Welcoming Feast ((Everyone))

[Professor Minerva McGonagall]

As Headmistress, Minerva was no longer the person to escort the new first years to the front of the Great Hall, or gaze at them disapprovingly until they fixed the little flaws in their appearances so they were ready to be presented to the people they would share their common rooms and their lives with. Instead, her Deputy was performing the duty while she was once again sat in Albus’ place, slightly more accustomed to the changed seating plan than she had originally been but feeling no less like an interloper. For so many years, she had worked with Albus Dumbledore: as the Transfiguration Professor, as Deputy Headmistress, and as a member of the Order of the Phoenix. It was in Hogwarts, however, particularly during these times, that she felt his absence most keenly.

After the Sorting Hat had finished its duty and retired for another year, Minerva rose to her feet. The silence was not immediate but she was patient enough to wait for the few people still whispering to their friends to notice the sudden hush and realise what was therefore required of their own selves also. It hadn’t been a bad year for Hogwarts, she considered thoughtfully. There had at least one new addition to Ravenclaw and Slytherin, and quite a few for the other Houses too.

“The new first years may not be aware, though older students most certainly should be,” Minerva began sternly, her gaze fixed on the usual troublemakers throughout the warning, “that the Forbidden Forest is, as its name implies, forbidden. Access is restricted, so anyone who ventures in there will be punished through detention and the loss of house points.” By now, older students would be fidgeting impatiently in their seats, hungry despite the sweets they had bought on the train and thoroughly ready for the feast to begin. Regardless of their nerves, the first years would soon be following suit. She herself had not always been patient as a young woman, finding the welcoming speech an unnecessary embellishment to the feast that, to her and so many others, truly marked the start of the school year.

“First years, I know this is an intimidating time for you. We all know, because we have all been in your place. If you have problems, your prefects are there to help you, as are the Head Girl and Head Boy this year, Carlin Lennox and August Reid.” There was a short wave of applause there, presumably from Lennox's and Reid’s friends. It was always a pleasant feeling to know that the Head Boy or Girl was from your House, whether you knew them personally or not. Her speech was finished, short though it was, and so Minerva spread her hands, watching as the house-elves sent the food up to the tables from the kitchens. “Enjoy the feast, and make sure you go to bed at a decent time. Classes start tomorrow and you will all need to be awake to attend.”

[Aisling Fraser R1]

Aisling gave a confused round of applause to the two students named Head Girl and Boy, listening to the woman as she kept Kimon from getting away from her.

When food began appearing she quickly moved her book off the table, setting it lovingly beside her on the long bench. No one really seemed to notice the book, or the cat, and she was completely astounded no one had commented on her eyes at all. She quickly pulled her fingers through her bangs, covering her milky eye just in case.

She blinked at the food offered on the table, then began with a large salad. She had been told to watch her food and to eat her vegetables by her sisters, and so proceeded to do just that.

She ate quickly, but neatly. It wouldn't do to eat like a boy, cramming their food into their mouth and loudly speaking with bits falling out. She shuddered at the thought. She leaned over to the nearest Ravenclaw student.

"Is it always like this, so...So wonderous?" Her voice squeaked a bit, trying to hide behind her hair a bit and still speak. "It is amazing! I can't wait to start classes!"

[Nourdine Prideux R5]

Nourdine watched the First Years as they were sorted was relative boredom. It was the same-old same-old really. And then the almost annual joke that the Forbidden Forest was not just called thus for alliterate purposes.

When Professor McGonagall mentioned how all the student body understood how the first years felt, she couldn't be more right. Even now, in his fifth year, Nourdine felt intimidated by the grandeur of Hogwarts and the people within it.

Finally the food began to appear, and the masses appeared to lunge for it. Nourdine remained straight backed and looked about at the hordes as they slurped, crammed, and dropped food everywhere in the hurry to eat as much their fill as possible in the shortest time possible. Once he had finished looking around, Nourdine finally lent forward and took a few items of food for his own plate. Nothing overly large, nor overly filling; some of the light and fluffy mashed-potatoes, some steamed vegetables, and a slight spoonful of gravy. Lifting his head up he glanced along the table to his left, up towards the doors, and where the new Head Boy sat. Nourdine had clapped as loud as the rest of the house. He wasn't overly familiar with the boy, just as he wasn't with anyone in the school, but he knew of him and had exchanged short words with him before. He smiled at him, knowing the chances he'd catch Nourdine's eye was minimal, before returning to his meal.

[Anna Monkshood R5]

Anna had ended up with an empty seat next to her, which wasn't exactly unusual, given that she wasn't friends with that many people. True, there was a gaggle of fellow fifth years to her other side, but she didn't have a lot to say to them at the moment, it wasn't as if her summer had been that interesting and she didn't have any particular wish to hear about the lovely holidays their Daddys had paid for. But the empty seat was an advantage during the Sorting Ceremony - it meant that a first year came to sit down next to her; they could usually be relied upon for entertainment of one form or another. Anna smiled at her perfunctorily before turning her attention back to the Sorting Ceremony. She quite enjoyed watching the scared, nervous children being engulfed by the Sorting Hat. By Christmas they'd all know their way round the school and therefore think that they had every right to be cheeky to the older students, and especially to the Prefects. It was nice while they were still all confused and meek.

It was a while before Anna realised that the girl was speaking to her. She turned and looked at the first year properly. 'Wow, small,' was her first impression. Clearly they came in small sizes nowadays. In Anna's day, most of the other first years had been somewhat taller than her, adding to the routine of intimidation laid out by the rest of the school. 'A bit keen,' was her second impression as she decoded the girl's squeaks into words. She tried not to show her amazement at how high-pitched the girl's voice was, instead managing an expression of vague amusement.

"Erm... well, I wouldn't really say so. That is, it's nearly always like this, so the novelty wears off and it doesn't seem so wonderful anymore, just normal. You start to take it for granted. Congratulations on being sorted into Ravenclaw, by the way. I hope it's what you wanted... you're stuck here for the next seven years. We do have a nice common room... you'll see that after the feast."

[Aisling Fraser R1]

Aisling peered up at Anna with her large off-color eyes. She beamed brightly at her. "I'm Aisling. Aisling Fraser." She pet Kimon for a moment, making sure to feed the feline a few pieces of meat.

"I hope that the novelty never wears off. It's too...amazing, really." She tilted her head at Anna. "Is..is it BAD to be in Ravenclaw then? I read they had the smartest people in all of Hogwarts, and was the house to go to for TRUE learning."

She shifted in her seat, her voice not as high pitched as before as she slowly got over her nerves.

[Anna Monkshood R5]

Anna introduced herself in return, smiling back at the tiny girl, whose cheery beam was infectious. There was no shortage of surly, intellectual types in Ravenclaw, so it was nice to know that the house's new addition might balance things out a bit. Actually, Anna was probably one of the surly types herself - self-critical as she was, she could recognise that. But it didn't stop her appreciating the cheerful ones. She could vaguely empathise with Aisling, and understand how exciting Hogwarts must be to the new first year, especially with the ordeal of the Sorting over with.

"Well, maybe it won't, in your case," Anna replied half-kindly. "I'm just very ungrateful for all the beauty I have around me! The decorations at Christmas are really spectacular, though. Last year we had icicle chandeliers in the Ravenclaw Common Room." She laughed at Aisling's question. "Don't be silly, I was only teasing you! Personally I think Ravenclaw's pretty good, but then I'm a bit biased. You're unlikely to get an objective opinion round here, though - ask a Gryffindor and they'll tell you they're the best house, for example.

"I don't think it makes a lot of difference to your learning, though, to be honest," she continued. "Nourdine might disagree?" she speculated, glancing over at her fellow fifth year. "But I think if you're clever you do well whichever house you're in - there are clever people in all the houses... well, maybe fewer in Hufflepuff, but plenty there too to tell the truth. I think it makes more of a difference to your personality than anything - kind of perpetuates the house stereotypes. Because you'll mostly make friends with people from your house... so in Ravenclaw, yeah, most people are pretty clever, and not a few of them fairly pretentious... whereas in Hufflepuff I'm guessing you get a really supportive group of friends. So it will influence your experience of school life... but hopefully in a good way!"

[Aisling Fraser R1]

Aisling giggled at Anna. "It's nice to meet you. I'm glad I've already met someone in Ravenclaw now." She kicked her feet under the bench; her feet not even reaching the floor. She filled her plate with a few other things, feeding Kimon.

"Do you have a familiar? Kimon here is still too young, I think. But I fell in love with him at first sight." She giggled again and brushed her hair out of her way for a moment, forgetting to hide her eyes.

"What are the teachers like? Are they friendly, hard, evil? Oh! And what's your favorite class?" She asked the barrage of questions between bites, making sure to swallow first. It would not do to be uncivilized in her new home.

[Nourdine Prideux R5]

He could not help but hear his name, and quickly turned to look in the direction it had come from. Anna, a prefect and fellow fifth year, appeared to have been the speaker questioning what he might disagree with. He narrowed his gaze. "And what might I not agree with Anna?"

It was only when he leaned forwards to select some more vegetables that he saw the small thing that Anna had been speaking to. He nodded in it's recognition. "Welcome to Ravenclaw." That was all he said, all that needed saying as far as he was concerned, and would be far happier once this ceremony was over so he could return to his room and maybe read some more runes. But Anna mentioning his name had caught his attention, and he felt it necessary to find out what he would disagree with, in her own words.

[Aisling Fraser R1]

Aisling bounced a bit, trying to see the other person that had greeted her. She squeaked a thank you as she did her best not to fall onto the food on the table. Though most of the people at the table seemed to have slightly serious faces, not all of them looked too unapproachable.

She fed Kimon some more meat, who ate as daintily as she did. She pet his white forehead, leaning down to kiss it while waiting for Anna to maybe answer some of her questions. She beamed a smile up at the older girl.

[Anna Monkshood R5]

Anna smiled back at Aisling. "Don't worry, you'll be meeting plenty more of them. You may even start to appreciate meeting people from different houses more, different sets of people. There are a few inter-house friendship groups, although they're quite rare. People can be a bit too cliquey."

She looked up at Nourdine, realising that he hadn't followed enough of their conversation to understand the context she'd mentioned his name in. "I was telling Aisling how well you do academically doesn't depend on what house you get sorted into... but that's just my opinion," she told Nourdine. "I know lots of Ravenclaws would probably disagree with me. What do you think? It would be unfair if I were to give Aisling a biased view of things..."

Rather puzzled by the comment about having a 'familiar' (that sounded rather 'His Dark Materials'), Anna's eyes followed Aisling's to her cat. "Erm, no," she replied, deciding that was the safest answer to the rather unexpected question. "I have a pet rat. By the way, I don't think you're really supposed to bring your pets into the Great Hall - an exception must have been made for you today, but you might get in trouble in future. As far as I know the only animals that come in are owls, to deliver the post at breakfast time." As a Prefect she felt a duty to uphold the rules! Also, it would be nice if Ravenclaw could win the House Cup this year, they didn't want anyone losing them points.

"The teachers vary, predictably enough," she continued, patiently answering all the questions being fired at her. Truth be told, she rather enjoyed it. "If you keep your head down and work hard, you won't get in trouble too often. My favourite subjects are probably the ones I'm best at... Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, they're all good. Do you know anything about the different subjects?" She seized the opportunity of not having to speak for a while, using the time to chew her way through some roast lamb and potatoes... talking made her hungry!

[Nourdine Prideux R5]

He smirked a little as Anna described what she had meant. She was correct, he did disagree. Not looking up from his vegetables he replied. "I find Ravenclaw bring the most academic of brains to the platter." He picked up his goblet of pumpkin juice and supped it, looking at Anna over the rim. As he swallowed and set it down, he continued. "The other houses have their own 'je ne sais que's, certainly, but Ravenclaw is founded upon intelligence and subjects which require such an attribute is where a true Ravenclaw will flourish."

He set his cutlery down on his plate, having eaten his fill, and picked up his napkin to dab at either sides of his mouth. "Of course, those of Gryffindor flourish in the more practical subjects where their idealism of bravery, brawn, and courage suit. And Slytherin should not be discredited for it's achievements in teamwork and co-operation. Hufflepuff..." His voice tailed off as he looked over his shoulder at the table where the yellow-by-house, yellow-by-nature sat. Returning to face the table he smirked once more. "Well, the least said about them, the better. So yes, I particularly feel that we can outperform academically the average of the other houses, but they too can outperform us."

"What did you get done over the summer than Anna? Can I look forward to a challenge in Charms or Transfiguration this year?"

[Aisling Fraser R1]

Aisling smiled at both Anna and Nourdine. She had blushed a bit when Anna said that the animals shouldn't be in the Great Hall, but had listened attentively to both of them.

She blew at her bangs after being interrupted by Nourdine just as she was about to speak. She looked between the two, then answered Anna's question.

"Well, I know the basis of each class, as well as why we are supposed to learn them, but I am really looking forward to Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration. Charms doesn't seem too bad either, but I'm not sure how well I will enjoy Defense. But I do look forward to learning to cast silently. Is it hard?"

She looked at Nourdine for a moment. "What is 'je ne sais que'?" She sounded out the words slowly, hoping she said them correctly. "Is that French? I would like to learn French. I can't wait for classes to start tomorrow!" She was almost bouncing in her seat in her excitement.

[Anna Monkshood R5]

“Ah, no, you’ve mistaken my meaning,” Anna accused Nourdine gravely. “I agree that the average Ravenclaw is more intelligent than the average student in any other house, which is what you’d expect, given the supposed prerequisites for being sorted into the house. That’s not what I was questioning. I just don’t think that being in Ravenclaw makes any difference to how you perform academically – correlation does not imply causation! In my opinion, most Ravenclaws would do just as well academically if they had been sorted into Gryffindor, or even Hufflepuff – if you leave the person’s base intelligence unchanged. The correlation between house and academic results is only as a result of the selection process – because Ravenclaw cherry picks the most intelligent students – not because we’re taught differently.”

Anna smiled a little mischievously. “If you want to argue that one with me you’ll have to draw upon the social aspect of having an intellectually stimulating peer group. But equally, I could argue that some Ravenclaws of... average intelligence... might do better in Hufflepuff, where they’d outperform their peers, which is rewarding and therefore they continue to work hard because it makes them feel good about themselves – whereas in Ravenclaw they get demoralised and fail to live up to their potential.”

Anna was rather enjoying the little debate, but a little bit late, she realised that it might be somewhat intimidating for the diminutive girl sitting next to her. Anna smiled at Aisling kindly. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you won’t have any problems,” she told the girl. “You might turn out to be a genius or you might not, but if you’ve been sorted into Ravenclaw you’re definitely clever. You don’t always have to compare yourself to the geniuses – comparing yourself to the rest of the world is much better for your self-esteem, which is good for your motivation.”

Anna smiled as Aisling described which subjects she was looking forward to. “Ah, so you’re more into the practical-based magic,” she said. “There is a lot to be said for people who know everything about plants and potions ingredients and their applications – it’s all pretty useful stuff to know, I can see that, even though I’m more into the theoretical side myself. Do you think you’ll become a Healer? Defence Against the Dark Arts is good actually, I hope you will enjoy it – hexes are extremely useful, although as a Prefect I probably shouldn’t encourage that...” she grinned a little wickedly. “Casting silently is very hard,” she told Aisling, “unless you’re a complete genius you won’t get anywhere near success until you’ve been learning magic for a few years or so. Most people don’t do it until their NEWTs... there are only a few spells that I can cast silently with any consistency.” At this point Anna turned back to Nourdine. “I don’t think I should tell you how much I got done, Nourdine,” she said coolly, but smiling all the same, “you’d only go and make sure you’d done more. Let it be a surprise. Unless, of course, you want to tell me what you’ve done first.” She grinned wickedly again. Competition was fierce amongst the Ravenclaws in her year, but she actually enjoyed it.

((Sorry it took me so long. Also, you need to be careful about using any foreign language on Proboards, however little of it you use. It used to be that we were okay if we added a translation and only used a very short phrase, but I’m not sure if the rules have changed – you’d be best off asking Mandi to make sure. ‘Je ne sais quoi’ is, to be fair, in fairly common use in England, but all the same, it isn’t in the dictionary and we do need to be careful because the site can be deleted without warning if we don’t follow the rules!!! Anyway, if you want to use more French, it’d be best to ask Mandi for a clarification of the rules first. )