Happy to be Back
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 12-13-03 20:53

Although she'll sorely miss Papa Wal and the Bolts, Coco is so excited to be back at school she's having a hard time sitting still. Getting off the train in Hogsmeade, she'd seen Hagrid calling the first years to gather 'round him and as she passed by on her way to the carriages, he'd invited Pea to come visit Fang before breakfast in the morning. That had delighted Coco and wee Pea is thrilled about getting to see his good friend again soon. Once at the carriages, Coco was happy to see the darkly beautiful Thestrals pawing and stamping the ground, waiting impatiently to head up to Hogwarts. It still amazes Coco to know that not everyone can see the gorgeous creatures!

Now, with the Sorting Ceremony completed and the feast well underway, Coco is practically dancing in her seat, smiling and calling greetings to the new Ravenclaws and chatting animatedly with Fritz about what to expect during second year classes. Best of all for Coco, being a second year means she's just one year away from being able to take what she knows will be her most favorite class of all time at Hogwarts - Care of Magical Creatures.


Re: Prefect Duties
Author: Nora
Date: 12-13-03 21:55

Nora stood slowly and walked over to prefects Draco and Pansy, following them down to the Slytherin common room, stumbling a few times on the way, still feeling the affects of the wooden table and not eating in a few days, but she wasn't going to voluntarily tell anyone about her eating problem.

"So...who are you two? I'm Nora M. or Pirate because of my eye-patch...." She sighed and stared intently at the floor as she walked, a few strands of light blond hair falling across her face. "I just transferred in from Durmstrang, I'm got expelled at the end of term last year."

Muttering something about a massive headache and still being dizzy, Nora rubbed the forming knot on her forehead then wiped a tear from her ice blue eye.


Dining and Thinking
Author: Brett Kingston
Date: 12-14-03 06:53

Well this year was sure to be interesting. Five new first year Slytherins and 3 new transfer students all in Slytherin. What was the Sorting Hat thinking?? I ponder this as I finish off the delicious food from my plate that has now started growing larger in my stomach from the feast.

Still pondering about the new Slytherins, I lean over and nudge Oreil to stay awake. She seems to be falling asleep more easily now. With a shake of her head, she sits up straight, opens her eyes, and grins ruefully at me, then closes her eyes and leans her head onto my shoulder as if I were a pillow to sleep on.

"Come on Oreil," I mutter. "Let's get you up to the common room so you can get to bed. How's that sound?" I say as I move to stand up and pull her along with me.

She grumbles something to which I can not make out. Taking that as a yes, I pull her off the bench and head out of the Great Hall half dragging Oriel so that she doesn't fall and hit her head like that new Slytherin girl did.

HEHE, I think to myself. It was rather funny. My thoughts are immediately pulled back to my question earlier. Why are there so many new Slytherins this year? Is this a sign that trouble awaits with no uncertain time as to when it will strike?

I shrug thinking to table the information inside my head until later when I wasn't carrying Oriel up the stairs and tucking her into bed. What an interesting year this was likely to turn out to be.


Returning the Look
Author: Nick Stokes
Date: 12-14-03 07:46

Nick had heard the kid's head crack on the table, more of a dull bang really, nothing as satisfying as an actual crack.

Nick tore his gaze away from Professor McGonagall to look at the Pirate girl. He thought about how funny it would be to stretch her eye patch and then let it twang back to her face. He was just laughing at this thought when Professor McGonagall was upon him, he looked up and she was glaring at him sharply.

"Now is not the time for fun and games young man." she snapped at him. Her eyes were unblinking and Nick found himself looking down at his own feet. He had half a mind to say "I thought it was a feast, supposed to be fun isn't it?" but he held his tongue. He figured she was the type to clip his ears. "Betcha you're gonna be a barrel of laughs." he thought sulkily as she went to help Pirate.


Playing Password
Author: Jared
Date: 12-14-03 09:12

Jared, opposite Orie and Brett at the table, greeted the new Gryffindors who'd sat near enough to him to hear over the din once the feast began. He'd joined in a conversation on what Hogwarts' is like, who the teachers are, and what to expect. A conversation that to the new second year seemed very deja vú of the talk around him during his first Hogwarts' feast one year ago.

When the time comes for the fifth year prefects to began gathering their charges for their walks to their respective houses, Jared notices that Brett, with a very drowsy Orie, is already nearing the doors. Oh, he probably doesn't know the new password and will have to stand around with this arms getting tired while waiting on the rest of us to arrive.

Jared hurries over and taps another prefect on the shoulder, asking the new Gryffindor password. He nods in understand as the prefect bends near his ear, the better to be heard over the noise in the Great Hall, and rushes after Brett and Sleeping Beauty Orie.


Touring the Common Room
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 12-14-03 09:58

"My name is Draco Malfoy. I'm a seventh year, and this sorry piece of sh––"

"I'm Pansy Parkinson," she quickly interjected, shooting a furious glance in Draco's direction. "I'm also a seventh year."

If Nora noticed the blatant hostility between the two prefects, she didn't show it. Instead she rubbed her forehead half-soothingly, half-vigorously and touched her fingers to her bottom eyelashes.

Draco and Pansy led her inside the Slytherin common room and gave her a brief tour, with Pansy promising to take Nora to the second year girls dormitory when she was ready.

"So, what's with the eye-patch?" Draco asked bluntly, when they all sat down on one of the sofas. He hadn't stared at her like many of the others, or made the comment in jest. Curiosity simply overcame him, and now seemed as good a time as any to ask.


Re: Touring the Common Room
Author: Nora
Date: 12-14-03 10:18

Nora laughed a bit at Draco's argument with Pansy and suddenly went quiet, taking a new intrest in her feet. "Oh, the eye-patch... Well, back in my first few days at Durmstrang I was harassed by countless other students... and then there was a rather painful 'accident' in the courtyard I lost the sight in my eye."

She glanced at the two prefects before continuing. "After that, I became one of the worst troublemakers ever at that school. It was quite fun terrorizing all of my professors, not to mention breaking into the headmaster's office...which got me expelled...but it was all for fun, and I still have to spell book I took from him!" She smiled for the first time and looked up at Draco.


Sitting Back Down...
Author: Prof Minerva McGonagall
Date: 12-14-03 11:42

I turn and make my way back up to the long table, and take my place next to Professor Dumbledore. I retrieve my goblet and take a sip, as the Professor leans my way. "So, Minerva, what was that about?" He asks quietly.

I shake my head, setting the crystal glass carefully back to the table. "I am not to sure, Albus. Madam Pomfrey suggested that her missed meal could be the cause..."

"You believe that there is more to it than that?" He asks, inching slightly closer.

I nod, relaxing my features, ever so slightly. "Albus, I am greatly concerned about this young lady. Perhaps, someone should take her under-wing until the true cause of this unusual spell is determined? I do fear for her health and ultimate safety."

He quietly returns my nod, and then, with a smooth motion of his hand, a beautifully crafted, baked cheese cake topped with cordialed cherries floats smoothly from the opposite end of the table, though I could have sworn that it had not been there a second before. He reaches out and takes the plate from the thin air and presents it to me. "I do believe that this is your favorite? I had to pull many strings to learn that bit of personal knowledge about you, Minerva!"

I fight desperately to curtail the smile I know is trying to immerge. I will have to learn how he found this out about me. "Yes, Albus..." I say as I take a small slice. "It is my favorite." He smiles brightly, no doubt reeling with delight. Tonight has been one surprise, after another.


Let the Battle Begin...
Author: Santhea Fennally
Date: 12-14-03 13:48

Still fuming, Santhea entered the Common Room. Who did Malfoy think he was? What gave him the right to glare daggers at her when he had wronged her, not the other way round? As for Parkinson... Oh, she would make Pansy's miserable life a living hell! That smug grin that had been plastered on her face...

In that very moment she caught sight of both prefects, and the second year they had escorted to the Hospital Wing. The girl was glancing up at Draco as if he was some sort of god, if that annoying smile was anything to go by.

Approaching the three, she snarled, "Why Malfoy, seeking your new girlfriend amongst the second years now? You must be desperate indeed. You know, I bet Parkinson would love to worship the ground you walk on, so you needed stoop this low. But of course, have it your way..."

The stunned expression on Draco's face gave her at least some kind of consolation. And Parkinson looked as if she was considering just which curse to bestow upon Santhea. With a smirk she commented, "Why Parkinson, if you think any harder your head might explode..."

Draco, no, that's Malfoy now, had apparently found his voice again and said in a dangerously low whisper, "If I were you, Fennally, I'd get out of here now!" Santhea would have to ready herself for remarks like this. It wouldn't do if Malfoy could get to her this easily. 'But it hurts!' her heart complained...

Glaring back at him, she raised an eyebrow in a challenging way, "And to think it was 'Santhea' not so long ago. Well, I'm glad to be rid of you." Turning to Pansy again she added, "And if anything about something particular crosses your lips, I swear you will be sorry for it!"

Then, giving the second year a winning smile, she extended her hand and said, "By the way, I'm Santhea..." The girl took her hand and just muttered her name, apparently too stunned by the conversation she had just witnessed.

Santhea once again shot Malfoy a murderous glare and then made her way to her dormitory. No, she would not cry because of that self-absorbed, pompous bastard, she wouldn't!


Perfect Prefect
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 12-14-03 14:40

"Guess we should go introduce ourselves," Isolde said, "especially you, since you're a perfect prefect now." She grinned at Alexis.

"Yeah, whatever." Alexis rolled her eyes at Isolde as she rose out of her seat, "Okay, here I go."

She wandered a little ways down the table where Alicia Waterhouse sat surrounded by the new first years.

"Hello, I'm Alexis Black. Welcome to Slytherin." She extended her hand. Alexis heard Devo and Isolde giggling from down the table at her. Irked, she shot them an evil look before returning a slight smile back to Alicia, "We're in the same year and the same dormitory, so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. That's Isolde Farnon, Pyrrhus Fine, and Devo Smith. We're all sixth years. You can come sit with us, too, if you'd like. Devo doesn't smell that bad."

"Hey!" Devo said angrily, but Alexis just smirked at her. Alicia smiled slowly and shook Alexis' outstretched hand.


Leaving the Hall
Author: Nick Stokes
Date: 12-14-03 16:28

Nick saw that a few people were leaving and decided to join them. His pea activities had long since become dull, and McGonagall was very boring.

Nick walked away from the table and out of the Great Hall.

"Might as well check out the common room." he said.


The Common Room
Author: Nick Stokes
Date: 12-14-03 16:24

Nick walked into the Slytherin common room, he'd been given the password from another Slytherin.

Inside the common room he found a few slytherins standing or sitting around. The pirate girl was there too.

He walked over to her, and extended a hand to her. "Nick." he said curtly.

She looked at him and then at his hand.


The Common Room
Author: Nora
Date: 12-14-03 16:33

Nora smiled, looking up from her spot on the sofa beside Draco glaring at Santhea "Whatever...leave me alone girl..." she smiled happily and looked back to Nick "Nora. Nice to meet ya!" Slowly she shook his hand and went back to relaxing.


Sitting with the Sixth Years
Author: Alicia Waterhouse
Date: 12-14-03 18:48

Alicia smiled as she took the hand of Alexis Black, "I would enjoy that." Alicia got up and collected her plate before following Alexis back to where the rest of the sixth years were sitting.

She shook everyone's hand and smiled slightly, introducing herself to everyone except Devo and Alexis. The collective nervousness of the first-years had rubbed off on her and she felt jittery and anxious. She looked to the rest of the girls for clues about how to act as she set her plate down.

"So, we're all roommates?" she asked, asking what she already knew and hoping to spark some conversation.


*yawn*
Author: Sora
Date: 12-14-03 19:01

Sora was stuffed! When he finished, he then felt very drowsy. The Gryffindor Head Boy and Girl then came over. "Hello! I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Hermione Granger and I'm a seventh year. I'm also Head Girl, so if you ever have any questions or have a problem, please don't hesitate to find me."

"And I'm Ron, Ron Weasley. I'm also a seventh year, and I'm Head Boy. Nice to meet you all." He said smiling. Sora nodded as he smiled back, but he noticed he was only nodding because he was trying to stay awake! Ohhhhh maaaan... he thought as he fought to stay awake.

The voices of Tranquillina, Roane, Hermoine and Ron were fading out of Sora's mind. "And you're Sora," came Hermione's voice and Sora shot up, putting his attention on her. "Yeah....." he said smiling. She returned the smile. "Welcome to Gryffindor, all of you."

Sora couldn't help it. He then felt his head land on his empty plate. "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."


Recognition
Author: Michael Turin
Date: 12-14-03 20:42

Michael watches the sorting ceremony with interest. Dierna had explained to him about the mind-reading, musical hat, but it just didnÕt compare with seeing the old, battered thing recite names. Throughout the feast he takes the opportunity to chat and get to know his new colleagues, exchanging at least a few words with most of them, except for the Potions Master. That professor had spent most of the feat glaring with little-concealed dislike at this years DADA teacher. Michael would have found that troubling, but Dierna had warned her deputy about Snape, in rather less than tactful terms. (But then again, tact was never one of the Chief Auror's better qualities).

A girl suddenly stands and topples over. She looked familiar, very familiar. Then he remembered. She'd been at Durmstrang. She wouldnÕt recognize him though, without his disguise. Remembering, Michael leans toward the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress.

"Pardon my interruption, but I feel I should give you a warning about that young lady. I know her from when I was working undercover at Durmstrang last semester. She is one of the worst kinds of troublemakers. She takes pride in harassing her teachers. I agree she should be watched carefully, but for more reasons than her health."


Meeting and Greeting
Author: Isolde
Date: 12-14-03 22:00

"So, we're all roommates?" Alicia asked, looking around at the other Slytherin girls. Her eyes fell upon Pyrrhus when he spoke.

"As much as it would please me to share a dormitory with you ladies, I'm afraid Hogwarts has a policy about keeping a boy out of a girl's room. It's a terribly old-fashioned rule, if you ask me." He flashed a sexy grin at Isolde.

She laughed and turned back to Alicia. "It's about time we head to the common room. We'll show you to our dorm and you can get settled in for the night." She expelled a sigh and exclaimed suddenly, "I can't believe classes start tomorrow already!"

"And our NEWT studies begin. This year's going to be hell!" Alexis declared.

"What are the professors like?" Alicia asked, as the five Slytherins rose from their seats and prepared to leave the Great Hall.

"Most are okay, but there are a few less than exceptional ones," Isolde answered. She looked at Alexis and asked, "Don't you have to gather the first years and show them the way to the common room?"

"Oh, yeah." Alexis looked over at the young faces and said, "See you there in a few minutes."

She walked over to the first years while Isolde, Devo and Pyrrhus continued out the Great Hall with Alicia. They escorted her down the stairs to the dungeons and through the corridors to the common room, where some of their housemates were already present.

"Welcome to Slytherin, Alicia," Pyrrhus said. He guided her to the sofas where Draco, Pansy and the other two transfer students were sitting.

"Meet Alicia," Py introduced. "And this is Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, and they're both prefects like Alexis but seventh years."

Draco, who looked quite agitated about something, introduced Nora to the others while Nick introduced himself.

"So, what's with the eye-patch?" Isolde suddenly asked Nora, unable to hide her curiosity. "Did you lose an eye somehow or were you born that way?"


So Far, So Good
Author: Luna Lovegood
Date: 12-14-03 22:09

Despite the seeming overabundance of Slytherins, Luna had enjoyed the Sorting Ceremony, recalling her own exciting placement in Ravenclaw. The train trip down had gone equally well, as she found that most students were quite willing to meet and greet a house Prefect.

Now, however, the feast was almost done, and she would have to help take the new arrivals to their quarters. She began to whisper to whatever good and powerful spirits were within hearing distance.

Don't let me frighten them! Let them be glad to be in Ravenclaw. Let me be firm but kind, so they will respect, and maybe even like me. Let me do a good job with this, because I'm sort of in the limelight. And most of all, don't let me narf this up!

Butterflies flew up out of her stomach, which was suitably stuffed, and into her throat, but then one of the new Ravenclaws was tentatively asking a question, looking even more scared that Luna felt.

They need me; they need a mentor who can help soothe their way, and they're just as scared as I was--scared and awed after the boat ride, the hat, and the feast.

She swallowed the butterflies, and gave the new Ravenclaw a genuinely sweet smile.

"Well," she began, "it's not as hard as you think...." Three more new faces leaned over to learn from their prefect...Ron called them midgets, and they were awfully little by comparison, little, and quite enchanting....

"....Everyone's nervous when they first arrive, but you soon settle in and....."

Luna went on, fielding additional questions without losing her smile. Obviously, the benevolent powers surrounding Hogwarts were on her side.


Re: Meeting and Greeting
Author: Nora
Date: 12-14-03 22:24

Sighing Nora looked up at Isolde and blinked. "I was not born this way! It happened at the start of last year, I was approached by some older students, and well, I lost the vision in my eye. It's still there though, I have to wear the patch to protect it...bloody brats that did this to me should get kicked off a cliff..."

She smiled at this thought and glanced over at Draco, trying to get into a more comfortable position on the sofa, but that was quite difficult with four people currently occupying it. Nora was about to continue on with her story but suddenly became quite dizzy again.

"I need to lie down..." Slowly she rested her head on the arm of the sofa and stretched her legs out across Draco's lap. "My head is killing me..." She muttered before resting an arm over her face.


Standing Around
Author: Nick Stokes
Date: 12-15-03 03:55

More Slytherins began to troop into the common room. Nick said his name to anyone who looked his way. He leaned against the wall and watch the first years come in and mill around.

Pirate put her legs over the prefect boy...Draco. Nick felt angry, "I want to be prefect." he grumbled to himself.

He watched as a boy and a girl flirted with each other and talked about how the dorms were separated.

"Girls upstairs, boys downstairs." someone said.

Nick's eye fell on Pirates eye patch again and he chuckled and looked quickly away when her other eye opened.

"I'm off then. This place is boring." Nick sloped off to the dorms, found his room and flopped onto the bed.

Alone in the darkness he felt tears stinging his eyes but he blinked them back and turned away from the door.


It's All About Draco
Author: Daphne GreenGrass
Date: 12-16-03 13:20

I saw the whole thing but I just stood at the door because I didn't want any trouble. Just then my cat went over to Draco's feet and purred gently at him.

"Mischa!! Get back here!" I called her a couple of times but she wouldn't come. "What's wrong with that cat?" I thought. There's no choice but to go up to him. I went to pick her up but I was surprised at what I saw. Draco picked her up and patted her. I saw Pansy's reaction when she saw him do that. I couldn't help but smile.

"Hey Greengrass here's your cat. Don't let it get away from you next time ok?"

"Umm ok."

"Oh look, it's Daphne." Pansy said in a sarcastic tone.

I ignored her and sat beside Draco.

"How come you know it's her cat?" she still asked Draco.

"Why do you care Parkinson? It's none of your business."

Pansy gave me the you-better-watch-your-back glare. I glared at her back but didn't say anything. I wonder how this year's going to be like.