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.
It was an unusual sight, seeing the Great Hall so empty despite dinner having started. Younger years either knew there was some sort of event going on elsewhere for 4th years and above, or were confused / suspicious as a result of being completely out of the loop.
Either way, they had free reign of the Great Hall during dinner. None of the Professors or even the Headmaster were present, nor any Prefects or otherwise -- just a few leftover or background staff to keep a general eye on things. With so much free space, and these unusual circumstances during the Christmas holidays, students were even allowed a rare occurrence of mingling among houses throughout dinner.
Dinner for 4th years and above (if permitted to attend) occur at the Founder's Ballroom location, as part of our night-long Founder's Ball event. It's business as usual for 3rd years and below, minus any exceptions mentioned above.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Nov 3, 2023 19:51:02 GMT 10
The Great Hall was weirdly empty for dinner that evening and MJ looked up and down the table as she wondered how the older students were doing -- they had a ball thing to go to, right?
That seemed so far away for them that MJ didn't think she had anything to worry about.
She picked something to eat (beef lasagna and some garlic bread) and hoped a friend or two would show up. At least the benches were roomy without all the extra students here! She wriggled happily and tucked into her dinner.
It seemed like the perfect sort of setting for her friend Charlotte to enjoy as the noise level was slightly reduced as well.
Thinking about it, she grabbed an apple for later too. Just in case! And poured herself a glass of juice as well.
She'd keep an eye out for a friend and wave them over to sit with her.
The hall was quiet and they were distinctly missing the older students. Blue eyes scanned the Great Hall in question before falling on a mostly empty Slytherin table with a groan.
He wondered if he could get away with sitting somewhere else - just this once.
Maybe? If he was lucky?
He saw MJ at her table and, with a shrug, set off in her direction. If he got in trouble he'd handle it from there! Sliding in across from her he offered her a wave in greeting before glancing around to make sure no one was glaring at him.
No. It seemed to be fine for once! Breakfast was one thing but dinner was always go to your seats! and Giovi was rather content to sit here with someone he knew.
"It's quiet," he said, trying to think of the best way to talk to her, the best conversation to have. But that was the best he had. It's quiet. He was smooth.
Reaching over to pocket an apple for later, he offered what he could of a smile. Sure, he was confused but he could still be polite.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Nov 3, 2023 22:27:27 GMT 10
MJ was glad to see Giovi, a Slytherin Classmate, had opted to sit with her. She waved back as she had just taking a big bite of her dinner and hurried to chew and swallow so she could reply to him.
"It's really weird, isn't it? It was kinda like this over Christmas last year just... More empty." MJ remarked, looking around the Great Hall again. Her gaze travelled up to the enchanted ceiling and she saw it was still snowing.
"Did you have fun with the Hopstacle course? I saw you there but I didn't get a chance to say hi. I named my Dragon Toad Falkor." She chuckled, glad to have someone to sit with.
She hoped he didn't mind talking during dinner as it was just something she was used to.
Taking a moment to gather some food, Giovi listened to MJ speak about last year's Christmas. Taking a bite of meatloaf that reminded him a bit of his Mom's cooking, he savored it for a moment.
"Was it?" he asked, glancing up, "I got to go home last year..." but not this year.
Business had summoned his father to France and they'd be there by the end of today. He sulked a little about it but there was nothing much he could do about it. He was sad, sure, but there was bound to be something to get into around the castle during Christmas.
He could sulk about it later. For now he had MJ to talk to and to enjoy the atmosphere. With the older students mostly disappeared it was nice to have some... ease. No wild chaos, no screaming or shouting and the glares from further down the table. AND he'd not gotten in trouble for sitting next to MJ at the Ravenclaw table!
"I had a ton of fun! Phillip, that's what I called him, was really cool! I actually know how to ride horses and it wasn't that different. My Dad breeds them, you know? I grew up on the farm and doing all the -" he stopped abruptly.
Muggle stuff. In his excitement he had embarrassed himself but, hey, he loved his home and he loved working with the horses even if it meant hard physical work sometimes.
"Did you have fun? Did you finish? I think it was my favorite event I've attended."
Last Edit: Nov 4, 2023 14:20:54 GMT 10 by Lena: Readability. Please don't start dialogue on a big paragraph.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Nov 4, 2023 2:23:11 GMT 10
"I stayed since it was my first year at magic school and I asked if I could stay again this year." MJ shrugged. She loved Christmas at home, sure, but being at school meant she got to do a lot of stuff for class.
"You'll have fun this year, promise! We can play Gobstones or duel together or something?" She offered, taking a sip of her juice.
"I'm going to start the Potions Extra-curricular Quest. Have you seen the information for it?" There was a lot to do but MJ had some of the things needed already -- thank goodness!
MJ listened as Giovi talked about riding horses and growing up on a farm. His excitement infected her too, "Same! Kinda! It's not a real farm... Not a working one. My Great Auntie calls it a hobby farm but we have some animals and an orchard and we live in a big, old farmhouse too!"
It was cool having someone else who knew what she was talking about. Orla and Thorne had got to visit during the summer before second year and MJ had had a great time, sharing her home with them.
"Yeah it was great fun and I finished! The dive into the pond at the end was so cold! Thank goodness the teacher was there to warm us up, I think Madam Pomfrey would have been mad at me for showing up twice in one day." She chuckled, taking bites of her dinner in between talking.
She nodded when Giovi said it was his favourite event since she had enjoyed it a great deal as well.
"What will you do tonight? Are you going to hang out in your Common Room?" MJ kept it a secret that she had sneaked into the Slytherin Common Room during her first year and knew what it was like -- she quite liked the atmosphere.
"I tend to miss my brothers and sister if I'm gone too long, but dad had business in France." he explained. He would have gone home gladly! He missed the hay, the smell of the farm, his friends he made there. It was something that he couldn't tell anyone but, if he was lucky, he'd get to take care of Creatures here one day.
"I'd like to hang out with you! I am alright at gobstones and could use dueling improvement." he wasn't good at it in the slightest. But if he could learn how to keep going it would all be worth it, right?
Maybe they could share secrets and learn more dueling techniques together. That sounded like fun. As for the extra credit potions... well, Giovi would have to work on that, too if he got the chance. He knew he needed it.
"I finished too! I thought I'd freeze in that water." he beamed at her before he allowed himself more food. Ugh it reminded him of home and he'd have to ask his mom to make him some next time he got the chance to see her.
"Hobby farms are just as busy as real ones," he commented with a shrug, "You still have to feed the animals, take care of them, do all the chores. It's work. But it's worth it."Or he thought it was, anyway.
"What did you do to end up there today, then?" he asked about the hospital wing, watching her for a moment, eating in silence for a bit before she asked him what he would be doing tonight.
"Is there any other option?" he asked with a frown. "Hang out alone for a while. But I guess that's alright. I can draw or something... where are the older students, anyway?" He really wanted to know! They had to be somewhere!
Last Edit: Nov 4, 2023 14:21:20 GMT 10 by Lena: Readability
Post by Alora Sagemore on Nov 4, 2023 4:41:14 GMT 10
Alora entered the Great Hall and abruptly stopped as the rather empty hall was quite unusual to see.
So much fewer students, no Professors, even no Prefects.
She took an unsure look around, deciding on where to sit. She had no desire to spend dinner alone in such a quiet environment. Was there someone she knew?
While searching Alora spotted two of her classmates sitting at the Ravenclaw table, though one surely was a Slytherin.
Wait, were they allowed to do that? During dinner?
Well, it seemed no one really minded. And there wasn’t really someone who could say anything against that. Great!
With a grin Alora made a beeline towards her two classmates – carefully as not to tumble over anything, like her feet. She managed to do so (barely) and gracefully stood next to MJ.
“Can I join you both?” Alora asked with a smile and her typical straight up posture.
She had first thought about just settling down next to them, but that would be rather rude if the two didn’t want to be interrupted. And Alora wanted to make a good impression on them – not only because she was a Sagemore, but also to start off a potential friendship on the right foot.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Nov 4, 2023 4:51:52 GMT 10
"We just need to make sure you have such a fun Christmas at school then." MJ said, hoping Giovi wouldn't been too homesick over the holidays.
Hanging out together would help, "I got a bunch of stuff I plan to do... But we definitely need to duel together!"
She reminded the tournament she skipped last year and hoped it would happen again this school year. MJ regretted not joining.
A Gryffindor girl that MJ recognised from classes but hadn't spoken to much before appeared next to her and she eagerly pat the empty space on the bench, "Please do. Something is on tonight so there doesn't seem to be as many older students."
"I was going to go looking for an ingredient after dinner. It's on my way to Ravenclaw Tower so it should be okay." MJ grinned, mischievously, at both classmates. It felt naughty to do something at night time like this.
But she didn't know where the older students had gone and couldn't give Giovi an answer for that. Maybe Alora would know...?
Post by Alora Sagemore on Nov 4, 2023 5:29:11 GMT 10
Alora’s smile turned more brightly as she was invited to join them. She gladly took the seat besides MJ, giving Giovi a smile as a greeting, before she looked along the table for something to eat.
She picked some beef stew with bread as a side and filled up her bowl while listening to MJ.
Alora tilted her hand while she thought back on the letter Kamari had gotten from their Papa. She had read it after all. The whole letter. Including the postscript.
It might not have been her place to read it, but her sister had given her the letter. It could have been something important in there!
Until now Alora hadn’t really thought about it much, but now it made a bit more sense.
“I think they all are invited to something called the Founder’s Ball. Do you have an idea what that might be?” She asked in return.
Alora picked up a spoon and started to eat her stew, making sure to not let a single drop escape her spoon.
“What ingredient?” Alora asked curiously.
It sounded like the Ravenclaw girl was up to no-good – which made Alora feel torn. On the one hand, she liked the idea, it sounded like a welcome challenge to her! On the other hand, she was a Sagemore and it was expected of her to abide the rules – and there was a reason for them after all!
“By the way, is any one of you going home for Christmas?” She asked them. Perhaps she would have other people to ride the train with her apart from her sister then?
Although, she of course loved the train rides with her! Sister time, after all!
Post by Tobias Twiggs on Nov 4, 2023 6:39:59 GMT 10
Toby practically skipped into the Great Hall, only hesitating for a moment when he realized how quiet it was. Had something terrible happened that had called the older students away? No...
He'd heard of some kind of special event that was happening somewhere in the castle, that must've been where they were. He seemed to remember this happening last year too, though he'd barely paid it any attention. This time would be no different, though he couldn't see Joe or Ryan among the students present.
Maybe they were in their common room?
Heading for the Gryffindor table instead, he sat down and began helping himself to some potatoes and some kind of meat - it looked like chicken? Then ladled a generous helping of potatoes onto his plate. He hoped that his friends would make an appearance soon, because it really was no fun without them.
Giovi appreciated MJ for her kindness, he really did. It wasn't every day that someone offered to help make sure he had a fun time when everyone else was away.
"If you don't mind, I'd love to tag along with you to your adventures." he responded, barely daring a glance upward. MJ was the prettiest Ravenclaw he knew - surely there were others that would want her time and attention too. He couldn't hoarde his friend, could he?
He took a bite of his food as they were joined by someone else - a Gryffindor. He waved at her, but couldn't speak with his mouth full. His mom had always told him that was rude and he shouldn't. Especially not to a girl.
Boy, she stood straight. He recognized her from his classes. Sagemore or something like that. A lot of people made a big deal about her but, honestly, she was just a second year like him, right? It wasn't like she was royal or anything. Was she?
Oh.
After finishing his mouth full of food he offered her a polite nod in greeting as the Gryffindor settled herself with them and explained it was a ball of some kind. Hmn. Interesting.
But before he could dwell on the ball too much MJ was talking about an ingredient and he perked up instantly.
"What kind?" he asked almost at the same time as the Sagemore girl, knowing without a doubt he would be going with his Ravenclaw friend to assist should the need arise. Giovi was good at navigating trouble.
Sagemore asked about going home for Christmas and Giovi shook his head. Not him. Nope. He was here for the holiday as much as that hurt.
"I'm here for the season, unfortunately. How about you? Do you get to go home?"
Post by Jonathan King on Nov 4, 2023 7:03:49 GMT 10
Joe limped slightly as he had a rather big bruise forming on his hip where he had landed on the ground earlier, slipping of the Dragon Toad's back.
He refused to have it treated, however. Instead he wore it like badge of honour. It was part of his reward after all. Alongside the fun he had and the new friend he'd made, Beanie the beanie eating Dragon Toad.
He frowned at the emptiness of the Great Hall. Also, students from different houses were mingling, he spotted French Boy and Sagemore at the Ravenclaw table with MJ.
He waved at them as he passed by. But did not stop to chat. Joe had a very clear goal: Toby sat alone at the Gryffindlor table.
Joe could feel his heart flutter when he sat down next to his best friend. He'd never sat on this table before and it felt wrong somehow.
But he had to sit with his best friend! He was leaving tomorrow!
And it was so empty...
Oh! Most of the older students were missing!
"You think the older students got eaten by Dragon Toads?" He leaned over to whisper into Toby's ear.
Post by Tobias Twiggs on Nov 4, 2023 8:37:00 GMT 10
Toby noticed Joe before he'd even arrived at the table, his eyes alighting when they came across him walking towards the Gryffindor table. Or, walking was perhaps too strong of a word, as it appeared his friend was favouring one leg more than the other, resulting in a rather prominent limp.
"Joe!" he waved him over, a concerned expression appearing on his face as he realized that his friend must be hurt. He wondered if he had fallen during the mornings flying. Toby had thought the lunatic who'd almost collided with him had been Joe, and he'd lost track of him after that.
Poor Joe.
"Are you okay?" he asked, grabbing the closest plate (which happened to be the potato plate) and began piling potatoes onto a smaller plate to offer his friend, because apparently roast potatoes were the key to helping the Ravenclaw feel better.
It was a travesty that he was leaving tomorrow when Joe seemed to be injured. But Toby didn't feel bad enough to miss the holiday of his lifetime (not that his parents would allow him to remain behind anyway).
Post by Kamari Sagemore on Nov 4, 2023 8:56:15 GMT 10
Kamari had been hopeful. She'd sent the letter quickly this morning hoping that Papa would have been able to work some magic to get her dress robes... but he hadn't had the chance.
She accepted responsibility for missing the mark. Of course she did. She'd been the one that had failed to write. It still was kind of sad. There wasn't a single year mate in sight. Everyone was at the ball save for Kamari but she figured that was alright.
There was supposed to be press or something there and she didn't want to be gawked at but William and Kody were there. And she was sad to be without her friends. Even for just a night.
She figured she could sit down at dinner, eat quickly, and then retreat back to the common room. Draw as little attention as possible. Well, that was easier said than done for a Sagemore she was sure but she could keep her head down and sit with her sister.
Let them think she had chosen to stay with her sister - she wouldn't correct them. In fact, only William knew the truth and he seemed to be the kind to keep her business her own. She hoped he wasn't a gossip, anyway.
She didn't ask to sit down, only slipped silently next to her sister and pulled some food over to herself, stuffing an apple and some nuts in her pocket for later, she glanced over at the second years and lifted her hand in greeting.
She didn't need to talk. She needed to eat and flee. It'd be better that way.