Opening Feast 1995/1996 (All Hogwarts Student and Staff)

John was biting his lip nervously as they waited in line to be sorted. One of the teachers had explained to them how it would work, but he had been barely able to listen and was now still slightly confused as to how an old hat should know which house they belonged in. Much of his excitement came from the unknown idea of being put in one house with people he had never met before, but John already loved the idea of having something like a family here at Hogwarts. Though he was wondering which house he would be sorted into. Slytherin did not seem very likely, he thought, glancing at the banner which carried a huge snake. Perhaps Gryffindor or Hufflepuff then? Or Ravenclaw? He sighed and shook his head. He just wouldn't be able to tell, so he had to wait for his turn.

Sebastian was standing next to John, a slightly bored expression on his pale face. There was no doubt in his mind that, like his older brother, he would end up in Ravenclaw. No other house would be suitable to a brain like his, as his thirst for knowledge overwhelmed everything else that might be present in him. He did not know anyone in Ravenclaw, yet, but that would not prove a problem as he did not make a habit of spending his time with other people anyway. A sigh from his side drew Sebastian’s attention to his friend and he noticed the way the other boy's eyes seemed to go from banner to banner. Obviously, he was, like many other first years, wondering in which house he would be sorted. A minute smile flittered over his face and he leaned a little closer to speak without being overheard. "Which quality do you value more? Loyalty or Bravery?" he whispered, knowing that Slytherin and even Ravenclaw were quite out of the question.

John started lightly when a whisper came from his side, but he relaxed again upon recognizing his friend's familiar voice. The question was a difficult one and he could not answer it right away, as both traits were immensely valuable to him. His clan had taught him that bravery was something that every man or woman had to look for in themselves. Not everyone found it, but John had done so and he knew that he would never back down from danger, no matter what risk existed. But loyalty wasjust as important as bravery. In John's opinion, everyone should be loyal, faithful and honest. Not everyone could be brave, some people just did not have it in them, but everyone could be loyal. "I don't know, both are important to me." he whispered back at last, a frown on his forehead.

Sebastian sighed irritably at the indecisive nature of reply. What was he supposed to make of "both are important"? "Then you will just have to wait. Now stop squirming like a little child, you'll be called up soon." he snapped impatiently and pulled back again, his eyes going towards the stool on which the sorting hat was resting; silent for now. Sebastian was already hoping that the whole sorting feast would be over soon and that he would be able to withdraw to his dormitory. He absolutely hated gatherings such as these.

David sat at the Gryffindor table, anxiously awaiting the food, as he was starving. He wasn't talking though, as he was still bothered about learning about who is father really was, and how he died when everyone believed the was a traitor.

George was waiting for the meal to begin as well. He couldn't help but feel like he had to constantly look over his shoulder... the world was no longer safe, and there were no order members save for the teachers to protect them.

Zack was as carefree as ever, boasting to everyone who would listen (so no one) about his summer holiday to Australia. Talking about how he went toe to toe with a Kangeroo (which was a lie) and almost died from the heat, saved only by his expertise at magic (which was also a lie)

Ethan covered his ears with his hands as he stared at his plate blankly. The last thing he needed was Smith blabbing. This was the first start of the year feast that he did not have Robert by his side... and he didn't even have Vanessa to comfort him, as she was dead as well. Not to mention Cedric diggory having died last year. Ethan wondered why the hell he hadn't joined them yet.

Annabelle sat with her sister as she awaited the damn feast to start. She may be watching her figure, but that did not include freaking starving to death while Mudbloods got sorted.

Daphne sat next to her sisters, calmly observing the new students gather in front of the teachers' table to wait for their sorting. "I hope we will get some capable students for our house..." she commented thoughtfully, her judging gaze settling on a few children that looked quite promising. 

Neville took his seat next to David and nodded calmly in greeting. "Although I hope this year will be better than the last, I somehow have quite a bad feeling." he said quietly, his eyes holding a haunted expression for a moment as he remembered what had occured at the end of their fourth year.

Ian hurried into the Great Hall and sat down next to Ethan, chuckling a little at the expression on the other boy's face. "He never shuts up, does he?" he whispered, glancing at Zack with a long suffering sigh. He knew of Ethan's losses that happened the last year and he felt very sympathic.

It was the first evening of her last year at Hogwarts, and Carmen couldn’t figure out if she was more excited or nostalgic. This would be the last sorting feast that she would attend. It was the last time that she would be applauding any new Ravenclaws or leading them up to their common room. But it also meant that at the same time the following year, she may be starting out in a new job, or starting her higher education. Or perhaps she would be travelling. Whatever she was going to be doing, she knew that she was looking forward to it. And so she sat, shooting quick glances toward the Slytherin table, as she waited for the feast to begin.

-----

Another year at Hogwarts, but this time Allison was arriving without her brother in tow. Even though dealing with his death had become a little easier over the summer and with the help of Ivy Crouch, she was still not sure that she even wanted to return to school. The summer had brought endless days of sleeping and crying and whispered conversations with the last piece of her brother’s mother. But she wasn’t going to let what happened keep her down forever, and so she took a seat at the Ravenclaw table with her head held high.

-----

Lavender smiled softly as her gaze landed on the Gryffindor table and a familiar head of dark hair caught her eye. Within a few moments, her arms were around her best friend’s shoulders and she was almost happy enough to laugh genuinely. Almost. She sat down next to David, on the opposite side to Neville and pulled Pavarti into the seat on her other side. She was at least going to pretend to smile this year, no matter how much she just wanted to curl up in the familiar bed of her dormitory and sleep away the days until she could return home once again. “Hello,” she said to David, almost flinching when she realised that though she had gotten used to it, she was sure that David would notice that the therapy she’d undergone over the summer hadn’t worked. Her voice would always be more on the broken side, she’d been told, and she would likely be unable to scream or sing again. But she persevered, “how was your summer?”

-----

Blaise strode into the Great Hall, not even looking around as he sat down in his usual seat at the Slytherin table. He didn’t intend to try and begin conversation with anyone, unless someone whom he actually considered a friend arrived. Instead he simply sat in silence, his gaze trained cooly upon the staff table.

-----


Bored as ever, Nelle turned to look at Zack Smith from a little down the table. Attractive as he may be, it was almost impossible to miss the way that he thought he was the world’s gift to everyone. “Nobody actually cares, Smith,” the brunette drawled, an arched eyebrow raised in amusement, “perhaps you should try and talk just to your friends.. although, I’m not sure that I see any.”

-----

Astoria sat between Annabelle and Daphne, her hair in a tight bun and her expression collected. Her gaze drifted to her favourite Hufflepuff for just a moment before her mother’s words from that summer rang in her ears. The girl had no idea how her mother had known of her friendship with Ian, but she’d sure heard enough about it over her months at home that she didn’t dare give one of her nosey housemates to write home to their mothers about. Astoria had no idea what her mother thought was wrong with Ian. She’d been under the impression that all that was cared about in her family was pure blood, which he had, but apparently that was not all. Yet Astoria wasn’t planning on letting that make much of a difference, since she was pretty sure that the woman whom birthed her had said little of a reason, and just that she ought to ‘find better company’. All holidays, which was why she was so glad to be sat once again in the castle where she could actually do what she wanted. “I hope so, too,” she agreed with her older sister, “we may actually win the house cup this year.”

-----

Theresa’s day had been long, as she’d travelled by muggle car all the way to King’s Cross from her country home before boarding the train to Hogwarts. But that didn’t mean that she was any less thrilled to be there, so as she sat, she smiled at one of the students at her table and said, “I can’t wait to get back into the common room. I’ve missed it so much up there!”

-----

Cinnia placed her hand over Soraya’s and squeezed it briefly before separating from her sister and heading over to her own house table. She offered Astoria and her sisters a small smile, but didn’t sit with them since they were sitting together. Instead she sat at a more sparsely occupied part of the table and casually rested her chin on her knuckles, slightly impatient for the feast to start, and in turn be over with.

-----

James waved to his brother as the older boy went to join his own house at their table, while he made his way to the Gryffindor one. Dropping into an empty space on the bench, he turned to one of his housemates and said in quick succession, “hopefully the food will be out soon. How was your summer?”

Annabelle giggled at her sister's comments "We're Slytherin, we get the most worthy to be wizards and witches." However she turned slightly sour when the house cup was mentioned "As long as the muggle lover Is Headmaster, he will always rig the house cup system to Potter's house wins. We were screwed right up the [Censor because little kids may read this and its not rated M, but anyone who is old enough will most likely understand what I mean) when Perfect little Potter arrived"

Zack just snorted at Nelle "Maybe you should look at yourself, I don't see anyone who actually cares what you have to think either"

Ethan just gave a short nod to Ian. "of all the Hufflepuff's to not die.. he's the worst" He mumbled

David nodded "I think everyone with Brains have bad feelings. With Lord Voldemort back and most of the world not believing that bad is all that can happen this year." David then flashed a small smile at Lavender. He could tell she was still not back to normal, but neither was he. He had not told anyone about what his father really had been. Not even Mio. He knew he had to tell them.. but he wasn't ready. However gladdened he was to learn his father was not a bad guy, it was still hard to cope with. So he said "About as fun as yours." He kissed her forehead lightly.
(Sel are we going to finish our Kate/Medusa thread? or our Jack/Syrnix thread?
and Tess are we going to finish our Lav/David thread?)

Stacy walked into the Great Hall and soon over her house table, which was hufflepuff. She sat down somewhere was empty. She really wasn't into talking with anyone. She probably knew few people who were here so she waves to them. After that she was quiet like usual her actually most of times since she wasn't sure what to say there now.

Rachel was leaning on her elbows on the table, gazing at the wooden table. Summer holidays were, how to say that...fun but awkward. Most of the days Rachel spend in her room or in the garden. Being back felt good but leaving her mother was still giving her a stomach ache even though her mother was perfectly capable of looking out for herself. Rachel glanced at the Slytherin table, letting her eyes fall on her twinsister. Rachel smiled thinking back at the days they had fun with only the two of them. Rachel turned her head to the Gryffindor table searching for her older brother. Rachel sighed as she saw David but did not spend long looking at him. It was not going to happen, never and she should be focusing on something else or someone else. Rachel ended her staring at her siblings and ended at the headtable. She needed to pull herself up a bit more to see her father sitting. Always the dark expression on his face. Rachel held her gaze at him, hoping he would gaze back at her.