New Beginnings on Pecari Commons

Marian Connell

December 03, 2004 4:22 PM

Beginning of Term Speech by Marian Connell

Marian Connell looked around at the assembled first years. Some looked frightened, others were excited, others just plain tired. She had just led them to the Common Room, hidden by a hedge, and opened by saying the password, currently "Veriteserum" to a suit of armor.

The short blond teacher waited for everyone to settle down, and then began to explain the introductions.

"Hello, and welcome to Sonora. I'm Professor Connell, the Potions teacher, and head of Pecari house. The people around you are, obviously, your new housemates. You will be sharing a common room for a good while, so be kind.

"On the list of rules, no boys in the girl's bedrooms, and vice versa. YOu are not allowed into anyone else's common room, either. Profanity is frowned upon, and, just to warn you, most Muggle products will not work here.

"Good behavior may get you house points, while any sort of crude or bad behavior will lose them.

"Now, if there are any questions, or if you any problems with anything, come talk to me. My office is very close to here, and I'm nearly always there.

"Are there any questions right now?" Connell asked, as her gaze swept around the room.

(OOC- really excellent writing will also earn you house points. Mary sueism will lose them.)\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Subthreads:

A Horse of a Different Colour by Flora Blackwood with Marian

New Beginnings by Elizabeth Lavine with Marian Connell, Stephen Baxter, Elizabeth

Several questions by Ash and Sorrel Craven with Professor Connell, Sorrel and Ash

0 Marian Connell Beginning of Term Speech 7 Marian Connell 1 5

Flora Blackwood

December 03, 2004 5:08 PM

A Horse of a Different Colour by Flora Blackwood

Let's just say that Flora Blackwood wasn't exactly 'fond' of schoolwork. She wasn't the greatest at any particular subject (unless you were to count Defense Against the Dark Arts), and she was a major procrastinator. Sure, it was one of her steady flaws, but what else could she do?

Flipping her dirty blonde hair out of her eyes, Flora walked into the room, placing herself into the mound of her fellow first years. She, unlike the others, was not frightened, excited, or tired. No, Flora had gotten her fair share of sleep the night before, but her mood was more... Well, it was rather rebellious. She'd always been that way, always going out of her way to get into trouble. She supposed that she had gotten it from her father, but she could never be sure. In fact, Flora didn't know much about her family in the first place.

She sighed and collapsed onto the couch before peering around the room at her fellow students. Some were rather interesting, to tell the truth, and Flora wouldn't have minded becoming friends with them. At the moment, she wasn't in any state to turn down friendship at all.

"Hello, and welcome to Sonora. I'm Professor Connell, the Potions teacher, and head of Pecari house. The people around you are, obviously, your new housemates. You will be sharing a common room for a good while, so be kind."

Flora heard it only faintly, for she'd been dazing off in her own imagination, as she had so many times before - but she heard it, that much was assured. Oh, of course she'd be kind! ...Well, unless she was just waking up. That would call for her snappier side, her grouchy side that none would ever like to meet. But for the most part, Flora was average. Sweet at times, bitter in others.

"Can you tell us a bit of the history of Sonora?" She asked quietly, raising her hand. Her 'mother' had given her a three hour-long lecture on proper etiquette for the first day. Flora had one word for it: snore.\n\n

0 Flora Blackwood A Horse of a Different Colour 0 Flora Blackwood 0 5

Marian

December 03, 2004 5:28 PM

I'd be glad to by Marian

Connell smiled. She knew the answer to this one. SHe hated the history, found it quite boring, actually, but she had been asked.

"Sonora was started by two Irishmen who came over from Ireland in the 1800's. That is why we play Quidditch rather than quodpot. The color thing that you found yoursef dealing with was something the founders thought up with.

"That's all that I can remember off the top of my head, but the Headmistress knows much more than I do, so you can attempt to ask her if you see her. Any other questions?"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Marian I'd be glad to 0 Marian 0 5

Hazle Brooks

December 03, 2004 6:01 PM

Snores by Hazle Brooks

Hazle Brooks was a pure blood witch. She had grown up knowing all about Sonora Academy, expecting to attend this school as her parents before her, and grand parents before them, stretching back for generations. She knew more off the top of her head about the history of Sonora than this woman would ever learn from a book. She knew all the dirty little secrets that weren't fit to print.
Flipping her shoulder length, thick wavy blonde hair off her face and out of her pale brown eyes, she rolled her eyes. She did not have any interest in what this woman had to say. And why had that girl asked anyway? It had been a long day, and although she had anticipated both the carriage ride and the potion, it wasn't exactly the most pleasant of experiences.
Hazle was much more interested in scoping out the guys in the common room than in anything this teacher had to say. The rule about no girls in boys bedrooms and vice versa would pose minor difficulties. if any of the teachers gave her a problem, she would throw her fathers name at them and shut them up quick enough. If they knew what was good for them, she would get her way. no one messed with Hale, or any of the Brooks'.\n\n

0 Hazle Brooks Snores 0 Hazle Brooks 0 5

Marian Connell

December 03, 2004 6:44 PM

Re: Snores by Marian Connell

Connell glared at the young girl who was intentionally acting so horrible. She knew the face, she had seen it before.

"But, obviously, someone believes that all of this doesn't matter." She said coldly. That other girl had looked so worried, but this one...

"Stand up, girl. What is your name, and why are you acting like nothing matters except yourself?" She asked, not caring a whit about what heads were supposed to act like. \n\n

0 Marian Connell Re: Snores 7 Marian Connell 0 5

Flora Blackwood

December 03, 2004 6:49 PM

Uh-huh. Sure. by Flora Blackwood

It wasn't that she wasn't interested - for Flora certainly had a thorough curiosity about all sorts of things - but more that she was just... Okay, fine. She wasn't interested. She liked stories with an actual PLOT. Things that didn't necessarily make sense, but were entertaining. In fact, Flora didn't even care if it was the truth. As long as it was fun to listen to, she wouldn't complain.

"Thanks," she said with a dull tone, obviously sarcastic. Sarcasm was something that Flora lived for. She was very tempted to say something disrespectful, and it got the best of her. "So... What use did the 'founders' find in changing our skin color? It doesn't seem very clever to me."

Sure, she would get deducted house points, or be put into detention. But Flora didn't necessarily see it as a personal insult to the teacher - more so as just her point of view. The sarcasm could've been dealt without, yes.\n\n

0 Flora Blackwood Uh-huh. Sure. 0 Flora Blackwood 0 5

Marian Connell

December 03, 2004 7:08 PM

Re: Uh-huh. Sure. by Marian Connell

Connell didn't miss a step. She had always been sarcastic, and was quite willing to get in a bit of a war with a student.

"I'm terribly sorry you found that boring. Personally, I never liked the history either. However, if you hadn't asked, then I wouldn't have had to say anything at all about it. So, thusly, if you don't like it, blame yourself, not I.

"And I have no idea what the founders were thinking. I beleive it was the older one who thought it up. Perhaps it was just his idea of a joke."\n\n

0 Marian Connell Re: Uh-huh. Sure. 7 Marian Connell 0 5

Flora Blackwood

December 03, 2004 8:09 PM

Re: Uh-huh. Sure. by Flora Blackwood

Flora could only glare at the woman with rather annoyed eyes. She wasn't a mean student - no, she was far from that! - but it was more-so that the girl liked much more to use her imagination. She'd always stood out, seeing things in a different light than her peers. "Mm-hmm," she said with a bite to her lip, as she had so many times before.

She twirled one of her dishwash-blonde hairs in her fingers, glancing down at the ground with pale blue eyes. Flora's figure was that of most girls her age - she was developing in some places, and she wasn't starving herself to death. Good heavens, she'd never think to do such a horrid thing.

She was incredibly nervous, beyond proportion. Flora hated situations like this. She was normally the spontaneous, outgoing girl that was never, by any means, quiet! What was WRONG with her?! "I'm hungry," she muttered to herself, wondering if it'd be too risky to sneak out to the kitchens that night. Hmm.\n\n

0 Flora Blackwood Re: Uh-huh. Sure. 0 Flora Blackwood 0 5

Elizabeth Lavine

December 03, 2004 8:09 PM

New Beginnings by Elizabeth Lavine

Sitting about the rest of the common room, Elizabeth sighed. She was happy to be here, oh of that she was sure, it was just the idea of starting off on her own for once was a bit daunting. Sonora was completely new to her, but Elizabeth's pride and determination would not rest until she had made a name for herself. Oh well, she thought to herself, I might as well start off introducing myself to the head of Pecari...
"Professor Connell?" she stood from her seat near the edge fo the room, trying not to interrupt. She was strongwilled, bold even, but not rude. At least not to teachers. "Hi, I'm Elizabeth Lavine." Elizabeth put forth her most charming smile and extended her hand. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Lavine New Beginnings 53 Elizabeth Lavine 0 5

Marian Connell

December 03, 2004 8:44 PM

Re: New Beginnings by Marian Connell

Connell was shocked. Most students didn't just come up nad introduce themselves. "Hello Elizabeth," she replied. "I'm terribly sorry, but I need to go work on my next lesson. I suppose I will see you in class." Connell turned and left the room.\n\n

0 Marian Connell Re: New Beginnings 7 Marian Connell 0 5

Stephen Baxter

December 04, 2004 5:59 AM

The best ride ever!! by Stephen Baxter

The professor seemed to be alright, Stephen decided although he had long since stopped listening and was instead exploring the common room. It was all done up in brown and the goldy-yellow colour just like that potion had made him. There were an awful lot of girls too. They seemed to be all congregated around where the professor was... had been.

Stephen wondered briefly where she was, but really there were too many new things to see to worry about that for long. Like these corridors. The one on the right and the one on the left. The one that went that-a-way and the one that went this-a-way.

Only Stephen didn't know where that-a-way and this-a-way were. What he really wanted, he decided, was to find out where his stuff was. He had stowed his soccerball in his new trunk and these walls looked solid enough to provide him something to play rebounds against.

It was time for a decision. "Eenie, meanie, miney, moe." This-a-way it was.

Stephen stepped into the corridor but then the unexpected happened. He was falling and - "oomph" - had landed back in the commonroom. A split-second passed.

"COOL!!"

He dashed back to the corridor, paused, then stepped in.

"Oomph... Oh yeah!"

The next time he didn't pause.

"Oomph..." He found himself looking up at someone, and grinned irrepressively. "Dude, that is the coolest." \n\n

39 Stephen Baxter The best ride ever!! 49 Stephen Baxter 0 5

Elizabeth

December 04, 2004 8:29 AM

What the? by Elizabeth

Hearing someone fall over, she turned around to see what fool was letting him/herself get knocked over again and again. She spotted the student and shook her head. A boy. Of course, he was trying to get up into the Girl's Dorms.
'I guess it can't hurt to just say Hi,' she thought to herself.
Elizabeth walked over to where the boy lay and grabbed his arm, pulling him up.
"You really should learn your lessons the first time you make the mistake. That," she pointed to the staircase "Is the Girls dormitory staircase. Yours is over there."

She grinned at him. It was a bit refreshing to meet a boy for once. All her other friends were girls, and thats wasn't particularly the problem, it was just diversity was always something that was nice to see.

"Hi, I'm Elizabeth Lavine." she said, smiling still. \n\n

0 Elizabeth What the? 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Stephen

December 04, 2004 8:54 AM

a rove impression? by Stephen

"Stephen Baxter," he answered a little breathlessly. "That was so cool. The girls dorm you say?" He eyed her speculatively for a moment, then had a look at the other corridor. If when he went down the other corridor he ended up falling back into the common room, then...

"Come on," he said, moving towards the boys corridor and dragging Elizabeth after him. He stopped short of the corridor and looked at her. "You try it," he urged her.\n\n

39 Stephen a rove impression? 0 Stephen 0 5

Elizabeth

December 04, 2004 9:07 AM

Re: a rove impression? by Elizabeth

Elizabeth looked at the boy as she was being dragged over to the boys staircase. He might be a fun person to be with. I mean, you had to be if you run into magical barriers and have fun doing so.

"I don't know..." she started to say, but staying true to the spirit of 'rising to any challenge' her two older brothers instilled in her, she stopped. She grinned suddenly and tied her black hair behind her. 'Well, here goes,' she thought as she walked, no, almost ran at the staircase.

WHAM!

She hit the ground on her back with a smack. She started laughing hysterically, despite the fact that it hurt to hit a flagstone floor. She knew now what it felt like to run into the staircase barrier, and it was fun! She didn't even really care that the whole room would probably be watching her like a maniac. Oh well. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Re: a rove impression? 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Stephen

December 04, 2004 9:40 AM

Cool, huh? by Stephen

"See," Stephen crowed, rushing over to Elizabeth, the excitement completely livening up his otherwise rather forgettable features. "It's cool, totally brilliant fun!"

Laughing along with her he leaned down, helped her up, paused for a moment and then with another wide grin tore off toward the girl's corridor.

"...best school ever..." drifted back before there was another "oomph" and Stephen was unceremoniously dumped in the middle of the common room for the fourth time that day.\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Stephen Cool, huh? 0 Stephen 0 5

Elizabeth

December 04, 2004 9:47 AM

Laughter is always the best medicine by Elizabeth

She laughed as he hit the barrier again. Her icy cool blue eyes danced with fun, picking herself up off the ground.

'There are some people in this world who truly know how to enjoy life. This guy is one of those fun people. I think we'll get along well.' she thought to herself, while subconsiously twisting her double pierced pearl earring. 'Javon and Brett would love it here...'

Pranksters, studious people being pranked, and people who just like having fun... it was totally her older brothers' scene.

Grinning, she took a few steps backward and began running at the staircase, finding her herself on the floor again. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Laughter is always the best medicine 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Hazle Brooks

December 04, 2004 11:34 AM

Excuse me? by Hazle Brooks

Hazle stood deffiantly, she assumed that it was her who was being spoken to in such a matter.
"Excuse me?" She said, meeting this woman's eyes. "Do you know who I am? Or are you just stupid?" Hazle added the last part because she really didn't care what this woman said. there was nothing she could do to her, after all. She was hazle Brooks, daughter of Nathaniel Brooks and Susan Brooks, her uncle was going to be the next minister of magic if things continued as they did. her cousin was the minister's secretary, she was so connected it wasn't funny. The worst this woman could do was fail her, and even that wouldn't stop her from getting a prestigious job at the ministry. Not to mention it would put her teaching career in great jepordy if she failed Hazle. her father was on the school board, he practically ran it. And her mother was the head of the PTA. She was untouchable, practically royalty. Or as close to royalty as was possible in America. "Because if you know who I am, then you know why I'm acting as if I'm the only one who matters, and if you don't, you're even more naive than thet five year old hairstyle makes you look."\n\n

0 Hazle Brooks Excuse me? 0 Hazle Brooks 0 5

Sam Grell

December 04, 2004 11:40 AM

Re: Uh-huh. Sure. by Sam Grell

"You're hungry? Nice to meet you Hungry, I'm Samantha, but people always call me Sam." Samantha said, smiling enthusistically and thrusting her hand forward. This girl seemed to be the type of person she would enjoy hanging out with, although maybe a little too timid for Sam's wild and eccentric plots.
"Well, I assume that's not your real name, sorry, that's just what my mom always says..." Sam trailed off, slightly embarassed. \n\n

0 Sam Grell Re: Uh-huh. Sure. 0 Sam Grell 0 5

Marian Connell

December 04, 2004 12:35 PM

Re: Excuse me? by Marian Connell

Connell had heard of this kind of students, the holier-then-thou set.

"Hazle Brooks, I assume," she answered. "I know your family well. One of your cousins was my friend when I went to school. Much as I do hate to say it, your name or your family matters nothing here. And I don't care about how you feel you should be treated, you're going to be treated exactly the same as everyone else here. Detention."\n\n

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Flora Blackwood

December 05, 2004 12:29 AM

Re: Uh-huh. Sure. by Flora Blackwood

Flora felt a grin come to her face as a girl came to her, her hand thrust forward to shake her own. She laughed at the girl's joke, and this one seemed to be a person fit for friendship. "I'm Flora," she laughed, pushing her dirty blonde hair behind her ears in an effort to make herself look somewhat decent. "Don't worry - my dad makes all sorts of crazy jokes like that."

It was true, too. Her mother, who had been dead for over a year, couldn't have said the same, but Flora's father - an accountant - was constantly trying to 'be hip.' It never worked, leaving Flora in sheer embarrassment or fits of uncontrollable laughter.

\n\n

0 Flora Blackwood Re: Uh-huh. Sure. 0 Flora Blackwood 0 5

Ash and Sorrel Craven

December 05, 2004 8:15 AM

Several questions by Ash and Sorrel Craven

"Me first," Ash said, playfully shoving his sister away from the door way.

"No! ME!" insisted Sorrel, snatching at his arm. She didn't really care, but there was no way she was giving her brother what he wanted.

"Of course," said Ash, standing back and mock bowing to her, "How remiss of me. Ladies first."

It had the desired effect. Sorrel immediately stepped back. It also had the undesired side effect of earning him a sharp kick in the shin.

"Don't you dare call me a lady! YOU go!" she demanded, shoving Ash into the room. "Hey!" she yelled, scrambling after him, "I wanted that chair!"

"You loose, little sis!" he crowed triumphantly.

"Oi, less of the 'little'. I'm older than you!"

"You're also shorter!" taunted Ash, bouncing on the chair. Sorrel flew at his middle, rubgy tackling him into the seat, where they both landed, wedged into the seat, demanding of the other one that they 'shove over, fat bum!'

They settled to more or less silent squabbling as their head of house addressed the room. Sorrel perked up when she heard that the women was head of Potions, whereas Ash slumped a little in his seat. At the 'any questions' question, both their outside hands flew into the air at once.

"Question," said Ash, clamping a hand over Sorrel's mouth, "How am I meant to get away from my darling sister when she's in my house?" Sorrel bit his finger, freeing her mouth.

"Cos I'm not allowed in your room, dummie," she turned back to the Professor, "How am I meant to tease my brother when I'm not allowed in his room?"

"Oh yeah!" chimed in Ash, "How am I meant to steal her hair bands?"

"Or draw on him while he sleeps?"

"Or put frogspawn in her bed?"

"Or have a proper fight with him if he can just run away like a girl and hide?" asked Sorrel, shoving Ash as best she could given the limited elbow room.

"I would not!" he retorted, shoving back.

"Would too, GIRL!"

"Would not, GIRL!"

The would/would notting would easily continue, complete with shoving, and perhaps descending into name calling, until someone dragged them off each other. Such was the way with the Craven twins. \n\n

0 Ash and Sorrel Craven Several questions 0 Ash and Sorrel Craven 0 5

Hazle Brooks

December 05, 2004 11:08 AM

How dare she? by Hazle Brooks

After first giving this teacher- who obviously knew nothing about what was good for her- a sarcastic and smug smile, Hazle flounced out of the common room, totally outraged. She made sure to flip her hair several time on her way out.
'How dare she give me a detention?' Hazle demanded of erself, knowing that there would not be a very enlightening response. If she knew the answer than she wouldn't have had to ask.
'Well, my father will be hearing about this, that's for sure.' Hazle added as she opened the room to the girls dorm, looking to see if anyone were there.\n\n

0 Hazle Brooks How dare she? 0 Hazle Brooks 0 5

Sam Grell

December 05, 2004 11:12 AM

Shaking things up by Sam Grell

"Parents." Sam half groaned, shaking her head in disgust. "Well anyway, if you're hungry we could get some food. The way I see it, there's going to be trouble eventually, so why shouldn't we be the ones to shake things up? Now's as good a time as any. We could sneak down to the kitchens and see what the houselves can give us..." Sam said enthusistically. "or we could just sneak around the corridors and try not to get caugh, that's fun too." Sam added, after having realized that she had no idea where the kitchens were.\n\n

0 Sam Grell Shaking things up 0 Sam Grell 0 5

Professor Connell

December 05, 2004 11:51 AM

Re: Several questions by Professor Connell

Connell's angry attitude broke. Although that other girl, Hazle, had been rude and obnoxious, these two were acting just like her old siblings. ANd those she could deal with.

"Wait a minute," she laughed. "You have classes in which you can tease each other, and whatnot. And it probably is better for you two to be separated somehow. However," she grinned evilly. "I said that no boys were allowed, and vice versa. The stairs won't let you up. However, this is a school of magic, and there are always secret passages."

Then she left, leaving them to ponder her words. She hoped they got the hint, because if she said it in plainer words, she'd probably get fired, or something.\n\n

0 Professor Connell Re: Several questions 0 Professor Connell 0 5

Sorrel and Ash

December 05, 2004 12:31 PM

No! by Sorrel and Ash

The two paused mid-tussle as the Professor laughed at them. At least they weren't in trouble. They dropped their hands, still squirming to try and get comfortable.

It probably is better for you two to be seperated somehow.

Unseen to the rest of the room, the hands wedged into the chair beside one another gripped each other tightly. They'd got into the same house and everything! It was bad enough that they wouldn't be able to get to each other's rooms, but seperate them...? They hoped she didn't really mean it.

However, the looks of concern were easily masked as, although the twins weren't identical, the grins of delight that spread across their faces were. Sorrel's grey eyes, and Ash's blue ones lit up at the idea of secret passages.

"Bet I find the one to your room first..." yelled Sorrel, wrenching her hand free and leaping up from the chair. She and Ash each pelted for the wrong staircase, winding up clunking heads as they were thrown back into the middle, and scrambling over each other in an effort to go explore their rooms for any sign of a passage way.

\n\n

0 Sorrel and Ash No! 0 Sorrel and Ash 0 5

Flora Blackwood

December 05, 2004 2:38 PM

Sounds good to me by Flora Blackwood

She grinned excitedly at Sam's proposal and nearly tripped over her feet trying to get out the door. "Sorry," she said with a halfhearty grin, always being one to mess up first. "But yeah, that sounds good to me."

Walking over to the door, she felt a sly smirk come to her lips as she glanced over at the group of students. "If anyone asks," she began, "we went to use the bathroom."

Completely ignoring the fact that the Commons had their own bathrooms. That was beside the point. \n\n

0 Flora Blackwood Sounds good to me 0 Flora Blackwood 0 5