HOH Amelia Pierce
March 30, 2012 7:58 PM
HoH Speech, continued from Cascade Hall by HOH Amelia Pierce
She gave them most of the walk from the Cascade Hall to the corridor containing the portrait of Gunther the Zombie to mull over her name. She also pointed out some landmarks as they walked so those who didn't recognize it could have something else to pay attention to. They would all need to find their way back to the Hall for breakfast, anyway, and a few landmarks would probably help.For those purebloods who were up on the Who Not to Talk To List, they would need the time to deliberate how they were going to handle having their Head of House be a disowned liberal muggle-loving Quidditch-playing unmarried thirty-seven year old woman with an adopted daughter who was not only a lesbian but a co-founder of DISCUSS.
It was a lot to think about but they'd run out of time. She indicated the large painting beside which she had come to a stop. Its less than handsome subject was nearly the same size she was. "This is Gunther the Zombie," she introduced him. "He guards the entrance to our Commons. To enter, you will need the password. Do not share it with anyone not in Crotalus. Only House members are allowed inside. Once you tell the password to Gunther, he will allow you to pass."
She looked around to make sure they were all paying attention. This was one of the more important pieces of information she'd be giving them tonight. "The password this week is German Shepard." As she said the words, she turned to look at Gunther, and his portrait swung open on hinges as she finished saying it. "Follow me inside, please," she instructed and stepped over the couple of inches of wall that stood below the portrait, and into the room beyond. Older students would probably have to duck if they got taller than about five and a half feet tall, but the eleven year old first years would be able to walk right in. (Though her own head would fit under the top of the opening without ducking, it was a near enough thing that she ducked anyway as she stepped through; she was 5'5".)
There were a half dozen matching armchairs and couches, with deep red upholstery and silver trim. The carpet was gray and the walls were a tasteful shade of red that Amelia, for one, had been relieved to find was not as vibrant a hue as she might have feared when she first heard the House colors were red and silver.
Once everyone had filed in and the portrait closed behind them, she tapped the bulletin board that stood beside the room's entrance. "The password changes about once every week. I recommend checking here before you leave in the morning to make sure you have the current one." She pointed out the relevant spot where German Shepard was currently being displayed. "If you forget the password, keep walking down the hall past Gunther and you'll see a door with my name on it. If I'm around, I'll let you in. If I'm not, my wards will let me know you're there, and I'll get to you as soon as I can."
The rest of the bulletin board was fairly empty aside from the password, but that didn't mean what wasn't there yet was any less important. "The other thing the board is used for is announcements and sign-up sheets, like the Quidditch one that Sam should be putting up soon. I encourage any and all of you to try out. First years are allowed on the team. The Captain this year is Sam Bauer, and his assistant is Renee Errant. Sam is also one of your prefects, along with Eliza Bennett and our Head Girl, Rachel Bauer. The Head Boy, Raines Bradley, is also in Crotalus. So you can go to any of them or me if you have questions about anything."
Moving away from the wall and bulletin board, Amelia took place in the middle of the room and stood up straighter, as befitted a more formal lecture. "Curfew is at ten. Fighting and disrespect of your Housemates will not be tolerated. I am not afraid to dock points or give detentions no matter who your families are."
She felt confident that her small disowned branch of the Pierce family gave her a position that did not lend itself to intimidation by even the most wealthy and influential purebloods. She knew who was important but there was nothing they could do to touch her. She was her own Matriarch so she had no one to answer to and, short of her job, there was nothing they had the ability to take away from her. "Everyone is equal in this House." She frowned at them, hoping she looked the part of stern Deputy Headmistress despite not quite being thirty-eight yet.
"That said, Crotalus will be your home for the next seven years. As long as you follow simple courtesies, we should have no problems. My office can be reached from the hall outside, or from that door right there," she pointed it out. "Anyone is welcome to stop by at any time to discuss any subject. I'll do my best to resolve any issues or problems you may have. Or, if you just want to talk to somebody about something, I can do that, too."
She paused for another moment, then pointed toward the leftmost of the two staircases leading out of the room. "Boys, your dorms are up there. Girls, you have the stairs to the right. Look for the door with your year number on it. Boys are not permitted up the girls stairs, and neither are the girls allowed in the boys corridor. Any attempt to ignore this rule will be met with forceful and magical eviction. As you have been duly warned, I will not accompany any student attempting such to the Hospital Wing. They will need to get there on their own." In all truth, they probably wouldn't need the Hospital Wing at all (she'd even heard stories that the Pecaris used to call that particular effect the 'corridor ride') but she saw more harm than good in sharing that information. Implying it would result in serious personal injury was far more effective.
"Does anyone have any questions?"
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HOH Amelia Pierce
HoH Speech, continued from Cascade Hall
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