Hogwarts: The Next Generation

[Adana Phoenix]

The Great Hall looked spectacular for the traditional Sorting and Feast that follows; Adana could hardly ever remember it looking as well as it did this night. Her opinion could have been biased, however, for she had overseen the decorations this year personally, instead of leaving it up to Saffron and the rest of the Staff. Indeed, she dearly missed Saffron by her side; she had retired early, claiming that she was sick, or something along those lines, and refused to allow the School Nurse patch her up, insisting that bed rest is all that she needed. It was the first year that Saffron had not attended the Sorting or Feast.

Adana looked around the Great Hall, admiring the beauty it resonated. Hundreds of candles were lit and floating in the air, just out of reach of the tallest student, and shone a yellow light upon the entire stone room. The walls and floors had been scrubbed religiously free of all spiderwebs, insects, and dust; the result was that the gray slabs of stone shone as brightly as gray stone could. Upon the walls, between the glassless windows, hung four large banners, one for each Hogwarts House in its respective colors and symbol. The cieling was one that always astonished newcomers, even those who knew about it ahead of time, for it was magicked to mimic the exact weather outside, and alctually looked as if there were no cieling there at all. Adana enjoyed watching First Years view the sight for the first time; it reminded her of her first day at Hogwarts many years ago.

The noise of the students welcoming their newly Sorted companions, as well as seeing familiar faces they had missed on the Hogwarts Express, brought Adana's attention to hand. For a few moments, she observed the four tables covered with black table cloths donning the House's symbol along the center, all ligned up neatly with the Slytherin Table being teh closest to the Entrance Hall door, and ending with Gryffindor at the opposite end of the room. Adana herself currently sat at the High Table, located on a dais above the rest of the tables, in one of two large and elegant chairs reserved for the Headmistresses of Hogwarts, one of which was empty. Her stomach rumbled; she hadn't eaten a thing all day in anticipation of the Feast that night.

Finally, Adana stood, waiting for studnets to notice her, which they did realtively fast. She smiled at them all and began her beginning-of-the-year speech.

"Welcome, old student, new students, and staff, to yet another year at Hogwarts School of Wicthcraft and Wizardry!" She allowed a moment for cheers of excited students and sneers by those who thought doing so would be beneath them. "As many of you know, I am Headmistress Phoenix, co-headmistress with Headmistress Kirke, who is currently detained. I shall not keep you long, for I know you all are hungry, and believe me, I am as well; so I will get to the point of the matter. You all know school rules, you may read the Student Handbook at any time, but just to refresh your memory, The Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students, as is the Forbidden Corridor, swimming in the Lake after sunset, roaming the halls after hours, sneaking into other Houses which you have not been Sorted into, hazing new students, and torturing the Whomping Willow. No student under their Third Year will be permitted to visit Hogsmeade, under any circumstances. You all know what items are forbidden, there is a list in your Common Room informing you of those items."

Adana paused slightly before continuing her speech. "There are some additional rules and announcements this year that every student will want to know and heed. After the downfall of Voldemort, the Ministry made many promises to certain creatures about increasing their respect and rank in law and wizarding society, if only they would take the Ministry's side and not Voldemort's. After the Minister was assassinated, he very well coul dnot keep his promises anymore, but those creatures still hold a magical contract with the Ministry and have been demanding their rights. The Ministry has informed us only days ago that there will be new students this year - the descendants of the creatures who risked their lives by turning away from Voldemort when he needed supporters. These students, although they may not have the same prowess, appearance, or personality as you, will be respected while they attend Hogwarts. They are now worthy creatures of learning, and we at Hogwarts will be the first to accept people of the Elf kind, Vampires, Werewolves, Vila, Giants, Goblins, and possibly others as well in the future. They have been Sorted among you, and will now share your dormitories, classes, and lives. I expect nothing less than accpetance from all of you.

And now, it is time for a toast." Adana picked up her goblet and waited for everyone to follow suit. "To a new year at Hogwarts. May it be a happy, exciting, and peaceful year for all of us." She took a sip of her drink, and everyone else followed. "And now, let the Feast begin!"

On every table, golden plates filled with a wide variety f every delicious food one could dream of. Adana sat down at her table and began heaping food onto her own golden plate. She knew that despite her hopefulness expressed in her toast that it would not be a peaceful year, not when old prejudices and vendettas spread like wild fire at Hogwarts and animosity builds between students. She pushed this out of her mind, and tried to focus on enjoying her meal.

((OOC: Students may now post here!))

[Belle Madden]

Belle listened, bored, to the Headmistress' welcome and introduction, and then to her words on the forbidden areas and items, grinning slightly. As usual, she was sure that she would bend the rules.

As she spoke of additional rules, though, Belle frowned, looking up curiously. When Adana went on to explain that other races were now being admitted into Hogwarts, Belle gave a small smile. That would be interesting, to meet others who were not witches and wizards. She sat thoughtfully while the Hufflepuffs surrounded her murmured between themselves.

She found that it was interesting, and, she thought, a good move of the Ministry, treating other races with equal respect to their own. Though, a couple of those races, giant and elves in particular, did not seem a clever idea. Giants were someone beast like. How were they ever supposed to keep up with lessons, let alone learn to speak fluently? And elves, did they truly even like the idea? They liked to serve witches and wizards, she had never heard of one wanting to be taught in a school. Still, Belle would certainly treat all as she treated regular students.

A grin came over Belle's face as food appeared on the tables. She had been quite lost in thought, and had not been listening to the Headmistress.

Glancing over the table, she frowned. Most of the food in her region was meat, it seemed. Belle was a vegeterian, refusing to go anywhere near meat. She stood up, moving down a few seats, hoping she would not be told off by a teacher, prefect or head boy or girl. She eventually sat down, content enough with vegetables, though she couldn't see any food specially prepared for vegetarians. She glanced up at the Headmistress as she reached for some mixed vegetables.

[Sarah Lupin]

Sarah sat on the Gryffindor table, watching as the young eleven year olds were put into their houses. She cheered loudly for those who came to sit down on the table she sat by.

She listened intently to Adana's speech, but drifted away into thought eventually. Sarah was drawn back to the world as she heard the word 'werewolves'. Looking up, she glanced about wildly, before her gaze fell on the headmistress. She relaxed as she grasped what was being said; that other races were now being allowed into Hogwarts. She forced herself to keep tuned in for the rest of the talk, before gladly turning, and helping herself to some pumpkin soup and roast chicken.

[Michael Smith]

Michael glanced boredly at his friend, Damien, who sat beside him. "Now for the boring lecture," he whispered, giving a finger to a first year passing to sit on the Hufflepuff table. The little boy gave him a frightened glance, and hurried past. Michael snorted.

He glanced abscently at the headmistress, not paying much attention at first. When, though, she mentioned the new students of different races joining Hogwarts, he looked at her in disbelief, as if he expected her to say she was just joking, then turning his incredulous gaze to Damien, to see how he was reacting. Glancing about, he caught sight of a giant, who stood out being so tall, and a Vila. He shook his head, looking at his friend again.

"She's letting them invade our school? It's awful enough to let the mudbloods infect us, but those mutts?" he spoke quite loudly, pausing momentarily, before smirking slightly, "We'll be able to have some fun with 'em, at least. As she says, we will accept them completely." He chuckled to himself. "The giants may be big, but they're dumb. All of them will be easy to get some entertainment out of."

((OOC: Do you mind my saying that Damien is sitting next to him? If so, I can change it. Out of interest, do you RP any other characters; what one/s?))

[Damien Lorenzo]

Damien sat down at the Slytherin Table, more than ready to for the Sorting Feast to begin. When the Headmistress began her boring speech, Damien began to daydream about Morgana, reliving their Diagon Alley meeting. The word specie caight his attention - he was sure she had never mentioned anything about species in her previous annual speech - and paid a bit more attention. He gathered that she was allowing those of other species attend Hogwarts, judging by the rest of her speech.

Damien did the toast, deep in thought. He really should hate the thought that they were here, those creatures that aren't even human, but he couldn't seem to focus on the thought long. After all, Morgana was part Vila, and she didn't seem so bad, plus, she was majorly hot. His gaze traveled from the golden plates that were brimming full of food, to the Gryffindor Table's direction, where Morgana was surely sitting and telling her friends exactly what she thought about the subject.

Suddenly, Damien was aware that someone was watching him. Looking beside him, he realized that Michael was talking to him, and expected a response. "Oh, yeah, I know... they got brute strength, though, and besides that, I thought they were supposed to have a protective magic that allows them to repel our kind of magic from their bodies... I just hope I don't get stuck by a Vampire. If I do, I swear, I'll make a spell if one doesn't already exist about shining light out of my wand, and not that artificial light that the Lumos charm gives off, but real, sunlight... Show them a thing or two about cruelty."

((OOC: No, I don't mind. Adana and Damien, although I am thinking of maybe making a new character...))

This post has been edited by Damien Lorenzo on Feb 16 2007, 06:11 PM

[Michael Smith]

Michael smirked when Damien didn't respond instantly. He followed the other's gaze to see, as he had suspected, that Damien was staring at the table Morgana sat upon.

"We could come up with something against those stupid giants. And, for the vampires, I'm sure it would be easy enough to create a spell giving true sunlight. Though, if you're so frightened of them, why don't you get some garlic? There's some garlic bread just there." He nodded to a bowl just an armlength from them.

"You still seem distracted. I saw you staring with that dreamy look towards the Gryffindor Table. Did you see your girlfriend?" he teased.

[Damien Lorenzo]

"Hey," said Damien sharply, "I am not afraid of Vampires, I just don't like them, amd garlic makes my breath smell bad. And so what if I have a girlfriend? I'm making up lost time for you, you know." Damien took a long drink form his goblet. "Sometime, I wonder... ah, never mind, you'll only get angry. Planning something on Giants, eh? I might be able to go with that."

He glanced once more in Morgana's direction, but she wasn't paying him any attention. Most likely, she didn't even know he was looking, or else she was messing with him. Either way, he looked back at his plate and began piling a variety of delicious food on it.

"So are you looking forward to having classes again?" he asked Damien between bites of food.

[Michael Smith]

Michael scowled as Damien replied about making up his lost time, and the scowl deepened as he decided not to tell him something. Michael hated not knowing something, even small things that mean nothing.

"What do you wonder?" he pressed, "What would I get angry about? And you'll have to give me a hand with the Giant thing. Making up for my lost time, eh? I don't think so."

At his friend's next question, Michael snorted loudly. He replied, sarcasm dripping from his words, "Oh, yeah, I'm really looking forward to classes, I'm really looking forward to getting detention every day and sitting in the commonroom doing homework, and being forced to study hard to get good grades for my last year! Oh, yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. And are you?"

[Damien Lorenzo]

Damien hid a grin; he knew Michael would bite. He hated being left out of the deal. "What would you get angry about? Well, let's just say on more than one occasion I've been asked if you even had an interest in girls, at all... And sometimes I wonder if they had been on the right train of thought."

He took a bite of food. "Classes? Not particularly. But I do enjoy Quidditch, even if I'm not the best at the sport, especially flying, and Quidditch doesn't start until classes start... so, yeah, in a way I am looking forward to classes."

[Michael Smith]

Michael glared at his friend after his comment, shaking his head slightly. As Damien replied about classes, Michael smirked, before a grin came over his face as Damien went on about Quidditch.

"Quidditch! I'm Slytherin Captain and one of the beaters; you better join the team. You need to sign up straight away. No one else has, yet. I'm currently the entire Quidditch team. And I know you're pretty good at Quidditch," his voice was grudging; it was rare to get such a compliment from Michael, though, "So you'd be good in the team. Sign up!"

[Damien Lorenzo]

Damien gave his friend a sly look and debated replying with a smart alleck answer, but decided aginst it, instead turning back to his plate of food. No use in getting him pissed off, thought Damien as he tried some pie.

"Even if I were horrible, you'd still let me join for the mere fun of watching me fail or humiliate myself. But I suppose I could join... I guess I could take the position of the Keeper, if it means that much to you."

[Michael Smith]

"Not if you don't want to. I mean, there are so many other Slytherins, it's just that you are a bit better than average. Many, though, are better than you. But I want a team, and none of the best players have signed up. You are okay at it, so you can join. I don't want any losers in the team, so I need to gather up a couple of people. It just seems that nobody wants to be in the team. It is merely a suggestion, Damien!" Michael's response was somewhat snappy.

Helping himself to some more food, he took a mouthful of chicken while waiting for Damien's reply.

[Damien Lorenzo]

"You know what I think your attitude problem is?" asked Damien, annoyed with his friend's attitude over nothing. "I think I got a little to close to the truth for your comfort, and this is your way of acting out. Dude, I won't judge you if you really are... into dudes."

He took a piece of chicken himself and bit off a chuck. The one way to make a guy angry is to insult his manhood... and right now, with Michael's attitude and snippy comments about Morgana, he was less than thrilled with his best friend, especially since they'll probably get detentions for what happened on the Hogwarts Express. And on top of it, Michael insulted him by saying there were loads of better players than he was. He knew this was true, but Michael didn't have to say it so bluntly. He made it sound like he was desperate for anyone to join the team.

[Michael Smith]

Michael stared at his friend for a moment, gaping. Quite suddenly, Michael exploded.

"How dare you! How could you so much as think that? You know I don't! Yeah, I have had very few, but I have had a couple of girlfriends, and you know it! You're saying this purposefully to get me angry! I was just playing with you, as friends tease each other! The way you're acting, it's almost as if you don't want to be friends! I was merely frienlily teasing you, and you go right at me! Yeah, you are a good Quidditch player, and I know it! I understand the fact that you have a girlfriend! Happy?"

[Damien Lorenzo]

"Keep your hair on," said Damien calmly, enjoying the fact that he had such a rise out of his friend. In a way, he was siphoning off his anger by teasing his friend. "I'm just... frustrated... and in a bad mood. I know you've had a few girlfriends... and I really shouldn't give you girlfriend advice or criticize you when I can't keep one for long. So just calm down already."

He pushed his empty plate away, doen with thepie for the moment. Instead, he stared broodily at the plate, sulking in a way.

[Michael Smith]

Michael bit his lips, glaring angrily at Damien, before dropping his gaze to his own plate, scraping the last of the food onto his fork and eating it silently.

"You're not the only one. You're frustrated and in a bad mood!" He muttered. Glancing at his friend, he added, "You should be grateful, not angry! I'm the one that talked our way out of as much trouble as I could, you just sat there staring innocently."

[Damien Lorenzo]

Damien sighed. "I know, I know. I couldn't think of anything plausable at the time, not with eye witnesses standing around. I don't even want to think of the trouble we would be in had you not talked our way out of it..."

He looked gloomily at the table. "I need to cheer up. Wanna sneak out tonight? I heard about this club that used to be in Diagon Alley, where Honeydukes is. We can get out through a statue."

((OOC: I was thinking about making a subforum for this as a way for the students to get out and let off steam... tell me what you think, and I may or may not do it.))

This post has been edited by Damien Lorenzo on Feb 16 2007, 10:45 PM

[Michael Smith]

((OOC: What, a subforum for the ride to Hogwarts Express, or Hogwarts Express in general? *Is confused*))

"Yeah, okay. I was actually already planning about sneaking out somewhere, but wasn't sure exactly where... What's this club you're talking about?" Michael's voice was the close as it could possibly be to forgiving. The faintest twitch of a smile came over his face. "Sound's good. But we better make sure we don't get caught. Not on the first night of school."

[Damien Lorenzo]

((OOC: You know how Harry sneaks out in the series to go to Hogsmeade? He uses a statue that leads to Honeydukes' basement. I was thinking of maybe conforming the old Honeydukes place into a club for the students to go to so that they could let off some steam and do whatever. It would be in Hogsmeade.))

"The club... I don't remember where I heard of it, probably just gossip at the end of the school year last year. Anyway, it's supposed to have good music, a tunnel from the castle to the club in Hogsmeade, and it's got drinks, if you're interested in that. I'm pretty sure we can use a spell to disguise ourselves, maybe that one that makes you blend into your environment...."

[Michael Smith]

((Oh, yeah. Okay.))

Michael listened intently, a smirk crossing his face as Damien told him it had drinks, and he grinned as he went on that they could disguise themselves.

"I'll make sure I bring some money for a few drinks," he smirked slightly; it would probably be more than a few, "And theirs loads of spells. We'll be able to do it easy. We'd barely need to disguise ourselves, many would mistake us as adults new from Hogwarts, now we're seventeen... But we better. Okay, we'll go."