Headmaster Bulla

November 25, 2006 1:28 AM
The sorting for the year officially over, Manfred stood and waited for things to quiet down. The first years, as the tradition went, had each been given a chalice a clear, bubbling potion to drink as they entered the hall were and instructed to drink deeply. And, just like every other sorting in the history of the school, the result had been that the first years had all turned the main colour that represented the house they were to join; bright blue for Aladren, deep red for Crotalus, muddy brown for Pecari and sunshine yellow for Teppenpaw. The colour change lasted a few minutes only, but for the time it was in effect it tended to get some interesting reactions from the new first year students. It had been ever so since the foundation of the school and would ever be thus.

But now that that was over and the students settling into seats, it was time for the second important part of the Opening Feast.

"Welcome," he said when things had quietened down. "Welcome to a new year at Sonora Academy. To our new students, I am Headmaster Bulla. I hope that you enjoy your time here, work hard and do your new houses proud. To our returning students, I'm sure you've all had wonderful holidays and it is good to see you've all returned. I would ask Mr Zack Dill of Aladren, Miss Chrysanthemum Mathers of Crotalus, Miss Mia Kerova of Pecari and Miss Kaylie Brockert of Teppenpaw to all come to the front please."

He moved around the staff table, holding a small box which he opened when the four had arrived.

"Congratulations," he informed them in a quieter voice. "You have all been selected to serve as Prefects for your houses. Remember this is a position of both privilege and responsibility. You will have the power to give and take points, and will be expected to assist your Head of House if a situation arises. I'm sure you will all do us proud."

He handed them each their prefect badges, bronze metal embossed with the badge of Sonora and the word 'prefect' underneath then straightened himself up a little more to address the school once more.

"Congratulations to our four new prefects. Now, I expect that you are all waiting ravenously for the Feast. Wait no longer."

With a wave, the food started to pile up on the tables and jugs of drinks appeared, all ready for the students and staff to tuck in. Manfred, instead of returning to his seat paused a moment, just in case any of the new Prefects wished to say or ask anything.\n\n
Subthreads:
39 Headmaster Bulla Opening Feast 2 Headmaster Bulla 1 5


Jake Santoro

November 25, 2006 3:23 PM
Jake's summer had been one of fun and enlightenment. After spending the latter half of the summer in Spain with his family and good friend, Anita, Jake had been forced to admit something rather personal and make a decision with what he was going to do about.

And now his mind was set to do it.

Of course, first things first. With this new year, Jake had high hopes for his housemates. It felt like every year they were always left in last place, no matter what they did in classes or out on the pitch. This year, Jake wanted to change that. They were a great house, it was time to show everyone exactly that. Didn't mean they had to be first, just that they couldn't be last.

Making his way over to the Teppenpaw table, Jake's eyes were continuously looking around the hall as if trying to find someone. He had grown since summer and now stood at 6 feet even. His black hair fell into his dark brown eyes and though he should have moved awkwardly as his lean body and long legs should have made him, Jake walked with confidence.

He sat easily amongst his peers, grinning and greeting as he did so. He was a fifth year and happy to be one. It meant that he was truly one of the upperclassmen. They would have more authority (if nothing more than to scare away the younger years...not that Jake scared much of anyone considering the house he was in), would be learning the harder things. Oh yeah, and the possiblities of friendships or more so was also a good thing.

"Oyi! Nice going Kaylie!" Jake said when the Prefects were anounced. "Better watch myself around you now." Jake joked and winked at his Seeker. He started to grab some food to place on his plate. On occasion, his eyes would look around the hall for a brief moment before returning to the food. "Hey, can you pass me those potatoes?" Jake asked the nearest person to him.\n\n
6 Jake Santoro Holy Crud, I'm a Fifth Year 42 Jake Santoro 0 5


Gwyneth Aquillon

November 25, 2006 6:56 PM
Gwyneth heard the upperclassman across the table and down two seats ask for the potato platter that she was holding in her hands. Nervously, she passed the platter to the tall young man who was obviously several years older than she was. He was busy talking to others, friends she gathered, and barely noticed her as she handed over the potatoes. His eyes were constantly looking around as he talked. She guessed he was looking for someone in particular.

"That's Jake Santoro, captain of the Quidditch team," someone near her whispered.

'Quidditch,' she thought with a groan. Quidditch was a game she loved to watch but having no coordination and a basic fear of flying meant she was confined to the stands.
\n\n
0 Gwyneth Aquillon "Pass the potatoes . . ." 0 Gwyneth Aquillon 0 5


Dalila Bastet

November 25, 2006 9:52 PM
Overall Dalila's summer had been good. Her mother had come to visit, not once, not twice, but three times; though she only stayed a few days ata time, this was more than she ever got to see her. It had thrilled her father just as much as it had thrilled her, but her grandmother clucked her tongue every time she came or went. Kamilah Khepri was not a fan of her daughter abandoning her child and husband to study things in Egypt. But Dalila understood.

So, here Dalila sat, once again in Cascade Hall at Sonora staring around the room for a familiar face and trying to forget the fact that her mother would probably not be visiting her here. unless, of course, there was another Alumni event. Dalila smile and hoped there would be.

Dalila clapped loudly when the new prefects were announced. She either knew them or have heard of them so often that she felt she knew them and therefore was very happy with this year's selection. Of course, she clapped the loudest for Kaylie. Teppenpaw pride.

The food appeared and Dalila tried to grab everything within reach. She hadn't eaten since this morning and was starving. Her slim body was still growing and neede nutrients. She began to happily devour the chicken and corn she put on her plate and as she set her fork down to take a swig of pumkin juice, the said fork clatterd to the floor. After some slight swearing she bent down to grab the offending piece of silverware. After a minute of trying to reach her fork by leaning under the table, she concede that she could reach it and stuck her whole body underneath the table to retrieve it, but not before getting kicked a few times by unsuspecting feet.

She pulled herself up and went back to her food until she noticed the first year girl sitting next to her staring at none other than Jake Santoro, or Cap'n Jake as she liked to call him. Dalila grinned. He'd grown taller. So had she, but by now Jake would tower over her no matter how much she grew. She thought it was funny that he was so much taller. It was be comical to stand next to him.

"That's Jake Santoro, captain of the Quidditch team," Dalila whispered to the girl, who was still staring nervously at Jake. And in a slightly louder voice, she said "And I'm Dalila Bastet. Teppenpaw chaser. You like Quidditch, or do you just like Jake?" She winked at the girl, playfully.

"Hey...did you find out what house you're in yet? You better drink up." Dalila grinned again and pointed to the bubbling liquid in front of the firstie.\n\n
0 Dalila Bastet Mmm...potatos 60 Dalila Bastet 0 5


GwynethAquillon

November 26, 2006 8:25 AM
"Hi,Dalila. My name is Gwyneth. So you play Quidditch, too. That's keen. I don't play but you will hear me cheering from the stands." Gwyneth continued talking to the upperclass girl. "I drank my potion earlier and turned this wonderful shade of yellow. For a minute I thought I was absolutely glowing! So that makes me a Teppenpaw, too, . . . right?"

Gwyneth knew she was babbling, but she was just so excited to not only be here at Sonora but an upperclass girl was actually talking to her!!! She was actually talking to a. . . witch??? 'Wow, that is really going to take some getting used to,' she thought to herself. Being human, erm . . . muggle born, she was still trying to take it all in and sort it out. 'Mom and Dad are going to have the wildest letters from me this year!'

Quidditch seemed to be a topic everyone knew so Gwyneth decided it would be a safe opening. "So how how do you think Teppenpaw will do in Quidditch this year?" she asked the group of students at the table.\n\n
0 GwynethAquillon Quidditch 0 GwynethAquillon 0 5


Jake

November 26, 2006 5:32 PM
Jake had been too busy teasing Kaylie to have notice that the potatoe platter had been given to him upon his request. After a moment of chatter with a couple of people beside him, Jake looked down to discover the platter in his hands. For a moment, he stared at it trying to figure out where it had come from. And then he remembered asking for it.

"Oh, hey, thanks for the potatoes Kid." Jake called out to the new first year who had handed him the platter to begin with. A couple of minutes had passed since she had given it to him, but he figured it was better to thank the girl than have said nothing at all.

Looking up from the girl, Jake spotted Dalila beside her. His eyes light up at the sight of her, "Hey Dalila! Have a good summer? Did you hear that Kaylie's a Prefect, we'll have to give her a hard time now just to be sure she's on her toes." Jake said with a grin and a wink in Dalila's direction.\n\n
6 Jake Erm...thanks 42 Jake 0 5


Dalila

November 27, 2006 1:28 AM
Amidst the talk of Quidditch that had sprung up around her, Dalila heard her name called out. Spotting the source, she grinned at Jake and thinking for a moment, she picked up her plate and goblet and moved around to sit next to her captain, pushing a couple other students down a bit. This perfectly situated her to continue her talk of Quidditch with the firstie (she forgot her name already) and also talk to Jake without having to scream across the table.

Heya, Cap'n Jake! My summer was pretty good. You? And yeah, I just heard about Kaylie...and there's no way in hell that we wouldn't give her a hard time. This is going to be a fun year." Dalila smirked and returned Jake's wink. And as the thought crossed her mind, she added "Oh, and why don't you tell this firstie Tepp over hear" - she waved her hand in the direction of Gwyneth - "And tell her how amazing Teppenpaw is at Quidditch and that we're gonna take the cup this year...again!" \n\n
0 Dalila potatoes and Quidditch: can't get better than that 0 Dalila 0 5


Jake

November 30, 2006 7:30 PM
Jake was surprised slightly to see Dalila get up from her seat and move closer to him. He hadn't actually meant for her to move from her spot if she didn't have to. Although, this made for any sorts of conversation with her much easier to be conducted.

"Mine was the same. Hung out in Mexico, hung out in Spain, played Quidditch, had to listen to Bella's dreary music, and had to be suffocated by the family." Jake said in a joking way...even though that was exactly how his summer had gone. "Yeah, it will be." Jake said, in agreement with Dalila's statement.

"Well, Gwyneth, we are quite the team. See, this entire school thought we were total pushovers last year. Can't blame them, we are the house of nice people, but we totally and completely proved them wrong last year. Not only did we win our first game against Crotalus-still feel a bit guilty for that cos Jennifer's my friend-but we also beat out Pecari." Jake said in a proud manner. "They were undefeatable until the championship game last year when we beat them out. Have to give most of the credit to Kaylie and Lexi though. Kaylie caught the snitch and Lexi took out half their team." Jake said with a grin.

"Not that my Chasers aren't something to brag about." Jake said, nudging Dalila. "They've got it all down pat and essential to the team."\n\n
6 Jake Might have scared the firstie away though 42 Jake 0 5


Gwyneth

December 02, 2006 9:15 AM
Gwyneth looked up from the conversation she was having with Meri on her other side and smiled. She was surprised that the upperclassmen were kind enough to acknowledge her.

They seemed to have been engrossed in their own conversations and she really didn't expect to be included. When the conversation came back around to Quidditch (seems like most of the conversations at this school end up talking about Quidditch, she thought with some exasperation) she really didn't understand anything they were saying, but she nodded her head politely. She realized that the older students were really quite nice to include her. Knowing what her old school was like, she knew that it would never have happened there. There had been a distinct "class system", no pun intended, she thought and giggled silently. Freshmen, or firsties, were never included.

She thought she ought to have some response and racked her brain trying to find an appropriate one. She tried to equate Quidditch to football, which was the popular sport at her old school. "So, do you have most of the team from last year returning or did many of them graduate? Are you looking for new players? I'm just asking, I don't play"\n\n
0 Gwyneth Not scared away 0 Gwyneth 0 5


Dalila

December 02, 2006 5:40 PM
Dalila nodded enthusiastically as as Jake talked about the team, but with every word her smile faded a little. He hadn't mentioned the chasers, of which she was one. Then as the very end he added his compliments to the chasers and Dalila instantly perked up. And not just perked up, but blushed. What was that about?

Ignoring that lapse, she quickly answered Gwyneth's question.

"Oh, hopefully everyone will sign up again this year. Nobody's graduated yet. But if a lot of people want to sign up, there'll probably be try-outs or something. Right Cap'n Jake?" She glanced back at Jake for affirmation as she grabbed the salad tongs from the bowl and placed a heaping amount of salad on her already empty plate.\n\n
0 Dalila Good. cause to be scared away by Tepps... 0 Dalila 0 5


Jake

December 02, 2006 10:53 PM
Jake couldn't quite get the amusement out of his face when Dalila blushed. Either she had never been complimented on being a Chaser (which was something Jake would surely have to rectify) or Dalila was just weird. Either way, Jake momentarily ignored her blush when the first year spoke about the team.

"Yeah, I'm hoping everyone from the team last year signs up. I'm pretty sure all of my chasers will and Kaylie. Lexi's got too good of an arm to pass up, so that just leaves Pepper." Jake said, frowning slightly. Pepper was a fun girl and the sweetest thing in the world, but she didn't have much confidence in her abilities as a Keeper not to mention her miss last year. He was sure Pepper took that hard even if the team didn't.

"I'm not sure she'll sign up again. I'm hoping to have a talk with her to let her know that she's great at Keeping...it's really up to her though." Jake said, looking slightly put-out at the fact that he might have to find himself another keeper. "So-er-..." Jake just realized that he never got the first year's name, "Sorry, I didn't catch your name, what are you looking forward to?"\n\n
6 Jake Yeah, seriously. 42 Jake 0 5


Gwyneth

December 03, 2006 8:23 AM
"Oh, sorry, my name is, . . . that is, I'm Gwyneth," she said in a rush. She forgot that she had never really been introduced to him. She had heard Dalila whisper his name when she caught Gwyneth staring at him over the platter of potatoes she was passing. Then Dalila seemed to tease her about being interested in him. Watching the two teammates together, Gwyneth had the distinct impression that Dalilia herself was interested in Jake, on and off the field.

"I'm not sure what to expect here," she said in answer to his second question. She tried to remember some of the classes that she and Meri had been talking about earlier. "Care of Magical Creatures sounds pretty interesting."\n\n
0 Gwyneth Re: Yeah, seriously. 0 Gwyneth 0 5


Dalila

December 03, 2006 5:32 PM
The desserts had appeared and Dalila scrambled to grab the piece of cheesecake in front of her. She munched on, still trying to listen to the conversation. Hmm...she really would have to start remembering people's names. Gwymeth...Gwyneth...

"Oh, Care of Magical Creatures is one of my favorites!" Dalila stated. She set down her fork. "You get to spend the entire time outside, and a lot of the animals are really cute and all of them are really interesting." Dalila picked up her fork again and started on her cheesecake again.

"I don't think it compares to Quidditch, but it's pretty cool."\n\n
0 Dalila Okay, I have nothing to go here... 0 Dalila 0 5


Gwyneth

December 03, 2006 6:21 PM
Gwyneth heard Professor Chatterjee call for the first years. Not wanting to keep the professor waiting, she stood, nearly knocking her seat over. As she prepared to follow the professor she turned and said goodbye to Dalila and Jake. She didn't know how to thank them for making her feel included and part of the Teppenpaw house already. Blushing shyly, she just waved goodby and headed toward the group gathering around Professor Chatterjee.\n\n
0 Gwyneth Headed towards Common Room 0 Gwyneth 0 5


Jake

December 03, 2006 9:23 PM
Jake was amused to find that Gwyneth was most excited for Care of Magical Creatures. Every year whenever the subject of lessons came up, most people always said that they were most excited for Care of Magical Creatures and by the end of the year, most people said that Professor K. was their favorite professor. Jake had a suspicion that it might not have been Professor K. that they really enjoyed, but the fact that they gave them so much freedom during her lessons.

Before Jake could say much toward the conversation, Gwyneth was getting up to follow Professor Deck? (Jake must have missed the memo telling everyone that the Astronomy Professor was their new Head of House), to the commons. "Nice meeting ya, Gwyneth. See ya in the commons." Jake called out to the first year before turning his attention back to Dalila.

"So, Dalila, I remember a girl who knew nothing about the game of Quidditch besides what she read in a book." Jake said in a teasing manner. "When did you become such a Quidditch junkie?"\n\n
6 Jake Have a good time! 42 Jake 0 5


Dalila

December 04, 2006 1:56 AM
Dalila waved enthusiastically as she watched Gwyneth walk away towards Professor Deck. Was she that small as a first year? No. They were just getting smaller every year, Dalila decided. She swiveled her head back around to face Jake, her hair swishing into her face and obscuring her vision for a moment. Her hair still had the orange streaks, but they were faded (she'd have to redo that color charm again) and it grown to just passed her shoulders. She should cut it. or should she leave it long? Who cared, really, except her grandmother who insisted that girls looked better with long hair?

Dalila grinned at Jake's jibe. "Since I found out how much more fun it is to play it than read about it. And how good I've become. Plus, the only reason I had never played before was cause my Nana was dead set against it. Cause I'm a girl and all." Dalila smiled and shrugged at the concept. Some people are just so old-fashioned. \n\n
0 Dalila See ya! 0 Dalila 0 5


Jake

December 05, 2006 10:15 PM
Jake had to admit that playing the sport was, by far, better than having to read it. In fact, Jake thought that reading Quidditch (unless it was a magazine) was a dreadfully boring sort of read. Depending on what it was that he was reading. Quidditch Through the Ages, though spoke of facts and background of Quidditch, didn't have the action or drama that the game truly drowns in.

Jake gave a sly grin, "You, good? Psh, maybe in your dreams." He teased. Jake would never understand why Parents, most especially Mothers, felt that girls weren't meant to play sports. Perhaps it was because, in his family and much within the culture he was raised in, woman were dominant within the family. Of course, he had Julia for an older sister and Lupe as a mother, so his views on things tended to be skewed. "Rubbish. Gender has nothing to do with anything and people are ignorant to think otherwise."\n\n
6 Jake mmhmm 42 Jake 0 5


Dalila

December 06, 2006 1:16 AM
Dalila put on an overly dramatized pout and gave Jake the sad puppy dog eyes. Then she smiled and playfully slugged him on the arm.

"You know you need me," she said matter-of-factly. She listened to Jake's thoughts on gender, nodding every once in a while. However, for the first time in a very long, Dalila actually thought about what she was going to say next. Although Dalila wholeheartedly agreed with what Jake said, but she couldn't put down her grandmother. Dalila gave a heavy sigh and replied.

"You're right. Gender has absolutely nothing to with playing sports. But my grandmother grew up in different country and in a different time and...well, you try persuading my Nana into letting me play." She ended her spiel with a grin because these heavy topics of conversation were not Dalila's cup of tea. The mood needed lightening.

She glanced around and noticed most of the students were standing up and making their way to their respective common rooms.

"Uh, maybe we should go up..." Dalila suggested.\n\n
0 Dalila uh huh 0 Dalila 0 5


Jake

December 07, 2006 9:59 PM
Jake laughed and pretended as though her punch had truly hurt him. "I don't know, Dalila. The Chaser competition could get a little rough this year." Jake teased. He doubt this would be true. Every year Jake had to beg and plead for people to sign up for the team. He knew this year would be no different.

He still didn't see what Dalila was getting at. "My family is from two separate countries. My generation being the first Americans. Women still have the right to do as they please...though not whom they marry." Jake added, thinking about how upset Jules had been when she couldn't marry the muggleborn. But that was something entirely different. "Your Nana sounds like a member of WAIL." Jake stated to Dalila.

"Oh." Jake said in slight surprise, looking up to see that people really were leaving the hall. "Yeah, I guess so." Jake said, standing and hold out his hand to help Dalila up from her seat. "Come on, let's play 'follow the leader' with the rest of them."\n\n
6 Jake Yuppers 42 Jake 0 5


Dalila

December 08, 2006 12:25 AM
Dalila made a face at Jake's comment that her grandmother was a member of WAIL.

"She is not!" Dalila huffed. "She'd never do the things WAIL does! They're horrible. My Nana...she's just...old....and-and Egyptian. You're from Mexico, right? Egypt's a lot different in customs and stuff." She stared at Jake's hand, trying to decide if she should take it and decided against it. Pushing herself out of the chair and standing up, she faced Jake with pursed lips and sighed.

A happy conversation had quickly turned very...not happy; something which Dalila did not like. Instead of making things worse and yelling at Jake at the top of her lungs about how he had insulted her grandmother, she grabbed Jake's arm and said, "Look, I don't think we should continue this conversation. Let's just forget it all, okay?" Then she smiled and tugged on his sleeve.

""C'mon, Cap'n Jake. I thought we were supposed to be following the leader."\n\n
0 Dalila yeppers? 0 Dalila 0 5


Jake

December 10, 2006 6:19 PM
Dalila's indignation of Jake's claims that her Grandmother was a member of WAIL, made Jake smile. He hadn't actually meant to say that she was a member, only that she sounded like one. And to say that being from a different generation and or country was just making up an excuse.

"I agree, WAIL is horrible, but there are many who support it. Heaven forbid women be allowed to choose their own lives without having to also be called a lesbian." Jake had been around his mother and sisters too long as their wisdom and logic was seeping into him withouthesitation.

"Well, techically, I'm American since I was born here. But mi Papa is from Mexico and mi Mama is from Spain." Jake let his hand drop to his side when Dalila rejected his offer to take it. Jake looked down at Dalila in his usual exasperated way whenever he couldn't figure her out.

He shrugged, "Sure, let's go."\n\n
6 Jake Yeah... 42 Jake 0 5