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.
The season's shift was far more noticeable now, as the sun set sooner and the nights grew colder. Though the enchanted ceiling occasionally showed a glimpse of moonlight and a starry sky, the afternoon's wispy clouds increased by sundown -- often obscuring the view.
The Great Hall began to fill with its usual chatter, though the excitement of today's practices and tomorrow's match made Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws especially hungry or conversational.
Flich and Mrs Norris prowled near the main doors -- attentive, as if on the lookout for suspicious individuals, in the knowledge that most won't be tucked away in their Common Rooms tonight. But they didn't linger, soon departing for other duties. Each Head of House quickly got one last spoonful of dinner, then hurried from the Hall as well.
In fact, 2nd year students were the only ones who were promised an ordinary and restful night. As a rare occurrence, and right before the Christmas holidays, everyone else had some sort of event or class to head off to right after dinner. Not even 1st years escaped a busy schedule, dreading what Professor Hathmore had in mind for them when daytime lessons were scary enough.
A few 7th years got lucky, as the classes scheduled for N.E.W.T students always depended on if they took that specific class. And some of them had opted out, thus could join the 2nd years in an unusually quiet Common Room experience at night. Some 5th years shared that fate, as theirs was entirely optional -- and most indeed chose not to attend.
There were some curious whispers about one of those classes though, as Professor Fairburn made rounds to each house table -- reminding her 7th year students to have their overnight bag packed and to meet her at the Front Gates after dinner. It was most unusual, but not even those attending had any clue as to what was going on that it warranted an overnight stay.
A few housemates joked (which wasn't necessarily appreciated by those nervous about the event) that maybe they were headed to Romania's dragon outpost. Wishful thinking at its finest.
4th years were perhaps the most active tonight; they only had a short time to enjoy their dinner, before having to head off for their mysterious night event. Older students, especially 6th and 7th years, weren't at all helpful in revealing what to expect. However, there was the general advice to finish dinner early and have a shower -- so they're well-presented for whatever awaited them. Tying back long hair and foregoing robes was among those subtle tips.
Schedule Reminder(night)
Academics Class -- for 6th years who take it. Class thread is available to post in, but the lesson won't begin until Dinner has concluded.
Founder's Frivolity -- Mandatory for 4th years. Optional for 5th years, who can come and go as they please. A thread is available at the Founder's Ballroom in case anyone wants to get an early start, though the event won't begin until Dinner has concluded.
Forest Venture (AQ) --MJ Birdwhistle is welcome to make a thread at the Forbidden Forest whenever ready to start the AQ. Professor Rivera will arrive to join her once Dinner has concluded.
Post by Amber Lloyd on Oct 11, 2023 20:48:18 GMT 10
With determination, Amber quickly made her way to the Ravenclaw table. She was ravenously hungry, as her day had been quite active: First, Quidditch practise, then she had fought fire, and most of the afternoon had consisted of duelling.
This had drained her energy, which she now desired to fill up with a hearty meal. Amber selected a stew with bread as a side and dug in.
The stew was delicious and she ate every bite with relish. She also enjoyed the side effect from it, as the warmth of the stew started to spread through her whole body and pushed out the cold.
Remembering the cold and hearing some gossip about Quidditch, her mind turned to tomorrow. Amber sure hoped that they wouldn't freeze to death on their brooms then...
But more than that, any exhaustion she had felt earlier vanished. Instead, she was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
She couldn't wait for tomorrow, her craving for getting onto a broom was quite high, though a tiny bit of anxiety still lingered. Practise had been great, and she hoped it would be enough for tomorrow. They would find out then.
For now though, she wouldn't be able to do anything more. Perhaps trying to calm down and relax was the way to go. Though quite difficult, if the chatter around one was mostly filled with the topic of Quidditch.
Amber sighed and tried to turn off the chatter, which wasn't easy. However, instead of Quidditch another subject was discussed, especially between the fourth years: the Founder's Frivolity.
She listened for a while before she pondered if she should join it. It wouldn't be a bad idea as it had been quite a while since her last dance. At least such a formal type of dance. Over the summer she had been to enough festivities near her home and had participated in folk dance, but that was quite a difference.
However, Amber didn't want to attend the event alone. Hm, would her two Hufflepuff friends join her? They hadn't talked about that yet...
Maybe they would rather go to bed early because of the Quidditch match tomorrow. But Amber knew she wouldn't be able to rest so soon either. And perhaps a little bit more exercise would actually help her get to sleep later...
She guessed she would try to catch them later right after dinner.
For now, she pocketed some nuts for tomorrow, before she continued eating her stew.
Last Edit: Oct 12, 2023 2:51:55 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 11, 2023 20:53:08 GMT 10
MJ hurried into the Great Hall and sat down at her house table without taking in the room around her. It was only when she was halfway through adding some chicken and ham pie (along with mashed potatoes and gravy) to her plate that she took a look around.
She watched as Professor Fairburn stopped to talk to some older students but all she caught was 'over-night bag' and she raised her brows.
Turning to her left she noticed Amber and gave the older girl a smile but she looked tired so MJ didn't start a conversation. If Amber wanted to talk, she'd be happy to chat but it seemed like they were both focused on eating.
After she demolished half the pie, MJ added some carrots to her plate and pocketed an apple -- might be useful later.
She glanced at the top table and did her best not to bounce with too much excitement for her evening plans. She couldn't believe she was going to go into the Forbidden Forest! At night!
Post by Martha Twiggs on Oct 11, 2023 20:57:10 GMT 10
It had been a long and tiring day but it wasn't done yet.
Martha sat at the Hufflepuff table, eating some soup and bread as she kept an eye on some first and second years. Not that she didn't trust them but she was a Prefect so it was always a good idea to be alert.
She wondered who else had signed up for the Academics class... Would Caleb be there? Jaxen? She didn't know if it was Duncan's idea of fun... Maybe Taesang would be attending.
He had seemed rather intense during their Charms class earlier.
Despite how delicious the soup was and the cosy atmosphere of the Great Hall, Martha knew there was no use in lingering. She didn't want to show up late to her class so she finished up the bread roll she had buttered and then her dinner.
Washing it down with a glass of water, Martha rose from her place and doubled checked where she needed to be for Academics -- she noticed a few classmates also leaving the Great Hall and some seventh years chatting to Professor Fairburn.
It seemed like it was a busy evening for a lot of people.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Oct 11, 2023 21:06:07 GMT 10
"Why won't anyone tell us what's happening?" Kody whined through a mouthful of food. Seventh years were doing something fun with Fairburn and Fifth years were laughing at the Fourth years for some reason.
"What's the Fri... Friffolly?" Kody asked. He had read the word once, ignored it and went on with his day. Actually, he had completely forgotten about the whole thing before someone mentioned it at dinner.
So it was for real?
Kody shovelled more food into his mouth and pouted as he chewed. He hated not having answers -- mysteries and surprises were not fun!
Hopefully someone would put him out of his misery before dinner was done and he was herded off to whatever the Fridilly-dally was!
Post by William Doren on Oct 11, 2023 21:09:26 GMT 10
William sat at the end of the Slytherin table, close to the doors to the Great Hall. He preferred this spot over all the others as he was less likely to be roped into a conversation over dinner.
One of his least favourite things.
He still didn't understand why anyone wanted to talk with their mouth full of food, spitting pieces of whatever at each other as they talked and laughed and generally acted like idiots with zero manners.
They had been raised wrong.
He cut into his beef and was glad his parents had instilled the proper values into him and sisters. He missed them, of course, but the Christmas holiday was just around the corner. William was confident everything would be back to normal then.
Mother and Father would be at home, waiting for them.
Everything that had been said against them would be scrubbed away and their lives would go back to normal.
That was what William thought about while he slowly but methodically made his way through his plate of food.
Post by Alora Sagemore on Oct 12, 2023 3:47:02 GMT 10
Right after her last duel, Alora strut into the Great Hall and headed straight to the Gryffindor table. She took a moment to look for her sister, before she settled down near Kody by accident.
While humming, she scanned the table for food, she was in the mood for. What wouldn’t she give now for some braai… Alora sure hoped they would get the chance to eat some at home soon! For now though, she had to settle with meat pie and some vegetables.
Her humming stopped when she started to ear, but she still emanated a rather cheerful mood. Having won her first duel today and having successfully brewed a potion had made her day.
Although, after Snape’s answer at class she had been shortly disappointed as she found out that the one potion, she was (possibly) now able to brew, had no great use for her. However, the Engorgement Charm had sounded interesting – even it almost certainly sounded like a Transfiguration Charm, so there was that.
And she surely wouldn’t suddenly fall in love with potions over today, but perhaps she would start to not feel dread or annoyance by the mere mention of Potion class…
All in all, she had in fact made progress in this challenge for her and was proud of it. Alora really wanted to tell Kamari and her parents about that!
While she munched happily on her food, her thoughts about potions where soon distracted by the chatter around her. Something about a Frifo-whatzit? Alora listened with one ear, only interested halfway as it seemed something to be for higher years.
Post by Thorne Perry on Oct 12, 2023 7:17:47 GMT 10
Thorne still felt chilly after washing up for dinner; his afternoon hunting ingredients had been productive, but the cool air had certainly sank in. He waved at Alora, waved at MJ, and shivered a little as he slid into his seat, ladling out some soup and taking a couple crusty rolls...almost. His hand instantly deviated from the rolls to the slices of tiger bread the moment he noticed them, toasted to perfection.
He munched his way through dinner, noticing that sixth years were leaving quickly, and some of the other years looked....slightly annoyed? Slightly anxious? A mixture of feelings, though there was certainly some excitement in there too.
...and he was actually proud of himself for noticing. Last year, he would have just paid attention to his own little circle of friends. He took another spoonful of soup, watching everyone around him contentedly.
Last Edit: Oct 12, 2023 7:32:53 GMT 10 by Thorne Perry
Post by Cynthia Rushton on Oct 12, 2023 7:24:18 GMT 10
Warnings about long hair, showers and not wearing robes didn't make Cynthia feel good about whatever was happening tonight. It seemed like some sort of matchmaker superstition. That being said, she was in her neatest uniform when she appeared for dinner, her damp hair neatly braided and tucked under her collar just to be on the safe side.
Her nerves were a little high as she looked at the table. It was always better to face new things well-fed, but...she didn't know what she could stomach!
In the end, she went light - toast, tomatoes and a couple small slices of roast chicken.
At least it was better than nothing. And, just in case, she tucked an apple and some nuts away in her pocket. Maybe she'd find her appetite later.
Post by Orla Fallwater on Oct 12, 2023 8:30:45 GMT 10
Orla stumbled her way to a space at the table, feeling heavy-limbed and more than a little dozy. She settled in and reached for scoops of mashed potato and beans, sighing contendedly now that she had something tasty to focus on.
During the brief time after class, Orla had slunk into her unmade bed, star-fished her limbs and stared at the dusty canopy above until her stomach growled. Potion's had been very involved and she felt like her brain had worn out from keeping track of all the steps, ingredients, measurements, and the stupidly accurate timing...
Still, annoying though it was, Orla enjoyed knowing she had made a good potion at the end of the class.
She smiled to herself and speared some sausages off a platter with her fork, her eyes scanning her housemates as she chewed. Now that she was feeling a little more grounded, Orla tuned into the buzz around the Hall, slowly deciphering that there was a whole host of activities for the other years tonight.
Second years seemingly had nothing to do but relax and study, which Orla found incredibly unfair. She pouted, and shoved another sausages into her mouth.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Oct 12, 2023 15:44:46 GMT 10
As dinner began to wrap up, MJ finished up her food and downed whatever was left of her pumpkin juice.
She had waved at Thorne as he had entered the Great Hall and did the same back when she exited. She also made sure to smile and wave at her friend Orla. MJ hadn't had a chance to hang out with her friends much in recent days, busy with classes and other things.
Hopefully that would change over Christmas.
MJ had brought everything she needed with her in her satchel so wouldn't need to stop by her Common Room. She could go straight to meeting with Professor Rivera and then into the Forbidden Forest.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Oct 12, 2023 15:47:25 GMT 10
Kody grumbled about the lack of dessert to help with morale since they were being tortured that evening.
Well, he assumed whatever they were being herded too wasn't going to be great due to the various reactions around the Great Hall from Fourth and Fifth years. Some girls were giggling and blushing! Why! That was so weird!
Reluctantly, he finished his dinner and wiped his hands clean (on a napkin and not his robes for once) before he joined a swarm of students who were leaving the Great Hall at the same time.
Maybe if he melded into the crowd he could get away with hiding?
Yeah, he had a bad feeling about tonight, which just made him pout as he walked along.
Post by William Doren on Oct 12, 2023 16:01:52 GMT 10
More students began to leave the Great Hall and William took that as his cue to finish up his dinner.
He didn't hurry as that would possibly upset his stomach but made sure to eat everything on his plate and finish off his beverage as well. He wouldn't have someone say he wasted food or had bad manners.
After dabbing his lips with a napkin, he left his used dinnerware in a neat pile. Whatever happened to it wasn't really his concern as he rose to his feet again.
The Founder's Frivolity was optional attendance for Fifth years and William was in two minds about whether he should attend or not. He had gone through that ordeal last year but he didn't have an issue with attending again.
Besides, what else had he to do this evening aside from studying in his dormitory?
William debated what he would do as he left the Great Hall. As long as he was productive that evening, he would be satisfied.
Post by Cynthia Rushton on Oct 12, 2023 21:40:07 GMT 10
No sweets appeared to mark the end of dinner this time - dinner just vanished. Cynthia felt her stomach tighten just a bit with nerves. It wasn't that she was precisely worried - there would be professors there! They wouldn't put students in serious danger! - but the air of the unknown unnerved her a bit. She didn't like not knowing what to expect.
All the same, she stood gamely, inspecting her uniform to make sure it was free of crumbs and dust, double checked that her hair was still woven in its neat plait, and hurried out.
Learning what the Frivolity was, at least, should ease some of her nerves.