Headmistress Sadi Powell

April 02, 2010 3:04 AM
It was a beautiful evening. Sunlight streamed in through the windows of the Cascade Hall, creating a dazzling display of ripples and rainbows as the final rays of the day were reflected by the waterfalls lining the room. Sadi had made her way to Sonora in her usual fashion: Apparition. She was wearing her customary plain brown robes and her graying hair was fastened, as usual, in a neat knot at the nape of her neck. She stood quietly in the far corner of the room as returning students noisily made their way into seats, and the first years were gathered by the door. The new students were greeted by Professor Dakin, newly instated Deputy Headmistress. It was the first time in a good long while that Sonora’s Head and Deputy had been of the same gender, but with Henry Flatt incapacitated and the majority of her staff being relatively new to the school, Sadi had little choice. Rowan had applied for the position, and she had been accepted. She was good with the students; while the Headmistress watched her new Deputy collecting the first years together, she was confident they would make an excellent team.

When all the wagons were empty, and every student had managed to find his or her way into the Hall, Sadi joined her colleagues at the staff table (although she stood in front of it, rather than sat behind) and called for attention. “Settle down, please,” she said, gentle but commanding, as always. When there was enough quiet to be heard without the assistance of charms, Sadi graced the students with a smile. “To our older students, welcome back. To our first year students, welcome to Sonora Academy.” With Rowan’s assistance, each new student was handed a goblet full of a clear, bubbling liquid. When swallowed, this potion would turn the drinker’s skin the corresponding color of the House to which they now belonged: blue for Aladren, yellow for Teppenpaw, red for Crotalus, and brown for Pecari.

Most students enjoyed watching the sorting of the first years. Sadi couldn’t deny that the event had held her interest more thoroughly when she’d been Head of Crotalus, and so could identify her future students, but it was nevertheless an entertaining spectacle. Therefore she waited patiently until all the students had settled once more before returning to her address.

“As always, the prairie elves have provided us with a magnificent feast,” she said, hoping to reel in the attention of those whose minds had wandered. “However, first I would like to make a few short announcements. Our returning student will probably have noticed that Professor Dakin, our Care of Magical Creatures professor, has taken on the role of Deputy Headmistress. She will also be Head of Teppenpaw House.” The fact that their government-appointed Deputy from last year brought only relief remained unspoken. “Secondly, I would like you all to welcome Ichabod Linn, who will be teaching Divinations," Sadi gestured to her new collegaue at the staff table. She had personal reservations about the subject, but it had seemed very popular last time it was available at the school. Perhaps it was time it was re-instated. "And," Sadi continued, "Janette Wolfe, who will be your new transfiguration professor.” Sadi had high hopes that this professor would stay around longer than a year. She almost believed it, but student rumours about the position being cursed refused to leave her thoughts entirely.

“Finally, I would like to present this year’s Head Boy and Head Girls with their badges.” The announcement of who would receive these titles had been made at the end of last year, but the Opening Feast made it official. “Could Talen and Lutece cone forward?” Sadi distributed the badges with a smile and ‘well done’ for each student. She waited for the applause to die down before attracting attention for the last time that evening. “Thank you for listening. I have no more announcements to make, so you are free to enjoy your food.” With a wave of Sadi’s hand, each and every table was suddenly groaning under a multitude of dishes, plates and jugs, each filled to the brim with one or another of an impressive variety of foods and drinks. Enough, indeed, that no student was ever likely to.
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0 Headmistress Sadi Powell Opening Feast! 0 Headmistress Sadi Powell 1 5


Ellie McGill

April 03, 2010 9:45 PM
Ellie enjoyed wearing her new robes. They were shiny and comfortable, if a bit long, which wouldn't help her natural clumsiness. But they made her feel important, like she belonged there. She had read in one of her magazines "The key to first impressions is dressing as if you belong there." Of course, it had been talking about job interviews for Muggle teens. None the less, she still supposed it was fitting for this scenario.

That was Ellie, always over thinking things.

She walked into Cascade Hall, and stopped in her tracks. She audibly gasped and her eyebrows jumped to her hairline. The place was beautiful, like something out of the real estate magazines her Muggle mother preferred (her father was the magical one) to the gossipy teen magazines Ellie always had at hand. Though, of course, none of the magazines had pictures of waterfalls trickling down the walls. She wished they would make a splashing sound; she had always loved water, the tinkling sound it made against stones, the touch of it on her hands. She missed summer where she and her sister would visit the pool practically ever day, unless they were out shopping at the mall.
She quickly drank a bubbly potion, and was mildly surprised when her skin changed a canary yellow. It clashed terribly with her artificially orange hair. How had she let her sister Cameron talk her into dying it? She missed her brown hair,though she had to admit, the orange was growing on her. She looked around and saw others with different colored skin, and sat a table with the other banana colored students.

During the headmistress' speech, Ellie began furiously tapping her foot and drumming her fingers on the table. It was something she always did when she was nervous or excited (or in this case a fierce combination of the two. As Headmistress Powell concluded her speech, Ellie let out a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding. She continued tapping and drumming, though, and accidentally kicked the person across from her in the leg.

"Sorry!" she exclaimed, meeting the kick-ee's eyes.
0 Ellie McGill Tapping and Drumming 0 Ellie McGill 0 5

Marian Parker

April 04, 2010 5:27 PM
School had never been like this for Marian Parker. The first day and there was already a banquet being held. A banquet for first years, even! The older kids at her private school had always said freshman were at the bottom of the totem pole so to speak, so this was a climate she was not expecting. She also didn’t anticipate people to applaud her for turning blue, but even since she got her Sonora letter her life has been filled with firsts.

Marian had been the last first year to get off the stage, and she was horrified when she saw her table was filled. She tried to peak around for an opening as her face flushed red (more purple since she was still the color of a blueberry). She was panicking with thoughts that her first day she wouldn’t get to sit with her table! To make matters worse, the Headmistress had decided to start the opening speech. Her fright of looking like a dumb little girl in front of her new school had her shamefully collapsing at the table beside the Aladren table.

While Marian prided herself in paying attention well, she could barely hear Professor Powell over the blood rushing behind her face. She peaked nervously around at the table and felt even more disheartened to see the bright yellows. Blue defiantly did not pass as yellow. She combed her shoulder length light blonde hair in front of her face and leaned carefully between her arms to let the loose robe protect her blue face from the yellow ones.

When the speech was over and the food appeared, Marian was already to scanning the Aladren table for any sort of opening she could dart inconspicuously to when she felt something hit her leg. She squeaked, her already too-large-for-her-face glacial eyes popping two sizes larger to see the girl across from her apologizing, her face a pastel yellow that stood out strongly against her glossy orange hair.

Marian didn’t know what to say. The girl could obviously see she didn’t belong, what with her blue-face and all. She looked pathetically back at her table and sighed to see no opening nearby. She disgracefully turned back around and said, “No, I’m sorry. I’m not even supposed to be here.” Not knowing what punishment would take place because she was at the wrong table, she bowed her head in embarrassment and said, “Please don’t be upset with me, I’ll leave for my table as soon as a spot opens up.”
41 Marian Parker Kicked and caught 1402 Marian Parker 0 5


Ellie McGill

April 05, 2010 9:40 AM
“Please don’t be upset with me, I’ll leave for my table as soon as a spot opens up.”

Ellie was surprised to have found herself staring at the top of a girl's blond head, the skin of her forehead a bright blue. That meant she was in... Aladren? That was silly, this table was full of kids obviously as yellow as the scared girl's blond hair. Well, there's a first time for everything, Ellie thought with a smile. She giggled as the girl seemed to believe the penalty for sitting at the wrong table was certain and untimely death. While Ellie wasn't sure if there was one, she was sure if there actually was, it wouldn't be quite so severe.

"That's okay, stay as long as you want! I don't mind. I'm a first year too," she said, smiling brightly. In Ellie's mind, at least one of them had to maintain a happy front, and it sure wasn't the frightened Aladren girl, who reminded her a bit of her older sister with her nervous tendencies, sitting across from her. "I'm Ellie," she offered, sticking out her hand to be shaken.
0 Ellie McGill Re: Kicked and caught 0 Ellie McGill 0 5


Marian

April 05, 2010 10:09 AM
With her eyes squeezed shut, Marian waited for the lightening to strike. How did magic schools punish students for sitting at the wrong table? Had anyone else ever done it before? … Did the professors let them live long…?

"That's okay, stay as long as you want! I don't mind. I'm a first year too." … Huh?! Not expecting such cheerful comfort, Marian peaked between her fingers to see a friendly grin spread out on the yellow-faced girl’s face. Why oh why is this girl being nice to her? Isn’t she afraid of getting in trouble for being nice to a rule-breaker? Marian sunk lower in her seat, feeling all the worse for dragging this girl into her new criminal life. She had always been a good girl at muggle schools, but she supposed that once her inner-witch was channeled, she was nothing but trouble. How was she going to explain this to her parents?

“I’m Ellie,” the nice-girl said brightly, her yellow hand hovering over the food to be shaken. Marian brought her hands lower on her face, darting her eyes between the palm and the smile. If Marian was going to get punished, this Ellie girl wasn’t going to be the one to enforce it. She seemed genuinely caring, but why would she be so nice to someone stupid enough to invite themselves to sit at the wrong table? “Umm…” Marian gulped, delicately placing her hand in the girls. “I’m Marian.” Then she shook her hand, for the first time feeling a bit pleased to have sat at the wrong table. “Nice to meet you, Ellie.”
0 Marian This isn't so bad 0 Marian 0 5


Ellie McGill

April 05, 2010 1:15 PM
Ellie watched curiously as the blue girl lowered her hands from her eyes.

The Aladren shook Ellie's hand back. “I’m Marian.”

Ellie smiled wider. Marian, that was a pretty name. It reminded her of her old dolly, Marie, which seemed very fitting for the wide-eyed girl. "Nice to meet you too, Marian." Ellie continued eating, not sure what to say next. There was an uncomfortable silence filled with only the sound of the clinking of utensils to plates and the chatter of students around them. Ellie had resumed drumming her fingers, but didn't risk toe-tapping again.

She missed her sister. Cameron had been her best friend, even after she had been so jealous that Ellie had been a witch and not her. It was odd that their father was a wizard and Cameron hadn't been a witch. But after Cam had just accepted it, she went back to being a quiet, witty big sister. Ellie couldn't imagine what she would do without her sister to help her. She looked a bit like this Marian; both with blond hair and bright eyes, a bit under spoken. Ellie hoped Marian would open up more. A thought occurred to her, and she nearly choked on her juice because of a giggle bubbling up.

"Who knew my first friend here would be an Aladren?"

0 Ellie McGill Not bad at all 0 Ellie McGill 0 5


Marian

April 05, 2010 2:51 PM
After introducing herself, the other girl took her hand back and ate, not saying much else. Marian did the same, deciding that it was worthless to try and find a spot at her table now that the food was served and everyone looked situated. She’d wanted to say something to Ellie, but she was too afraid to look any more foolish and just kept her trap shut. It’s not like she had ever talked a whole lot anyway, what with her social awkwardness and all, but she actually wanted to make at least one friend here. Looks like that wasn’t about to happen after she sat at the wrong table.

She was about to eat some of the potatoes she’d been playing with when Ellie caught her off guard. “Who knew my first friend here would be an Aladren?” She abruptly dropped her fork and put her hands over her lips to stifle her loud laughter. “That is kind of funny, isn’t it?” she asked. She felt so much better after Ellie had called her a friend. Even though she was quiet and sat at the wrong table and was blue not yellow, she still wanted to be her friend. It was like a scene pulled out of a corny muggle tween movie or something, and she couldn’t say it didn’t make her over joyed.

“And who’d thought I’d be sitting at the Teppenpaw table? Not that I even knew what House I was going to be in before I got here, though I had hoped it’d be Aladren when I read how academic oriented they are. I’m guessing you got Teppenpaw because you’re so friendly?” Then, because she was feeling brave all of a sudden (having a friend does this to people) she asked Ellie, “What subject are you most looking forward to? I want to use my wand a lot, but I have a feeling I’d do well in potions since it seems like cooking, but with unusual ingredients.”
0 Marian You'd be friends with someone who's blue? 0 Marian 0 5


Ellie

April 05, 2010 3:56 PM
“And who’d thought I’d be sitting at the Teppenpaw table?" Ellie giggled, secretly glad that Marian had. "Not that I even knew what House I was going to be in before I got here, though I had hoped it’d be Aladren when I read how academic oriented they are. I’m guessing you got Teppenpaw because you’re so friendly?” Ellie had never seen Marian talk so much before. She had to admit, it was a nice change. Friendly? Ellie? She blushed in an "aw, shucks," type way, grinning. “What subject are you most looking forward to? I want to use my wand a lot, but I have a feeling I’d do well in potions since it seems like cooking, but with unusual ingredients," Marian added.

Ellie hadn't really thought about this before. She really did animals, and thought Care of Magical Creatures could be fun. Potions seemed alright, but a bit tedious. Transfiguration sounded like a lot of fun, turning things into other things and back again. "Transfiguration," she answered finally. "I like the idea that one thing could be another, and vise versa." She sucked the final remains of pudding off of her spoon. She was glad her mother wasn't there; she hated things out of order. Which was why her hair salon was always neat as a pin, with not a single hair left on the ground at the end of the day. This made her curious about Marian's family.

"So what's your family like? Mine's kind of insane, I suppose. I have a sister, Cameron, and we're best friends. She's a lot like you."
0 Ellie Heck, I'd be friend with someone who's purple 0 Ellie 0 5


Marian

April 05, 2010 5:12 PM
Making friends wasn’t something Marian could say she had done a lot in life, but she was doing it right now. She felt great talking to someone else about her excitement for school; her old pet dog didn’t have much to say when she gushed to him about her letter from Sonora. But since he was the only one who she had the confidence to really talk to, she had to make-do.

Marian tried to picture what Transfiguration might be like while Ellie talked a bit about why she’d like to take it. Changing things back and forth would be very helpful, she mused. She couldn’t picture it being easy, of course, but she’d just have to practice a lot is all.

"So what's your family like?” Marian blinked at Ellie’s yellow face as the Teppenpaw continued, “Mine's kind of insane, I suppose. I have a sister, Cameron, and we're best friends. She's a lot like you."

Marian gave a shy smile, wondering what exactly she meant by that. Did she mean that her sister was also blue? That she was also socially inept? That she was also shy? Marian assumed it was the latter, glad that Ellie may be able to understand her more than she would’ve expected.

“I don’t have a sister,” Marian told her, “or a brother. It’s just me and my dog, Lucy. I would’ve brought her, but I wasn’t allowed, obviously. It was okay though, because she’s so old so bringing her with would be a nightmare.” She tried to think about her parents. How does one explain their parents the right way when introducing oneself? “Well.. um… my dad is a professor for English at a muggle school. He’s pretty great, I think. My mom runs a book store on campus, so I’m there a lot. They’re really big on education and thought this was a great opportunity, even if magic seemed off to them.” She nodded to Ellie and asked, “What about your family? Are your parents muggles, too?” Then she gasped, looking around wondering where Ellie's sister/best-friend was.
0 Marian Then I guess I can be friends with someone who's yellow 0 Marian 0 5


Ellie

April 05, 2010 6:30 PM
Ellie liked the talking Marian to the I'll-just-hide-behind-my-hands-thank-you Marian she'd seen before. Maybe she had just been embarrassed? Or shy? Or embarrassed and shy? (...embarrhy?) That was probably it. Thinking about it, Ellie would probably have hid too, but under blushing skin as opposed to blue fingers. She chuckled when Marian mentioned her dog, Lucy. It reminded her of her neighbor's huge Bernese mountain dog who especially liked to chase her. That had been one of the cons of staying home all summer. The monster gave her the heebie-jeebies.

“Well.. um… my dad is a professor for English at a muggle school. He’s pretty great, I think. My mom runs a book store on campus, so I’m there a lot. They’re really big on education and thought this was a great opportunity, even if magic seemed off to them.” Ellie smiled knowingly. They sounded like nice parents, maybe a bit overbearing, but what did she know? She'd never met them. “What about your family? Are your parents muggles, too?”

Ellie hadn't been expecting this, but was quick to answer none the less.

"Well, my dad is a wizard, he's a broom designer. My mom is a Muggle. She's a hairdresser, she has her own salon. It's a lot of fun and I get free magazines." She grinned cheekily. "I just wish Cam had been a witch, too. Then everything would be perfect." She pouted, but looked up at Marian again, and smiled. Having a friend was a great comfort from being away from her family.

"But I'm glad that I met you."
0 Ellie And a blue friend never hurt (at least, not that I know of) 0 Ellie 0 5


Marian

April 06, 2010 7:38 PM
“A broom designer? No way! That’s too cool!” Marian gasped in awe after Ellie told her what her dad did for a living. As a kid, she’d always thought that nasty witches rode brooms on Halloween, so when she read all about how important brooms were in the wizarding world she was impressed. She was excited to ride a broom – maybe not join the Quidditch team or anything, since the sport seemed dangerous – and see what flying really felt like for herself.

Marian’s eyes went glossy when Ellie told her that her mom was a muggle hairdresser. She must get know all the coolest hair trends and can dye her hair any color she wants. When Ellie mentioned dying her hair blue, she thought her mother just about fainted. Marian looked at the blue fingers, glad to see the color ebbing away. If her mom was freaked out by the idea of her with blue hair, she should take a look at her now.

Her happiness for her friends neat parents turned a bit sour when she heard her older sister wasn’t a witch. It can’t be too fun not being able to share everything with your best friend. Marian could imagine how sad they both must feel.

“But,” Ellie said, “I’m glad I met you.”

Marian felt her face get hot and hid it behind her hands. “You’re gl-glad you m-met me?” she nervously stuttered. She felt so on-the-spot, and willed herself to stop being so bashful. She slowly brought her hands down and played with her fingers before saying, “I’m glad I met you, too, Ellie.”

It’s true, she was honestly glad she had. She could only imagine having sat here without Ellie – or at another table – and being near someone who wasn’t nearly as nice. She looked at the still packed Aladren table and sighed. “I have a feeling it will be a lot harder to make any more friends, but I’m really happy to know that I at least do have one.” She smiled a bit more boldly before a thought came to her. “So, you said your dad makes brooms? Does that mean you use them – I mean, do you like to play Quidditch and things like that?” If Ellie played, she decided, she’d have to at least go watch the games – dangerous or not.
0 Marian They don't hurt, but they do stutter 0 Marian 0 5


Ellie

April 06, 2010 9:09 PM
"Well, I learned how to ride, 'cause my dad really wanted me to. But it turns out, I'm totally afraid of heights," Ellie confessed. She blushed a bit and smiled shyly. The day she had first ridden a broom, she had been seven. She was still tall for her age, but not nearly as clumsy, as her feet hadn't been disproportionally large then. Her dad had steadied the broom, and as soon as she got on and kicked off of the ground, the broom zoomed way up high. Much too high to Ellie's liking, and soon she was looking at the top of her house. It had been a very scary day for her, and her father had had to come up on his own broom to get her down.

Ellie recalled the memory to Marian, giggling a bit. She liked how Marian was always so intrigued with everything. It made Ellie feel even more important than her robes ever could. Marian always had a wide-eyed expression that made her look as though she was forever in awe. Ellie was sure as heck glad that Marian hadn't sat at the Aladren now, and hoped they would have some classes together. Marian seemed like she was very studious, something Ellie hoped to be. Ellie was sort of an over-achiever, though she hated to admit it. She also hated the pressure that being an over-achiever put on her. Hopefully Marian would understand; her parents seemed like they would push her academically.
0 Ellie Well, better to stutter than to hurt! 0 Ellie 0 5


Marian

April 07, 2010 4:02 PM
Ellie admitting to being afraid of heights shocked Marian. Ellie seemed fearless, but maybe that was just because she appeared to be outgoing. Pretty people with strong confidence always seemed supernatural (well, considering her magic, she kinda was supernatural anyways). Ellie sheepishly smiled at her as a blush lit up her face, which was also returning to its normal color a bit.

“A lot of people are afraid of heights,” Marian told her soothingly in a whisper, not wanting anyone else to hear about Ellie’s fear in case she wanted to keep it secret. “It’s okay, really! And now instead of watching you play Quidditch, we can watch the games together. It’ll be more fun!” She pictured Ellie being a good Quidditch player from what she’d read about the sport in her books, but maybe one day she’d overcome her fear and take over the pitch. Until then, Marian was clandestinely glad she had someone to enjoy her first real Quidditch game with.

She started to think about how they’d go back to their dorm once the game was over, and frowned. They couldn’t change Houses, could they? She wished she’d been a Teppenpaw and could room with the livewire across from her – maybe she could teach her how to be more social. Only a conversation with her had made Marian more open then she’d ever been with someone who wasn’t her family, her dog, or one of her parents’ older students. But they might have class together, right?

Marian beamed at Ellie suddenly, an idea dawning on her. “Hey, you know, we might not be in the same house, but it’s not like we’re taking different classes! We can study and do homework together, too!” Marian never had someone who wanted to do homework with her (all her former classmates thought it was boring, labeled her ‘nerd’ and went on with playing their video games and what-not). In case she sounded like a nerd to Ellie, who seemed cooler than the people who’d called her a nerd to begin with, she cleared her throat and quickly added, “Umm… we don’t have to… we can do other stuff, too.”
0 Marian I couldn't agree more 0 Marian 0 5