Christmas entered the great hall glad to be back at school but as she took her seat at the Gryffindor table she noticed the old banner and the different things on the table what on earth was going on

Melanie was quite fond of the school uniforms. It was strange but she liked it. Humming to herself an old song from like... almost a century ago, she walked into the Great Hall and towards the Gryffindor table. Same old, same old. Except it wasn't "same old, same old"... not really. A sixth year. She was a sixth year. Spotting Christmas, Melanie smiled and wiggled her fingers in greeting before plopping herself down at a random seat.

This was definitely not "same old, same old"... because "same old, same old" didn't mean plastic silverware and foam plates and red cups. What was going on? Melanie looked at her spork, holding it up at the ceiling and trying to see what was special about it. There was nothing special about it other than the way it was plastic and it was plastic.

Well then... Melanie set the spork down and straightened it. She wondered what had happened.

Aphrodite find Gryffindor House Table and promptly sat down on a bench that has been provided. When she looked at the desk, she realized that something was wrong. Theo was never told about cutlery tool like this. He always tell each meal lasts, cutlery used is always made ​​of silver and so forth. Staring at a senior student who now looks confused, Aphrodite ventured to say hello. "Hello, my name is Aphrodite," she told the senior student.

She didn't care about the dishes. NO. She did not. And she'd never really cared about anything before. But this is mad...

This couldn't be happening! Shouldn't! She walked the length of the Gryffindor Table and slumped into the table, rather reluctantly. Head in her hands, she began to curse the Sorting Hat.

Stupid, idiotic, egoistic....argh! MAD HAT!

"Bravery above all! Who asked for that!" she said, loud. Freaking Gryffindor! Her dad had been wrong. Dad lied to me. It placed me in Gryffindor! She jerked and looked across the hall. Zyanya was seated snugly at the Ravenclaw Table.

WHY?! WHY ME? She glared at anyone who caught her eye. She didn't want this....NO!

Must talk to someone. Yes,yes...

For the first time in her life, she was getting tensed and angrier. And she had NEVER been tensed rule out angrier. The sorting hat had placed her in Gryffindor. She looked at the Slytherin Table. Her house, that was her house. Slytherin. Slytherin.

Christmas smiled at Aphrodite and said "Pleasure to meet you Aphrodite, i am Christmas"

Finally back at Hogwarts.

For the first time in awhile, Penelope was completely glad to be back. Summer had been awesome of course - the best one she'd had in her whole life - but she did like Hogwarts too. Not so much the school part, but the rest of it. The fact that made it much easier to see all her friends who hadn't graduated yet every day. And finally, it was all of them. She wasn't torn with missing a certain someone because he was here too now. Thank Merlin.

He had to be sorted first though. That would be interesting. And it meant Penelope would actually pay attention to the Sorting this time. She hadn't really since her first Sorting, except for whenever the hat put someone in Gryffindor. She'd briefly focus then, but otherwise, she couldn't be bothered to really watch when she was SO hungry.

Making her way to the Gryffindor table, the fourth year took a seat near the only other people currently there. "Hey, Christmas. Hey, Melanie." She didn't notice the old-looking banner, but she DID notice the odd utensils on the table. A plastic spork? Plastic cup? Were the other dishes dirty or something? She was pretty sure these had never been used at Hogwarts before...

Oh, and now there were...a couple firsties? One was already talking to Christmas, but the other seemed upset? "What's up with you?"

Amara is now sitting next to Aphrodite had been silent and say nothing. After the sorting process takes place, she becomes like this. Maybe Aphrodite should ask this to her, "Amara, are you alright? Since earlier you said nothing," she said slowly.

So the senior's name is Christmas, what a pretty name!. Aphrodite loved Christmas day in terms of both celebration and gifts, but Christmas is there in front of her now was silent. Not like Amara that seemed to be hide something from her, Christmas is now looking at the table in front of her face with confusion. "What's going on, Christmas? Are there strange?" she asked the girl in front of her.

Christmas smiled and said "Hey Penelope have a nice holiday?"

Words could not describe how happy Jake was to be at the feast. He'd forgotten to bring food on the train and had left his money in his trunk, so he was hungry. His stomach might have already been growling. He hoped that the speech would happen quickly so he wouldn't have to wait too long for food.

His hand holding Anya's, he led the way to the Gryffindor table. He smiled and waved at the few people he passed that he recognized... mainly Melanie and Christmas. He gave a half-smile to Penelope, though, and a "Hey, Penelope."

That was all she got, though, because as he said it, Jake flipped a leg over the bench and looked sideways at the table. And he didn't see the usual shine of pristine clean plates and goblets. Nope... these were paper plates and plastic cups. And... sporks. Seriously? Jake lifted his head, straining to try to look at the other tables. Were they all like this? Probably... but another thing had caught his attention. What was with the ragged house banners? "What in the name of Merlin..." He muttered. Frowning, he looked at Anya. Mostly because she was pretty to look at and normal and wasn't confusing like everything else around him at the current moment.

Christmas looked at Aphrodite and said "I am not sure what is going on and it is strange cause last year we didn't have anything plastic at all"

"Don't look anywhere but at me, okay?" Alice instructed Dora as she adjusted her friend's face towards her again. No looking at that stupid boyfriend of hers, SHE was a much better view. And Dora had gotten her fill of snogging after the train, so the fifth year had decided she could have all of her attention right now.

She squished into a seat by Penelope, beckoning Melanie over to where she was and pulling down Dora beside her. "I brought a Ravenclaw, everyone, don't be alarmed." Just in case they were wondering why there was an eagle at their table. She'd been invited. Plastic plates and utensils, though, were most certainly not welcome. And what was with that fraying banner? Hogwarts looked dingy.

"I think Truebridge set out the cutlery for one of her garden parties by mistake." Alice did not want a spork, okay?

Ronnie walked over to the Gryffindor table, smiling brightly. She was so happy to be back at Hogwarts! This would be an awesome last year, she was sure of it.

She took a seat at the end of the table and glanced around herself at the fellow Lions. It was so strange how this was going to be the last start of term feast she'd ever be at. She bit her lip, feeling her heart start to sink and her chest feel heavy..

No. No. She wasn't going to cry. Merlin's beard, the school year hadn't even really started yet! She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. She could cry at the end of term feast...which wasn't for awhile. She had a whole year more of Hogwarts and she was going to savor every minute of it.

She looked up at the gold banner than hung above the table and blinked. It had a few tears in it and rips...it looked...old. Worn out. They clearly needed a new one. "Wonder why they don't fix that..." she thought to herself as she glanced at the table and then blinked again. Merlin's beard! Were those... paper plates? Plastic cups? Plastic silverware?!?!?!?

She picked up one of the plastic cups and eyed it. This was definitely not a goblet...

She took a glance at the staff table, wondering what was up. Why did they have all this? What happened to all the fancy silverware and plates and goblets?! What kind of feast was this? A picnic?!

Isidora pulled a silly face when her line of vision was focused back on Alice again, not looking too put out by the instructions since she did get to have him for a bit before they arrived to the castle. "I won't look. I promise. You are the beholder of my eye for the duration of the feast." And then after it would be switched back to Theo, it was only fair.

The fourth year was more than happy to sit with her friend, even if it meant not sitting at her own table (which she always did) but was still hesitant about sitting with her around a bunch of OTHER Gryffindors who were not deemed the exception of their house by her. "And if you are alarmed, then leave." She supplied helpfully. Obviously the best option since she didn't really have the option to do so.

"Hey Penelope." She leaned forward and smiled at the other preapproved girl before picking up one of the plastic plates and examining it closely. "A poor garden party. I doubt this is her stuff. You think they're at all the tables?" Dora did good not to look and check, just flick her eyes up at Alice, since she'd made promises and all.

Sarah walked into the great hall and made her way towards the Gryffindor table. She sat down and looked around, she waved at Jake, Penelope, Goldman, Alice and the rest. Then she looked down at the table, "oooh, paper plates" she said, "Are the houseelves on strike and noone wanted wanted to do the charms required for washing dishes or something?" The headmistress seemed like the kind that would not get her hands dirty in the kitchen. How she managed to teach herbology was beyond Sarah. "but plastic stuff is okay, we are here for the food afterall, the thing we eat it off does not matter." she added with a smile. Then she noticed new faces, first years, "hi" she said, "my name is Sarah Edwards, a fourth year here, what is your name?" she asked them (Amara and Aphrodite).

Then she noticed Dora was there, "hi dora! Nice to see you this side of the hall. Looking forward to fourth year?" she asked.

Finally her eyes landed on Melanie who was sitting next to her, "hi Melanie!" she greeted.

You know, carriages rides were nice. She never really appreciated them before but after the day she had she realized just how much good they could do for someone. Her carriage company made things pretty good too and she was willing to say that she was legit better now. It was an odd thought, especially considering all that happened but when she thought about it...it was...okay?

Whatever it was she was thinking perfectly and as such she remembered what these things could be like.

As a result the now Third Year slipped away from everyone right before they entered the Great Hall and headed for the Kitchen. The same thing would happen like last term and the term before. The Headmistress would sit in her comfy chair, talking to everyone while they starved. Well not this time. NOPE. She grabbed a few cupcakes and cookies from there then slipped into the Great Hall.

The first person she noticed as she approached her table was Melanie!! OH! OH! OH!!!

"HAI!!!!" BEAM. She hadn't seen her in a looooong time...it was a long time of no one telling her that she had a bedtime and it wasn't that she was going to miss that but at the same time, Melanie had a way of making it seem like a good thing. How many people did you know who read stories to others before bed???

Exactly!! NOT. MANY. DUH.

"You want a cookie? I snuck some from the kitchen. It's gonna be a long feast without food, I can tell." In all this she still didn't notice the new decorations.

Her talking and offering stuff to Melanie were cut short when a Firstie decided to be loud. She turned to her. Bliiiinked. Tilted her head and STARED at her curiously.

"Who wouldn't ask for that?" It was a rather odd thought and Lex wasn't sure she couldn't get it really. Bravery above all was a good thing, wasn't it? "I don't suppose you'd rather be a bloody coward, would you? Those tend to die first, especially at this school." Juuuuust saying. "Imagine a chimaera gets loose in the school, we run after it, you run the other way and run right into. Now you have no backup and all because you weren't brave enough to go looking with the others. I mean, in that case you'd be left to the mercy of Gryffindors because we'd be most likely to run after you."

Gryffie's saved lives, yo! "But anyway, I take it you're not happy with the sorting?" You know, since she was glaring at everyone.

It was while she was cross-examining the Firstie that she noticed Penelope and the grin was back on her face. "Hey Penelope!" That's when she noticed something else too. "You're not sleeping this year? Had a better night's sleep this time around?" Or was she anxious for something. Like you know, something epic would happen and everyone but her knew about it. That happened a lot and she had come to accept that.

Oh and "You want a cupcake or some cookies? I snuck down to the kitchen and got some for the long wait." There was no way she would sit through another long wait for a feast and she didn't think her fellow Gryffindors the ones she liked anyways should go through it either.

And again, she still hadn't noticed the plastic that was happening at the table. Quite oblivious to it actually.

THAT VOICE.

Lex froze, having only just taken a bite of one of the cupcakes. No sudden movements. They might have caused her to choke. She could do without choking a second time in one day thank you very much!

Okay. She could do this. She already decided she had to so sooner of later there would have to be some explanation. Personally she would have preferred later but after hiding at the train station and ahem...again at Hogsmeade she figured this needed to be done. Nod!...One more nod maybe. She needed motivation for this, OKAY?????

"ALICE! HAI! HAVE A COOKIE!!!" She wasn't shouting. Nooope only just a lot. Lex quickly reached into her candy bag and pulled out a cookie then shoved it at her. "You're hungry, you should eat!!!!!" Nodnodnodnodnod. "You know what? Extra hungry! Hold on, I can get you another!!!!"

In all her NOTshouting she almost didn't notice Dora but she did and the girl got a smile. It wasn't nearly as big now that she'd run into Alice but it was still there.

"Hey Dora!!! Good summer??"

Small talk first. If she was talking to other people then Alice would be considerate and probably not kill her then and there. But also, Dora was one of the people she liked and liked talking to. It was odd seeing her at the Gryffie table but she wasn't about to question it.

"Oh and you know how I was gonna buy a book? I bought three"

BEAM.

The beaming led her to actually looking at the table and THAT'S when she saw it..them...plastic stuff...

Blink. Blink.

"HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!" What happened to the table?? The actual plates and such?? This. This was hilarious. "Hey did someone switch these out when Headmistress Truebridge wasn't looking??" There was more laughing too. "This was bloody brilliant! Wish I had thought of it!!"

HAHAHAHAHHA!!!

Her night was officially made.

Christmas saw Alexa and waved and said "What do you think the meaning of all the plastic is Alexa"

Max walked into the hall, it felt like forever since he'd been here...though it had only been a few months it felt like such a loooooong summer to him. He thought it felt weird with no Selina here...and another year without Kurumi passing out cookies..

But it was a new year, he was one year closer to graduation which was happy and sad..another year closer to becoming an Animagus which thanks to his Patronus he had a pretty good idea of what he'd become..maybe it would be fun being a wolf.

He walked to his table and fount an open seat, waiting for food and first years, the speech, everything the start of term feast had to offer...maybe making a few new friends and hopefully seeing some old ones.

Ronnie noticed a firstie walk over to the table, looking really mad. She raised an eyebrow and watched as the girl sat down in the seat across from her. What was up with her?

"Hey," she said to the girl to get her attention. "Are you okay?" she asked, eyeing her skeptically. Why would someone look mad on their first time at Hogwarts? And at the start of term feast too!

...And then another first year joined the table, looking happier than the other one. She couldn't help but say hello... she loved making new friends.

She smiled brightly at the girl. "Hello and welcome to Gryffindor!" she said. "I'm Ronnie." she added, stretching her hand out towards the girl to shake.

Then another lion sat down at the table. Ronnie hadn't really talked to her before, but she'd seen her around Hogwarts several times. What was her name...? Ronnie looked at her thoughtfully...oh yeah! She was pretty sure it was Melanie. Or something like that..

She scooted next to her. "Hey there!" she said, smiling. "It's...Melanie, right?" she asked.

Oooh! Christmas! Ronnie grinned as she saw her friend. They hadn't really talked for a long time. She waved over at the girl. "Hiya, Christmas!" she said. Perhaps all this talking with everyone would clear her mind from being so sad over this being her last year...so far, it was helping a little bit.

She hadn't spoken to Alice in a while as well...actually, a LONG while. What had happened? She missed talking to her...she was really cool and fun to be around. Hopefully they could hang out more this year or something.

She got out of her seat and made her way over to Alice and the girl she was sitting with. "Hey, Alice!" she said. "Haven't talked to ya in awhile." she said. She then turned to the girl Alice was with. "Hi, I'm Ronnie!" she introduced herself with a smile.

*GASP*

Max! Ronnie hadn't talked to him in f-o-r-e-v-e-r! She scooched next to her friend and wrapped him in a tight hug. "Hey, Max!" she said as she let him go. "I haven't talked to you in forever!" she exclaimed. No, she wasn't overexaggerating...she really hadn't seen him in forever. 'Twas true.

Well, it's what it felt like, anyway.

"How was your summer? How have you been?" she asked. She hoped they could hang out more. She needed more lions close to her age to hang out with.

Anya was quite content in her spot right next to Jake. Her hand in his. Under their beautiful... ... faded banners. Okay. Anyone else see that?

Or maybe she was just in her state of so-incredibly-in-love that everything else was faded....? It wouldn't have been the first time that that has happened. Stupid boyfriend making bright scarlet look oh-so-very lackluster.

You know, minus the stupid part. Boyfriends were fantastic. And Jake was even better.

And so... with thoughts completely alllll about her boyfriend, she took a seat and immediately slipped her hand back into his. She then looked around.

... and poked her... spork.

She picked up her cup with her spare hand and held it up near Jake's face so she could see them both at the same time.

'Yeah... I'm thinking this isn't just about how attractive you are..." And no, Jake, you're not getting any context with that statement.

Christmas was waiting for Alexa to reply when she saw Ronnie wave at her and she waved back at Ronnie and said "Hey Ronnie"

Leaning his free arm on the table, Jake looked slowly around the table. As more people came in he saw a few more familiar faces, but he was too content with where he was to go and talk to them. Plus, he'd see them all in the common room anyway. Not like they would miss him much until then.

Well. All except the Ravenclaw that Alice had pointed out rather loudly. But... whatever. No big deal.

Anyway. Back to Anya. Jake was looking at her, enjoying the fact that she wasn't a plastic spork or a faded house banner, when she lifted up one of the red cups and held it against his face.

...What?

Jake blinked, not taking his eyes off of his girlfriend. What did that even mean? Still staring at the brown eyes in front of him, he spoke slowly, "No... I don't think this has anything to do with my physical appearance." Then he straightened his tie, his shirt collar, and his badge. Because now he was self-conscious.

Lex was still laughing, this whole thing amused her so much. She glanced at the table again, even picked up the red cup. This. She just couldn't. Her laughing was interrupted when she noticed Christmas waving and talking to her. She grinned through her giggling.

"I think it's rather obvious. Someone had the right idea on how to start the term. The Headmistress will be so upset." Then she went back to snickering.

Christmas nodded at Alexa and said "Yeah i am sure she will be but who on earth would do this sort of thing"

Ronnie smiled and walked over to Christmas and sat next to her. "Did you have a nice summer?" she asked. Ronnie sure hadn't. It was totally boring... just like every summer pretty much .___. LAMEE.

Speaking of lame, LOOK AT THESE PLATES. And the cups. And silverware. She picked up one of the paper plates and stared dully at it and turned to Christmas. "Do you know what this is about?" she asked, gesturing to all the plastic cups and whatnot. What happened to all the fancy goblets...and plates...and silverware...what in Merlin's beard was this about?!