Open Y34 End Of Year Feast

[Katherine Alicastell]

It was the end of the school year, a final goodbye for some, but merely the start of a long, well-deserved break for most. Students and staff alike could enjoy some quality time at home without the stress of exams and study looming over their heads. The castle would be uncharacteristically quiet with most of them gone, a reprieve from the antics and rivalries, but there was still work to be done over the course of the holidays for at least some members of the staff, and the house-elves employed to ensure Hogwarts remained presentable for the coming year.

As the students filed in, the banners adorning the Great Hall rippled and changed to reflect the signature blue and bronze colours of Ravenclaw house, signifying their outstanding victory for the year. They had only just taken the lead compared to the other houses, with the exception of Slytherin's abysmal fall behind. Rising from her seat at the staff table, Katherine slowly made her way up to the podium, waiting for everyone to settle into their own seats before speaking. "Welcome one and all to this year's final feast. Before we begin, I'd like to say a few words. First of all, a round of applause for the winners of this year's House Cup - congratulations to Ravenclaw!" The woman announced, producing the cup in question seemingly from thin air, to be presented to Professor Josephs on behalf of her house.

"Of course, we can't forget those students who's dedication and ambition earned the most points for their respective houses. Our top house point earners this year are - in first place...Lysander Summers, with a grand total of seven hundred and forty-five points." For the briefest of moments, a warm smile touched the woman's lips. Even as students in her school, she wasn't able to get to know her grandchildren, and watching them grow and do well from afar was the best she could hope to do. "In second place, with a total of seven hundred and forty-four points - Alexis Kramer of Ravenclaw. In third, Elliot Briar of Hufflepuff with six hundred and eighteen points. Last but not least, we have Charlotte Harper of Slytherin, with five hundred and seventy-seven points. Congratulations to our winners." The Headmistress joined in the applause for each of them, commending their efforts and achievements toward their house.

As the applause died down, the woman moved to wrap things up and allow them to commence eating. "A quick reminder, as per the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, you are not permitted to use magic underage outside of Hogwarts. I do not want to receive any letters from the Ministry of Magic over this end of year break. Now, enjoy this feast and have a safe travel home. Until next year."​

 

[Elliot Briar]

Elliot was a little sad to see the hall decked out in Ravenclaw blue for the first time since he'd started school. It had been nice to see Hufflepuff win the previous years, but he tried to spot Lars over at the Ravenclaw table as he made his way to sit down, hoping he could give him an encouraging smile for the win and he made sure to clap just as hard for Ravenclaw as he might have for Hufflepuff. Or at least close.

It was impressive to hear a first year had been the top points winner, though Elliot wondered if a kid of a professor had to work extra hard to impress their parents. He had to duck his head when he heard his own name called, surprised to hear he'd earned the most for Hufflepuff this year. It was embarrassing to get the attention but Elliot felt a warm bloom of pride at how hard he'd been working. Sometimes all the anxiety about his school work could pay off, even if Hufflepuff hadn't done great in the house cup. It had been a confusing year, but a good one, and Elliot was feeling a bit more sure of himself than he'd ever felt previous years as the their last feast for the year began.

 

[Eric Holland]

Eric had been looking forward to the feast ever since he, Nova and Kas had decided it was the perfect time for their plan. For the first time, Eric knew he would catch Sydney completely by surprise. They had been bothering each other back and forth for a while now, but Eric had known he had been losing whatever they had going on. Sydney was just so sneaky, and he usually reacted in anger which made him get into trobule. Though he'd managed to get Sydney into trouble a few times too, which had been great. But this time, it had been Nova's idea. It was just as sneaky as anything Sydney could have come up with, which made Eric think girls were maybe just better at this whole sneaky thing than boys were. He had wanted to ask Nova and Kas to sit with him at the feast, but realized that might look suspicious. So instead he caught Nova's eye at the Ravenclaw table, a slight smile on his face in anticipation.

After the headmistress was finally done droning on about the goody two shoes who got most points. it was time for the food. To Eric's delight, the owl entered at that time, flying in through the open door and right over at the Slytherin table. They had released the owl indoors in case the windows would be closed, and now he was glad of it. The owl dropped a red envelope in front of Sydney, and Eric grinned in anticipation. Sydney opened the howler, and a voice rang out loud and clear. Eric could tell it was Nova, but was sure it would be impossible to make that out if you didn't know that she had done it. She had made her voice higher, and spoken as much as possible without her accent. Eric put a hand over his mouth to hide his grin, feigning surprise as he listened.

Sydney Townsend

You're an embarrassment to all humankind and the wizarding world

Stop wetting the bed every night the elves are getting annoyed.

Sharing a dorm with you stinks, literally.

Eric couldn't contain a laugh, but he knew that wasn't strange. He would have laughed at this if he hadn't planned it either. Delighted, he looked at Sydney for her reaction.

 

[Sydney Townsend]

Sydney was conflicted about the end of the year. On one hand each year finished meant there would bring her one step closer to having her own freedom to learn and study what she wanted next year, but it also meant she had to go back home and languish around her family for the next few months. She was either surrounded by her simpering peers or her droll family, so really who could win. Sydney rolled her eyes as the house cup and points awards were discussed, having decided early on that house points were just a dumb trick to get them to work hard for nothing and was grateful when the talk was finally done so she could eat.

She was interrupted however when an owl flew overhead, dropping an envelope in front of her. Sydney poked at the red envelope curiously, unable to hide her interest as she ripped it open. Her blood froze when a voice rang out across the hall, Sydney sparing a moment to curse herself for not recognizing the letter as a howler before it began spewing lies for the entire school to hear. Stomach churning, Sydney shot to her feet, her wand clutched in her fist as she scrubbed at her face with the other, furious that she couldn't stop the pathetic urge to cry at the injustice of what just happened. "Who..." She hissed at the Slytherin table, voice deadly quiet and shaking as she tried to see if any of her roommates could be responsible. Sydney knew she didn't get along with any of them, so it should have been a surprise that one of them would try to cut her down just because they couldn't stand Sydney's honesty. Unable to stand the feeling of eyes on her, Sydney clamped her mouth shut, stalking from the hall, hoping her eyes still conveyed enough danger to stop anyone daring to speak to her despite the tears. She needed to recollect herself and figure out who could have done this so she could right this wrong.

 

[Nova Valtoria]

Nova was quite proud of her little idea. It had been a spur of the moment thought, but to see it come to fruition was exciting. The American had spent quite a bit of time practicing the Kiwi accent, changing the pitch of her voice, so she was pretty sure that no one would be able to figure out it was her. She wouldn't have minded if she was found out and 'punished' or whatever for it...it was more it would ruin the effect of what the little group wanted if people found out it was a prank. No...people needed to actually believe that Sydney was wetting her bed.
Nova sent a small smile back at Eric as the Professor spoke, waiting for their moment. The owl flew in at the most perfect time, before the Hall had gotten too noisy, and Nova couldn't help but let out a little giggle as she watched Sydney flee the Hall, tears in her eyes. She happily grabbed some food onto her plate, a job well done.

 

[Lysander Summers]

Lysander was pretty disappointed that Ravenclaw was the house to win the cup for his first year at the school. It wasn't too surprising, they all seemed to be super smart, that was kind of like their whole thing? Definitely the last house he could have seen himself in. For a hot minute there he'd been sure that Gryffindor would win. It would have been the perfect end to an already amazing year. He idly listened to his grandmother talk, absent-mindedly picking through bits of food on his plate. He'd been mid-bite when he heard her announce his name first, and almost choked it down. WHAT? He had been the top point earner like, out of everyone? Even all the seventh years? That was insane. Surely it was wrong. He'd been caught out in the forest, and in Professor North's classroom after curfew. And he'd shoved that Slytherin bigot at the Wild Patch. His eyes watered and he coughed, quickly taking a sip of his pumpkin juice to wash down the food he'd swallowed. "That guy sounds like a total nerd." Sander commented to the Gryffindors nearby, barely hiding his stupid grin. People were going to start thinking he was some suck-up professors kid. He hadn't even been paying attention to the points he'd earned. All the same, Sander tracked his sister down in the crowd of Hufflepuffs as the Headmistress moved on, and shot her the smuggest of smiles. She hadn't been mentioned as earning the most points for her house, and he was looking forward to rubbing it in when they got home.

Assuming the rest of the feast would be pretty uneventful was a totally wrong expectation to have. Lysander had barely resumed eating when a howler arrived at the Slytherin table and began shouting at one of the girls. Lysander couldn't help but burst into a fit of laughter. It was hilarious, and with how little he could see from where he was, he could only assume it was a joke. This was too much in one day.​