An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
As lunch began, Hufflepuffs were easily the noisiest or busiest house as they eagerly discussed their upcoming Quidditch try-outs that afternoon - either those wanting to try-out, or those offering friends support/encouragement.
Apart from Quidditch or Halloween excitement, there was a sense of ease about those at Hogwarts. Everyone had an afternoon entirely to themselves - free to relax, have fun, or get some last-minute goals achieved. Some had busy afternoons ahead, others were looking forward to leisurely passing time until dinner.
Schedule Reminder(afternoon) Hufflepuff - Quidditch Try-Outs Event - Afternoon Tea in Hogsmeade | invited students only
Post by Grace Babineaux on Aug 4, 2020 1:38:02 GMT 10
Grace was rather excited for lunch to be over with, so she could go find out what her seed had grown into. She grabbed an apple, then tried to decide what she wanted for lunch. Something small, she thought, because she did have tea already. Maybe if she saw Gerald she could tell him how things were going and ask him about the Quidditch tryouts.
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Aug 4, 2020 1:44:35 GMT 10
Wearing her nicest clothes, Elizabeth made her way down to lunch. She was prepared, she thought, to have tea with the invited group, and now there was no need for her to have to hurry upstairs to change. Unless, that was, some pranksters decided to ruin it for her.
Maybe this, along with her recent prefect status, would make her parents more likely to allow her a pet. Elizabeth had considered asking for an owl a few times, but had always backed down. She knew what she would say during tea, she felt prepared for anything, and she hoped that she would make her parents proud.
Last Edit: Aug 4, 2020 15:00:34 GMT 10 by Lena: Fixed: post alignment error
Zeke was fiddling with some of the scraps on his plate; having finished his lunch already. He looked a tad tired, which was odd as he hadn't been up for terribly long, to begin with. He continued to pick at the scraps before lowering his fork to the side and reaching towards the center of the table, grasping an and storing it away in his bag. Either for himself later in the day, or to save for something else. Of course, he would have to gather a few more, but that was neither here nor there. If he really wanted it, he'd have to try and make it happen.
Post by Jonathan King on Aug 4, 2020 6:16:29 GMT 10
Joe was excited to meet his friends at lunch, having some news to tell them. Firstly Professor Rivera had told him he had made it onto the Quidditch team and secondly he had this new pet in his dorm.
He was a little disappointed as he could see neither Toby nor Ryan. Not even his cousin Elara was there yet.
He looked for some space at the Ravenclaw table that could fit him and his friends and sat down close to one of his dorm mates (Zeke), who appeared to have finished his lunch already.
Joe, being notoriously bad with names did not know how to call him properly, gave Zeke a small “How do do?“, as he grabbed himself some lunch, hungry after the Try-Outs.
The cool of the castle was a welcome reprieve for Tom, who was happy to be out of the sunlight. He wasn't used to spending as much time outside as he had the last two days and he felt especially fatigued, but in a good way. He knew it was something he was going to have to get used to if he planned to be worth anything as a Seeker.
He plopped down at the Slytherin table with a relieved sigh, happy to rest his legs and excited at the prospect of food. He munched happily on a roasted chicken leg and some rolls and slurped it all down with the most refreshing lemonade he could ever remember tasting.
Tom took the brief moment of silence and contentedness to reflect on how much his life had changed since coming to Hogwarts, especially on days like Halloween. What would he be doing today if he were still in the Muggle world? Would he be dressed up as some silly character from a book or television show?
Sometimes his old life felt very far away from him, and at first that realization had scared him, but recently it began to fill him with a sense of courage. He was starting to believe that he could face anyone or anything and rise to the challenge.
He loved and appreciated Hogwarts for giving him that confidence, for providing him experiences he once thought were only confined to fantasy books, and for supplying him with the best roasted chicken leg he'd ever eaten.
Anjay entered the Great Hall with his usual purposeful stride, nodding cordially to the familiar faces he passed on his way to the Gryffindor table. If he normally wore a wide smile, right now it was even wider: every minute that brought him closer to afternoon tea with the Minister seemed to increase his excitement exponentially.
He hoped he looked okay. He'd changed only about four or five times after leaving Rickard's office this morning and preparing for his excursion to Hogsmeade. He wanted to look sophisticated and impressive but also like he hadn't tried too hard on his outfit. He worried that he looked like a twit.
Anjay noticed Elizabeth sitting at the Slytherin table and gave her a friendly wave. She had obviously taken the occasion seriously as she was dressed to impress. Good. That made him feel much better. He cast his glaze across the rest of the Hall but if Jaxen and the Bryce girl were here, he couldn't find them.
He made his way to the Gryffindor table and sat down right in the middle, one of the first people to arrive. As usual, the spread of food was incredible and Anjay didn't delay to fill up his plate- roasted chickpeas, green beans in spices and cloves, and bread so light and pillowy it felt like biting into a cloud.
He ate slowly and deliberately... he would die before he spilled something on these robes and had to change for the Minister again.
Harris Teague was, as a rule, late to absolutely everything... except for lunch. Take this morning as an example. He'd slept in longer than any of his dorm mates, snoozing well past breakfast, and had stumbled into the Homework Hall just as most students were gathering their things to leave. It had taken him far too long to struggle through his assignments, but he was hopeful that he'd done his work well enough to not merit any detentions.
And yet as soon as the doors of the Great Hall threw themselves open and food began appearing across the four massive tables in the middle of the room, Harris was there. Eating was one of his favorite pastimes in life, right behind sleeping and flipping off of stuff. The thought entered Harris's mind that if he could find a restaurant where you could flip off the tables while you ate that would probably be the coolest thing ever.
As the thought left his head, Harris looked around and noticed so far he was the only Hufflepuff sitting at the table. Huh, weird. He could very well have been surrounded by people for all he knew; he spent most of the time in his own little world anyway. Not that he wouldn't want to engage in some conversation if someone talked to him... assuming he was paying attention to them when they started talking.
He briefly considered grabbing his lunch and taking it outside to eat, but the sudden onslaught of clouds made him reconsider. He definitely wasn't afraid of any rain, but the idea of wet food was enough to keep him indoors. As soon as lunch was over he'd head outside, maybe practice some flips, maybe hike around the Forest Path... just anything to get him in nature.
Hey, weren't Hufflepuff Quidditch tryouts this afternoon? He thought he remembered hearing people talk about that. Or was it yesterday? He couldn't remember... hmm. Well, maybe he could watch those if they were today. He would never try out himself... Professor Sprout probably wouldn't let him try out unless he got his grades up, for one thing, but mainly team sports just weren't his thing.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Aug 4, 2020 8:26:26 GMT 10
Jaxen entered the Great Hall at a brisk walk, he was hurriedly attempting to tuck his shirt in and smooth down his hair at the same time. He had been briefly up to his dorm and entertained the thought of changing, but one look at the contents of his trunk and he realised he didn't have anything suitable for tea with the minister- his school robes were the safest bet.
Walking to the Ravenclaw table, he sat down at the far end and grabbed a bread roll- generously lathering it in butter and dipping in a bowl of soup that he helped himself to. He ate carefully, not wanting to spill food on his clothes, that would really go down a treat- Anjay would think he meant to show up looking like a slob. He was already feeling the pressure, unsure of why he'd received an invitation in the first place, he didn't need to be stressing over his clothes.
Pulling out a small sketchpad from his backpack, he tapped his pencil against his lip and took a moment to ponder for a while before beginning to sketch the outline of what looked to be a dragon. Taking bites of his roll periodically but not having much stomach for his soup. Jax glanced up every few minutes as other students passed by, hoping that one of his friends would join him, but so far no one familiar had arrived to lunch.
Lunch, probably one of her favourite times of day. Like everything else in Hogwarts it just felt magical. No two days were the same, the food appeared and replenished itself for the entire hour, and she felt absolutely spoiled for choice. She'd never been shy of trying new foods, which was why she enjoyed both lunch and dinner time at the school, there was always something new to try...even on the days when all she wanted was something familiar.
She sat alone, enjoying reading over the requirements for her Potions Kit and making notes on where to get the ingredients. It was almost like a scavenger hunt, she was excited to get started. Part of her wondered if Jamie wanted to go looking with her, they'd only conversed briefly but she liked the other boy, he definitely seemed like someone who needed a friend and she was nothing if not persistent.
Smiling to herself she took a final bit of her lunch before packing the list into her bag. Pausing, she smiled as her eyes caught on one ingredient she already had at hand. Nuts! Reaching out for a handful, she put them into her bag as well. Smiling at her peers she swung her legs back over the bench and stood, her steps determined and quick as she left the great hall, ready to find her ingredients.
Nyx Nordstrom walked purposefully toward the dining hall entry, still donning her Quidditch uniform. She hadn't had an opportunity to change her clothing before lunch, instead finding herself busy with questionable company. I mean, Kaspian Kettles was a member of her team, but did that mean they would be spending more time together outside the pitch? If Nyx had it her way, they'd stay teammates and nothing more. She liked it better that way. She let very few people into her inner circle, especially now with the betrayal from her immediate family.
She still couldn't believe that her mother and grandmother, the two people closest to her, had never disclosed Jade Arwell being her first cousin. For years, the two girls had passed one another in the corridors, not saying a word. And now, Nyx was surprised with the fact that she and this Gryffindor girl shared blood? Arwell was a tie to her father. Her father. The man who upped and left her mother, leaving Nyx fatherless her entire life. Nyx still wasn't over it.
"Well, I suppose this is where we part," she said, turning to find Kaspian. She had no desire to sit with him at the Hufflepuff table, which is where she assumed he'd go. Kaspian was Luckett Langford's best friend, after all. "Congratulations on Keeper," Nordstrom added with a mannerly nod, unable to recall if she had paid him the compliment on the pitch. After a brief moment, she departed and moved away from the crowding entryway, her movements abrupt, as her slicked back blonde hair flowed with her swift motions like ribbons in a breeze.
Nordstrom seated herself near the center of the Ravenclaw table, but more so at the farther end. She immediately looked over the spread available for lunch, finding herself hungrier than she thought. This was likely due to her missing breakfast. Nyx tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and bit her bottom lip, her icy-blue eyes fighting over what looked more appetizing. She ultimately decided on a bowl of fruit, spooning a variety of berries and citrus into a provided bowl. As she forked a slice of grapefruit, she found herself looking for Mathias.
Last Edit: Aug 4, 2020 9:29:54 GMT 10 by Deleted: Nyx and Kaspian arriving together was approved and discussed.
Post by Tobias Twiggs on Aug 4, 2020 9:01:49 GMT 10
Squeezing between a couple of sixth years who were conversing closely together too near to the entrance of the hall, Toby rushed into the hall and looked around for his friends. Ignoring the protests from the older students who evidently didn't appreciate his rude behaviour- it was their fault for blocking the door the way that they were.
Looking towards the Gryffindor table, he saw Grace sitting alone and perhaps he would've wandered over to say hi but then he saw Joe at the Ravenclaw table and that thought was quickly erased. Swerving to rush over to the Ravenclaw table and sat down a little too enthusiastically- causing a few students nearby to snatch up their drinks before they could go toppling over. "Hey, what are you doing after lunch?" he asked, he still hoped that they could follow through with their plans to have a party- it would be fun. If not, then they'd just have to find other ways to make the most of their free evening.
Post by Jonathan King on Aug 4, 2020 9:15:35 GMT 10
Enthusiastic steps and a flare of red alerted Joe to the approach of Toby and he turned to greet his friend with a wide smile.
Part of him had been worried Toby would not come sit with him unless Ryan was there too since he had not had the chance to talk to him before today, yet his paranoia appeared to have been unfounded.
“After lunch?“, he said. “Dunno. Might work on my potion‘s kit some more, why?“
Was Toby asking about that? Joe would love to gather ingredients together again.
“Hey! But guess what I did before lunch“, he grinned at Toby. He had hoped to tell Toby first. Toby being on the Gryffindor team and all.
“I was at the Try-Outs! And Professor Rivera said I can be Chaser!“ Joe practically beamed at his friend. He could only do so much to conceal an excited wiggle.
Sebastian hurried into the dining hall, happy to have found an opportunity to grab a quick bite. He had been all over the castle that morning, running a slew of personal errands. However, he still hadn't completed his most important task of the day: locating Professor Sprout. He wanted to complete his Herbology Kit, which explained why he was currently lugging around a sizable pot. Despite its bulk, he managed to skillfully maneuver around any oncoming students on his way toward the Slytherin table. The last thing he wanted or needed was for his pot to break.
He didn't know if he planned on staying long, so instead of taking a seat, he carefully placed his pot at the end of the table and grabbed a handful of fruit. Sebastian managed an apple, an orange and a cluster of red grapes. He wasn't very hungry, but dreaded the idea of a hunger headache later on. If he was to be in Professor Sprout's company, he wanted to be sure that he was feeling well and could perform at his absolute best in whatever task she asked of him.
As students continued to enter the hall for lunch, he was on the lookout for any familiar faces—whether it be Amara Seabrook, Lucas Mardling or whomever else. He hadn't spoken to Lucas in a while—outside of their dormitory, at least. Bash could only assume he was off brokering deals with first years and negotiating terms to benefit whatever his current interests were. Sebastian always admired Lucas for that skill; he didn't know anyone that could facilitate an arrangement or transaction quite as well as him. Then again, would anyone dare to try and be better?
There didn't seem to be anyone he especially knew yet, which only confirmed Sebastian's idea of heading out earlier than usual. He looked down the length of the Slytherin table, popping a grape into his mouth and tasting it, before immediately having another. There was a fourth year he had seen around the dungeons a few times, but didn't know him well enough to stir up a conversation. Bash also didn't really have the time. With that in mind, he finished his grapes and dropped his remaining fruit into his pot, before laboriously hauling it out of the dining hall.
Post by Lindsey Bryce on Aug 4, 2020 9:31:00 GMT 10
Lindsey had come in right behind Tom, a smile on her face as she wore her outfit. It felt nice to dress up and she glanced around, slowing a little to allow herself to look around. The great hall was quite active and as she looked around, she saw a few people from her house and the few she had met recently. Mostly, Anjay Xcalyn who she had met this morning during Homework Hall.
Finally, she headed over to the Slytherin table and sat across from Tom, grabbing some food and placed it on her plate. It was good to get some food in her stomach, but she leaned across and grabbed an apple for a snack, as well as some nuts. As she put those away, she wondered about maybe grabbing something for Mungo, but thought better of it. She wouldn't make it back to the common room before the Afternoon Tea, she would get him something for dinner.
"So, do ye want to try again tonight after dinner for that thing we found?" She asked, taking a bite of her food as she looked over at him. Putting her bag in the place next to her, she glanced around for Avery.
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