Start of Year Feast!

[Ava King]

Professor Ava Davershire joined in as the Great Hall filled with cheers and claps, welcoming the new students to each of their houses. Sorting was such an exciting time but Ava bet that many of the first years were relieved that it was over and they now knew where they would be for the next seven years. She remembered fondly back to her sorting day, though Hogwarts New Zealand didn't exist at that time; which was a scary thought and not one that she'd share willingly with everyone.
After the Hall quietened down slightly, Ava removed the sorting stool and hat, not wanting to deny the young witches and wizards of their feast any longer than needed. Approaching the podium, a silence fell over the Hall. "Before we begin the amazing feast that has been prepared for you all, I have a couple more things to say. I am Professor Ava Davershire, and I am the Headmistress - as some of you may know. Our Deputy is Professor Elvera Le Fey, and if you don't know your head of house, you will get to meet them soon." Ava said, smiling.
Ava looked at the students, feeling her own stomach grumbling. Sorting had, of course, taken awhile and it was time to wrap things up knowing that the young student's stomachs were probably way more empty than her own. "I hope you have all emptied your brains and are ready for a year of learning - keep out of trouble, but have fun! And now, we eat." Ava grinned at the Hall as the plates filled with food. Ava swiftly made her way back to her seat before filling her plate with some food and turning to the Professors next to her and began chatting.

Out of Character:

Students and Professors are welcome and encouraged to post here

 

[Alana Finch]

Settling in at her new table with satisfaction written across her face, Alana looked around at the people she was seated near. Most were first years just like her, and she smiled at them, wondering who among them would become friends, enemies, and other things. The girl glanced up and down the table going to spot the Slytherin boy she had run into one before.

As the Head mistress began speaking, Alana paid attention. Her red eyes took in the lady, the woman whose good side she would want to stay on. The young girl shifted in her seat, glad when the woman finished and the feast began. Never before had Alana seen so much food in one place. She reached for a familiar platter and served herself, sitting down to a quiet meal. If truth be told, she was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Never before has she been around so many children and dealt with such noise. The girl's red eyes drifted up as she caught snippets of conversation here and there, but she hardly spoke, choosing to simply eat and watch.

 

[Perseas Stratis]

The Great Hall was pulsating with life again now that the students were back. Perseas Stratis would have wanted his holidays to last longer but he was excited to be back. He was mentally prepared for the demanding year to follow and he wasn't anxious for his O.W.Ls, not just yet. The fifth year teenager was anticipating the dueling tournament. He hoped the event to continue this semester as well. During last school year he achieved the first place at fourth years class and he was determined to defend this qualification. He had something to look forward to and this was going to boost his morale to endure his hectic fifth year.

For now he had to worry for neither his examinations nor the duels. It was a festive night and his favorite ceremony. He could feel for the first years' nervousness and he was glad that he didn't have to undergo this nerve-racking process. Watching from Gryffindor table was much more preferable. This year he was particularly keen on the sorting. His youngest cousin, Doriana was among the first years gathered before the Sorting Hat. He was curious to see in which house she was going to be placed. He tried to find her in the crowd of the unsorted students but with no luck. With each year, it looked like the amount of first years waiting at that exact spot, was visibly increased.

The ceremony continued with round of applauses each time a student was sorted to a house. Perseas finally spotted his cousin, only when her name was called. He cocked his head to see her better as she stepped forwards and reached the stool. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head and soon after announced the house. The Gryffindors broke into a thunderous ovation as they were increased by one and Perseas even whistled with his fingers. He waved at her and gestured at the empty seat he had saved for her next to him. He was a hundred percent sure she was going to become a Gryffindor. "Welcome to the pride!" he smiled and greeted her with a fist bump. Soon the ceremony ended and the empty plates loaded up with food. Perseas filled his dish with a little of everything and engaged in a conversation about dueling with some of his housemates.

 

[Ulysses Viteri]

"Ravenclaw!" announced the sorting hat and Ulysses could see again the audience that applauded its choice as the professor took it off his head. He left the stool behind him and joined the Ravenclaws at their table. A couple of pats on the shoulder and he instantly felt welcome by his new family.He sat next to the other first year Ravenclaws and enjoyed the rest of the ceremony. He was eyeing impressed the flying candles and the enchanted ceiling. He then witnessed shocked the table filling with food, all sorts of food. He followed the lead of the older students and reluctantly started picking the food he liked. Everything was delicious. While eating, he curiously listened to some other first years talking about house elves preparing this feast. What was more fascinating though, were the ghosts roaming around the hall, passing through walls and objects. Funny that he didn't believe in ghosts a few days ago.

 

[J.T. Hunt]

This year, J.T. was going to watch the Sorting Ceremony without the distressful waiting. The same day a year ago he was a scared first year who was oblivious of what the wizarding world was exactly and clueless of what the ceremony had in store for him. Turned out to be a simple, yet strange experience including a talking hat. The oddity didn't end to that hat. His first year was a constant discovery of unknown, extraordinary and hard to believe facts. A year after, the introvert Gryffindor was feeling more confident and finally comfortable with his new identity. This didn't mean he wasn't introduced to new stuff anymore. He was just dealing with them more open-mindedly and with less skepticism.

J.T. had also new resolutions for his second year. He had practiced flying a lot during last year as he wanted one day to play Quidditch for his house. He was an athletic boy who used to play basketball with the muggle children of his neighborhood and he wanted to be part of a team again. He was feeling slightly insecure when he was thinking that other students were flying on a broom more years than him but it was a fear he was trying to defeat. Apart from his leisure activities, he was also planning to perform better at classes. He was too young to be absolute about what he would do as a profession and certainly wasn't fully aware of all the professions existing in the wizarding world.

Completely relaxed but also starving, he watched the Sorting Ceremony and applauded for every student, regardless of the house they ended up. Food appeared along with irresistible smells. It was remarkable how much he could eat for a twelve years old. While he wasn't really talkative, he preferred to listen as some of his fellow Gryffindors, among them and their Quidditch team's captain, discussed about the forthcoming tryouts and set a date. J.T. thought it was time to set aside any insecurities and show up at the tryouts. He was never going to learn whether he was ready or not to be part of the team, if he was keep shying away from it.