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Post by Susan Bones on Oct 17, 2011 20:54:45 GMT
(OOC: It should be noted that how far this thread can go is provisional on us getting a Snape very soon, although I figured I could at least get it started before he needed to show up. Also because I wanted to get another thread underway:- the students (and teachers, if required) can just talk amongst their houses while everyone is arriving.)
Still Spetember 1st, some hours later
Hogwarts. The school was famous as one of the finest magical institutions in the Wizarding world, and for many of the students trooping into the hall right now, the castle felt almost like a second home. Always welcoming, always a safe haven. For the past six years, it had felt that way to her, too. But not anymore. Not with the Death Eaters who were rumoured to be assigned as teachers here. Not with that vile Professor Snape seated in what should have been Dumbledore's spot, as good as a mere puppet for her aunt's murderer.
Susan Bones hurridley finished tying her gold-and-black tie as she filed into the Great Hall along with the students coming in from the Hogwarts Express. Susan herself had forgone the train entirely this year, instead apparating directly into Hogsmead now that she had her liscence, as much to avoid the inevitable questions relating to her aunt's murder - although it had been a year ago now, a few younger students still hadn't got the hint that she didn't want to talk about the matter - than for any other reason. Still making a point of avoiding catching anyone's eye, Susan cast a glance up and down the Hufflepuff table in search of her friend Hannah Abbott, and not seeing her yet, slipped into an empty place near the end of the table closest to the main door instead. Slackening off her finished tie just enough to be comfortable without it looking obviously loose, Susan's other hand slipped into her pocket, clenching around the DA coin. Ever since she'd missed the battle - and her chance to gain revenge for Aunt Amelia's murder - at the end of the previous year, she had hardly let the item out of her sight. She fervently hoped that 'Dumbledore's Army' would be active to oppose the Death Eaters this year.
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Post by Neville Longbottom on Oct 17, 2011 21:15:44 GMT
Just then a brown haired boy walked into the Hall. Neville had grown from the past year, having cut his hair and grown a few inches. But the tall Gryffindor was anything but happy, despite being back at Hogwarts. He stalked angrily into the room, not noticing the ginger-haired Hufflepuff as he entered. How dare they, how could they... He thought in fury. Right when he had tried to get onto the express with Trevor, some short Death Eater woman had told him frogs weren't allowed anymore. After specifically telling her that Trevor was indeed not a frog, but a toad, he recieved a a cut on his face and having his dear pet killed.
But just Trevor's death hadn't caused him this much enragement. The fact that the people who had made his parents go insane were now teaching at the school. He wanted nothing to do with them, or this newly made Hogwarts. But he had to stay, for the old Hogwart's sake. He sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table, glaring angrily at the greasy-haired man who sat at the front of the room. Maybe if he was lucky Seamus or someone he knew would show up.
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Post by Luna Lovegood on Oct 18, 2011 17:58:31 GMT
Luna stood in the Hall, dripping wet from the rain outside. Her grey eyes were without their usual twinkle and a smile was absent from her face to be replaced with a tight-lipped frown. She lifted her head to meet Susan Bones and Neville. Her expression shifted slightly into a small half-smile at the sight of her friend and former D.A ally.
"Hello Neville." Luna said, her voice had yet to lose it's dream-like quality "I'm sorry about Trevor....if it makes you feel better you were right, he was a toad."
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Post by Neville Longbottom on Oct 18, 2011 21:36:01 GMT
Neville looked up and felt a wave of relief go through him at the sight of his Ravenclaw friend. "Oh, Hi Luna." he greeted her, losing some of the anger in his voice. For some reason, whenever he saw the laid-back 16 year old he felt more... Calm. Even at the darkest of times she still was content. He frowned at what she told him. It seemed like the news of the incident had spread around quickly. "Thanks, but I wasn't that upset," he said, half embaressed that she thought he was so angry over the loss of his pet. "I'm just ticked off about this whole 'new' Hogwarts. It's not the same anymore."
Then again, nothing had been the same ever since Dumbledore had died. With Voldemort ruling over the school now, Neville wasn't even sure if they had even put up their former headmaster's portrait in the tower. But the sullen Gryffindor didn't want to make Luna upset too. "So," he said, looking up and down at her soaking robes. "How was the train ride for you? I didn't see you guys."
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Elvira Glace
Gryffindor 
Seventh-Year
Nothing compares to the harsh rath of winter - except me
Posts: 10
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Post by Elvira Glace on Oct 19, 2011 7:39:53 GMT
A small sigh escapred Elivra's lips as she entered the great hall. She had hoped more of her friends had already been awaiting her, but she was thankfull Neville and Luna were already talking together. The students and the 'old' teachers needed to stick together, no matter what house. Except Slytherin of course. Elvira was more than happy to jinx one, even if she got a lashing or two.
"Hey Luna, Neville." Elvira nodded with a soft smile, hiding her anger and her fear which she had locked away. She had to wear a strong and brave figure for the younger students.
Instead of trying to start a conversation with them and let her guard slip, she retreated to a seat a good meter away from them, no matter how much she longed to sit nearer to them.
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Post by Luna Lovegood on Oct 19, 2011 19:29:56 GMT
Luna gave a nod of understanding. Of course Neville was angry, Alecto and Amycus Carrow were two of the Death Eaters who had tortured his parents all those years ago...they were the reason Neville could never know them like he should.
"I'm sorry, Neville." she said softly "You're right...it's not the same...but we can't give up hope. Harry's going to win. He always finds a way and we have to be strong for him."
Harry, Ron and Hermione were gone...off somewhere and could be captured or dead for all they knew. Dumbledore, the last great protection again You-Know-Who was dead...and Snape, his murderer, was now Headmaster. Things would never be the same.
"The train ride was...interesting." Luna said, purposefully leaving out the fight with the Slytherins.
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Post by Ginny Weasley on Oct 19, 2011 19:46:07 GMT
If possible, Ginny looked even wetter than Luna as she entered the hall, sweeping her dripping red hair back from her face. She had remained behind on the platform a while after the others - if she was honest enough, some part of her had been subconciously waiting for Harry before she remembered that he wasn't going to be here. Because of this, she'd not only missed the carriages (although unlike Harry the year before, she'd been lucky enough not to get locked out of the grounds too) but had caught the worst of the storm on her way up to the castle as well. As soon as she sat down across from Neville, she stripped off her sodden outer robes and dumped them in an unceremonious heap on the bench beside her.
"Eventful." she replied, having arrived just in time to overhear Neville's question. "You know, Death Eaters, Slytherins... Hufflepuff Prefects... the lot." Like Neville she, too, cast a glance towards Snape, her eyes narrowing as she took in the unwelcomingly familiar form of their new headmaster. One way or another, she would be willing to bet that the former potion-master wouldn't outlast the year in his new position, although she didn't say as much out loud.
"Have I missed anything?" she asked instead.
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Post by Maria Lexton on Oct 20, 2011 7:18:26 GMT
Maria stepped into the Great Hall. Unlike other people, she had taken great care to make sure her appearance was put together before entering. She had changed out of her wet clothing and was now clad in her school uniform, minus the traditional sweater and plus a grey argyle sweatervest of her own. Her hair was perfectly done and showed no indication of the downpour occurring just outside. placing her hand on her hips and scanning the crowd, taking social inventory of who was there, was they were doing, and who it was doing with. It was a habit she had picked up long ago. Keeping track of alliances allowed her to know the right people to speak to when she wanted something done, and who would follow along once that particular person was on board. She drifted in the doorway and slowly took a small notepad and pencil out of her pocket and began to scribble notes.
Her eyes first settled on Gryffindor, and therefore Neville and Ginny. She knew that with Potter gone, they would be the people to talk to. Her one big regret is that she never really managed to get "in" with Potter, or at the very least Hermione and Ron. The power they wielded as the heads of Dumbledore's Army would have allowed her a great springboard to the entire Gryffindor House, and a good portion of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Alas, they were all too often on their own little missions to socialize with properly, and Maria was too poor of a wand-wielder to join DA herself.
With the Gryffindor triumvirate missing or sick, however, a power vacuum had emerged, one she had no doubt Ginny would fill. There was no secret of her "special relationship" with Harry Potter and no doubt that special relationship would carry volumes when it came time for a DA leader. If Maria had anyone who was top priority courting, it was her. Maria circled the name.
As for Neville...well, at the very least he was loyal. He reminded her more of members of her own house than Gryffindor, but she LIKED her house. Plus, as a 7th year, he allowed her access to the top-tier talent. Maria put a check next to the name.
Sitting a few feet away was another Gryffindor, Elvira...something. Maria admitted that she didn't know much about Elvira. The only thing she really knew about the girl was that she was much too boisterous to be of much use to Maria's cause. She'd be more likely to be staring a fight then settling them. There was enough cowboys/cowgirls in Slytherin to have to deal with that she didn't need a Gryffindor one on top of it. Maria put an X next to the name.
Her eyes switched to Luna, the only Ravenclaw. Maria admitted there was probably not much utility in trying to recruit Luna. Not very well regarded by the populous, closely associated with Potter but not to any great advisory level, not really big in her House's leadership...and yet, Maria liked her personally. Quite a bit actually. Whenever she was around Luna, she always seemed to smile a little bit brighter and feel a little bit happier. She couldn't explain it, but so long as it didn't hinder the mission she was inclined to indulge it. Besides, of the "Potter group", Luna was the closest one to wanting a Third Option in the battle. Maria circled the name.
She finally turned to her own House, only to find it mostly empty. Susan Bones was the only notable face. Susan was definitely still reeling from her Aunt's murder, and it was driving her closer and closer to wanting to fight instead of negotiate. While Maria didn't blame her for the feeling, it made her attempt to turn Hufflepuff into a diplomat between the sides that little bit harder. She had put an X next to Bones name long before either arrived. Still, however, she was Hufflepuff prefect. She couldn't just ignore a Hufflepuff-in-need simply because of a pet project.
Pocketing her notepad, she made her way towards the tail-end of the Hufflepuff table.
"Hello, Susan! We missed you on the train. How have you been?"
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Post by Susan Bones on Oct 20, 2011 19:02:40 GMT
Leaving her coin safely in the pocket of her robes, Susan withdrew that hand and ran it over her face once before looking up at her addressor. She recognised the prefect from the year below her almsot instantly. "Maria," she returned, acknowledging the other girl before she answered. "As good as can be expected with you-know-who and his murderers running about free," she replied darkly. Not wanting to continue on that subject right now, however, the older girl instead gave a nod to acknowledge the fact that she had been missed. "I apparated in," she responded, rubbing her leg which still seemed to sting at the memory of her first near-disasterous apparation, when she'd left it behind. Fortunately, she hadn't splinched herself anything like that serverely since then. "I felt confident enough - and I wanted to avoid the questions about Auntie Amelia." she grimaced slightly. "Some of those second-years are still trying to get me to talk about her murder."
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Post by Maria Lexton on Oct 21, 2011 1:20:22 GMT
Maria frowned, more out of an attempt to appear sympathetic than an actual uncontrolled emotional response. It wasn't that she didn't feel for Susan, it was just that years of political limelight had left her in full control of her physical reactions.
"I'm sorry. I'm afraid sometimes curiosity gets the best of the less mature students. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help ease your tension."
Maria watched Susan's eyes, not really knowing what else to say. It was obvious Susan wasn't in the talking mood, and Maria had much more pressing matters to deal with than to play therapist, but at the same time she didn't feel right leaving an obviously troubled Housemate alone.
"I'm going to go do a quick sweep of the room, see who else is about. If you need me, just wave to me. I'll see you, alright?" she said, alright beginning to move towards the Gryffindor table as she spoke.
Stepping towards the group, she nodded. "Luna, Ginny, hello again. Neville, you were missed on the train. I don't know if we've ever been properly introduced. I am Maria Kennedy Lexton, Hufflepuff Prefect. I hope your summer was as pleasant as the current political climate will allow..."
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Post by Neville Longbottom on Oct 22, 2011 0:10:53 GMT
Neville looked at Luna hopefully. At least she was rather optimistic. He watched as Ginny sat down at the Gryffindor table. Was it really raining that badly outside? "That... Certainly does sound interesting," he said slowly. He clenched his fists, trying to hold in his resentment. "God, if I had been there those Death Eaters would think twice before around here." Neville knew he was probably exaggerating more than he should be, but at this point he didn't care.
He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to smite some of his growing stress. How he wished Harry and Ron were here. Especially Hermione, she was so smart she'd know what to do for sure. But he had to keep it together. "Nah, you hven't missed much. The Sorting Ceremony hasn't even started yet." he answered Ginny. He shook his head. "Those poor first years, they don't know what they've gotten themselves into."
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Meanwhile, Michael stood outside the doors of the hall, soaking wet from head to toe. Instead of entering Hogwarts through te traditional way by boat, the poor boy and the other first years were forced to walk to the school while a few lucky other students got to ride in the carriages. He had seen the strangest creatures pulling those carriages, black demonic looking horses. He wasn't sure why the others didn't see them, but he had pitied the poor things for their terrible condition. They looked like they hadn't gotten a good meal in forever, and he could of sworn he saw that female Death Eater whip one of them.
So there he stood, waiting to be sorted into whatever house was forced to take him in. Not like they would want him or anything. So far his time at Hogwarts was going miserably. Figures, since nothing had seemed to do him any good for awhile now. While the other students talked quietly, he just stood farther off from them. He was too busy being shrouded by the dark thoughts filling his mind to even care about making friends.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2011 8:54:44 GMT
"Ah... hey." Recognising the other boy, Michael, from the train, Abby sidled up next to him. Their conversation had hardly been long enough for the two to claim to know each other at all, but his was still a face she recognised. Like the male, Abby was soaked through, and she shivered slightly. The girl's tie still hung undone around her neck, not out of disregard for the uniform, but simply because she had no idea how to tie it. It wasn't a skill she'd ever needed. Dad had promised he's show her how to, but... he and mum had vanished before he could. And she didn't have quite enough confidence to ask another student to do it for her. She could only hope her ignorance in this case wouldn't get her into too much trouble - or that someone would offer to help her with it without her having to say anything.
"A-are you as nervous about this as I am?" she asked Michael, glancing around the entrance hall and then back at the huddle of the rest of the first-years.
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Susan sighed. "But it's been a full year now." she replied to the back of Maria's head as the prefect made her excuses and headed for the Gryffindor table, although the ginger-haired girl didn't pursue the matter. She knew she wasn't the most pleasant company anymore, and could hardly blame the younger girl for seeking someone who wasn't wallowing in bitterness against You-Know-Who to talk to.
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Ginny absently nodded, still facing the front of the hall as Neville spoke. The first-years were certainly in for a rough time of it this year, and she felt a little sympathy for them. Her thoughts, however, had been diverted from the conversation when Maria had addressed Neville, thinking again over the prefect's words on the train. About Ginny herself being the new leader of the DA.
The concept made the girl feel a little uncomfortable. Not the idea of restarting Dumbledore's Army, or even of taking a prominent role in it, but the thought of leading it... Ginny didn't want to do it alone. Even if Harry had intended for her to help continue it while he was off stopping You-Know-Who, even he could never have asked that much of her. But who else...? Her eyes slowly refocussed on her two friends.
Of course.
Since Maria was still trying to engage her housemate in conversation, Ginny leant instead towards Luna, speaking in a whisper. "If you can manage it, meet me and Neville tonight in the Room of Requirement. We need to talk in private."
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Post by Michael Spyre on Nov 7, 2011 22:39:55 GMT
Michael looked up to see...That girl. From the train ride. "Hi," he greeted her, emotion absent from his voice. He shrugged at he second question. "I'm...not quite sure." he admitted. He knew he usually wouldn't care, but there were a lot of people in there. And he didn't do well in crowds at all. "Uh...Abby right?" he asked. He avoided her gaze for a moment. "You don't think Those bad people will actually hurt us, do you?" Michael didn't like the staff. Well, the two he had seen on the train ride that was. They had been willing to hurt someone, and Michael was starting to question his own safety.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2011 22:07:26 GMT
Abby nodded to acknowledge that he'd got her name right, but was clearly more interested in replying to his following statement. She had almost thought that those two 'teachers' had looked oddly familiar, and now it struck her. "I saw the ones from the train on wanted posters in Diagon Alley, just before You-Know-Who took over." she whispered back, feeling a thrill of danger shoot down her spine. "They're supposed to be his followers... Death Eaters." Her eyes darted around, as if expecting one of them to be listening over her shoulder, and when no-one untoward was standing there, continued. "I think we ought to avoid them - they were supposed to be dangerous. I bet You-Know-Who..." she glanced around fearfully once again "...put them here to spy on the school. On the professors. On us."
(OOC: Perhaps, Professor McGonagall, you'd like to come in now? If I remember correctly, she's the one who usually gets the first-years ready and leads them into the hall, right? I know we don't have many first-years right now... but I suppose the rest can just be NPCs until they're applied for, so that we can perhaps get this thread moving.)
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Post by Luna Lovegood on Dec 27, 2011 19:08:14 GMT
(Sorry for the incredibly long absence)
Luna looked up at Ginny curiously at the mention of the Room of Requirement, the Ravenclaw had been lost in a train of her own thoughts and so hadn't been listening to the preceeding conversation. A flicker of recognition passed over her face when she saw Maria, the Hufflepuff prefect from the train ride.
"I love the Room of Requirement." Luna mused twisting a strand other blonde hair around her fingers "It's not as infested with Slack-jawed jibberbats...the third-floor corridor is teeming with them."
Then the Ravenclaw's gaze went to the crowd of first years gathering...they didn't know just how big of a mess they were entering into. She was sure that the D.A would be there to help them if anything went very sour. It was up to them to protect those who couldn't stand up for themselves.
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