Amongst strange and savage people on Cascade Hall

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

August 18, 2012 12:02 AM

Welcoming Feast! by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

The summer had come and gone and life was all so very strange and complicated. Jeff and her celebrated their one year anniversary together along with their children, Emery and Chloe, and their foster children, Ayita and Angel. They began the process of adopting both children, but with their difficult backgrounds, it was a long and difficult process. On top of all that, Kiva and Jeffery were going to have a baby of their own. They were their own little Brady bunch.

When the first years were brought in, Kiva stood up and charmed herself to be heard over the crowd. She waited a few minutes for the returning students to settle down before she finally greeted the students. “First and foremost, I want to welcome all of our newest students to Sonora Academy and all of our returning students a welcome back. I do hope your summers were full of fun adventures, but I am happy to find that you have all returned to the school intact.” Kiva was only joking with them really. She knew that students both loved and hated returning to school. They loved it because they were able to see their friends again. They hated it because it meant that they had to do work again. She couldn’t really blame them.

“For those who do not know me, I am Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau, but feel free to call me Professor K. Our first priority for the moment is to have the first years sorted.” Kiva turned her hazel eyes to the newest group of students. “In order for this to be done, I need for each of you to step up one at a time to Deputy Headmistress and Coach Pierce and take a sip from the potion she will offer to you.” Kiva explained, nodded to Amelia to indicate who Coach Pierce was. “The potion is harmless. Once you have sipped it, your skin will turn into the color of the house you will be spending the next seven years in. Once your house is indicated, please have a seat at your house table. Yellow is for Teppenpaw, blue is for Aladren, red is for Crotalus, and brown is for Pecari. Please, if you could form a line and begin…” She gestured for the first student to step up.

Once the sorting had ended, Kiva regained the students’ attention. “I first have a few announcements to make. I would like to introduce our Charms Professor, Professor Olivers. Let’s show her how wonderful our school is by giving her a warm welcome.” Kiva clapped after the introduction. "Also, please take note that Medic Bailey is now the Head of House for Teppenpaw." It wasn't completely unheard of for a non-professor to take up the position.

“I would like to have Jane Carey and Samuel Bauer to please come up here and accept your new Head Boy and Head Girl badges.” Kiva called out and when both students approached, she grinned and handed each their appropriate badges. “Congratulations to you both.” She whispered to them before having them return to their seats. “I would also like to have Russell Layne, Chistopher Calhoun, Regina Parker, and Josephine Owen to join me up here for a moment.” Kiva waited for the four to be standing at her side before continuing. “Everyone, I would like you to meet your newest Prefects. Congratulations to you four, please take your new badges.” Kiva gestured for the four to return to their seats. “This year’s Midsummer Event will be the School Bonfire. As the year continues, you will receive more information on the event and any suggestions you would like to make, please feel free to tell me or any other staff member.

“In honor of tradition, please refer to your music sheets as we begin the School Song.” Sheets of music appeared in front of the students. “Let’s begin.”

Every day we strive
Learning to survive
Life’s hardships and to solve its mystery.
Learning to defend
Our honour and our friends,
Flying high to meet our destiny
We will stand and face those who want to harm us.
We won’t let the world transfigure, jinx or charm us
I won’t fight alone, as long as you are with me.
Sonora be my home, my tutor and my spirit
Vasita quoque floeat; Even the desert blooms.

Once the song ended, the food appeared before them. A feast of great magnum. “Please enjoy the rest of your evening. When it is time to head back to your Houses, your Head of House will call for your attention and bring you to your destinations. That is all.” Kiva concluded and then took her seat at the staff table.

OOC: Welcome First years! Please do not post on any other board until your Head of House posts his/her welcoming speech. Have fun at the feast and remember the site rules. Happy posting everyone!

Subthreads:

Double Trouble in Brown by Annabelle and Annette Pierce with Rupert Princeton, Rupert

Beginning to be an Intermediate. by Alicia Bauer with Thad Pierce, Clarissa Clark, Kitty McLevy

Beginning. by Clarissa Clark with Katrina (Kitty) McLevy - Aladren , Thad

Contemplation by Josephine Owen with Sullivan Quincy, Josephine, Sully

Not the break I had been hoping for by Samantha Hamilton

First day (and first day back) by Waverly & Wendy Canterbury with Jade Owen, Theresa Carey, Jorge Garcia, Waverly & Wendy

Amongst strange and savage people by Effie Arbon with Isabel Raines, Cepheus Princeton, Isabel

Yellow isn't the color I expected, but it'll do by Alan Raines with Enion Whitebriar, Alan

Tune out, turn off, drop out. by Michael Grosvenor

A Seventh Year at last by Nic Sawyer with Sam Bauer

Is it good to be back? by Henny B-F-R with Bianca Stratford, Bianca

A refreshing start by Brianna Japos with McKinley Andrews, Henry Carey

Start of another term. by Marcus Williams with Sara Raines, Sara

Lived through my first year...YAY! by Clara Abernathy, Pecari

This should be interesting....maybe by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw

I hate you by Preston Stratford with Arthur Carey, Preston

Well...this was not expected. by Regina Parker with Derry Four, Addison Thornton, Addison

Free at last! by Amity Brockert with Anthony Carey VIII, Anthony

Enjoying my new status by Jane Carey

Congratulations! (Tag Russell) by Hope Brockert with Russell Layne

Red Apple Welcome by Abigail Thornton with Alexandra D'Alesandro, Abi

Thank Merlin for small favors by Gareth Whitebriar with Alexandra Devereux, Gareth

Nothing ever comes easily. by Alice Adair

Return… by Angel Shield - Teppenpaw

Surviving Summer by Lucian D'Alesandro

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Welcoming Feast! 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 1 5

Annabelle and Annette Pierce

August 18, 2012 1:19 AM

Double Trouble in Brown by Annabelle and Annette Pierce

Two girls walked into the Cascade Hall together, holding hands and trying not to stare at all of the new sights greeting them. A squeeze would indicate to the other that there was something to see and the other would look there. A pull on the hand would indicate which direction to turn so no time was wasted following the other's line of sight.

They stood the same height, wearing the same features. Their hair was tied up in the same style. They walked in step as they moved toward the Staff Table. With them both wearing school uniforms as well, the only easily visible way to tell them apart was that, though they both wore ribbons in their hair, one ribbon was a deep blue and the other was a pastel purple.

The Headmistress soon interrupted their examination of their surroundings and new classmates for something even better - the sorting. Though told to go one at a time, they stepped up together to drink from the potion. They were careful not to look the Coach in the eye, but that was relatively easy since they were mostly interested in the goblet she was holding anyway. The girl in purple ribbon sipped first, then gave it to the one in blue, who in turn gave it back to the Deputy Headmistress.

As they stepped back, first one, then the other, turned brown.

Their mother would be pleased that they were not in the dead one's House, but neither girl was sure she'd be particularly happy about where they did end up. It wasn't as bad as it would have been a few years ago, though. Sara Raines had paved the path for that, so they should be okay.

They sat down at the appropriate table, finding two seats next to each other. They listened politely through the rest of the Headmistress's speech and sang the unfamiliar school song as best as they could without actually knowing the tune.

When the food appeared, the girl with the purple ribbon filled both of their plates with salad while the other deposited a piece of chicken and a potato on each plate. It was while the one wearing purple filled their cups with pumpkin juice that the one wearing blue addressed their new Housemates with a smile. "Hello. We are Annabelle," she stopped to let the other introduce herself, "and Annette Pierce."

Honestly, though, they had given their names backwards as they often did because Annette liked speaking first but it would be improper for the firstborn not to be introduced first. It didn't much matter either way, of course. Nobody could tell them apart most of the time anyway. "Of the New Hampshire Pierce," Annette with the blue ribbon concluded the proper introductory formula, then added, "But we both answer to Ann. It's easier that way for everyone."

1 Annabelle and Annette Pierce Double Trouble in Brown 246 Annabelle and Annette Pierce 0 5

Alicia Bauer

August 18, 2012 1:43 AM

Beginning to be an Intermediate. by Alicia Bauer

When she got off the wagon, Alicia’s clothes fell neatly around her courtesy of a number of spells worked into the fabric, and she had to give only the briefest of moments to tidying up before she began to walk, quickly and confidently, toward the school, glad all over again that she had persuaded her mother to buy her such an expensive back-to-school dress and smiling fondly up at the bell tower as the building loomed closer ahead of her. She had been with the people she shared close blood ties with for the past two months, but it was right now that felt like coming home.

Her summer had not been that pleasant, not with everyone fussing over Rachel and Gramma Alma still disappointed in Alicia herself for not coming home at midterm, but it had been educational, and now that it was over, she was both better than ever and the only Bauer in the building who really mattered. Sam and Kate had badges, sure, but the power of even the ones not limited to Quidditch was too limited for someone without both status and brains to use them, and Sam lacked the first while Kate lacked both. Together, they couldn’t really do anything to affect her, since neither was an Aladren, so she felt confident in her superiority as she entered third year and crossed the foyer, taking care to walk around the crest on her way to the doors of the Cascade Hall.

Once inside, she was, as usual during the hectic opening moments of the school feasts, a little overwhelmed with all the people, many of them much taller than her, but she only hesitated for a second before making her way through to the Aladren table. She had a theory that people would almost always get out of the way of someone moving with purpose, and she had that tonight. Once she found a good seat, she sat in it, looking for her friends. She was willing to move if she had to, but would rather wave them over to her when she spotted them.

Gradually, the chaos died down and everyone was settled enough for the Headmistress to begin her speech. Despite her dismissal of his authority, Alicia still smiled, pleased, when her cousin was called up to the front with Miss Carey to receive his last badge, and she clapped her hands together repeatedly when her distant cousin became the new Aladren prefect. Discovering that link had been mostly her own work, she thought, and Russell was, now that Rachel was gone, the one relative she had in this school she didn’t mind being related to that much, so she was happy for him, though she did wonder how his roommates would take it.

The Head of Teppenpaw position wasn’t one that much concerned her, though she did find it interesting that the medic was the one taking over the job, and the new Charms teacher got only a momentary look-over before Alicia turned her attention to the feast and, more importantly, to her company for the evening. The food was maybe a little better on the feast nights than it was otherwise, but it was always suitable, so it necessarily had to take second place. She wasted as little time as possible serving herself a meal sized to draw few comments before making eye contact with another.

“Good to be back, isn’t it?” she said with a smile, loving again that she was an Aladren and sitting at the table where she could almost always get away with saying that freely. She loved her friends in Crotalus, too, but Aladren really was the best.

16 Alicia Bauer Beginning to be an Intermediate. 210 Alicia Bauer 0 5

Clarissa Clark

August 18, 2012 2:31 AM

Beginning. by Clarissa Clark

Clarissa gazed at the cascading walls around her, and all else momentarily disappeared. She was mesmerised by the colours, the patterns of the water and the ever evanescent light. She could watch these walls for hours, days, weeks. A beautiful dream.

Was she really awake now? Clarissa tried rousing herself, and gradually she became aware of the myriad people all around her, jostling, laughing, embracing ; their smiles, some as wide as continents, showed her that being apart had been unwelcome, even painful. The hints of tears in their eyes showed the intensity of their sudden joy. It was the crowd that Clarissa saw, rather than any particular face or character. To her they were no one, all of them. But they would become known, and what then?

Clarissa was suddenly aware of one or two people looking at her. They looked older, looked a world away from herself and her new classmates. In awe, she had forgotten that people could see her – that she too would be being judged today. But their eyes glanced over her, over the whole group, perhaps picking out a familiar face or an unfamiliar style. Some of her classmates waved to older brothers or sisters, or preened and made sure they were drawing attention. They had been waiting for this day for a long time – some since birth. A few of these spoke as though today was an unavoidable formality for the benefit or some unseen someone that they were merely indulging. She couldn’t believe it. And she didn’t believe it either, because their faces gave away their true surprise No one could predict, or describe the wonder of the enchanted hall, and Clarissa could scarcely believe it.

These kids had had years to imagine Sonora, to fantasize and fictionalise their future home. But not Clarissa. She was different; she was ordinary. She had not been expecting this at all.

0 Clarissa Clark Beginning. 1486 Clarissa Clark 0 5

Josephine Owen

August 18, 2012 3:04 AM

Contemplation by Josephine Owen

One of the best parts of the year, in Josephine’s opinion, was the waggon ride back to school. Her family didn’t subscribe to any of the society newspapers, and neither did she take vacations to places she might be likely to run into anyone she knew from school, so the journey back was an excellent opportunity for the Pecari to overhear conversations and catch up on a season’s worth of gossip. Admittedly, she had been invited to two parties over the past year, to her great surprise, and had attended both. She’d been at Sophie’s sleepover in London – the cost of the international portkey meant that she forfeited her birthday present this year, but Josephine didn’t mind; it was a real gift to her to spend time in such close proximity with people like Sara Raines and Hope Brockert (even if her pyjamas had been embarrassing in comparison). Yet a lot had apparently occurred since the start of the summer, and, unwilling to look like a gossip, Josephine settled on subtle eavesdropping to be caught up. Her methods were successful, and by the time she alighted outside the school her eyes were wide as she processed so much new information.

As she found herself a seat at the Pecari table, Josephine caught a glimpse of a Carey in her peripheral vision, and her mind settled on her recent knowledge that Arnold and Fae had become engaged over the summer. It seemed so peculiar to her, and certainly not least because these were people her own age, with whom she regularly shared classes. Josephine was relatively certain that nobody in her own family had ever had an arranged marriage (but then, unlike Carey and Sinclairs, she didn’t have a record of family history), and she pondered how she might feel about it if she were ever to be in that situation. The obvious advantage was that she wouldn’t have to worry about never finding someone and spending her life alone, but then she might hate her spouse, and that would probably be worse.

Without much conscious decision, her head turned towards the Aladren tables, and she briefly watched some of her year group as they, too, settled down for the Opening Feast of their fifth year. Internally, she was debating with herself how many of them would likely be betrothed by the time they’d completed their CATS, and whether any of them would oppose their partners. Lost in her own thoughts, her gaze lingered, and a person could be forgiven for thinking that she was staring. So engrossed was she that when a person spoke nearby, Josephine actually jumped a little as she heard her name being called. She probably resembled some woodland creature or other startled by a Lumos charm as she stood up and joined the others at the staff table, her brain being exceptionally slow in figuring out why she was there; she had completely forgotten that her year would be eligible for prefect positions this term.

She somehow made it back to her seat, without fully registering who the other prefects had been, and upon finding her voice, she simply uttered, “Huh.”

0 Josephine Owen Contemplation 196 Josephine Owen 0 5

Samantha Hamilton

August 18, 2012 3:07 AM

Not the break I had been hoping for by Samantha Hamilton

Even the extra make-up she’d applied – nothing over the top, just a second coat of foundation with a dusting of powder, a slight shimmering of eye shadow, brown eyeliner and clear mascara and lip gloss; she didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard – couldn’t hide that Samantha was harassed. She was already wishing she’d thought to tie back her mousy brown hair, as she’d been fidgeting with it and now it looked as stressed as felt, and she couldn’t find a scrunchie for love nor money. Her distraction was due in part to having rushed her packing earlier that morning, but both were more dependent upon the larger mess that had been her summer vacation. Or lack thereof.

She still couldn’t decide which event had been the worst. Her estranged father offering her college funds if she came back to live with him in the holidays, which Samantha had firmly refused before discovering that her Mom’s job wasn’t quite covering the mortgage and their savings were almost gone, had been a poor start. Her younger brother’s announcement that his girlfriend of two years was pregnant had been an exceptional follow-on. Said girlfriend’s mother kicking her daughter out so she had to move in and share Samantha’s bedroom all summer (no way were the irresponsible couple permitted to continue to share a room) was just the mouldy icing on a stale cake.

All this, and Rachel had graduated, so Samantha didn’t even have her closest friend on hand to ease her pain. She could hardly offload to Autumn, either, who was having her own troubles. Samantha wasn’t so callous as to rank her own concerns above her friend’s health issues. To top it all off, she had to think about college applications – regardless of whether or not she’d be able to afford to go – RATS examinations, and prefect duties. She was by now thanking her lucky stars that Jane had been lumped with Head Girl, rather than herself. She took a seat with the other Aladrens, dumbly listened to the Headmistress’s speech, and had never before been so glad for the distraction of the food arriving. She had already helped herself to macaroni and cheese – her ultimate comfort food – before realizing that someone had spoken to her.

0 Samantha Hamilton Not the break I had been hoping for 159 Samantha Hamilton 0 5

Waverly & Wendy Canterbury

August 18, 2012 3:15 AM

First day (and first day back) by Waverly & Wendy Canterbury

Since the day Waverly had been accepted to Sonora, Wendy had been waiting anxiously for her turn. The fact that her older sister was magical had made Wendy pray and wish really hard that she could be magical too. It had been one long year before she started to show signs of magical abilities and Wendy had been so happy with just being able to steal extra sweets after dinner and make things happen without sometimes meaning them to. When Waverly had done them, it had freaked her parents out. Now that they knew better, their parents had tried to hide their surprise better.

It was so exciting to finally be going to the same school as her older sister. They had gone to elementary school together, sure, but this was different. Wendy was in awe of the whole environment. She had never visited her sister at school before except for her performance at the hotel. It had been so cool seeing magic happen in front of her eyes. Finally, finally, she was going to be a part of it. She really wished she could tell her friends back at home.

Wendy and Waverly sat together during the wagon ride to school. "It'll be awesome," Waverly was saying, "and don't be afraid to drink the potion they give you. It doesn't hurt at all."

"Really?" Wendy's hazel eyes were wide in wonder.

Waverly smiled, remembering how she had been her first day here. "Really. And don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough here. They're lying. Remember those people called purebloods? Well, sometimes they don't like people who don't come from magical families, but most of the purebloods at Sonora are pretty nice." She smiled. "I'm sure you'll make lots of friends!"

Wendy nodded slowly, her stomach churning a little. "Me too."

The sisters parted ways at the doors of Cascade Hall and Wendy gave a little wave and a big smile to her older sister as she walked to the front with the other first-years. As she waited her turn, she was starting to feel a little jittery. She was really nervous, first of all, and she really, really wanted to be in the same house as her sister.

When it finally came for Wendy to drink the potion, she did so without a hesitation and watched as her skin turned brown with glee. Pecari! That was Waverly's house! Wendy could hardly contain a squeal as she rushed towards the Pecari table. Yes! She would be with her sister! She gave her sister a huge hug.

"Congrats, Wendy!" Waverly said with a big smile. "You're in the best house ever!" She made room for her little sister to sit with her. One thing Waverly loved about having her little sister with her now was that she finally got to introduce her to all of her friends. Waverly would always have a special spot in her heart for her Pecari housemates even if she loved her friends outside of her house. "Guys, this is my little sister Wendy," she said, introducing her to the friends that she sat with. Waverly could hardly contain her beaming smile.

"It's nice to meet you guys," Wendy replied, suddenly a little shy.

0 Waverly & Wendy Canterbury First day (and first day back) 0 Waverly & Wendy Canterbury 0 5

Effie Arbon

August 18, 2012 4:29 AM

Amongst strange and savage people by Effie Arbon

Effie Arbon appeared perfectly composed on the outside. Nothing less was expected of her and she had had deportment lessons since she could sit up, therefore holding herself correctly was a matter of course. On the inside, however, she was in a tumultuous state for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the sheer volume of people was somewhat overwhelming. Until their débutante ball, the Arbon girls did not mix in society. There had been occasional visitors to the house but they were usually there to see father and did not bring children. The most that was required of Effie in terms of interaction was to line up with her siblings and greet the gentleman with a curtsey, before keeping out of sight and out of earshot. She had passed all her etiquette classes with flying colours, of course, and so had no doubt that she would be able to socialise appropriately with the appropriate people but just being around people, and being outside of their estate, was a new and alarming experience. The second concern was the nature of some of the people with whom she might be required to mix. No Arbon children had been sent to Sonora since it had started accepting Muggleborns. It had, in their eyes, been continually going downhill for a number of years, with the majority of the staff being Muggle-huggers and the general attitude of the school tending towards dangerously liberal attitudes. Effie knew that all she had to do was avoid such people but the idea of being amongst them was distressing. Finally, she wondered how much attention she was attracting. It had been announced in all the proper circulars that she would be attending the school. The Arbons had not attended public schools in living memory. Most people her age had probably never even met one. Her parents kept a suitable number of public engagements with those whom they felt were worthy company but this was unlikely to involve interacting with said people's children. Mostly, they kept to themselves, which was easy enough to do as they had a modest island off the coast of Maine all to themselves. She supposed she might be something of a curiosity.

In order to affirm the notion that she was confident, she stepped forward first to receive the sorting potion and was relieved to see her skin turn bright scarlet. Crotalus was said to be the house where the majority of the appropriate company resided. As she took her seat at her newly appointed table, her relief increased. The cup was simply being passed from person to person. That was a dubious hygienic practice at best but there were Muggleborns up there. She might have been made to drink from something that had been touched by Muggleborn lips. This was beyond her worst ideas about what might happen. She tried to suppress her imagination vis-à -vis all the lips that might have touched the cup over the years. She could only hope that they had some very thorough scouring charms in place, although Muggleborn germs were known to be much longer lasting and harder to purge. This was one of the many reasons it was dangerous for a Pureblooded young lady such as herself to mix with such people. The notion was still causing her to feel slightly nauseous when the food arrived. This was also a strange experience. She had heard of buffet food. It had been covered in her etiquette classes. It was a style of food served at parties where one served oneself. However, she had formed the impression that this usually comprised vol-au-vents and fruit platters. She was fairly sure this was supposed to be a full meal – the term 'feast' along with the selection of dishes on offer certainly indicated so – yet one seemed to serve oneself. Furthermore, she believed that buffets were reserved for ambulatory settings. A seated buffet was an oxymoron. She didn't know, of course, but she expected that this what commoners did. It seemed like a practice adopted by those who could not afford servants. Showing timidity for the first time, she reached tentatively for a serving spoon, taking it very gently, as if loathe to commit to fully grasping it. She was not sure what exactly she expected to happen. The implement was unlikely to bite her, nor was her etiquette tutor going to apparate and scold her for improper behaviour. It was clearly the done thing here but it felt like a transgression. She was able to take a pork chop and salad without incident and picked up her fork with more determination, hoping that anyone who had witnessed her handling of the serving spoon had taken it for the delicate touch of a young lady and not the trepidation that it actually was. Inside though, if anything, her fear had been increased by her experiences. Thus far, everything about this place was stranger and more horrifying than she could possibly have envisaged.

13 Effie Arbon Amongst strange and savage people 238 Effie Arbon 0 5

Isabel Raines

August 18, 2012 11:45 AM

I don't think I'm either by Isabel Raines

For almost as long as she could remember, Isabel had heard about Sonora. For her father, Charles, it was an important stage of life and something to aspire to, for her cousin Sara, it was a daily reality, and for her older sister Catherine, it was something approaching a religion. Her only sibling was only days short of being fifteen years her senior, so she had been out of school for years and had a successful marriage and three children, but Catherine still seemed firmly convinced that the best times of her life had all taken place within these walls. That there was nothing to compare with being at Sonora Academy.

It was something of a disappointment, then, to eagerly look up at the building as soon as she clambered off the uncomfortable and crowded Illinois wagon and conclude that it, like every other structure she had ever been in, could probably fit inside her house. It would be a closer fit than most, but she thought that taking that one tower off and storing it elsewhere could make it work.

Well, she had read in Dinah Rutledge’s gossip column one time that celebrities usually seemed smaller when you met them in person. She had been talking about one of Catherine’s friends, and Catherine had been furious since she’d decided it had really been a thinly-veiled insult really meant for her, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be right. That didn’t make Sonora any less of a celebrity in her family, though. This was where Papa had gotten an education, Catherine had made friends she still clung to years after they’d stopped being meaningful in society, and Sara had done better than anyone except maybe Aunt Margaret had really expected. Sonora was where everything happened, where everything that happened began. She had to work hard not to hurry toward the building, at least at first. After that, it was harder not to be bumped around by larger people who were more certain of where they were going.

As a first year, she found herself standing uncomfortably with a lot of other people, trying to tell herself they were all as uncomfortable as her, but that it would all change soon. Mamma had been in favor of holding a party for the children of other proper people who were Sonora-bound, but Papa and Catherine had argued that it was against tradition; Isabel wished more than ever that her mother had won. She recognized the Miss Pierces – they were hard to forget, really – and Alan, who had caught up after her first moments of walking too fast and finally stopped grumbling about her trying to leave him, was beside her, but that wasn’t enough to make her feel any less surrounded by strangers, too many of whom, among the older students, she felt were staring. She found it hard to follow what the headmistress was saying, though she was able to pick it up easily enough by watching what everyone else was doing. As the line began to move along, Alan allowed her to squeeze his hand once about a minute before – since his name was earlier in the alphabet – he was called up.

She watched as her cousin walked forward as though it were no big deal, said something, she didn’t hear what, to the lady with the potion, and suddenly turned yellow. Teppenpaw, then. Isabel bit her lip, not sure what to think, or if she should hope to go there, too – for the one second she had to think about it before, as the next Raines in line, it was her turn.

Unlike Alan, she was too nervous for pleasantries, and so there was almost no delay between when she stepped forward and when everything she could see of her whole body except for the ends of her brown hair turned bright red. She was in Crotalus, just like her father and sister. She felt very relieved as she smiled at the deputy headmistress and moved away.

Her name was so late in the alphabet that it didn’t take long for the rest of the ceremony to go by and for a speech, most of which she didn’t understand, to occur before the feast began. Once it did, Isabel looked at the other new girl near her with a smile, but found the other girl seemed to be more interested in the utensils they could use to serve themselves with. She made herself a salad while her roommate did that, then decided to be the one to speak up anyway. They were going to live together, to be almost like sisters, if all went well; they had to get to know each other.

“Good evening,” she said. “I am Isabel Raines, of the Illinois Raines’. How do you do?”

0 Isabel Raines I don't think I'm either 241 Isabel Raines 0 5

Alan Raines

August 18, 2012 12:19 PM

Yellow isn't the color I expected, but it'll do by Alan Raines

“Some cousin you are,” Alan grumbled as he caught up with Isabel, seconds after she’d tried to abandon him and found herself blocked by the movement of the crowd in the same direction that she wanted to go. Isabel was, he thought, being kind of a girl about being here; he was excited, too, but there was no reason to nearly get trampled just so he could gawk at what little of the school they could even make out from the point where the wagons and landed. It would still be here to look at tomorrow, he assured himself as he craned his neck to get a better view of part of it.

“Go walk with your sister, then,” Isabel shot back, not taking her eyes off what lay ahead of them as they walked forward. Alan did so only briefly, long enough to make sure she wasn’t being serious.

“Yeah, right,” he said. Even if he could have, Alan knew he did not want to walk with Sara anywhere, at least today. He found himself turning red at the very thought of her – trying to hold his hand or something while he was Sorted, or else bossing him around in front of everyone, telling him things he could very easily figure out for himself, or else hear from a staff member, as though he were stupid. He didn’t know that she would that to him, of course, but she had clearly enjoyed getting to be the Sonora authority every time he or Isabel broke down and started bombarding her with questions after they got their letters. He wasn’t going to risk it, not now that she was wearing the badge again.

He told himself he wasn’t going to do it, but once they were inside, he found himself staring and nearly stumbling over his robes nearly as much as Isabel did. He was, though, less uncomfortable when the first years were brought in after everyone else, he could tell. He just waved at anyone he thought was looking at him and focused on the staff, on the headmistress giving them their instructions and on the deputy headmistress with the potion that would let them know where, after so many months of discussions and debates and questions and everything else, they were going to go.

He was called before Isabel and gave her a nervous smile before he went up. “Good evening,” he said politely to Coach Pierce before taking a drink of the potion she handed him and blinking, a little unnerved by the effect even after the headmistress’ warning, when his hand started to turn yellow.

Teppenpaw. That was something Alan had not expected. There was nothing wrong with being a Teppenpaw, their House description had as much to recommend it as any other and his sister had told him that the Head Girl elect was one, but he just hadn’t expected it. He went over to that table anyway, though, trusting that the potion knew best, and, after applauding the Head Girl who was supposed to be in his new House and the girl who’d just become its prefect without really knowing who either was, he turned his attention easily to the food. It had been a long day, a long wagon ride from Illinois, and he was hungry.

He looked to one of his neighbors, resisting the urge to just introduce himself to any and everybody. “Hello,” he said. “Could you please pass me those rolls, right there? Thank you.” Even hungry and excited, he remembered his manners; his mother would have stood for nothing less. Alan wouldn't have been very surprised to find out that Caroline Raines had started trying to ingrain good manners into her children the day each of them was born. "My name is Alan Raines, of Illinois," he added, feeling it was natural to do so at this point instead of over-eager.

0 Alan Raines Yellow isn't the color I expected, but it'll do 237 Alan Raines 0 5

Jade Owen

August 18, 2012 4:16 PM

First of Many by Jade Owen

Returning to school after an enjoyable summer was always such a huge drag. As usual, Jade had painted, rode horses, been mollycoddled by her parents and argued with her siblings. It had been spectacular. Now she was back at school, bound to endure endless implores of her professors for her to actually put some effort into her work. Yawn. At least there was Quidditch to look forward to here, and Waverly's baked goods, and the Opening Feast. Remembering all these good things would keep Jade going through until midterm, so with a bounce in her step she left her brother and sister the moment she got off the wagon and went to find her friends, instead.

Spying Waverly, Jade went over and sat near her. She said a quick 'hi' before the Headmistress began to speak and the Sorting began. Waverly seemed totally engrossed in what Jade considered was a boring ceremony, and then it became clear why: Mini Waverly was sorted into Pecari, and the sisters greeted each other with a hug. "Hey," Waverly's roommate said as she was introduced to the newest member of their House. "Welcome to Pecari."

Jade watched the sisters with interest; when she had been sorted into Pecari, she had made to avoid going to sit by her sister so they didn't cramp each other's style. Speaking of Josephine, the fifth year was now standing up and approaching the Headmistress to collect a Prefect badge. "Ug," she said aloud. "That's two prefects in the family, now." She made a disgusted face. "Don't you go down that dangerous path," she said to Mini Waverly - her name was W-something, but Jade had already forgotten what. At least Jade would be saved the embarrassment of being prefect; her roommates were all better Prefect material than she was herself.

0 Jade Owen First of Many 221 Jade Owen 0 5

Effie Arbon

August 18, 2012 5:36 PM

No, Gods be thanked. by Effie Arbon

A Raines. That wasn't as terrible as it could be. The family didn't go back as far as some and, as such, had some strange, modern practices, such as girls being permitted to being the primary individual to inherit. However, brief history and these little idiosyncrasies aside, they broadly speaking had the right attitude. It was highly likely that Effie's parents had been at some of the same occasions as this girl's parents, although the chances were they would have had fewer interactions than the degree of overlap might have suggested. However, in the warped joke of a social circle offered by this school, being joined by a Raines could be considered positively fantastic.

“How do you do,” she reiterated, this – rather than an attempt to answer the implied but nonsensical question – being the correct way to respond to it. As she uttered these words, Effie found herself coming across her first serious dilemma of the evening. She had, of course, extensively practised curtseying but every situation they had covered which might call for it had involved the participants standing. Internally, she frowned, although she didn't let the ugly and unfriendly expression cross her features. She blamed the uncouthness of the school for presenting her with such an odd social situation as making introductions in a seated position. She gripped the edge of her skirt, pulling it out and dipping the top half of her frame, executing all the actions of a curtsey bar the bending of the knees. Although that tended to be a fairly integral part she felt that she had done an adequate job of making a respectable greeting.

“I am Effie Arbon,” she introduced herself, with quiet and simple authority. That was all there was to it. There was no need to clarify, as they were just The Arbons. The one and only line of. The Raines Family were part of what her father termed the admirable, but unrealistic, attempt to repopulate America. It seemed to be the trend with Pureblood families on this continent to procreate at a prolific rate. That, as far as he was concerned, just gave one an unwieldy array of offspring to attempt to marry off into proper families, who were in fairly short supply. Although it was admirable to try to breed faster than the Muggle scum, thus beating them at their own game of overpopulating the planet, it wasn't conducive to protecting one's bloodline. The Arbons stopped as soon as they had a male heir to inherit the estate and name. Any daughters that arose during this process were unnecessary inconveniences for whom suitable marriages needed arranging.

OOC - I based what I said about the Raines from your description of them in the wiki. If any of that is inaccurate or is accurate but goes against how they attempt to portray themselves/what would be generally known, please forgive me and provide me with the appropriate corrections.

13 Effie Arbon No, Gods be thanked. 238 Effie Arbon 0 5

Michael Grosvenor

August 18, 2012 6:00 PM

Tune out, turn off, drop out. by Michael Grosvenor

The Opening Feast was Michael's least favourite time of year. Sure it was great to be back, and he couldn't wait to catch up with his friends and hear about their summers. The trouble was he couldn't do that at the feast. For one thing, he couldn't hear much of anything. People assumed hearing aids just made your ears work again but, however far technology got, it was still a long way from mimicking nature. He heard sounds differently. He heard everything, magnified. Distance and background noise were his two worst enemies. He compensated, where he could, with backing this up with visual information – facial expressions, along with a bit of lip reading. This made the Opening Feast his nightmare scenario. He avoided the hall at the best of times, preferring to hit it during off peak hours, or grab some food and take it outside. But he felt obliged to stay for the feast and this was the time when it was at its most cacophonous. The whole school, in one place, at one time, still full of bounciness from summer, not yet weighed down by the gloom of homework, and wanting to catch up with friends. It was also hard to get a good eyeline to compensate without being far away. You were either on the opposite side of the table, good for lip reading, bad for distance, or next to each other, presenting the opposite combination. This feast and the last one had especially sucked, as he hadn't been able to talk to Laurie. Talking with friends was always easier. They knew his little quirks and had got used to knowing how to help him. But Mellie, Brianna and Valerie were all in other houses and now Laurie, his only close friend in his house, wasn't allowed to talk to him in public because his Pureblood family didn't approve.

He got through the headmistress's speech fairly painlessly, heard the new prefects named, and then reached under his hair and turned off his hearing aids. They were only going to give him a headache if he left them on. Hopefully most people here knew him well enough, or had noticed this conspicuous enough gesture, to know that they would have to do a lot of arm waving or poking to now get his attention. Michael resolved to enjoy the one thing he could about the feast, which was the food. He grabbed some barbecue ribs and salad. If anyone called him out on it, he could claim it was cos he'd got used to being nagged into eating his greens while he'd been at home but the truth was he didn't actually mind the stuff. It cut through the grease and the strong flavour on the ribs. But he was fairly sure liking salad wasn't cool. He tucked in, people watching a little, looking mostly at people who weren't near enough to catch his eye and try to converse. The food smelt good. The food tasted good. The sight of people chattering happy was nice. The only thing missing was the audio.

13 Michael Grosvenor Tune out, turn off, drop out. 199 Michael Grosvenor 0 5

Theresa Carey

August 18, 2012 6:25 PM

They'll all go by before we know it by Theresa Carey

As she sat down at the Pecari table, Theresa couldn’t help but sneak looks over at the Crotalus one, searching for a head of blonde hair she had seen often enough before in the past two years but had never really taken an interest in until now, when it suddenly belonged to her cousin’s betrothed. Both of the twins, who she’d been indignant to realize had known for weeks beforehand and not told her, had seemed utterly matter-of-fact about the announcement which had been made to the family shortly after the Sinclair wedding, saying it was “just Fae,” but that meant nothing to Theresa, who wasn’t very familiar with the fifth years and had never registered her as anything but someone quiet who apparently didn’t mind louder people, since she at least semi-voluntarily spent some of her time with Arnold. She thought she had every right to be curious about the future new girl.

During the Sorting, she had to divide her attention between that and the two Careys in the line of first years. Anthony, she was not surprised at all to see, went straight to Aladren, just as Jay and the twins had done before him, but her eyebrows lifted a little a moment later when Henry was instead Sorted into Crotalus. That, she hadn’t expected; she had just assumed that he would go into Aladren with the rest. The girls in their family had a little more variety – right now they had a girl in every House except Aladren, if Alex counted, which Theresa thought she did – but the boys who’d attended this school that she knew about had been Aladrens. She’d assumed they simply raised them that way; Merlin knew they were all stubborn, and problem-solving skills were definitely something the family wanted to bring out in its members, she knew.

For a moment, that made her forget all about Miss Sinclair, but as her eyes followed Hen to his new table, she remembered because she spotted the hair. She had never really cared much about prefects who weren’t in her House or related to her, but she found herself hoping that Miss Sinclair was the new Crotalus prefect, so she could get a better look at her as she went up front; for her and Arnold to both be called so she could get a good look at them together would be even better, but Theresa knew better than to expect that. The best she could hope for was for it to be Miss Sinclair and Arthur, so the Careys were strongly represented in the school leadership.

Her attention was stolen again, though, by a first year coming to join the third years, who Theresa had taken a seat near mostly so she wouldn’t be alone. She looked blankly at the girl for a second before she realized that it was because the new Pecari was Waverly’s sister. Odd; she had thought Waverly was Muggleborn. Still, she smiled politely before turning her attention to the prefect announcements.

They didn’t go as she’d hoped they would, and Theresa frowned for a moment at Mr. Layne and Mr. Calhoun for having Carey spots before turning to congratulate Jade. She did not feel close to her, but she sometimes felt she liked her, though she wasn’t entirely sure why, and besides, it was the polite, social thing to do. She had resolved this year to be more social. It seemed, though, that Jade didn’t think congratulations were in order.

“It looks like we’re going to stay at two for a while, too,” she said, looking toward Jane, the only one who hadn’t graduated yet. They had needed Arthur, anyway, to get that spot so they wouldn’t be completely out of the loop once Jane graduated, but it looked like they were out of luck this time. “Maybe my brothers and other cousins will have better luck.” Or she would, but that seemed like a bad thing to say in front of her roommates. “Did everyone enjoy their summers?” she asked, trying her best to pitch her voice pleasantly.

0 Theresa Carey They'll all go by before we know it 219 Theresa Carey 0 5

Nic Sawyer

August 18, 2012 7:23 PM

A Seventh Year at last by Nic Sawyer

Nic's summer had been fairly normal except for the two weeks in Canada. He still wasn't entirely sure what he'd been thinking when he decided to accept his paternal grandmother's invitation to visit her. He thought it might have something to do with Rachel Bauer, something to do with Eliza's party last Christmas, and maybe something to do with the fact that he'd be entering the real world in about a year's time. What any of those factors had to do with Grandmother Sawyer and her residence in Saskatchewan, though, he couldn't really verbalize or justify clearly.

Rachel, for one, was gone. She had graduated and left Sonora, and if they ran into one another again, it was probably going to be along the same lines as when Mom had met Dad. He (or Mom or Dad, maybe) would have had a vision that she would be at a particular place at a particular time and if he showed up there and asked her to marry him she would definitely, without any doubt, say yes. Barring that, he couldn't really see how their circles would cross again.

That was perhaps Vague and Unsupported Reason To Visit Grandmother Number One: Rachel sometimes attended nice parties like Eliza's. If Grandmother liked him enough, more people like her might start inviting him to said parties that had a slim chance of also including Rachel on the guest list.

Eliza's party, for another, was over. He had survived without making a fool of himself. If Rachel hadn't been there and joined him, he was sure he would have hated it. He didn't even like parties. Yet he had gone because Eliza had invited him. (And also because Mom told him Rachel would be there, but he'd been thinking of going even before that, because Eliza was his best ally and she had apparently wanted him there.)

That was perhaps Vague and Unsupported Reason To Visit Grandmother Number Two: If Grandmother taught him the things that the other people at Eliza's parties learned while teething, he had a much lower chance of making a fool of himself if Eliza inexplicably invited him to another party.

Then there was the great bit void of After Sonora. Nic really had no idea what he was going to do with himself after he graduated. He thought college was probably a good call, but what his major might be or what job he'd get after that was still entirely nebulous. As a Crotalus, he would have liked to have more of a plan and strategy for how to tackle The Future, but he didn't even know where to start right now.

That was perhaps Vague and Unsupported Reason to Visit Grandmother Number Three: Grandmother and Grandfather were comfortably wealthy. Not as rich as some of the pureblood families that attended Sonora, of course, but there was a healthy bank account to the Sawyer name and they were respected in their region of Canada. If all else failed, and if Grandmother liked him enough, she might have avenues for finding him something to do with himself until he could get sorted on his own. A contingency plan was never a bad thing to have, even if it depended on the charity of snobby old relatives.

So he had gone. It wasn't as bad as he remembered from when he was young. Maybe that was because his cousins were older and more mature, or maybe it was because his mother wasn't along, or maybe it was just that his performance at Sonora and Eliza's party had earned him enough respect that no snide comments about his blood status came up. The Sawyer family was small. Dad had only one brother and no sisters. Nic's uncle was the elder and the heir, so there hadn't been as much fuss when Dad went off an married an American muggle as there might have been if Uncle Harold had done it. Harold was also comfortably married with two children, both boys, which provided the next generation of Sawyers an heir and a spare. Still, there were only three children in Nic's entire generation. If the other two got stuck with only daughters or no children at all, the last magical Sawyer line left in North America would end like every other one had, if not for Nic.

Grandmother and Grandfather would rather see their legacy passed on to a half-blood Sawyer than let it vanish into the legacies of larger families. That was the extent of their liberal ideals, but it did mean neither Nic nor his father had ever been removed from the Will, even during the long years of pretending the little Florida offshot of the Canadian family didn't exist.

That was over now though. Nic spent two weeks attending the same summer tutoring sessions his two cousins had been subjected to since they were little. They obviously far out-striped him in every subject covered, of course, but by the end of the two weeks, Nic was at least sure he could fake his way through another of Eliza's parties with a bit more confidence than he had last year. He had even been introduced to some neighbors officially as, "My grandson, Nicodemus," which would have been better if Grandfather hadn't used his full name, but for some crazy reason that Nic didn't understand, both his paternal grandparents actually liked his full name. 'A good wizards' name,' they had said, sounding pleased.

When he had left, they had all said he was making good progress and told him they would see him again next summer to continue his training. Nic was less sure that would happen, but he planned to keep his options open so he didn't disagree.

Now, that felt simultaneously a million years away and like it would be tomorrow. There was still a whole year left in his Sonora career culminating in the RATS exam, but at the same time . . . this would be the last time he ever sat down to an Opening Feast, watched the tiny fledglings get sorted, and hear the new prefects get announced for another year. Fortunately, it was also the last time he'd be subjected to the school song as well. He suffered through that, then began the important task of filling his plate for the Feast.

He caught himself trying to find Rachel before remembering that she wasn't there anymore. Sullenly, he turned his attention more firmly toward his food and tried his best to forget that there was a first year sitting where she should be.

1 Nic Sawyer A Seventh Year at last 165 Nic Sawyer 0 5

Thad Pierce

August 18, 2012 8:45 PM

Our time at Sonora is approaching a middle. by Thad Pierce

Thad's usual wagon routine had been routed. It was the one time of year (well, twice a year, four if you counted midterms which Thad only did if both he and Four went home for them) when he and Derry were basically forced to sit in close confines so nobody could take umbrage with him conversing with his disinherited cousin. This year, however, there were new people on the wagon with them, and two of them were the Anns. Seeming unwilling to talk to Derry (this could be based on his outsider status but was probably due to the fact that Derry's opinions and observations were both less reliable and less thorough than Thad's), they had spent the entire ride throwing question after question at him, such that he hadn't been able to do much more than exchange greetings with Four.

This, of course, didn't stop Four for joining the conversation to add in his caveats on the topic of Sonora (Four, in fact, didn't even seem to notice that the Anns weren't aiming their questions at him, so it almost felt like old times which was both surreal and a little tragic). It did mean, though, that the hours spent traveling from New England to Arizona were spent talking about teachers, classes, Quidditch, and the school grounds more so than catching up on the news of the past summer. Or discussing the concert or the last half of last term, since their parents' being part of the concert audience meant there hadn't been wagon rides back home last year either.

In short, when he got of the wagon, Thad felt he had been robbed of an invaluable opportunity to learn something, even if it was just what Derry had done to stay awake during James' dissertation (in truth, Thad had actually found it interesting, and it had sparked a good debate with his parents that evening, but he was aware that it would have posed some difficulty for Derry's limited attention span). He settled down across from Alicia at the Aladren table feeling a bit irritable, and seeing the Anns get a few moments of fame as they turned brown did not improve his mood at all. He was honestly a little surprised that they hadn't gone to Teppenpaw, but not enough for him to wonder if there was something amiss with the potion this year. If they'd gone to different Houses, the entire New Hampshire Pierce clan would have demanded a full resorting for the whole group of first years because the potion batch must surely have been botched, but he trusted Professor Fawcett's brewing enough that if it said they both belonged in Pecari then they must belong in Pecari.

Soon enough, though, there was food, and Thad forgave the universe for the Anns' existence as he smelled the enticing aromas and realized he was famished. Filling his plate with generous helpings, he smiled back as Alicia addressed him.

"Absolutely," he agreed without hesitation. His parents were all well and good and he loved them dearly, but they were old. It was good to be among his peers again. "Congratulations on your cousin making Head Boy," he added, since he didn't remember saying as much back at the concert. They had had other more pressing things to discuss at the time, like his drooping feather and other last minute pre-performance minor emergencies, and then afterwards there had been introductions to made and Sam Bauer earning Head Boy just hadn't made it into the conversation.

1 Thad Pierce Our time at Sonora is approaching a middle. 213 Thad Pierce 0 5

Sullivan Quincy

August 18, 2012 9:09 PM

I try to avoid that state by Sullivan Quincy

After singing with Derry and Arista at the concert, Sully felt he really had no excuse not to belt out the school song this year. Everyone and their parents and siblings already knew he couldn't carry a tune, so there was no reason not to enjoy himself. So after the new kids were sorted and the badges were distributed (next year, he made a mental note to remind himself, he would need to pay attention in case it was his name that got called so he didn't jump in his seat like the Josephine did in the seat next to his if his name got called) and the new Charms teacher was introduced (which was sad, he'd liked Professor Light) and the new HoH of Teppenpaw was named, Sully sang out the school song with lots of enthusiasm and very little talent.

Soon thereafter, he filled his plate with equal gusto, but slowed down a little as he realized the newest Pecari Prefect was still looking a bit shell-shocked. "Hey," he said, trying to get her attention. "Congratulations. Now eat something," he ordered, grinning a little. He waved around their table. "Food's on."

He jabbed his fork into a piece of steak to hold it steady and began cutting it into roughly bite sized pieces. Hungry, he stuck the first piece into his mouth as soon as it was free, and cut the rest of the slab while he was chewing. He swallowed and took a sip of juice before addressing Josephine again. They weren't exactly close, but they'd shared classes last year and during his first year, and they were in the same House, so he felt it wasn't prying to ask, "Did you do anything fun this summer?"

1 Sullivan Quincy I try to avoid that state 207 Sullivan Quincy 0 5

Clarissa Clark

August 18, 2012 9:30 PM

Destination: Aladren. by Clarissa Clark

Soon the jumble of first years began to be 'sorted'- one by one in apaetical order they were called up to sp magic potion which would determine their home for the next seven years; although of course it would be possble to make friends in other 'houses', Clarissa was assured that these would be the people literally closest to her, sharing proximity, and habits both kind and well...otherwise.

For almost all of her life Clarissa had only been around her Dad, so it was difficult for her to adapt graciously. Perhaps it was something that the British had never been good at. When Clarissa and her Dad had moved to the states to live with Tracy it had taken a lot of getting used to, but Tracy's house in Pasedena was vast and she had thought that Clarissa and Sebastian's habits were "cute", even "quaint". And on the few occasions that Clarissa had gotten 'lost' Tracy had been great - she had calmed her Dad down and seemed truly convinced that her new step-daughter's ability to be in one place one minute and miles way the next had something to do with her new location and the "smallness" of Britain. London wasn't that big, right?

Now, Clarissa would make her new home among one of the Sonora tribes, whichever one she was matched with. The only problem was, she had no idea what it meant, and everyone else seemed in the know. A rather arrogant young lady stepped up first to take the potion from a large ornate goblet, and thinking it was some kind of symbolic ritual, Clarissa nearly jumped nto the air when the same girl's skin turned a bright shade of red. After this, students seemed to appraoch in alphabetical order. There were cheers when several fellow first years changed colours, and they rushed to join older siblings on one of the large tables. At least Clarissa thought they must be brothers and sisters - names were being flung around like confetti at a wedding, but none of them meant anything to her.

Clarissa of course was fairly near the beginning of the alphabet, but her turn seemed to take forever to come around. She hoped that in this crowd she would continue to be unnoticed, and that she would not be singld out as a curiosity - the one with no family or friends at Sonora. When her name was called she stepped forwards quickly, stooping a little and trying to hide her face behind her long curtains of straight dark hair. She dared not look the person offerig her potion in the eyes and her heart beat rapidly as she raised the cup to her lips. She suddenly tought - what if this all on large practical joke? But then she glanced up and remembered the water streaming down he walls - an effect only magic could have produced.

Clarissa swallowed the liquid and watched as her skin slowly turned blue. It crept right to the very tips of her fingers. Was she dying? "Aladren!" boomed a voice beside her, and a kind hand guided her toward the right table. Nervously, she chose the first free seat she saw, only to realise that the students already sitting there looked much older than she, and were engrossed in conversation. She then realised that in front of her was a banquet he likes of which she had never seen. Suddenly starving, she heaped her plate and nervousy took small bites, even during the school song.

After a minute or two though, Clarissa's House-mates turned towards her curiosly. She swallowed carefully, and lifted her head slightly to make sure only her right brown eye was visable beneath her hair. "I'm Clarissa...I'm a first year" she mumbled, wondering what was to come. "Is it always this exciting?"

0 Clarissa Clark Destination: Aladren. 1486 Clarissa Clark 0 5

Waverly & Wendy Canterbury

August 18, 2012 11:38 PM

That I am not looking forward to by Waverly & Wendy Canterbury

Waverly was really glad her sister wasn't like the other siblings that seemed to be around Sonora. Especially the pureblood ones. She and Wendy were really close and had always been that way. She had always expected her sister to be a witch too and she had no idea that it was rare when two muggles in the same family turned out to be witches. She was just glad that Wendy hadn't been left out.

She noticed her roommates hadn't introduced themselves really, so she did it for them. "This is Jade and Theresa," she told her younger sister and Wendy nodded with her shy smile, hazel eyes wide. She and Waverly didn't look too much alike since Wendy had blonde hair and looked like their mom while Waverly had brown hair and looked like their dad. Most of the time they were mistaken for cousins or friends or something, but Waverly kind of liked that. It made them sort of incognito or whatever. Maybe Wendy wouldn't get asked, "Are you Waverly's sister?" too often since they didn't look alike.

Wendy was trying to soak everything in as she sat with her sister's friends. Jade didn't seem too happy that her family members were Prefects now. She wasn't sure what a Prefect was, but she didn't want to look dumb. She'd ask Waverly later. She just smiled at Jade and said, "I'll try not to."

On the other hand, Waverly wondered why her roommate wouldn't want to become a Prefect. Well, Jade did seem like the kind of girl who wouldn't want to follow in her siblings' footsteps which made sense. Waverly wouldn't want to be a shadow to an older sibling either and she hoped that wouldn't happen to Wendy. In the smallest part of her, Waverly was kind of glad that Jade didn't want to be a Prefect. It meant that Waverly had a better chance at becoming one. Though she was a muggle-born, she really wanted to be a Prefect. She wasn't going to limit herself especially at this school.

Waverly hadn't spent much time talking to Theresa. She usually seemed to be the quieter one in their group. She was glad that she was sitting with them this time. She spent a little time mulling over her question before deciding to answer first. "My summer was pretty great." Thoughts of her little crush on Brandon arose and she tried hard not to blush though her face betrayed her. "I helped out at my mom's bakery a lot. We went camping in the desert for a couple days too." It was pretty much the same old summer that they had almost every year. Unless they went to go visit a pair of grandparents, that is.

Wendy didn't really know what to say. Waverly had answered for her so she just nodded along with her sister and ate her food, quietly watching the other girls. She looked around at the other Pecaris in her year, hoping that she'd be able to make friends with them. According to Waverly, they would be her new roommates for the seven years that she stayed at Sonora. That was a long time to be roommates with someone, not that Wendy would mind too much. She liked people. It was just that there were so many new ones here that it kind of overwhelmed her. Not to mention the magic that was so prevalent everywhere, of course.

0 Waverly & Wendy Canterbury That I am not looking forward to 0 Waverly & Wendy Canterbury 0 5

Rupert Princeton

August 19, 2012 12:06 AM

New Experiences. by Rupert Princeton

Getting out of the manor had been Rupert’s first wish and he had finally gotten it. His mother had dropped off both he and Cepheus at the wagon. Rupert was still at the age where he didn’t mind his mother kissing him goodbye, but he noticed Cepheus cringing away and avoiding it. Perhaps one day Rup would feel the same way, but as of now, he only thought his brother was overreacting.

It would be difficult, in Rupert’s opinion, to branch out from under his older brother’s shadow. Rupert enjoyed the limelight when he received it, but he didn’t receive it often. Being the middle child in his family, he was usually the one neglected at the Princeton’s large estate. After growing up a bit, Rupert didn’t mind it so much any more. Here, at Sonora, he had a chance to make a name for himself.

As soon as Mum left, Cepheus deserted him and went in search of his friends with a curt, “You’ll do all right.” Rupert boarded the wagon by himself and made conversation with whoever was in there. Being charming was one of Rupert’s strengths and he didn’t mind showing it off from time to, well, every time. When the wagon came to a stop, he peered out before jumping down and landing on his athletic shoes. He didn’t wear the black dragon-hide boots Cepheus wore because he used his shoes less for showing off and more for running around. Walking, which was what shoes were meant to do in the first place. Ever since Cepheus had turned thirteen, he had been more of a prat than usual, so Rup had noted.

He caught sight of his brother once as the first years were led into the hall, but he quickly forgot about him. He looked around at what would become his new home. He just hoped he wouldn’t be in the same house as Cepheus or his brother’s name would surely follow him around and that was what he certainly did not want even if it was the pure-blood house. Father had lectured him quite a lot about making it into the “appropriate” house, whatever that meant.

Rupert didn’t feel all that nervous about drinking the potion. He never liked drinking potions that he hadn’t watched being made only because he was suspicious of everyone. Of course, if he died or got sick right in the middle of the hall in front of his classmates, there’d be loads of witnesses and the headmistress most likely wouldn’t want to kill him that way. If she wanted to kill him at all. The ridiculous thought passed through Rupert’s brain just as his name was called and he couldn’t help the smirk that came onto his face before sipping it. He’d been reading too many comic books as of late.

Rupert’s pale skin turned brown and he wondered if he could ever get his skin to brown like this naturally. His next thought was that of his new house, Pecari. Cepheus never really talked about Pecari which meant Father would most likely be disappointed. When was Father not disappointed in his middle child? Rupert didn’t even care any more. These seven years would be all about him. Not his brother, not his father, not even his family name.

To other pure-bloods, Rupert would be considered as being on his way to becoming a blood-traitor, but no one really believed that yet. Rupert didn’t even consider the idea of labelling himself as one. He was hardly on the path to learning magic correctly. He couldn’t judge the blood of others justly quite yet. He sat down with a pair of strange first-year girls. It was very clear that they were twins, but he wasn’t sure if he would be able to tell one from the other. He could hardly remember whose name was whose, so he stuck with their shared name. Which was odd in itself. Well, Rupert…liked odd people.

Rupert dutifully sang the school song, clapped when it was appropriate and was rewarded at the end with a feast. It was exactly the sort of life Rupert wanted to lead one day. The twins spoke and Rupert looked up half in surprise. Pure-bloods. Interesting. “I’m Rupert Princeton of the Surrey Princetons. You can call me Rup.” He smiled at them, English accent crisp. He had never been to the United States before and it would be fun to see what kind of people Americans were.

40 Rupert Princeton New Experiences. 248 Rupert Princeton 0 5

Jorge Garcia

August 19, 2012 3:00 AM

Just watching the scenary by Jorge Garcia

Jorge was the last Garcia in this school, well, related to him anyway. He had no idea if there actually other Garcias. Last year, his sister graduated and he was now able to do whatever he wanted with her gone. He wasn’t really sure what that would entail, of course. Maybe he would not do his homework if he didn’t want to do it or skip a class every now and again. Or, maybe he would sneak down to the kitchens and try to have the Prairie Elves to give him some snacks. He could do whatever he wanted and there was nothing that Dulce could make him feel guilty for.

He sat at the Pecari table and quietly watched the evening unfold. He wasn’t really that entertained by the sorting because if you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it. Last year it had been exciting. This year, it was just a rerun. The only difference was that apparently Waverly had a sibling in the mix. He thought that was a little strange because Muggles rarely had more than one child have a magical gene. That had him thinking a little bit. Maybe one of her parents were actually a Squib? Wasn’t there a theory somewhere about genetics and that Muggleborns were really descendants of Squibs? He thought he read that somewhere or maybe Dulce was lecturing him on it at some point or he had witnessed a debate… none of that really mattered though. He would never ask because even he knew that was rude.

Thinking to himself, he listened as Waverly and her roommates chatted to her sister (or cousin or whatever she was) about their summers. He probably could have joined into the conversation, but he didn’t really want to. Girls were strange. Cute. But strange. And really, what was he going to tell them? Hung out at home with the sisters (and Juri). Spent time in Mexico and Spain with the families. Ate lots of food. The end? Boring. Nothing ever really changed for him. The only thing that did was that he had met a girl in Spain. She was quite pretty, but she was kind of annoying. Stuck up and snobby. But Jorge sure did like the look of her.

He’d sit this one out if he could. Instead, he would just listen. He learned a lot about girls having grown up with two sisters, but he knew that he still had a ways to go. The best way to do that was by studying them.

6 Jorge Garcia Just watching the scenary 220 Jorge Garcia 0 5

Cepheus Princeton

August 19, 2012 5:34 AM

Being Friendly. by Cepheus Princeton

The summer was over and Cepheus was so glad for it. The family reunion had been one weary evening from beginning to end. Right now, all he wanted to do was forget about it. Forget about that and the boring times he’d spent in France. There’d been some good parts, but all-in-all, the summer had been awful because of one major thing. The talk of marriage.

Cepheus knew he hadn’t been completely free when his arranged marriage to Lauren didn’t work out. He just hadn’t known he would be free for such a short time. His celebration had hardly begun before he was hitched again to another girl, this time one who attended his school. Cepheus had hardly even heard of Meghan Brownbriar before, but now he was betrothed and could do nothing about it again. He did, however, recognise the family name and he wondered briefly if she was related to Gareth. He knew it wouldn’t matter, really, except now he would have a closer tie to his roommate. Still, he wasn’t sure that being closer to his roommate in the familial sense made it worth having to marry a girl he now loathed on principle.

The day he left for school on the wagons, Cepheus would have been overjoyed to get away from his suddenly over-bearing family. All they asked were questions about his time in France and his lessons and Meghan Brownbriar. It was getting more difficult to relate to his best mates from home and Cepheus just wanted to get away from it all. For once, he would find solace in his studies. However, this was not the case.

This year, Cepheus had a tag-along. As much as he loved his brother, he didn’t like him all too much and he hated taking care of him. He knew Rupert would be able to take care of himself at the school. Sometimes he was a bit jealous of how free Rupert got to be especially as of late, but he tried not to think about it too much. It had made Cepheus bitter inside towards his brother and he didn’t want to be that way towards Rup. Rupert wasn’t exactly a good kid, but Cepheus hadn’t been either his first year. The fact that Rupert was going to be attending school with him now, however, dampened his spirit. His escape would be hindered by another Princeton.

Cepheus didn’t feel much guilt about leaving his brother to fend for himself. He justified it quickly by thinking that he’d had to go through this entire process on his own and Rup ought to do it himself too. He sat with his Crotalus mates in Cascade Hall and watched the beginning of the feast lazily. He watched his brother sip the potion with slight disinterest, but his eyes widened when he saw the colour his skin turned. Pecari? Cepheus turned to look at the Pecari table critically. Cepheus of course prized his house above all the others, and so it surprised him that Rupert wasn’t going to be in it. Of course, he and Rupert had totally different personalities so it only made sense. He sniffed pretentiously and turned back to his table.

After that bit was over, he was bored. He fiddled a bit with his sleeve, unbuttoning and buttoning the sleeve of the button-up he wore underneath his robes. From time to time, he would glance up and see if anything worth noting was going on. The new Charms professor interested him slightly, but only because she would be his professor. He’d already forgotten who the new Teppenpaw Head of House was.

When the Prefects were announced, however, Cepheus watched his housemate receive his badge closely. Topher was a fellow Quidditch player, but Ceph only knew him from practise. He wondered how exactly one went about getting that position. He knew Father would be so proud to find that Cepheus had been made Prefect in his year. He had two years to impress his professors and bring up his marks. His only competition would be his roommate. Well, Gareth would have to understand.

The first year at Sonora, Cepheus hadn’t sung the school song. His third year at Sonora, he kept with his tradition. He read the lyrics on the sheet of music and mentally remarked on how cheesy it was. Instead he focused on his growling stomach. As soon as the song ended, the food appeared and the newly growing teenager piled food onto his plate. Though the skinny bloke hadn’t grown much during the summer, he had still grown at least two centimetres. That was, at the very least, something. Cepheus could only hope to grow as tall as his father.

To begin with his new aspiration of becoming a Prefect in two years, Cepheus eyed two new Crotalus girls. They both looked a bit stiff and, having overheard their introductions, wondered how they would fair in his house. Well, their house now. He turned to them, his blue eyes and blonde hair reflecting the lights in the hall. “Congratulations on joining Crotalus. Believe me when I say it’s the best house.” He smiled. His voice had started changing, but it was in a strange, hoarse state at the moment. The English lad thought it made him sound rather charming, but that was in his own opinion. He gave a little bow with his head. “Cepheus Princeton, of the Surrey Princetons. You two looking forward to starting school here?” He nodded at Miss Raines. “I’m certain you’ve heard all about it.” The name ‘Arbon” he hadn’t heard before, at least here, but he hoped she was of the right sort.

40 Cepheus Princeton Being Friendly. 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Henny B-F-R

August 19, 2012 8:55 AM

Is it good to be back? by Henny B-F-R

Henny couldn't exactly say she was ever glad to come back to school. She enjoyed being at home. This summer, however, had been different. It had been hard work. Hard work was typically not something Aladrens minded but this had been different. Most people probably regarded the things she did for fun as hard work. She usually read a lot and discussed the things she'd read with her Father. This summer had required working on herself. She had underestimated how tiring that would be. In theory, it was just talking but the content of the conversations was very personal. She always came home drained. Although it had been difficult, the thought of not having it any more was worse. Talking had been all theory. Now she had to come back here and put it into practice, with the very limited resource of owling her counsellor to fall back on. She wasn't entirely convinced that she could do it.

She tried to put it to the back of her mind. There was a feast between her and the first Care of Magical Creatures class. She smiled and nodded at people as the made their way through the hall. The concert last term might have lost her favour with a few people if they didn't approve of her parents but she wasn't going to miss them. She'd got to know Solomon a little better, and Father had gone and chatted to Sully's stepfather, or somesuch. Apparently the two had been staff members together. It wasn't quite enough to consider Sully a friend but it meant she felt she was on smiling and waving terms with him. Maybe she could even ask him how his summer had gone if she found herself near enough to talk with him in the near future.

For now, she bound for the Aladren table. She applauded the prefects, quietly joined in the school song – it was the usual opening feast routine. When the food arrived, she helped herself to some spicy prawns and rice. They were well fed at home, her parents could cook to a functional degree, but the food here was possibly one area where school life bested home life. Although a meal was more than just the flavours to her, and she missed eating around the table as a family.

“Hi,” she smiled at the person next to her, “How's it going?”

13 Henny B-F-R Is it good to be back? 211 Henny B-F-R 0 5

Isabel Raines

August 19, 2012 9:51 AM

That's a good thing to be. by Isabel Raines

Her roommate could curtsy sitting down and was named Effie. Isabel wasn’t really sure what she should do with either of those facts, so she did what Mamma said was almost always the thing to do in such situations and kept smiling. She had heard the family name before, but she didn’t think she had ever met anyone who used it, so she found herself at more of a social dead end than she had hoped, It seemed it was going to fall completely to her to keep a conversation going.

Before she could think of a way to do that, though, an older boy seated near them turned to speak to them, too, and Isabel’s smile became relieved as she looked at him. Cepheus Princeton, of the Surrey Princetons; she wasn’t sure what Surrey was, but decided to assume it was in another country because of his accent. She was all right with that, though; her family was increasingly international, with Aunt Margaret in Spain and Sara always going places with her, and he had just made things easier for Isabel. Maybe he had recognized her family name, with Sara a prefect here, or maybe he was just friendly, but he had been a help either way. She didn’t feel so much like she might be forcing conversation down Effie’s throat.

“All my life,” she said simply about hearing all about it. “My father and sister both loved being Crotali, so I was so pleased to be Sorted here.” As long as there wasn’t a Gwen Carey in her class, she would stay that way, she thought. How common could those really be? Isabel couldn’t even imagine why anyone would want to do anything improper, yet along do so many things that were that they were rejected by their families.

That thought just made her uncomfortable, so she decided not to dwell on it. Not only did she have a lovely life that she would hate to give up, but she loved her family. She and Catherine had never been close, her sister didn’t like her, but the rest of them…She couldn’t imagine Papa and Mamma cutting her off, Alan not speaking to her anymore, even Sara, in her way, not being a good relative to have. Not having a home anymore, or seeing Maria Teresa and Lorenzo or Ella…no, that was all too awful to even think about.

0 Isabel Raines That's a good thing to be. 241 Isabel Raines 0 5

Effie Arbon

August 19, 2012 11:40 AM

Indeed. I have read all about it. by Effie Arbon

Effie felt things were going well with Isabel Raines. They had made polite introductions and the next stage of the social process would be to engage in small talk. When practising it in her etiquette lessons it was always something that she found a little contrived and difficult but she suspected that had more to do with her conversation partner than the act of small talk itself. Delphine was only eleven months younger than Effie. She could not remember a time when she had not had a sister, and thus effectively had known her all her life. Making airy and meaningless conversation with someone with whom one usually had all the intimacy of sisterhood was not a natural thing to do. Still, she had passed her examinations with commendations in every social skill. She was about to put this knowledge into practise when their conversation was interrupted by a boy.

Effie was rather floored by this for a number of reasons. Firstly, he seemed to have an incredibly casual manner of speaking which immediately caused her to put her guard up. She had done her research into those of a proper background who attended Sonora. The Princetons were even newer money than the Raines family, and she felt that it showed in the manner in which he spoke. It went to show that however much wealth you acquired, it could not buy you class. Isabel seemed content to address him and she would not snub him during this conversation, as that would be rather awkward, but she could not see herself actively seeking out his company in future. The fact that he made an approximation of bowing to them mollified her slightly, and she returned the greeting by giving him the same little bob she had extended to Miss Raines. Even though she had resolved that she could speak to him, briefly, in this situation, there was a further difficulty, one which was somewhat more insurmountable. Effie had never seen a boy of her own age (or one near to it) before. She barely even saw her own little brother, as Ignatius took his lessons separately from the girls. He also had the privilege of spending time with father, along with a play room all of his own. It seemed natural to form sororal relationships and she had practice in that. No one had specifically guarded her against speaking to males. However, even if it was allowed, it was a very foreign concept to her.

His second question had been more directed at Isabel, so Effie was very glad when the other girl stepped in, commenting on the family history of being in Crotalus.

“I am sure it will be an interesting experience,” she agreed, with regards to the question that had been addressed to both of them. She wasn't yet convinced that it was going to be an enjoyable one but her tone did not convey this doubt, “Have all of your family been in Crotalus?” she asked Isabel. Technically that was something that she could have researched and learnt but she felt that knowledge of who was who in society was enough. Memorising house affiliations was not expected. Even if she had known, her etiquette tutor had told her that it was sometimes appropriate to pretend that you didn't know something which you did, in order to create a source of conversation, so long as the “forgotten” detail was not something which it would be offensive or rude not to be aware of.

13 Effie Arbon Indeed. I have read all about it. 238 Effie Arbon 0 5

Cepheus Princeton

August 19, 2012 3:36 PM

One would say experiences take you further in life. by Cepheus Princeton

After Miss Raines spoke, he smiled. "You must know all about our house, then." He was still very proud that his house had won the house cup last year. Now they needed to add the Quidditch Cup to their list and all would be forgiven. Cepheus was the king at holding grudges at times and he was certainly still holding one against Arnold Carey, the Seeker that had stolen the Snitch from him last term. He wanted to beat Aladren, but if he had the choice between beating Aladren and winning the Quidditch Cup, he'd rather win than seek out revenge.

It seemed that Miss Arbon wasn't exactly thrilled that an older bloke was acknowledging her. In fact, she hardly spoke to him, focusing her questions instead to Miss Raines. Cepheus subtly appraised her, looking down at her with his eyes for a moment. He wondered if she had unintentionally snubbed him, but he could never be sure. One never knew what to think with first years and American pure-bloods. The reason why the past patriarchs had been hesitant to send their own to America was because they had loads of pride in their culture and their country. Americans had been looked down upon as something close to a mutt with so many different cultures here. Of course, English pure-bloods were becoming more tolerant of other cultures now and Scorpius had taken the plunge by sending his grandsons off to an American school.

Though Cepheus acted as the ambassador for the Princetons here, he had never felt snubbed before by anyone before. His classmates were kind and, as long as one was of good blood, conversational. Of course, there were instances where pure-bloods clashed with the muggle-borns, but that was only to be expected. Cepheus himself tried not to converse with the muggle-borns as he knew his brother would try to do out of curiosity. However, though his name was not yet established in America, he had never felt persecuted because of it. Of course, this could all be fanciful thought. Cepheus had been rather sensitive as of late.

The fact that a girl younger than him didn't make an effort to include both he and Miss Raines in the conversation showed both that she lacked proper conversational skills or skills in subtlety. He brushed it off as a mistake any first-year would make. Cepheus himself hadn't been completely proper his first year as he was still getting his feet wet in American culture. Still, he didn't think that Miss Effie Arbon would appreciate his help in any manner despite his pure blood.

Cepheus decided to forget the offence and focus instead on his food. At least he had opened up his person for any questions about Crotalus and the school in general if they had any. However, it seemed like Miss Raines would know loads about the school already because of her siblings and Miss Arbon most likely would have had some relative attend this school who would have told her about it. Cepheus wouldn't interrupt their conversation again and if they decided to include him, then he'd be more than obliged to do so. If not, then he'd turn back to his fellow third-years and strike up a conversation with people he actually felt comfortable with.

40 Cepheus Princeton One would say experiences take you further in life. 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Isabel Raines

August 19, 2012 5:02 PM

I think both are valuable by Isabel Raines

Isabel felt herself blush when the older boy said she ought to know all about their House already. “Well, I know a little,” she said modestly. It was politer to be modest about most things, and she didn’t want to make a fool of herself by acting as though she knew more than she really did, or getting something wrong that hadn’t been the case since Catherine was a first year, and then having one of them call her out on it. That would be almost the worst possible start her first year could get off to. “It's been a long time since they were here, so I'm sure there’s still a lot for me to learn.”

As if to emphasize that point, she then had to shake her head when Effie asked if all her family had been in Crotalus. “I’m afraid not,” she said, almost apologetically. “My mother was homeschooled, and my cousins here, Alan and Sara, they’re in Teppenpaw and Pecari. Respectively.”

She wanted to point out that Sara was a prefect, but it didn’t seem like the moment, really, and she still didn’t know what to make of Alan being Sorted into Teppenpaw. Isabel had begun to think, after all the long conversations they’d had about Houses, that they would both be in Pecari with Sara, but clearly it hadn’t worked out that way. She didn’t even know if it was a good thing or not; she and Alan would have both been more comfortable together, or at least she would have been more comfortable if they had been, but they weren’t here to be friends with each other. They were here to learn and to make new friends and to make connections with other families. That was why Sara had been held up as an example to them for almost as long as Isabel could remember, because she was a very good student who was also flourishing in the correct kind of society.

As she looked between them, though, Isabel was distracted from that by the strange feeling that for some reason, Effie and Mr. Princeton didn’t like each other. “And – what about your families?” she asked, since it was what seemed to follow logically from what they had been talking about. “Have your families attended Sonora before, or do you have any family here now?” Maybe some of their family knew some of hers and that would give them something else to talk about while they dined.

0 Isabel Raines I think both are valuable 241 Isabel Raines 0 5

Jade

August 19, 2012 5:10 PM

Browsers are not welcome by Jade

Jade spared a second from loading her plate with the nearest foods she could find - turkey schnitzel, green beans and cream cheese potato skins - to glance at Theresa. She didn't think they were quite friends, but Jade was quite interested in getting to know Theresa better. So far she seemed, well, cooler than she'd been expecting. Not that the other girl seemed likely to stand on a chair in a crowded room and publicly denounce her family or anything like that, but there had been times when Jade thought she might secretly be disobediant if the right situation presented itself, and Jade found that thought titillating. She almost felt challenged to see how far off the beaten track to could encourage Theresa to tread. Though maybe she was wrong; this year seemed like an ideal time to try and find out.

"Did everyone enjoy their summers?" Theresa asked, sounding pleasant enough, though not with sufficient interest that Jade thought she really cared about how an Owen and a couple of Muggleborns spent their time outside of school. Waverly answered very plainly that she helped her Mom out (extra work in the summer? That was just cruel) and camping in the desert (of all the places to camp, surely the desert was the worst?). Jade presumed the same went for Mini Waverly, and then she felt some pressure to provide her own answer to the question, or else come up with some other scintilating topic of conversation.

Deciding firmly that it was none of anyone's business what she got up to in her free time, Jade said with complete nonchalance, "I flew to the moon and back on my pet unicorn then solved all international conflicts. Can you pass the bread rolls, please?" She took a mouthful of her meal and then washed it down with a gulp from her goblet of juice. She missed her mouth by a small degree and a trickle of liquid dripped from her chin and onto the knitted green sweater Jade was wearing beneath her open uniform robes. Utterly unperturbed, she wiped her chin with the back of her hand, and then rubbed her hand on the leg of her faded jeans before raising her hand once more to prepare another forkful of food.

"I'm just looking forward to the Quidditch season this year," she spoke as if she hadn't just committed a short string of crimes against etiquette. "If I don't squash Arnold into a messy pulp this year I'm going to be so disappointed with myself," Jade said wistfully. Then she looked at Theresa to add, "No offense meant, it's a Seeler thing." Then, to Mini W, she added, "Quidditch is this awesome game and Pecari are going to rock hard this year. Will you be trying out for the team?" Not that pecari necessarily needed a Muggleborn miniature pipsqueak in their ranks, but Demelza had graduated, and so the boars had lost their second star player (after Jade herself, naturally). New blood was required.

0 Jade Browsers are not welcome 0 Jade 0 5

Effie Arbon

August 19, 2012 5:39 PM

I'm sure you're right by Effie Arbon

Effie noticed Cepheus glancing up and down her and was glad that her cheeks were still tinted red from the potion to spare her blushes. She was not used to being inspected by people. She was, quite frankly, not used to people. Being in room with this many was unusual, and a one on one conversation with someone outside her family would have been more than enough for her. Now here she was being appraised and having questions asked of her by a boy. As they were only making chit-chat the answers were relatively easy to supply, she just had to pretend that she was addressing Delphine back in the school room, and not a male peer.

Isabel demured when it was implied that she would be a fountain of knowledge. Effie expected this was a show, for modesty's sake, and was rather glad to be making acquaintances with someone to whom the school was familiar. She would be loathe to tap into Isabel's knowledge too much, lest she seemed to lack confidence in herself and her own judgement but it was reassuring to know that this strange and alarming place had something of a safety net.

“I am sure you know many valuable things,” she reassured Isabel. It had been drummed into her so thoroughly to make a reply acknowledging the content of her conversation partner's utterances that she did so without having to think it through greatly. It was only after she had spoken that she realised she had paid someone her first ever compliment. It was quite a pleasing feeling.

“I have no family here,” she replied to Isabel's enquiry, “I believe one or two of my ancestors attended when the school was first founded but we have generally favoured home-schooling. How about you – have you family here?” she asked, passing the question on to Cepheus. Admittedly, Isabel had asked both of them in the first place, so she was reiterating a question rather than asking one of her own but at least it gave the appearance of a somewhat more balanced conversation. She could work on asking her own questions of people at a later date.

13 Effie Arbon I'm sure you're right 238 Effie Arbon 0 5

Brianna Japos

August 19, 2012 5:56 PM

A refreshing start by Brianna Japos

Brianna’s summer had gone off somewhat differently than they had in the past. Normally, Brianna spent her summers in her room reading up on the following terms lessons and trying (not always successfully) to avoid the other teenagers in the building. This summer though, most of the boys had left her alone. Her mother said that it was because they were coming of age and now thought of girls differently. There were, on occasion, some name calling and a few shoves. But bones were not broken and her mother did not have to use the bruise paste. Plus, she was able to leave the building! Her mother felt she was old enough now to wonder down the road to Central Park. As long as Brianna promised to be home by dinner (and, therefore, home well before dark) and to never talk to anyone, she was allowed to go off. And so, she did. It was such wonderful freedom. Brief, but wonderful.

On top of that, Brianna was finally filling out. Not by much, of course, but enough to not feel like a complete freak anymore. Although she was still ridiculously skinny, she didn’t quite have that fragile look about her as she used to. As for her issues with her lips… they were still rather large, but it seemed as though the rest of her was catching up to them and so, she didn’t feel quite so horrified by them. She had wanted to make her fourth year different. She was feeling better than she had in awhile and good about herself, so she decided to dress up a bit. Wearing a nice white skirt, green blouse, and small heels, Brianna walked into the hall with more confidence than she normally had. It probably helped that she also wore a bit of eyeliner and lip gloss to feel a little bit pretty.

Sitting at Crotalus with the rest of her roommates, Brianna watched the sorting with little interest. She didn’t know anyone coming to Sonora and had no siblings to speak of, so the sortings were just a way to see how many new faces there would be in the Crotalus house. Although, considering Brianna highly doubted she was ‘Prefect’ material, it probably wouldn’t matter anyway. At the introduction to the new professor, Brianna gave her a look over. She never really trusted adults too much since most just seemed to turn a blinds eye to things that they should be trying to stop. The woman seemed okay from a distance, but Brianna wasn’t likely to have much of a relationship with her. The Prefects were always a bit amusing to watch because most of them were always caught off guard, but since she didn’t really know any of them, it didn’t matter much to her.

She pretended to sing the school song with everyone else, but had no real desire to actually be a part of that. Not because she thought it was stupid, but rather, because she had an awful singing voice and didn’t want anyone to make fun of her for it. Finally, the food had arrived and Brianna quietly began to put food on her plate. Food at home was okay. She liked her father’s cooking more than her mother’s, but since her father was usually off fixing something, Brianna was stuck with whatever her mother managed to create. Sonora food was wonderful. Brianna imaged that this was the sort of food that normal, happy (and usually rich) families ate all the time.

Having more confidence didn’t remove the fact that Brianna didn’t necessarily have friends, so while she ate, she quietly watched the people around her. One never knew what they could learn if they paid attention.

6 Brianna Japos A refreshing start 203 Brianna Japos 0 5

Theresa

August 19, 2012 6:13 PM

Active participation is usually desirable by Theresa

Theresa gave Waverly a sympathetic look as she talked about her summer, thinking that it sounded horrible. Her parents had their problems with money, mostly related to Father’s inability to hold onto it, but they had never been so badly off that her mother had needed to become a businessperson, or that Theresa and her siblings had been forced to work somehow, either. Theresa knew, after years of pain and suffering, how to sew some, anyway, and she could paint a little china, but she did so because those were ladylike things to know how to do, not because they actually had to sell things to get by. The family would never let things get that bad for them. She couldn’t imagine what it would even be like.

Of course, she had gathered that this in a way could be why she felt so out of place in her dorm. Arabella did not have money problems, the other girls did, and Theresa was in the middle, not like either side, really. There was nothing she could do about that, though, so she decided that wasn’t it.

For a second, she didn’t really process what Jade had said in answer to her question, but when she did, she covered her mouth as she laughed. That was…different. “Of course,” she said, and passed the requested bread rolls, taking one for herself as she did.

Keeping the smile intact as Jade was disgusting at the table was a little harder, but she had been around Brandon all summer and lived here most of the year, so poor table manners were not new enough to make her feel more than a little sick to her stomach for about a minute before she got a grip on it. “I was guessing that,” she said when Jade said her desire to inflict grievous harm on Theresa’s cousin was just a Seeker thing. “Plus I think he likes getting beaten up as long as he catches the Snitch in the end.”

As Jade explained Quidditch to Waverly’s sister, Theresa’s eyes went back to the Crotalus table for a moment, this time coming to rest on a different blond person than the one she had been looking for at the beginning of the Feast. Almost immediately, though, she looked away and spotted Mr. Garcia at the table near them. She smiled and bowed her head slightly to acknowledge him, since he wasn't having a conversation and could therefore probably hear theirs well even in the noisy and crowded Hall.

0 Theresa Active participation is usually desirable 0 Theresa 0 5

Bianca Stratford

August 19, 2012 6:46 PM

I can't really answer that question by Bianca Stratford

The idea of attending Sonora was very daunting. Bianca had never been comfortable in a room full of strangers and the school was going to be swarming with them. The mere thought of it made Bianca get stressed. Duri ng the ride to school, the girl had sat silently watching everyone around her. It hadn’t been that awful, because Preston and Laurie had been by her side. It made her feel safe. However, she was anxious about the sorting. She had a 50% of chances to be in a house with one of her relatives and that would be awesome. Part of the reason she had been sent to Sonora was to expand her comfort shell to include other people. Bianca simply preferred to be at home and social from time to time with people she already knew. The hassle of making new friends was just too much for her, but her parents needed her to blossom into a social butterfly. She was the only girl in the family, and her future duties would include playing hostess.

As the wagon came to its final destination, the little brunette gulped and clung to Preston’s hand before they even got up to move out of the wagon. Her brown eyes looked up at her older brother as he got up and grabbed Brownie’s cage in the other and squeezed her hand. She smiled giving off an image of self-assurance when in reality she was terrified to get start her schooling career.

Her parents had assured her that she would meet a lot of new friends that were part of their circle, and she was advised to seek Miss Raines if she needed something. Preston’s girlfriend would love to be her mentor – Bianca was sure her parents hadn’t even asked Sara that, but she left them with that idea that they knew everything –, but Bianca wasn’t sure that would be a good idea.

The girl walked besides her older brother until it was time for them to part ways. She watched as Preston left Brownie’s cage with the rest of the luggage and entered the place where she assumed they ate. Bianca had heard about the Cascade Hall from Preston and more enthusiastically from Laurie. She took a deep breath and entered with the rest of the new students. The smallest Stratford in attendance to Sonora could barely pay attention to what the Headmistress was saying. She clapped when the rest of the school clapped and dutifully sipped the cup she had been offered.

As her skin turned blue she looked around and didn’t see a lot of people in her shade of color. That had promise. Not too many people around her. She smiled for the first time since she had left her house and slowly walked towards the table that housed the Aladren house. Being an Aladren was going to awesome, especially because she had her older brother with her!

Her stomach grumbled at the sight of the food appearing before her. She sniggered to herself and served herself some vegetables and meatloaf. She took a bite and instantly felt a little bit better. Maybe this school thing wasn’t that awful, but she would need to be careful. Not everyone was fit to be her friend.

Bianca took another bite and was interrupted by someone addressing her. She swallowed, “Hi,” she blinked a couple of times determining if the person was safe to talk to. “Good?” she said in a question. She was not sure how it was going for her right now. It was just too surreal.

0 Bianca Stratford I can't really answer that question 235 Bianca Stratford 0 5

Marcus Williams

August 19, 2012 6:55 PM

Start of another term. by Marcus Williams

Marcus’s summer went as it usually did. He went home to Rochester and hung out with his Muggle friends. It was strange to see how different they all had become now that they were 16. Half of them no longer even spoke to one another after falling into different crowds. His Mother was telling him that the gang war has become worse over the year and a lot more shootings had begun to happen over the year. Apparently, a couple of his friends had joined in those gangs. As crazy as it seems, kids joined gangs because it gave them people to rely on and a place to go. Marcus was not permitted to talk to them according to his mother, but he ran into one at the convenient store during the summer and they had caught up. Those who hadn’t joined gangs were too busy with other things like work to be bothered. But Marcus had been invited to a couple of parties and he managed to hook up with a girl. But now it was back to Sonora.

Last year, on the very first day back, Marcus had asked Valentina out and she had agreed. For a full year, they had dated and had a good time of it, or so he had thought. Turns out, maybe she hadn’t had as much fun because on the night of the concert, right in front of his mother, she had so heartlessly and coldly dumped him. His mother was probably more upset over it than he was, but he did find that it changed his perspective of her a bit. She clearly was only thinking of herself and Marcus wasn’t into girls like that.

So, he was starting his sixth year single and with absolutely no plans of getting into any other relationships. Last year had been exhausting what with all extra studying he did late into the night to pass his CATS exams. Now he just wanted to relax and not think about anything. So, he walked to the Pecari table and waiting out the time before the food was served.

6 Marcus Williams Start of another term. 180 Marcus Williams 0 5

Clara Abernathy, Pecari

August 19, 2012 7:18 PM

Lived through my first year...YAY! by Clara Abernathy, Pecari

Clara walked back into the Hall after being away for the summer and sighed contently. It felt pretty good to be back to school after a semi-disasterous year where luckily only a few minor hiccups occured (much to her and her father's relief). Overall her first year on her own had not gone horribly bad. She had managed to keep both of her eyebrows intact and had not injured any of the other students, a fact she was the most pleased with herself about. She had managed to sort-of prove to her dad that she could indeed be a great witch with a little more focus of-course. All in all a good start for the little Pecari. She took her seat at the Pecari table and listened intently as the Headmistress began the welcoming speech.

Clara thought fondly back to her first day and remembered comically at the thought that crossed her mind when she herself had drunk the sorting potion. She felt slightly bad for the new arrivals who would have to endure the same thing. Maybe they'll see the funny side of it she hoped as she watched the new arrivals approach Coach Pierce. She waited with anticipation as the new first years began to change colors and take their places amongst the tables. She knew how nervous she had felt that day and wanted the new Pecaris to feel right at home. She waited until the sorting was finished and the new Pecaris joined the table before she introduced herself. She turned to the first year who sat down beside her and said hello. "Hi," she smiled brightly at the newcomer. "I know this place looks really weird, but its awesome! You're really gonna like it here. By the way, I'm Clara, Clara Abernathy."

She turned away from the first year for a brief moment when the headmistress announced the Prefects and the Head Boy and Girl. She clapped alongside the other students and sighed slightly when the music sheets appeared before them. She leaned closer to the first year and whispered, "Don't feel bad if you don't know the words. I've been here a year already and I still get them wrong." She laughed softly, smiling at the first year and started to sing, fumbling on the words as she went. When the song was over she sat down to fill her plate. She kept telling herself that this was going to be a good year and smiled at that thought.

0 Clara Abernathy, Pecari Lived through my first year...YAY! 232 Clara Abernathy, Pecari 0 5

The Anns

August 19, 2012 7:50 PM

May there be many of them by The Anns

The boy they had addressed replied with an accent that made the look at each other and giggle a little. It was cute and they did not need to discuss it to know the other thought so, too. Turning back to him and smiling, pleased to know they could safely interact with him without subterfuge. He was of good family - Thaddeus had spoken highly of the Princetons - and yet did not seem to suffer from the same blight of over-formality that many people in their social class seemed to be afflicted by.

"Good to meet you, Rup," Annette said, giggling again as she used the short form of his name. It felt so . . . illicit to address a boy she wasn't related to so casually.

"Indeed," agreed Annabelle, "It is a pleasure, Rup." She, too, giggled at the nickname, feeling a similar thrill to the one they got whenever they sneaked into Father's wing of the house. Plus, it was such an adorably English name. Rather like Rupert himself was adorably English.

"We also answer to Nettie," Annette added, and Annabelle continued, "and Belle, if you would rather use those."

"But Ann is fine, too," Annette reaffirmed in case he did prefer that. "It's what most people call us."

Annabelle nodded, then waved around the room, indicating the school as a whole, "Are you excited, Rup? We've been waiting to come here since Derry started, and he's a fifth year now." Annette made a mildly put-out face and directed it toward the staff table, "I don't know why he didn't get the Teppenpaw Prefect today. He's very friendly and he joined the Deputy Headmistress's branch at the beginning of last year. What's the use of have the Deputy as your brother's adopted mother if she doesn't get you Prefect?"

Annabelle smiled at Rupert sympathetically. "We have a complicated family. Is Cepheus part of yours? Our cousin Thaddeus has spoken of him."

1 The Anns May there be many of them 246 The Anns 0 5

Carter Browning, Teppenpaw

August 19, 2012 7:54 PM

This should be interesting....maybe by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw

Carter looked around the room and marveled for a moment over the sheer size of it. This room is almost as big as the one Grandda has for his library back in England he mused to himself. He thought back briefly to the summer where he and his cousin McKinnley had spent part of the summer months with his grandparents at their estate in England. He and his parents tried to visit every major holiday and during the summer which wasn't always easy given his father's busy schedule. I wonder how Kinnley is doing? he asked himself searching the crowd of students for her. They had gotten seperated when the kids all shuffled into the large room. He couldn't help remembering that odd carriage ride that had brought both of them to Sonora. She had practically climbed into his lap when the carriage took off down the road taking them to their new school. He laughed to himself as he heard her repeating the word icky to herself the whole time. He was pretty sure it was because of the horse pulling the carriage.

Carter listened as the Headmistress introduced herself and instructed all of the first years to line up for sorting. Color changing potion? seriously? he thought slightly weary. They're going to change us funny colors on our first day? Really? Then a smile crossed his slightly freckled face and the strawberry-blondish boy shook his head in amusement. Kinnley is gonna love this! he laughed inwardly. The thought of his cousin's face when she drank that potion and turned whatever color she was gonna turn made it worth the weird carriage ride. He couldn't wait to see her reaction. He took his place in the line and slowly walked up towards the woman Headmistress introduced as Coach Pierce who would be giving out the sorting potion.

Carter took the vial from Coach Pierce and eyed it carefully before shrugging his slenderish shoulders and dowing the contents. He waited for a second to see if the potion made him sick or anything and quizzically looked down at his hands. His normally pale skin had taken on a very yellow tint. So, I'm a banana now...Great. Just great. he thought leaving the line and taking his place with his fellow first year bananas at what was the Teppenpaw table. Somehow knowing that all of the students seated at this table had gone through the same humiliation before him made Carter not feel soo weird. "Oh well....at least it will go away," he told himself as he took a seat at the big table.

He waited for the other first years to be sorted and then clapped slightly as the Prefects (or whatever they were) were announced and again for the Head Boy and Girl (whatever that meant). He still wasn't sure what being a Teppenpaw was all about. No one really ever explained that part to him. "Whatever," he mumbled, waiting patienly for the headmistress' speech to be overwith. He looked oddly at the music sheet that appeared before him and frowned. School Song? Nobody said anything about us having to sing! he grumbled to himself. He rolled his eyes as the music started and began mostly mouthing the words. Besides nobody really wanted to hear him sing. He sounded like a drowning cat. Once the song was over (thankfully) he piled food onto his plate and began to chow down. His sudden appetite surprised even him as he kept eating. "I just hope Kinnley's doing okay with all of this," he said to himself, thinking briefly of his high strung cousin. Not sure of what else to do, Carter went back to stuffing his face. "I guess I'll just have to ask her tomorrow," he told himself.

0 Carter Browning, Teppenpaw This should be interesting....maybe 0 Carter Browning, Teppenpaw 0 5

Preston Stratford

August 19, 2012 9:26 PM

I hate you by Preston Stratford

The redhead had spent the last couple of hours home listening to his mother giving him instructions about his little sister. Bianca needed to be looked after. Preston needed to protect her from the Undesirables. It was a very long list, and he honestly didn’t think he had time to fulfill every request made by his mother. The Aladren loved his little sister, but he thought that she needed to fend off for herself. She needed to grow up and learn how to face the world for herself. He, of course, would be there to help and guide her, but he refused to be her full-time nanny. He didn’t have time. It was CATS year.

The Aladren guided his little sister into the Cascade Hall and only left her when she needed to be with the rest of her year-group. He smiled reassuringly at her and went to sit at the Aladren table. He anxiously waited for the moment he had been waiting for since fourth-year had ended: The Prefect Announcement. However, the sorting was first. He clapped when he saw Bianca turning blue. Having her in his house was going to make things easier.

Preston applauded for the head students.

Preston was starting to get up to receive his badge…when he wasn’t called. He swiftly sat again and looked in shock as Russell Layne got what he had coveted since his second year.

Ridiculous. It was just plain ridiculous. And stupid. And demented.

Preston had been stressing all the summer season over the Prefect announcement. The Aladren was pretty sure he was going to get it. He had worked very hard to be the model student to be seen as a responsible student capable of handling responsibilities. He was taking every class, except Muggle Studies, and he had pretty good grades. Plus, he played Quidditch and was pretty damn good at it. He sincerely couldn’t see how Russell Layne was a better candidate for Prefectship than him. It made the Aladren lose all faith in the staff members. Preston was taking this as a personal insult.

He didn’t even care if he was making a fool of himself right now. He was angry. He was astonished and he definitely wanted to hit someone. It was very rare of the Aladren to feel like this. He was usually so collected about things. He was sure he was sulking in his seat, but to hell with everything. He was humiliated. Sara was one and he hadn’t been important enough to get the badge. It wasn’t fair.

Someone addressed him, “What?” he said angrily. He was being rude, but he could care less.

0 Preston Stratford I hate you 0 Preston Stratford 0 5

Arthur Carey

August 19, 2012 10:29 PM

What in the world did I do? by Arthur Carey

Arthur had been looking forward to the beginning of fifth year, to the time when all the petty concerns his roommates had about who would be Quidditch Captain and who would be prefect would be resolved and the four of them – five, if Mr. McLachlan would join them and the others would have him – could get down to some real work. He was, for once, smiling more genuinely than his twin as they walked into the Cascade Hall and took their seats.

Arnold had not told him exactly what had happened at that wedding, but he was, Arthur knew, was still feeling tense about the situation with Fae. His brother was still at least a little worried about how it was going to play out, day to day, now that he and his future wife were living in the same building and seeing each other every day that they were in that building. Arnold lived his life largely by habit, and he didn’t seem entirely sure yet what changes this was going to introduce to his routine, much less which ones it was supposed to – or so Arthur had gathered, since for once, he also had the feeling that Arnold might be keeping some things to himself. He was not worried about it, but it bothered him that his twin was, so he hoped they worked that out quickly, too, so Arnold did not feel unnecessary stress. With CATS approaching, that was the last thing he needed.

That, though, wasn’t something Arthur had the power to fix for him, at least not really. If things went a few ways, all of which he hoped they didn’t, he might go talk to Fae himself and explain things he doubted his brother had the insight to express, but for the most part, he regarded that as something Arnold was going to have to handle himself. It was not as if Arthur expected not to have enough things to do this year, anyway.

He watched the Sorting carefully, smiling for a few seconds in satisfaction as his brother joined the Aladren table and blinking in surprise when Henry did not, and applauded when Jane was called to the front as Head Girl, maybe a little more enthusiastically for another Carey he didn’t know as well, or thought less of. He felt some of his muscles tense, as though to stand, as she and Mr. Bauer went up, since he knew that meant the prefects should be announced in the next few seconds, but he was not at all surprised when it was Russell’s name they called instead of his or Arnold’s, and he applauded his roommate politely as he and the other new prefects went forward to collect their badges.

A glance at Preston, though, let him know that roommate was not happy for Russell, or at least content with the situation. “It could be worse, you know,” he said, then repeated himself when snapped at, never changing his expression. He did not take Preston’s outburst as a personal insult – he was disappointed, Arthur was sure, and some people insisted more on their emotions coming out than others did – and would have seen no sense in expressing it that way even if he had. “It could be worse. It could have been Mr. McLachlan.”

That, Arthur thought he might have had a problem with. They had shared a dormitory for a year now, but he did not know Mr. McLachlan well, and he did not think any of the others did, either. The other Aladren had gone out of his way to be unpleasant and antagonistic to almost everyone the year before. Since that made it impossible for him to be chosen, though, his comment had been mostly a joke.

0 Arthur Carey What in the world did I do? 182 Arthur Carey 0 5

Sara Raines

August 19, 2012 11:35 PM

Starting the new term in shock. by Sara Raines

The crowd was moving mostly in one direction, making it hard for Sara to maneuver her small frame through it to find her boyfriend, but in the end, she succeeded long enough to smile at him and offer him a quick and slightly breathless “good luck!” before she had to move into the Cascade Hall and toward the Pecari table or be trampled, which did not seem the best way to get her sixth year started. That, she thought, was the kind of thing people would remember in a few months when it was time to elect the new Head Girl, and even though she considered herself a lock for the position, she still didn’t want to go through it.

She smiled, though, once she had enough room to breathe and settled into one of the better seats her House had to offer at the Opening Feast, wishing that she could be at the Aladren table tonight so she could see the look on Preston’s face when he heard his name announced as a prefect more clearly but knowing that she had responsibilities and that he would understand. They had, after all, been in an inter-House relationship from the very beginning and had always been able to handle the occasional hiccups that caused. They could celebrate his promotion tomorrow and then start their best year yet.

The year after next, she thought with some regret, could have been very nearly perfect if she had only been born in September instead of August, but being Head Boy and Girl together all year and then marrying and setting off on a world tour in the summer was a bit too much of a fairy tale for even her to believe it could have really happened, even for them. Sara knew they were lucky to have as much as they had, even if the discrepancy in their ages did make her worry about holding onto him during the year they wouldn’t be able to see each other very often if their fathers didn’t settle something between them before then. She trusted him, she did, but…a year was a long time, and there were lots of other pretty girls at this school, even with him knowing that Fae was here to see what he was doing and tell her about it.

She shook off that unhappy thought as another, more pleasant one occurred to her after she thought of Fae. Her best friend had become betrothed over the summer, and to the only appropriate one of the two boys she’d had a crush on last year; Sara was so happy for her, and for Arnold, too. He seemed like a nice guy, and Fae was a wonderful girl she was sure was going to make a fantastic wife. She waved to Fae when she saw her and then settled in to watch the Sorting, clapping when her brother went into Teppenpaw and her cousin into Crotalus even though she was disappointed that they weren’t with her, and hear the announcements….

….Which didn’t include Preston becoming a prefect. Instead, the spot had gone to his roommate, Russell Layne. For a moment, Sara simply stared in shock, her dark eyes wide and her face paler than usual beneath the last of her summer tan, at her boyfriend, who was seated and not going to the front, the way he would have if things had been the best that they could be.

After that moment, though, she felt a flood of an emotion not unlike panic and actually moved to stand to her own feet and go over there before she caught herself, gripping the sides of her seat to stay on it. This was awful, this was wrong, everything was wrong now. She didn’t like this Feast. What was she going to do about this? What was Preston going to say when he saw her – dear Merlin, she had to get the badge off her robes right now; if he looked over here, she didn’t want him to see it and be reminded – and what was she going to say to make it better? What would she say?

The food appeared, and she forced herself to take some, to put food on her plate and eat it as if everything were normal. Nothing would be helped by her making a spectacle of herself in front of the whole Hall; she thought that might be one of the few ways it could really get worse. Still feeling horribly flustered and out of sorts, almost as though she had been the one who had just suffered a tremendous disappointment here tonight, she made herself offer a halfhearted smile to Marcus in the seat across from hers. “Good evening, Marcus,” she said. “Could you pass me that ham, please?”

0 Sara Raines Starting the new term in shock. 179 Sara Raines 0 5

Waverly & Wendy

August 20, 2012 3:47 AM

Agreed by Waverly & Wendy

Waverly didn't expect the sympathetic looks she received from both of her roommates. To her, working at the bakery had been a dream. She loved baking, as her roommates well knew, and she liked working with people. It was Waverly's dream someday to have her own bakery. She really hoped her mom would pass down the bakery to her someday. She didn't believe that her family had ever been scrounging around for money. In fact, her dad made really good money as a mechanical engineer and her mom was from a wealthy Southern family. It made vacations fun.

Camping, too, was her family's favorite past time. They were a very outdoorsy type which meant lots of biking and hiking, swimming and picnics. The desert was one of Waverly's favorite places. It had been lucky that Sonora existed in Arizona and near her home. Thoughts of Brandon still lingered in Waverly's mind and she tried really hard not to blush too much.

Waverly grinned good-naturedly at Jade's comment and Wendy gave a laugh of disbelief. It was so Jade to say something like that which was one of the reasons why Waverly liked her so much. She could be brash and sarcastic sometimes, but she was always fun to hang out with. The comment about Quidditch also made sense and Waverly nodded. She had been really sad when Pecari didn't win the Quidditch Cup. She was about to attempt to explain Quidditch to Wendy, but Jade beat her to it. It was better that an actual Quidditch player explained it.

The thought of Quidditch interested Waverly a little. Though she was pretty swamped with the Baking Club and her studies, she would have more time to herself when she had a Vice President and a Secretary for the club meetings. She didn't know what position she wanted to play yet, but she knew that there was a spot on the team. She'd gotten really into Quidditch during her last two years here. Her worn down Chucks were evidence of that. She noticed Jorge eying them and she smiled brightly at him. He was another person on her list that she wanted to get to know better.

Wendy shook her head adamantly in response to Jade's question as Waverly was distracted. "No, probably not. I don't really even know the rules. But I'd like to watch. I know Waverly really likes Quidditch." She looked at her sister hesitantly, wondering if she was able to tell her sister's friends about Waverly thinking about trying out. Her sister looked back at her and Wendy took that as a no.

Waverly looked at Jorge again. "Wendy, this is Jorge Garcia, my housemate. Jorge, this is my sister Wendy."

"Hi," Wendy replied, still a little shy of meeting these new, older people. It was nice of them to acknowledge her. The kids back at the elementary school in Waverly's grade had always ignored her. She was still trying to wrap her brain around this whole thing so she looked down at her hands briefly and realized that she was still brown. She rubbed at her skin lightly, and then a little harder before realizing that it wasn't coming off.

"Will this come off?" she asked no one in particular, slightly worried. It had come off the rest of the older Pecaris, so she guessed it would. But would it last her entire first year? She wasn't sure if she could deal with that. She scanned the entire room with her hazel eyes. She could pick out the first years just by the color of their skin.

0 Waverly & Wendy Agreed 0 Waverly & Wendy 0 5

Josephine

August 20, 2012 4:13 AM

It's more trouble than it's worth by Josephine

A voice exclaiming 'Hey' from the next seat roused Josephine's attention, and she turned her head to focus on Sully, one of the students in the year below hers. She didn't know him especially well, but he'd almost seemed like a nice, relatively normal sort of person. He offered congratulations and then told her to eat something. A little amused by the instruction, Josephine obeyed with a short exhale of a chuckle and took Sully's lead by helping herself to some steak. She adored food - as was probably evident by the fact that she'd gained yet more weight over the past year and none of it in height - and her family's incredibly tight shopping budget meant that luxuries such as red meat were never consumed in the Owen household.

Her first mouthful was delicious, and helped to settle her once more. So she had made prefect. Excellent! She hadn't really thought about it all that much, but decided that even if she had pondered it in detail, she still wouldn't be sure whether the staff would have selected herover Ayita. Josephine's roommate was odd, true enough, but she was still a nice person and a good student, plus she was living with the Headmistress now. Anyway, the badge and responsibility had landed in Josephine's lap, for which she was pleased: she hated to be in James' shadow, and he would have held something like not making prefect over her head for years.

Feeling more like herself again, Josephine began to relax into her conversation with Sully. "Yes, I did, actually," she replied, sounding surprised that her summer had been fun. "I went to London with some of the other girls to stay with Sophie Jamison." That, tied with Eliza's party last year, had been the highlight of Josephine's whole life, let alone the summer. "The rest of it was pretty boring. Same old, same old," she waved her fork around in a half-hearted gesture and didn't elaborate. "How about you?"

0 Josephine It's more trouble than it's worth 0 Josephine 0 5

Henny B-F-R

August 20, 2012 5:44 AM

Nor can I... by Henny B-F-R

“Welcome to Sonora,” Henny smiled, realising the person she had spoken to was a first year, and a one who seemed very nervous at that. “It's really nice here – you'll have a great time,” she reassured. Unfortunately, Preston Stafford had rather undermined her point but shouting loud enough for the whole table to hear when the prefects had been announced.

“Don't mind him,” Henny reassured the new girl. “People here are generally really nice.”

She almost wanted to pat the little first year but wasn't convinced that she wouldn't break. She was tiny. Had she been that small when she started? Had she really grown that much in the last two years? Henny still thought of herself as fairly little, or one of the little ones in the school but she guessed being a third year meant she was someone who knew the ropes. She could remember coming in as a first year and seeing all those confident people, greeting friends, navigating the school with ease. They had all seemed so big and grown up to her. That couldn't possibly be how she seemed to this little girl, could it?

“My name's Henny, by way,” she added, “It's short for Henrietta but no-one calls me that,” she felt it was important to explain that, otherwise people tended to be confused by her name. It wasn't like it was a well known abbreviation, like Kate or Charlie.

13 Henny B-F-R Nor can I... 211 Henny B-F-R 0 5

Regina Parker

August 20, 2012 2:37 PM

Well...this was not expected. by Regina Parker

Reggie wasn’t really sure how her fifth year at Sonora would turn out. This was a big year after all. Mainly just because of the CATS exams at the end of the year. Reggie was good at some classes, better at others, but, overall, Reggie was an average student. She wasn’t sure she would do very well on the written portion of the exams, but she was really hoping she at least passed enough to be able to move onto the Advance classes. She wasn’t sure yet what she wanted to do with her life, but she didn’t want to limit herself either. So, she would have to do her best to focus and study more so that she can do whatever it was that she finally figured out what she wanted.

For the last year or so, Reggie had begun to dress more like a girl and that hadn’t changed. Dresses, skirts, blouses, and heels, these were what was taking over her wardrobe. She still wore jeans and t-shirts on occasion, but for the most part, she liked to play the part of a girl. Her hair and makeup were no different. Of course, her makeup was simple, just mascara and lip glass. If she needed to, she might feel the need to add eyeliner, but that wasn’t the usual thing for her. Reggie was still experimenting with things when it came to her looks, so there was a real possibility that she might suddenly be sporting glitter lashes or something ridiculous like that. At least her hair remained relatively the same. Still long, still layered, and usually down.

Walking into the Hall, Reggie immediately bee-lined for the Teppenpaw table to sit with her friends. She smiled and waved to the few friends she had outside of her house, but planned on catching up with them at a later time. “Hey guys.” Reggie greeted warmly as she took a seat. They didn’t get a real chance to catch up though since the Headmistress started her speech. Sorting came first and that was always amusing to watch. It felt so long ago that she was getting sorted herself and in a couple of years… she’d be gone from here. That was a scary thought and not one that she wanted to think about. After the sorting was the introduction to their new Charms professor and found out that the Medic was their new Head of House… interesting. Reggie half wondered if that was Addi’s doing. That girl always had issues.

Reggie had been prepared to congratulate Derry or Maddie on receiving their Prefects badge, so it took a moment to realize that their names were not one of the four and even longer to realize that hers was (to be fair, she never went by Regina). “Oh…” She said with surprise and stood up to claim her badge with everyone else. By the look on Josephine’s face, Reggie could only assume that she also had no idea that this was coming to her. Reggie thanked the staff and returned to her seat, trying not to smile too much in case someone else in her year had wanted it. Reggie was overjoyed at having it, but had definitely not expected it. She tried to pay attention to the rest of the speech and sing along to the song, but she was too distracted by the badge now pinned to her robes. Her lack of attention probably wasn’t a positive sign that they gave the badge to the right person.

The food arrived and Reggie started putting chicken on her plate, finding that food was something easy to focus on. “How was everyone’s summer?” She asked.

6 Regina Parker Well...this was not expected. 187 Regina Parker 0 5

Rupert

August 20, 2012 3:28 PM

Starting now. by Rupert

It was funny that the Anns were giggling, but he had no idea why. Perhaps they were just shy in front of boys. Or perhaps it was the way he'd spoken to them. Father had tried so hard to instil in his sons the proper conversational etiquette, but Rupert had let that all fly over his head. He wasn't interested and couldn't understand why one would want to talk like a snotty pure-blood from the Victorian era. Of course, he was the only one who thought that way in his beloved family so he didn't speak much to the adults. When he was forty-something like his father, he would pick up that formal speech. As of now, he was eleven and he was going to act like it.

Nettie and Belle. Rupert knew he wouldn't remember those no matter how good he was with faces and names. They literally had the same face. He nodded. "Nettie and Belle." He wasn't sure who was who again, but he supposed calling one of those names would do the trick. He wondered if they'd respond together during roll call.

Rupert didn't know who Derry was, but he guessed it was a relative of theirs. Having a complicated family was kind of fun, in Rupert's opinion, but it would be hard to keep track of them all. He let them speak before answering their question. It was interesting watching twins speak one after another. It was almost like watching a mirror. Obviously Rupert didn't get out very much. Meeting such identical twins was a first.

"Yeah, I'm excited to start school," said Rupert. "The tutors I had since I was five were horrendous. I'm glad to be rid of them. And yeah, Cepheus is my older brother. I'm going to try and stay out of his shadow, though." Where he had once followed his brother around like a puppy, since Cepheus had gone to school, Rup had been off on his own back home and had gained his own personality. And while Cepheus had changed a bit, Rupert had not. He was, in fact, glad to not be in the same house as his brother. It would make school life much easier. "So where do you call home?" he asked.

0 Rupert Starting now. 0 Rupert 0 5

Rup

August 20, 2012 3:32 PM

OOC by Rup

Sorry, the question he would've asked at the end should have been: "So where exactly is New Hampshire?"
I forgot that you introduced yourselves already in that sense. My mistake!

0 Rup OOC 0 Rup 0 5

Cepheus Princeton

August 20, 2012 3:49 PM

That is what school is for, I suppose. by Cepheus Princeton

Cepheus couldn't imagine anyone being home-schooled for very long. He had been tutored as a child from the age of five to eleven and he had loathed it. It had caused him to create chaos for his tutors. The fact that he and his cousins were all taught together made it even more rewarding. He'd gone through several History of Magic tutors who had taught his least favourite subject because of the amount of anxiety they felt just walking into the booby-trapped room. It had been loads of fun, but not very productive.

The fact that Isabel's family hadn't been in Crotalus for a very long time made him feel even more useful. This was a good feeling. He had never really enjoyed helping his brothers with much unless they were making booby traps for their tutors, and he didn't like children though he had been one himself. However, he was likely to rethink that with these girls. Perhaps it was because he felt closer to them just on principle. They were now in the same house and Crotalus had felt like his home for two years now.

The feeling that Cepheus had first received from Effie passed slightly when she redirected Isabel's question to him. He nodded, making eye contact with them both. "Yes, my younger brother is here. He's in your year, actually. His name is Rupert." He wondered if they were interested at all in meeting him, but he didn't dwell too much on the thought. He was in Pecari anyhow, not in Crotalus. He brushed back a few strands of his blonde hair that was beginning to come undone after the loads of travelling he'd done today. Coming to school from England was always a tiring trip. The first night back was always the night he slept the most easily because of it.

"If you've got any questions about Crotalus or Sonora in general, you can ask me." There. He'd put himself out there and it was up to them to take it. He remembered asking Linus his first year here all about Crotalus at the Opening Feast. He and Gareth had been so interested especially in learning about the professors and classes and such. Quidditch, too, but he doubted the girls were interested in that. After a moment where he took a bite of his food and swallowed it down, he asked, "Are you looking forward to anything here?" he asked. "Anything you might've heard or read about?" He looked at Effie then, realising that he didn't know where she was from. "And where do you call home?"

40 Cepheus Princeton That is what school is for, I suppose. 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Jorge

August 20, 2012 6:16 PM

Pouts But I don't wanna! by Jorge

So far so good, they either didn’t seem to notice him as girls tended to be lost in their own world of nonsense or they didn’t care that he was right there and could hear everything. He was fine with either scenario. He grew up with two sisters, a mother, and lots of Aunts, Grandmothers, and female cousins. He knew how to work around him and considering all the girls in his year and house alone, he was glad he had years of experience dealing with them. His roommate, Elijah, was another story. He could be a little annoying sometimes with his tricks. But, he’ll deal with it.

He listened to their summer responses and rolled his eyes at Jade’s, she always had to be different. And gross, apparently. Even he had better manners than that. He thought about asking her how she planned on beating Aladren as Seeker when Amira was the Assistant Captain now and would likely take that spot from Jade, but he didn’t want to have Jade’s wrath all up on him, so he still remained as quiet as ever. Jorge had once thought about joining the Quidditch team because he used to play it all the time with his family and still did during the holidays, but he didn’t really want to play on the school team. He felt that everyone was just way too competitive for his nature.

Jorge caught Theresa’s eye and politely nodded to her when she did. He didn’t really know her at all, so he couldn’t say much about her. His extended family, the Santoros, were well known and rather respectable, more so in Mexico and the Chavez name in Spain, than in American as they were still a growing family here, but the Garcia aspect was minimal and overlooked. He was okay with that. He was happy about his family. His parents met and married, Lita and Dulce were doing what they loved to do, and Jorge had his pickings for what he wanted. They weren’t uppity or snooty, but they were comfortable. Theresa was a Carey and they ran differently, but she seemed friendly enough, he guessed. She had at least survived Waverly and Jade.

Quite suddenly, Waverly was calling him out and introducing him to her sister, “Hey Wendy.” Jorge said, with a wave. Well, she was certainly less talkative than her sister. That was something. This could be an interesting year.

0 Jorge *Pouts* But I don't wanna! 0 Jorge 0 5

Preston

August 20, 2012 6:49 PM

You? Nothing. by Preston

The person he had snapped at turned to be Arthur -- one of the contenders for the Prefect badge. Preston would have preferred for the coveted title to go to him rather than Russell. The Aladren saw Arthur as the only worthy adversary in their year group, but it seemed the staff had other ideas. Damn them. The redhead took a deep breath and even when he wanted to kick something into oblivion he regained some composure. He couldn’t snap at random people because things hadn’t gone his way.

His green eyes fluttered towards were Sara was seating and saw she seemed sort of shocked. He had talked about nothing other than his future badge. He had been haunted by that little title for three whole months and now it had gone to someone else. Preston felt humiliated, especially because his girlfriend had one of her own. He didn’t know what that small fact made him in the eyes of others. A failure? Someone who lived under his girlfriend´s shadow? The Aladren wanted to make his own path, but it was proving to be more difficult than he had imagined.

“I apologize for snapping. I wasn’t myself,” he surely hadn’t been. “Arthur, you shouldn‘t go about saying such ludicrous things.” The boy that had invaded their space a mere year ago was not qualified to be in a position of power. Not now, not ever. Josh had angered a lot of people during the last year. He wondered how he did it.

“The system would be seriously messed up if he had gotten the badge.” The contempt in his voice was blatantly obvious. Preston had never had a nice word to say about the new roommate. Preston still felt rather miffed about his presence in their already crowded room.

The Aladren served himself some vegetables and chicken. Before the announcement he had been hungry, but now the hunger had gone away. Still, he knew he had to eat something. Preston took a bite and swallowed. The food felt like it was made of lead and it slowly went down his throat.

He sighed and looked at Arthur, “I hear Arnold got betrothed to Fae.” The redhead was sure Fae hated him. He could feel it. However, he wasn’t a gossip, but it was an issue that had to be addressed. That betrothal was going to change the dynamics of their little group, especially if Arthur was still single.

0 Preston You? Nothing. 0 Preston 0 5

Isabel Raines

August 20, 2012 7:21 PM

School is for many things by Isabel Raines

Isabel smiled when Effie said she was sure some of what she knew was sure to still be useful. “I hope so,” she said, and listened as Effie talked about her family. Homeschoolers, like Mamma; she wondered what had made them decide to send Effie here this year. Then the question was redirected to Cepheus, who had a brother, in their year, named Rupert. Isabel noted this information, really wishing now that her mother had won the argument about having a party for everyone they knew of who would be in her year and was good to associate with. That would have meant she had more time to learn all these names instead of just being overwhelmed with information all at once and having to pray she wouldn’t make a mistake and call the other Mr. Princeton ‘Robert’ or something else equally wrong. Isabel had never done anything like that before, that she could remember, but she’d been worrying about it happening at school for a while.

Alan said she worried too much in general. Usually, Isabel just thought she was being smart, since she didn’t worry so much that she couldn’t do things the way she knew some people did, but tonight, it felt almost like her cousin might have a point.

“How nice,” Isabel said. “I’m sure it’ll be a pleasure to meet him.” If nothing else, already meeting his brother would give her something to open a conversation with – her tutors and Mamma and Catherine and Sara all agreed the most important thing to was to try to remember anything that could be used later in that way, because a girl who could not always open up and keep up a conversation gracefully was going to be looked down on – and she enjoyed meeting new people, as long as she didn’t have to meet so many of them at once that she couldn’t keep track of who was who.

When Cepheus seemed to want to be asked about Crotalus and the school, Isabel thought furiously for a moment and then came up with, “Who is our Head of House?” Catherine had hardly seemed to notice she had one, but Sara spoke of them as though they had more authority; Isabel knew from Sara that Crotalus’ was Amelia Pierce, but it wasn’t always bad to seem ignorant of some things, and all that Isabel knew about Miss Pierce besides her name was that she was one of the people Catherine had never met whom Isabel’s sister seemed to particularly dislike. Maybe he would elaborate and she would get a better idea of what they were going to have to deal with from their Head of House – how strictly she would watch them, that sort of thing. One of the most important things was always to know what the adults were doing, because working around that was the only way for people their age to do anything themselves. She listened, too, to see if and how Effie answered his questions.

0 Isabel Raines School is for many things 241 Isabel Raines 0 5

Derry Four

August 20, 2012 7:22 PM

A new year by Derry Four

This was the beginning of Derry's fifth year. It was the year of Prefect Announcements, the year of CATS exams. Fifth year was widely touted as the most important year in a young wizard's life. Derry's most pressing concern as he entered the Cascade Hall was whether or not there would be cupcakes for dessert.

He would proudly serve as prefect if he got it, but if he didn't, he would be genuinely happy for whichever of his friends did get the honor. He liked all of the Teppenpaws in his year and did not envy the staff for having to choose between them. Perhaps even moreso for Aladren than Teppenpaw.

Anything else related to fifth year was much too far in the future to worry about today.

He sat down at the Teppenpaw table with his friends and waited eagerly for the twins to be Sorted. Thaddeus had suggested that they might come to join him in Teppenpaw so he sat poised to wave them over if that happened.

It didn't. They turned brown instead. Derry sat back in his seat, mildly disappointed. The Anns were a little strange, but they were two of the last easily accessible remanents left of his Life Before The Divorce. They also weren't in competition with Wesley to become Heir, so they might even talk to him outside of the wagon rides. With them in a different house, though, he wasn't sure how often a fifth year and a pair of first years might run into each other.

Badges came next and when Reggie got it he clapped and cheered and thought she had earned it. He didn't feel so much as a whisper of doubt about that. She had organized the best and one of the biggest acts at the concert last term, of course Reggie got it!

Grinning, he held his hand out for a high five as she returned to the table. The rest of the speech passed with relatively little excitement, and he sang the school song with the distraction of a fifteen year old boy who would rather be eating his dinner and talking with his friends.

Soon enough, he got to do both. Heaping his plate full of meat and potatoes, he smiled around at his friends. "Heya, everyone. Good summers all around, I hope?"

He realized that he was talking over Reggie and she was asking them the same thing he was. Laughing, he said, "Great minds, right? Mine was pretty good. I joined a summer league for baseball, and spent time with Three and little Ben."

1 Derry Four A new year 189 Derry Four 0 5

Marcus

August 20, 2012 7:54 PM

That's apparent. by Marcus

Marcus found himself sitting across from Sara. Not really surprising since they were both Sixth years, but he hadn’t really spoken to her very much over the last couple of terms. They were very different people and Sara would probably lose her crown if she were caught around him anyway. Of course, that didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate the sight of her. Despite being a ‘princess’, Sara was okay. Less weird than Eliza (who Marcus was pretty sure would have a nervous breakdown at some point before they graduated), but still a girl he would never really understand. He never really got how Preston Stratford managed to land her though. He was a ginger and anti-social and Sara was hot and, well, better than him. But, he supposed some people might have thought the same about him and Valentina. Not the ginger part, of course.

Marcus had been clapping for the Prefects. He had gotten to know Reggie, Topher, and Josephine while they were all working on the Zombie movie together. He wouldn’t say they were all friends or anything, but he was at least friendly enough to be happy for them for getting their badges. When he turned back, he noticed Sara’s expression and for a moment, Marcus thought something terrible had come over her. He watched her out of fear and confusion to figure out what just happened in the few seconds that he had his head turned.

He really felt as though she stroked out. Especially since she just started acting as though nothing happened, but she must have known that with him being across from her had him with front row seats to her momentary lapse in… everything.

“Er…sure.” He replied, his long arms stretching to the plate and then out towards her. He was one of the taller guys in the school, already hitting 6’3 and only sixteen. His mother said that his father was tall, but Marcus only had her word for it. Although she was relatively tall for a female at 5’8. Not that his height had anything to do with anything. “Hey Sara, everything alright?” He asked her as he returned to his own food. “You look like you’re going to be sick or something.”

6 Marcus That's apparent. 180 Marcus 0 5

Bianca

August 20, 2012 8:42 PM

..I am more confused than before by Bianca

Bianca certainly didn’t know what to expect from the people that would be her house mates, but for a girl to point his older brother as a bad example of house pride was definitely not something she had foreseen. Her brown eyes glanced at Preston and then at Henny. What was she going to do now? The nervousness was visible in her face. The first person she had met at Sonora managed to insult her brother. It wasn’t an insult per se, but he had been pointed out as a bad person. Preston was far from it. He had his quirks, but he wasn’t bad. He was rather nice and a good older brother. He often answered her questions. Victor on the other hand was too engrossed in his life to think about his younger siblings. Bianca somewhat understood his lack of attention. He was older and had grown-up things to worry about, like his wedding.

“It is nice to meet you, Henny. I am Bianca Stratford.” Bianca didn’t know what to from here. It wasn’t obvious that Preston was her brother. He was a redhead while she had brown hair. Victor and he looked a lot alike, but Bianca was the odd one out of the Stratford siblings. With her brown hair and hazel eyes, she was as different as a bee was from a wasp.

She briefly wondered why Preston had such an outburst and then she remembered that this year it was her brother’s run for the prefect badge. He had talked about it all summer long. It had gotten exhausting. His conversations revolved around Sara, Prefectship and his future career. This was the first time the new Aladren had seen her older brother lose his cool like that.

“Thank you for welcoming me into the house.” The little girl had nothing else to say. She was shocked, she was nervous, she was tired and all she wanted to do now was go back home. If Sonora made Preston lose his cool, then she didn’t want to think what could happen to her.

Bianca blinked, grabbed a piece of bread and began munching it. She wasn’t really hungry.

0 Bianca ..I am more confused than before 0 Bianca 0 5

Sara

August 20, 2012 10:37 PM

Oh, dear.... by Sara

“Thank you,” Sara said automatically when Marcus provided her with the desired plate. He was very tall, with long arms; that was more desirable in the Cascade Hall than her smaller proportions were, especially when the place was crowded, and it was never more crowded than at the Feasts, when the whole school had to be in it at one time. She began to put her plate together, focusing on getting the portions right. She had to be careful what she ate, because the kind of insane diets and exercise regimens that Catherine went on after she had each of her babies didn’t appeal to her at all and she didn’t even know how long she could sustain some of the diets. If she didn’t eat something at least a little substantial for too long, Sara found that she started to feel like she was going to faint.

She looked up, though, when Marcus asked her if everything was all right. For a second, she thought about claiming that she was, in fact, sick, but her discomfort with any mention of bodily functions even in private ruled that out before she could even fully form the thought. “Everything is fine,” she said. “I was just very surprised by the prefects – I don’t mind them, of course, but some of my friends are going to be, um, very disappointed right now.”

That, Sara thought, might well be a completely transparent attempt to cover up who she was really thinking of, because she seriously doubted that Fae was going to be very deeply upset about not being pushed into the public view as a prefect. Plus, she knew her mother always knew she was either emotional or lying when she used her words badly, and her friends in fifth year couldn’t very well do something in the future if they were doing it right now. Marcus, though, as far as she knew, didn’t know her friends that well, so maybe he wouldn’t realize she was mostly talking about Preston.

She glanced toward him again and found him with Arthur Carey. Merlin only knew what that could mean. She wished she knew what they were saying, and felt ashamed of herself for half-wishing it was some kind of plot against poor Mr. Layne if it couldn't be a normal conversation, because if it was, then that meant Preston was much less likely to take his disappointment with how things had gone tonight out on her because she was a prefect and he wasn’t. A public fight or temper tantrum or scandal of any kind was the last thing either of them needed.

She decided to change the subject, since she didn’t like this one and no good could come from it. “At least we’re not in an exam year anymore,” she said. “How was your summer, Marcus? Did you have a pleasant time at home?” She knew he was from the Muggle world, which meant anything he said to her was likely to be incomprehensible, but she could smile and nod while he talked about himself.

0 Sara Oh, dear.... 0 Sara 0 5

Jade

August 21, 2012 6:45 AM

Sure you do by Jade

Jade wasn't sure what to do with the information that Arnold apparently enjoyed getting beaten up, so she mentally filed that away, accompanied outwardly by a couple of slightly raised eyebrows, and then swiftly moved on to discussing Quidditch with Mini W. The sport had been a bitter sweet point of contention over the summer; Jade loved being on the Pecari team, but someone somewhere had obviously forgotten a dose of their sanity meds as they'd named Amira assistant captain. She had better tread carefully, because if she so much as put one toe in the wrong shoe, Jade was going straight to Coach Pierce with a complaint. She wasn't about to let one self-righteous drama queen ruin the championship for the whole team; the whole House, even. Pecari had been denied their title last year (which she was trying to pretend wasn't her fault), so they had some making up to do this year, though apparently without the efforts of Mini W. "Maybe your sister should sign up, then," she replied, sizing Waverly up in a new light. Her roomate didn't seem to have the fierce competetive nature of many of the other team members, but then that wasn't necessarily a bad thing; nobody needed to be as full on crazy as the Aladrens.

Suddenly there seemed to be another person in their conversation. Jade hadn't even noticed Jorge sitting near them until Waverly introduced him. "Hey Jorge," she greeted with a smile and a wave of her fork. He was okay; she liked both the boys in the group, and Jorge wasn't always trying to mess with her head like Elijah was. However, his short greeting wasn't sufficient to distract Jade from her earlier conversation. "If you don't play Quidditch, there are other clubs you can join," she told Mini W. Then, as if the connection was blatantly logical, she asked, "Do you like horses?"

While Jade chewed another large mouthful of food, during which time Mini W could formulate an answer, she realized she ought to explain the reasoning behjind her question. "I thinking of setting up some sort of horse appreciation club, or something. I love horses," she was talking animatedly, hoping her audience could keep up with her erratic sentences. "You ride, don't do?" She addressed Theresa with rather more force than was necessary. "I bet people would join a club like that."

0 Jade Sure you do 0 Jade 0 5

Arthur

August 21, 2012 10:27 AM

Oh, good. You had me worried for a moment there by Arthur

His roommate did not seem amused by Arthur’s optimistic joke, but he did at least pull himself together. “I've been told I should be more humorous," he said dryly. "And I accept your apology.” He looked toward Russell for a moment and sighed. “I confess, I’m mildly disappointed that Arnold and I were both passed over, too, but so it goes, hm? I don’t think…our kind was in very great favor with the staff this year. Perhaps Professor Brockert and Professor Light were better allies than we realized.”

Arthur didn’t think that made perfect sense himself, since neither of them had struck him as a model of propriety, but a shift in the attitude of the staff was the answer to the prefect situation that seemed most likely to him. Last year, three of the four had been purebloods and the fourth wealthy, the year before that wasn’t too bad, but this year had Miss Parker and Mr. Calhoun, whom he understood to be half-bloods, Miss Owen, who was far from the same kind of pureblood as the rest of them, and Russell as the best-off of the lot. There was no way, given all the possible candidates, that social status had not been a factor in the decision, at least not in his mind. Clearly there were factions among the staff, and clearly, the balance between them had tipped….

For a moment, he stared at the staff table, wishing he had some opening into its workings, some way of knowing what went on behind closed doors. On the surface, they seemed warmly professional, for the most part, each keeping most of his focus on his own little kingdom, but there had to be more to it. Where any group of people was, politics would appear. It was human nature.

The little group in his dormitory was no exception, though, so he turned his attention to something he was actually involved in when Preston brought the subject to Arnold and Fae. “Yes,” he said. “They were. A good match for him.” He settled back in his chair and regarded the chicken, trying to decide if he really wanted to eat it. “It’s quite the exciting time for my family. Arnold is betrothed, our heir – my other brother, Anthony – has just been Sorted….” He tilted his head slightly toward one of the blue first years, a thin boy with pale brown hair who bore very little resemblance to Arthur or Arnold. “He’s with us, of course,” he said, as if he had never really doubted it. Perhaps he had had some stray thoughts from time to time about where else Anthony might go, but everyone came to Aladren. It was the ideal House for a Carey heir. “Good times.”

He decided the chicken would do. “Of course, if I’m not mistaken, your family is also doing well,” he said. “Perhaps Arnold and Fae have beaten you and Sara to having a betrothal, but your brother is to be married this winter, isn’t he? And your sister to start school now?” At least, that was the information that Arthur had. If it was wrong, he guessed he was just going to have to be badly embarrassed, but he thought he had it right. He had taken the seat beside Preston’s on purpose, so he had done his best to get his facts straight ahead of time. What happened at the Opening Feast could set the tone for the entire year.

Hopefully, what already had happened wouldn’t do it, because if it did, Arthur was going to be irritated with Preston. The badge wasn’t important enough to define a whole year with.

0 Arthur Oh, good. You had me worried for a moment there 0 Arthur 0 5

Theresa

August 21, 2012 10:32 AM

It's ever so fun by Theresa

“It should fade in a minute,” Theresa assured the first year – Wendy, she reminded herself, committing the name to memory. Wendy and Waverly, that was as bad as Arnold and Arthur and Anthony, or for that matter James and Josephine and Jade, though of course nothing topped Amira’s family.

Of all the things she hadn’t expected out of school, Theresa had really never expected to feel out of place because she and her siblings each had a letter of the alphabet all to themselves. She had always thought naming everyone the same was peculiar, since the only people in the family who’d ever done it had been Aunt Lorraine and either Great-Grandfather or Great-Grandmother, who’d given their sons A-names and their daughters E ones, but it seemed fairly common at Sonora. She suspected, though, that giving them all very distinct names was the only way her parents could even remotely keep who they were talking to straight. Six children wasn’t entirely unusual in the family – it had been more common two generations ago, when the branches were still trying to build themselves up after they each broke away from Virginia, and usually they were all further apart, but it still wasn’t extreme or anything like that – but her parents were the sort who should have stopped after Jay. Neither of them had the attention span to keep up with all of them.

Theresa thought she had a better attention span, but she found the conversation harder to follow as it turned more toward Quidditch. If she had been a boy, she thought she might have liked the game, but she wasn’t and therefore didn’t get to play, so she didn’t follow it very well. Her largest involvement in the sport since she came to school had been when she told Arthur about how much Jade and Amira hated each other because of the Seeker position, and that had been right before the one game Arnold ever lost, so it seemed safe to conclude that she and Quidditch were not subjects that blended well. She was more against Waverly joining the team than not, she felt they did not need more people in the dorm getting bent out of shape about that, but she really didn’t find the subject that interesting.

She didn’t think that much of the topic of her and horses, either, but lifted one shoulder when Jade turned on her with it. “I can,” she said, feeling almost defensive after the tone. “It’s more Lucy’s thing than it is mine.” She had enjoyed sneaking onto her brothers’ and cousins’ brooms when she was little, but she didn’t like riding on something that really could think for itself as well. When she was moving with something other than her own feet, she liked to still feel like she was in control, and while the riding instructor she’d had had assured her this was the case with horses as well, it didn’t feel like nearly as much of the case.

0 Theresa It's ever so fun 0 Theresa 0 5

Sully

August 21, 2012 12:18 PM

You are absolutely right by Sully

Josephine looked to be doing much better now that she had eatten something. Sully always felt his mood improve after eating a good meal, so he was pleased his advice had been effective. If it wasn't, he would have had to start worrying that he was some kind of food obsessed weirdo. Bad enough that he was already hungry all the time.

But Josephine looked normal again, which was good on an additional level as well because he already knew he wasn't good at dealing with weirdly emotional girls. Plus, it was just good that his housemate was feeling better.

"That sounds cool," he offered in response to her trip to visit Sophie in London. "I visited Califoria, but that barely counts, even if we did get to go to Disneyland while we were there. Did you see Simon at the concert? He was the blond guy sitting with my family. Well, his family lives in California, and we were visiting them."

Sully paused a moment, not exactly trying for dramtic effect, but knowing that his next remarks were important and shouldn't be overshadowed by a mention of Disneyland. "He proposed to my mom and wanted to make the announcement that she said yes in person."

"I'd met them all before, but it was still kind of cool to go around getting re-introduced as Simon's future step-son, because the last time I met them all, they were just strangers, not future step-cousins, you know?"

"So that was exciting at least, if not fun. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. It's just been Mom, my sister, and me for so long."

0 Sully You are absolutely right 0 Sully 0 5

Enion Whitebriar

August 21, 2012 5:37 PM

I was hoping for red by Enion Whitebriar

Excitement made the young blond fidget. Said fidgeting had actually made Gareth, his older brother, sent him to the other side of the carriage about half way through the trip. But Enion couldn’t help it! He’d been waiting for two whole years for this, ever sense Gareth left without him actually. Before that, both brothers thought they would be going to Hogwarts, and they all had a million stories about the Scottish school. Sonora was new, it was exciting, and most of all it was new! He was the second ever Whitebriar to go there.

His brother hadn’t told him how they’d be sorted, saying only that it was a secret, which only added to his nervous excitement. There was a bit of pushing and shoving as the first years were separated but eventually everyone got lined up and Enion grinned and waved at his brother, who took a seat at the Crotalus table. I’ll be a Crotalus for sure, then I can be on the Crotalus team to and we’ll be awesome! Gareth told Enion all about the Quidditch game and the curse of the crimson team, how they almost always made it to the finals only to fall. Not this year, with me and Gareth, we’ll win!

After taking a sip of the potion, Enion couldn’t help but pout when his skin didn’t turn brilliant red, but instead it took on a sunny yellow hew. “Darn!” He’d been so sure that he’d be a Crotalus that he hadn’t actually paid attention to what the other house colors were. Oh well, he’d find out soon enough. Stifling a dejected sigh, Enion followed the other yellow skinned youths to a table that was not his brother’s.

The sadness didn’t last very long as announcements were made and the school song made him grin. Finally the food arrived and Enion realized how hungry the carriage ride made him. He snagged a big slice of ham, some mashed potatoes, two rolls, and a tiny bit of green beans (his mom said he had to eat his vegetables, but she didn’t say how much he had to eat). Just as he was about to dig in, the boy next to him asked Enion to pass the rolls. “Sure.” He said, his tone friendly and still exited as he handed them over. “Oh, I’m Enion Whitebriar of House Blackbriar” he said with a happy grin.

0 Enion Whitebriar I was hoping for red 0 Enion Whitebriar 0 5

Henny B-F-R

August 21, 2012 5:38 PM

Using the 'awkward turtles' is not really going to help, is it? by Henny B-F-R

“Ah,” Henny said, as the young girl introduced herself, her own eyes flicking for a moment between the first year and Preston. Great. The beginning of the sentence 'What I meant was that...' ran repeatedly around her head but she couldn't seem to get anything to follow it.

“Sorry,” she tried. She didn't really think she'd been especially rude about Preston and she did feel that his shouting across the table might have been a little intimidating to any timid first years who didn't happen to be related to him. However, it wasn't a dearly held enough opinion that she would defend it to the death, and a simple apology probably wouldn't hurt matters. Maybe, hopefully, Preston's... cousin? Sister? Whichever she was, hopefully she didn't like him very much, then she might not even care.

“You're welcome,” she said, a little awkwardly, as Bianca thanked her for welcoming her to Aladren. She wasn't entirely sure the first year wasn't being sarcastic. She didn't sound like it, nor did she look like someone who would be sarcastic to a pot-plant, let alone an older student. However context suggested that she might be.

“Aladren's a great house,” Henny continued, trying to steer the conversation towards more neutral territory. “We have great access to the library. What subject are you looking forward to the most?” she asked. In other houses, that might have been considered a bit of boring thing to ask, possibly even casting gloom over the joyous celebration that was the feast, but in Aladren it was usually a fairly safe, even happy topic.

13 Henny B-F-R Using the 'awkward turtles' is not really going to help, is it? 211 Henny B-F-R 0 5

Katrina (Kitty) McLevy - Aladren

August 21, 2012 7:58 PM

Middling by Katrina (Kitty) McLevy - Aladren

Kitty’s freckled nose was peeling, but the short Aladren didn’t care. It was the result of endless hours spent on the beach. Her parents took the whole family to Florida for the last week of summer and the ocean was amazing! That was the first time the brand new fourth year student had ever seen the endless blue. Over the week she managed to collect almost eight full zip lock bags of sea shells, two bags of the very best ones she’d brought with her to give out to her friends.

Bright cornflower blue eyes trailed over to the Pecari table and the muggleborn sighed at the sight of Laurie. Kitty really wanted to run over and give him some shells now, but she knew that wasn’t allowed. For some reason, his family didn’t want them to be friends anymore, so they had to talk in secret. I know! I’ll write him a letter, and send it to him via owl tonight with some sea shells She grinned, happy to have found a way to contact her friend. While she waited for the sorting to begin, Kitty dug out a sheet of parchment and a self-inking quill to start writing all about her summer. Next year, I’ll write him letters every week and save them to send on the Opening Feast. That would be better, Kitty decided as the words spilled across the page, struggling to keep up with her swift thoughts.

The sorting was finished, so Kitty tucked the letter away for now and watched the bright blue students head over to her table. One of the seats next to her was open so Kitty stood and waved at a shy looking girl, her black curls bounced as she stood on her tip toes to be seen. “Hey! There’s a spot over here free.” She called, a bright smile on her face.

0 Katrina (Kitty) McLevy - Aladren Middling 0 Katrina (Kitty) McLevy - Aladren 0 5

The Anns

August 21, 2012 9:44 PM

And continuing for the next seven years by The Anns

The girls smiled and nodded in agreement as Rupert confirmed that he was excited. "Oh, yeah," Annette agreed with perhaps just a bit too much sincerity, "the tutors Mother got for us were wretched."

"They droned on, and on," Annabelle put in. "Do people really care how many generations there were between us and Hamlet? And who would ever need us to recite them all?"

"Thank Merlin we're going to start getting taught useful information now," Annette finished.

When Rupert expressed his desire to escape the shadow of his brother, the Anns both gave each other a glance as they realized they had potentially made a terrible gaffe, then turned identical looks of sympathy on him. "We apologize," they said together. Annabelle continued solemnly, "We also have siblings who cast great shadows."

Annette wasn't quite sure it was the same thing, since Cepheus was only a couple of years Rupert's senior, while Belinda had gotten herself disowned and Melinda had already demonstrated that she was a fine upstanding wife and mother and everything a proper young lady should aspire to be. Mother constantly held one up as what they would become if they did not always behave precisely as they were told and the other up as the pinnacle of success.

It made it difficult not to resent both of them. If Melinda wasn't so kind, and Eight wasn't so cute, they might not have forgiven their older sister for their mother's tyranny.

"Melinda married the Boyd heir," Annette added, giving Rup a wry expression. "Mother doesn't let us forget it." The less said about Belinda, however, the better. Hopefully, Rup wouldn't have noticed Belle had used a plural. Failing that, that he would let it lie.

They were a little confused for a moment when he asked where New Hampshire was. After a moment, they remembered the accent meant he hadn't grown up studying North American geography and where all the important families lived on the continent (well, in the United States and Canada, anyway). Understanding the problem, Annette began arranging her salad into an approximate map of the United States. Annabelle pointed to north east corner, "It's in this part of the country," she explained.

"So where is . . . Surrey, was it?" Annette asked.

1 The Anns And continuing for the next seven years 246 The Anns 0 5

Thad

August 21, 2012 9:47 PM

OOC by Thad

Hey, Kitty. Clarissa joined our thread down one. Want to join us, too?

1 Thad OOC 213 Thad 0 5

Effie Arbon

August 22, 2012 10:47 AM

Such as learning. And finding a husband. by Effie Arbon

Effie gave a little nod to acknowledge Cepheus' remarks about his brother. He hadn't mentioned that the boy was in their house and she rather guessed he would be with Cepheus if he was – certainly, if Araceli came here, Effie would look after her on her first day. She would find out more about the brother, Rupert, and his house in the fullness of time. She wasn't desperately keen to add another Princeton male to the immediate conversation – one was more than enough for her coping skills at present.

“Thank you, that is most kind,” she responded to Cepheus' offer of further information. Isabel came up with an immediate question. Effie felt that repeating this immediately would make her tactic a little too transparent and would ring a little false, plus it had been a more open offer, and she did not think a lack of immediately capitalising on it would be offensive. Cepheus was just trying to kind and polite, she felt.

“We are of Maine,” she replied to the question he had asked of her, “We occupy a small island off the coast.” Small was accurate on a global scale of islands but perhaps unjust of theirs when compared with its neighbours. Even without that consideration, a small island still gave a very reasonable estate. She couldn't return the question as he had already stated where he was from but perhaps she could maintain the topic. “I believe you said you are of Surrey,” she almost asked whether it was nice there before realising that implied the possibility that Cepheus came from somewhere that was not nice. “How do you find it?” she asked. Soliciting his opinion was a much more appropriate way of phrasing the question.

13 Effie Arbon Such as learning. And finding a husband. 238 Effie Arbon 0 5

Preston

August 22, 2012 1:41 PM

Thankfully I set the record straight by Preston

Preston just nodded in agreement with Arthur’s assessment of his sense of humor. He definitely needed to work on it. Not that Preston was the most qualified person to talk about sense of humor. The redhead couldn’t really distinguish when someone was trying to be funny. Case in point, he hadn’t laughed or chuckled when Arthur made his stupid Josh Joke. No one should ever joke about the extra room mate. It just wasn’t funny, or correct for that matter.

The Aladren took another bite of his chicken and thought about Arthur’s Staff statement while he chewed it. It was an interesting view on the whole Prefect dilemma. The more he thought about it, the more Preston realized that it was the case. Why hadn’t he seen this before? The Staff was out to get the Purebloods. Most of the Prefect from previous years had been decent members of their society, but now Russell was the better off them. It was clear that there had been a shift of power in the staff.

Arthur had single-handedly made him feel better about the whole situation. Preston swallowed and straightened his glasses before taking a sip of his apple juice. He looked over at the Staff table and tried to pin-point who had been the responsible for this. Some adults were hard to read, and he hated that. They just made his life more difficult.

“You may be on to something,” the redhead said while visibly getting more relaxed. The hunger rushed back in and he served some mash potatoes to his plate. Vegetables and chicken were hardly going to do it. He was still growing. “It appears we overlooked underestimated their presence.” Professor Brockert and Light were hardly role models, but they had been underestimated. Politics was part of human nature and a group of adults with a certain degree of authority and power had to rely on them. It was simple and yet brilliant. Preston cursed himself for not thinking about this before. He wanted to study anthropology and he had let his emotions get in the way of a good case study.

Politics was a part of life and in order to survive in the pureblood society one had to navigate through them with the outmost care and some families knew how to do just that. “Good news, then.” The Aladren took another bite of his dinner and listened to Arthur talk, he even followed his gaze towards the new Aladren that looked nothing like either of the twins. That made him grin, since Bianca looked nothing like him.

“Congratulations on such joyous accomplishments. “ It was only polite to do so, but then the infamous wedding was brought up again. Preston wanted to groan. He was tired of that topic. That was the only thing that he had listened to during his time at home.

“Ah yes. Victor gets married to Shelby Sinclair during midterm,” Preston stabbed some cauliflower with his fork before continuing with the conversation. “Can’t hardly wait,” he said finished sarcastically. He needed that wedding to be over.

“And Bianca just started Sonora; she will be in Anthony’s year group.” He subtly pointed towards the little girl in glasses in a blue hue that was talking to another girl.

0 Preston Thankfully I set the record straight 0 Preston 0 5

Alicia

August 22, 2012 5:28 PM

It's not really a destination if you're already here. by Alicia

Alicia’s smile deepened when Thad agreed that it was wonderful to be back, and she kept it from changing when he mentioned Sam. “Thank you,” she said. She had thought she was going to be sick when his name was announced at the Concert, since she was fairly certain Thad’s parents were smart enough to notice the similar names even if they did not think she and Sam looked much alike and had been afraid that they would somehow read Aunt Hannah’s mind from across the room and know she was, as of the last time Alicia remembered paying attention to anything said about her, a waitress who’d never been married and then forbid Thad from ever speaking to Alicia again, but it was good to have relatives in power. Sam, for some reason she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to know, didn’t seem to dislike her that much, or to think she was as stupid as Rachel had, so that could be useful. “It’s a good day for my family. I’m sorry your cousin didn’t get it for Teppenpaw, though.”

She thought that was okay to say, since apparently there was a fine line between ‘disinherited’ and ‘disowned’ which was – she thought – why Thad’s uncle had been at the Concert and which made him and Derry Pierce still, technically, cousins. As soon as she said it, though, she was convinced she shouldn’t have and had to work hard to squash a flutter of anxiety.

It was because of that, she guessed, that her eyes went sideways and landed on a first year long enough for the girl to apparently think Alicia found her interesting. Even non-mumbling first years who didn’t have their hair in the faces usually failed to be things Alicia found interesting, but she had a feeling it would look bad to point this out, and she wanted some shot at prefect in two years, not to mention a shot at everyone whose opinion she actually cared about continuing to like her. If Thad really was, as she was, only polite by training rather than nature, she thought he hid it admirably. Rudeness would win her no points on any front.

“Um, yeah, pretty much,” Alicia said, hoping she’d made the last part out correctly. “Alicia Bauer, third year.” She wanted to turn back to her conversation with Thad, since she had a line to go with, but instead she smiled at the first year. She had to be sweet in front of her friends. She had been nice to Evan for two whole years, including when he was late or made no sense or whatever. She could handle it. “And this is my good friend, Thaddeus Pierce, of the New Hampshire Pierces," she said, so he wouldn't get left out. "Welcome to Aladren. And Sonora,” she added as an afterthought.

OOC: Sorry for the delay, folks, and welcome, Clarissa!

16 Alicia It's not really a destination if you're already here. 210 Alicia 0 5

Arthur

August 23, 2012 12:36 AM

Your clarification was most appreciated, thank you by Arthur

Arthur shrugged as Preston said he could be on to something. “The Brockerts have their…ways, and a lot to look after, of course, but surely they got some control over – er – the professor after she married the groundskeeper,” he concluded, not even thinking twice about whether or not this might not be something everyone would think. He would not say that he wondered whether Seth Brockert had been sent here specifically to get her to marry him, but the very idea of having a resource like a professor, a Head of House even, at one of the better schools of magic in the country if not the continent and not using that resource, or at least making sure that the person who comprised it did not run too far away from what the family wanted, seemed too strange to be true to him. New family members were resources to be used; there was no other point to going through half the ridiculous things the different families did. “I don’t know what to think about Light, though.”

He really did not, and wished for a moment that he had found out more about the strange Charms teacher. Maybe later he could write home and find out something, though he might have an interesting time explaining why he cared and didn’t even know for sure what he would do with it and, most importantly, knew now that most of what his father gave him would be of little importance, just a way of placating him. Anthony the Seventh, it seemed, had finally decided he could not reason with his second son, but that he could play the game with him. Arthur didn’t complain because anything was better than nothing.

They all lived every day of their lives under scrutiny, from adults, from their peers, shut away together like this for most of the year – and yet, everyone had secrets. Arthur found that fascinating, as fascinating as how spells worked, and couldn’t understand how everyone else got along without taking any interest in what happened to and with other people when they weren’t there. That was when he thought all the most interesting things happened, when people weren’t being their own social selves.

Preston congratulated his family, and Arthur inclined his head in acknowledgment before smiling thinly at the tone Preston took to speak about his brother’s upcoming wedding. “Yes, I see how pleased you are,” he remarked. “I’m sure we’ll all rejoice with you on that day.” He decided not to push further at the moment, not unless Preston gave him something, despite his interest in his future in-laws once removed. Preston exploding because of an imagined slight to his family was not what he wanted to deal with, any more than Preston throwing a temper tantrum over a bit of metal attached to a pin was.

He looked where Preston indicated to see his sister. Glasses; unfortunate, but then, Henry had glasses as well, and Arthur himself wore them for reading. He reached up as though to adjust his reading glasses even though he wasn’t wearing them now, a habit he’d noticed he’d developed in the last year and a half. “Excellent,” he said. “Perhaps they will become friends.” He took a drink of his pumpkin juice. “Wouldn’t that tie us all up with a pretty bow?”

0 Arthur Your clarification was most appreciated, thank you 0 Arthur 0 5

Amity Brockert

August 23, 2012 2:33 AM

Free at last! by Amity Brockert

After eleven years of waiting, Amity was finally attending Sonora and she felt like she'd just escaped from prison. Except that from what she understood prisoners had an abundance of free time. Amity did not.

She would now though. Five core subjects and flying lessons? Even though her cousins said that Professor Fawcett in particular gave quite a bit of homework, nothing compared to what she had to do at home. Besides, Arabella's definition of what was too much homework probably differed greatly from the norm. If this professor gave an essay every week and had them read five chapters a night, it was still less than all the activities her mother made her do. Summer and midterm weren't going to be the vacation-school was.

So far, Amity was loving everything about her escape from the never ending lessons at home. She'd had to be in one or another from shortly after she got up, until the time she went to bed. Practice times were also scheduled in there. As Amity and her sister were forced to try every single extra curricular that was deemed acceptable for proper pureblood young ladies, any natural desire she might have had to take up one of those hobbies, any interest in them at all, had been quashed. Now all the first year wanted to do was veg out on the couch, listening to the wireless.

Of course, she was expected to practice all her activities at school even if she wasn't getting formal lessons. Along with keeping her grades up so she graduated the top of her class, and being prefect and Head Girl someday. Amity didn't really care if she was, and in fact, would rather not. Too much additional work, which meant less free time and she would treasure every second of that she got. Besides, when she got married someday, Amity would have every bit as much free time as prisoners had-but with the freedom to come and go as she pleased.

Amity was, in fact, even a bit grateful for WAIL because while it was ridiculous, if it hadn't become completely disgraceful for girls to play Quidditch, she'd have been expected to try out for that too, make the team, become Captain and win every game. She was glad to have escaped that one.

She entered the hall with the other first years, taking it all in. Amity spotted her cousins-though she tried to ignore Carrie's presence-at their respective tables and Uncle Seth at the staff table. She was sort of disappointed that her aunt wasn't going to be teaching Transfiguration now, but she was sure she'd be okay. It was much harder on Ryan, who was convinced the new professor would despise him. The sixth year had a tendency to expect that in general.

When it was Amity's turn, she drank from the cup and turned a brilliant blue. Aladren. No problem with that. She really hadn't cared what house she would be in. The first year joined the others at the table as prefects and Head Students were announced as well as new staff members.Apparently, there wasn't going to be a Transfiguration professor. How awful! Amity had rather expected it to be her best subject. Even if she didn't turn out to be as naturally talented as Ryan, who had to be taking that even harder. Besides it was one of the major magical disciplines. Hopefully, someone would be subbing.

As for the prefects-she'd already been told by her cousins who was Head Boy and Girl-well, Amity honestly couldn't say she'd ever heard of them or their families, except that one Owen roomed with Arabella and another was Ryan's friend.

The new Aladren looked at the person sitting across from her. Her mother said she was to make connections here and Amity agreed to this, because she wanted friends. Aside from getting the best grades that she possibly could, though, the first year sure wasn't going to do anything else her mother wanted. "Hello," she gave the person a polite pleasant smile. "I am Amity Brockert, of the Colorado Brockerts." Why in Merlin's name weren't they called the Western Brockerts or something, she personally lived in Seattle, not Colorado. "How do you do?"

11 Amity Brockert Free at last! 233 Amity Brockert 0 5

Addison Thornton

August 23, 2012 8:27 AM

A new me... hopefully... by Addison Thornton

Addison had a few mild panic attacks over the summer. None as bad as the one at school though, thankfully. Medic Bailey had given her a few tools to help her get through them if they happened again. For this she was terribly glad. Without those tricks she was sure they would be just as bad if not worse. Addi actually noticed when the majority of them happened, which made sense to her. Some came when Addison was around a lot of people, others came when she realized that Arista had done the CATS exams (when her scores came back) the year before which meant that this new year it was HER turn… Ohmygod she thought over and over again from the time Arista’s scores came in the mail.

Addi spent the rest of the summer pouring over all of her books, studying late into the night for the tests. She didn’t want to fail. Failing these exams was not an option.

The whole wagon ride with her sisters and Clara (amongst others) was spent with her nose in a book, huddled in a corner besides a slightly worried Abigail. Abi had been watching Addison and the new fifth year knew that. Abi’s love for animals and almost frank dislike for people worried Addison. She hoped it wasn’t her fault her younger sister was like that!

The wagon stopped at Sonora and Addi and the others got out of it, Amira (chest puffed out with importance) in the lead. Addi took Abi’s hand and her trunk and walked into the hall. Their trunks disappeared and she led Abi to the other first years. “It’s okay. You just drink a potion to see what color you turn. Then that’s your house.” she said as she gave her younger sister a hug. “See you soon!” she added as she headed off to join the other Teppenpaws. Reggie and Derry were on one side of the table and she took the empty seat by Derry.

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau started speaking, welcoming the first years and welcoming back the older kids. Addi scanned the staff table and sighed only slightly audibly when she saw that indeed her favorite professor and the Teppenpaw Head of House from the first four years there at school was no longer there. She’d hoped that the announcement at the end of the year before wasn’t true, but Professor Crosby-Brockert wasn’t among the adults at the Staff table.

The Headmistress introduced herself to the first years and any new transfers, but Addi’s thoughts remained on Professor Crosby-Brockert. She had been Addi’s favorite person there at Sonora with the exception of her sisters and cousin, and now she was not there anymore… She made a mental note to ask their Groundskeeper for his okay to owl to his wife as the first year sorting began. She watched for her little sister and waved to her as happily as she could muster. She knew Abi was a little bit nervous by her demeanor, but then again, she was too when she started (shoot, she still was!).

Abi’s turn was next and Addison watched with trepidation, wondering what house her sister would end up in and as Abs turned red she smiled, though not as big as she would have if she was a Teppenpaw like herself, Arista and Brielle. Abi was the first of their family to be in Crotalus House just as Andri was for Aladren and Mira for Pecari. Interesting… she thought, slightly worried for Abi because Carrie O’Malley was in Crotalus House (the year older, but still in the house).

All of the first years were sorted and Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau introduced Professor Olivers and said that Medic Bailey was the new Teppenpaw Head of House. I’ll bet they’ll blame me on that one… But still… Valerie would need him too, so it can’t be all me… she thought to herself as Jane and Samuel were brought up for their badges. Then four names were called, Russell, Topher, Reggie and Josephine. Addi watched as they walked up and clapped hard for her roommate as she was named one of the new Prefects. The fifth year actually even cheered for her. Reggie deserved it and she knew it. Any one of them definitely deserved it over her, and she knew it. Clapping hard for her roommate, she looked to Derry with a large grin on her face.

Reggie and the others came back to their seats and she still clapped for her. “Congrats!” she whispered emphatically to Reggie as the Midsummer Event was announced and the sheet music passed out for the school song. Addi sang as best as she could (though quietly and sounding like a seriously broken record) and when the song ended the food appeared in front of them all.

Reggie and Derry both asked how everyone’s summers were and Addi smiled at them. Derry spoke first telling them about the baseball league he had done over the summer. Addi didn’t know he even knew what baseball was, but apparently he did now even if he hadn’t before. When he mentioned getting to spend time with his brother and Ben she smiled. She knew what it was like to spend a summer with family and though at times it was annoying, it was some of the best times of her life too.

“We got to go to Uncle Bryan’s Vineyards for a bit of the summer, like usual. Mira spent the whole summer gloating about her Assistant Captaincy so we all kinda avoided her mostly. Abi starts this year, she’s over there,” she said, pointing to the Crotalus table and smiling at her sister before turning back to Reggie and Derry.

0 Addison Thornton A new me... hopefully... 190 Addison Thornton 0 5

McKinley Andrews

August 23, 2012 9:51 AM

Refreshing... like clean? by McKinley Andrews

McKinley Andrews, dressed in her Sunday Best, a nice baby blue colored dress with a white ribbon tied at the back, a pair of Mary Jane shoes and a pair of frilly light blue socks on her feet to match her eyes. Her long blonde Shirley Temple curls were nicely pulled back away from her eyes and the light dusting of freckles only on the bridge of her nose and on her upper cheeks mixed with the deep dimples in her cheeks made her look and feel more perfect than ever in her own mind. She’d dressed that way for a reason, she was going to a new place and she was going to make a good first impression. That was how her family worked, especially with its girls, and she wouldn’t let them down.

Her grandfather wouldn’t have it any other way, and he’d just as much told them so over the summer while they were visiting him in England. She and her cousin, Carter, had spent part of the summer there at the estate. There was, of course, good times and bad, and lots and lots of dirt (which was definitely NOT okay for her). Carter was her cousin, yes, but he was also her best friend too. She didn’t get to spend much time with anyone else apart from her brothers, so Carter almost acted like her brother too even though they were cousins.

They readied to go to school at Sonora and with her bags and trunk packed, she looked to Carter. “So, uhm… How do we get to school?” she asked. When he’d answered they had to take a wagon, her eyes filled her face. “A wagon?! But… But that’s dirty…” she said with a shiver. “It’s dusty and dirty, and probably going to be filled with people who are dusty and dirty too! I can’t ride in that…” He’d laughed at her, shaking his head, but got himself ready for the wagon with a happy bounce in his step. She knew that he was laughing at her, but he’s a BOY, He’s SUPPOSED to like dirt… But its icky… she thought with a shiver. They got into the wagon and when Kinley saw how dirty it was, she practically climbed into Carter’s lap. “Icky… Icky… Eeew….” she repeated over and over again. Not only was this carriage/wagon thing dirty and dusty, but it was being pulled by an animal that she actually saw flies flying around! This is soooo unlady-like! she thought to herself as she repeated her words over and over again under her breath.

Finally they arrived at what she could only assume was their new school, and rushed herself out of the wagon. She didn’t even bother taking her things with her, after all, she was a young lady, ladies didn’t do boys work. Going as far as she could away from the dirty thing that drove the dirty wagon, she waited for Carter to join her by the doors and tried to primp herself back up to looking as pretty as she had when she’d started off that day. She was almost sure her hair wasn’t as pretty and her dress was covered in dust (which made her really mad). “Carter! I’m all dirty!” she said to him when he’d finally caught up to her. He laughed at her and took her hand, leading her inside. She loved her cousin, but sometimes he just didn’t understand!

She and Carter were somehow split up in their walking into the Hall and as she searched for him through the endless mass of children, the Headmistress began speaking. Kinley didn’t really hear what she had to say apart from her introduction and that they needed to drink a potion to figure out their houses. I have to drink something that other people have drank from? she thought, eyes widening even more. "EEW!" she screeched kinda loudly.

The line of students moved forward as they drank the potion before her and she finally spotted Carter up by the Deputy Headmistress, drinking the potion. He turned a funny shade of yellow that meant Teppenpaw House. Kinley hoped she’d be in the same house as her cousin, but she wanted another way to tell it. That was for sure. McKinley backed up to the wall, she didn’t want her lips touching anything that other people drank from… Her back hit the wall and she moved forward fast. It could be dirty too, after all.

Kinley was asked to come forward and on almost tiptoes she followed directions, even though she didn’t want to. She took a fast sip, and coughing from the speed of it, she looked at her hands. RED? "AHHH!" she squealed.

Not only am I NOT with Carter, but I look like a dirty, icky LOBSTER!? she thought to herself as she shivered the whole way to join her new house table. She searched out Carter among the yellow children at his table, but his attention was not on her.

The last few students were sorted and Headmistress K spoke again, introducing the new Charms teacher and telling the students who the Teppenpaw Head of House was (whatever that was). Then came the Head Boy and Girl, and Prefects (which she didn’t know or really care what they were). Right then she wanted to get clean or she was going to have a monster fit. She was sure Carter would have been able to tell if he’d been looking at her at all.

After introductions of those posts were made, she kept on going and suddenly the Hall was covered in musical sounds which she wasn‘t interested in actually doing herself. She realized that when she sat down, she’d not sat down next to any other red children, which told her the girl she’d sat next to was older, wiser and could perhaps be an ally…

The girl was wearing a white skirt, green blouse, and makeup! Just the girl to be her friend! She opened her mouth to introduce herself, but then suddenly food appeared before them. “Whoa!” she said, almost in shock. She hadn’t been expecting that at all.

0 McKinley Andrews Refreshing... like clean? 0 McKinley Andrews 0 5

Sam Bauer

August 23, 2012 4:25 PM

Not sure if that's good or not, but it is indisputably true. by Sam Bauer

All things considered, Sam thought his reaction to the night he was to officially become Head Boy of Sonora was probably lacking in a lot of ways. He wasn’t excited or nervous or proud or any of the things his mother had assured him he rightly ought to be. Instead, the best word he could think of for how he felt was slightly irritable, because of the extra work he was going to have this year when he remembered he was in fact Head Boy and because he had the Quidditch sign-up sheet in his pocket and was therefore already having to think about this one last mad attempt to beat Aladren when his mind skipped that unlikeliest of facts.

When the firsties were Sorted – Sam felt bad for the one male one he saw; having a room to oneself wouldn’t be too bad, but being completely alone in the face of all those girls, most of them probably Crotalus Girls with a capital G, had the potential to be uncomfortable – the headmistress called him to the front, and Sam went, smiling and congratulating Jane as they took their badges. He would have much rather it had been Sam Hamilton, as she was both less weird and that special combination of better to look at plus pureblood-fiancé-less, but while he had been consulted, so had everyone else, and his guess was that the then fifth-year purebloods had preferred one of their own and had had the numbers to make it happen; as it was, he could live with it, since the regular people did have a voice even if it was only him, but it irritated him, too, that they wouldn’t if the then-fifth years had had a pureblood option.

He didn’t, after all, fool himself about the nature of the three badges now shining in a row on his robes. The reason he was Head Boy was because Nic lacked people skills, the reason he was Quidditch captain was because of his age and because Nic lacked people skills, and the reason he was prefect was because Nic lacked people skills and Autumn was a basketcase. His mother had gotten angry when he pointed all this out, but it was true. He looked more impressive than he really was just because of numbers. Math ruled the world.

Sam sang along with the school song neither over-enthusiastically nor too reluctantly and then turned his attention to the food. Seeing his roommate across from him, though, he decided to spare some focus for speech, too, at least on a pleasantries level, as Nic was not much of a talker. He was, though, reasonably sure Nic wasn’t actually going to kill him for having badges at this point, so politeness was good. “Hey, Nic,” he said. “Good summer?”

Politeness, after all, was not necessarily formality, even in Crotalus. It was all who one was, in his opinion. He thought he knew him and Nic well enough to know they were…kinda not that.

16 Sam Bauer Not sure if that's good or not, but it is indisputably true. 163 Sam Bauer 0 5

Alan Raines

August 23, 2012 5:42 PM

I wouldn't have minded that. by Alan Raines

Alan accepted the rolls and then blinked when his new roommate said what his name was. “What?” he asked, sure he had misheard something, or else that Mr. – Color-briar had misspoken. “I mean, I beg your pardon, I didn’t think I’d heard you correctly,” Alan corrected himself a moment later, gesturing to the Hall. “It’s very noisy in here. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

At least, it was if Teppenpaws were more like they were in the school handbook and less like his sister said they actually were. Sara seemed to find them even more distastefully over-excited than she did most of her House, and it had been a shock to everyone when she was Sorted into Pecari. Sometimes Alan thought that Sara was so good now because she was trying to compensate, to prove that whatever traits in her which had put her in that House didn’t mean she couldn’t still be a most proper lady. He hoped he didn’t have to end up proving things himself to the family for the rest of his life, because it just looked hard to him, even if Sara didn’t usually seem to find it so. But then, according to their parents – and Uncle Charles, and Aunt Margaret, and even his second cousin Catherine, Charles' heir, seemed to think it more than she didn’t – Sara was perfect.

Thank Merlin I don’t have any older brothers, he thought, glancing toward the back of his sister’s head. Isabel was the one who really got Sara held up to her; since he was a boy, he wasn’t supposed to be just like her. He’d had a narrow miss with Raines, but no one liked him except maybe his own sister and Aunt Ellen, so Alan wasn’t expected to mirror him, either.

It did, though, give him an idea for how best to keep getting acquainted with his new roommate. “Do you have any family here?” he asked, having noticed that the accent sounded like it was from somewhere in Great Britain. Unlike his sister, he had not traveled enough to practically see Europe as an extension of the living room, but he could tell that much. It had never made sense to him why some people went to school in other countries – maybe if they had family in that country like he had Aunt Margaret in Spain, but not otherwise – but he knew some did, like Catherine’s husband and most of his family. “America, Sonora, either one?”

0 Alan Raines I wouldn't have minded that. 237 Alan Raines 0 5

Anthony Carey VIII

August 23, 2012 8:29 PM

Here at last by Anthony Carey VIII

By the time he climbed off the wagon and set off with the others toward the main school building, Anthony felt exhausted, but not from the long ride from South Carolina. What had worn him out was the effort involved in keeping his mouth all but shut during that ride, refusing to give his brothers – and worse, Theresa – the satisfaction of seeing him babble on excitedly about where they were going and what would happen there and everything else. He had been at the center of one of the largest coherent groups on the whole wagon and the only person who’d been quieter than him had been Henry, who’d snapped irritably at anyone who said anything to him; even Jay and Arthur had seemed more enthusiastic and noisy than they usually were, but Anthony thought he had very nearly remained a model of composure all the way to Arizona.

As he, along with all the other first years, entered the Hall, though, Anthony felt his composure break at last as he couldn’t help staring around, fascinated by everything he saw. One time, he thought to glance toward Hen, to see how his cousin was taking it, but he found Henry’s face completely unreadable. That worried him, just a little, but then he had seen a portrait move and had forgotten about it. Part of his brain was telling him it was just a portrait, he saw them all the time at home, but the rest kept insistently pointing out that this was a Sonora portrait and he didn’t even know if it hid a secret passage, so he could enthuse all he wanted.

His smile faded slightly again, though, when they got to the Sorting. This was what he had been worried about almost since Arnold and Arthur first left home. What if he wasn’t with them?

When his turn came before the goblet, he stepped forward after only a second’s hesitation, putting on a social smile, and closed his eyes as he swallowed the potion inside it. The first thought he had was that at least Theresa had lied about how much that sip of clear, bubbly liquid was going to hurt. The second was that he wasn’t sure it was doing anything, so it was most likely safe to open his eyes. He did, and instantly felt relief wash over him as he beamed at his bright blue hands.

Aladren. He’d made it.

Still beaming, he went to the table and applauded his relative Miss Jane as she became Head Girl – they had never met, but he would have to go introduce himself and congratulate her at a meal tomorrow, he supposed – and also applauded for Mr. Layne when he became the new Aladren prefect, as he thought his brothers liked Mr. Layne. It would have been better if Arnold or Arthur had been the prefect, but some things weren’t meant to be, and maybe they didn’t want new prefects who were related to the new Head people. He stumbled his way through the school song with more enthusiasm than expertise and then found himself torn between the food and trying to talk to someone and not knowing which one he ought to talk to. There were so many, more than he’d ever seen in one place before except at the Reunion, when he’d been assigned to his group most of the time anyway.

A girl took it out of his hands before he could decide, though, and Anthony smiled at her. “Hello,” he said. “I’m Anthony – Anthony Carey the Eighth, of the South Carolina Careys.” His full name always made him a little uncomfortable to use, so he hoped she’d pick up on her own that he preferred ‘Anthony’ to ‘the Eighth.’ He started to introduce Henry by default, looking to his left side where Henry usually was, and got to “And my – “ before he noticed Hen wasn’t there and frowned. “Or not,” he said, glancing around and being visibly surprised when he saw Henry sitting at the Crotalus table. Flustered, he decided to change the subject. “I thought my cousin would be here, too, but he's...over there. This place is very impressive, isn’t it? I’m glad we’re finally here.”

0 Anthony Carey VIII Here at last 234 Anthony Carey VIII 0 5

Henry Carey

August 23, 2012 9:12 PM

Cleanliness is a great virtue by Henry Carey

I must not fear. Fear is…. Someone stepped too close to him, and Henry lost the thought. Time to start over. I must not… He shook his head, wishing he could close his eyes, or at least just stand still, but he couldn’t do that, they were all supposed to move. …I will look where….

Henry shook his head again and then pushed his glasses further up his nose, so his view of what was in front of him wasn’t partially divided by the tops of the wire frames. This was pointless. The exercises Aunt Lorraine had taught him were all very useful, but most of them worked best if he could sit facing a blank wall, or at least could shut everyone around him out and pretend they weren’t there. Those were things which were difficult to do when he was in a line progressing toward an authority figure with a cup of potion which would prove, once and for all, that he was a good enough wizard to attend school. The exercises weren’t going to work, most of them couldn’t be done right now.

He tried to focus on the back of Anthony’s green robe, in front of him, as it always would be – as it could only be, since Anthony was an Anthony and Henry was the second son of a second son. It was all the same color. The fabric did not fall completely smoothly, but it was as close to a blank as anything, so he could look at that. Just look at that and focus on moving after it and on nothing else…Until Anthony was Sorted, anyway, and moved off without even looking back, which Henry expected meant his cousin had, like everyone else, gone into Aladren.

It was illogical, stupid, not like Anthony, but for some reason he had thought he might not. Henry didn’t understand. Their whole family – all the boys, anyway – was here. They had all been raised the same, more or less. Why would one of them go to one place and not where the others were? With that thought in mind, Henry stepped forward, not paying much attention to the Deputy Headmistress, took his potion, and frowned in confusion when his hands turned red instead of blue.

That was wrong. There was a problem. The fact was the fact, but his condition didn’t agree with the fact, so one was wrong – He looked up at the Deputy Headmistress, but then changed his mind and just went over to the Crotalus table. They could sort it out later. He couldn’t hold up the line. She would be displeased, and there were too many of them here. He could figure it out.

As he walked away, a girl squealed in the line, and he turned to see what was wrong automatically, his heart starting to race, but he didn’t see anything wrong and, deciding she was just some Muggleborn who’d never seen a potion before, he continued, feeling as though something was watching him, and sat down gingerly on a seat with no one directly beside it, his posture perfectly correct as he ignored the rest of the room through the remainder of the Sorting ceremony and most especially the squealing girl, who he was displeased to see sitting across from him next to an older girl. Not as displeased, though, as he was to look around and see that every other bright red person he could see was a girl. He put his hands together a few times when a Carey girl, some Virginia girl, got the Head Girls’ badge, but ignored the rest of that ceremony, too, and refused flatly to even look at the lyrics to the school song directly, never mind sing it.

The seating was probably accurate. Sometimes these things happened. Everyone else had worked out, Anthony had worked out, so it was him who had not worked out. He was probably supposed to be here - he would not think about how most of the family who had come to this House had not ended well, about who he'd heard the Head of House was. Better than the Aladren head, he'd never had a family at all. He would not think of the aberrations. Alexandra Devereux was family and she was supposed to be all right. Everything would be all right, he assured himself, as he'd been taught to. Everything was going to be all right. He was not to think about the problems, just to focus on how he could do better, that was the correct way to think.

He was just beginning to think he might calm down in a minute, and stop feeling like something was sneaking up behind him, when the girl suddenly exclaimed over the food appearing as well. Henry glared at her from across the table. “What is wrong with you?” he demanded, thinking that if everyone in this House was like this, he was going to refuse to come back after Christmas. To hear this kind of thing for seven years would be intolerable.

0 Henry Carey Cleanliness is a great virtue 239 Henry Carey 0 5

Waverly & Wendy

August 23, 2012 9:12 PM

And easy! by Waverly & Wendy

Waverly was surprised at Jade's mention of her joining the Quidditch team. It was one thing to be thinking about it, but if Jade, the crazy Quidditch player among the third-year Pecaris, thought she might be good enough at flying or competitive enough to try out, that was saying something. "Maybe I will," she said, her brain whirring with how she was going to juggle all of it. She could do it and Waverly smiled at her roommate with a new desire to try something new.

The thought of joining clubs hadn't really occurred to Wendy. She only knew of the Baking Club that her sister had started her second year at school. Wendy was probably going to join that club, but horses? Horses were one of Wendy's favorite animals.

As a child, both Waverly and Wendy had been read fairy tales by their mom and had grown up wishing and wishing that princesses and dragons and unicorns and fairies really did exist. And then when Waverly went away to school and they found out there was such a world, both girls were so excited. Their dad had needed lots of convincing, but he'd finally relented after awhile. This day had been something Wendy had been looking forward to for ages and now that she was finally here, she was finding it hard to speak.

Wendy really hoped that there would be some kind of magical creatures club too. Her sister had told her that there was a class where they got to study magical creatures and interact with them and Wendy couldn't wait for that. She really wanted them to bring a real life unicorn!

Waverly's roommate answered in the affirmative and Wendy wondered who Lucy was. Maybe her sister? "I love horses," she gushed after Theresa had answered. "They're my favorite animal. Maybe after unicorns though, but I've never seen a real unicorn before." She was jealous of the people who got to grow up with magic all around them. She hoped that one day her kids would grow up with magic just like the others.

"A horse-riding club would be awesome," Waverly added with a smile. "I'd totally join." Though Waverly liked animals to an extent, she'd like riding horses. She and Wendy had only gone horseback riding camp once where they got to ride horses every day for a week. It had been the best time ever, except that they had to take care of the horses too which, in Waverly's opinion, was a lot of work to do for someone else's horse.

0 Waverly & Wendy And easy! 0 Waverly & Wendy 0 5

Thad Pierce

August 23, 2012 9:52 PM

You are here ---> by Thad Pierce

Kitty wasn't seated too far away, but Thad wasn't really paying her too much attention as she waved over the new first year. He had mostly gotten used to the fact that some girls - like Kitty - did not count as ladies and were therefore not subject to the same rules that he generally believed a female ought to abide by. He could handle that, and treat his female Quidditch teammates politely and with respect, but it didn't mean he often sought out such people's company for occasions like the Opening Feast. It was Alicia he was interested in catching up with and if Kitty wanted to try to curry favor for next year when her class was up for Prefect, she was entirely entitled to do so by making first years feel welcome in their part of the table.

He had, of course, politely nodded in Kitty's direction, as was proper between teammates, but he had mostly forgotten them between the food making its appearance and his conversation with Alicia. He made a mildly disappointed expression at her reminder that this should have been Derry's year to become prefect himself, but Thad shook his head and sighed, "Four is, unfortunately, completely lacking in ambition, and prefect wasn't one of the landmarks on the life plan his mother gave him." Derry Three hadn't been one, after all. Salem hadn't used prefects.

Alicia glanced to the side, and Thad followed her gaze to see what she was looking at, just in time to make eye contact with the first year Kitty had invited. She introduced herself, not enunciating well enough to indicate proper breeding, so Thaddeus guessed she was not one of the people his family wanted him making friends with. Still, there was no reason to be impolite. Rudeness was just crass. And he had hopes of Prefect himself.

Though it was difficult not to point out that her blue skin made it very obvious that she was first year.

"Hello," he greeted after Alicia did, "and welcome to Aladren. I am also of third year," he added, since Alicia had covered most of his introduction for him. Since he was robbed of his chance to do that, he opted to introduce Kitty. "Did you meet Kitty McLevy yet? She's a fourth year and she helped us settle in when we were first years."

OOC: Welcome to Sonora, Clarissa! One minor correction for future use; there is no verbal component to the sorting. The deputy headmistress will quietly point you to the right table after you take the potion but there is no booming house announcement; your skin color declares your new affiliation clearly enough. So, welcome to Aladren, Blue.

1 Thad Pierce You are here ---> 213 Thad Pierce 0 5

Marcus

August 23, 2012 10:22 PM

It's alright, I think I only saw it. by Marcus

“You’re welcome.”

Marcus kept his eyes on her to see if he had to actually do something (like, if she were having a breakdown or was getting sick and needed to get to the hospital wing), but her answer to him had him nearly laughing out loud in her face. Really? That was what this was about? Prefects? Marcus didn’t really care for any titles. In New York, they had the Regents diploma that high schools gave to the students who passed those structured tests. The actual ‘Regents diploma’ meant nothing. So they took difficult tests, colleges didn’t care. They didn’t look for that special sticker. Marcus felt this was true for Prefects and Heads. It might look good as a leader skill, but not much more beyond that. He probably would never understand why people seemed to want those badges so desperately.

Then again, he’ll never understand why people want to play Quidditch and have big metal balls whacked at them with the knowledge that if hit just right, could literally kill another player. Actually… thinking about it, he wondered how someone hadn’t died yet.

The only two people that Marcus knew Sara hung around was her boyfriend and the blonde girl from Crotalus. He supposed either of those two could have really wanted the badge, but he didn’t think Sara would get all uppity if her bestie was the one who lost it. He wondered if she felt it looked bad on her if her boyfriend wasn’t up to the school’s ‘par’ when it came to being leadership material or role model material… That would make sense. Purebloods seemed to have high self-importance levels for themselves and if one didn’t meet those standards, what would happen? “Mhm.” Marcus commented, making clear that he didn’t really believe her, but not inclined to ask her to go further. It was their relationship issue, not his.

Grasping at the change of topic, Marcus shrugged. “It was alright. Ma worked most of the time, but I was able to see some old friends. Ma would have preferred I didn’t because some joined – er – decided on a different path of life and she doesn’t agree with it.” Marcus commented, switching his wording because he wasn’t sure if gangs lived in the Magical world too and if he would then be labeled as he had been in his suburban Muggle school. “But, other than that, pretty okay. How was yours? Do fancy things with the King and Queen?” Of course, he was talking about her parents considering he had nicknamed her Princess in his head, but she could take it however she wanted.

6 Marcus It's alright, I think I only saw it. 180 Marcus 0 5

Jane Carey

August 23, 2012 11:06 PM

Enjoying my new status by Jane Carey

When she had been getting ready at home, Jane had decided that braiding her hair up on her head was too formal and had instead set it in curls to her shoulders and used a pair of small black barrettes to hold it back from her ears, the better to show off what she still thought of as her mother’s diamond earrings. She had thought it looked okay there. Now, actually in the Cascade Hall, she thought it looked completely ridiculous, but it was too late to change it, so she just had to hope she was wrong and feeling insecure because of how unaccustomed she was to being in front of large groups of people with any kind of warning about it ahead of time.

Knowing that some people, anyway, would notice her before she was even called to the front, she sat very properly at the Teppenpaw table, watching the Headmistress closely and with a pleasant smile frozen on her face for the entire length of the Sorting Ceremony, applauding quietly when new Teppenpaws joined their table and a little more quietly again when the latest of the South Carolinians joined their tables, though she forgot herself enough for a moment to frown slightly when one of them – Henry, she thought his name was – suddenly turned back toward the line on his way to the Crotalus table. Strange. But not really alarming. She watched the rest of the ceremony without thinking of it again.

She applauded, too, for the new Charms teacher and for Medic Bailey becoming her Head of House even though she was a little disappointed that she wouldn’t even get to temporarily steal his office, and then it was time. Taking a deep breath, Jane smiled at the people sitting near her and then stood gracefully and walked toward the front, making sure to keep smiling all the way there and as she bent her knees slightly while taking the badge from the headmistress.

“Thank you very much,” she said, making a mental note to track Sam Bauer down tomorrow at breakfast, and then paused long enough, after turning around to go back to her seat, to bow slightly to the student body, which had elected her. It seemed like the thing to do, and she knew the members of the student body she was related to would love it. They saw her, as Edmond had said, as a family triumph – and probably a family tool. She had her own thoughts about that, but it would do no harm to amuse them for three seconds before she went back to Teppenpaw and let them get on with naming the new prefects.

She wouldn’t tell anyone, but she didn’t find the choices very surprising this year. The twins were family, and Miss Sinclair was going to be, but she didn’t see them as the sorts who were held up as leaders. Nor Mr. Stratford, who seemed very upset about it all at the Aladren table, though Jane was mostly just relieved that he hadn’t gotten it so she wouldn’t have to work around him and Sara Raines making eyes at each other during meetings. The knowledge of how narrowly she might have dodged that curse was cheering as she sang along with the school song and then turned to her meal, deciding to enjoy tonight, since it was probably the last chance she would have to be really relaxed and non-active from now until Christmas at least, if not all the way to the end of the academic year.

0 Jane Carey Enjoying my new status 160 Jane Carey 0 5

Sara

August 24, 2012 9:43 AM

You won't tell anyone, will you? by Sara

Mhm. Well, that could mean anything. At the moment, though, Marcus wasn’t pressing the issue and seemed content to let it drop, so Sara decided to let him have ‘mhm.’ She really would prefer not to deal with this issue any further until she’d had a chance to figure out how best to play it. Not when things had just gotten unfortunately much more complicated than she had hoped for.

It was impossible to say until it happened, of course, but Sara thought it was most likely that she and Eliza would both make the ballot for Head Girl next year, and that the sixth year votes would split between them. That meant she had to win the fifth years. She hadn’t expected to have to worry about that, but even if she could make it all right that she had one badge while Preston didn’t have any, he might not be as much in support of her getting another one as he might have been otherwise. She might have just abandoned the whole project, but that would mean letting Eliza become, in some people’s perceptions, anyway, better than her, which was absolutely not going to happen if she could do anything about it.

Considering how today was going, something was going to happen involving how Fae’s inappropriate other crush had just become the Crotalus prefect, too, and that was going to make everything that much more complicated, but she couldn’t even think about that right now. Maybe it wouldn’t happen.

She wondered what Marcus meant by his old friends choosing a path of life that his mother didn’t approve of, but decided it was best not to inquire what, exactly, they had joined. Sara liked to think she and Marcus had an amicable relationship based almost entirely on having no idea what the other one was talking about half the time, but both being polite enough to go along with it anyway. A theory that was a little challenged by the terms he used to ask about how her summer had gone.

“I had a lovely time in Europe, but I didn’t meet any kings or queens,” she said. “I’ve never been to the Muggle world. But we did see some new places in Britain, I haven’t been there in years and years, and it was wonderful to have my parents with me while I was traveling for once. I still don’t know how Father juggled the schedules, but I suppose he thought it was a special occasion.” She tilted her head toward the Teppenpaw table. “My little brother is one of the first years now,” she explained. “It’s going to be so strange seeing him all the time now, I haven’t really since we started school.” She had been here most of the past five years and with Aunt Margaret for most of each summer, and was almost glad he wasn’t in Pecari now. They hadn’t really lived together in so long, she wasn’t sure it would have worked well and not just been horribly uncomfortable for both of them.

0 Sara You won't tell anyone, will you? 0 Sara 0 5

Cepheus Princeton

August 24, 2012 1:29 PM

I'll just pretend I didn't hear that last bit. by Cepheus Princeton

It was a bit of a surprise to Cepheus that Isabel didn't know who their Head of House was. Either she hadn't done her research or she was trying to be polite and feigning ignorance. Either way, he appreciated her attempt at dipping into his vast knowledge of his house with an easy question. "Coach Amelia Pierce," he told her. "She's quite strict and is more of a no-nonsense person, I think." He paused. "She's the Quidditch coach too, if you didn't guess that already from her title. I don't think she's that bad, but not someone who should be trifled with." That was all he could really say on their Head of House, but he hoped that explained the gist of everything.

Effie said they were of Maine, a state which Cepheus was not familiar with. Two years of schooling in America and they couldn't teach a geography class. Of course, Cepheus wasn't too keen on taking such a class, but he did need to learn the names of the states, and how many there were, if he was going to establish himself and his family here. That meant touring America sometime in the future, something Cepheus was not looking forward to.

The next question directed at him was a bit unexpected. No one had really cared to ask how his home was mostly because it didn't matter to them. Cepheus tried to think of a good response, but it was difficult to describe his home. "Well, we get the four seasons which I enjoy. The winters are cold, but whether or not we get snow depends on the year and how Mother Nature's feeling, I suppose." He smiled a little. "It's really quite beautiful with the trees and greenery and all." More than once he and his friends, when they were younger, had played around in the woods near his manor. Surrey would always have a soft spot in his heart no matter how much he loved the city too.

Now that he had answered the question, it was his turn to keep their conversation going. He realised then that they hadn't answered one of his many questions and decided to recycle it. "There have been so many professors cycling through since I've been here. One of the only constant ones, I think, is Professor Fawcett. He's the Potions professor and Aladren's Head of House. Potions is one of my favourite classes here. Any classes you two are particularly looking forward to?"

40 Cepheus Princeton I'll just pretend I didn't hear that last bit. 216 Cepheus Princeton 0 5

Rupert

August 24, 2012 1:47 PM

And the next fifty after that by Rupert

It was comforting to know that he wasn't the only one who hated tutors. "I know. I hated genealogy lessons. They've got bloody books on that stuff. If I wanted to know about it, I would've read about it." He sighed. "I'm just glad I wasn't expected to really pay attention like my older brother. He's the heir for the head patriarchy so they expect a lot out of him." Rupert was lucky, in that sense. He could do loads of things and get away with it all because he was just the heir's younger brother.

He and the twins seemed to have more in common than he had first suspected. They both hated their tutors, had older siblings, though one of their sisters, he guessed, had married someone good. He wasn't familiar with the name Boyd, but then again he wouldn't know any family name in the States.

One of the girls, he tried to guess as Annette but doubted himself after, began to make something in her salad. He couldn't make it out until it began to look more like the lower half of the Northern American continent. She was making the United States and Rupert looked on in interest. She pointed to a section of the salad and Rupert nodded, unsure of what the right reaction would be. He had another question since he hadn't bothered to ask this simple question to his family. "And where are we, then? Where is Arizona?"

When the same girl asked where Surrey was, Rupert was only too happy to answer. This he did know after loads of awful geography lessons. "Yes, Surrey. It's in the southern part of England, south-east of London," he told her. "And I live in East Horsley which is, mm, kind of in the middle of the county." He wasn't sure if he was making too much sense, but he hoped that would give them an idea.

0 Rupert And the next fifty after that 0 Rupert 0 5

Amity

August 25, 2012 1:24 AM

Isn't it great? by Amity

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carey." Amity replied, politely and respectfully the way she'd been taught to with someone who was her social equal. The new Aladren noticed the way he'd tripped over his own introduction a little bit but doubted it was out of a lack of proper training. Merlin knew that Amity would like to shed her own at times and relax. If they were equals, why should they have to talk to each other like one was a house elf?

She thought for a moment. "Would you prefer to be called Anthony?" After all, there were other Careys in the school, which could be confusing, and quite frankly,as respectable a family as they were, Amity would rather not call them the same thing as her foul cousin. Besides, that was the way Anthony had started to introduce himself so maybe that was what he wanted and nobody had ever accused Amity of being slow to pick up on things. Lacking in energy and motivation, yes, but not slow-witted.

Not that the first year could really be faulted for not having energy. When one was kept busy from the time they arose from bed to the second they climbed in at night, with no down time other than sleep, how could they be expected to be completely energetic at all times? Furthermore, how could one be focused when they were required to focus on so much, especially when they weren't passionate about them. The only thing Amity was passionate about now was getting some free time.

That she would now have and she was going to savor every moment, every last drop, the way one did a good meal. When someone didn't get enough of something, it was what they ended up desiring the most.

"You may call me Amity if you wish." She told the other Aladren. "After all, there are at least two other Miss Brockerts in this school and it would get dreadfully confusing." Not that Anthony would necessarily ever speak to Arabella or Hope but still she would prefer her given name. So long as it wasn't her middle name. It was Jillian, after her mother, and Amity didn't like the woman too much. However, Anthony didn't need to know that.

She kept her composure, as was second nature to her, as Anthony tried to introduce his cousin and noticed that he was not with them. "I have cousins in Crotalus as well." Amity took a bite of her pizza, a food she'd only heard of in books, debating whether or not to tell her housemate precisely who they were. There was nothing wrong with Ryan, of course, but she was in no hurry to claim Carrie. Still, it wouldn't be right not to warn Anthony-or his cousin.

Amity took a deep breath. "The O'Malleys. Ryan is a sixth year and Carrie is a second. You might want to warn your cousin about the latter, she's...unpleasant. If it wasn't for the moral obligation I felt to warn you about it, I'd never claim her and for the record, we're absolutely nothing alike." The Aladren wanted to make that very clear to Anthony. In fact, had the topic of cousins hadn't come up, Amity would not have mentioned her at all. "I have another cousin, Arabella, in Pecari. I believe one of the Careys is her roommate. A Miss Theresa Carey?"

"Oh, yes, it's wonderful," Amity replied, glad for the change in subject. "I've been waiting my entire life to come here, it seems." That didn't describe the half of it but she had to come up with a polite way to put it. "It's so exciting to be away from home from the first time, even with relatives here." Especially her mother. Carrie might have been a worse human being over all-well, okay, there was no might about it, she was-but at least the second year was in a different house, was more interested in tormenting Ryan and the non-purebloods than she was in tormenting Amity and didn't make the first year do an over abundance of extra curriculars.

11 Amity Isn't it great? 233 Amity 0 5

Hope Brockert

August 25, 2012 5:49 AM

Congratulations! (Tag Russell) by Hope Brockert

Fifth year was a big year, it was when prefects were announced and CATS were taken. Despite the latter and whether or not she got the former, Hope was looking forward to having a great year. She was determined for it to be such. Everything was better than it had been before, Autumn was eating again, the Teppenpaw had spent time with the other pureblood girls in her year and the one above at Sophie Jamison's sleepover and she'd attended the wedding of Fae Sinclair's brother and even though it hadn't been her big day, she'd still felt special getting to do something with her older brother and great-grandparents.

Hope had also attended and been a bridesmaid in Nina's wedding at the end of the summer. Things like this made her think about getting married herself someday. Unfortunately, they most likely made Great Grandfather think about Hope getting married someday too and they likely varied greatly on who the groom would be.

Not that the Teppenpaw necessarily knew for sure who it would be, even if it wasn't up to Great Grandfather, but a girl could certainly have her fantasies, and surely Hope wasn't alone in picturing herself with her current crush when she did. She figured that was something that most did, but it wasn't something that would happen for sure and even without Great Grandfather, it wasn't anything Hope would ever think of as an inevitability. It wasn't as if they were even an actual couple. The fifth year would prefer to get to that stage first, if possible.

It wasn't as if Russell was muggleborn or anything. He was a pureblood, it was just that he wasn't the right sort of pureblood for Great Grandfather's taste. Still, she wished and dreamed that things could be possible between them and if that was what Russell did want-which Hope had no indication that he did-well, she would probably go for it regardless of what happened. Besides, even if she did get disowned by Great Grandfather, when he died, she'd just get re-owned anyway-and Hope figured that he knew that.

She took a seat at the Teppenpaw table, watching the first years be sorted, noting that Amity, whom Hope had just met for an extended period of time on the wagon, was in Aladren with Evan and Nora. Next came the announcements for Head students-which Hope already knew-and prefect. She applauded, grinning. The fifth year might not have gotten it, but her friend had and somehow, that made Hope just as happy.

Once the newly announced prefects were back at their tables, Hope got up and walked over to Russell. "Congratulations!" She exclaimed, a big smile on her face.

11 Hope Brockert Congratulations! (Tag Russell) 186 Hope Brockert 0 5

Abigail Thornton

August 25, 2012 2:17 PM

Red Apple Welcome by Abigail Thornton

Abigail Thornton was the sixth Thornton child to attend Sonora. She wasn’t the first, so it wasn’t completely new to her from what her older sisters had said. And she sure wasn’t the last with ten more children in the family. Abi didn’t know if all of her siblings would attend or not, but that wasn’t all that important to the girl.

The sixth red-head was much more interested in animals than anything else, even parts of her family. However, cousin Clara was her favorite person in the world. Both because of her appaloosa horses and because she seemed to love animals too. Abi looked up to her and to finally be able to go to school with her she was really sorta excited. (Which was saying a lot due to her extremely unexcitable nature).

The summer before her first year brought her many different feelings. The first, worry over another sister clearly going through some issues. The second, the passing of her favorite neighborhood kitty cat. The third, getting her letter about going to Sonora. Worry, sadness, happiness. That was after all, the way the world went around, wasn’t it?

Arista had spent the better part of the summer just enjoying life. She’d asked Uncle Bryan if she could stay with him most of the summer and he’d okayed it, much to their mother’s dismay. Addison always had her nose in a book (which wasn’t really her norm either); Amira had been gloating since the end of the year before over her getting Assistant Captain for Pecari and coming up with new ways for her team to win; Andri spent the summer as she usually did, reading and learning; Bri had done some show that Abi didn’t want to go to see due to the sheer amount of people that would be there. And then there was her.

Abi spent the summer with the animals. It was how she loved her time the best, she always had. What worried her the most about finally beign able to go to school with the others was the amount of people rather than animals that she’d have to deal with. The other thing was what house she’d be sorted into. What if I really don’t belong in any of the houses?? I know I’m not at all like Ris, Addi or Bri. They’re in Teppenpaw. I’m not like Amira, she’s a Pecari. And I’m really not like Andri who’s an Aladren… What if this fourth house doesn’t want me either? she thought to herself the entire ride on the Wagon.

Abi sat next to Addison who’d been reading the whole time (again). Abi watched her and the others with full intent on trying to relax herself. She wasn’t the nervous type, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a right to be nervous this time.

The wagon stopped at Sonora and Amira led the way out of it. Addison took Abi’s hand and Abigail squeezed it out of nervousness. Addi led her to the other first years and told her what would happen. Abi nodded to her older sister and waved to her as she walked off to her table.

Addi sat down near her friends and Abi stood there with the other students as the Headmistress introduced herself. The sorting was explained and Addi waved to her. Abi knew that she was upset about something, she could tell by the look on her older sister’s face. She’d have to ask her later on what the matter was (if she remembered).

The student in front of Abi walked up to the Deputy Headmistress and took the potion. They changed color and Abi swallowed her saliva as she walked up to the Coach. She took the goblet in her slightly shaking hand and downed her portion of it. Moments later, she realized she was turning RED?

I do belong! I’m a Crotalus! A first for the Thorntons, like Amira and Andri! she thought as she walked over to the other red students and sat beside a non-red student. Hoping that meant they were an older student and that they’d answer any questions that came up. She glanced towards Addi and waved before Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau started talking again. She told them who the new Charms professor was and the new Teppenpaw Head of House was the Medic. Abi looked at Addison to see what she thought about that, and when she saw her face fall, she knew what her older sister had been worried about. The Teppenpaw Head of House of the years before had been her favorite person and now she wasn’t there anymore. “Right…” she said, under her breath.

Abi glanced towards where she’d seen Arista and motioned towards Addison. Arista followed her gaze and looked as if she’d rolled her eyes and looked away again. “Right…” she said again. She didn’t even care if anyone heard her.

The new Head Boy and Girl were called up, then the new Prefects (Abi wasn’t too sure what all those were, but all she knew about them was that they were there to help her), so she clapped for all six of them and when the school song started, she looked at the music and searched hard for Brielle or Clara to help her (even though they were both at other tables).

They wouldn’t be able to help her, and she looked at it, shook her head and waited for it to be finished. When it was done, food appeared before them and they were told they could eat and that the Heads of Houses would call their first years in a little while. Abi nodded and looked around at the red students (and not so red ones) around her and sighed.

This is now home… Wow…

0 Abigail Thornton Red Apple Welcome 242 Abigail Thornton 0 5

Alexandra D'Alesandro

August 25, 2012 3:04 PM

I wish I had a red apple on my plate right now. by Alexandra D'Alesandro

Alexandra spent most of her time brushing off her emerald dress upon entering Cascade Hall. She wasn’t very fond of the wagon ride she was required to take in order to get to Sonora. Part of the reason was the dust and dirt that seemed to be attracted to her expensive and delicate dress, and the other part was the fact that her brother, Lucian, had to accompany her on this ride. He never stopped talking once the whole way. She considered taking one of his treasured books and throwing it out the window just so he would hopefully follow it, but she assumed that sort of behavior would generally be frowned upon.

Alex was looking forward to her first year at Sonora. She found home to be quite boring lately, for her parents made many business trips over the summer and were rarely home. This meant she was stuck in the house with her older brother whose idea of entertainment was sticking his face into a book and reading all day. Sometimes their nanny would take them shopping or to the park. Alex enjoyed these days, and on one occasion spent hours searching for the perfect dress for her first day. Her emerald dress sparkled in the lighting in Cascade Hall and helped to magnify the color of her green eyes. The waves in her brown hair fell perfectly into a sort of frame around her face. She knew she looked pretty, which caused her to prance around the hall as though all eyes should be on her.

Once she drank the potion and turned red, Alex almost clapped and jumped up and down in delight. Crotalus was obviously the best house to be in. Aladren would have been acceptable as well, but that was her brother’s house, and Alex wanted to stay as far away from him as possible while at school. She was going to be in the house with the most well known purebloods. Her mother would be very happy to hear this.

Upon sitting down at the Crotalus table, Alexandra decided to observe the other girls. She didn’t have very many friends back home because she spent so much time on her etiquette, piano, and potion lessons. Her mother was teaching her how to be a proper young lady who would eventually become a stunning and influential woman. Alex felt a little threatened by the girls at her table as she listened to them exchange formalities. Though they offered pleasantries on the outside, she knew from watching the women at various functions over the years that most are actually circling each other like sharks.

She zoned out for most of the discussions around her and for most of the speeches taking place. Instead she looked up and down the table at her fellow House members. A girl sitting across from her caught her attention, for she kept mumbling things under her breath. Alex raised an eyebrow at this, but felt a little more at ease approaching this girl than the others who were already throwing their last names around. It wasn’t that she thought she couldn’t hold her own with the other girls, but that she didn’t really feel compelled to try.

“Excuse me,” she said in the girl’s direction after a moment, “Do you know what kind of food this is?” Alex really was curious, for she was a picky eater and didn’t recognize the mushy food on her plate at the moment. Bentley, her family’s personal chef at home, always knew what to make her so that she would eat a balanced meal. This new palate would take some getting used to.

0 Alexandra D'Alesandro I wish I had a red apple on my plate right now. 240 Alexandra D'Alesandro 0 5

Clarissa Clark

August 25, 2012 4:44 PM

Total perspective? by Clarissa Clark

“I haven’t,” Clarissa replied to the older boy on her right. She looked up, awkwardly attempting to smile in the direction that he was pointing, and saw a bubbly looking girl with black curls. It was a lot to take in.

Alicia, the girl who she had spoken to first looked incredibly grown up – not like anyone that she had ever been sitting close to before. Clarissa noticed that her dress hung perfectly, and couldn’t help but compare it to her own cotton summer dress in a light purple – simple, schoolgirlish, and chosen not to attract attention. The only part of her outfit that stood out was her silver fox head pendant hanging down beneath her straight chocolate coloured hair. Clarissa always wore this token, but often hid it under her clothes.

She also realised that she had never been addressed in such a formal manner before. And Thaddeus – was that even a real name? Growing up in London she had been exposed to all kinds of unusual names and airs, but these people were on a completely different level. At least they had been polite to her and not asked too many questions. Kitty, despite her equally eccentric name, seemed a little more down to earth, and Clarissa searched her brain quickly for something to say. She hardly knew what approach to take amidst all this strangeness. And she was the strangest of all, being, of course, bright blue.

A sudden scratching sound coming from her bag startled Clarissa. It took her a few moments to realise what was making this sound – Ruby the rat had woken up. A white face poked out from between the layers of fabric, and for the moment, Clarissa thought “rat.” Only “rat.” Clarissa had hamsters at home, much softer, rounder, comforting creatures. “Ruby” she thought to herself, might be a little too extravagant for the name of a rat, but she liked it. It helped her feel a bond with the creature.

Clarissa had already glimpsed a few of the other students’ pets – or were they really familiars? There were noble, fine feathered owls and cats both proud and playful looking. One particularly furry feline lay sleeping on the bench, and though it seemed to lack energy, Clarissa still yearned to reach out and touch it. She was profoundly jealous of these creatures – so beautiful, so soft looking and friendly. But she felt a pang of guilt, feeling Ruby stir beside her. She was glad she had something – someone. It was hard to think of Ruby as a ‘she’. But when she saw her in the pet shop, Clarissa knew that this was the companion for her, like it or not.

Ruby the rat had a slightly unusual appearance, just like Clarissa herself. Not impossible, just unlikely. While one of her eyes gleamed jet black, the other was a bright, sore looking red. Now it looked positively demonic as it twitched and wriggled in Clarissa’s hands. ‘What do you want, rat?’ she thought, and was soon answered. Ruby leapt out of Clarissa’s hands and while Clarissa gasped in shock, flinging her palms up to examine the fresh scratch marks, the rat scurried over to the nearest student and began eating right off their plate.

0 Clarissa Clark Total perspective? 1486 Clarissa Clark 0 5

Bianca

August 25, 2012 4:55 PM

No, not really. by Bianca

Bianca had no idea what to respond to Henny’s apology. Sure, she knew not everyone would like her older brother. In fact, Preston was someone hard to like. It was a weird and complicated experience that the girl didn’t really know how to handle. “He is very nice,” was the only thing that came out of her mouth as a response. He really was, but it took a long time for people to warm up to him. Preston was a complicated individual, and she understood it. That didn’t mean that Bianca liked it.

She briefly wondered if Henny had some sort of personal problem with her older brother or was merely using him as an example. It was one thing she would just wonder, because she wasn’t going to ask her about it. If they had some kind of problem it was theirs. She certainly didn’t want to be in the middle of it.

Her stomach began making odd noises, probably because she was starving and had been munching on a measly piece of bread for a long time. It was time for real food.

The new Aladren spotted the mash potatoes and added some to her plate. She shyly smiled and added some quiche to it before actually taking a bite of her food. It was really good, but maybe the food just tasted great because she was really hungry. She felt somewhat better now that she had warm food in front of her. Food was a source of comfort for the little girl.

The fact that Henny was trying to move the conversation into a less awkward topic was something Bianca actually was thankful for. She didn’t want to defend her brother to a stranger. That would just make everything more uncomfortable. “Potions,” she said simply. Since she could remember she had seen her mother brew things in her special room, and she had always been intrigued by it. It seemed like a difficult subject, but Bianca was very excited about starting to brew things by herself. Her mother usually let her help her out, but it was in minor things. “And charms,” she finished.

0 Bianca No, not really. 0 Bianca 0 5

Henny B-F-R

August 25, 2012 5:23 PM

Right then... by Henny B-F-R

Henny wasn't really sure that she could reply to Bianca's comment on Preston. Mostly because it was simply a declarative comment. It didn't seek to elicit any opinion from her. That was fine by her. She had never had any personal run ins with Preston but she had always gathered the impression that it might be better to keep it that way. She was sure he was “nice” to proper people – Sara Raines, for example, seemed to be able to tolerate a great deal of his company. Henny wasn't sure that he would find so many pleasant things to say to her. And so she got on with him the same way she got on with most of the Purebloods. Mutual avoidance. He might not be terrible one to one – Thad came from That Sort of family and was always perfectly polite to her – but it seemed easier to avoid the issue.

She took the opportunity of Bianca loading up her plate to enjoy a few forkfuls of her own dinner. So much for the pleasant, family-type chat around the dinner table, but at least the girl wasn't being actively rude nor did she appear upset. And the prawns were really good. She paused in her eating to pour a glass of pumpkin juice for herself, offering it to the younger student as well, while she was at it.

“Potions is good,” she nodded, “Professor Fawcett takes it and he's also our Head of House. I really like him,” she informed Bianca. With a relative at the school, she might already be aware of most of what Henny was telling her. However, she was reluctant to revisit the subject of Bianca's relatives at the school, and the girl was making fairly minimal contributions to the conversation, so Henny felt the need to pad it out. Bianca seemed kind of shy, so she hoped it was just that, and not that she was trying to subtly shut the conversation down. “He makes you work hard and his homework always makes you think, so some people don't like him, but I really feel like I learn stuff in his classes, which is kind of the whole point.” around fellow Aladrens it was usually safe to confess the enjoyment found in challenging homework. “Plus he's really fair,” she added. She didn't quite go so far as telling Bianca that if you had a personal problem, Professor Fawcett was good at dealing with it, as it rather implied personal experience of that situation. Although that was the case, it wasn't something Henny wanted to share widely, and certainly not with a first year whose family might dislike her. “The Charms teacher this year is new on me too, so I guess we'll both find out what she's like.”

13 Henny B-F-R Right then... 211 Henny B-F-R 0 5

Anthony

August 25, 2012 8:49 PM

It's certainly not bad by Anthony

Anthony smiled, relieved, when Miss Brockert proposed that they use each other’s given names. He had known in theory that everything was more formal outside of the family, but Arthur was the only person who’d ever treated him like an Anthony when the Fourth himself wasn’t around on official business. Arnold and his other cousins…well, they wouldn’t let him join in everything, and they were definitely more careful about not bruising him up than they were with each other, he could see that, but they didn’t treat him that much differently than they did each other, or at least he didn’t think so.

“Yes,” he agreed about the other Miss Brockerts. “It could be. There’s five Mr. Careys here now.” Five Mr. Careys, just like there were five branches to the family, but they were all from the same branch; that thought made him smile, too. Grandfather would have most likely said it was a sign of how the South Carolina branch now ruled all the others and would for a thousand years or something like that, but Anthony just thought it was sort of funny.”And four of us are in the same House, and three of us will be in the same classes, so that would be very confusing.” She might not meet Jay, but he was sure she would cross paths with Henry at some time in the next seven years, it would be hard to be in the same year all the time and never do so.

Anthony blinked at the vehemence with which Miss Amity disclaimed being at all like her cousin Miss O’Malley. “Oh,” he said faintly, glancing toward Henry again. It was another second before how bad that could get hit him, and then he became worried. The family had been counting on him and Henry being in the same House, and that being the same House as their brothers on top of that, so they would all look out for each other and especially for Hen; that it hadn’t worked would be bad enough without Miss O’Malley being as bad as Miss Amity made her sound. “I…I see.”

It was, he thought, probably indicative of something bad that he was pleased to have Theresa become the subject, or at least more pleased than he’d been with the previous subject, since he’d had no idea how to say anything that couldn’t somehow be taken as an offence if someone wanted to. “Theresa’s my first cousin,” he said. “Our fathers are brothers. She’s in Pecari, yes. She’s a third year.”

That hadn’t been the best possible way to put those statements together, so even though Theresa was a better subject than Miss O’Malley, he still thought the subject needed changing and was glad when Miss Amity went along. “I’ve just been really looking forward to it since my brothers came,” Anthony said. “Arnold and Arthur – they’re in fifth year.” He tilted his head in Arthur’s direction, since he thought he had seen his brother pointing him out to a redheaded boy he assumed was Preston Stratford a moment earlier. “What are you looking forward to most?” he asked, since that interested him. He’d been torn between everything he’d heard about the school since he started to hear about it, but didn’t know if that was normal, or what other people thought sounded best. Jay had been noncommittal when Anthony asked him about it last summer, and Henry had just seemed relieved when he got his letter and was then chosen by a wand, not excited about it at all, though it was hard to tell sometimes with Henry.

0 Anthony It's certainly not bad 0 Anthony 0 5

Isabel

August 25, 2012 11:03 PM

That might be a good idea by Isabel

Isabel looked up again at Amelia Pierce as Cepheus talked about her. She wasn’t completely sure, but she thought he might approve of her – something which a pureblood girl would never be allowed to do, of course, but maybe there was more leeway for boys. She took a few bites of her meal after she thanked him, wondering if that was the case. She hoped not, but – well, it wouldn’t surprise her if it were true. Boys did seem to have most of the advantages in their world.

She stopped thinking about unimportant things, though, when he talked about his home. “That sounds beautiful,” she said, as it did. She was flat country, and though she didn’t dislike that, either, she liked trees. They had those, of course, on the estate – some of them her father had specifically had grown, along with some flowers, using magic when he married her mother, so Mamma would feel more at home when she left Louisiana and moved to Illinois – but it didn’t feel like the description he had given to her, somehow, though maybe that was just a feeling she had, she didn’t know.

Professor Fawcett was another person Isabel had heard about, one she thought that Sara, like Cepheus, approved of. That made her a little wary of the man right from the start, but she was determined to give everyone and everything a chance on her own before she blindly trusted in her cousin’s judgments. Even a strict old Potions teacher who’d had the same job forever. “I’m looking forward to Charms,” she volunteered when Cepheus asked about classes she and Effie were looking forward to. “It’s so useful, don’t you think?” Or at least, it sounded useful based on the book they’d been assigned for the class, and she thought Charms were the spells her family used most often in day-to-day life. “But really I’m looking forward to everything,” she said, giving the reason she had skipped over the question when he had asked it earlier at the same time. She hadn’t been able to think of just one answer.

So far, her experience here had been completely calm and decorous – she might have been playing out a perfect Welcoming Feast with her dolls in front of the adults instead of having a real one, that was how tranquil everything was – but Sonora, after all, was where everything happened. Isabel had spent almost her whole life on her family’s estate, only leaving to visit family and family friends, usually looked over by tutors and her parents and her sister and sometimes even Sara, who might as well have been an adult herself. Now she was, in a way, free, standing at the start of the rest of her life, the great long expanse that came after she left the constant supervision of her parents and had to start to behave – or not – all on her own. What she did tonight could mean a lifetime of social success or mean she had just taken the first steps down the path to inevitable failure. It was almost as momentous as growing up. Isabel was a little afraid, but mostly she was excited to see what was going to happen.

0 Isabel That might be a good idea 0 Isabel 0 5

Preston

August 25, 2012 11:54 PM

You are welcome by Preston

The humiliation he had felt upon discovering that Russell had won the badge had completely subsided to be replaced by pity. Russell had won it not because of his merits, but because he was a kind of minority. You had to pity him, really. Preston was good enough, he knew it. Now he had to start working on winning the Head Boy badge. He took another bite of his dinner thinking about the implications of the new found knowledge. He would need to work harder to get the Head Boyship. The staff would most likely focus on None-Purebloods for that title, which wasn’t fair at all. Being overlooked because of his background was racism.

Preston raised an eyebrow, “Just wait until Arnold gets married to Fae and see how you like people driving you mad with wedding related conversations. All I have heard for the last two years is all centered on Victor and his wedding,” he said a little bitterly. Just another reason to be overshadowed by his older brother. Never mind the fact that Preston had always lived under his older brother’s big shadow. Being the second son of the heir wasn’t as glamorous as being the heir to the heir. The Aladren was used to that, but when his parents told him no because of something Victor-related it was when he got seriously annoyed.

“You will be driven to madness,” he said seriously. “And the day of that wretched wedding will be a happy day not because Victor is married to a Sinclair, but because my parents will leave me alone.”

He cleared his throat and moved along the subject. It had the virtue of gritting his nerves. So he decided to adhere to another topic which was brought up by Arthur, “What a happy coincidence that would be.” It sounded like a good plan. Playing matchmaker sounded like fun and rewarding and for some reason Preston saw Arthur as a puppet master pulling the strings of different people. He grinned. Not to mention that a marriage to a Carey Heir would be very beneficial for his family. He looked over at Bianca and then at Anthony. He lingered a little bit on the boy and tried to decipher if he would be able to help Bianca with her shyness.

“And that would leave you as the odd man out of your house,” he observed not really thinking he was crossing any lines. In fact, he had never heard Arthur talk about girls or anything related before.

0 Preston You are welcome 0 Preston 0 5

Enion

August 26, 2012 3:26 PM

Yellow isn’t too bad, is it? by Enion

Surprise colored Enion’s features for a second when he realized that Alan didn’t know what to make of his introduction. Everyone knew about the Blackbriars…didn’t they? Well, everyone knew about them in Wales, and the surrounding countries. Enion hadn’t been anywhere that his family and extended family wasn’t known. Then again, America was pretty far away from Wales, and Grandfather had them go to this school for the sole purpose of expanding the families influence into the new country.

“Well, okay it’s sort of like this. My name is Enion Whitebriar, but the Whitebriar line is a branch line of the main house of Blackbriar. So I’m Enion Whitebriar of House Blackbriar.” Enion explained. “The Blackbriars are an Ancient and Noble House, but there were five sons and so to keep the sons from fighting, Grandfather split the family into five lines: The Blackbriars, the Whitebriars, the Redbriars, the Brownbriars, and the Greenbriars.” Enion wasn’t sure if the Greenbriars were real or if his brother made them up. He’d never seen the Greens at the family reunions and Gareth said that they lived in the wild and gathered rare potions ingredients or something.

“Yeah, my brother Gareth is in Crotalus, and my cousin Meghan Brownbriar is a Teppenpaw too.” Enion said as he pointed out the two other Briars. “So I’m the third here, the Redbriars are all already going to Hogwarts, and the Blacks and Greens are going to go to the other American school.” Enion confided.

0 Enion Yellow isn’t too bad, is it? 0 Enion 0 5

Kitty McLevy

August 26, 2012 3:59 PM

Well it is all about perspective by Kitty McLevy

“Hi Clarissa!” Kitty said happily as she gave Thad and Alicia a wave. They were magic kids, so were pretty formal most of the time. Thad was on her team though, so Kitty knew him better than she knew Alicia. “It’s a lot to take in, I know, but you’ll get use to it soon.” She added as she snagged a slice of pumpkin bread. “And the food is totally great!”

Her navy blue jean dress was more for function than form, Kitty learned that the carriages always crinkled up lighter materials, so she dressed accordingly. How girls like Alicia always looked so perfect was beyond the playful girl, whose mind was usually more on the next adventure than the sweep of her skirt or the perfectly styled nature of her hair. She’d much rather have fun and explore instead of worry about how she looked at the end of her travels.

Kitty realized that the younger blue girl wasn’t paying attention to her anymore. Instead of getting annoyed, the fourth year just finished eating her pumpkin bread. She remembered how amazed she’d been as a first year, so it was understandable that it might be hard for Clarissa to focus. Before she could ask Thad about his thoughts on the team this year, a rat leaped onto the table and made a bee line for her plate. The fuzzy rodent crawled half onto her plate to grab a big paw full of her stuffing. A delighted giggle escaped the muggle born’s lips as she leaned down to the rat’s level so they could be eye to eye. “Well hello there, hungry are you?” Kitty asked with another laugh. “Ohh, you are a pretty one.” She murmured as she reached out to stroke the small furry head and admire the rat’s unique eyes.

0 Kitty McLevy Well it is all about perspective 0 Kitty McLevy 0 5

Gareth Whitebriar

August 26, 2012 4:19 PM

Thank Merlin for small favors by Gareth Whitebriar

I love my brother, I love my brother, I love my brother, but dear Merlin if he turns red I might have to kill him. Gareth thought as he watched the younger boy take his place in line. Had Enion always been so annoying? He didn’t remember his little brother being so aggravating before he went to school, but it seemed like the smaller boy held on to every little thing he’d done over the months that Gareth was in school and then had to tell him about all of it each summer. That or he was asking yet another question about Sonora, the Professors, the other students, and anything else that came into his head.

Last night his brother woke him up no less than seven times with his worried questions. Did he have everything he needed? Could Gareth check his trunk, for the seventeenth time just to make sure? What if he didn’t get sorted? They would be in the same house right? He’d make the Quidditch team right? And on, and on, and on. On the carriage ride, Gareth’s temper finally snapped and he told Enion to shut up and go sit somewhere else. It wasn’t nice of him, and he’d have to apologize later, but seriously. Gareth was exhausted and if he had to answer one more question he was going to throw his little brother out a window.

The breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding escaped when Enion turned yellow. Teppenpaw, yes! Now he wouldn’t have to write to mother and try to explain why her youngest son went missing. Now that his brother was safely tucked away in a different house, Gareth was able to relax and enjoy the feast.

0 Gareth Whitebriar Thank Merlin for small favors 0 Gareth Whitebriar 0 5

Alexandra Devereux

August 26, 2012 8:12 PM

I make sure to every day by Alexandra Devereux

As she stepped off the wagon, the foot Alex had on the ground tried to turn over under her, and she had to grab the edge of the exit to keep from falling. Wincing, she put her other foot on the ground as soon as she was steady again and then looked at her palm, but it wasn’t very scratched and hadn’t picked up any splinters. This did not reduce the intensity of the glare she directed toward her shoes, but it did make it slightly briefer than it would have been otherwise.

The shoes, she knew, could have been much worse; as a concession of sorts, her mother had picked a pair which were round-toed, made no uncomfortable attempts to disguise how long and narrow her feet really were, and had a strap around the ankle to help her keep them on. The fact remained, though, that they were high heels – as if she wasn’t already too tall, she thought grumpily, and not for the first time – and she wasn’t used to walking in high heels yet, despite Victoria Devereux’s attempts to drill it into her in the last five weeks of the holiday, when she had abruptly decided that Alex ought to learn how to wear the evil things she would, according to Victoria, be required to dance in in just a few short years. The very thought made her shudder.

Theresa and Lucille, of course, had found her very funny, since they had both already mastered the art. Neither of them wore tall shoes at school, since they just weren’t practical on a day-to-day basis, but their mothers had taught them the basics when they were about ten.

It helped, she thought, that their mothers consistently noticed having daughters, too, but Alex was afraid that she just didn’t have the necessary ingrained talents to master high heels. Her cousin Lissy had started learning this summer, too, even though she would have been an academic year ahead of Alex if she hadn’t been homeschooled, but she was already beginning to learn to dance, which caused Alex a crisis of feelings she hadn’t been expecting. She had always accepted that most of the other girls she met and was related to were more attractive than her, and so it was a strange feeling to be jealous of another girl, much less three of them, much less Lissy, over something girlish.

Getting to the school worked without further incident, though, causing her an equally incongruous-feeling moment of pride over something girlish, and she watched the Sorting, applauding for Theresa’s brother when he joined the Crotali and then for the new Crotalus Head Boy and prefects and new staff members. She noticed that they didn’t mention a new Transfiguration teacher, which she thought was strange, but she didn’t bother worrying about it, instead turning her attention to the food when it appeared.

She raised an eyebrow when Gareth, near her, exhaled as if in reaction to some event she hadn’t noticed before doing the same. Cepheus, she saw, was playing with first years for some unknown reason – maybe one of those girls was a relative? It made some sense, she guessed, though she wasn’t going to go hold Henry’s hand any time soon – so she concluded that made her the closest acquaintance Gareth had nearby, which made it okay to ask. “You look relieved about something,” she stated matter-of-factly, serving herself some salad. “Care to share?” She didn’t think there would be too many things Gareth was relieved about that she couldn’t at least be neutral toward even if she didn’t, personally, find them overwhelmingly good.

0 Alexandra Devereux I make sure to every day 0 Alexandra Devereux 0 5

Amity

August 27, 2012 2:23 AM

I am personally very happy about it. by Amity

She gave Anthony a genuine smile at his agreement to use given names to avoid confusion. "Wow. I'm not sure there will ever be that many Miss Brockerts or Mr. Brockerts here at a given time." Amity thought for a moment. "From what I understand, my cousin Serena will be the next to attend actually bearing our last name. If I remember correctly, the ones between now and then are descended from a female line." Genealogy might have been a lesson Amity could understand having, that wasn't above and beyond the call of lessons, but that didn't meant she always remembered it all perfectly. Not with all the other things the first year had to learn and remember.

It was truly difficult at times. She was smart but she couldn't do it all. Something had to give and as far as Amity was concerned, it all could, other than schoolwork, because it wouldn't do for a Brockert to look inadequate that way, especially one in Aladren. She would also be polite and well mannered, as was ingrained in her. The rest she wasn't doing anymore. She shouldn't have to do anything that other pureblood children weren't called upon to do.

Besides, it was all pointless. Amity wasn't going to do any of these things professionally or competitively. She was going to be betrothed and married to some pureblood boy and sit around all day. All her mother had done by making her do all those extracurricular activities was insure that Amity had no desire to take up any of them as a hobby. Jillian Brockert had killed any passion that the Aladren had for anything other than lounging around doing nothing all day.

Which was what pureblood women did other than host teas and plan parties. With party planners. At least, she knew that was what she would do when she threw a party. So much less work that way. Really, Amity was probably not necessarily a lazy unambitious person naturally, but she was burned out. Eleven years old, and already a burn out. Maybe someday she'd find something she wanted to do as a hobby, maybe. However, she wasn't sure there was anything proper left that her mother hadn't discovered and if Amity did find something, she was certainly not going to tell the woman.

Anthony seemed taken a bit off guard by her warning. She felt a little bad about that but it was best that he-and his cousin-had it, rather than experiencing Carrie for themselves. It was inevitable really that they would see what she was like, but Amity would have felt guilty had she allowed her fellow Aladren go into it blindly. Hopefully now he'd do his best to avoid the second year and inform that his cousin that it was in his own best interest to do likewise.

She nodded at the topic change. "Arabella is my first cousin." Amity decided it might be improper for her to express her cousin's opinions on Anthony's cousin to him, even though they seemed reasonably favorable. It did seem that Arabella liked and related to Theresa better than she did her other two roommates, even if they weren't especially close. Though Amity's cousin could hardly be faulted for not identifying with a muggleborn and someone who seemed to be rather crass.

"My own sister is only seven so she's not here yet. My distant cousin Hope is in fifth year with your brothers." She didn't know how the Teppenpaw felt about them having not really talked to her before the wagon ride and Anthony's relatives not being really a topic of conversation. Amity continued. "I suppose I'm just excited to be away from home. Gaining a sense of independence and all." She didn't think it would sound very appropriate to tell the other first year what she was really looking forward to, which was freedom, sweet sweet freedom.

"I was looking forward to Transfiguration as well." Amity told Anthony. "However, it looks like they haven't replaced my aunt yet." Though it was never explicitly said, the subject was supposed to be as natural to her as good manners and breathing and more than just her mother was expecting her to do exceptionally well.

11 Amity I am personally very happy about it. 233 Amity 0 5

Bianca

August 27, 2012 8:35 PM

Don't know what else to say by Bianca

Bianca was sort glad that an older girl was giving her pointers about what the potions class was going to be like. It was as if Henny actually cared to help her through this uncomfortable milestone. School was something that would have come sooner or later and even when she had preferred to just stay home for a few more years she needed to try and go through it. It wasn’t like she was completely alone; Preston and Laurie were here to help her if she ever needed anything important.

She looked around the table to pinpoint the blue first-years like her. There weren’t a lot of them, thankfully. There were a few girls and just a boy. It would be an interesting and terrifying experience to share a room and bathroom with other girls. Her mother had told her that she needed to get out of her shell and seek new experiences to round up the extensive education she had received from her tutors. The brown-haired girl was going to do her best to try and be less shy. She was aware of it, her tutors and mother had always admonished her for it, but she really couldn’t help it. It wasn’t her fault, really.

The new Aladren shyly smiled at Henny. Even when Preston had told her all of what she was saying, it was nice to have her try to help her out. “Thank you. Professor Fawcett sounds nice.” Her mother had told her that in life it was very hard to see things in black and white that human beings were very complicated and most of the time there was a gray tinge to everything that happened. “I hope the new charms professor is good. It is a very important subject.”

0 Bianca Don't know what else to say 0 Bianca 0 5

Alan

August 27, 2012 9:01 PM

No, not too bad by Alan

Hearing Enion’s explanation of his strange introduction did make Alan feel less confused, but he wasn’t completely sure that was the same thing as feeling better. It sounded like a very complicated way to go about things to him, with everything involved in changing names and everyone trying to have enough children to have their own branch build up very quickly and then maybe going to war over who had the best one, but he didn’t really know. His father’s family had, so far, managed to peacefully coexist with his grandfather’s brother’s in the same state, though he supposed it did help that there were only two lines actually named Raines with only one male heir named that between them, not five.

“Sort of like the Careys, then,” he said, since that was the first thing that came to mind, though he wasn’t completely sure of exactly how many branches they had. Five sounded right, only he wasn’t sure if he was perhaps borrowing that from what he’d just heard. He knew they had a lot, anyway, and Sara’s best friend was marrying into the South Carolina one and his sister seemed to think this was a good thing. “Except they all just moved to different states instead of changing names.”

But then – he’d said he was of the original House, which implied it was one family still. Which implied it still had one leader. So wouldn’t the five of them end up trying to all be that guy someday anyway? So the problem wasn’t actually solved unless they just abolished the original name after the person who split their family died and became five separate families, but that would defeat the other point, which was for families to carry on their names, so….

Alan decided to stop trying to think about this. He was going to give himself a headache. It was better just to be glad he was a Raines and not a Carey or a Color-briar or a Careybriar or Color-Carey or anything else like that. His family was simple compared to this, and he preferred it that way.

Alan nodded, expecting to never keep up with where all these cousins were and which branch went where and all that, but nodding to be polite. “My sister Sara is in Pecari,” he volunteered. Since he didn’t know anyone in any other Houses, he decided the sensible thing to do was keep the conversation focused on Sonora. Alan thought this fell under the ‘very basics of socializing’ category. “Did you expect to be Sorted into Teppenpaw?” he asked. “I really sort of expected to go into Pecari, with my sister. We were raised the same.” Well, sort of. He hadn’t traveled as much as Sara had, and of course manners for boys were a little different than those for girls, but still. He hadn’t thought those surface details were enough to make a real difference, unless he and Sara were far more different than he’d thought they were.

0 Alan No, not too bad 0 Alan 0 5

Anthony

August 28, 2012 6:42 PM

Happiness is good by Anthony

Anthony nodded as Miss Amity explained her family’s situation. The only person here he was sure was descended from a Carey female line was Miss Devereux, who was first generation, since her mother was the Louisiana heir’s sister. He didn’t remember the more distant female lines as well, since his genealogy tutor – also known to him as ‘Father’ – had always said he’d learn more about that later, when he was older. By the time he left school, Anthony expected he would be able to recite every connection of half the major families in the country for at least a hundred years without difficulty, but it was enough to know who the people in a given family were and the first-generation female lines from them right now.

“My family had an unusual number of boys born all around the same time,” he said of his own family. “I have my two brothers, and three of my Carey first cousins, and the North Carolina heir is only a year younger than me, too, so we just all sort of….” He made a gesture as though he were dumping more spaghetti onto his plate with both hands, to illustrate how they were all flooding the school at once.

The Georgia heir had just graduated the year before last, too, but he saw no reason to mention that. For one thing, Edmond was clearly, apparently much to the regret of the Aladren Quidditch team, not here now, and for another, he had definitely gathered over the years that the less said about the Georgia branch, the better. That was where all the scandals happened, they were worse than Louisiana, and in some ways maybe even North Carolina, since at least North Carolina had yet to have a patriarch who went crazy and decided to behave as though he were not part of a civilized age. Though admittedly, seeing Mal on a broom could bring the part about no one going crazy into question, anyway….

He nodded again when he heard Arabella was Amity’s first cousin. “Theresa speaks well of her,” he lied, though he had never actually heard Theresa say much about her roommates, or about school at all before this summer. That didn’t mean much, though, because he and Theresa had never really been the closest of cousins, just amicable. The twins had a better excuse for not mentioning Miss Hope, though, so he let that one go.

“Of course,” Anthony said with a smile when she said she was glad to be away from home and have a sense of independence. He was feeling more than a little anxious about being away from home, and hearing it put like that, that they were away from home, made some of the edge fade from his excitement, but he knew enough to know that no self-respecting guy was going to say anything about missing his mother. “I’m sure they’ll get someone to cover the class, though,” he added about Transfiguration. “Since it’s a core class.”

A mandatory CATS class. He reminded himself that it was far too early to worry about that at all. Five years was a long time, after all; a look around at any of his family reunions could show that. Everyone got older, new people were there….

“The Potions professor is our Head of House,” he said. “Professor Fawcett.” Which she probably already knew, it occurred to him a second later since she had family here, too, but he’d already said it. “Arnold and Arthur both like him, so he must be easy to like, they usually have different tastes. About professors, anyway.” Especially strict ones who assigned a lot of work; Anthony could see how that could appeal to how Arthur liked to think of himself, anyway, but what Arnold was getting out of it was someone else's guess, because unless the man had a personality Arthur should have despised on sight, Anthony really had no idea.

0 Anthony Happiness is good 0 Anthony 0 5

Arthur

August 28, 2012 6:47 PM

Now we may proceed very well by Arthur

The problem, Arthur concluded, was not the Sinclairs, or even really the Stratfords, but rather just a personal annoyance of Preston’s with how people behaved in the lead-up to a wedding. That was…less detailed than he would have liked, but still somewhat reassuring. “Believe me,” he said, “my family is already being tiresome about it. Between Mother and Arnold….” Though their problems were more with Mother wanting to be sure he and Arnold were both all right and Arnold being obsessed with how things were going to play out over the next three years. He doubted even the women in this plan had begun to think far enough ahead to make actual wedding plans. That could surely wait until Arnold and Fae were even old enough to actually marry. “But everything ends eventually, yes? We’ll survive it.”

He was not surprised when Preston seemed to follow his thought about their younger siblings, at least enough to realize what ‘friends’ was a semi-euphemism for. He did not know Bianca Stratford at all, did know there were many options on the table as far as Anthony went, but Arthur had to admit, the neatness of the picture he and Preston were studying at the moment appealed to him – Stratford connecting to Sinclair, then Sinclair to Carey, and then Carey back to Stratford....

It would, he knew, be better if it happened and then he could even slightly claimed to have orchestrated it all, but Stratford and Sinclair had happened without him even knowing about it until after the fact, and even he could see how little he’d really had to do with Sinclair and Carey, and that was when the Carey was his twin. Arthur was completely aware that he had not been in control of anything, however pleasant it was to pretend otherwise, and when it came to the family heir, he doubted he’d even be consulted as much as he had for Arnold. But who could say. He had taken the class for the novelty value, but Arthur did not see himself as someone with an exceptional talent for Divination. He had no idea what might happen in the next few years to turn everything on its head or leave it just the same as it was.

“Perhaps not,” Arthur said when Preston pointed out his single state. “I’m sure some match can be made for me, if I don’t just decide to do it myself.” Preston could hardly disapprove of that, as his brother had dated Miss Sinclair before they were ever betrothed and Preston himself was dating Sara Raines. “There must be a suitable girl out there somewhere.”

By which Arthur meant one he’d gain something by marrying, some kind of advantage. Personally, if he were to be…close…to a girl, he thought he’d be more comfortable with Alice than any other he’d ever met, but comfort wasn’t always the most important thing – something he thought anyone who’d ever played Quidditch should understand. He’d have to wait and see what happened, what best served his interests and the family's. Arthur was sure there had to be some plan which could accommodate both, once he decided exactly what his interests were.

0 Arthur Now we may proceed very well 0 Arthur 0 5

Reggie

August 28, 2012 10:05 PM

You say that every year. by Reggie

So far, no one seemed upset about the idea of her getting the Prefect badge. That was good. She even got a high five from Derry. Although, Reggie wasn’t really worried about Derry. He was just too easy-going to let something like a badge really affect him and she felt the same way about Maddie. The unknowns had been Hope and Addison. But sitting down and getting a congrats from Addison had Reggie convinced that no one would put a pillow over her face while she slept. Looking for Hope and finding her with Russell (like that wasn’t completely obvious), figured she was safe with her as well.

Laughing with Derry when they two of them began talking and, (considering the circumstances, not really that strange) asking the same question, Reggie let him go first and tell them about his summer. “Oooh, baseball again? And in a league? Very impressive.” Reggie stated and meaning it. For someone who grew up on a mountain, Derry was taking the Muggle world pretty well. It gave Reggie hope that having him over to her place and to meet her grandparents wouldn’t be completely out of the question since Derry will have lived among Muggles for some time.

Reggie still didn’t really like Addison Thornton. There was something about her that rubbed her the wrong way. It might have been because the girl couldn’t do anything on her own and when she was faced with it, she ended up either crying or having some sort of attack in which all of her sisters would gather around her like a cult and lead her off somewhere, probably to the Hospital Wing. It was weird and creepy and really exhausting to have to witness it. After Addi had declared wanting Reggie to teach her how to be, well, her, Reggie had done her best to avoid her roommate. Sometimes, like this moment or with the concert, where Reggie had no choice but to be around her.

It wasn’t that Reggie was rude to the other girl or anything. She smiled and said good morning or good night every day. She gave small chit chat in the daily lives that roommates did. She just wasn’t what she would consider ‘friends’ with her. It was hard to be friends with someone who didn’t even know who they were or have the confidence in life to get through something simple like a school event. Her father told her to have patience with those who were different or with whom she did not necessarily understand, but Reggie found that hard sometimes. She just didn’t understand why Addi had to cry all the time or needed to hide behind her sisters. She kept saying that she wanted to change, to be a better person, but Reggie just saw the same attitude, the same issues, and the same responses. Nothing changed.

“Your sister is proud of her badge, nothing really wrong with that unless she was throwing it in your face as though you were competing for it. That’s just rude.” Reggie commented, unsurprised that a new Thornton was among them. Her mother probably couldn’t even walk after popping out so many kids. That could not be healthy for a woman’s body.

“I spent it with Popsicle and the grands for the most part. We went camping up near Mount Rushmore for a week. That was fun. And I spent much of my free time with my friends from back home. Parties and boys were the summer thing. It was fun.” Reggie smiled rather pleased by the fun summer she had had. “This year, aside from rocking out all my CATS, I’m looking forward to possibly gaining a boyfriend. There are quite a few good looking single fellows, so it can’t be too horrible, right?”

6 Reggie You say that every year. 187 Reggie 0 5

Alice Adair

August 28, 2012 10:22 PM

Nothing ever comes easily. by Alice Adair

Alice could hardly believe that she was a fifth year, but here she was at the Crotalus table. Though, she still felt like a little girl compared to Fae, who as usual appeared glamorous. On top of that, Alice had heard that her friend was betrothed. It wasn’t really much of a surprise given that any proper pureblood deemed desirable would have offers of such. Next to Fae, Alice knew there was no comparison. Sure, Alice was brilliant, but boys didn’t care about intelligence. Not to mention, she didn’t actually think that she was that smart. Either way, she had nothing on Fae who was the type that boys went for. Admittedly, she really wasn’t trying to find one. The internship that she was applying for was more important than finding a marriage partner. She wasn’t even sure that she wanted to get married. But it would have been nice to feel attractive, to feel wanted, to have someone to share things like the internship with.

Oh, well. Regardless, she was still excited about the internship. She could feel it burning a whole in her bag. It was due in less than a month, but she knew that she would end up sending it in early. Pushing away her plate of roast and potatoes, she pulled out her application to look over her answers. She had five more copies in her bag so that all she had to do was copy her finalized answers on to the one that she would send in. She skimmed through the basic information like her name and age to the actual questions like why she wanted this internship. What made her uniquely qualified? That was the hardest question to answer. What made her even qualified, let alone uniquely? She tapped her quill against the table in slight annoyance. What she had put seemed silly now. She had blabbed on about her interest in potions and to learn what she could. She needed something more. She needed something that was really going to make her stand out, but what?

She was nearly ready to bang her head off the table. Maybe she should just skip it entirely if she couldn’t even answer the simple questions on the form. Plus, there was the fact that she was going to need to get three references to send in. She had already picked out the professors that she would like to ask, but that didn’t mean they would actually do it and would they be able to help her? She clutched her stomach, a ball of nervousness already building up inside of it. No, she had to do this. For her future. It was the only thing that she really had. If she couldn’t do this, she wouldn’t have anything. She wasn’t like Fae, whose life had been set the moment she was born. Sighing, she started scratching out bits and pieces of her answers and rewriting them. “I am never going to get this!” She groaned in frustration.

0 Alice Adair Nothing ever comes easily. 191 Alice Adair 0 5

Russell Layne

August 28, 2012 11:43 PM

Thanks...I think. by Russell Layne

Whether or not it was a good political move, he could not say, but when Russell entered the Cascade Hall to start off his fifth year, he pretended not to see his roommates and found a seat elsewhere along the Aladren table. Tonight was when the prefects for their class would be announced, and whether things went his way or whether they didn’t, Russell thought it might be in his own best interests to be away from Preston. Better for the safety and well-being of everyone involved.

He looked in the general direction of the Sorting, not finding it very interesting since he didn’t have anyone he knew in that year but watching politely nevertheless while he thought about other things, and then applauded just as politely and disinterestedly for the new staff appointments and for Sam and Jane, the new Head Students, neither of whom he knew even though he’d put it together that he and Sam had a few people in common and were from the same city, which was not, weirdly enough, the source of any of the people they had in common, that he knew of. When the headmistress said she was about to call a second group of people up, he felt himself tense up nervously, believing simultaneously that it could be him and that it was definitely going to be either Preston or one of the twins right up until the moment when Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau said his name instead of any of theirs.

A wave of some strong emotion, he didn’t even know what at the moment, swept over him as he stood, glad after all that he had dressed up a little even though it had made the ride to school that much more uncomfortable, feeling self-conscious about the first moment when any of the spotlight of Sonora had been directly on him as he walked forward and gave Topher a look he hoped conveyed, in short, a sense of how unlikely them both becoming prefects had been before he took his badge, bowing slightly to the headmistress and realizing, as he did from time to time, that he really had been around the others in his dorm too long.

When permitted to, then, he headed back with as little fanfare as possible for his seat, where the announcement of the midsummer event and then the school song lay in wait…And, to his surprise, Hope with them. He smiled when she congratulated him, though he could tell his forehead was probably turning at least a light shade of red at having more attention drawn to his new honor. He had wanted it, but now that he had it, he was a little unsure about it, not really accustomed to standing out like that, the way having the bit of metal on the front of his robes every day would make him stand out.

“Thanks, Hope,” he said. He glanced down the table and was instantly gladder that he had chosen this seat, though somewhat worried about living until morning. “Let’s just hope we both still think it’s good tomorrow,” he added as Preston snapped at Arthur. Maybe they would destroy each other, leaving him on top, as he’d briefly considered provoking last year before he realized that trying to filter the story through Fae and Sara might not work if one didn’t talk to the other before talking to the other guys and that even if it did work that it might still be traced back to him. “Anyway, happy fifth year. The CATS await. Did you at least get to have a good summer?”

16 Russell Layne Thanks...I think. 183 Russell Layne 0 5

McKinley

August 29, 2012 3:41 PM

So is proper manners... by McKinley

McKinley, in her now dusty baby blue colored dress and her white ribbon, black Mary Janes, light blue frilly socks and Shirley Temple curls sat at her new house table. Her skin was red, hair blonde and eyes were blue. She felt like an American Flag, which was odd to the girl. Originally from London, England, she and her family moved for part of the year to Flagstaff, Arizona for Carter and herself to go to school at Sonora. She missed Edgeware, and she missed her brothers. If she’s with Carter it wasn’t so bad, but she wasn’t always going to be with him. Their sorting proved that.

She was in Crotalus, and he was in Teppenpaw.

Kinley knew that she’d squealed quite a bit already that day, but she knew that there was no other reaction to what was going on around her (at least in her head). It was all new. She didn’t turn red at home, nor did she have to be around such dirt. Her father and brothers took care of that for her. And her food didn’t just appear in front of her there at home either.

Her thoughts were overshadowed by her heart pounding until another red student spoke to her from across the table.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Me? Nothing… I just do not like dirt, and food does not just appear like that at home, that’s all.” she started. “I am McKinley Andrews of the London and Arizona Andrews’.” she added to him with a slight nod of her head. She wouldn’t shake his hand or anything, she didn’t know where it had been.

0 McKinley So is proper manners... 0 McKinley 0 5

Angel Shield - Teppenpaw

August 29, 2012 6:33 PM

Return… by Angel Shield - Teppenpaw

For the first time sense beginning Sonora, Angel found himself slightly saddened to return to the school. Living with the Jareaus was so much better than anywhere he’d ever been before. So returning to Sonora after the best summer of his young life was harder than he thought it would be. Angel took a seat at the Teppenpaw table and glanced shyly up at Kiva as she spoke to the students. The Headmistress and her husband had changed his life for the better, and Angel really wanted to make her proud of him. It had taken the better part of the summer, but Angel finally believed that they weren’t going to grow tired of him and send him away.

Once the first years had been sorted, the school song sung, or in Angel’s case quietly hummed, and the announcements were made, Angel glanced around at the offerings to see what wouldn’t upset his touchy stomach. He reached out and plucked a small white roll from a bowl and then added a tiny scoop of plain mashed potatoes to his plate. The so called meal was rounded out with a glass of water. Humming softly under his breath, Angel kicked off the light sandals that he’d grown accustomed to over the summer and let his bare feet caress the cold stone of the floor.

Ghostly pale fingers started picking the defenseless roll to pieces, which in turn were dipped in the small mound of potatoes before they were carefully eaten. Angel chewed each piece with slow deliberateness, waiting nearly a minute between bites to insure that his body was willing to accept more. His stomach was always worse after a big change, and moving from his new home back to the school would leave the albino feeling ill for most of the coming week.

0 Angel Shield - Teppenpaw Return… 0 Angel Shield - Teppenpaw 0 5

Henry

August 29, 2012 9:23 PM

Virtues are overrated anyway by Henry

Henry looked at the girl carefully before deciding that there were very few things he could find out which would be a good reason to continue putting up with her once he was no longer trapped in this seat. “Well, can’t you be quiet about it, then?” he asked. “There isn’t any dirt, and it’s not the rest of the table’s problem – “ he stopped abruptly, taking a deep breath and reminding himself that he could not insult a new person’s family. Mother would lose her mind if he did that on his first day.

Good one. I’m the good one. Mother needs that. I am good enough to be good enough. He had to remember that. He had to start over now and not say anything else, no matter how idiotic the people at Sonora might be. In spite of the fact that the walls were so far away that he felt like he couldn’t breathe, and there were people everywhere, and noise, and this girl made even more noise in close proximity to him, and the ceiling could collapse at any second. It was all in his mind. He had to start over.

The tiny little nod annoyed him, too, but he made the best half-bow he could from his seat and refrained from saying that he’d never heard of them in the least pleasant tone he could summon up even though he really wanted to. It was always better not to say what he wanted to, always better. Nothing good happened when people said what they wanted to. It was all about saying what had to be said. “I am Henry Carey, of the South Carolina Careys,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Lying had never bothered him when it was what made things go the way they were supposed to, the way where no one was in trouble, no one was upset, no one thought anything. It was better that way. When people told the truth, other people got angry, and then the first person got angry, and so on and so forth, and it was uncomfortable until everyone forgot, which everyone did eventually anyway. It was better just to skip to the part where everyone forgot, to not bring it to the surface and just let it drift away instead. He had to do that now. Just let it go, forget about it all, like Mother said, like she always said….

0 Henry Virtues are overrated anyway 0 Henry 0 5

Lucian D'Alesandro

August 29, 2012 10:21 PM

Surviving Summer by Lucian D'Alesandro

Summer had proved itself to be emotionally taxing and relaxing at the same time for Lucian. He missed his friends and learning, but he was grateful for the leisurely time he had to read whatever he wanted. Most of his summer was spent reading on the bench by the window that overlooked the pond in his backyard. This meant that his sister, Alexandra, left him alone for the most part because she found his activity boring.

Lucian also appeared to have gained some confidence from his first year at Sonora, and began joining in during games of various sports initiated by a few of the boys that lived down the street from him. With this he discovered a new way to channel his competitive streak and also that he was surprisingly athletic. Since his parents were gone most of the summer, Lucian was able to push the limits of his nanny and escape out into the wooded area behind his parent’s property. He would climb a smaller tree and look out into the distance and sketch a bird or the landscape. His mother’s absence also allowed for more opportunity to practice his drumming.

Although his parents being away seemed to carry many positive aspects, Lucian also missed spending time with them, even though it was always quite limited. The few occasions they were home involved dramatic fights amongst themselves in his father’s private den downstairs. Most of the time they spoke in hushed tones as to not wake up Lucian or his sister, but one night they failed to do so. Lucian awakened to raised voices and followed them to the winding staircase that led to the grand entrance of their home. He hid in the corner under the banister and watched the fight unfold below between the wooden bars.

“Angeline,” his father had said quietly in a serious tone, “I know that you make your decisions based on what will reflect you in the best light of society, but I am telling you...this is not the right direction to take. To replace a family..friends..that have held the same position for years..”

“Oh please Leon,” his mother said cutting off his father’s sentence with a sigh, “everything about who we are is under constant scrutiny. We do not have real friends; we have alliances. It is natural. When the leader of a pack is weak, the most powerful member assumes leadership. Clearly your family did not teach you-”

“Do not talk about my family!” Lucian’s dad said raising his voice in a clearly enraged tone, “You know very well I gave everything up and turned my back on my family for you.”

“You made a business deal.” Angeline said coldly.

“No,” Lucian’s father said in a softened tone, “I married you because I loved you, even though I knew love is something you would never let yourself feel.”

His father then proceeded to leave the room as his mother watched for a moment, collected herself, and then left in the same direction shortly after. Lucian had no idea what sort of business they were talking about, but he did not like to see them fighting. This was the worst fight he had witnessed, but he made sure to stay in bed when he heard them arguing on occasions after it to avoid hearing more. He never brought the fight up to his sister, nor did he know if she had witnessed any of their parent’s arguments. Normally, he would try to gain as much knowledge as possible, but in this case ignorance was bliss.

Lucian looked forward to walking into Cascade Hall and sitting amongst friends and those in his House. It made him feel more at ease, even though his thoughts were often revolving around his parents. He watched as the newest students were sorted, including his sister, and sat quietly thinking for most of his meal. He wanted to socialize, but he wasn’t sure what to say when asked how his summer had gone.

0 Lucian D'Alesandro Surviving Summer 223 Lucian D'Alesandro 0 5

Amity

August 30, 2012 2:25 AM

And I've never been more so. by Amity

"We tend to have a lot of girls." Amity responded. "Though my great-uncle Gus's seem to be mostly boys." Aside from his descendents there were, of course, Adam and Evan and her cousin Fabian who bore the last name Brockert. That was all she could remember at the moment. Hopefully, they'd all have lots of sons too, but the family name was in no danger of going extinct any time soon.

Amity nodded as Anthony said that Theresa spoke well of Arabella. Of course, the new Aladren didn't truly think that one pureblood would speak badly of another publicly or be any less than polite-aside from Carrie saying nasty things about other or having nasty things said about her which were well deserved-to their faces. And even Carrie seemed to say more horrible things about her brother and the non-purebloods than any of the purebloods. "Arabella seems to approve of her as well."

She supposed it would have been good for her cousin to befriend Anthony's. Mother was always stressing the importance of connections and Amity knew that even her relatives who were less vocal about it, such as Grandfather, were completely in favor of them making good ones and being a credit to the Brockert name. Arabella had hit it off with Alexandra Devereaux though and while the name wasn't as well known, the other third year's mother had been a Carey and a large part of why Amity remembered that was that everyone viewed it as an acceptable and advantageous friendship.

It was odd really, the Pecari was supposed to be bold and daring, as that was what her house was like, but it seemed to the younger girl that Arabella more so even than herself was more comfortable with others in their own social class. Plus, Amity's cousin struggled a lot more with being a lady, losing self-control at times. She seemed to get especially angry when someone hurt someone she cared about, which the Aladren always thought of as a Teppenpaw trait. Amity supposed that the difference was the way Arabella went about it.

Besides, not everyone fit their House stereotype. Sara Raines, for example, was a Pecari who was held up as an exemplary pureblood lady. The first year herself wasn't sure she was the ideal Aladren who was completely scholastically driven. Amity really wasn't driven to do all that much of anything.

Ironic given her mother wanting more than anything for her and her sister to be competitive go-getters. They didn't need to be as far as the Aladren was concerned. They were Brockerts for Merlin's sake! They were on top-not that others weren't also-and as long as they didn't do anything too disreputable such as get involved with a Muggleborn or play Quidditch if they were a girl, they were fine. No need to be too ambitious.

"Oh, I heard decent things about Professor Fawcett." Amity replied. "My cousins seem to like him," well not Carrie since he was a non-pureblood who had scolded her, but that she didn't like Professor Fawcett seemed like a glowing recommendation of the man, "and my uncle has no issues with him as a co-worker. The only objection I've heard," from anyone who mattered "is that he gives quite a bit of homework." That wasn't something that Amity particularly looked forward too, but it couldn't be worse than home.

11 Amity And I've never been more so. 233 Amity 0 5

Hope

August 30, 2012 9:18 AM

You're welcome....I think? by Hope

She smiled back at her friend, noticing him blush a little, which made him seem even cuter to her. "You're welcome." Hope's gaze traveled down to where Preston was speaking to Arthur. The former really didn't see too happy and while she did feel a bit bad for him-some people really wanted the badge, for example, Autumn had seemed rather unhappy about not being on the Head Girl ballot last year and Hope had been worried that she was going to get sick again right away-she cared much more about Russell than Preston.

Of course, the Aladren boys in her class were an interesting lot, and perhaps her friend was worried for his own safety. "I'm sure he'll get over it." She said, nodding in Preston's direction and trying to reassure Russell. The Teppenpaw smiled at him. "You really deserve it anyway." Hope added. It was true. He was the most approachable of all the Aladrens in their year. Arnold Carey, she supposed, wasn't too bad, though she didn't know him well. He seemed pleasant enough, something of a gentleman but she had to admit, she was slightly biased towards Russell.

Hope also had to admit, when she thought about the problems that the other fifth year might face with his roommates, that she felt rather lucky. She really didn't think the rest of her own housemates would get mad about Reggie being prefect and smother her or something. Hope knew that she wouldn't, and Maddie was Reggie's best friend. She wasn't entirely sure about Addison, but she really didn't think that redhead had it in her. It didn't seem her style. It was more likely that her roommate would cry over it if she was unhappy and go off with her sisters.

It was great that they were such a nice easygoing group-which Hope supposed was expected given that they were Teppenpaws-even if she wasn't all that close to them. They were drama free-aside from the fact that Addison always seemed upset about something-and the fifth year was glad. Of course, Hope had to admit that if any drama actually was going on, she was rather oblivious to it. She was pleasant to her roommates but, she noted as she looked over at Autumn then back to Russell, she had her mind on other things.

"Happy fifth year to you too." The Teppenpaw replied. "Summer was pretty good. Same as always. My sister Nina got married and I was a bridesmaid." She didn't think boys were very interested in weddings, Evan wasn't but then her brother wasn't necessarily interested in things other boys were either. A lot of them liked Quidditch and her brother wasn't at all interested in that. Adam hadn't been either nor were her first cousins Oliver or Marshall, the latter being interested in booze and the former being interested in...shoes? Still when it was her own sister, as opposed to Alessa who was a distant cousin or Fae Sinclair's brother who wasn't even related to her, it was a bit different.

Hope went on. "I also went to a sleepover at Sophie Jamison's house." It hadn't been the first time she'd visited England of course, but it was the first slumber party she'd ever attended there or anywhere and it was a rather different experience. "What about you? How was your summer?"

11 Hope You're welcome....I think? 186 Hope 0 5

Abi

August 30, 2012 11:25 PM

We can find one for you... by Abi

The other girls in her year (from what she could tell anyway) were all purebloods, or so she guessed by the way they were talking. She sort of ignored them too to a point. She wanted to get to classes so she could go to Care of Magical Creatures to learn more about animals and how to care for them. The rest of the school thing didn’t much matter to her.

With a shrug as the others talked around her, she glanced in front of her at the girl across the table from her. She was also a shade of red, like herself, but she’d been wearing an emerald green dress to match her eyes and she had brown hair which fell in a frame around her face. She sure is pretty… Abi thought to herself as her eyes caught sight of Addi again across the Hall. With a sigh, she wondered if Addi will ever grow up…

The girl spoke to her and she looked at her, confused a little at first, but when she realized she’d been asking her what the food was that was on her plate. Abi looked at it a little closer, wondered how the girl didn’t know that it was mashed potatoes on her plate, but didn’t want to sound mean or anything in telling her. “It’s just mashed potatoes. I’m Abigail Thornton, by the way. What’s your name?” she said as she pushed the girl’s plate back towards her.

0 Abi We can find one for you... 0 Abi 0 5

Kinley

August 31, 2012 12:20 AM

So's your attitude by Kinley

He looked at her and McKinley looked back at him with a look that was almost a glare. She wasn’t sure she liked this boy at all, and she was almost positive that her brothers would not be okay with her consorting with folks like him. “I will be as I decide to be.” was her answer before he mentioned that there was no dirt and that it wasn’t the rest of the table’s problem. “Maybe you don’t think there is any dirt, but how do you know unless you look?” she added to him.

She watched him as he made a half bow across the table from her. He started to speak,

“I am Henry Carey, of the South Carolina Careys. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” he said.

“The pleasure is mine.” she said with kind of an icky taste in her mouth. There was something about this boy that didn’t set well with the eleven year old and she was not happy about it. She made a note to herself to write to Jeff and Grant and ask them for advice. Also to talk to Carter about this boy.

Glancing across the tables, she caught sight of Carter and looked at him with a begging look, hoping she’d be able to talk to him very soon!! She needed her best friend whether he was in another house or not.

0 Kinley So's your attitude 0 Kinley 0 5

Preston

August 31, 2012 1:49 AM

I believe so by Preston

The little bow Arthur had presented him was beautifully orchestrated. It was a little bow of connections that a lot of people would die for. Carey and Sinclair were two big names in Sonora, and few others could compete with them. The Stratfords were known for their Randolph ancestors which was a very important family in the east coast. Now, there were a handful of prominent names at school, including the Brockerts, but having a direct link to the Carey through an Heir was like finding gold at the end of the rainbow. Something like a miracle filled with warmth and happy things.

The redhead smiled with anticipation of what that friendship would bring for everyone. The only daughter of the Stratford Heir married to one of the Carey’s heirs. It was rather nice future image, but an image they should think about for future reference, “We should introduce them in the near-future.” It was a good plan. Both of them could supervise the friendship and then subtly hint for the future betrothal of them.

He grinned and took another bite of his food while Arthur started talking about his single status. Preston considered Arthur a friend. Out of everyone, the twins were possibly the two males at school he saw with a friendship light. They came from a good family, were smart and he roomed with them. He could definitely see the three of them in the future still talking, especially now with Fae and Arnold getting married. The Aladren hadn’t thought that much about it, but he was sure he was going to end up with Sara. In all honesty, getting married was the farthest thing in his mind. He was still too young.

“I am sure there is someone to suit your needs somewhere.” Preston understood needs as what the girl would bring him and his family. Pureblood politics could be very tricky if one didn’t know what he was doing. The redhead knew that some people looked down on Sara’s family due to their new-money status, but they were respectable purebloods with a whole lot of money. Every family started there at one point and the Raines were respectable enough for his Great-great-grandfather. Sara was a prime example of that. His girlfriend was perfect in every account. She was the perfect future Pureblood wife.

He wondered if Arthur had someone in mind. This was the first time they talked girls, “Do you have someone in mind? Someone from school?” the Aladren was curious about it and was not being a gossip. Preston didn’t do gossip. This was purely from a researcher’s perspective.

0 Preston I believe so 0 Preston 0 5

Arthur

August 31, 2012 7:45 PM

We shall see how it goes by Arthur

“Good idea,” Arthur said when Preston suggested going a step further and actually seeing to it that Anthony and Bianca became acquainted. If someone had tried that strategy with him, Arthur suspected it would have gone poorly, since he did not like to be steered, but Anthony had always been placid, biddable, the good son. He would likely just be grateful for the help with settling in. “That’s an interesting year group, it won’t hurt anyway to cultivate some ties there.”

Right now, they were only first years, but they wouldn’t stay first years. One day, Anthony, anyway, would be a person of great importance whether he wanted to be or not, and there were others in that group who might not do badly for themselves at all. It wasn't the likeliest thing, but if he had a network of little alliances there, then he could possibly capitalize on that later…somehow or another. At least he would have the option, anyway. It was better to know interesting people than not to, and better still to have them like you, and better yet to have them owe you favors, or so he’d heard. As long as they weren’t too interesting, but Arthur thought that was sort of rare.

The trick was just being careful not to speak for the Carey family in any way. He could just imagine how well they would like that, even if no one disliked what it was he said. He was an heir’s brother, a twin, not in favor with the branch heir; for him to speak on behalf of the family would be to step so far out of his place that they would feel it essential to beat him back into it with the heaviest object in the known universe, if they could get it. If he did decide he liked the idea of Anthony and Miss Stratford somewhere down the road, he could get Henry and Jay to talk the idea up to Uncle Donnie, who did at least get to sit at the table when the branch’s affairs were being discussed. That might work better than trying to get involved directly and making people notice him.

Preston pressed the topic of Arthur’s love life, making him smile, amused. He hoped it hid that he was a bit uncomfortable. Simply shutting Preston down didn’t feel like much of an option, not since the whole point of all of this had been to get him in a pleasant mood before they had to retire for the evening without Preston attacking Russell. “Oh, I don’t know,” he said. “Miss Adair and I get along well, I suppose. At the very least we’d have smart kids.” There was, in his mind, no doubt about that. The one, minor, problem was that he did not see Alice taking well to the more political side of the family. It might be choosing to focus just on his academic side, and Arthur wasn’t sure he was ready to do that yet.

He felt sometimes like he was standing between two possible lives, and he was just stuck there, hovering in the intersection, because he didn’t know which one he wanted more and he didn’t know how to decide, and there was no way to solve the problem by reconciling them that he could see. Maybe one existed, but he couldn’t find it, at least not yet, and he liked to be able to handle things as soon as he knew about them, or at least know how he would when he got the chance. It was immensely frustrating to him, the feeling of not knowing where to settle, what to focus on, and more importantly, eventually it could make him mess something up. To do that because of his emotions…. That would be worse than messing something important up would anyway.

0 Arthur We shall see how it goes 0 Arthur 0 5

Henry

August 31, 2012 7:49 PM

I could say the same of yours by Henry

Be as she decided to be. Huh. His Housemate was funny. He could almost forget to be offended by what he interpreted as her thinking she was better than him. He had gotten enough control back, though, not to snap at her and let her know that that was fine, provided she didn’t mind being alone with everyone against her, because no one liked the company of high-strung morons. The thought of doing it was pleasant, very very pleasant, he liked that thought more than he liked to admit to liking it, but he could restrain himself. It was never good to say what you really thought. It made you stupid, like her, like Brandon and Diana. Henry wasn’t stupid. He could keep his mouth shut.

When she said what she said about looking for dirt, though, Henry started to laugh for a moment – dear Merlin, this was worse than Diana – after deciding that no, she probably wasn’t insulting him for wearing glasses. Anything remotely resembling being subtle was probably over her head. “You know – “ he started, but then remembered that this was a waste of his time, a fight he didn’t have to have. School was a wonderful place where he didn’t have to interact with people who made him want to fight them. Except for this room, of course. This room wasn’t good. But the rest of it was going to be fine. “Whatever,” he said instead. “Whatever you say.”

She went along with polite pureblood introductions. Good. He never intended to speak to her again after tonight. She had ruined it, after all, shrieking about things until he couldn’t calm down again because now it was hard to think of anything but how much she had annoyed him. From what his brother and cousins had told him about the school, it shouldn’t be too hard to avoid one person who wasn’t, Merlin be thanked, his roommate.

“We can split it down the middle, then,” Henry said, glad she had the sense to lie about something, anyway. To not be rude, as Mother would put it. Telling the truth was rude. He felt vaguely ashamed of having let himself forget that for a minute. Even though he hadn't expected to, because he'd thought he'd be in Aladren. Like his family was. He was more disappointed than ashamed – a disappointment all around, then, that was him, just like she had thought.

Henry felt his chest constrict, but tried to push it down. It could still be different. He could still prove it all wrong. Regardless of her, or this girl. He could make it all right.

0 Henry I could say the same of yours 0 Henry 0 5

Gareth

September 02, 2012 6:20 PM

That’s sensible by Gareth

Gareth’s relief was apparently great enough to pique the interest of Alexandra and he couldn’t stop the slight flush of embarrassment when she asked after its cause. Being glad that one didn’t have to deal with their sibling on a continual basis seemed sort of harsh, Gareth thought, but then again most people’s little brothers weren’t quite as annoying as Enion. Or maybe they were and every older brother or sister felt the sense of relief when they found out that they wouldn’t have to share the same house. Gareth wasn’t sure, he’d never asked anyone else before.

Nodding towards the Teppenpaw table Gareth said “I’m just glad Enion was sorted into Teppenpaw. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it there.” Gareth said, not quite willing to admit that he was glad his little brother made it into any house that wasn’t Crotalus. Gareth would have pegged the boy for Pecari, but Tep was good to. As hyper as his little brother could be at times, he was generally the friendly sort. He didn’t have much of a temper, and he got on well with most people.

“How was your summer?” Gareth asked as he began fixing a plate of food. A thick stake joined a baked potato and a healthy pile of broccoli. Politeness kept him from eating before she finished setting up her own plate but he didn’t mind. Alexandra was usually good company and she didn’t make him worry that he might spill something or other wise embarrass himself like some of the Ladies did.

0 Gareth That’s sensible 0 Gareth 0 5

Enion

September 05, 2012 3:26 PM

Great! by Enion

“Yep.” Enion agreed. Gareth had told him about how the Careys were similar to them, except that they each were represented by a different state, instead of a different last name. The Briar lines were kind of confusing he guessed, for people who weren’t used to it. The separate, yet still connected family was always vying for power, but not though violence. That lesson was learned in the previous generation when brother fought brother, nearly wiping out the entire line. Only grandfather had survived, and that was just because he’d been traveling abroad when the true fighting took place.

The brothers of the new generation learned from the bloodshed, and now used other means to garner power and show that they were superior. Mainly, it was though offspring, and Quidditch. The number of sons who were born, who played, whose teams won. It was a pressure applied to each male child of the lines, demanding that they succeed and do well to bring pride to their lines. The girls didn’t really matter much in the game of power, which was one of the reasons the Reds were so out of favor, seems they hadn’t been able to produce a single male.

“I was hoping for Crotalus, like my brother. It’ll be kind of weird playing against him in Quidditch.” Enion said. In the family reunion games, the two brothers had always been on the same team. He knew that Gareth was a pretty good beater, would he actually try and hit Enion? That was a new thought, and not very pleasant. Getting hit by one of Gareth’s Bludgers would hurt! “What position are you going to try out for?” Enion asked.

0 Enion Great! 0 Enion 0 5

Addison

September 12, 2012 3:06 PM

This year I mean it... by Addison

Reggie and Derry went on about baseball which Addi knew nothing much about with the exception that they hit a ball and run the bases to make the run. She didn’t really know what any player did specifically other than Pitcher and Catcher, which are kind of self-explanatory. But that was more along Andri’s line of stuff to know, not hers. Matter of fact, it was that day that she realized that she didn’t honestly have anything that was really her line of stuff like the others all did. She was just Addison Regan Thornton. A fifth year Teppenpaw who was terrified of everything and almost anyone around her.

She had to change.

There was no choice now. She could tell friendship with her house and year mates had changed. She didn’t know what it was completely that had done it, but she knew that her tears and all that mess had to have something to do with it. You know what, that’s it. No more tears for me. Not unless there’s something really big. No more. she thought to herself as she sat there watching the two of them talk until she caught the pause long enough to tell them about her summer.

“Your sister is proud of her badge, nothing really wrong with that unless she was throwing it in your face as though you were competing for it. That’s just rude.”

“I’m not sure if she’s proud of it as much as she was trying to throw around the fact that Arista and I are older than her and she’s the first one with a badge. I don’t care for one, I really don’t, but Ris did. I know that much.” she said before Reggie went on to tell about her summer. Addison stopped talking to the others and pulled out one of her study guides for the imminent CATS as they talked on.

I’m going to be smart. I’m going to study my bum off and I’m going to pass the CATS. That‘s the new me. she thought to herself as they droned on around her.

0 Addison This year I mean it... 0 Addison 0 5

Russell

September 23, 2012 1:44 PM

Thinking is a good thing to do. by Russell

“Oh, yeah,” Russell said when Hope seemed sure that Preston would get over it. “We’re all friends really, you know.”

This, of course, was a bald-faced lie. Russell liked his roommates, with the exception of Josh, well enough, but he didn’t trust them in the slightest, and he knew perfectly well that Preston and probably Arthur as well though that he didn’t deserve the badge, and that they felt that way more because of his family than because of himself. Russell thought he contributed more to the school than they did, since he hadn’t seen them lining up to help in the library for the past few years, and he did as well in their classes as anyone, so they couldn’t object on those grounds. There wasn’t much to speak of except the fact that he was a Layne and none of his relatives had ever been under investigation for Dark activities.

Russell didn’t know what to think of his own family, sometimes. They were all over the lists of old prefects, old Head Boys and Girls, old Quidditch captains, but they didn’t appear in major political positions later in life. Every now and then a girl would catch herself a rich husband – Alicia was, in his opinion, a shade too proud of her mother and aunt for doing that – but by and large, they stayed out of the genealogy books, too, the thick, gold-edged ones which showed up in the shop from time to time, even though they knew among themselves that they could trace their family back through at least nine generations of wizards. It was weird, in his mind, especially since some them were not at all quiet about their ambition…

He was distracted from that, though, by Hope asserting further that she thought he’d crossed the line between not being a ridiculous option and actually being a good one. He agreed, but knew it could just be politeness or friendliness on her part. “We’ll see,” he said modestly, “but thanks for the vote of confidence.” He considered whether or not to express sympathy for her failure to get a badge; he’d never been sure if Teppenpaws, by and large, cared about that kind of thing. He decided against it.

She started talking about her summer, which was mostly composed of things he didn’t know about. He did remember the name Nina Brockert and could put a face to it, linking it to Rachel’s year and being surprised by how quickly she’d gotten married if that was the case before he caught himself and reminded himself that the Brockerts were that sort of family. That was part of why, in a faintly surprised tone, he said “Huh” when she mentioned going to a sleepover at Sophie Jamison’s; in his head, Sophie Jamison was the Pecari Keeper, and thus not the sort of person Brockerts associated with. Hope wasn’t that bad about it, she was talking to him, after all, but he really seriously doubted that her parents condoned that the way they would have to condone a sleepover.

“Mine was pretty much the same as always, too,” he said. “I worked at the apothecary again, you know, mostly chopping stuff for Uncle Philip for a few galleons. He did let me brew a few sleeping draughts and stuff this year, though. Said I had to keep in practice before CATS.”

Going beyond that never even occurred to him. His life was neatly divided into parts, and some were completely unrelated to others. “How are your parents about them?” he asked, curious how having a lot of siblings and a lot of money - and possibly being a girl, considering - affected that. His found them important, but he thought that was as much on principle as anything, considering that he had at least three career options open just through the family.

16 Russell Thinking is a good thing to do. 183 Russell 0 5

Hope

September 28, 2012 8:57 PM

Most of the time. by Hope

Something about what Russell's response about them all being friends didn't ring true for Hope. Which was kind of sad but then she wasn't friends with her roommates either. She got along with them okay but Reggie and Maddie were best friends with each other and Derry and she just wasn't part of the group. She supposed roommates didn't have to be friends, Evan was with his but for the most part none of her siblings had been close to theirs, though Hope thought that Kaylie had gotten on okay with hers and Chelsea hadn't had one until her last year.

But then, the rest of the Aladren boys were a different sort than Russell, though the Teppenpaw was more their sort than his, and they were friends so it wasn't unheard of. Still, it wasn't as if Preston and Arthur had ever seemed like the friendliest people though Nora thought the latter was fascinating and respected his intelligence quite a bit, which was rare. Josh was even worse. Hope was honestly pretty glad that it was unlikely that she'd have to marry him.

At least, though, Hope and Russell had each other and whether or not they were close to their respective roommates, and if they remained just friends or if-when-she got betrothed to someone else, she would always be there for him. There would always be that and she hoped that he would do the same.

"You're welcome." The Teppenpaw replied. She had really meant what she'd said. She felt a prefect should be someone that others could go to for help and definitely someone that wasn't going to go on a power trip and act like a pompous jerk. Someone who would listen if someone else had a problem. Come to think of it, it was probably for the best that Hope hadn't gotten it. It wasn't that she didn't care about others, she cared a great deal about some but she just never knew what to do when someone was upset, didn't have any good advice to give.

Russell seemed surprised about her summer and she thought it might have been about her going to Sophie's since pureblood girls of Hope's type were always getting married early. Some of them were betrothed by the time they were her age. Nora was already and had been since after her second year. Though Nina had been betrothed and married in a rather short period of time and to someone she really didn't know. It was probably for the best that they were putting off children and traveling to get to know each other better.

Hope could understand sort of why Russell might react that way to her sleeping over at Sophie's. The Pecari was, after all, a Quidditch player which made her less than proper, and it seemed that people not in their social class but still aware of how magical society was would think that Hope wouldn't associate with Sophie and technically, the Teppenpaw probably shouldn't have been allowed to go, given that Sophie's dad had represented her distant relative's ex-husband in their divorce. Then again, said relative was rumored to be a terrible person and Hope's father did not have a much better impression of her than Evan had of her daughter. However, the Jamisons might not have been the Brockerts or the Careys, but they were still a good family and Hope and Sophie were sort of friends.

"That sounds interesting." She replied. It sort of did. Potions wasn't her best subject but it seemed often like Russell got to do cool things because of the businesses his family owned. Of course, Hope would never have to help out in any her family had. For one thing, she was a girl and girls didn't work.

Hope shrugged. "My parents just want me to do my best and not fail. They're not looking for perfection." Actually since Autumn's illness her own parents had made that clearer than ever as the pursuit of perfection was killing her cousin. "It's not like I need to worry about them for a career, but it's shameful to the family if I'm not a decent witch." It also probably wouldn't help her get a husband if she wasn't any good at magic, but that aspect of Hope's future was one thing she was not comfortable discussing with Russell.

11 Hope Most of the time. 186 Hope 0 5