Start of Term Feast (Open to Students and Hogwarts Staff)

Guest

Summer had been eventful for Daniel, and he was finally settling in to the life he had now made with his best friend and her son. But of course, comfort was always disrupted, especially when it came to adult life, and soon the school was back open. Which meant he needed to be there during the day.

Today was that day, the first day of September, the first day of the new school year. The first years were going to be arriving, expecting him to give them a speech of some description, before sorting them in to their houses that would shape them in to young adults. He was nervous, this would be his first start of year feast.

Taking his seat in the Great Hall, Daniel took in the sky that was slowly darkening and wondered how excited the students would be. He could remember his own sorting, being sorted in to Slytherin, the pride he'd felt after he'd moved to the table. The way the sorting hat had told him he would do great things, things he hadn't yet seen, but he still hoped to achieve.

Soon the hall would be full of voices, young and old, and Daniel was wondering how many of the children would be told the same thing he was told when he was eleven.

Turning his attention back to the doors, Daniel sat straighter in his chair, ready to make a good impression to those he'd never met.

Guest

"You sure you'll be alright?" Cassana asked her eldest son, two soft hands with various burn marks from her occupation as a Potioneer cusping his face. He was taller than her, him and Phil both had exceeded that last year. His mother had always been worried about him, ever since birth he guessed and he'd come to accept that and cherish her worrisome ways. He nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead, glancing over at his siblings. Just a few feet away Aunt Brooke and Uncle Joe were talking avidly to his best friend, Stephan about something that he couldn't quite make out over the general bustle of the inhabitants of the passerbys.

"I'll be fine," he murmured with a soft grin as he gave her one last parting hug. He gave a nod to his younger brother, Phil, who was on the receiving end of a vicious noogie from his best friend, Corienna. Corienna was grinning all while doing so before catching his eyes and immediately releasing the blonde. Phil glared at his best friend and blew a raspberry at her before starting to carry his stuff on board. Caelan looked over at his little sister, and his youngest sister who was crying into their dad's shoulder while embracing Ellie. His mum immediately rushed over to go and soothe Taela, softly rubbing circles into the metamorphagus' shoulder. Ellie gave a wan smile before grasping her stuff and heading onto the train with him.

All the while, Phil gave bright grins to anyone they passed and nods. Even to the ones who looked confused. There was a thud and as quick as he could Caelan turned to see Corienna elbowing her way past Phil with a snicker. He was looking at her agape before matching her pace and heading down a corridor; hopefully searching for a place for them all to sit. After a few moments of walking he turned his head to see that Stephan had caught up too and was smiling and begun speaking to him.

Hogwarts was everything and nothing like he imagined.

It was beautiful, magnificent, and indescribable. He absolutely loved it. The Sorting Ceremony was a terse affair as he was called before his other two siblings (it was to be him, Gabrielle "Ellie", and then Phillip). He clapped as loudly as he felt comfortable doing so for Corienna and Stephan when they got sorted. Even though Corienna was in a different house than her brother, it didn't seem like it would deter the twins bond. So he hoped it wouldn't for him. After some rather mystifying things and riddles that the Sorting Hat spun (which he understood to be something along the lines of despite him being physically like his brother, his mind was different completely), he was sorted.

"Ravenclaw!"

And so with an encouraging nod towards his siblings he watched them also get sorted as he sat there quietly watching, full of love for his siblings, and excitement for the new school year.

Guest

When Phillip woke up that morning, after whoofing down maybe a pound of breakfast, he eagerly headed towards the station that would take him to a place where everything would change, for the better he hoped. He could honestly say he wasn't too worried about making new friends there, because he'd always have his best friend, and his partners in crime. He got lucky to have Corienna being a few months younger than him, and he knew Caelan was also happy that he had Stephan. Plus, Caelan would have him and Ellie. And Ellie would have him and Caelan always. His biggest fear was that Ellie would date.

Well maybe not this year.

But eventually, she would start wouldn't she? He was terribly overprotective of his little sister, and Hogwarts was full of new people she'd meet and maybe end up liking. To some it would seem an irrational fear, but in reality was totally logical. If he failed his classes he could make them up eventually over the summer or at another time. If he hurt himself from Quidditch he could take a Potion for it. If he screwed up with Corie or with other friends he'd rectify them. Problems could be easily solved, but one of his siblings being heartbroken? He didn't think he could handle that kind of hurt at the knowledge that he had just let his little sister get hurt.

Although they were triplets, they weren't exactly peas in the pod which sucked. He was hoping the three of them being in the same school would equate to them getting closer. As he thought this while stepping onto the station, he felt a familiar presence at his side before he turned to see his best friend walking besides him calmly and confidently with a spring in her step. They shared their usual banter, and their usual smiles as behind them, Caelan was pushing their carts with Ellie whilst talking to their parents and Taela sat on top of their cases. For a moment, Phil glanced behind them before spotting Corie's parents talking avidly with their son, the older twin.

"Are you scared, Phil?" Corie asked as they found a door for them to enter on.

"Me? Never." And he was being honest, he wasn't scared. Wasn't scared of much at all. She gave him a droll look and an eye roll.

"Be real, you little brat," she said pinching his side. He grinned and looped an arm around her shoulders.

"Once more, never," he teased bringing his face close. To which she scowled and in a quick motion brought him down several inches to rub a noogie into his head. Corie was a strong one, but usually she tended not to get so physical. Secretly Phillip prided himself on being the only one to bring this out of her.

After several moments, he was being called forth to the train, he gave his parents a wan smile, kissing his mother's cheek, embracing his father, and peppering the crying Taela's face to soothe her.

"Big brothers and sister will be okay," he assured his favorite sister running a hand through her usually red-turned-brunette by shifting hair and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Promise?" She whimpered, and to that he nodded and kissed her nose tenderly.

"Promise." He said before giving another bright smile to his parents and heading onto the train. After several moments they walked in peace towards a corridor, with every person he met he smiled broadly at them. Even the ones that looked at him strangely. There was no such thing as one having too many friends, after all. After moments of walking in silence with his siblings, he felt a sharp pain in his torso, quickly he snapped his head to see his best friend pushing past him with a snicker. Immediately he rushed to her, before together him and Corie picked a section to stay in.

Hogwarts was like all the books Caelan had read, big and cool. What had really caught his fancy was the surroundings of the school. Those forests were full of secrets and fascinating stories most likely. He was just waiting to tap into that gorgeous land around their future habitat for the next seven years. He smiled brightly as his best friend got sorted and cheered loudier than necessary, screaming and jeering for her. Only after doing the same for her twin of course. With that in mind, after watching Cay get sorted into Ravenclaw (which was the only choice) and then Ellie get sorted into Gryffindor he screamed himself hoarse and smiled twice as large as the Cheshire Cat before getting called up.

After the Sorting Hat's little dialogue, he grinned as he realized he'd be sharing the same house as his little sister.

"Gryffindor!"

As he made his way towards to his sister, they shared a high five and then a brief hug as she grinned and he too grinned; ready to start a new journey here at Hogwarts.

Guest

Although Caelan was the early riser betwixt the three of them, Ellie woke up early enough to beat both her siblings. She had her lower lip trapped in her teeth as she sat up in her bed. She walked througnout the hallways calmly, her bare feet padding along the floor of the Brennham children's wing. She peeped her head into Phil's door. He had ended up on the floor as he usually did. Looking into Caelan's room she grinned fondly as she saw his form curled into a big ball with the covers over his head. She popped her head into Taela's bedroom and let her eyes grow soft. Taela was snoring loudly and was sprawled out all over the floor, a trait that Caelan and Phil both shared with the youngest Brennham. Ellie smiled as she made her way down to the kitchen.

As she walked she thought about her siblings. Although they weren't as close as Stephan and Corie, and a bit distant because they varied so much in likes and dislikes, she loved them with all her heart. She had been worried a bit for their relationship and how it was going to develop at Hogwarts. With that in mind, she hoped it was for the better. As she entered the kitchen she saw her mother and father already sitting there, their pet pigeon on the window sill silently enjoying the morning rays.

"Morning Ells Bells," Cassie greeted with a wan grin, her smile like the sun. Devin gave his daughter an equally loving smile. "You ready for today? The first page of a long adventure." Cassie asked with a matter of fact tone, with a twinkle in her eyes.

"You did sleep last night right?" Devin asked, his brows knitted together surreptiously as he sipped on his black Columbian coffee.

"Yeah," Ellie answered as she moved towards the pot of Earl Grey Cream tea that her mother always brewed and with that she poured herself a cup and added cream and sugar, stirring it as she grabbed a muffin from the breakfast, "slept perfectly fine, just excited." She added as she sat across from her mother. Her dad gave her a smile and reached out to place a gentle hand on top of his eldest daughter's.

"You worried?"

"Not in the slightest," she answered bravely lifting her head defiantly, "I'm a Brennham after all. Born of the best Potioneer and Quidditch player," she added with a smirk. Her dad smiled genuinely and her mother shared in the sincerity. Her dad chuckled and her mother giggled.

"Don't say that too loudly, I'd hate for you to be bullied because some kid can't handle the truth," Cassie said sternly finishing her cup and eating her buttered up muffin.

Within the next three hours, the kids were all packed up and on their way to the station meeting with the Astrids. Whilst they were all getting ready, Taela sat petulantly in the car refusing to speak to anyone. Taela was keeping a stoic face all while her hair changed differently colors to show her emotions; the red was brighter, the blue was darker, the grey wasn't as silver much as it was a thundery grey. Once they got there and parked outside the station, Ellie waited till her brothers were out before lifting her baby sister up into her arms.

"You can cry, sweetling, I can see you're upset about us leaving, but you'll see us at Christmas time, you'll always have us, and we can write all the time." Then the dam broke and Taela was crying violently into her shoulder while they walked with their parents. Cassie spewed out good advice whilst Devin tried to correct her when he could fit in a few sentences before Phil branched off to Corie and Caelan and Cassie spent a good few moments in silence. Devin imparted good knowledge onto Ellie while Taela cried into his shoulder.

When they boarded the train and left their parents behind, Ellie felt refreshed. Everything was new, nothing was to be the same.

As soon as Caelan was sorted into Ravenclaw she knew things weren't to be the same. When the hat told her she was courageous, she trusted his instinct.

"Gryffindor."

Then she stepped down, grinned at Phil and made her way to the house that she'd find herself loving and smiled pointedly at 'Nilla, the girl she'd met earlier in the summer who was further in the line of kids to be sorted.

Guest

Daniel was absolutely, one hundred percent excited to be sorted. He was ninety-nine percent sure he'd end up in Hufflepuff. Honestly, where else would he fit? Bravery wasn't among his best traits, and he was the farthest thing from cunning imaginable. Reading, while enjoyable, was not something he partook of all that often and he was not a horribly curious person. No, Hufflepuff suited him just fine, he thought.

He bounced up to the stool when his name was called, grinning from ear to ear, and plopped onto the wooden chair with a dramatic flourish. This would be quick, he was sure. His grin grew to outrageous proportions when the hat was placed upon his head and he took a steadying breath lest he actually squeal with excitement.

Well, what have we here, hmm? the hat murmured gently.

Dan swung his legs and pressed his lips together to hold in his excited exclamation. He gripped the sides of the stool with white knuckled hands as he awaited the Hat's decision.

Not going to talk, eh? Well, no need. I've got everything I need right here. The hat chuckled lightly. Can hats chuckle if they're speaking in your mind?

A friendly one, aren't you? Oh, but you're not afraid to defend others, the hat hummed. It was an interesting feeling, to say the least. Less a sound, and more of a gentle vibration of his head. But, the hat stated with finality, I know just where to put you. Nowhere else will do, I'm afraid.

By this point, Dan's face was a deep shade of red and he was positively vibrating with excitement. A small, excited whimper escaped his lips and he pressed them tighter together. They held until the hat triumphantly exclaimed, "HUFFLEPUFF!" At which point, Dan nearly fell on his face in his haste to reach the designated table, tripping several times and squealing happily the entire way.

Guest

Aimee sat at the Head Table with all of the other Hogwarts staff, smiling back at the children. She wore a light pink dress with matching ballet flats and on the back of her chair sat a white cardigan, in case she were to get cold. She was rather excited about being there, bringing hope and light, by teaching, to all the fellow students as well as the new ones. She was even more excited to be the Head of the Slytherin house. She only hoped they would take a fondness to her.

Once all the prior students had been seated, the first years were led in. She smiled at the excitement that filled the room. They were sorted, one at a time and for each sorting, the House of which they were sorted to, erupted into cheer. She couldn't help but think back to her years at Hogwarts. When the Hat had sorted her into Slytherin, she thought it was crazy. However, after the course of four years, she slowly began to understand why she was sorted there. She was one of the more, rather determined students, who needed to get her way. When her parents had forced her into the arranged marriage, that determination was what she acted upon which ended her back at Hogwarts.

The line of students, had now grown significantly shorter and she was more than excited as she was starved. When all the students had been sorted and seated at the appropriate tables, the Hall looked a lot better. The students numbers seemed even and everyone, happy. She glanced to the Headmaster, waiting to see if he was to give a speech to officially open the feast.

Guest

With her mother being Muggle, she was unable to escort Emilia to the train, which left her with her father escorting her, however, she turned him down instead saying their goodbyes outside the platform. She wasn't upset, so she didn't cry like her mother and sister did. Why cry? They'd see each other again in December when she got to travel home for Christmas. She was excited to start a new adventure, alone, even if only for a couple of years. When Emi passed through the platform, she saw the huge train, almost ready to leave. She pushed her cart of supplies onto the train and sat in an empty compartment, the robes engulfing her petite frame.

When she saw all the people in the Hall as they were led in, she froze. Her body still moved, but she frowned, her brain simply following the other first years. Immediately, her face turned red out of shyness and fear and she longed to go home. There was too many people, there was no way she'd ever be able to find alone time to read of be reclusive and she wasn't fond of that. Her last name starting with a 'D', meant she was one of the first ones to be sorted.

The sound of her own name startled her and she found herself walking up to sit on the stool. The Hat, was dropped onto her head, blocking out the light, but picked up almost immediately as it roared out, "HUFFLEPUFF!" One of the tables, the Hufflepuff one, erupted in cheer and she allowed her feet to drag her there, being engulfed by hugs and high fives. Hufflepuff would be where she found her friends, if she even made any. She could never imagine talking to any of these people more less becoming friends with them.

Guest

The journey to school had been awful. Kirsten had been dropped to the station in London by her older brother, who pushed her towards the platform and left without a word, or even a smile. But her family were like that. Not unsentimental, just completely lacking in emotions and basic kindness. She'd been early enough to find a completely empty carriage and it remained that way the entire journey. The solitude she'd lacked all summer was nice, but she quickly grew bored after finishing two books from home and her new Charms textbook. But thankfully, it hadn't been too long until the train arrived in Hogsmeade and Kirsten was free. Well, free to get on to the carriages. But then she got to school, and she was actually free.

Pushing her hair back and wrapping her robes a little tighter around herself as she suddenly felt the cold, she walked briskly to the castle and through to the Great Hall, hiding a smile at the sight of the castle. Kirsten did miss Hogwarts. Or maybe she just found it far more preferable than 'home' where she had to spend the whole holidays.

She took a seat at the Slytherin seat alone and turned her head to watch the new first years get sorted. She certainly didn't miss those days. Her only memory of that first day at school was having to sit still for several minutes while the hat tried to decide between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Kirsten didn't bother clapping for any of them. It really didn't seem like anything to celebrate. It was just a talking hat, taking a long time so she couldn't eat yet, even though she was starving. The repetitive ceremony quickly got boring, and she ended up just playing idly with a strand of her hair.

Victoria couldn't believe that this was going to be her last year at school. Her last time on the Hogwarts Express (though it was only her third year at the school) and the last time all of the 'Start of Term' activities were going to be enjoyed.

Victoria didn't let that dampen her spirits though, of course she didn't, no, instead she'd spent the journey to it's full potential. After speaking to all of the Prefects and telling them to enjoy themselves until they got to the school, Victoria had taken the patrol, moving from carriage to carriage and greeting everyone. Some carriages she stayed in longer, greeting the first years, whilst others she moved through quicker.

All the time smiling and making sure everyone had exactly what they needed.

It was no different on the way up to the castle, after helping the first years in to the boats, Victoria had made sure to check the train one last time for stragglers before getting in to a carriage up to the castle. The splendor of the castle still made Victoria marvel as she entered the castle, quick to help with the sorting ceremony and the younger years. They were all so cute, in robes that only just fit them.

It took a while for Victoria to finally settle at the table, with a few of her friends she shared a dorm with when she didn't want to stay in the Head Girl's quarters. The sorting ceremony was beautiful, and Victoria was the first to her feet to greet the children sorted in to Hufflepuff, moving over the girl called Emilia and the boy called Daniel with a warm smile.

"Hi guys! Welcome to Hufflepuff! You're going to love it here! No need to be afraid! Take a seat! I'm Victoria, Head Girl and fellow Hufflepuff. If you ever need anything, please ask, I would love to help!" She insisted, unable to contain her own excitement of the new students.

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Guest

Nervous? No. Elyah was practically shaking. It was so bad that people were actually casting weird glances at her, and that made her even more uncomfortable. She was not a little girl anymore, but she surely didn't feel like home here. It was weird, being somewhere her mother couldn't come to.
But even if she could, she doubted she would be coming at all.

And that was what hurt the little girl the most. Knowing she was different. And that this different seemed to be really bad.

She looked around nervously as names were being called, and one by one the kids made their way up there. She couldn't do it. She was sure she couldn't do it.
A hat was placed on their head, and then a House was decided for them. They would belong there from now on, and they would make friends and probably a new family.

"Croft?"

Elyah's eyes snapped up at the sound of her name, and she gulped. Her eyes were busy watching a familiar figure sit at the Hufflepuff table, and despite everything, she allowed herself a small smile. Then, with half a heart, -and shaky legs- she made her way towards the so called Sorting Hat.

As the hat was placed on her head, she closed her eyes and waited. She simply wanted this to be over so that she could go talk to Dan, and tell him how happy she was to be here.
Secretly, she hoped that she was sorted in the same house as him.
Little did she know that the head was actually in her head.

"Ah... you wanna be with your friend huh? But you could be somewhere else, you know.. Maybe Gryffindor.."

Elyah's eyes snapped open and she shook her head no. She didn't want to be in Gryffindor. She wanted to be with Dan. He was her only friend, and she could use some support.

"Very well, then. HUFFLEPUFF!"
Elyah smiled widely and as the hat was taken off of her head, she jumped up and half run her way towards the Hufflepuff table, easily finding some space next to Dan and taking a seat.
"Dan! So glad you are here!'
The girl felt less nervous and more comfortable. She really hoped this would be a nice year.

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