The Start of Year Feast!

[Katherine Alicastell]

The Sorting Ceremony drew to a close in an eruption of claps and cheers resounding throughout the Great Hall, as the last remaining first year made their way to their new house table. Katherine joined in on the final applause. The Sorting Hat had done its job well, as always. While not every student may have agreed with their house placement - and indeed some looked shocked or disappointed by the decision - they'd soon learn that they were put into their house for the qualities they possessed, whether they were aware of them yet or not. Their traits weren't always so obvious as first, Katherine herself was at times surprised by where the hat placed some of the students, but as time went on and the children developed, their house attributes became more recognizable. The Headmistress was confident they'd come to understand that.

Removing the patchy enchanted hat and the stool it now sat on, Katherine levitated both to the left of the stage and returned to her place behind the podium, raising her hands to command silence. A hush fell over the hall and Katherine began to move on, her voice magically amplified with a Sonorus Charm. "Thank you, students. Now, before we begin, I'd like to introduce myself, and some of the other staff here. I am your Headmistress, Professor Katherine Alicastell, and beside me -" She gestured toward the staff table behind her, where the other professors were seated. "Is your Deputy Headmaster, Professor Montgomery Pendleton. Your Head of House for Hufflepuff is Professor Kennedy Pratt, for Gryffindor, Professor Cyndi Kingsley, Professor Jonathon Phillips for Ravenclaw and for Slytherin, Professor Kalif Styx." She introduced each of them present as she spoke, ensuring the newly sorted first years knew who to look for if they needed any assistance. After speaking briefly of key points of interest throughout the school, the hospital wing among them, she moved on to conclude the ceremony.

"Another reminder to those old and new that the forest is strictly off limits to students, and those found wandering through it without supervision will be punished severely. Another announcement I'd like to make this year is this; The house elves employed here are members of school staff, not your personal slaves. Some of you with house elves in the family may think it appropriate to treat them that way. Let me assure you, it is not. Students are welcome to politely request food from the kitchens out of breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. You are not welcome to demand it, nor are you welcome to help yourselves to the school's food supply without express permission from the elves or another member of staff. I hope I've made myself perfectly clear. With that said, I would like to welcome you all again to another fantastic year at Hogwarts. Stay out of trouble, study hard, and enjoy your time here. Now let the feast begin!" At once, the empty tables were filled with various foods - roast meats, potatoes, salads and pies tirelessly prepared by the house elves working in the kitchens below, and Katherine returned to her seat at the center of the staff table.​

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

With one short nod, Cyndi acknowledged her name as the Headmistress called it out, her eyes on the Gryffindor table. She could see a few of the students from her position at the staff table. It was always humbling to know that she had all of these to guide, to nurture, and to protect. She took the position seriously. The Headmistress continued, and the Gryffindor Head of House listened as she glanced around to the other tables, a pang in her heart as she glanced at the Slytherin one, knowing that try as she might she would not find her oldest son there. Cyndi still could not believe her husband's audacity to have gone behind her back and out of his way for this when he hadn't lifted a finger at her request for him to use his connections to obtain guardianship over Jemma. Knowing she was going to get herself all worked up if she continued down this line of thinking, Cyndi seized on the first person who spoke to her and began to converse about her break, leaving out all of the terrible parts towards its end.

 

[Monty Pendleton]

Monty wasn't sure he'd ever get used to being introduced as the Deputy Headmaster. Seven years ago - Merlin, even two years ago - he would never would have imagined himself in such a position. It was an honour - which was part of the reason he was so determined to do the job well, and not to give up in spite of his struggles last year. He looked out over the crowd of young faces while Katherine continued her speech, wondering if he might be able to spot the troublemakers by seeing who was paying attention, and who was not. Chance would have been a fine thing. The speech came to an end, and Monty engaged the professor beside him in conversation as he began to eat.

 

[Olive Layton]

Olive did her very best to keep a straight face as she caught sight of Monty across the table, resisting the urge to wink at him playfully as he was introduced to the school as the Deputy. Instead she gave him the briefest of nods as she listened to Professor Alicastell address the rest of the school. She was always excited though at the prospect of food, and today's feast was no different. Olive considered herself a good cook, and even baked things on occasion, but nothing compared to what the elves could make for the school. As soon as they were able, she turned to Professor Phillips, offering him some of the snacks she'd had her eye on since she sat down. Ready for another year at the school, and in a much better place this time round than she had been last year, Professor Layton was ready to hit the ground running.
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[Jon Phillips]

Hearing his name mentioned at the start of year feast was entirely new to Jon, having been appointed head of house midway through the previous year. Being addressed with a title to the entire school would definitely take some getting used to, causing him to feel awkward and as if too much attention was put on him. Thankfully it was over in a moment and the students seemingly forgot what was reminded to them as they began eating. Jon looked down to his plate, then over to Olive as she offered him some snacks, shaking his head politely but smiling in appreciation of the offer. With a new year ahead he felt overwhelmed and impatient, wanting to get to everything on his to do list and it meant he did not have much of an appetite. Instead he reached for his glass of pumpkin juice and drank from it slowly while making conversation with the professors sitting nearby. ​

 

[Evan Faire]

It had been years since Evan had attended a sorting ceremony. It all tended to blur together now and then and he oftentimes simply forgot, but not today. As the ceremony transitioned to the eating portion of the evening, Evan got ready to take his leave. He did make sure to take a small lap, up and down the Hufflepuff table, his gaze high enough to see the students' faces but low enough that he made eye contact only accidently. It looked like a good bunch as always.

 

[Alice Holland]

Alice was very happy with her placement in Hufflepuff. While she hadn't really minded any of the houses, getting one that was different from her sisters was actually kind of nice. This was now her place, and she could make friends on her own here. Still, she happily waved at Rose at the Gryffindor table, then at Grace at the staff table. It was so nice to be surrounded by so many family members, and Alice had no doubt that this year would be wonderful. As she started placing food on her plate, she noticed a ghost pass by the table. Surprised, she stared at him for a moment before waving at him as well.

 

[Abian Hunter]

The entire sorting ceremony was overwhelming for Abian. He remembered William saying on the train that the great hall as incredible, and the boy had been right. The floating candles, the ghosts flying around, the food... it was a lot. But in the best way. Abian looked around for William, remembering he was in a different house but not which one. Eventually, he spotted him and gave him a wave. Hopefully, they would still be able to be friends even though they were in different houses. He turned back to his plate, piling food onto it. He looked around for any friendly faces, grinning at all nearby students.

 

[Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Geo had been sat patiently at the Hufflepuff table, watching as the various traditions took place, followed by the speech from the Headmistress. She was half paying attention, the rest of her gaze travelling up and down the table at which she was sat, trying to send reassuring grins to those who'd just joined them. As it was time to eat, Geo found that she still wasn't overly hungry from losing her appetite from the party, and not daring to look across at any of the other house tables in the fear that she might accidentally lock eyes with either of two specific Gryffindors, she kept herself facing forward, distracted on when the Hufflepuff ghost floated past. There was always so much to be doing at the beginning of the year, and everyone was always in such a good mood, and her own lifted a little when she caught sight of Austin further down the table. She couldn't stop a small smile forming on her face, even though she'd not properly spoken to him since the lodge, and quickly looking back into her plate she did her face to just get through the evening in one piece.
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[Anmoch Marcach]

First years were not Anmoch's favorite because they often thought of themselves more important than what they were, but the Dark Rider rode his horse into the Great Hall to gaze down upon the new students as they had found themselves sat between the walls of a building upon the land they knew nothing about. His eyes briefly lingered on a few children as his steed moved down the isle between two tables, uncaring of whether anyone walked through his glacial presence. Most of the Professors were of little reassurance, their considerate natures would be the downfall of the school as with each passing year the children became more accustom to modern day life, and the strengths derived from the battles taken place long before any of them had been born were decreasing with every passing century. Just as Anmoch expected, it would have seemed as though the Hogwarts additions would be as disappointing as the last, and the rarity of true magic would always prevail.
​

 

[Audra Lynch]

The sorting ceremony had felt long and nerve-wracking to little Audra Lynch. She didn't understand what she was getting into by being at Hogwarts and felt as confused as ever as she sat down with the rest of the students in her new house. She smiled politely at those around her, many of them first years who had also just joined the table. Audra remained quiet for the duration of the Headmaster's speech.

At the conclusion, food appeared on the table; large amounts of food that smelled unbelievably delicious and looked absolutely heavenly. "I don't know what a house elf is but they must be great at cooking!" Audra shouted excitedly to those in her immediate area. As patiently as she could, she filled her plate with foods of all kinds. She couldn't even imagine how stuffed she would be at the end of it, she thought she'd probably look like a blown up grape. The Start of Year Feast was a pleasant way to start off Audra's time at Hogwarts for her very first year.