Open Y38 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 as with every year some did 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 at 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. "Are your Heads of Houses. These professors are here to guide you and lead your respective houses. Your Head of House for Hufflepuff is Professor Landon Carter. For Gryffindor, Professor Cyndi Kingsley, Professor Kahurangi Josephs 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 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.​

 

[Rhys Garner]

When it came to Slytherin, Rhys didn't have much of an opinion on it all. As soon as he was sorted the boy simply sat down in his seat, pushing his plate and cutlery to the side so he could put his sketchbook on the table instead to keep drawing. He didn't pay any attention to the rest of the sorting, simply keeping his eyes glued on his page as he kept drawing. His eyes only briefly glanced up as the Headmistress started things off, and when food magically appeared before them Rhys paused. He blinked once. Then went back to his drawing without a single word uttered from his mouth the whole time. This was simply something else he needed to write about for his next article to send home to his father.

 

[Eoin Armati]

Eoin was not exactly thrilled to be back at the castle, sighing rather heavily as he sat down at the Ravenclaw table. Oh what he wouldn't give to go home again already, but he would just have to wait until the Christmas break until he could see his family again. At least he brought a lot of new reading material with him, nose already stuck in a book through the whole sorting ceremony and even during the opening speech as well. It was just the same old rules from the previous year. When the food finally appeared, Eoin barely glanced away from his book as he reached for a bread roll, nibbling on it as he flipped to the next page of his book on water plants with a finger.

 

[Flynn North-McGowan]

Flynn was starving by the time he finally sat down in the Great Hall, but of course, first came the sorting ceremony. The whole time the boy fidgeted in his seat, drumming his fingers against the table as he waited for the whole thing to finally end. And then came the stupid beginning of year announcements and Flynn simply rolled his eyes as they were told, like they had been told for the previous two years as well, not to go into the forbidden forest. No one actually paid attention to that rule. But he didn't care, dinner had finally arrived and he was going to make the most of it, leaning across the table for the chips, "Hey, pass it here."

 

[Lucas Fletcher]

Lucas was happy to be back, especially now that he was in the great hall with all the other students. There was always something magical about the feasts, and it had nothing to do with ghosts or floating candles. He listened as Professor Alicastell spoke to them, introducing their heads of houses for the new firsties that had just been sorted. She went on to talk a bit more, and Lucas tuned her out a bit. It seemed to be the same speech every year. He grinned when the food appeared and started to load his plate.

 

[Professor Minnie Calida]

Minnie was glad to be back at school, with her holidays having been as terrible as they were, she looked forward to the routine and drive imposed on her by school. She would need to work at things, work, revise and just do the best she could and this was a goal she could manage could work around. With working at the hogs head she was just driven to distract herself, make money and not let her boss down, but these were shorter term goals and when she finished everyday there was nothing more to do. One couldn't exactly revise how to clean rooms or the best way to make a bed, and Minnie had tried. School would bring structure, distraction and another opportunity to prove she wasn't a complete failure at everything. She noticed that lars wasn't wearing the head boy badge and thought it would've been nice for the head boy to be Lars, but she was also rather glad it wasn't, she knew she'd have been terribly jealous of him. Since he apartmently could do almost the same things as her and somehow be rewarded but her not. She paid no heed to the rest of the instructions, Minnie was never going to break the rules and then the food appeared. She took her fork and was quick to get food on her plate, the sooner she finished the sooner she could leave and the sooner she could get back to studying.​

 

[Daintree Vaskevold]

Daintree had his new badge on his uniform and he was certainly sitting straighter than he would've prior, if he hadn't gotten the badge. But he had. he thought it was a year late but he wasn't exactly going to voice that. he had it, and others didn't and that was good enough for him. He looked to the headmistress as the sorting ceremony finally drew to an end. He looked up at the headmistress as she welcomed them all back and then after going over the rules the food appeared. He wasn't that interested in having the responsibility to help first years to the dorm but he figured he would have to do it. he was a prefect now. ​

 

[Isaiah Thompson]

Isaiah was stoked to be back at school, ready to get into a whole lot more of adventures. After meeting a centaur last year he wasn't sure if there was anything that could even beat that, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try. He didn't care much for sorting this year though. Obviously last year it had been the most exciting thing because it was him and Piper getting sorted. Now that there wasn't anyone he knew between the batch of first years it didn't seem all that interesting. The now second year hung back a little, clapping whenever the rest of the table did, grinning when the headmistress mentioned the forest being off limits again and happily digging in once the food appeared.

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

When Cyzarine hadn't gotten the head girl badge she had been endlessly curious and sure about who had gotten it. It was just a pity that as sorting came to an end she wasn't able to immediately go check. it felt near absurd to the seventh year that she was in fact in her final year, that she didn't have very much of her schooling left at all. The gryffindor had a tough year ahead but she was looking forward to making the most of the Heta omega, of her prefect duties and just of all the fun events that this school was going to as per usual offer her in her final year. The gryffindor had thoroughly enjoyed sorting, cheering loudly for each Gryffindor student that was gained. But, that was all over now, she'd never see another sorting again unless she started working at the school and really, Cyzarine wasn't too keen on teaching. She took the nearest food she could as it appeared and began to ladle it on to her plate. ​

 

[Ajaccio Skey]

The biggest problem that Ajax always experienced when coming back to school was that he was usually exhausted having landed or just gotten in right in time for the train. This year was no exception. He hadn't had time to do his own shopping but had Lumio and his mum pick it up for him. He trusted they'd picked out the right things but there was little time to change it. They'd been as surprised as he had at the prefect badge, but he had it. The teen applauded the new ravenclaws as they join them and felt his energy waning, it always went on for ages and just wanted the food to turn up. Thankfully, eventualy the professor stopped speaking, the food appeared and Ajax picked out some vegetables and just got stuck in. ​

 

[Ivelisse Burleigh]

Since her surname started with a 'B' Ivelisse was one of the first new students to be seated at her house table. She had glanced at her sister as she made her way over to the Slytherin table but it didn't look like Ana was too disappointed in her not being sorted into Hufflepuff. Personally, she was glad she wasn't. She liked her sister but wasn't exactly planning on being in the same house as her. She wanted to be her own person after all. Iva looked on as the rest of the students were being sorted, politely clapping whenever one was sorted into Slytherin. She listened on as the professor started her speech once sorting was done, although none of it seemed all too interesting. It wasn't anything she hadn't heard before from her sister or father anyways. When the food appeared she took a second to take it all in, to see what it all was before deciding what she would put on her plate.

 

[Leia Hume]

Leia wasn't sure why sorting was so slow, she was sure every year after her own had been so utterly slow. She knew it was important, but there had to be a way to make it go quicker. Why weren't there multiple hats...why wasn't the hate just better at his job. But she had applauded politely for each student as they'd been sorted. She was glad when it was finally over. Mostly leia just didn't want to linger around the great hall much more. She wasn't sure how to be there without Padme, Vader and Ava, they'd always just been around for her and now she was by herself. Leia looked at the food as it appeared and tried her best to look for good and healthy options and not do like some of the students she could see who were visibly stuffing their mouths. ​

 

[Lumio Skey]

Lumio had definitely had an interesting holiday, it had been unlike the others, if only because of the time he had spent with Ronald. It had been good, interesting to say the least to go somewhere other than Italy but he had liked it. Perhaps there was something to his brother and father's explorations of the world. More to it, everyone in his family had been very supportive of his coming out, even the elderly italian gran that Lumio had been sure would have perhaps just a little issue with hadn't said anything against it, in fact had started suggesting to Lumio the good italian boys of the town. After his fall out with Clara he had been a little nervous about telling others, but things had always worked out for him and this had too. He applauded for the young gryffindors for an eagerness, looking at the young nervous faces and hoping that he might be a little reassuring. Eventually the professor stopped speaking and he was finally able to eat. Nothing would be as good as the italian cuisine he'd had but it would be good still.​

 

[Liusaidh Styx]

Liusaidh was so ready for a new year, there would be so much fun to be had in this term, they were older more respected - technically - and she was finally alone in the school. No Aonghas to try and tell her what to do, though it didn't often work. She still did whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. The teen didn't bother applauding for the new students, she didn't care for any of them, she didn't know any of them. She didn't care about people she didn't know. There were a few familiar names, names of kids whom she knew were in pureblood families but she didn't care much about them either. She was just glad when the food appeared. ​

 

[Branson Archer]

Branson was eager and ready to be back for his second year, admittedly it was a little odd this time around to watch people get sorted, but it was a little easier on his stress. It had been nerve wracking to get sorted and Bran was definitely glad he only had to do it once. The boy wondered what it would be like when his sisters were sorted, how he would feel about them getting a house. He was sure neither would end up in Ravenclaw like him, though he believed both were smart enough it just wasn't that he thought they'd want to. He wasn't sure what they wanted. Branson nodded as the head mistress went over the rules again and then the food appear, getting rid of all thoughts of his sisters and when they would eventually be sorted. ​

 

[Pixie Longmire]

Pixie didn't like the sorting feast, she didn't like having to sit in such a crowded place, She had mostly avoided the great hall last year save for the handful of occasions when she hadn't had a choice, she had to be there, like now. Pixie had chosen, specifically waited till she could get the seat closest to the exit without some pushy older student getting her to move down. She had listened to them speaking but was glad when the final person had been sorted and head mistress gave her final words. Pixie helped herself but knew as soon as she was able to duck out unseen she would. ​

 

[Zachariah Ezekiel King]

Zachariah found an open seat at his house table. He looked around to see if there was anyone he might know close by. Zachariah was a little disappointed when he noticed he was mostly surrounded by older kids. He didn't let that get him down though.

Zachariah was impressed by the feast laid before them. He knew house elves were useful but this was on a scale he had never seen. He took some desert skipping over the actual food. And nibbled quietly watching everyone around him.

 

[Eugene Nestor]

Eugene had been sorted, he was sitting at the hufflepuff table, and he couldn't stop glancing about the place. He looked towards the head mistress as he spoke. He felt like calling a forest forbidden was asking a bit for trouble, but he didn't want to get kicked out so he wouldn't go. He didn't know what house elves were but when he did know he'd be sure to not bother him. Then somehow the food appeared. He looked at the food, unable to really wrap his head around how much food there was. He had never seen so much food, he had never experienced so much food in all of his life.. He could see things he hadn't ever eaten, things he hadn't seen in years. It was a far cry from some of the meals Eugene had eaten. Was it all eaten? What happened to left overs....could owls carry food...Eugene felt overwhelmed, there was so much he wanted to try and no idea where he should start.​

 

[Chloe Thompson]

Chloë had felt a little odd walking into the hall with her newly received badge pinned on her clothes. At the same time she couldn't help but to feel excited about it as well. She watched as the sorting ceremony progressed, happily clapping for every new student that was sorted into gryffindor and feeling some sense of vicarious disappointment when Sully's little brother wasn't one of them. When the headmistress started her speech Chloë tried her best to pay attention, which was proving to be difficult now she was hearing the same information for the fith year in a row. Nevertheless, she had to at least look like she was paying attention if she were to be any sort of good example for thew new students. She was relieved when the talking stopped and the food appeared though, redirecting her attention to the table as she started filling up her plate.

 

[Professor Emmaline Hopkins]

Emmaline was happy to be back at Hogwarts. Although it was nice to spend more time with her younger sister River, and see her mother on occasion, it had been a boring break. She certainly was ready for some excitement and socialization. The now third year Gryffindor was looking forward to spending time with her friends and of course take elective subjects this year. Of course, Emmaline probably took on more than she could handle, the young Gryffindor could not help it. She was always an over-achiever.

The young brunette was seated at the Gryffindor table. She was always interested in watching the sorting ceremony. This year she did not know any of the new students, but it was still exciting to clap along when new Gryffindor's joined the table. When the sorting was over and the headmistress had finished her speech, Emmaline began to dig into the food in front of her. A whole break only eating meals she made using a microwave had grown old fast. Now she was ready for some delicious homemade food. Filling her plate, the young girl ate a healthy portion and maybe even a little extra before she was ready to put her fork down.

 

[Elliot Briar]

Elliot watched the sorting ceremony, doing his best to clap as loud as he could for the new Hufflepuffs. It was a strange thought to realize once it was over and Professor Alicastell was addressing them, that this would be the last time he'd ever see it.

Elliot craned his head as the feast started, doing a quick headcount of his friends around the hall before turning his attention back to the food in front of him. He'd spent all of last year with the awareness that it was Alice's last year hanging over his head, it was weird to now have that thought shift to himself. He felt like he should be trying to make the most of each moment, but it was so familiar now Elliot kept finding he was slipping back into the usual routine without even realizing it. The extra wait of the head boy badge on his chest helped remind him just how different this year was going to be however, and it was a sobering reminder at that.

 

[Vivienne McAlister]

Vivienne's stomach rumbled loudly. Not only had the train ride to Hogwarts been insanely long, she'd also had to wait until the students after her had been Sorted. As for herself, she was pretty sure her father would be thrilled that she'd been placed into Ravenclaw. Her mother? She might be somewhat disappointed, but she'd still be proud. Her brother, surprisingly, hadn't called out any teasing remarks from his seat at the Gryffindor table; rather, he'd clapped and cheered rather enthusiastically when her House had been called out. Vivienne had an idea that their father would have chewed him out at the Christmas break if he'd been anything but excited over his sister's house placement.

Vivienne looked around at her fellow Ravenclaws. They looked like a pleasant bunch, although one never could really be sure. Some of the older students appeared a bit intimidating, but she pushed that thought from her mind. What mattered now was getting some food into her stomach.

 

[Professor Adorah Zumwalt]

Adorah had always found the sorting process fascinating - that they're fate for seven years was determined by a tattered hat. She couldn't imagine the amount of heads that thing sat on through the years. What if there had been a lice outbreak? Maybe lice was a concept the magical world didn't deal with, but either way, it made her shudder at the thought. As she sat beside Juniper, she watched each student get sorted into their new homes, giving an equal amount of applause no matter the house. She never understood the house rivalry business, and it was such a sad moment when one student didn't receive as much applause as another, especially if they didn't have siblings or other relatives at the school. After Professor Alicastell's usual speech, Adorah took some food onto her plate and stole a fry from Juniper, smirking at her as she took a bite.

 

[Lena Williams]

Lena was ecstatic to attend her first Start of Year Feast as a professor. She hadn't been to one since, well, exactly ten years ago. And in that ten years, she had accomplished a crazy amount of things she could have never imagined at seventeen. Traveling, becoming published, moving multiple times, learning Japanese, getting married, having a baby, losing her father, ... it's bizarre to see how life can change trajectories so quickly. As she took a sip of her water, she looked around at their table, noticing some familiar faces but noticing that there were quite a few younger folks, like herself. Although, she wondered if anyone was actually younger than her. She was particularly excited for students that had been sorted into Ravenclaw, giving them a slightly bigger cheer than the others.

 

[Juniper Zumwalt]

Juniper had finished most of her cross stitch on the train ride. Chloë's comment about her hair color made her consider creating something that represented house pride so she could still have it after her braids were gone. Taking a seat next to Adorah, she leaned on the table as students were sorted, giving a cheer each time there was a new Ravenclaw. She wasn't that hungry, having snacked on the train, and found some pudding to slowly eat as she talked to her sister. She saw a few of her teammates around, and it made her even more excited to get back on the pitch.