The Bi-Weekly Update

[Hadan Winters]

So, here we are, haven't seen one of these in a while, eh? In over a month, if not one and half. Anyways, we have had a looot going on, as you all can tell. And I have not done a BWU in a while, so I may be just a bit rusty. So, here we go on our updates!

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The New Theme!
As we all have noticed, HNZ has a new awesome Theme. Where everything looks spiffy and it was completely unique. Barely looks like a Zetaboard's board, huh? It is one heavy update that we all seem to enjoy, but if some of you prefer to classic theme, it won't be going away anytime soon. With the new theme, it came with new Pips, new smileys, and everything. Come here for the full announcement.

Coding Updates: The "Like" System and the CodeCP
One of the less than obvious things that have appeared onto the board is the CodeCP, which has been tested and fully functional. So if you don't like the, for example, the Remove Styling code, you can disable it! And then there is the Like System, which has its own announcement here. The first announcement describing all the other codes are found here.

HNZ Birthday Celebrations!
This is the Sixth Birthday of the wonderful HNZ that we all know and love. The Celebrations are still going on and will be closed soon! However we will give you all a warning first, of course. But if want to know what all we are doing, here is the forum. We are putting together a Community Signature, a trip to the past, real life pictures and much more. It only comes once a year, so this is a big accomplishment for the board, to be around for six long years, and still running to this day! Also, everyone should go do the Trivia. Because it is awesome, and see just how much you know and/or remember about this board, before others do!

Birthday Raffle Winners
Congratulations to the two that won the Birthday Raffles, which in third place is James (Dianna Gekshel) and in second place was Jessye (Alyssa Chevalier). And in first place, is Annie whom role-plays Adam Simmons. Congratulations once again you three, and enjoy the prizes that you all won!

OOC Superlatives
It is that time once again, will new people receive titles, will the old ones keep their reigning titles? It is all up to the community on who they think deserves what prize! Voting has begun, and will be closing soon, though we will give you all a warning, those that love to put their votes in at the last moment. Where is the topic for voting? It is right here!

Character Spotlight: Congratulations to...
Dominic Hirsch! Who is RPed by Helena! Thank you so much for having a detailed biography, and also for an awesome influence for having others want to code up and write out details for their own characters. Once more, congratulations to you, and here is the original announcement.

Applications: Opened, but for how long?
As stated previously, that Applications would be opened for a lengthy time, and then closed, would be something that happens periodically. This is to give our Admins a break so that they could worry about other things other than just applications. Once the applications have been disabled, you will be rerouted to another page, stating so. This is just a fair warning to you all, but it is generally up to the dark magenta's on when it will exactly happen. I would not doubt it that they might be flooded with applications right now.
But we don't know that, or rather, won't.

Wrapping up Y12!
It is almost time to say goodbye to this year, and soon it will be Y13. So, get to your lessons, and earn some final house points! Even though Ravenclaw seems to be cheating right now. Oh well, at least my house is beating Gryffindor. Sorry Nick.

Exams
They will be here not this week but the next, so students, better study up and get down to it! That means that all OWL and NEWT exams will be posted at the end of the year.
And this is up to the professors if they wish to have the OWLs and the NEWTs opened for a whole week. Other students, tough, but you only get three days.

Gradebook: To receive your grades!
Remember to enroll in your classes to receive your grades for the end of the year. It is all in the lessons and exams, and how you do in them is how well your grade would be. Though I do expect to see many make at least EEs.
And here is the link for the gradebook!

Graduation
It is almost that time once again, where our seventh years (the biggest batch it seems!) depart from our school, with the words of the parting Leaders, Azerail Varius and Arianna Tipley. Hopefully their posts won't be as monstrous as Pat's was. That one was a beast.
All seventh years have been PMed for their information to invite three, only three, guests to Graduation, which opens up later this week.

Accio! Coming Soon
Our most awesome staff of the yearbook is currently working on the pages. Which is why some of the topics in our forum has been locked down. The IC Superlatives have been cancelled for this year due to the clashing of the OOC Superlatives happening around the same time. Sorry guys who loved that.
But we will expect to have them up next year, and be on the lookout for more categories!

Oh wow, just two three? Remember, if you want your plot highlighted in the BWU, just end it in! It is just a click away. [ul][li]The Beginning
Kiara Tina has finished a book about a group of girls who rule their lifes. Pretty Little Liers, and being the leader she is, iara has decided to creat a group of her own. And to begin she needs to make everyone closer, so why not something like a nice game of Truth or Dare to see how everyone feels about eachother?</LI>
[li]Honey and Sulphur
Theodore finally comes with his wife, Aleyha, to take the throne of the Snow family which is rightfully his. Alphonse attacks the two, and it soon leads out to a full war that ends in devastation and destruction. Lives are lost and blood was shed...</LI>
[li]Just a Small Meeting
Well, Kingy is RPing with the new Minister who is not so new. BUT, we rarely get to see him RP so it is worth a highlight. Also, there are other RPs in this plot, which are:[ul]<LI>[li]Aurors Meeting[/li][/ul][/li][/ul]

​

[ul][li]OOC Superlative Results!
[li]House Cup
[li]More admin insanity
[li]Y13 with Sorting and New Prefects/Head Peeps!
[li]Possibly more updates, with more Spotlights and BWUs
<LI>[li]And much much more[/li][/ul]

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And that draws it to an end.

Got any questions, concerns, just want to say how awesome this BWU is? Just post here!

~ Sir Kaitlyn
(On behalf of the HNZ Site Staff)

 

[Taralynn Zhefarovich]

Nice updates Kaitlyn!
Still cannot be Y12 is about done and over with!

 

[Riley Sparkles]

Wonderful job like usual

Cannot wait for Sorting and Superlatives Two of my favorite things

 

[Shaylah Rouge]

Woohoo!! BWU is back. I was starting to miss it. Can't wait for the superlative nominations though.
Well done Kaitlyn. It looks great as always. Love you

 

[Patricia Styx]

Awesome update
And the post wasn't that long

 

[Miles Isley]

Nice update Kaitlyn

 

[Justin Cliffeton]

Awesome update
And the post wasn't that long

Spoiler

This was it! The day that had once upon time seemed so far away that it felt like it would never come but low and behold here it was. Patricia had found it hard to sleep the night before but she couldn’t help but be a bundle of excitement laced with nerves today. Once the NEWTs were over the rest of the term went by so quickly and Patricia couldn’t help but think where the time had gone. She had been working on her speech, as Head Girl, for a while now and she had been trying to perfect it once the pressure of NEWTs was over. Although last night she had stayed up a bit too long, practicing it because the last thing she wanted to do was mess up somewhere during the speech and make a fool of herself in probably one of the most important things that she ever had to do during her time at Hogwarts. She remembered the day she had gotten her letter informing her that she was going to be the Head Girl for the Class of 2027. It was such an honour and definitely one of proudest moments to date. Although when she had received the letter the fact that she had to deliver a speech to the rest of her class, her Professors and all the guests present that day hadn’t really crossed her mind. Patricia had never none any public talking and the most she had to do in front of any sort of crowd was during the Prefect meetings that she and Theodore had to lead or during any Conglomerated Arts Clubs meetings and even during the Quidditch try – outs and practices. Actually when she thought about it she had talked in front of a good number of groups before but then again they were nothing compared to what Graduation would be like. For one the vast amount of people was a big difference, at most Patricia had talked to fifteen, twenty people tops – there was more than that in the Graduating class alone. With that in mind Patricia didn’t even want to think of what it would be like to see the whole Great Hall full and have to talk in front of them – she didn’t know how Headmistress Zhefarovich was able to do it on a regular occasion – or rather Roman Ivo who was Headmaster while Headmistress Zhefarovich was away with family matters. Patricia was a bit upset that she wouldn’t be there to oversee her Graduation; she had been there since Patricia had started Hogwarts and she really liked the woman.

The sun had been up for sometime now as had the Hufflepuff Head Girl. She lay in her bed observing the room that she had called her own for the past seven years and looking over at her sleeping dorm-mates she frowned as she saw the empty beds that had belonged to two of her first best friends from Hogwarts New Zealand; Kate Johnson and Bianca Petrescu. She hadn’t heard from the two girls in years and she had long since given up on hearing word from them but at times like this she missed them. Slowing getting out of bed she sat down on the floor beside her bedside locker, she had yet to clear this out yet but it held the most memories for her so she didn’t want too. Letting a small sigh escape her lips she opened the small cabinet door and pulled out her small keepsake box that contained different things; pictures from school events during the years or just random ones with her and her friends. As she looked down at the smiling pictures, the small figured waving up at them she laughed as she recalled a lot of the happy memories and frowned at the people that were no longer there, so many people had left during the years it was almost becoming second nature to watch people walk out of her life. Setting the pictures to the side she started to pick up a few bits a pieces; her Prefect badge, her Quidditch Captain badge, even the medal that she and Natasha had gotten for coming third in the wheelbarrow race in their second year – it almost seemed like a lifetime ago. She was a bit upset that she didn’t have the time to enter the Wheelbarrow race this year but it was just as fun to watch everyone else take part.

She spent a few more minutes going through her keepsakes and as she was about to close the door and get ready for the Graduation ceremony but she saw something else in cupboard. Reaching in she pulled out, not one, but two things. She looked down at the two pieces of jewellery in her hands. Her other hand quickly moved up to her mouth as she looked down at the ring and necklace that she had received from her first major crush, Ruki; who like other people in Pat’s life had walked out without even so much as a good-bye. Patricia smiled softly as she tried to remember the good times she had with Ruki because she had enjoyed his company and she had cried enough over his disappearance and she wasn’t going to let it ruin today. She remembered the day that she had finally taken the ring and necklace off as a way of forgetting about Ruki – it was the day she had met Yvo. Yvo! That reminded her, she had invited him as one of her guests for Graduation today, she was so happy that he had accepted because she hadn’t seen him in a while and now that she was no longer going to be confined to just Brightstone weekends and holidays to see him she hoped that she could get to know him better because she could never forget how he had seemed to cheer her up in an instant when she was so low. Putting the pieces of jewellery back into her keepsake box she got up from the floor, brushed off any dust and put it into her suitcase; she was officially packed. Noticing the time she went over to her dorm-mates to wake them up, the lazy heads would probably sleep through their own wedding. As she left them to get ready she went and got a shower. When she returned she did her hair, half up/half down with some loose ringlets, and make with some subtle hints that matched her dress. She had picked out the dress during the holidays and she absolutely loved it, she rarely got dressed up so getting a new dress for a special occasion was always sort of exciting. Putting on her dress and robes she looked at herself in the full length mirror in the room, she couldn’t believe that this was it – she was about to graduate. As Head Girl she had to get down the Great Hall pretty quickly so she said good-bye to her friends and made her way down to the Great Hall to get ready for the Ceremony.

Upon entering the Great Hall she looked around, amazed at how it was always able to surprise her when it was done up for special occasions, although today it was done to exceptional standards. She made her way to the front of the hall and waved at a few of the people that had arrived early. Patricia twiddled with the piece of parchment in her hands that had her speech on it because she knew she would need to refer back to no matter how much she tried to memorise it. Spotting her guests she made her way over to them to have a quick catch up before everyone had to take her seats. She may have seen her father pretty much everyday but she hadn’t seen her mother or brother in sometime – ever since she moved out, and she just barely saw Yvo at all so she enjoyed seeing them all again. She hadn’t told Niccy or any of her other guests that she was inviting Yvo and or about Yvo at all but Patricia really think it would make any sort of difference. They didn’t have long to catch up before everyone was told to take their seats. Patricia made her way to the front of the Hall where her and Theodore’s seat was reserved. Smiling at the Head Boy slightly, despite not getting on the best he wasn’t the worst person, she turned her face towards Headmaster Ivo and listened to him give his speech. Her stomach was starting to twist and knot with nerves when he called her and Theodore up to give their talks. As previously discussed Theodore was to give his first, seeing his ‘good luck’ smile she returned it and awaited her turn. Patricia became very aware of the people staring up at her as she listened to Theodore’s speech but she listened to the Head Boy and didn’t take any notice of the people. Patricia listened to Theodore’s speech and laughed a small bit here and there at just how blunt and honest he was but then again she never really expected anything else from Theodore; although he did make some good points with Patricia to take in. Then, before she knew it it, it was Patricia’s turn to give her own speech she took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. Taking to the podium she flatted out the piece of parchment with her speech on it and took a quick glance over it before smiling and turning to face the crowd in front of her – it was now or never.

“I know it’s a very cliché way to start a Graduation speech but I feel that we need some form of normality in our lives because nothing in the last seven years of our time here at Hogwarts New Zealand has been in anyway close to normal.” she started off, her eyes landing on her classmates, especially ones that had an out of the ordinary school career. “With people getting married, getting pregnant, heck even I found out that my real father was the Herbology Professor just before fourth year – not many people can say that in their lifetime.” she said, pointing at her father, laughing slightly at just how weird it was but it just proved her point even more. “But it really only does seem like yesterday when we were just tiny little first years, starting on our life here at Hogwarts New Zealand, unaware of what the next seven years would bring us and thinking about this day as a far of thought that we thought never would come, that we would always have the safety of being a student here with a typical, well sort of, student life. Alas the day has come and with it our final step into adulthood. After today we will no longer have the privilege of calling ourselves Hogwarts New Zealand students. Instead we will be the future Healers, Aurors, Professors, Quidditch Players, Ministry workers, the list goes on. Although no matter where ever your life leads you never forget where you came from.” she said, taking a breath before continuing. “I only say this because without Hogwarts we wouldn’t be the young adults that we are today, ready to go out into the big bad world that we call adulthood. Our past seven years has shaped us in ways we probably never would have expected and without knowing it, it has made her ready for whatever we experience once we walk out of the school doors. For that I think it is only right to thank our Professors who, without, we would not be here today. They teached us, were there when we needed someone to talk too and were in a never ending abundance of support and encouragement for when we felt that we just couldn’t go any further. So Professors, thank you! I’m sure you’ll be glad to finally get rid of us.” she said, looking over at the Professors, laughing lightly at the end of her sentence.

“Next on the list for people that we need to thank would be our family, who most of us have here today as our guests. Without these people it would be hard to even imagine where we would be at today, so again thank you.” She paused once more as she looked at her own family members here today. Sure she may not have known them all that long but they were her family and she owned them a lot in the small amount of years that she knew them. “And finally, I want to thank you; my classmates; my friends.” she said, finally looking at the group batch of seventh years. “We may not always have gotten along, from the silly fights in our first year,” she said smirking slightly at the memory of it and quickly glancing at Isabella (who she was happy to see here), Alyssa, Aiden and Theodore – she was a little upset that Henri wasn’t there because she did miss him but she couldn’t dwell on the past, “To becoming the group of friends that we are today. Some of you may not have been here for the whole seven years but you are as much of a seventh year as any of us or people may have left before making it here today but they will always be in our memories. Through thick and thin we have all been there for each other, we have all been each others rocks and I know there is no way I could have made it through my seven years without my friends, and you know who you are.” She said, feeling tears starting to well but she fought them back because she needed to finish her speech first. Once she got her diploma and only then would she let the tears consume her because then it meant it was official, it was over. “Without all of you we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what have. For some of us the accomplishments may be more than others, it may be something small that you consider something big, maybe its learning to fly a broom or maybe even conquering a fear, whatever it maybe – no matter how small, it is something that you will be able to take with you. Even if you think you haven’t accomplished anything, you’re wrong! Today we are here because we are graduating, which means we passed our NEWTs. It was no easy task but we did it and now we will be able to bring everything we learned here out into the world with us because they will stick with us even if you don’t think they will, you never know.” she said. She knew strange things had a habit of coming up in the most unlikely of situations, one never knew when they’d be asked to recite the ingredients in a Polyjuice potion or something silly like that – well it wouldn’t be silly if the situation ever did arrive.

“Another thing that we bring with us even when we are no longer here will be the bonds we built with each other. Looking out at all of you I can see so many strong friendships that were made during the seven years, some may have been rocky at the start or throughout, but those are the ones that are going to able to withstand everything and anything, even not seeing each other everyday. No matter how strong a friendship is our lifes are going to lead off in different paths and we might not see each other a lot but that’ll just make the time we do meet up even more special.” she said with a sincere smile. Compared to Theodore’s speech Patricia’s was turning out a lot more sentimental but that was just the type of person she was and there was no point changing that today. “The talk of change is one that I’m sure scares a lot of us but change is a part of life and we have all experienced it in some form or another. Today is just another part of change but we should embrace change and what it brings for us. We should look forward to the future and not live in the past because while it may have been where we were happier it does not do well to dwell on the past because we can’t go there again, the only way is forward. What does the future hold for us? Well I’d ask Professor Weasley or one of the Divination Professors for a bit more an answer to that but in actual fact, no one knows what the future holds for them. You may have every aspect of your life pinpointed out but it’s always going to be subject to change and we’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. She said taking another breath before she started to wrap the speech up.

“There are three days that stand out in my head that brought a big change to my life. The first one was the day when I got my letter of acceptance to Hogwarts New Zealand. Despite being a half blood, I was brought up with two muggle parents, knowing nothing of the Wizarding World. At first I thought it was a joke. I mean, what muggle kid didn’t want to find out that they had magical powers? Well, clearly, I came to my senses and was soon on my way to Hogwarts. I was a curious little thing, not knowing anything about the Wizarding World really, I wanted to know everything. I know that I wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so to speak, at the start but I soon came into my own and Hogwarts became like a second home to me. Then was the day that I got my Prefect letter. It was something that I had always wanted to get, but never let on, and was one of the happiest days of my school career to date. That was until the day when I got the letter telling me I had become Head Girl. Again, it was something that I had would have loved to get but I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would actually get it as I thought there was so many other deserving girls of the title. The honour was a bit overwhelming but I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Professor and Headmistress Zhefarovich, even if she couldn’t be with us today, for giving me the opportunity and making an unbelievable year even more special.” She said as she gave a small bow in the direction of the Professors. She had never properly thanked them for giving her the honour of being Head Girl but what better way than doing in front of all these people? “Anyway, enough of me blabbering on. To wrap this bad boy up, congratulations everyone. We did it!” She began with a cliché and she ended with one. Then again, why not? With her speech now over she made her way back to her seat, smiling at the Head Boy again, Patricia took her seat and waited for the giving out of the diplomas to start. It was so close!

17006 Characters || 3244 Words

Oh, really Pat? Not THAT long?

Great update Kaitlyyynnn!

 

[James Slick]

For the superlatives, when is soon?

 

[Justin Cliffeton]

For the superlatives, when is soon?

Soon, is soon.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

For the superlatives, when is soon?

You should check out the superlatives section. You'll see that soon is very soon

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Great job with the BWU, Kaitlyn!
I suspect the Slytherins are taking some pointers from the Ravenclaws and are cheating as well

 

[Lilith Patil]

Slytherins never cheat! We just bend the rules to fit our needs.

 

[Alyssa Chevalier]

Awesome update
And the post wasn't that long

Yours was like three times Theodore's size!

 

[Nicolas King]

For the superlatives, when is soon?

You should check out the superlatives section. You'll see that soon is very soon

Depending on the speed and direction of the wind, of course.

 

[Patricia Styx]

Zach & Jessye: Shaddap

 

[Abathyn Dalmoir]

Awesome update
And the post wasn't that long

Spoiler

This was it! The day that had once upon time seemed so far away that it felt like it would never come but low and behold here it was. Patricia had found it hard to sleep the night before but she couldn’t help but be a bundle of excitement laced with nerves today. Once the NEWTs were over the rest of the term went by so quickly and Patricia couldn’t help but think where the time had gone. She had been working on her speech, as Head Girl, for a while now and she had been trying to perfect it once the pressure of NEWTs was over. Although last night she had stayed up a bit too long, practicing it because the last thing she wanted to do was mess up somewhere during the speech and make a fool of herself in probably one of the most important things that she ever had to do during her time at Hogwarts. She remembered the day she had gotten her letter informing her that she was going to be the Head Girl for the Class of 2027. It was such an honour and definitely one of proudest moments to date. Although when she had received the letter the fact that she had to deliver a speech to the rest of her class, her Professors and all the guests present that day hadn’t really crossed her mind. Patricia had never none any public talking and the most she had to do in front of any sort of crowd was during the Prefect meetings that she and Theodore had to lead or during any Conglomerated Arts Clubs meetings and even during the Quidditch try – outs and practices. Actually when she thought about it she had talked in front of a good number of groups before but then again they were nothing compared to what Graduation would be like. For one the vast amount of people was a big difference, at most Patricia had talked to fifteen, twenty people tops – there was more than that in the Graduating class alone. With that in mind Patricia didn’t even want to think of what it would be like to see the whole Great Hall full and have to talk in front of them – she didn’t know how Headmistress Zhefarovich was able to do it on a regular occasion – or rather Roman Ivo who was Headmaster while Headmistress Zhefarovich was away with family matters. Patricia was a bit upset that she wouldn’t be there to oversee her Graduation; she had been there since Patricia had started Hogwarts and she really liked the woman.

The sun had been up for sometime now as had the Hufflepuff Head Girl. She lay in her bed observing the room that she had called her own for the past seven years and looking over at her sleeping dorm-mates she frowned as she saw the empty beds that had belonged to two of her first best friends from Hogwarts New Zealand; Kate Johnson and Bianca Petrescu. She hadn’t heard from the two girls in years and she had long since given up on hearing word from them but at times like this she missed them. Slowing getting out of bed she sat down on the floor beside her bedside locker, she had yet to clear this out yet but it held the most memories for her so she didn’t want too. Letting a small sigh escape her lips she opened the small cabinet door and pulled out her small keepsake box that contained different things; pictures from school events during the years or just random ones with her and her friends. As she looked down at the smiling pictures, the small figured waving up at them she laughed as she recalled a lot of the happy memories and frowned at the people that were no longer there, so many people had left during the years it was almost becoming second nature to watch people walk out of her life. Setting the pictures to the side she started to pick up a few bits a pieces; her Prefect badge, her Quidditch Captain badge, even the medal that she and Natasha had gotten for coming third in the wheelbarrow race in their second year – it almost seemed like a lifetime ago. She was a bit upset that she didn’t have the time to enter the Wheelbarrow race this year but it was just as fun to watch everyone else take part.

She spent a few more minutes going through her keepsakes and as she was about to close the door and get ready for the Graduation ceremony but she saw something else in cupboard. Reaching in she pulled out, not one, but two things. She looked down at the two pieces of jewellery in her hands. Her other hand quickly moved up to her mouth as she looked down at the ring and necklace that she had received from her first major crush, Ruki; who like other people in Pat’s life had walked out without even so much as a good-bye. Patricia smiled softly as she tried to remember the good times she had with Ruki because she had enjoyed his company and she had cried enough over his disappearance and she wasn’t going to let it ruin today. She remembered the day that she had finally taken the ring and necklace off as a way of forgetting about Ruki – it was the day she had met Yvo. Yvo! That reminded her, she had invited him as one of her guests for Graduation today, she was so happy that he had accepted because she hadn’t seen him in a while and now that she was no longer going to be confined to just Brightstone weekends and holidays to see him she hoped that she could get to know him better because she could never forget how he had seemed to cheer her up in an instant when she was so low. Putting the pieces of jewellery back into her keepsake box she got up from the floor, brushed off any dust and put it into her suitcase; she was officially packed. Noticing the time she went over to her dorm-mates to wake them up, the lazy heads would probably sleep through their own wedding. As she left them to get ready she went and got a shower. When she returned she did her hair, half up/half down with some loose ringlets, and make with some subtle hints that matched her dress. She had picked out the dress during the holidays and she absolutely loved it, she rarely got dressed up so getting a new dress for a special occasion was always sort of exciting. Putting on her dress and robes she looked at herself in the full length mirror in the room, she couldn’t believe that this was it – she was about to graduate. As Head Girl she had to get down the Great Hall pretty quickly so she said good-bye to her friends and made her way down to the Great Hall to get ready for the Ceremony.

Upon entering the Great Hall she looked around, amazed at how it was always able to surprise her when it was done up for special occasions, although today it was done to exceptional standards. She made her way to the front of the hall and waved at a few of the people that had arrived early. Patricia twiddled with the piece of parchment in her hands that had her speech on it because she knew she would need to refer back to no matter how much she tried to memorise it. Spotting her guests she made her way over to them to have a quick catch up before everyone had to take her seats. She may have seen her father pretty much everyday but she hadn’t seen her mother or brother in sometime – ever since she moved out, and she just barely saw Yvo at all so she enjoyed seeing them all again. She hadn’t told Niccy or any of her other guests that she was inviting Yvo and or about Yvo at all but Patricia really think it would make any sort of difference. They didn’t have long to catch up before everyone was told to take their seats. Patricia made her way to the front of the Hall where her and Theodore’s seat was reserved. Smiling at the Head Boy slightly, despite not getting on the best he wasn’t the worst person, she turned her face towards Headmaster Ivo and listened to him give his speech. Her stomach was starting to twist and knot with nerves when he called her and Theodore up to give their talks. As previously discussed Theodore was to give his first, seeing his ‘good luck’ smile she returned it and awaited her turn. Patricia became very aware of the people staring up at her as she listened to Theodore’s speech but she listened to the Head Boy and didn’t take any notice of the people. Patricia listened to Theodore’s speech and laughed a small bit here and there at just how blunt and honest he was but then again she never really expected anything else from Theodore; although he did make some good points with Patricia to take in. Then, before she knew it it, it was Patricia’s turn to give her own speech she took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. Taking to the podium she flatted out the piece of parchment with her speech on it and took a quick glance over it before smiling and turning to face the crowd in front of her – it was now or never.

“I know it’s a very cliché way to start a Graduation speech but I feel that we need some form of normality in our lives because nothing in the last seven years of our time here at Hogwarts New Zealand has been in anyway close to normal.” she started off, her eyes landing on her classmates, especially ones that had an out of the ordinary school career. “With people getting married, getting pregnant, heck even I found out that my real father was the Herbology Professor just before fourth year – not many people can say that in their lifetime.” she said, pointing at her father, laughing slightly at just how weird it was but it just proved her point even more. “But it really only does seem like yesterday when we were just tiny little first years, starting on our life here at Hogwarts New Zealand, unaware of what the next seven years would bring us and thinking about this day as a far of thought that we thought never would come, that we would always have the safety of being a student here with a typical, well sort of, student life. Alas the day has come and with it our final step into adulthood. After today we will no longer have the privilege of calling ourselves Hogwarts New Zealand students. Instead we will be the future Healers, Aurors, Professors, Quidditch Players, Ministry workers, the list goes on. Although no matter where ever your life leads you never forget where you came from.” she said, taking a breath before continuing. “I only say this because without Hogwarts we wouldn’t be the young adults that we are today, ready to go out into the big bad world that we call adulthood. Our past seven years has shaped us in ways we probably never would have expected and without knowing it, it has made her ready for whatever we experience once we walk out of the school doors. For that I think it is only right to thank our Professors who, without, we would not be here today. They teached us, were there when we needed someone to talk too and were in a never ending abundance of support and encouragement for when we felt that we just couldn’t go any further. So Professors, thank you! I’m sure you’ll be glad to finally get rid of us.” she said, looking over at the Professors, laughing lightly at the end of her sentence.

“Next on the list for people that we need to thank would be our family, who most of us have here today as our guests. Without these people it would be hard to even imagine where we would be at today, so again thank you.” She paused once more as she looked at her own family members here today. Sure she may not have known them all that long but they were her family and she owned them a lot in the small amount of years that she knew them. “And finally, I want to thank you; my classmates; my friends.” she said, finally looking at the group batch of seventh years. “We may not always have gotten along, from the silly fights in our first year,” she said smirking slightly at the memory of it and quickly glancing at Isabella (who she was happy to see here), Alyssa, Aiden and Theodore – she was a little upset that Henri wasn’t there because she did miss him but she couldn’t dwell on the past, “To becoming the group of friends that we are today. Some of you may not have been here for the whole seven years but you are as much of a seventh year as any of us or people may have left before making it here today but they will always be in our memories. Through thick and thin we have all been there for each other, we have all been each others rocks and I know there is no way I could have made it through my seven years without my friends, and you know who you are.” She said, feeling tears starting to well but she fought them back because she needed to finish her speech first. Once she got her diploma and only then would she let the tears consume her because then it meant it was official, it was over. “Without all of you we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what have. For some of us the accomplishments may be more than others, it may be something small that you consider something big, maybe its learning to fly a broom or maybe even conquering a fear, whatever it maybe – no matter how small, it is something that you will be able to take with you. Even if you think you haven’t accomplished anything, you’re wrong! Today we are here because we are graduating, which means we passed our NEWTs. It was no easy task but we did it and now we will be able to bring everything we learned here out into the world with us because they will stick with us even if you don’t think they will, you never know.” she said. She knew strange things had a habit of coming up in the most unlikely of situations, one never knew when they’d be asked to recite the ingredients in a Polyjuice potion or something silly like that – well it wouldn’t be silly if the situation ever did arrive.

“Another thing that we bring with us even when we are no longer here will be the bonds we built with each other. Looking out at all of you I can see so many strong friendships that were made during the seven years, some may have been rocky at the start or throughout, but those are the ones that are going to able to withstand everything and anything, even not seeing each other everyday. No matter how strong a friendship is our lifes are going to lead off in different paths and we might not see each other a lot but that’ll just make the time we do meet up even more special.” she said with a sincere smile. Compared to Theodore’s speech Patricia’s was turning out a lot more sentimental but that was just the type of person she was and there was no point changing that today. “The talk of change is one that I’m sure scares a lot of us but change is a part of life and we have all experienced it in some form or another. Today is just another part of change but we should embrace change and what it brings for us. We should look forward to the future and not live in the past because while it may have been where we were happier it does not do well to dwell on the past because we can’t go there again, the only way is forward. What does the future hold for us? Well I’d ask Professor Weasley or one of the Divination Professors for a bit more an answer to that but in actual fact, no one knows what the future holds for them. You may have every aspect of your life pinpointed out but it’s always going to be subject to change and we’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. She said taking another breath before she started to wrap the speech up.

“There are three days that stand out in my head that brought a big change to my life. The first one was the day when I got my letter of acceptance to Hogwarts New Zealand. Despite being a half blood, I was brought up with two muggle parents, knowing nothing of the Wizarding World. At first I thought it was a joke. I mean, what muggle kid didn’t want to find out that they had magical powers? Well, clearly, I came to my senses and was soon on my way to Hogwarts. I was a curious little thing, not knowing anything about the Wizarding World really, I wanted to know everything. I know that I wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so to speak, at the start but I soon came into my own and Hogwarts became like a second home to me. Then was the day that I got my Prefect letter. It was something that I had always wanted to get, but never let on, and was one of the happiest days of my school career to date. That was until the day when I got the letter telling me I had become Head Girl. Again, it was something that I had would have loved to get but I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would actually get it as I thought there was so many other deserving girls of the title. The honour was a bit overwhelming but I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Professor and Headmistress Zhefarovich, even if she couldn’t be with us today, for giving me the opportunity and making an unbelievable year even more special.” She said as she gave a small bow in the direction of the Professors. She had never properly thanked them for giving her the honour of being Head Girl but what better way than doing in front of all these people? “Anyway, enough of me blabbering on. To wrap this bad boy up, congratulations everyone. We did it!” She began with a cliché and she ended with one. Then again, why not? With her speech now over she made her way back to her seat, smiling at the Head Boy again, Patricia took her seat and waited for the giving out of the diplomas to start. It was so close!

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Oh, really Pat? Not THAT long?

Great update Kaitlyyynnn!

ohmgsh. I'd forgotten it was this long!

Haha, great update Kaitlyn!

 

[Osric Warbeck]

Good update

 

[Liliana Matthias]

Good job Kaitlyn! I wish I had some one to sort for Y13.

 

[Nicolas King]

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