - and a new first year's curiosity meant they might even listen to all of it).

"Quidditch," Saul stated, with an emphasis on the word that made it sound amazing and, well, magical. "Quidditch is the big thing around here. Most wizard kids never hear about any sports but Quidditch and it's the only one that the school officially supports - so, no basketball. I can maybe talk to my cousin about getting a court though so you guys can at least shot hoops informally. Dunno if a groundskeeper has the kind of pull to get one, though.

"Anyways, Quidditch is sort of like a mix up of most muggle ones, and with a few whole new things besides. It's teams of seven people, plus alternates. Everybody flies around on brooms and there's, like, three different things going on all at once. The main action is kinda like basketball, but in the air with no dribbling and hoops are like this," Saul demonstrated by making an O with his arms around his head, "instead of like this," he dropped his arms down in front of him so it looked like he was holding a giant bowl over the table.

"There's three chasers who are trying to get the Quaffle - that's the biggest of the balls used - through one of the hoops - there's three of them. The keeper is sorta like a goalie in soccer, and he's trying to keep the Quaffle from going in. A team gets ten points when the Quaffle goes through a hoop.

"Then there's the beaters, two per team, who are sorta playing a really violent game of baseball. They've got bats, and they swing them at these really nasty flying metal balls - there's two of those - called bludgers, which do pretty much what they sound like they do. They bludgeon people. Beaters hit the balls at the opposing team and try to keep the bludgers from hitting their own teammates.

"The last person on each team is the Seeker, and they're kinda doing their own thing, playing hide and seek with this tiny little golf-ball-sized ball called the Golden Snitch. That's got wings and flies around the whole game while the Seekers look for it. Game ends when a Seeker catches the Snitch, and that team get 150 points, which, in most school level games, decides the winner. That's why Beaters usually target the Seeker.

"Unfortunately for you guys, first years can't be on the House Teams, but you will have flying lessons, so you'll be competent on a broom for try-outs next year. Pecari's got four seventh years on the team, so there'll be a lot of open slots then, too." It suddenly occurred to him that when that happened, the current captains would be gone and somebody else would have to chose who was going to fill those empty positions. "Dude, I'm gonna be captain, too," he realized in something like awe. He was, after all, the next oldest on the team and the assistant captain.

1 Saul Then say 'accio food' next to a hotel restraunt 82 Saul 0 5

Jennifer Zucchero

April 05, 2008 12:40 AM

Getting this over with (Tag Geoffrey S.) by Jennifer Zucchero

Seventh year at last. Merlin, it had taken long enough, and at the same time felt like it could have been nowhere near this long. Just one year left to go.

Those where the only things Jennifer could think as she got off the wagon for (theoretically) the last time unless she happened to go home for Christmas, which wasn’t likely. Even if she did, stepping back onto the campus was still a big deal for this one last beginning of the year…she needed to stop this, or she was going to make herself unreasonably depressed and that was no way to go into a beginning of year feast.

She felt different walking into the school for this one last year. It could have been a number of things: the fact that she was finally a seventh year, the knowledge that she was about to officially become the official head girl, or any and all of the growing up that had happened over the previous summer. Whatever it was, her level of confidence walking into the school was far beyond past years, which could be for better or worse. With a giggle, she considered the possibility of unintentionally becoming another Stephen (Merlin love the boy, but the world did not need two).

Toying with the notion of going and finding Jake before the feast, Jennifer discarded the idea after a few seconds of consideration. There were other things that had to be done first, like get the quidditch try-outs posted, and there was the work before play principle that had to be taken into account. So with a sigh, she headed first toward her common room and then back to Cascade, sliding in the door and into a seat at the end of one of the tables right as Bulla began his yearly spiel.

This year’s she actually had to pay attention to, though, because she was actually going to have to do something. That didn’t stop her from only listening half-heartedly to the first section, of course; prefects and heads didn’t come until later in the speech as a rule, and she needed to find someone before her name was called. Fortunately, she spotted the familiar head, fortunately with an open seat nearby him, right as she and Zack were summoned.

Receiving the badge itself provided a distinct sense of accomplishment (having the habit habit of being shallow like that), though nothing else of significance seemed to be imparted. That could have been worrisome if she hadn’t been relatively certain this was something she could handle. And if it wasn’t, well…surely faking it worked sometimes.

Jennifer walked back toward the table she’d just left, taking a seat opposite her earlier quarry. “Hello, Geoffrey. Have a good summer?” was asked warmly as she smiled as brightly (but non-suggestive of anything non-platonic) as she could at him. She’d had a while to plan out the conversation, since the unfortunate incident last year, actually, since the two of them hadn’t had a real discussion since then. With any luck, this would be completely uneventful and painless for the both of them.

0 Jennifer Zucchero Getting this over with (Tag Geoffrey S.) 48 Jennifer Zucchero 0 5

Laurie Cider

April 05, 2008 12:58 AM

How about someone take you out of your misery? by Laurie Cider

Her summer had been, in Laurie's opinion, the best one out of her going on thirteen years of life. Her summer softball league managed to actually win a game; she finally finished Final Fantasy XII; and then the Warrens came, which turned out to be the sprinkles, whipped cream, and cherry topping of the whole sundae. She might have overwhelmed them at first, her dad more than willing to play chauffeur for them; their first week included a visit to nearby Tampa and its Busch Gardens, and then there was Orlando with Universal's Islands of Adventure. She had even organized for the twins to join her on a two night camping trip up to Rainbow Springs, to go tubing and water skiing. The tempo, thankfully for all interested parties, slowed after that. Most days they walked the two and half blocks necessary to reach the public beach. On the rainy days, her dad foisted his almost finished new recipes for his latest cook book, and Laurie had to admit, the Bludger Nut Fudge was fantastically indulgent.

She knew the twins were her good friends at the end of the last term, but the summer cemented it in her mind; Renaye and Josh were definitely her best friends.

Her return to Sonora brought her darkly tanned, her cheeks decorated with sun-induced freckles, and her dirty blond hair generously streaked from too many hours in the ocean, under the sun. Part of her summer activities had also included a visit or four to the mall, each of her visits resulting in new colors to add to her nail polish collection. The night before she was due to return, she had carefully painted each of her finger nails a different color, relishing the gaudy colorfulness of it. She had even managed to not bite her nails for going on three weeks.

She hadn't forgotten her other friends during the break, however. To each of them, she had sent another home made postcard, the pictures consisting of the many candid shots she slyly took during the vacation. She sent one to Zane, to Addie, two to her brother Tim while he was at camp, two to Talen as well, and of course, one to Cecily. She had dressed up her rabbits in summer fanfare, with sunglasses and the like, for Cecily's card. She still held a particular amused fondness for her somewhat backwards roommate. And so it was, once the first years had been ushered in and disbanded, Laurie took a seat happily beside her housemate, content to greet the girl with a cheery smile

She listened as Cecily griped about the trip, plainly not pleased with either the mode of transport or her fellow travelers. Laurie's cheerful near hum of contentedness came to an abrupt pause once Alexis Ashwood threw in her two cents. "But why was it so awful for you? I can't imagine it being worse than your date to the ball, that Josh Warren."

Immediately, she frowned, both teed off from the comparison and then subsequent dispagement of her friend. Laurie was not one to cause a conflict; she played the part of pacifier far more often that aggressor. But this was too much, especially since she grouped Alexis in the same category as Anabel- irritating. She gave Cecily an apologetic wave of her hand, more than assured that her friend would chime in with disavowels momentarily.

"Right, Alexis, because having to go to a dance with a polite, considerate, and all around awesome guy like Josh Warren is comparable to sitting on a wooden bench for three hours." She paused, her tone uncharacteristically sarcastic. "Oh, but wait, that's right. You went with your cousin. Yeah. . .how'd that work out for you?"

She stabbed purposely into her chicken once finished, not at all mindful of the plate's contents having spread and intermingled. That Alexis Ashwood. . . She bristled, annoyed. How did people like that even exist?\r\n\r\n

0 Laurie Cider How about someone take you out of your misery? 0 Laurie Cider 0 5

Jaeven 'Jae' Dimitri

April 05, 2008 12:22 PM

Strange is relative by Jaeven 'Jae' Dimitri

Jae was excited. Sure, summer was fun. He got to spend a lot of time with his aunts and the household animals, even if he didn't get to see his ex-best-friend hardly at all because she was still mad at him for going off to magical school, even if the magical school was in Arizona and not nearly as far away from Colorado as he could have been. Even though the Pecari had been in a bit of a funk the first three weeks of summer vacation because of this situation, he had eventually snapped out of it. Nina would soon realise that it wasn't his fault that he was all, madcoolwizardness. Once she did, things would get better and they would be able to hang out again together. Of course, then came The Boyfriend and that had pretty much ruined any plans he'd had, since whenever he saw Nina after the end of June, He was with her.

To be truthful, Jae was still sad about not being able to spend time with Nina, and he definitely wished that he could have spent as much time with her as The Boyfriend did, but at the same time he got to spend a lot of time with his aunts. Aunt Cheri had taken him to volunteer at the Humane Society three times a week, and he'd joined the summer swim team at the Rec Centre. It was a little difficult getting the dreadlocks into a cap at first, but once he'd gotten the hang of it, swimming was really fun.

Plus, he'd found homes for all but two of Jenny's kittens. And Jenny had gotten fixed (along with the kittns) so that there wouldn't be something like that to happen again. Aunt Marla had been slightly disapproving of this, but Aunt Cheri pointed out that it wasn't a good idea to have an unspayed cat running around a school with quite a few other cats. Aunt Marla had conceded and Jenny, Nate, and Oswald had gone to the vet overnight. They had come back a little sore but otherwise okay, and Jae felt better about taking Jenny to school after that. The kittens had been madcoolawesome, but if he had known he would have been uber worried about Jenny and whether she was okay and stuff. It was better if he didn't have to worry.

Now it was Back To School Time, and Jae applauded loudly when the new Prefects and Head Boy and Girl were announced. He knew some of those names! He was also very amused by the firsties who were turning all colours of the rainbow. Er, the Sonora rainbow, anyway. The third year remembered when he was turning colours just like the firsties now. It had been the most madcoolawesome experience ever in the history of evers. Yes. Seriously that cool. Sonora was majorly cool.

"Hey!" Jae popped his blonde, dreadlocked self into a seat next to a girl talking to a boy, both of them in Pecari brown. "You guys are firsties, right?" Well, pretty much only firsties were different colours, so he moved on without waiting for them to answer that. "I'm Jae, and I'm a third year. What're your names? Where do you come from? Are you excited about Sonora yet?"

0 Jaeven 'Jae' Dimitri Strange is relative 0 Jaeven 'Jae' Dimitri 0 5

Professor Lorraine Taylor

April 05, 2008 12:42 PM

Back to school by Professor Lorraine Taylor

It was the beginning of a new year, and Lorraine’s second year of teaching. In her opinion, the woman had done a rather good job. She had gotten a group past the CATs and a group past the RATs, none of whom had put forth less than their best in the examinations, she was sure. Granted, there were some students who were simply hopeless as far as Charms went, but that was only to be expected. Not everybody had the knack to move on into a higher level Charms class, and Lorraine wished those who would not be joining her in an advanced class the best. Some of those who had graduated she was very impressed with and expected to hear from in the future.

Manfred seemed to have things all in order, as usual, Lorraine noted as she stepped into Cascade Hall and seated herself at the staff table next to one of her fellow staff members and with an empty seat on her right hand side. As it was the Opening Feast, and to Lorraine's mind a formal event, she was dressed suitably. Not to say that she ever dressed in a truly casual manner (her family could attest to not having seen her in jeans for the past twenty years at the least), but even less so tonight. The graying professor wore black robes and some appropriately functional shoes, neatly blacked with a charm she had picked up over the summer. Charms were so useful. It was quite the pity that so many people did not appreciate the full value of the branch of magic.

Lorraine applauded with the rest of the Hall as Manfred announced both the new prefects and the new Head Boy and Girl. She was especially glad that Zack Dill had been chosen as Head Boy. He was always polite and very interested in learning, especially in what many would consider the 'Muggle' side of things. The wizarding world needed more boys like him. Who else did they think would build things for the rest of the them? Or come up with innovative solutions to problems? Honestly, some people just didn't think ahead.

Speeches done, the Charms professor helped herself to some turnips and chicken, then turned to her neighbor. "Could you pass the broccoli?" she requested.

0 Professor Lorraine Taylor Back to school 0 Professor Lorraine Taylor 0 5

Cecily

April 05, 2008 2:05 PM

No fighting, please by Cecily

Rejoining her roommates created a series of conflicting emotions: Cecily felt pleased to see them, but at the same time was humbled by the realisation that having her own room again over the summer was only a temporary luxury. The cat fights and firm differences of opinion would undoubtedly return, and far sooner than Cecily had anticipated. Laurie jumped on Alexis immediately at her slight of Josh.

Quickly doing mental equations to discover the best way to reconcile this without losing a friend, Cecily outwardly kept her cool, raising an eyebrow and smiling ever so slightly. “Really, Laurie, there’s no need,” she said coolly. “Alexis knows we had a better time than her, she doesn’t want to be reminded. Besides, we all managed a delightful evening with our pureblood dates, so there’s no harm done.”

Before either of them could retort, Cecily hurriedly changed the subject – she could always do damage repair with each of them individually afterwards, if necessary. “Anyway, there is a far more pressing problem. My sister, Amelia,” Cecily raised her eyes and searched the group of first years. To her horror (although she wasn’t surprised in the slightest), Amelia was the deep red of a Crotalus first year, “… is in Crotalus.” Cecily finished with far less strength in her voice. “Oh fabulous,” she said dryly. “She’s the blonde girl over there,” Cecily explained, gesturing in Milly’s general direction and sighing audibly. “You’ll no doubt have the pleasure of meeting her soon enough.” In fact, if Amelia was going to be as boisterous as she had been the entire journey here, everyone in the school would know her by the end of the evening.

0 Cecily No fighting, please 0 Cecily 0 5

Jera

April 05, 2008 2:30 PM

That's rather morbid by Jera

Jera wasn’t sure how to respond to the first boy – he said something about pretty girls (or at least that’s what she’d heard; his voice was hard to understand). She frowned at him in a thoughtful, rather than offensive manner, and decided he maybe was making fun of her. Far be it from Jera to be offended by someone she didn’t know, she followed his lead and began helping herself to the food. Before she could begin eating, though, the boy introduced himself. “Seamus who?” she asked, not having caught the last part of his name – he spoke so quickly and she was finding it hard to keep up.

Apparently the boy seated the other side had better luck understanding, and it was with dismay that Jera recognised both of them spoke with an accent, Irish, if she’d understood correctly. After that, though, she was completely lost, and unable to understand at all what had been said.

Feeling a little dizzy, Jera thought she’d better eat something. She half-glanced at the staff table, tearing her eyes away at the last moment to focus on her plate of pasta salad and tuna fish instead. It was one of the meals her Gram-ma always made. Taking a bite, Jera crinkled her nose – this food didn’t taste like her Gram-ma’s at all. It tasted good, just not what she had been expecting. It was different. A lot of things here were different, Jera had noticed. She lifted her fork to her mouth and tasted the dish again. Different, yes, but not bad - she could get used to it. That meant that she could get used to the other new stuff round here, too.

“This is my first time in Arizona,” she said, trying to start up a conversation she could find a place in. “I don’t travel a whole lot. You folks must’ve come a long way.”

0 Jera That's rather morbid 0 Jera 0 5

Alexis

April 05, 2008 2:55 PM

Only if you say so by Alexis

Alexis had been patiently awaiting Cecily's answer when an unwanted answer to her comment interrupted them. "Right, Alexis, because having to go to a dance with a polite, considerate, and all around awesome guy like Josh Warren is comparable to sitting on a wooden bench for three hours." Laurie Cinder said. Alexis made sure to gracefully cover her mouth with her hand to hide the smirk she knew was appearing. Laurie obviously didn't know about Cecily's comments about Josh in the girl's bathroom. Alexis turned to Laurie with an apologetic smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry." she said sincerly (she had always been a good actress). "I do need to stop doing that. It was a kind of a joke. I didn't mean to be ru-" "Oh, but wait, that's right. You went with your cousin. Yeah. . .how'd that work out for you?"

Alexis continued her apology, though her look had hardened slightly at that. Oh, this Laurie would have to watch out. She thought the girl was smarter than that. "Rude. I didn't think anyone would take it seriously. I'll just have to word it differently next time. I know Cecily had a wonderful time with Josh. In fact, I would've given up anything to have as wonderful of a time as the two of them did." Alexis turned back to Cecily as she spoke, glad for the support. She listened with an eyebrow raised at her words.

"You dislike your sister?" she asked in slight surprise, reaching for some chicken. Alexis had a younger sister herself. Maria, her mother, was so busy spoiling her over the summer, Alexis hadn't spent much time with her. She was quite neutral towards Allaiyah, but couldn't see herself disliking her quite yet. She was only seven, after all.

"Why? She seems pleasant enough." Alexis refrained from mentioning that she was probably an excellent person for being sorted in Crotalus.

0 Alexis Only if you say so 0 Alexis 0 5

Renaye and Josh Warren

April 05, 2008 4:18 PM

looks in cautiously Safe? by Renaye and Josh Warren

Summer had been an absolute sensation for the Warren twins. Renaye and Josh had joined the Cider's at their home for a period during the summer, which turned out to be the highlight of the entire summer months. Sorry, Irene, but it was Florida! Yes, it was very hot, but Renaye hadn't minded at all. Her decent tan was a bit of a confidence boost for her. Josh had a tan of his own. Over the time they had spent there, Renaye and Josh had decided that Laurie was definitely the coolest girl they knew at Sonora. The twins planned to spend more time with her this year. It wasn't like they wanted to be buddy-buddy with the other Crotali (with the exception of Zane, of course).

Adding on the already great vacation, the twins' tournament had gone very well. The team they had been placed on went all the way to the State championship game! Renaye and Josh had been working on their manuevers all during July and August. Josh was ecstatic the rest of the summer (and still was) about the victory at the chamionship. Hopefully, the extra practice might give them an edge in the try-outs this year...

But summer had given Renaye and Josh a chance to reinforce the twin relationship that had seemed to have faded over the previous year. Raye had told him, she didn't care if he wanted to meet more people (a little bit of sarcasm present there), she was still his sister. The had each others backs. For sure. No matter what. Irene and Laurie were acceptable ditching opportunities. Speaking of which, where was that girl? Josh looked around the Hall, hoping to spot Laurie among the tables. He spotted her among Cecily and Alexis and pointed them out to Raye. Renaye gave a sigh.

"I really don't want to start the year out like this again..." Renaye said. Nevertheless, she lead the way to the table. As they walked up, Renaye caught a few words, "I know Cecily had a wonderful time with Josh. In fact, I would've given up anything to have as wonderful of a time as the two of them did." Renaye bristled. She looked over at her brother, letting out a long breath. Josh's expression had hardened. His pale blue eyes met the green of Renaye's. He shrugged in a 'I really could care less' sort of way. Somehow, this made the blonde girl smile. It didn't seem like he cared if Cecily and Alexis liked him. Renaye ruffled his black hair. Josh reached out to mess her blonde bangs in response before he took the open seat next to Laurie, Renaye taking the spot beside him. The twins each gave a small wave to Laurie. Renaye didn't appear to be that forgiving of her roommates at the moment, and turned to her attention directly to her plate.

Josh's good mood wasn't wrecked quite yet. It was going to take more than Raye's roommates to squash the memories of the time he had spent at Laurie's and the victory at State's. Tuning in the converstation, it seemed that the other girls were talking about Cecily's sister who was apparently the blonde girl up at the front. Elaina wasn't going to be attending Sonora for another four years. From what he heard, Cecily didn't like her sister. Josh and Renaye were best friends. Elaina and Renaye didn't really get along all the time, but they were normally nice. Josh and Elaina had a Big brother, little sister, relationship. Elaina was pretty independent though.

Josh didn't have much input for this conversation. Instead, he leaned over and said, so only Laurie could hear, "Year starting out well for you?"

0 Renaye and Josh Warren *looks in cautiously* Safe? 0 Renaye and Josh Warren 0 5

Laurie

April 05, 2008 5:39 PM

It is now. by Laurie

She felt first vindication once joined by Cecily, and then immediately-

"Rude. I didn't think anyone would take it seriously. I'll just have to word it differently next time. I know Cecily had a wonderful time with Josh. In fact, I would've given up anything to have as wonderful of a time as the two of them did."

Laurie's brow dipped forward, her face properly flushed with consternation; she barely noticed that her hair dangled dangerously close to her food. Rude. She winced. Yes, she mentally berated, Laurel Cider was that kind of girl apparently. Rude and petty. She had heard only the slight on Josh's name, and rudely- oh, again that word!- she barged in, throwing cheap comments of her own that way. She bit her lip, firmly abashed, and offered up a barely heard 'sorry.'

Cecily, showing quite the diplomatic side of her, ushered the conversation onto more friendly waters, but Laurie had lost her pluck. It wasn't that she thought of herself as perfect or anything like that. . .but she had to admit, she had a fairly good opinion of her personality. She honestly thought that Laurel Cider was a nice sort of person, loyal to friends, generous with forgiveness- basically an all around A-Okay kind of girl. Not quite heroine material, but surely a semi-decent, well rounded side-character, right?

Rude.

She winced again, only dimly realizing that the twins had joined them. She tried to re-focus her train of thought. Think of your summer, she ordered herself. Remember going tubing, she commanded. And remember setting off fire works on the beach for the Fourth of July, she stressed, her inner monologue gaining a near shout in volume. Of course, in her current frame of mind, she instead came up with the only down side of her entire summer: her slumber party with Heidi, her best friend since forever. She pushed aside her plate, plopped her chin up with one palm, and allowed the brooding to fully take its course.

"You're kind of fake, sometimes, Laurel." Only Heidi and her parents called her by her full name anymore, something that she found annoying, but never told them. "I mean, you're always acting cheerful and solving problems. The only time you show a bad side of yourself is when it's going to come across good." That wasn't true, she had protested. She just didn't like fighting, and being happy was easy when people got along. "You'll end up hurting people's feelings more this way. Sometimes, you can't help but hurt someone, but it's worse when you're doing it selfishfully." Heidi didn't know what she was talking about, she had declared, Heidi didn't even use the right word: it was 'selfish-ly'. "You need to pay attention better. Especially to that guy. . ." And what did that mean?

Laurie still wondered. Heidi had turned so serious on her, making those kinds of accusations and still sounding kind despite it. It made her feel uncomfortable, and unsure. Was Alexis right? Heidi hadn't used that word in particular, but maybe she was a ru-

"Year starting out well for you?"

It was Josh, and quite suddenly, and with a great deal of déjà vu, Laurie felt like crying.

"I gotta go." And hurriedly, before he could reply, she grabbed her napsack, and left the table, not stopping until she had escaped the hall and found refuge in a nearly hidden eave in the hallway. She promptly threw herself into the corner, pulled her knees to chest, and let go.

Crybaby had been the one thing Heidi hadn't accused her of, probably because she was more than well aware of it.

0 Laurie It is now. 0 Laurie 0 5

Geoffrey Spindler

April 05, 2008 7:29 PM

For lo, it came to be that I was tagged... by Geoffrey Spindler

"Just," Stephen was saying as they reached the school and the older boy jumped lightly out of the wagon, "if I don't make it, look after Fido for me."

"Don't be ridiculous," Geoffrey called after the retreating back of his cousin. Stephen had turned, waved and winked and then continued on. Geoffrey, looked at the broom that had been left with their luggage and, feeling somewhat self-conscious because it was just a broom for Merlin's sake, said, "he doesn't mean it. He'll be fine." Before shaking his head and clambering off the vehicle himself.

Once he'd made his way to the feast and found himself at the table with the other Crotali. He dutifully sat through the speech, clapping when appropriate and looking at Lila speculatively when the prefects were announced. He was just at the stage where he was starting to sort out what he was going to eat when a shiver ran up his back. Half a second later, the empty seat next to him was empty no longer and the Captain - now the Head Girl too - was sitting there, talking and smiling at him.

"Um," Geoffrey said, trying to collect himself again. "I guess," he said, pondering the summer.

Stephen had been pretty tightly wound for a good part of it, and then he'd been out all the time trying to get this licence and that. In the end he'd managed his Motorcycle licence (after having to take the test enough times that he'd memorised the questions and answers) but there hadn't been enough hours (even when Geoffrey suspected some of the log had been 'fixed') to qualify for going for his driver's licence and he'd managed to get his Apparation licence sorted out on the very last day of the holidays. And Alan had been dumped by his long-term girlfriend Mandy. It had led to quite an 'interesting' time in the Baxter house, for all his aunt and uncle had still been brilliant.

Why was Jennifer talking to him? It would be easier if she didn't. Although how he intended to manage that when he had to help her run their house Quidditch team wasn't something he'd worked out just yet. Mostly he'd done his best to not think about her at all.

39 Geoffrey Spindler For lo, it came to be that I was tagged... 79 Geoffrey Spindler 0 5

Josh (with a smidge or Raye)

April 05, 2008 7:34 PM

Really really? by Josh (with a smidge or Raye)

OOC: Since these are in two different places, it might be easier to just continue the Cascade thread around this.

BIC:
Josh was startled by Laurie's quick reply and exit. What was wrong? Had he missed something? Maybe they had come in too late or something. Maybe they had missed the chance to keep the other two from saying something awful. Josh shot a questioning look at Renaye, who was looking concerned at Laurie's retreating figure. Josh stood up, feeling the same feeling he had exactly one year ago.

"I'll be back. Stay here for a bit, okay?," he said to Renaye. She nodded, at the same time a 'You're leaving me with them?' look on her face. But she understood that he was going to help Laurie. She wasn't going to let her best friend sit in her misery. Neither was Josh. He left his full plate and took off at a brisk pace after Laurie. He looked around once outside, wondering if maybe she had gone to the common room. But his thoughts were proven otherwise by a sound nearby. He looked around, thoughts still racing through his head. What did they say? He only caught the last bit of Alexis's sentence. What had been said beforehand? Now he was sure of it. He didn't like those girls. Messing with the two favorite people in his life was not going over well with him.

Josh looked around and spotted Laurie, huddled in a corner. He sat down beside her, not knowing what to say. "What's wrong," was so lame. No one likes being asked that, yet it's everyone's first reaction. He wasnted to say something, whatever it was that was going to make her happy-Laurie. He just wished he knew what that was. So he said nothing. Better nothing than the wrong thing... right? Probably not... He recalled the situation from a year ago. What had he said? Oh yeah.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it's going to be fine." He really wanted to put an arm around her right now. But would that be too weird? That's what Renaye did when Irene was upset about Uncle Damon. Josh moved his arm and almost immediately moved it back. He looked over at her, her hair hanging over her arms as she cried. He still couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked, even as she cried. Josh decided then. He lifted his arm and put it around her shoulders. The question to why she was upset still lingered in his mind, but right now, he just wanted to help her feel better. That's when he remembered:

"Oh," he said, reaching into his pocket, "I got this... It's just this thing I got at our tournament. Well... here." They had traveled to Lansing for the State Championship game. While he was there, he spotted the necklace he now held out to her. It was just a little silver snitch on a silver chain. He just thought, since she had taken them all over in Florida, he should get her something too.

"You don't have to wear it or anything," he said, his arm stil resting on her shoulders. He was sort of unable to move. "I just thought I'd get you something while we were there, since you brought us to Florida..."

0 Josh (with a smidge or Raye) Really really? 0 Josh (with a smidge or Raye) 0 5

Laurie

April 05, 2008 9:53 PM

Promise. by Laurie

The tears had moved onto the eye-trickle stage- where her eyes were glued shut from soggy eyelashes, but the moisture still managed to sneak through in between pathetic sniffles. Laurie was prepared to wipe her eyes, attempt to muster up some deeply hidden cheer, and make her way back to the dorms for a shower and maybe another cry or two. It was what she hated about crying- every time it happened, she just felt worse than she did before, and found yet another reason to start crying. She was prepared to attempt a dry interval and dash to her waiting luggage, but then she was surprised.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it's going to be fine."

She lifted her head at his words, and hastily rubbed her eyes. She gave up almost immediately. The evidence of her crying wasn't going to be disguised by an excuse of allergies or dust in the air. "Oh geez," she stammered. "I'm such a baby sometimes."

Somehow, having Josh sitting beside her only made her want to cry more. And then he made it worse by putting his arm over her shoulders, pulling her close like her brother Bryce used to when she would start crying during thunder storms. It made her feel safe, and- and- comforted. She pulled up the edge of t-shirt, using it to her dry her eyes and cheeks. She ignored the fact that the t-shirt was fairly new, and hardly a tissue. Sighing slightly, she let the warmth from his arm comfort her, silently appreciating the fact he had cared enough to follow her and brave the discomfort of the stone flooring.

She felt Josh shifting beside her and then, there was a silver necklace swinging in front of her, a tiny snitch hanging from it. "I got this... It's just this thing I got at our tournament. Well... here." She let it fall into her opened palm. "You don't have to wear it or anything. I just thought I'd get you something while we were there, since you brought us to Florida..."

"No, no. . .I really like it. Definitely. Thanks."

She drew her knees tighter against her chest, staring at the delicate necklace as it rested in her hands. Unconsciously, she fell in a little deeper into the embrace, her neck shifting so that her head came to rest on his shoulder. After a moment, she decided he deserved an explanation.

"I'm feeling sorry for myself," she admitted. "Heidi- you remember Heidi? She came to the beach a couple of times with us- she said some things to me before I left, and I just sort of realized, back in the Hall, that she's right." She half groaned. "I keep trying to be such a nice person, support the underdog and all that, but Heidi was so right. I only ever join a minority when it's a well established minority. I'm just. . ." She sniffled, and felt suddenly years younger than twelve and a half. "I'm just a big baby, and I'm wishy-washy."

There, she had said it. Admitted it. And Josh's present really was so pretty and nice. Unwillingly, her eyes started welling again.

0 Laurie Promise. 0 Laurie 0 5

Josh

April 05, 2008 11:11 PM

Okay. If you say so. by Josh

"Oh geez. I'm such a baby sometimes."

"Nah," he said, "First day back is rough." Josh didn't know exactly what made the first day rough, but it seemed to turn out like that. He wasn't talking about just for Laurie. Everyone. It all depends on your definition of rough. Laurie was having one of those bad-rough days. She pulled her t-shirt up to dry her eyes. When Josh held out the necklace she took it and thanked him. He would have shrugged in a "It was really nothing" way, but Laurie's head had found its way to his shoulder. He felt her leaning into him. He let his head fall slowly down so that it was resting on her's. "I'm feeling sorry for myself." Josh's attention tuned back in to what may be upsetting her. 'Why?' was his question, but he held back. If she wanted to talk she would. And she did,

"Heidi- you remember Heidi? She came to the beach a couple of times with us- she said some things to me before I left, and I just sort of realized, back in the Hall, that she's right. I keep trying to be such a nice person, support the underdog and all that, but Heidi was so right. I only ever join a minority when it's a well established minority. I'm just. . . I'm just a big baby, and I'm wishy-washy."

"Hey Laur, you're friends with Raye and me, right? We're not exactly a 'well-established' minority or anything, but here you are," he said, letting his fingers on the hand around rub her arm gently. "And that whole "be a nice person" thing, it kinda works. In case you haven't noticed, you have plenty of friends that love being around you." Josh lifted his head and looked around to meet her beautiful brown eyes. Tears had been building up in them. He took his sleeve and wiped them away. "And you're not a baby or wishy-washy."

0 Josh Okay. If you say so. 0 Josh 0 5

Sophie Xuereb

April 06, 2008 7:07 AM

Indeed by Sophie Xuereb

Sophia had made her way from the wagons and into the school proper carefully and slowly. She had looked up at the building before entering, noting several potential points of interest including some unusual things half-glimpsed through windows. Her path through the lobby had similarly been slow and unhurried by the students of various shapes and sizes who hurried back and forth around her. The time was well-filled with examinations of the portraits, for all she didn't speak to a single one of them, until she reached the doors to the hall itself, and peered through them.

Unlike some who might have done so, Sophia did not require time to make certain of her appearance. It was, as was perfectly usual, quite neat and unlikely to have changed since she had retied her hair back upon alighting from the wagon. Her new forest green robes had been spelled by her mother before she left so that they did not crumple or wrinkle easily. It was easier, her mother decided, because Sophia was not the type to enjoy having such things present. Sophia liked things to be orderly and quiet as much as possible. She liked there to be a routine and a logic. She liked things to make sense. Being anything less than neat seemed nonsensical to her, and she was prone to go to great lengths to fix that, so having the robes spelled just meant that things would go easier.

It was noisy in the Hall. The most noise seemed to be coming from a table where the students had brown badges, the least from a table with red. Although the noise was present in some fashion everywhere, which was a mild deterrent to entering the room, Sophia gathered herself and did so anyhow, moving towards the group she could see gathered at the front. They too seemed to be new, and, like her, didn't have badges on their school robes.

She couldn't think of anything to talk about while they waited, so she stood silently on the edge of the group, looking around and trying to take everything in. There seemed to be quite a lot. The waterfalls on the walls, the staff at their table, the older students gathered at their own tables, and her fellow first years, huddled together. She was looking up and examining the light source - they looked like crystal chandeliers of a sort - when she realised she was being offered a goblet, and, after a moment's hesitation, took it.

All the other first years seemed to be being given similar goblets, she noted clinically, as she lifted it to sniff. Nothing particularly struck her about the odour, and the colour didn't really tell her much either. The fact that it was bubbling while not being hot seemed to give credence to the idea that it was a potion. As none of the others appeared to be suffering any ill effects, and her observations hadn't given her any clear idea of what it was for, she took a tentative sip and tried to identify the taste.

All she was really certain of was that it didn't taste like chicken, which, she thought further, wasn't that surprising as the idea that everything tasted like chicken was rather far-fetched in any case. She brought the goblet back to her lips to have a proper drink and, just as she started to swallow, realised that something had changed.

The people around her were turning different colours.

Red, yellow, brown and blue.

And, for that matter, there was a definite tinge of red to her own skin. A tinge that was rapidly becoming more solidly coloured.

She stopped drinking in surprise and was subjecting the potion left in the goblet to more careful scrutiny when she realised that a girl was talking to her.

Red. From tip to toe, assumably, for all the robes didn't make it readily apparent. Just like her.

“Do you want to sit together?” the other girl asked her.

Sophia examined her hand again. Red. Red was most closely associated with Crotalus, from what her readings about the school had said.

"Alright," she said, after a moment. She looked at the girl again. The red really was very prominent. She wondered briefly about what effect it had on her own appearance before dismissing the idea as trivial. Clearly - considering the four colours that the students had turned - this was a method of sorting, and, just as clearly, there must be a way to reverse it that would soon be brought to her attention. Or, she revised as she noticed some of the students were already starting to lose their bright colours, perhaps it just wore off on its own.

"I suspect we are to sit there," she pointed at the table with the red badged students sitting around it. "My name is Sophia. What's yours?" She had considered for a moment merely leaving it at her name, as asking did seem a mite rude, but decided that as it was a completely legitimate enquiry and as the other girl had addressed her first it was justified in this instance.\r\n\r\n

0 Sophie Xuereb Indeed 0 Sophie Xuereb 0 5

Elly

April 06, 2008 2:13 PM

takes cookie Thanks! by Elly

Bulla did eventually start talking. In fact, Elly even paid attention to it. She didn’t think she was taking a word in, but when Saul was announced as the Pecari prefect, Elly sat bolt upright, momentarily forgetting her hunger. “No way,” she said, laughing. She cheered for him all the same – she was delighted that Saul was a prefect, but she was also certain that there were few other people in the school capable of making such accidental spectacles of themselves.

Eventually the speech was over, the first years had been sorted, and, as Irene pointed out, the food had arrived. Grinning, Elly didn’t hesitate to pile her plate high with all sorts of vegetables, pasta, and at least three different kinds of potatoes. “I’m going to put some weight on if it kills me,” she cheerfully told Irene, and anyone else within earshot.

“So, summer,” Irene said. “Whatcha do?”

“This and that,” Elly replied through mouthfuls of food. “Saw the Negators play with Mere and Echo,” she grinned. “Awesome stuff! How about you?” Elly wasn’t going to mention her parents’ virtual separation; she didn’t want to bring down the mood of the always-cheerful Opening Feast – she had plenty of time to let everyone know that her folks were barmy.

0 Elly *takes cookie* Thanks! 0 Elly 0 5

Laurie

April 06, 2008 2:17 PM

Yosh! I sure did. by Laurie

She listened as Josh spoke, pointing out obvious factors that should have sent her inner self-doubts packing. But there was something distracting her- aside from the more obvious considerations, that is. Her brown eyes peaked around until they landed on her bare arm, where Josh's fingers were playing a comforting staccato on her skin. The gesture was one she was familar with. Time and time again, growing up, whether it was from a bad heat storm which crackled pure static energy and never rain, or from a skinned knee, a parent or brother had done this same gesture: arm over shoulder, fingers moving soothingly, and gentle words meant to calm whatever anxiety or pain had produced the tears.

But Laurie felt different about this quite suddenly. She could feel the calluses on his fingers, probably from years of handling a broom; instead of it irritating her, she could only feel unease, jittery. Unwillingly, goosebumps stretched down both her arms, the skin raising in tiny pinpricks. And then also, just as suddenly, her friend's face was terribly close, his hands drying her tears. She could only stare, wide-eyed, and- frightened? Why should she be frightened by Josh, by her best friend?- then somewhere, a trigger applied itself, and her cheeks were inflamed by a drenching blush.

She jerked free awkwardly, immediately applying her gaze anywhere except on his blue one. "I-" What was wrong with her? "I feel better now. Thanks."

Except she didn't, not really. Her stomach felt a bit queasy, actually, and her stupid heated cheeks would not cool down! Maybe she was coming down with something. . .it might make sense. Even if it was just a cold, whenever Laurie got sick, she also got depressed. She pressed her hands to her cheeks, willing the flush to disappear. Stubbornly, she mentally reassured herself that the source of her current demeanor was not Josh- Best friend, Josh! Renaye's brother, Josh!- and rather a belated summer cold that had waited until just moments ago to present itself.

Because otherwise, it might mean. . .no, she mentally reared away from that thought process. She willfully applied herself to changing the current. . .mood, the necklace in her palm providing any easy source. "So," her voice broke slightly, "how did your tournament go?"

0 Laurie Yosh! I sure did. 0 Laurie 0 5

Cecily

April 06, 2008 4:49 PM

Splitting the thread by Cecily

“You dislike your sister?” Alexis asked.

“Not at all. She’s spectacular,” Cecily said dryly, with just enough sarcasm make one unsure whether or not her sentiments were sincere. In reality, Cecily didn’t dislike Amelia at all; in fact she was rather fond of her. The problem was that Sonora felt as though it had been a place that only belonged to Cecily, a place that Amelia couldn’t go. Now, of course, that had changed, and Cecily had some insecurities about her own popularity in comparison to that which her sister would undoubtedly develop that caused a deep-settled resentment.

“She seems pleasant enough,” Alexis commented, and Cecily couldn’t restrain herself from replying, “Your cousin Josiah would seem pleasant enough at this distance, too.”

Before she could say anything else, Cecily was startled by the arrival of the Warren twins (was there not a moment’s peace?), and the instantaneous disappearance of Laurie. Cecily would have loved to make some comment about Renaye’s presence driving even Laurie away, but she somehow managed to bite it back. A moment later and Josh had gone too, without even having said hello. Frowning, Cecily eyed Renaye warily. “What have you been saying to Josh about me?” she enquired, though she was careful to keep her tone flat, with only minimal accusation. “We were fine at the end of last year and now he’s ignoring me.”

Cecily wished that Laurie hadn’t come over; she’d have been quite happy talking with Alexis, but somehow she’d ended up with Renaye, too. Life wasn’t fair.

0 Cecily Splitting the thread 0 Cecily 0 5

Oliver

April 06, 2008 5:17 PM

Again with the uneasiness by Oliver

Oliver accepted the dish with an expression somewhere between a confused frown and an amused smirk. Taking his chicken, he passed the dish down the table to the next person who wanted to eat wings, and turned back to Lutece. “You’ve never asked me about my summer,” he said, glancing at her sideways and standing up to reach for some fries. “Are you ill or have you forgotten who I am?” Oliver grinned; his high opinion of himself had apparently put him in a good mood.

“It was okay, anyway,” he finally replied, once his plate was piled high with fast food. “Didn’t do much except gang up on Julian.” In Oliver’s opinion, his brother deserved to be mocked; he was an idiot.

“What’d you do anyway?” Oliver was mildly curious about what someone like Lutece did over the summer. She couldn’t play Quidditch, she couldn’t irritate him (which so far seemed to be her sole purpose), and she couldn’t depend on Talitha to entertain her. “I mean, do you… I dunno, shop for lip gloss or something?” He chuckled, finding himself highly amusing.

0 Oliver Again with the uneasiness 0 Oliver 0 5

Renaye

April 06, 2008 5:34 PM

Feeling a little stranded... by Renaye

Renaye wasn't sure what had happened. Laurie had seemed fine just a second ago... Renaye trusted Josh with helping her with whatever was going on. She knew Josh was naturally good at comforting people, if that was even considered a skill. It was more of a trait that he had developed over the years, being the oldest (by two minutes) and only boy. Renaye really hoped nothing was seriously wrong. It took a lot of will-power not to go and join her brother and her best friend.

“What have you been saying to Josh about me? We were fine at the end of last year and now he’s ignoring me.”

Wow. Renaye really had to restrain from shooting something back. Did she not notice Laurie walking away upset? Josh leaving was not because of her, even though Raye would like to take that excuse to go sit with Irene at the Pecari table. She wasn't going to lie and say that she hadn't said anything. It was a little difficult to talk about anything about school without the ball coming up, which came hand in hand with their dates. But Renaye had been careful not to be too critical about Cecily to Josh.

"Josh isn't ignoring you," she said, "And I've been careful not to say anything about you to him. Just because I don't get along with you doesn't mean he can't. He only left because he's concerned for Laurie." Renaye paused, suddenly not feeling quite in the mood to eat. "This question is going to sound weird, but... Do you really want to be friends with him? Because the two of us are like a two-in-one deal."

0 Renaye Feeling a little stranded... 0 Renaye 0 5

Josh

April 06, 2008 6:50 PM

heh, "Yosh!" looks like Yoshi. by Josh

Josh suddenly felt like a wave of awkwardness had overcome the situation as Laurie's face grew pinker. "I- I feel better now. Thanks." Josh nodded, pulling his gaze off hers, staring at the branches of a plant nearby. They had just gotten to be good friends, best friends. The actions he had done in the previous period of time were things that a best friend does for another friend, right? He hadn't taken it too far had he? Crap. Crap. Why did the first day back always have to be so rough?

"So, how did your tournament go?" Josh grinned at the subject change. He could easily go on for a while about the tournament, but he would try to keep it to the general overview.

"Well," he began, "I got that necklace in Lansing when we won State's. It's a junior league, so we don't go past that, but we had a great team. Renaye and I were the starting beaters. We had been practicing our plays since we got back from your place and we got to put them out full force in the game. It was fantastic! Mom and Dad wrote from Portugal to say how proud they were. And Renaye was kicking some serious butt. She must have stopped at least ten goals that day! The coach even gave the two of us the MVPs for the game. They can't really do game balls in Quidditch, having four different kinds of them, so they just do MVPs and give you a little pin." Josh reached in his pocket and pulled out the small blue and yellow pin with the TCT (Traverse City Tigers) emblem on the front. "It still haven't really gotten over it: We're the State Champions!" Josh stared at the pin for a moment, briefly reliving the moment of victory.

"I would love to make it on the Crotalus team this year..." Josh blinked and voiced a slightly delayed thought.

"You sure you're okay now?"

0 Josh heh, "Yosh!" looks like Yoshi. 0 Josh 0 5

Ronen Cooper

April 06, 2008 7:18 PM

Acting natural by Ronen Cooper

Ronen Cooper’s dark eyes scanned the Hall nervously. They knew, somehow, they all knew. There would be no way for anybody to know, of course. Not even Law, Zane, or Hannah had been completely informed of their cousin’s whereabouts during the month of July. That didn’t stop the paranoia from consuming the twelve year-old. In fact, he was completely certain that if he made a wrong move, he’d totally give himself away, and then they’d all know what Ronen had done.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to act as nonchalantly as possible as he took a seat at the Pecari table. He reminded himself that nobody knew that he had gone to math camp this July, and worse, that he’d actually liked it. And if anyone were to ask him about his summer, he would focus on August. The dark-haired boy had spent a perfectly normal August swimming at the town pool and pulling off the occasional prank with the neighborhood kids.

The life of a closet nerd was tough, especially in his family. It had been bad enough when his mother had bragged about all of the O’s he’d earned on his finals, which led to relentless teasing from certain cousins. That had done very little to support the image of coolness he was so clearly trying to project. He wasn’t in Aladren, he wasn’t supposed to enjoy learning. Like so many Coopers before him, he was in Pecari, and like his family before him, he was supposed to act confident, fun, cool even.

Ronen inspected the room once more, noting that nobody seemed to be paying very much attention to him. Though he chose to take this as a good sign, the boy was certain that he still ought to remain cautious, just in case. He tried to act naturally, the way only people trying to hide something ever acted.

“So,” he said to whoever was next to him, “Good Opening Feast, huh?” Ronen only had last year’s Feast to compare it to, but he was sure that this year was at least as good as the last.

0 Ronen Cooper Acting natural 124 Ronen Cooper 0 5

Alexis

April 06, 2008 7:37 PM

No need, we're not that bad by Alexis

Alexis arched an eyebrow at Cecily's reply. It was probably the same amount of sarcasm she would use if she was asked about her liking of Josiah. Alexis was really beginning to approve of Cecily whole-heartedly. It was quite obvious that she knew how to do things.

“Your cousin Josiah would seem pleasant enough at this distance, too.”

Alexis couldn't stop herself from bursting into laughter. Okay, that was that. She loved Cecily! She covered her mouth with her hands and discreetly plugged her nose, stopping the snorting that she felt coming along with her laughter. She promised herself to find some kind of spell to stop herself from snorting this year. Just as she was going to respond to that, the Warren twins sat down.

"Josh, Renaye!" she said warmly. "Welcome back." Then Laurie was gone, Josh following right after. Alexis furrowed her brow in confusion. What was that about? She had said hello. Well, Laurie had seemed out of it for a little bit before the twins arrived. Was it something Alexis said? She puzzled over that. She had apologized. Why would that upset the girl? She made a note to herself to ask when they retired to their rooms. It wasn't that she cared. She just didn't feel like making too much of an enemy with someone who was very close to the pureblooded Warren twins.

Cecily asked Renaye a question, and quickly Alexis was left out of the conversation. Well, she was used to it. That was how it was last year in the dorms. No one really cared she was around and hung out. It wasn't anything new to her. Sighing, she let her mind wander back to the summer until she found a spot in the conversation where she could jump back in. Until then, all she had to do was wait.

0 Alexis No need, we're not that bad 0 Alexis 0 5

Seamus

April 07, 2008 1:20 AM

Depends on how you look at it by Seamus

“McFarlan,” Seamus repeated to Jera with his most charming smile. He glanced over at Tyrone and nodded agreeably, “Aye, that I am. Me family lives in County Meath, near the Tara Hill and the great Stone of Destiny, the Lia Fáil.“

Seamus helped himself to some chips, or was that fries here? All he knew was that they were golden brown and delicious. There was wondrous food aplenty, not that Seamus and his family ever went without. But the variety! So many things from so many places! He resigned himself to the fact that he would just have to put up with his broom carrying a few extra pounds and try as many dishes as he could over the next few months.

“You folks must’ve come a long way.” the girl sitting next to him remarked. Seamus puffed up a bit.

“Ireland‘s on the other side of the world and the greenest, most beautiful land God ever created.” Seamus said proudly. “But this place is grand too. I hear it’s the best Wizarding school anywhere. My sisters go to Hogwarts, but I ask you, where‘s the adventure in that? It‘s too close to home. I decided to take me chances here, in Arizona. I was glad I did the moment I looked out of the wagon‘s window. Never did I see such a land.”

The mountains, desert and lack of flora had originally unnerved Seamus. He did love the different hues in the rock and the canyons, but it was all so strange that the eleven year old wondered if he shouldn’t just turn around and go home to the safe and familiar. Nobody was going to get him to admit it now, but it did make him a trifle homesick. Even if Tyrone wasn’t from his part of the country, it was a comfort to hear a familiar accent amongst all the others.\n

0 Seamus Depends on how you look at it 111 Seamus 0 5

Kyler

April 07, 2008 6:17 AM

That is a good idea! by Kyler

Kyler, being muggleborn, was in the same boat as Ark. He had no idea what he was doing now that he was here at Sonora. He didn't mind that. Figuring it out would be kind of fun. But what about the people who didn't feel the smae way about the strange Sonoran puzzle? Shouldn't they have someone to explain this stuff? Kyler was sure that a lot of people who got their letters think it must be some sort of joke and toss it out a window. When Saul brought up Quidditch, Kyler was sure he didn't know what that was. He was glad Ark had asked though.

"Unfortunately for you guys, first years can't be on the House Teams, but you will have flying lessons, so you'll be competent on a broom for try-outs next year. Pecari's got four seventh years on the team, so there'll be a lot of open slots then, too. Dude, I'm gonna be captain, too," Kyler blinked, trying to comprehend the use of four different balls, all in play at once, in the air, with seven different types of players. What. the. heck. Did this place ever cease in being awesome? Kyler was definitely going to learn how to play. He probably wouldn't try out for the team, but Quidditch sounded so kick-A!

"Shouldn't they have someone to explain this stuff to muggleborns? I mean, I came here all 'Where am I?'" Kyler began, looking around the Hall like he was lost. "Anyway, that would be so sweet if you were captain! I don't really do any sports unless its climbing a mountain. I live in Colorado so there's plenty of rock to climb there!"

From everything he had heard, Pecari definitely sounded like the best. The people were for sure the most fun! This year was going to be great. He was even going to have roommates! Wicked. This was so much better than being down the hall from Dad. He could wake up everyday in a good mood. Nice...

0 Kyler That is a good idea! 0 Kyler 0 5

Laurie

April 07, 2008 7:20 AM

Forgive me. I'm on a forum spree. by Laurie

"Well, I got that necklace in Lansing when we won State's. It's a junior league, so we don't go past that, but we had a great team. Renaye and I were the starting beaters. We had been practicing our plays since we got back from your place and. . ."

The moment Josh started his recollection, Laurie felt her unease begin to lift. Her legs lowered and then folded into a far more comfortable cross, her right elbow taking proper position on the same knee, said palm providing a much practiced support for her cheek. His enthusiasm brought out this. . .animation in him that reminded her of a little kid on Christmas morning. She knew just the feeling; after all, there was nothing quite like working hard, fighting along with your teammates in mutual battle, and then finding yourselves triumphant in the end. It was exhiliration and fulfillment and recognition all tumbled together in one very neat, very moving package. Unbeknownst to her, her grin slimmed into a far softer sort of expression.

"I would love to make it on the Crotalus team this year. . ."

She lifted a fist in support, pointing skyward. "Of course you will. You and Renaye both. Zane, too. I have no doubt. It'll be the beginning of a legacy- the Crotali Three." She blinked and reconsidered. "The name will need some work."

Granted, her opinion counted for very little as she had only seen her first quidditch games the year prior, and her attempts at flying had shown that she and balance were not particularly chummy. Which was too bad; for a brief period last year, she had considered the idea of being a keeper. She had played softball since she was seven, and she was admittedly one of the better fielders in her league. Eh. . .it was okay, though. She was more than happy to watch on the sidelines, especially if- that is, once her friends made the team.

"You sure you're okay now?"

By means of a reply, Laurie stood up, the movement strangely fluid considering her position on the floor. She gave a slight bounce, further emphasizing her unvoiced renewal, and nodded. Truthfully, she still felt crummy. But it was a durable sort of crummy, a feeling that she could pull out and dwell on at a later time- and hopefully not feel quite so emotional about it. There was some amount of truth in what Heidi had told her, and Laurie wanted to be able to report back to her friend when next she saw her and say, happily and honestly, that she had worked hard and improved for the better.

"Think it's safe to head back to the dorms? I have food," she added, recognizing that neither of them had really taken the time to enjoy the opening ceremony. "Dad packed an entire basket full of all the stuff he had us testing over the summer- and they're all finished products, so nothing hokey. That work for a bribe?"

0 Laurie Forgive me. I'm on a forum spree. 0 Laurie 0 5

Tyrone Astin

April 07, 2008 11:58 AM

Eternal torment can be fun? by Tyrone Astin

All of the undersized Scottish boy’s oaths to himself about refusing to let anyone have the satisfaction of seeing him fit in at all go flying out the window, apparently, when confronted with someone he finds relatively familiar. “The Lía Fail? Really?” His eyes brightened again as he looked up, still with that slightly hunched over position of someone curled up rather defensively. He smiled a little shyly. “I’ve only been there once. We’ve got some neat brochs nearby, an’ there are some incredible cairns on Skye, an’ that’s just across the way from m’aunt’s home in Applecross, and one o’ m’uncles lives in th’Orkneys and they don’t even try to keep people out of the Standing Stones there like they do at Stonehenge…”

Realizing he was—once again—rambling incessantly, he flushed and looked down at his plate with a small, non-committal shrug. Yes, it was a long way—and the furthest from home he’d ever been before was Ireland or London. That seemed somehow obvious, in his mind, and he almost didn’t comment on it, but… well, sulky or not, he was starting to feel really guilty about apparently deliberately slighting her. After all, she was trying. Sulky and resentful he might have been, but she was trying—and she seemed rather confused by their accents.

So he forced himself to uncurl, just a little, and ran a hand through his close-cropped blond curls. “Aye, it is. I suppose I travel a lot, but it was just between parts of the family, really—it doesn’t feel the same, y’know?” He shrugged again, trying to speak a little more slowly than he had been, so she could at the least try to decipher it. It wasn’t friendliness, really it wasn’t. It was just… not wanting anyone else to feel as awkward as he felt—or that’s what he told himself, anyway. “London’s almost th’farthest I’ve been, goin’ to Diagon Alley with m’cousins an’ Mum’n’Da.” He smiled faintly at the thought. “Mum dragged me away bodily from th’Quidditch shop an’ I didn’t even get t’look…” His expression turned wistful. It wasn’t fair. His older cousins were entering second year at Hogwarts, and they were looking at brooms (having saved and planning to sell their old brooms for a little extra), and he didn’t even get to tag along. Even his father had stayed.

After a moment, he made a face at Seamus. “Bah. Éire’s pretty enough, I’ll grant y’that. But you’ve clearly never flown through th’ Gaidhealtachd in summer. Or spring. Or autumn. Or winter, but that’s really cold.” He smiled, and it was a softer, gentler smile that lit up his face as he thought about the Scottish Highlands. “Beautiful, though. High ‘nough an’ y’see th’stars an’ the hills are black but they flash a little green at you out of th’corner of your eye…”

He turned to Jera, still smiling. “Don’t b’lieve a word th’ùmaidh says. Even if the two have the same amount of absolute beauty, Alba’s smaller, so th’ beauty-to-square-foot ratio’s higher. They don’t have our heather, anyway.” He smirked at Seamus. Hearing Gaelic was significantly Not Good for Tyrone—he would forget not to change languages mid-sentence, if he wasn’t careful. It didn’t even cross his mind that it might be a problem.

0 Tyrone Astin Eternal torment can be fun? 0 Tyrone Astin 0 5

Josh

April 07, 2008 7:24 PM

OOC: Posted in Commons. (nm) by Josh

0 Josh OOC: Posted in Commons. (nm) 0 Josh 0 5

Lutece

April 07, 2008 7:25 PM

Is that unusual around me? by Lutece

That was funny. Lutece had talked to Oliver on and off over the past two years, but she could never remember him as having a sense of humour. Actually, to be honest, she'd always found him a bit crotchety. All schoolwork and fussing about grades and geeky things. Not to mention an absurd attachment to the glasses that made him snap at her when she mentioned contacts. To Lutece's mind, contacts were a perfectly natural thing to get when one wanted to look more attractive. She herself used the disposable sort that her parents got loads of before she went to school so that she could pack them in her trunk and not worry about running out during the school year. Plus she could Owl home for more solution if she needed it, although her mom didn't do too well with the owls.

Another disturbing thing: the third year had been getting along increasingly better with her father over the past six months. Even to the extent of calling him 'daddy' at one point, something she hadn't done since she was old enough to realise that Star Trek conventions were not something that cool people arranged.

But back to Oliver's sudden development of a sense of humour.

"No, I'm not ill," she awarded his (bad) joke with a friendly smile of her own, lips pink and sparkly from her last application (ten minutes earlier) of her new flavour of lip gloss. It was rather unfortunate that her brown hair kept getting trapped in the sticky gloss, forcing Lutece to perpetually brush the offending strands away. It had been especially irritating on the wagon ride here, since the Crotalus had inconveniently forgotten to bring a hair tie along and was therefore unable to tie it back properly. Honestly, having long hair could be a pain sometimes. Of course, her parents had been much to busy to actually schedule a hair appointment like she had asked to get it cut to chin length before her return to school.

The fact that Lutece had asked a mere three days before term start was something that she did not deem important to this particular problem.

"Yeah, I went to Claire's a few times," Lutece said absently, helping herself to some food that didn't look too deep fried and/or fattening. "Mostly I just hung around the house though. Sibs were at swimming for most of the summer, friends were away, and my parents were busy screaming at each other." She rolled her blue-green eyes elaborately. "They're probably divorcing, anyway. So I foresee holidays spent here for a bit. It's pretty cool that Jen got Head Girl," Lutece commented, catching sight of her idol further down the table.

0 Lutece Is that unusual around me? 0 Lutece 0 5

Brett Hodges and Echo Elms

April 07, 2008 11:46 PM

Fiendishly hungry by Brett Hodges and Echo Elms

After spending the entire summer together, as usual, one would think that Brett Hodges and Echo Elms would separate at first chance. In fact, one would think that even if they didn't, they would b-line directly to where Elly and Irene were talking down at the other end the Pecari table... what with Brett and Irene being practically one person and Echo having his not-so-secret crush on his best friend, Elly. But that was not the case. Echo and Brett entered Cascade Hall and Brett, weirdly, decided that today was a day to sit next to his roommate, Ronen. The absence of free seating near the girls and the action up front which belayed the imminence of Bulla's speech were probably large factors in this decision.

"Hurry up, let's get this done," Brett said, clapping a quick rhythm on the table. "I'm hungry!"

"No," Echo said, a look of fake disbelief dawning on his features, "You? Shocking."

"I know, right?" Brett said, nodding a greeting to Ronen and taking his question a more of a hello than anything. He explained, "I haven't eaten in like two hours."

"One," Echo corrected for Ronen's education. "One hour. At most."

Brett thought about it for a moment. "Two."

"One," Echo insisted, smirking and sliding into his seat. His aside to Ronen this time was more detailed. "He has not stopped eating all summer. He had dinner before we left--"

"Yeah, like three and a half hours ago!" Brett dismissed it.

"On the way, " Echo continued, "He ate a pear. Followed by cheetos. Then an apple. Two granola bars. A cookie the size of this plate. There was something else, too." He looked to Brett for assistance.

Brett was looking eagerly toward Headmaster Bulla and added impatiently, "A fruit roll-up and a chocolate frog."

"I think that was it," Echo nodded.

"You forgot the part where I grew six inches," Brett added becoming interested again. "Six."

"You're insufferable," Echo, who had added only two inches to his height that summer, accused.

"Why, thank you, shortman," Brett grinned and turned to Ronen again. "And how was your break?"

0 Brett Hodges and Echo Elms Fiendishly hungry 0 Brett Hodges and Echo Elms 0 5

Brett Hodges and Echo Elms

April 08, 2008 12:01 AM

OOC: Oops! by Brett Hodges and Echo Elms

OOC: Brett's not as young as I think he is. He's a third year now, so Ronen is not his roommate. Replace "his roommate" with "his housemate" and we'll be all good.

0 Brett Hodges and Echo Elms OOC: Oops! 0 Brett Hodges and Echo Elms 0 5

Amara Drense

April 08, 2008 4:21 PM

More than a little nervous by Amara Drense

Amara blinked as her skin turned a bright red. So she was in Crotalus, then. Could be worse, she supposed. She'd somewhat thought that she'd end up in Aladren, her father's old house, but apparently not.

Truth to be told, Sonora was not quite what she expected. Yes, her father had told her about the Cascade Hall, but his descriptions couldn't match up to the reality of the waterfall-covered walls. The flying wagon had been interesting, but terrifying. She was just grateful that she had been able to hold down the contents of her stomach. And so many people! She would never be able to remember anyone's name.

Not that she really expected to need to. People were always difficult to talk to, and all the students here seemed to already know each other. She could probably get by with just the names of the professors.

She hesitantly took a seat at the end of the Crotalus table, glancing at the other students. Everyone seemed to know what to do, and if they didn't they hid it well. She didn't recognize anyone, but that wasn't surprising. Not only did Amara have a terrible memory for faces, but she usually avoided talking to new people.

When the Headmaster finished his speech and the food appeared, Amara hurried to fill her plate. The food looked amazing, and she'd been to nervous to eat much before boarding the wagon. Hopefully she'd settle into life at Sonora soon. It was just a matter of establishing a routine.

0 Amara Drense More than a little nervous 0 Amara Drense 0 5

Lila St. Martin

April 08, 2008 11:20 PM

Good thing I rehearsed. by Lila St. Martin

Allie had barely finished whispering "good luck!" when Lila moved away from her and toward the other Crotali, trying to look utterly unconcerned with the proceedings. She thought, for once, that she might have failed. It was hard to remain completely in control when she really anticipated something soon, and turning fifteen hadn't involved getting much more dignity than turning fourteen had, at least not yet, only a few days after the fact.

One thing that did come with turning fifteen was entering her fifth year, which came with two things: CATS exams at the end of the year and prefect announcements at the very beginning of it. Lila had already begun to systematically ignore the fact of the exams - she wasn't good at testing and doubted very much that she'd improve much by spring - but the question of prefecthood had been on her mind most of the summer. An occupational hazard of sharing her year with a sister and a stepcousin.

Lila expected it to be her for Crotalus, Devian Dupree for Aladren, Briony O'Leary for Teppenpaw, and, unfortunately, Morgaine Carey for Pecari. Even more unfortunately, it was entirely possible that she was mistaken about three out of the four, and the only one there was no obvious way around wasn't hers, but Morgaine's. The chances of Adam Brockert, who stood out as neurotic even in Crotalus, being selected over her was vanishingly small, but it was still much more likely than Saul Pierce being picked over Morgaine, as the fifth year only had two Pecaris and Pierce was already the Assistant Captain of the Quidditch team.

She turned her head toward the headmaster as he began to speak, her expression one of polite interest. Under the table, her fingers snapped silently inside her sleeves. News about the cultural fair and what Miss Yuma would be doing after next week was less important than Lila, and should have waited. She didn't look around, but thought that she could feel Allie's eyes on her. This had to go right for her. If she was passed over, Allie would pity her, and that wasn't Allie's place.

Finally, Bulla announced he wanted six students to join him up front. This was it. Lila tensed visibly in her seat, her fingers freezing in mid-snap. She didn't have time to think of getting Aladren wrong as a bad sign before two syllables she had been listening for - those of her own name, Li-la - were read out and she almost slumped down onto the table in relief, missing the last two names as she got her grip back and walked, beaming, to the front of the Hall.

Her mother would have been proud of how her smile didn't - quite - flicker when she took in the ragtag trio called up with her. She only recognized Mr. Heindrich because he was even taller than her than most of the school, Miss Jones's parents were not around to put her ahead of her roommates, both of whom were more suitable, and she was quite sure of her information regarding Mr. Pierce's earlier decoration. Perhaps more importantly, not one of them was someone Lila would ever willingly choose to be seen in public with.

Euphoria over finally being honored in an official capacity won out over other concerns for the moment. Lila nodded when appropriate at the headmaster as he gave them some little speech about duty before handing out the four badges, but all she could think about was how sick seeing her recognized would make Anne and Gwen, and how much she was going to enjoy being able to boss Morgaine around for the next three years. When the room applauded the four of them, Lila gave a little curtsy, smiling so hard her face had actually started to hurt.

She rereached her seat in time to applaud for Jennifer, yet another Crotalus girl in a position of authority. Her House hadn't done badly for itself this year, all in all. The new Head Girl was a Crotalus girl, and she'd already been their House Quidditch captain. Lila herself was a prefect - she'd have to write as soon as she got up to her dormitory; Mommy and Daddy were going to be so proud - and a rather distinct improvement over the disagreeable Miss Mathers and the poor Miss Howard if she did say so herself.

As Jennifer and Mr. Dill returned to their seats after the headmaster had a word with them, Lila risked a glance over her shoulder and, catching her eye, gave her twin a small, quick wink. Allie waved back, appearing as delighted as if she personally had just been named prefect. She had one of the brief, though strong, surges of affection she felt for Allie every now and then, secretly pleased that her sister didn't find fault with everything she did, as their little brother did. For a moment, Lila almost wished Alban had come to Sonora, just so he could see that no one else thought she was a petty "lady of the fashions", as she was half-convinced he'd called her. The uncertainty arose from his use of French to deliver the insult and the damage her French had taken from five years of virtual disuse.

She served herself with a bit less than her usual portion of salad and resigned herself to taking her roll sans the dash of butter she usually gave it, since now was not the time to get fat if there even was one. She very pointedly did not look at her sister now, as she was sure Allie was thoroughly enjoying her own dinner. And why not? By three minutes, not quite four, Allie was the elder sister. That gave her a security Lila, just the second daughter, could never aspire to.

Lila looked at the student across from her, her smile rock steady. Part of being the best Crotalus prefect - and what other role was there for her to aspire to until she was up for Head Girl? - would necessarily involve being gracious, even around people she did not like. "Good evening," Lila said. Graciously. She had rehearsed this in the privacy of her bedroom a thousand times at least, so she knew exactly what to do. She had to seem interested in her subordinates even if she wasn't. If she'd been passed over after all of that, she would have been most cross. "Did you have a nice summer?"

16 Lila St. Martin Good thing I rehearsed. 80 Lila St. Martin 0 5

Amelia

April 10, 2008 3:14 PM

You could sound more enthusiastic by Amelia

Amelia smiled widely at the other new girl when she agreed they should sit together. Walking with a bounce in her step towards where the other Crotalus students were seated, Amelia purposefully steered them away from where her sister was sitting, an to a relatively empty part of the table. As they selected seats, the other girls introduced herself as Sophia. Waiting until she had settled her lightly padded frame comfortably before the table, Amelia offered yet another beaming smile.

“I am Amelia Smythe,” she said airily, as if it were the most wonderful news a person could hear. “I knew I was going to be sorted into Crotalus; it’s the only proper House, after all. How about you?”

While she waited for her companion to answer, Amelia scanned the room with small brown eyes. She spied her cousin Lucas, seated over at the Aladren table, and a girl she was almost sure was a Carey, and many other people besides. This was amazing; never before had she been in a place with so many people her own age. There had been a fair few at extended family parties, the sort Daddy called ‘business meetings’, but never quite this many all at once. The idea of sharing so much space with so many people was both daunting and exhilarating.

“We’re going to share a dormitory, isn’t that exciting?” she exclaimed to Sophia. “Oh, I do hope the beds are comfortable. Sorry, I do talk far too much. You can try to stop me but I doubt you’ll have any effect.” Amelia laughed, searching the table for a dish she might enjoy. “Is that lasagne by your elbow?”

0 Amelia You could sound more enthusiastic 0 Amelia 0 5

Jera

April 10, 2008 3:40 PM

Not in my book by Jera

It was becoming increasingly difficult for Jera to swallow. She felt like she might cry, and put all her efforts into not doing exactly that. So what if she couldn’t understand the other children in her house? So what if her salad didn’t taste like it was supposed to? Jera’s stomach twisted uncomfortably; she was homesick already, and she’d barely left. The urge to look up to the staff table was utterly overwhelming, but somehow she managed to keep her eyes averted. Part of her knew that if she saw a familiar face she would break down there and then, and so it was much better to just ride it out.

It was just so hard, though! The boys spoke quickly, and Jera was sure there were some words in there that were not English. She could make them feel like her, if she wanted; she could talk a foreign language and leave them out of the conversation. But of course then she’d be talking to herself, and that wasn’t any better at all that just staying silent.

From the little she could pick up, Jera thought the boys had been talking about the places they lived. Hoping she was right, she said, “I live in the mountains. It gets awful cold in winter. Some of the birds stay hangin’ round though – I think they just know that spring’ll come again.”

Jera stopped talking as suddenly as she’d begun. Just talking about home made her insides hurt. She kept her dark eyes focussed on the nearly empty plate before her. It wasn’t long before they could go find their new rooms. Then she could cry, if she still felt like it.

0 Jera Not in my book 0 Jera 0 5

Cecily

April 10, 2008 3:55 PM

We're not that bad grins by Cecily

“That’s a bit of a contradiction, isn’t it?” Cecily returned. “He can get along with me even if you don’t, but you’re still a two-for-one deal?” she scoffed. Still, the question that Renaye asked may have been an important one, so Cecily set to answering it.

“I understand your brother,” she said, keeping her small brown eyes focussed on Renaye. “He’s easy to talk to and usually polite, too. You’re not,” she said flatly. “You argue and you accuse and you never want to listen to anyone else’s point of view. You’re rude and you’re too forward and I don’t like talking to you because there are plenty of other people I can talk to without having to deal with all that.” Though she was direct while she spoke, Cecily’s tone was never offensive; her arguments tended to be built on fact rather than opinion, and so she kept her tone level and explanatory, rather than allow any emotion to enter the fray.

“More to the point, I’m not going to stop talking to Joshua just because you don’t like me. Yes you’re twins, but you’re not the same person. Quite obviously,” Cecily dropped in a serving of sarcasm to the end of her spiel.

Noticing that Alexis was being somewhat left out, Cecily paused to share an exasperated glance with her. Really, Miss Warren had all the social finesse of a pregnant sow.

0 Cecily We're not that bad *grins* 0 Cecily 0 5

Oliver

April 10, 2008 4:09 PM

No - it's fairly frequent by Oliver

It turned out that Lutece actually did spend her summer, or part of it, at least, shopping for lip gloss (which Oliver had surmised from her mention of shop he’d only heard of through having a younger sister, and he’d never admit to having heard of it, anyway). She glossed (no pun intended) over the rest of her holiday, sounding so blasé about her parents’ apparent imminent divorce that Oliver forgot to keep eating.

“What? Yeah, Jen’s cool, I mean… What’d you say? You parents are fighting? Well that’s gotta suck.” Soon recovering his eating instinct, Oliver shovelled another forkful of food into his mouth. He decided he didn’t want to dwell on the divorce thing though, especially seeing as Lutece didn’t seem bothered by it – he didn’t know her that well, after all. Divorcing parents didn’t seem to be the thing you talked about with people you didn’t know so well. “My siblings fight all the time,” he offered instead. “See Julian’s got a new girlfriend who is a total ditz and Charlie keeps taking the piss, but then we found out she’s got a boyfriend, and our folks flew off the handle.” He sniggered at the memory. “Good times,” he grinned.

“So you gonna try out for Quidditch this year?” he asked, after pausing to drain his cup of juice. “I hear a lot of second years are signing up. Think you can hack it?”

0 Oliver No - it's fairly frequent 0 Oliver 0 5

Renaye

April 10, 2008 6:31 PM

Mmhmm by Renaye

“That’s a bit of a contradiction, isn’t it? He can get along with me even if you don’t, but you’re still a two-for-one deal?”

"Yes," she said, "Being friends with my twin means that I'm going to be around, no matter what my opinion of you is."

“I understand your brother." It took a lot to restrain herself from bursting out, 'No, you don't!' Renaye bit her tongue and allowed her to continue. “He’s easy to talk to and usually polite, too. You’re not. You argue and you accuse and you never want to listen to anyone else’s point of view. You’re rude and you’re too forward and I don’t like talking to you because there are plenty of other people I can talk to without having to deal with all that. More to the point, I’m not going to stop talking to Joshua just because you don’t like me. Yes you’re twins, but you’re not the same person. Quite obviously.”

Josh doesn't say anything! How can he be easy to talk to?! Renaye did not like how this was turning out. Josh seemed to be in the middle of this warfare and he didn't even know and-- Had she said Joshua? This was so ridiculous...

"I'm too rude and forward?" She repeated levely, her green eyes narrowed. "That's a bit hypocritical, isn't it?" Renaye gathered her bag, leaving her food, her appatite vanished by now.

"There are plenty of other people I can talk to without having to deal with all of this," she said in the same tone Cecily had used, standing up. Renaye stood for one last word before leaving. "Josh and I aren't the same person, but I know my brother better than you ever could. We're best friends, so if he likes the way I am, and I don't like you, what makes you think he will? Talk to him all you want; I just doubt he's going to want to continue talking to you." Renaye turned to Alexis for a moment,

"Sorry about this," she said with a sad sort of smile. Renaye turned and made her way back towards the Common Room, having every intention of telling Josh every detail of what had just happened. She didn't use to care whether Josh was friends with Cecily or not, but suddenly, the idea of it made her blood boil. She just hoped to God that Josh agreed with her opinion... Renaye wasn't going to be that controlling sister. He was going to have to figure it out for himself. Renaye's memory jumped and she remembered Laurie. Her pace increased. Her two favorite people would be there, if she was lucky.

0 Renaye Mmhmm 0 Renaye 0 5

Hannah C-F

April 10, 2008 7:34 PM

I have strange relatives by Hannah C-F

Hannah examined her hands as the color began to fade, her skin returning to its normal freckled hue. She’d have to take a bath as soon as she got to Pecari Commons, a clump of dirt had just fallen from her curls. A guilty expression upon her face, she tried to be as nonchalant as possible as she brushed it off the table and onto the floor. The prairie elves could take care of it later. Sonora did have prairie elves, right? She remembered somebody from her family telling her that once.

Hazel eyes blinked once when the older boy started to talk, and could only nod to affirm the fact that she was indeed, a first year. Merlin, he had a lot of energy. But Jae seemed cool enough, and Hannah could be rather energetic herself.

“Hannah, from everywhere, but most recently from Philly,” she introduced herself, adding with a grin, “And I’ve been excited for Sonora since forever.”

Explaining where she was from was always hard, no thanks to her mother. Tabitha Cooper was as much of a restless soul as her daughter, and could not stay in one place for more than a couple of months. Usually the decision to move was made about ten minutes before the actual began, and because of this Hannah had developed surprisingly efficient organizational skills. The freckled girl hated all the moving, it was hard enough making friends as it was, never mind having to do so every couple of months. Which was why Hannah had become so close with her cousins. They were the only constant kids in her life, and she had been quite disappointed to find that she was going to be a year behind Ronen and Zane because the two of them had been born before the September cut off, and she was a Christmas baby. Last year had been terrible, what with them off at school, where she could not take the Floo Network to go see them. This had led to her becoming much better friends with her currently nine year-old cousin, Naomi Leigh, or Gnome, as Hannah called her. The two had never really gotten along, as Gnome was way girlier than Hannah, but the older Cooper girl was coming to find that Gnome wasn’t completely terrible. Not when the only other option was not being close with anyone else her age, anyway.

Quickly piling whatever food was nearest on her plate, Hannah was fairly certain she could get used to these living arrangements. The promise of staying in one place for the majority of the year for the next seven years was also extremely appealing. What wasn’t there to love about Sonora?

“So what do we need to know?” she asked, ripping a bread roll in half, “Like, any teachers to watch out for, or anything?” Stuffing one half of the bread roll in half, she was delighted to find that Sonoran food was as good as it looked, possibly even better. No more starving on her mother’s terrible cooking! Sonora was even more awesome than she had expected.

0 Hannah C-F I have strange relatives 0 Hannah C-F 0 5

Alexis

April 10, 2008 9:37 PM

Well then... by Alexis

Alexis' eyebrow raised at this interesting conversation. Cecily, by far, was her favorite person in this school. She was blunt, truthful, and all around the best ally to have. She had gotten up when the two of them exchanged glances, accidentally knocking over her own bag.

Blushing furiously, something Alexis didn't normally do, she gathered up her things. Her glasses (which she avoided wearing at all costs) had come out of their case. She had finished putting them in their case and stood up to see Renaye.

"Sorry about this," she had said before leaving. Alexis shrugged, then turned to Cecily with a grin. "Wow, you sure told her!" she couldn't help but laugh with a glance at Renaye's back.

"She's so rude. My cousins, Chrysi and Annabelle, are twins, but they've grown apart. I just don't see how she can insist on being so mean to you." she rolled her eyes. "I mean, come on. Josh is at least decent, and he's perfectly capable of making his own friends!" Her mischevious grin changed into a sorry smile.

"I don't mean to leave you, but I want to get to the commons before Renaye does. I want to check on Laurie, and it's common knowledge that if Renaye gets involved before whatever happened gets cleared up..." she shook her head. "I don't even want to associate with the girl, let alone be dragged into a fight. I'll see you there though. Just stay in here till you calm down or something. You don't want Josh to see you all perturbed."

She then quickly got up from the table and left. Instead of going the way Renaye did, she turned the opposite way, taking a shortcut she had discovered last year when she was trying to figure out where she could get rid of Hyana without anyone noticing. Arriving to the Crotalus enterance, she walked in, hoping she'd be quick enough, and, to her luck, she spotted Laurie, all alone, without a Renaye in sight.

OOC: Sorry to end this, but I just realized that Alexis was in the commons right after this before Renaye. To make that make sense, she kinda had to leave. ^_^

0 Alexis Well then... 0 Alexis 0 5

Seamus

April 10, 2008 10:57 PM

There's always the chance of redemption. by Seamus

Seamus was about to enter into a great debate which country had the most beauty when he noticed how distressed the girl, Jera, seemed to be. His brow creased a moment with concern and sympathy. If there was one thing he couldn’t stand, it was an unhappy female. All the female members of his family were usually a lively, happy (if bossy) bunch and on the rare occasions one of them was upset, it was if a dark cloud passed across the sun. The men in the family who treasured them bent over backwards to bring back the smiles.

“Oy, Tyrone.” Seamus nodded in Jera’s direction. “The poor girl doesn’t speak the Olde Tongue. It’s poor manners to be speakin’ it so freely around her.

“We’re just a bit too proud of where we come from.” Seamus turned his most charming smile on Jera. It always got him out of trouble with Grandma and his Aunties and even sometimes with Ma. “I’m sure you come from a grand place too.”

Seamus listened as Jera began to speak of her home in the mountains. It didn’t sound like the mountains he’s seen around here. There were no trees for any birds to roost. Then she stopped talking, as if she it made her sad to think of it. Seamus understood. Though he’d not admit it to anyone here, he’d had more than a few pangs of home sickness in the short time since he’d left. Perhaps, if he talked a bit more about where he came from, keeping in mind to include her, she might want to open up a bit more about her home.

“I’d like to see those mountains too. They mustn’t be like the bare rock one’s that surround this school. Where are they? Here in the States?” Seamus asked gently. “Where I live it’s mostly rolling hills and green fields. The Stone of Destiny is an ancient pillar, older than humanity, that shoots out of the ground like a great, grey finger. There’s a powerful magic energy that surrounds it. When the next Great King of Ireland comes of age, legend says the stone will cry out his name. They say the runes that cover the stone were carved by faerie hands and no mortal can learn their true meaning.”

\n

0 Seamus There's always the chance of redemption. 111 Seamus 0 5

Tyrone Astin

April 11, 2008 9:32 AM

And sometimes the judgement's yours. by Tyrone Astin

Tyrone felt a little guilty, and it flashed over his face before he looked down at his plate. After a few, determined bites of food while Seamus started trying to comfort her, he began wracking his brain for something to say. Anti-social and unhappy to be here as he was, he wasn’t looking to make anyone’s life miserable, and he really didn’t know what to do with unhappy girls. There tended to be more women than men in his family, and emotions ran high—generally he kept out of the way except during silliness. So he decided to let the other boy talk her through it and kept his mind on ways to make it up to her.

As he sat, listening to her talk—it was subtly different in cadence from his mother’s occasional Southern Californian mannerisms—he stewed a little over Seamus’s comment. Well, for one, he knew he and his new Irish friend would doubtless be talking in Gaelic frequently, despite the variations in the dialect.

Finally, searching desperately for something to say without having to talk much more about his home, he said without looking up, “Your home sounds nice. I like mountains. High, clearer air, fewer people…” Something in his voice made it clear that, whether he’d intended to make it obvious or not, that was the biggest attraction to him at least. He did try to slow his speech down, just a little more. After all, she clearly felt as bad as he did. As long as everyone was miserable, he could be magnanimous. “What kinsh off bir’s?” he asked around some food.

After swallowing, and hesitating for a few more bites, he said a little shyly, “Well, I mean, if y’wanted to…” His eyes flicked very briefly to Seamus. “I mean, we speak it a little differently, but…” He looked steadily at a point somewhere below and past her ear, running a hand through his hair nervously. “Uhm. We could probably teach you, if you wanted. How to speak it.” He couldn’t quite meet her eyes, but his tone was sincere. Then again, when he lied it was always if he were feeling sullen, and that would have been far more obvious.

0 Tyrone Astin And sometimes the judgement's yours. 0 Tyrone Astin 0 5

Marina Velasquez

April 12, 2008 1:20 AM

Pecari sounds like a good House. by Marina Velasquez

Marina had mostly staved off the first pangs of homesickness by time she drank her potion. She turned brown, showing she was in Pecari. That was good, at least. From what Papa had told her about the Sonora Houses, Pecari had sounded the best to her, though he had told her he had been in Teppenpaw when he had gone to school here, and Mama had gone to a school in Mexico.

Thinking about what Papa had said made her wonder again what she had been thinking since she had got onto the wagon; what her grandparents, parents, and younger brothers were doing. Abuelita and Abuelito probably had already returned to their ranch by now, and Mama and Papa were probably on the porch with Iago and Esteban enjoying the evening.

Marina walked to the House table, and listened attentively to the Headmaster's speech, and clapped for the new prefects and Head Boy and Girl. When the food appeared on the tables, she looked to the person closest to her after she served herself.

"My name is Marina Velasquez," she said, introducing herself. The slightest Mexican accent was audible in her voice, as a result of spending summers in Mexico and it being her Mama's native language, but her English was fluent. "Who're you?" She hoped she was able to hide the fact that she was missing her family from her voice, as it wouldn't be good to make that sort of impression on other people right away, she thought.

0 Marina Velasquez Pecari sounds like a good House. 0 Marina Velasquez 0 5

Sophia

April 12, 2008 1:05 PM

That's true. I could. by Sophia

Amelia definitely exuded a very friendly air, Sophia had decided after being in her company for even such a short while. She wasn't quite so used to making snap judgements like that - two minutes consideration really wasn't enough to make an accurate appraisal - but it had been made very clear. The smiles which were wide, abundant and quite untroubled by her own careful caution. The eagerness to talk, which could also be interpreted as Amelia being in love with the sound of her own voice, but seemed to not be that. Or not entirely anyhow.

She was preparing to answer the first query when Amelia beat her to speaking again, giving Sophia more to consider. Amelia could probably be best described as a little overwhelming, Sophia finally decided as she looked at the dish next to her elbow and came to the conclusion that it definitely looked like lasagne, but as to whether it was vegetable or beef or some other variety she was less certain, and considered that cutting into it or even a bite would be necessary to sort out which it was. Nevertheless, she picked it up and passed it to Amelia, having decided that the query had also been a request.

"I believe so," she said, as she did so, before pausing and going back to everything else that Amelia had been asking. "I had considered which house I might be in," she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I don't think I'm quite so spontaneous as the Pecari need to be, so I didn't think I'd be joining that house. As for the other three, each has their merits that I would have fit with, but I suspect that the potion was correct in placing me in Crotalus. From what I've read and been told it is almost certainly the best fit for me."

Was it exciting that they would be sharing a dormitory? Perhaps, Sophia silently conceded, but it was also likely to be quite exhausting, if Amelia was like this all the time. At least she realised that she talked a lot. It saved Sophia from having to point it out, something which she suspected might cause offence.

"I was definitely getting the impression that attempting to stop you talking would prove a difficult task," she said, smiling back for the first time. "But as I'm slower to speak, perhaps its for the best. Balance, perhaps."

Examining the table herself, Sophia made careful choices of what she wanted. Vegetables, because they were good for you. She looked sideways at the lasagne again and then flicked her eyes up to look at Amelia.

"Is the lasagne any good?" She asked, pondering adding some of it to her plate too.

0 Sophia That's true. I could. 0 Sophia 0 5

Mollie Buchanan

April 13, 2008 10:56 AM

interesting choice, no? by Mollie Buchanan

What and adventure this would be! Everything about this huge monstrosity of school fascinated Mollie, from the water running down the walls of the dining hall, to the strange bubbly concoction she had just drank, which turned her skin yellow. There had been no hesitation on Mollie's part to drink a totally unknown substance. In this regard, at least, she figured that the administration of the school wasn't about to poison their new students. Having been one of the first students to join a house, she wandered over to the table cheering the loudest when her skin turned yellow.

Teppenpaw, interesting indeed. Waiting with strained patience as the rest of her schoolmates were sorted into their houses and the speeches finished, her skin back to it's normal pastey white, Mollie dove into the food that appeared on the tables. She had never seen so much food at once. It was also an ingrained habit to grab what you wanted when you could. Having grown up in an orphanage and a series of foster homes with multiple children, Mollie knew that you had to fight for what you wanted. The complete awe of food appearing before, out of thin air, had been instant, but the habit of getting food quickly had overcome that.

With her mousey brown hair had been pulled back into a French braid by herself, and her jeans and t-shirt were new for once, Mollie at least felt comfortable in her new setting. With the various moves she had made her life between homes, Mollie easily acclimated to new surroundings, though the whole idea of magic might take a while. She ate, content to sit and watch for a few minutes as the hall filled with chatter and the sounds of eating. The utter desire to find out everything about this place and the people in it, won over her as she paused eating for a second to wash down her food with a huge gulp of apple juice.

Turning her eyes, one green, one blue, on the boy sitting next to her, Mollie smiled. "Hi, I'm Mollie, looks like we're going to be housemates." Never one to be shy in the least bit, Mollie usually dove right into new people and new situations like that.

0 Mollie Buchanan interesting choice, no? 0 Mollie Buchanan 0 5

Kaden McIntyre

April 14, 2008 12:09 AM

Armadillo'd be cooler, though. by Kaden McIntyre

Kaden was, despite the newness of the country, really rather content with his lot. He had lots of good food, and even more interesting conversation around him. So he simply tucked into his food and listened. It wasn’t like home food, of course. There was something special about his mum’s cooking that no one would ever be able to emulate. But it was very good nonetheless. Pushing a stray strand of overly long brown hair out of his eyes—and wondering how it ever escaped his mother’s notice in the first place—the stocky boy was a little surprised to realize someone was actually addressing him directly.

Well, here was a conundrum. It wouldn’t do to look impolite or unfriendly, and she seemed really nice. Still, Kaden wasn’t about to stir himself to talk that much to her. Still, he gave her a lopsided, friendly smile—rather wide, really, and totally open. Really, there was absolutely in his manner which could be interpreted in any way as standoffish (unless it was in the sort of “I’m eating, don’t distract me too much!” sort of way). Still, it was a few moments of slight consideration before, with a smile and a nod, he said simply, “Kaden.” That was about all she was going get in way of an introduction—and it was little enough that his normally heavy Scottish accent wasn’t too obvious.

He took a couple more bites, examining her and putting the name to the face—and that was particularly easy in this case, as she had two different colors of eyes. Without entirely intending it, he tilted his head a little in curiosity. It could be interpreted as something of an inquiring expression, and certainly he was happy to hear anything she had to say. But he wasn’t about to actually ask. But then again, this could easily be attributed to the fact that he was still eating almost constantly.

0 Kaden McIntyre Armadillo'd be cooler, though. 0 Kaden McIntyre 0 5

Mollie Buchanan

April 14, 2008 8:15 AM

hmmm, I agree by Mollie Buchanan

In the few moments that it took Kaden to respond with only his name, Mollie had gone back to admiring the room. She had never seen anything so magnificent in her life. From the time she had arrived this afternoon, via a terrifying yet exhillerating ride on a flying covered wagon, Mollie had very few moments to actually process everything she was taking in. Having jumped around from house to house in her short eleven years, Mollie had aquired the quick skills of assessment needed to protect oneself in new situations. However, this was totally different. The huge manor-type front of the house was like nothing she had ever seen.

The fact that there was such a lush forest in the middle of the desert and that no non-magical folk could see it, completely baffled her. The entire concept of magic was utterly new. Of course, when she was younger she would always fantasize that she was a princess and there was a world of magic that she belonged in and that someday, somehow sombody would take her away to that fantasy land.

She never imagined that it would be a simple letter that would change her entire life. Sadly, she'd just settled into a new foster home and had actually liked this one. The foster parents were brand new to the whole foster home and having orphans in thier house, so naturlly Mollie and the two boys living with her had been treated exceptionally well. It was here she had gotten her new school clothes, new sneakers and even a kitten for her trip to school. The list of things she had needed to get was strange, a cauldron, what seemed like potions ingredients and a pet of some kind. Well, Binx, her new black kitten was passed out asleep on her bed upstairs and Mollie was ecstatic.

Remembering her manners as Kaden spoke, Mollie continued to smile, glad for some company in this huge mass of people. "Are you from a magical background?" She was really curious about those who had grown up in this kind of society. Would they really have a leg up on those who had just learned about magic? Mollie wasn't too worried, she was a quick study and overly enthusiastic about this at this point, but still, she was a little nervous there had been a mistake and she would just have to go back to her boring old life.

"I'm sorry up front if I talk a lot. This is all very new to me." She shrugged, looking down at her bright green t-shirt for a moment. "It's all really fascinating though." She had taken a deep breadth to start a long rant about everyting she had seen, but thought better of it. She'd been working on not talking so much, no sense in ruining it now.

0 Mollie Buchanan hmmm, I agree 0 Mollie Buchanan 0 5

Finley MacGregor

April 15, 2008 6:25 AM

can't be all that bad by Finley MacGregor

Finally. Fynn was out of his house. After hearing Brody and Connor go on and on about what their school was like, Fynn was glad to be off on his own. He felt bad about leaving Casey with Aunt Aideen, but it was his turn to get away from it all. With Brody and Connor both at Hogwarts, Fynn was glad to come to a school all to himself. It meant of course, that Casey would follow him to America to go to school, but he wasn't bothered by that. He still had two years before that happened.

Being in the middle of the pack to drink the odd-looking substance that determined their house had its perks. He could see that nobody was getting sick or exploding, just turning different colors. He also wasn't at the end, so he didn't have to stand and wait forever. It was a good balance. As his turn approached, Fynn gulped down the concoction in one sip, only to find himself turn brown. Brown, brown meant Pecari, he had been paying that much attention, so with a cheeky grin, he set off for the right table.

Once the speeches and appointments for head boy, girl and prefects was all done, Fynn's eyes almost bugged out of his head as the food appeared before him. Aunt Aideen cooked really well, and hid da could do well for the most part, but this wasn't like anything he had ever seen before. Unsure of what he wanted, Fynn just began to pile food onto his plate; a little of this, a little of that. Mashed potatoes, turkey, ham, green beans, rolls; it was like heaven on a table! Any eleven-year-old boy would be thoroughly pleased by this spread.

As he tucked in, he was amazed to find that the food tasted even better than it looked. Fynn had no idea what prairie elves were, they didn't have those in Scotland, but he liked them already. Trying to mind his manners and still eat as much as he could, Fynn had to swallow hard when the girl next to him addressed him.

"Finley MacGregor," He grinned, pausing his eating to drain half of his glass of milk. "Fynn's fine though. Nice to meet yeh, Marina." Even though he tried to slow down his speech and his brogue, the Scottish accent still made it through. He'd have to work on it, especially the slowing down. In a family of four boys, you had to tuck in when you could and speek as fast and as loud as possible to be heard.

"Looks like we're going teh be in theh same house then, eh? Exciting in't it?" Fynn was always up for meeting new people, he considered himself a social butterfly, though that wouldn't be the term he used. More like sociable, but his aunt always called him that. He had a bunch of mates at home, but they had all gone to European schools. But all of their stories would be the same, his would be new and he couldn't wait to boast about how cool his school was.

0 Finley MacGregor can't be all that bad 0 Finley MacGregor 0 5

Joey

April 16, 2008 9:52 PM

Neither of you have given me a drink as well by Joey

It was a girl. Joey immediately felt himself grow a little skeptical of the situation after he noticed this; after all, the only girl he knew well was his little sister, and Beth was too young to be good for anything. The other girls, the ones from his old school, weren’t all that useful either. They didn’t play sports or anything. On the whole, Joey wasn’t too fond of the entire gender.

This one, Hannah, did seem interesting though. Not as neat and tidy like most of the others, he noted with approval. And she seemed to have some sort of knowledge about Pecari. That was definitely an improvement over his own admittedly sad situation (not that he would have let her know about that. After all, a guy had to have his pride—Michael had said so, and Michael was never wrong). And if the girl was right, and Pecari really was the best house, then life had just gotten a whole lot better. Another of Michael’s beliefs was that it would never do to be second in anything.

He had just been about to ask her more about this house of theirs and everything she knew about it when another boy came up to the two of them. Joey couldn’t help but stare for a moment at the newcomer—he’d never seen anyone quite like this Jae person. In doing so, he gave Hannah the opportunity to speak first, though he broke in a few seconds after she finished.

“Joey, from Texas,” came his answer in a natural Texan drawl. “I guess I’m excited. Don’t really know much about the place yet.” Loading food onto his plate as his companions did, he once again settled into the background of the conversation as Hannah asked her question. It was a good one, and he regretted not thinking of it first for a second. However, hopefully he’d get the answer even though he hadn’t been that quick, so it didn’t matter.

0 Joey Neither of you have given me a drink as well 0 Joey 0 5

Ronen

April 17, 2008 10:12 PM

And I'm only a little paranoid... really by Ronen

Ronen was more than a little surprised when the two older boys sat by him. It wasn’t as if he had anything against either of them, it was just that they had never really hung out before. Clearly they must suspect him of something. He had to be completely alert, while acting as if all was well. Kind of like a secret agent. It would be super cool to be a secret agent.

He returned the nod to Brett. It was always tricky to act casual when Ronen felt so anxious, but he’d managed to do it before. It was a good thing that they were at the Feast, pretending like this always made him extra hungry.

The twelve year-old smiled as the two other boys debated over the length of Brett’s short fast, happy that they seemed content to carry the conversation by themselves. It made things much easier for Ronen that way. Perhaps the two older boys weren’t suspiscious of his summer endeavors after all. Or perhaps there were just trying to catch him off guard… probably the latter. He sat up a little straighter.

“Cheetos! Haven’t had those in ages,” Ronen exclaimed without even thinking about it. How he missed that delicious Muggle creation. He only ever got to eat Muggle food like Cheetos when he visited his mother’s family, because they were all Muggles. His father was a halfblood who had spent most of his life in the wizarding world, and so had no knowledge of these kinds of things. His mother was a Healer and a health freak, and so had far too much knowledge of these kinds of things and refused to let the unhealthy snack into her household.

“Wow, cool,” he said in admiration of Brett’s growth spurt. Ronen was average height himself, but had only grown about an inch over the summer. Something like that, he hadn’t really been keeping check. But his old robes still fit fairly well, so he couldn’t have grown too much.

Aha! So they did know! Or at least, Brett did. Why else would Brett have asked him about his summer? Brett might know, but Ronen wasn’t going to fess up, at least, not with so many people around to hear him.

“Hung out with the local kids, went to the town pool, usual stuff,” he said, nodding his head over and over, as if to reassure himself, “My family went to Six Flags a couple of times over the summer, too.” That was apparently the one thing his mother missed most about Muggle life – amusement parks. Ronen loved them too – it was hard to mess up a roller coaster with his clumsiness.

0 Ronen And I'm only a little paranoid... really 0 Ronen 0 5

Jennifer

April 17, 2008 10:58 PM

Amen by Jennifer

Alright, so maybe painless had been a bit much to ask for, Jennifer noted to herself as she waited to see if Geoffrey had any plan to say something beyond his initial response. Unfortunately, it soon became apparent none was forthcoming. All things considered, it wasn’t quite fair to blame him for his lack of response, if she wasn’t drastically over-estimating any and all feelings of anger or hurt he was directing at her (she hoped she was, but this wasn’t a situation she felt equipped to judge). And he’d always seemed a little on the quiet side. Maybe she was just misremembering, and making something out of nothing.

Now that she was sitting here and had started the conversation, though, she couldn’t very well walk away, though it might be easier on them both. If the younger boy was still harboring any feelings for her, it would be best to discourage them as quickly as possible while remaining kind about it. And, theoretically, there was no better way to do that than to treat him solely as a platonic comrade.

“That’s good,” she replied automatically before considering the least awkward way to segue into her point. He hadn’t asked about her summer in return, and the most memorable parts of it weren’t the sort of thing she’d appreciate hearing about if she were in his position, so that could be left alone. Likewise anything about him now being an upperclassman, since it just seemed desperate.

Finally she decided on the simplest plan. “So, I’ve been wanting to talk with you about quidditch and, more specifically, your role as assistant captain this year. While I have full faith in your abilities to take over next year, it would probably be best if you started taking over more of the actual duties this year, in some form or another, so if you have any ideas on what, if anything, you’d prefer to do, that’d be great.”

0 Jennifer Amen 0 Jennifer 0 5

Amelia

April 18, 2008 12:38 PM

If you wanted to. by Amelia

Milly laughed as her new friend commented on their mis-matched (or well-matched, depending on your point of view) talking habits. Well, Amelia assumed they were friends, anyway. They were going to be spending the next seven years of their lives together (Good Merlin that was a long time) so it made sense for them to be friends.

“The lasagne is excellent,” Amelia answered, nudging the dish in Sophia’s direction. All the food looked good, which was both a blessing and a curse – Amelia loved food, as was evident by her curvy figure, but had to be careful not to let her curves turn unsightly. As it was she was happy with her appearance, especially compared to her older sister’s child-like and tiny frame. Still, she didn’t want to go too far and end up looking like her Muriel. That just wasn’t attractive.

Munching her way through her plate of exquisite food, Amelia’s eyes continued to dart around the Hall, taking in its numerous novelties, and she pondered what to say to her neighbour. Uncomfortable silences were always to be avoided wherever necessary.

“Have you brought any pets with you?” she asked, careful not to speak with her mouth full. “I brought my sister’s rat, because the Headmaster’s so stuffy he wouldn’t let her bring them both, so I brought the other one for her, and I’m just going to sneak it into her room later. She’s crazy about her animals.”

0 Amelia If you wanted to. 0 Amelia 0 5

Sadi

April 18, 2008 12:54 PM

I see. Um, no, not really. by Sadi

Simon’s assertion that secret keeping was not a necessary habit was pleasing to hear. Besides, the school already knew about the quadrennial celebrations now, so there would be no need to conceal that again, or anything else, for that matter, in the foreseeable future.

It wasn’t long before Sadi’s continued attentions towards Jera were noticed, and Simon enquired about their relationship. “Not my sister,” Sadi replied, with a raised eyebrow and an amused half-smile. “My daughter, Jera.” Sighing, Sadi added, “I’m beginning to have second thoughts about this being a good idea. Unless this compulsion to watch her every second goes away then I’m not going to get anything done all year.” Pausing again, she then said, “I just want her to be happy. I think school will help. She’s hasn’t been to school before.” Educating Jera at home had always felt like the right thing to do, for everyone in the family. Now she was older, though, some social interaction could be beneficial, and the school professors would be far more adept at teaching the magic required for passing examinations, should that be something Jera chose to pursue. With Sadi teaching at Sonora, too, it seemed as though the time had come for Jera to start school. That didn’t necessarily mean it had been the right decision. “Do you think she looks happy?”

After a few more seconds scrutinizing her daughter, Sadi turned back to Simon with an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I’m not usually this distracted.”

0 Sadi I see. Um, no, not really. 0 Sadi 0 5

Sophia

April 19, 2008 9:18 AM

Also true. This is going quite well. by Sophia

Sophia nodded and edged the lasagne a little closer so she could cut herself a slice and place it on her plate with a minimum of fuss. "Thank you," she said, as she moved the plate back to a more central location in case someone else should fancy some as well. She cut a bite-sized piece and had to agree with Amelia; it really was quite good lasagne.

She made her way slowly through her food, glancing over now and then to examine the girl sitting next to her and the rest of the people seated at the same table. There were a lot, and they ranged from her own relatively small size to the much bigger people she assumed were the seventh years. In fact, she was pretty sure that the girl who had been given the Head Girl badge was sitting a little further along. Sophia was comparing the half-view with the figure she could recall moving up to the front of the hall a little earlier and was just about satisfied that she was correct when Amelia, somewhat less than surprisingly, spoke again.

"No," Sophia said, as the question luckily didn't require much in the way of consideration. "Although Papa did promise that I might have a kitten for Christmas, so I'll have a pet after midterm." She was going to leave it at that, but she felt she owed Amelia a little more of an explanation. After all, Amelia was telling her quite a lot more than she had told Amelia so far. "We decided it would be better if I settled in to the school a little before I was given a pet to care for. Learn the school and get used to the schedule before the added responsibility of looking after a pet." Perfectly sensible to Sophia's mind.

She wasn't too sure what she thought about rats and so chose to not comment on Amelia's pet choice. Or, rather, her sister's pet choice. She was a little worried about the casual way that Amelia was talking about circumventing the rules though, and frowned slightly. "Do you think you should really sneak it to your sister?" she asked. "What if you get caught? You might get in trouble."

Trouble was another of those things that Sophia didn't like very much. She tried to avoid it if she could.

0 Sophia Also true. This is going quite well. 0 Sophia 0 5

Geoffrey S.

April 20, 2008 8:16 AM

That reminds me. Guide needs completing. Must tell Stephen. by Geoffrey S.

She was still talking to him. Going mildly red, Geoffrey sank into his seat a little more and tried to mentally make her go away, but there was no avoiding what she wanted to talk to him about, apparently. And duty, he reminded himself with an almost pained mental voice, was not something to be lightly shirked.

It kind of sucked that he was thinking of Quidditch as duty when he really quite liked it.

If only it wasn't so closely associated with him making a complete idiot of himself last year.

"I'm not sure," he said, finally answering her. "I suppose-" he stopped again as he recalled that boy from last year. Josh. He'd said that he and his sister were avid fans of the game. "There's some keen second years," he said. "So there's probably going to be a lot of potential reserves this year. I could work with them?"

He hadn't intended to make the end of that be a question, but it had formed itself thus none the less.

"It'll depend on how many we have sign up," he continued," I guess. But that'd probably be kind of fun. Working with the younger players who'll be filling the ranks later when the older players have graduated. What do you think?"

He poked his food with a fork and glanced at Jennifer. Maybe she'd forgotten about last year. She hadn't mentioned it at all, which was a relatively good sign. He thought of apologising, but shoved the thought from his mind the moment it had the temerity to show up. If she had forgotten it would be much better. Maybe he could pretend the whole embarrassing mess had never happened.

His traitorous mind had another thought ready to take the place of the last one. Jennifer had sought him out at the feast... not Jake. Geoffrey tried to ignore that thought too, but it managed to retain a grip on the edge of his mind and maintain a low-key presence, tingeing his mood with an odd feeling he chose not to acknowledge.

39 Geoffrey S. That reminds me. Guide needs completing. Must tell Stephen. 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Jera

April 20, 2008 1:51 PM

I don't want to judge by Jera

The boys didn’t seem to mind her talking about home. Jera smiled a little – her smile was sort of off to one side, criminally betraying her shy nature. Unfortunately, she wasn’t inclined to talk any more about her home just now. “Maybe I’ll tell you some other time,” she offered, pushing around the food leftover on her plate with her fork. She liked that they were interested to hear, and she was keen, too, to learn more about where they each came from, but the painful pangs she felt somewhere inside were telling her that now wasn’t the time.

Things were looking up though; the boys did seem to want to include her. The second boy – Jera still hadn’t caught his name – was offering to teach her their language, Jera was sure of it. “Oh, would you?” she asked. Her thirst for knowledge couldn’t be quashed, even when she was feeling so out of place. “I mean, I’d like to try. I’ve never learned a new language.” She hesitated just a heartbeat, before adding, “I could teach you mine, if you like. I speak Romanian, too.”

Well, so they had some things in common, too. They were already in the same house, and all three of them could speak more than English. Jera felt as though she didn’t need to look at the staff table any more. Maybe she could hold off until tomorrow… but then she would have to tell Mama everything.

0 Jera I don't want to judge 0 Jera 0 5

Amelia

April 20, 2008 2:10 PM

I think so, too by Amelia

Amelia nodded along as Sophia explained about not having a cat ’til Christmas, but inwardly she was thinking how mean her father must be, to make her wait until midterm before having some company at school. Not that Amelia would care – she didn’t really like animals all that much, and she definitely wasn’t into taking care of them – but if a kid really wanted a kitten, it seemed a bit cruel to make them wait for it. It wasn’t even a flat-out refusal; it was like holding out a gift but not letting you take it yet. Amelia kept these opinions to herself – unlike her sister, she knew when to keep quiet.

On the other hand, Sophia’s comment about getting into trouble was positively sweet. Amelia laughed out loud. “Oh, never mind about that. Even if anyone finds out, they probably won’t care. And even if they do, I can just say they were visiting,” Milly shrugged. Avoiding trouble wasn’t exactly high on her agenda; she could always wiggle out of it if necessary. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to skip class without good reason, or anything like that, but there’s no point following rules just for the sake of it,” she said, with the air of someone who wasn’t going to be swayed in their opinion.

0 Amelia I think so, too 0 Amelia 0 5

Irene

April 21, 2008 3:23 PM

bows It's not a problem. by Irene

OOC: Here it is, finally! So sorry about that.

BIC:
Irene loved the beginning of the new year. Somehow being in third year made everything feel so different... More mature, sort of. Irene didn't plan and doing too much maturing over the coming year, but she knew she was getting to that point where she wouldn't be a pre-teen anymore. It was a good thing, but the carefree-ness of childhood is sort of left behind. Irene knew though, she didn't have to grow up until she wanted. Uncle Mike was living proof of that! Her uncle was like a kid trapped in a man's body. He loved to do the same things his neices and nephews did: play Quidditch over the pond, go camping in the woods, going on roadtrips... He loved any reason to not act his age. But he knew when it was time to be an adult.

Irene laughed at Elly's comment. "Just be sure to keep that Seeker build. I think the twins might want to keep you on your game for this season," she grinned over her redheaded friend. Quidditch was no doubt the most popular pass-time over the summer. Elly had gone to a professional game with Echo and Meredith. Irene's blue green eyes widened at the mention of it.

"No way! That's so cool!" Irene said, "The twins went to Florida in the beginning of the summer, so I was spending time with my uncle and my cousin, the twins' little sister, Elaina. She loves to paint so I helped her paint this huge," she held out her arms for emphasis, "canvas. It was covered in splatter-paint by the time we were done. It took forever to wash out of my hair..." Irene plucked at the darker brown hair resting near her face. "But once the twins got back the real fun started! They have a tournament thing that they do every summer, but this year the team had really stepped up. The went to the capitol, Lansing, for the State Campionship! And they won, and the twins got MVP honors!" Irene couldn't help but get excited at her cousin's accomplishment. They were so great at what they did and she was so inexplicably proud of them. Renaye had almost been in tears (not that she let anyone see) with an overwhelment or joy, relief, victory, and honor. Josh had a dazed look on him the whole five hour drive home (Uncle Mike didn't like to use the fire if it could be helped). Irene knew how bad he wanted to go pro someday, and at that game he may have gotten a small taste of it and now he realized how much he actually wanted it. And Irene wanted it for him too.

0 Irene *bows* It's not a problem. 0 Irene 0 5

Sophia

April 21, 2008 8:17 PM

I'm glad we agree by Sophia

Sophia frowned again. It was more than a little worrying that Amelia was so blasé about the rules. Rules were important. They gave structure to everything - from how to behave to what one could and could not do. Following the rules was not for something one did simply for the sake of it. It was something that one did because they were the rules and there must be a good reason that they were introduced in the first place. Good reason for breaking the rules just didn't come into it in Sophia's mind-frame.

"If you say so," Sophia eventually said, in highly dubious tones and not at all convinced by Amelia's arguments. She was slightly hurt that it had been something that Amelia cared so little for that she had laughed at Sophia.

There was little else that she could say to that, so Sophia focused more on her dinner and her examinations of the hall, and wondered when they would be shown their commons.

0 Sophia I'm glad we agree 0 Sophia 0 5

Amelia

April 22, 2008 1:50 PM

Off to a good start by Amelia

At Sophia’s less than enthusiastic reply, Amelia couldn’t help but laugh again. “Don’t worry,” she said, with what she hoped was a reassuring smile, “I’m not going to get you into trouble. I’m not getting myself into trouble, if I can help it. But we’re only here for seven years. Got to make the most of them, right?”

Making the most of things starting from now, Milly finished her dinner and moved on to dessert. She helped herself to small portions of chocolate brownies, strawberry ice-cream, and some sort of fruit flan. “I am planning on eating a lot, though,” she said, laughing again. “And make as many new friends as I can,” she added, between mouthfuls. “How about you? Got a seven year plan?”

Amelia continued to eat while she listened to Sophia talk – she thought this girl was quite nice, definitely nice enough to share a room with, probably nice enough to hang out with, too. Always a bonus – Cecily hated some of the girls in her dormitory. Amelia would hate to be in that position.

It wasn’t long before one of the Professors stood and began calling the Crotalus first years to her. “That’s us!” Amelia exclaimed, jumping up form her seat. “You coming?”

0 Amelia Off to a good start 0 Amelia 0 5

Elly

April 22, 2008 2:11 PM

right... well then... grins by Elly

Elly laughed as Irene talked about her cousins and Quidditch. “Sounds awesome.” She couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit jealous – apart from the short bit of summer spent with Echo and Meredith, which had admittedly been fabulous, Elly had spent most of it on her own. Of course there had been the hockey coaching with Vicky, and the odd barbecue at Vicky’s house (where there was Vicky’s older brother – the parties were worth going just for that), which had been brilliant, but it wasn’t quite the same as spending the summer months playing Quidditch with a whole bunch of friends. Quidditch, for Elly, was an in-school only deal. Even if Muggles didn’t surround her at her home in London, her back garden barely had room to hover, let alone fly.

Still, the hockey had been fun, and now she could use the summer break as an excuse to get back out on the pitch and start training again, to get back into shape. “We’re gonna win the cup for sure this year,” she told Irene. “We’ve got the best team, no doubt about it. We’ve just had some unfortunate run-ins,” she said through her food, although inwardly she was feeling as though quite a large proportion of the blame for any losses were on her shoulders – as the Seeker, she was supposed to win the game, after all. It had only happened once in two years. That sort of sucked. “I swear, I’m going to catch that little Snitch,” she said, her voice ripe with determination. “Or, you know, you will, depending on who gets the position,” she laughed. Elly wouldn’t willingly give up being a Seeker for anything, but if Irene played better at the try-outs then fair was fair. Besides, there wasn’t anyone else Elly would be happy to have playing in her place.

“I’m gonna work so hard this year,” she continued. “Getting up early and everything for practise. That title’s ours, you know?”

0 Elly right... well then... *grins* 0 Elly 0 5

Sophia

April 23, 2008 7:30 AM

I'm less sure about that now by Sophia

Sophia used the excuse of her mouth being full to hold off on replying. She chewed slowly and thoughtfully, taking advantage of every second that it allowed her until there was nothing left but to answer.

"To an extent," she said. "It's both more and less than that really, because I'm planning beyond the seventh year and I'm being mindful that life has a tendency to trip up even the most carefully laid plans. I don't think I plan on eating a lot," to be truthful, Sophia hadn't really considered food as something that required planning. She expected she would eat and that was just about that. It was one of the things that hadn't gone under the microscope of her consideration. "Enough will probably get me far enough." She wasn't sure she'd thought about friends either. Casting her thoughts back Sophia considered. Perhaps she'd missed an important factor when she'd been working out what she wanted to achieve while away at school.

"Work hard. Learn. Get good grades for my CATS and RATS. Get into a good college." Sophia stopped there. After that was what she was working for, and although she doubted her mind would change as Papa had said it might.

When dessert was just about over there was a call from closer to the entrance to the Hall. Amelia was off her seat far faster than Sophia who paused to find and use a napkin before following suit in a much more demure fashion. Nodding, as she did so, Sophia trailed along, taking advantage of the new opportunity to examine the hall more freely and joined the group gathered around the older woman who had called them. The Professor, as she learned quickly, who was to be their Head of House.\r\n\r\n

0 Sophia I'm less sure about that now 0 Sophia 0 5

Marina Velasquez

April 24, 2008 2:04 AM

I hope not.. by Marina Velasquez

Eek, apologies for replying so late.
___
Marina grinned back and nodded after she had quickly worked through what he had said. "Si, it does look that way. And it is nice to meet you too, Finley." The boy's brogue interested her, the only times she had heard one was in the movies she had occasionally watched with her Muggle cousins at their homes. It was also thicker than what she had heard in the movies, but then, she supposed, movies wouldn't be so fun to watch if everyone was hard to understand through thick accents.

She cut up the piece of steak that she had put on her plate. "You are not from the US, are you? The last time I had seen, there were not many people with Scottish accents over here" She smiled as she ate some of the vegetables. Mama had done her best to impress on Marina the importance of table manners in front of other people, though sometimes she forgot.

Marina looked around, seeing the rest of the students she would be spending the year with. "I hope this year will be fun, don't you?"

0 Marina Velasquez I hope not.. 0 Marina Velasquez 0 5

Irene

April 24, 2008 11:43 AM

looks around Subject please? by Irene

“We’re gonna win the cup for sure this year. We’ve got the best team, no doubt about it. We’ve just had some unfortunate run-ins,”

Irene nodded, her eyes at her food. The team, which she had heard was the reigning champions the year she had arrived at Sonora, had been so close in her first year, playing against Crotalus for the championship. Last year she enjoyed being on the team more than ever. This year, she was aiming for something that involved being a starter for the team. She would really rather not be the seven-year alternate...

“I swear, I’m going to catch that little Snitch. Or, you know, you will, depending on who gets the position.” Irene laughed lightly. Irene knew how much she wanted to be a Seeker, but she knew how much Elly wanted it too. They were both insanely determined and dedicated to the team. Try-outs were going to be tough. The overall goal was, of course, for the whole team, whoever that may be, to reach the top. They knew they had a great team, but something always stopped them from the tantalyzingly close title.

"We'll have to see what happens at try-outs," she said with a grin. Elly said how dedicated she was going to be this year. "That title’s ours, you know?"

"Yeah," Irene said in agreement, "I want to do something for the team so bad this year. I got to play in my first year when we lost to Crotalus," she made a face at the memory, "but I want to feel like I'm actually doing something to help the team. I support the team two hundred percent, but I want to do more than just be moral support. I would cheer on the bench any time, but I would like to be given the chance to physically participate. I don't care what I do or what position I'm in, but I want to be in the air when we win the championship."

Irene pictured the team for a moment, and looked over at Elly with a grin.

"You know what would be great?" She asked, "If we were both on the team this year. You as Seeker and I could maybe play Chaser? I don't know how I'd be able to compete with Saul, Caedence, and Meredith though."

0 Irene *looks around* Subject please? 0 Irene 0 5

Jennifer

April 24, 2008 10:51 PM

Religious references remind you of the guide? by Jennifer

Nodding as Geoffrey ran his plan by her, Jennifer almost wished she’d had something to write on, make plans or whatnot. As far as assistant-captains were concerned, she’d definitely lucked out. “Beginning of the season do sectional practices, and then divide up except for occasional scrimmages or whatnot, with a few whole-team days thrown in, or entirely separate? Either way, it’s an excellent idea, and one I hadn’t even considered. Well done. I’m already less worried about leaving the team to you.”

She almost wanted to ruffle his hair or something, but decided against it. After all, it wasn’t the sort of thing one did to a now fifth-year who happened to be taller than oneself. In addition, anything like that could be interpreted the wrong way, and after the middle of last year she didn’t want to take any chances. So, once more, she settled down into silence. While she could have gone and found some of her other friends, it didn’t feel right. The whole issue of kindness, and giving off the wrong impression. Or the right one.

Unfortunately, there was only so long they could sit in silence and eat before Jennifer began to be overcome by an urge to have some sort of a conversation, no matter what it might entail. “So, glad to be an upperclassman? Fifth year was a strange one, that much I remember. Part of it seemed pretty miserable, though that definitely could have just been me,” she added, tilting her head unconsciously in consideration before moving on. “Actually, it probably was just me, as I’m already planning to be in the library whenever not sleeping, in class, eating or at quidditch, so you actually shouldn’t be listening to a word I’ve said, as I will only make you worry more. Though surely you and Stephen have had conversations about CATS and such, and you really shouldn’t be basing your entire year off them. I’m just an antisocial loser, I guess,” she concluded with a self-deprecating chuckle.

0 Jennifer Religious references remind you of the guide? 0 Jennifer 0 5

Geoffrey S.

April 25, 2008 10:59 AM

You're saying you don't think of the guide... by Geoffrey S.

OOC: ... as a religious text? Infidel! BIC:

Geoffrey found himself nodding along as Jennifer expanded upon his suggestion, and then a grin growing on his face at her praise. It was almost aggravating, the way she was able to elicit such a response from him in such an effortless way. He strove to minimise the outward show, by supreme effort managing to rein in his smile to something far more restrained by the time she got to talking to him about fifth year.

And, actually, once she started talking about Stephen and fifth year, it wasn't so hard to have the smaller smile. Or, rather, it was hard still, but in the opposite fashion. It became somewhat frozen on his face and he reached up to adjust his curls in a gesture reminiscent of his cousin even as he strove to think of something to say in reply.

"Er, yeah." he eventually said, before quickly adding. "Not that you're an anti-social loser, because really you're not, and the fact that you were voted Head Girl should tell you that more than anything else. Although Stephen seems to think that it's not quite so much of a popularity thing as all that, but I think that's because he's a bit sore that Zack beat him. But... but yeah. CATS. Stephen and I haven't really spoken about them. He doesn't like to talk about his fifth year very much, and to be perfectly honest, I don't blame him. I'm quietly confident though. I think I should do well enough. Assuming mother can keep her nose out," his own self-deprecating smile was much more forced than her laugh had been.

He hoped she would. It had been a year and a half. Quite a long time, really. And nothing at all, which Geoffrey took as a much better thing than the alternative. Not that he still didn't wish she would write to him. It was just that he would have liked a letter where she was pleased with and proud of him, two things his sensible side had long since recognised as being impossible. Feeling his mood begin to slump, Geofrey did the only thing he knew was sure to shore it up, and changed the subject back to Quidditch. Safe, secure, certain Quidditch.

"If I'm doing all that - and I assume I'll still be training with the main team as well - it's just as well I didn't make prefect. It's going to be interesting enough juggling normal training with study for the CATS. But," and again, Stephen's influence came out with a grin that, if nothing else, proved that the two were related, "we all must make sacrifices for the important things in life, right?"

39 Geoffrey S. You're saying you don't think of the guide... 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Finley MacGregor

April 25, 2008 12:00 PM

a little optimism goes a long way by Finley MacGregor

OOC- No worries! real life is catching up with me too!

BIC-
"Nah, you got it, Scotland. Probably haven't heard of it, Lochcarron, in theh northwest near theh Isle of Skye." Not many people outside of the U.K. knew where he meant. But Skye was a popular tourist spot, so it was a safer bet. "Good teh know, I like to stand out a bih." He gave her a cheeky grin and stuffed a spoonful of mashed potatoes in his mouth in the most polite manner he could muster.

"Where're ye from?" Not that he knew that much about the states, but he would certainly learn as he was going to spend the better portion of the next seven years of his life there. Arizona itself was a culture shock. From what he had heard it was supposed to be all dry and desert-like. But no, here in the middle of all the sand was a little oasis. Green like home, and he liked that. His mum had always said he was a true Scot for his eyes were the same color as the hills. He wondered what his mother would have said if she was still around to see him go off to another country for school.

"It'll surely be an adventure." Fynn loved adventure. "I can't wait to explore theh grounds and do some scouting." Anything to do with the out of doors was good by Fynn, hiking, swimming, even doing some chores on Aunt Aideen's farm were okay as long as she didn't keep him in the house.

"Are ye nervous about classes at all?" Fynn was curious to see what others thought about the classes they had to take. He had never been a model student, but he was determined to do well, his mum would have wanted him to succeed.

0 Finley MacGregor a little optimism goes a long way 0 Finley MacGregor 0 5

Jennifer

April 29, 2008 9:55 PM

Yeah, yeah, I'm just a heathen, I know by Jennifer

Jennifer had (mostly) meant the anti-social loser comment as a joke, but she couldn’t help but smile at Geoffrey’s insistence that it was untrue. “There are some that might disagree with you, but I thank you for your support. Stephen’s not still bitter about that, is he? I’m sure it was a dreadfully crushing blow to his already occasionally over-inflated ego. Poor, poor Stephen.” Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that in front of her target’s cousin, but it was almost impossible to miss the good-natured tone of her voice, and she knew for a fact Geoffrey had dealt with Stephen’s arrogance before. It was rather difficult to miss.

“Confidence is good,” she continued, not lingering on the reminder about Stephen’s kidnapping. Jennifer had forgotten, actually, which she supposed was understandable, though she felt bad still. He’d just seemed to recover so well, and seemed so similar to his old self most of the time, that any kind of traumatic memories seemed impossible. “Not too much, of course, but ridiculous stress doesn’t help anyone…Major fights might also be a bad idea, though I can’t see you having that problem.”

The comment about his mother was another she had no idea how to reply to. That was the thing about Geoffrey—there were little parts of his life she just couldn’t relate to, even discounting his one-time crush. Yes, she and her own mother had disagreements, but they weren’t major, and they had occurred less and less as time went on. There had never been any chance that her mother would either abandon her or inhibit her from anything; the entire concept seemed fundamentally wrong.

“Yeah, it would do none of us any good if your head exploded from trying to do too much. Prefect’s not all that it’s cracked up to be, from what I’ve heard, and it would be a shame to have to train a new assistant captain. Plus, you’d leave pretty big shoes to fill.” She grinned once more at his final comment. “Very true, though I probably shouldn’t be encouraging you to sacrifice things for me and the quidditch team. Bad influence, and all, though I like to think it's the more fun of some alternatives. That's what I kept telling my father when my grades dropped a little last year.”

While quidditch had partly been to blame for that minor lapse, Jake had been just as much, if not more so. However, this wasn't the time to mention that, nor had it been the sort of thing her father would have wanted to hear. It was easier now not to say anything that might be taken poorly by her companion, somehow, and she at least felt that the two of them had slipped back at least semi-comfortably into the way they’d been before last spring, for better or for worse.

0 Jennifer Yeah, yeah, I'm just a heathen, I know 0 Jennifer 0 5

Geoffrey S.

April 30, 2008 11:36 AM

Infidel! That said, it's been a while... by Geoffrey S.

OOC: ...so your lapse may well be forgivable. BIC:

"Balance is the key," Geoffrey said. "I'll just have to work out some kind of schedule, I guess. I mean, if it works for classes, it'll probably work ok for homework, studying and Quidditch too. Besides which, it'll go right into the house stereotype. See? I've got it all worked out. Although probably should see how many people we get signed up before we get carried away with this planning."

He tried not to feel too pleased with Jennifer's summation of his job as Assistant so far and thought he'd done well enough at the task. His expression showed a moderate amount of pleasure and he was pretty sure that he wasn't going entirely red. His hand was involuntarily going up to double check, but at the last minute he altered it's course to flip away a curl he could feel on his forehead instead.

"I don't plan on being stressed," Geoffrey continued. "No stress for me. Quidditch will be light and fun, work will be dealt with before it becomes an issue." Socially? If he could avoid Stephen attempting to set him up with anyone he planned on laying a low profile on the social scene for this year. He could avoid trying to think of his Captain as anything more than the Captain.

...

He could attempt most strenuously to not think of the Captain as anything more than the Captain.

...

He could imagine being beaten to a pulp by the Teppenpaw Captain and use that as a reminder that he was not to think of the Captain as anything other than the Captain.

That might do it.

It was certainly less stressful than the alternative in any case, Geoffrey decided as he finished up his dinner.

"How about you?" He asked, deciding that the focus had been on himself and his CATS for far too long. "Nervous about the RATS? Or graduating?" Wow, it was weird to think that she would be graduating at the end of the year. And that his cousin would be too.
\r\n\r\n

39 Geoffrey S. Infidel! That said, it's been a while... 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Jennifer

May 03, 2008 8:32 PM

I shall endeavor to return to the fold (wotw) by Jennifer

Chuckling a little, Jennifer glanced down at her food. “Nervous? Definitely, though more about graduating than anything else, and far more than I should be, honestly. Or at least I hope more than I should be, because if not then the outside world is a far scarier place than previously anticipated. Course, there have been countless generations of Sonoran students who’ve gone out into the world without dying. Surely it can’t be that hard.

“Besides, I’m sure if I decide not to go to university that one of my parents will have a wonderful plan for me. I bet the bitter divorcee letters about whose is better have already started traveling back and forth across the Atlantic. I kinda hope Dad wins—I’m sure my mother’s includes, among other things, nice, likely British pureblood fiancé if I happen to be single when I graduate. And, naturally, being the good pureblood girl I am, I’ll do precisely as told. Merlin forbid I have the audacity to do anything else.”

The bitterness of her tone caught her by surprise, and shocked her out of the absent-minded spiel she’d begun. “And that was probably way more than you wanted to know,” she continued in a far less melancholy and only slightly fake-sounding voice. “Sorry, Geoffrey. I’ll keep the self-pity to a minimum, I promise. And you never know; maybe I’ll get hit in the head by a bludger at some point and then not have to worry about any of it. That could be fun. Maybe I’ll have Liz talk to Ash about it if things get to bad, as long as the Pecari game’s later in the year.”

Of course, that reminded her of some of Liz’s more risqué summer activities, and Jennifer’s advice. If her best friend did as Jennifer had counseled, and Ash found out about her part in all that, then she might die anyway. Fun times were surely ahead.
\r\n\r\n

0 Jennifer I shall endeavor to return to the fold (wotw) 0 Jennifer 0 5

Geoffrey S.

May 04, 2008 12:31 AM

Best of luck with your endeavours. (unintentional wotw) by Geoffrey S.

Geoffrey nodded a lot while Jennifer spoke, not really being entirely comfortable commenting. He knew about pureblood families from his own, and the pressure you could be put under to conform. He'd had the 'audacity', as she put it, to thwart his mother's aims. Mostly it had been by nodding when she was around and doing what he wanted as soon as he was away, at least until he'd found Stephen and found the courage to just leave. Or really been left with no other choice.

He shrugged as she apologised and promised to keep the self-pity down, but then frowned as she continued on.

"Maybe its just as well we've got a counsellor now," he suggested, ninety percent serious. "It sounds like you need to go have a chat with her. Asking for a bludger to the head? All the power and potential stress has gone to your head and you've gone completely mental. Not to mention that that kind of colluding is completely against the rules."

39 Geoffrey S. Best of luck with your endeavours. (unintentional wotw) 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Jennifer

May 04, 2008 1:20 AM

Your support means everything, and I thank you by Jennifer

“Oh, don’t give me that look, Geoffrey,” Jennifer teased in response, though she was a little touched by his (mostly sincere) concern. “I wouldn’t do something like that. I have too much house pride for that. Besides, Mims would kill me.” She ignored the fact that she had probably given the fifth year another reason to doubt her mental stability. “Doesn’t matter that I’d already be dead and he’s a portrait, he would do it, because I’m fairly certain it would give Pecari a lock-in for at least that match, no matter how good Earl might claim to be as seeker. Mims would find a way to make me pay.”

There had been a bit of unfair representation of her with regards to the pureblood system. She knew that. After all, her father was just going to be insisting she join the American Ministry so that she could be under the watchful eye of all his connections to make sure she was alright. She didn’t think that the social aspects of her life would concern him much. (Well, the parts about her relationship status at least. The more mundane sections…well, that he seemed to take more, if not interest, then disapproval, to say the least. She never wanted to experience anything as awkward as the rest of the day after Jake had left, when her father had spent much of the time with her noting any differences in her and clearly not liking his conclusions.)

Speaking of her boyfriend, it felt like it had been far too long since the two of them had seen each other. Granted, they had all of one week, at most two, to catch up on (thank Merlin for apparating), but it still seemed like far longer. Or she was just getting spoiled for her boyfriend’s attention. That was always a distinct possibility.

However, that wasn’t something she could easily say in this particular company. ‘Sorry to leave, but I have to go talk/make out with my boyfriend now. Cheerio’? Definitely not. So, with a glance at her watch, she settled for plan b. “It’s getting pretty late. I think I’m going to be heading up to the common room. See you tomorrow, probably.” Once they’d exchanged goodbyes, she could go catch up with Jake, who looked like he was about to leave as well, and have a proper welcome back.

0 Jennifer Your support means everything, and I thank you 0 Jennifer 0 5

Geoffrey S.

May 04, 2008 8:19 AM

You're most welcome! by Geoffrey S.

"I'm definitely going to have to have a word with Professor Powell about you," Geoffrey said. "You're making my dastardly plan to discredit you and take over the Crotalus Quidditch team a year early far too easy." He paused, offered a somewhat hapless smile and backtracked. "Don't do that. I'm not ready to be Quidditch Captain."

Geoffrey poked at his dinner a bit more, straightened his uniform and glanced around. There were a few new first years about, and he gave them a quick look over, trying to judge whether they'd be likely to join the crowd of students wanting to be on the Quidditch team. He didn't receive much of an impression, but figured that that could mostly be blamed on the timing and circumstance. Quidditch fitness was, after all, best figured out on the pitch.

He was trying to figure out how to explain he was finished when Jennifer made a movement and spoke.

“It’s getting pretty late. I think I’m going to be heading up to the common room. See you tomorrow, probably.”

"Yeah, it is getting a bit late," Geoffrey echoed. "I was thinking of heading for the commons too. Have you got the sign-up sheet up yet? We can have a look and see how much early interest there is, if you want, before the whole calling it a night."

39 Geoffrey S. You're most welcome! 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Jennifer

May 09, 2008 11:45 PM

Though I don't need it right now by Jennifer

Well, lovely. Naturally, to protect her poor, potentially sensitive assistant captain’s feelings, Jennifer had attempted to cover up her real planned activities, which resulted in an offer to join her in going back to the common room. Which would have been fine, if she hadn’t been heading off to see Jake. One of these days she was just going to have to stop being so politically correct about everything. It was going to make life so much easier on the day it did happen.

Still, for now she couldn’t fault Geoffrey for trying to be helpful. His query made perfect sense, given that they’d be discussing the team for the last several minutes, and any other time she’d have been delighted to continue the conversation. Now was not it, though.

“Actually, Geoffrey, I’m going to take a small detour first, I think, and talk to Jake about a few things, so you should probably head up by yourself. Besides, though the list is up, it’s fairly early for anyone to have signed up yet, and I think it would probably be better if we waited until tomorrow at least. So, anyway, I’ll see you around. Goodnight.” She patted him on the shoulder companionably, and then stood and walked out to meet her boyfriend.

0 Jennifer Though I don't need it right now 0 Jennifer 0 5

Headmaster Bulla

The Start Of Term Feast by Headmaster Bulla

Kyler Kent

Kicking it off by Kyler Kent

Professor Sadi Powell

I have a special interest by Professor Sadi Powell

Cecily Smythe

Someone save me from my misery by Cecily Smythe

Elly Eriksson

Food! I need food! by Elly Eriksson

Oliver Abbott

Feeling smug by Oliver Abbott

Jera Valson

Is this supposed to happen? by Jera Valson

Amelia Smythe

Crotalus! Yes! by Amelia Smythe

Kaden McIntyre

Eager little... prairie dog? by Kaden McIntyre

Mark Johnson

With a mouthfull of food. by Mark Johnson

Seamus Michael McFarlan

I think this is the way of it by Seamus Michael McFarlan

Saul Pierce

At least the food's not chasing you down a hallway by Saul Pierce

Simon Tellerman

Do you have a whole group of them? by Simon Tellerman

Kyler

That would be interesting... by Kyler

Irene

*throws a cookie* by Irene

Ian Grimm

Being blue is a first. by Ian Grimm

Talitha Cumni

Third Year...Wooot! by Talitha Cumni

Saul Pierce

I don't recommend it, actually. by Saul Pierce

Tyrone Astin

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. by Tyrone Astin

Lutece Anthony

You know, your company is rather enjoyable by Lutece Anthony

Sadi Powell

A whole group of interests? by Sadi Powell

Ash Craven

Calling any gullible first years... by Ash Craven

Simon

Yes, a special interest group by Simon

Alexis Ashwood

Surprisingly, I may be able to do that by Alexis Ashwood

Mark Johnson

Oh, but I would by Mark Johnson

Joey Phillips

I've always been told not to accept drinks from strangers.. by Joey Phillips

Hannah Cooper-Forrester

I'm not strange by Hannah Cooper-Forrester

Saul

Then say 'accio food' next to a hotel restraunt by Saul

Jennifer Zucchero

Getting this over with (Tag Geoffrey S.) by Jennifer Zucchero

Laurie Cider

How about someone take you out of <i>your</i> misery? by Laurie Cider

Jaeven 'Jae' Dimitri

Strange is relative by Jaeven 'Jae' Dimitri

Professor Lorraine Taylor

Back to school by Professor Lorraine Taylor

Cecily

No fighting, please by Cecily

Jera

That's rather morbid by Jera

Alexis

Only if you say so by Alexis

Renaye and Josh Warren

*looks in cautiously* Safe? by Renaye and Josh Warren

Laurie

It is now. by Laurie

Geoffrey Spindler

For lo, it came to be that I was tagged... by Geoffrey Spindler

Josh (with a smidge or Raye)

Really really? by Josh (with a smidge or Raye)

Laurie

Promise. by Laurie

throws a cookie by Irene

looks in cautiously Safe? by Renaye and Josh Warren

takes cookie Thanks! by Elly