Slipping away early, and thus beating the rush of the students as they ascended the stairs, Seren strode into the common room all grins and carrying a small hamper filled with goodies for the students to share. The start of term feast had been more than filling, but if she new anything about her Lions, it was that most of their stomachs were a bottomless pit.

"I have a feeling this will be a good year for us," she spoke over her shoulder to her partner in crime as she began unpacking the tea goods onto one of the tables. "The first years look promising, and dare I say it, with Quidditch cancelled the others might actually turn in their homework on time." Not that it had been too much of a problem in the past, but distractions were distractions.

Airey had followed after Seren, leaving the feast a bit prematurely as well to scurry up the stairs. He couldn't believe in all the terms he had been back at Hogwarts thus far teaching that he hand't returned to his old stomping grounds. He had to wonder if the engraving on his bedpost was still up there or if the uptight Headmistress at the time had been sure to have it removed. Perhaps he venture up there and check one of these days.

"Certainly seemed like a lively bunch at the feast," Airey concurred as he walked over to one of the comfy sofas in front of the fire place and flopped down on it, kicking his feet up and resting them on the arm rest. "Sir Nicholas mentioned one in particular...a Miss Arista Royal I believe was the name. Said she seemed to be especially eager."

Ooooooooooooh sweet solstice he had forgotten how comfortable these sofas were. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah sweet comforting bliss....

He really should set up for his schmoes instead of lounging though.

It seemed as though everything was in order, the house elves had made good on bringing up the snacks they'd requested for the occasion. After carefully placing the tea in a crescent fashion so that all the flavours of the herbals could be seen, Seren turned to join her colleague in front of the fire. "Lively's one way to put it," she agreed affectionately. There weren't many Gryffindor's without a fire inside, and while she was an Eagle on the inside, Airey was very much a Lion through and through. She only hoped she wouldn't be seeing much of this lively mob in detention, not that she and Airey could talk on that matter.

"Ahhh yes, I do recall her, charming dear she seems." Or at least, she was fairly confident she knew which one he had meant. "And can you believe we have two of the triplets? Aubrey and Angel I think they were, or was it Abby?... either way I'm certain they'll keep us on our toes." Wiggling in her seat a little in an effort to get more comfortable while they waited for the students to arrive, Seren cleared some space at her side by throwing a cushion Airey's way. He wasn't about to slip into a food coma was he?

Did he detect a bit of sarcasm in Seren's voice? Ha. Better a lively bunch than a bunch of brown dwarfs being sorted into Gryffindor, yeah? Not that it was ever in a Gryffindor's nature to be anything but lively. Sure, there were different shades of lively, but one thing a Gryffindor never was was dull. So he merely smirked in response to the Herbology professor as he lazily reached into his enchanted suit pocket for his schmoes kit and set it on the small table in front of him.

And clearly Seren had been paying more attention to the Sorting than he had. Then again, she was Head of House, it was her job to take special notice there. He was just glad to be along for the ride as it were. "They all have names that start with 'A'?" he groaned while giving his wand a flick to conjure some metal sticks with hand grips designed to resemble the Gryffindor crest for roasting marshmallows. "You ever wonder if parents do that on purpose to drive professors mad? There are plenty of other letters in the alphabet after all."

And then the next thing he knew there was a pillow being thrown at him. "Ah, don't mind if I do," he said after catching it and tucking it behind his head. AAAAAAAAH YEEEEEEEEEES. So much better than just the arm rest. "Shouldn't be too much longer until they get here, assuming Miss Cambridge and Mr. Bolton were able to time the staircases properly and didn't lose half of them."

Or, you know, Peeves happened.

"They do," she confirmed with a resounding nod. All A's, and Airey was right in thinking it was likely a conscious decision on the parents part. Name selection was such a finicky process, she would know. "They probably think it's cute," she supplied in the end, as reason for the parents choices. "It could be worse, they could have the same name with spelling variations, now that, results in madness." Could he imagine it? An Amy, Aimee and Amie? ... or a Rachel, Raechel and Rachael? Those were a teachers nightmare, she could live with the A's.

The cushion throwing hadn't had the desired effect, the Astronomer's reflexes were quicker than her own had been in throwing it. All the more power to him. Wiggling a bit more she allowed herself to sink deeper into the snuggly folds of the armchair. "No, I imagine they'll be here any moment now, and I do expect a few to have gone astray, they always do." No harm done in the long run ... unless the stragglers actually fell OFF a moving staircase. Which would be unfortunate to say the least.

Mmmm...

"And what, is that?" she asked, pointing to whatever it was Airey put on the table.

Well.... That feast was a eventful no quidditch! But she understood lives in danger and all. But even more eventful stuff had happen to night most of which she hoped she'd never have to speak of again. She overheard Louis tell Emmy and Bay the password and rushed up to find the Gryffindor tower.

So.... This is the Gryffindor common room. Cool. It was just as she pictured it. Her dad and some of her friends that where in Gryffindor already had described it to her. She did grin when she seen the lion shaped topiary, Bart had told her about over the summer. It was the first thing she seen. She simply beamed as she looked around the common room. Hey and there was food. Lots of food. Gryffindors did know how to eat. Right? Now she knew that wasn't a gryffindor myth. And it was totally her, too. No wonder her dad was a lion.

There were two people there one of which she thought she remembered from the matches last term. Professor Flamsteed. The astronomy professor. She might have seen the other at the matches as well. But her younger form she didn't recognize her. He wasn't old, old at all. In fact he looked much better now. Of course he did. She grinned at them "Professor Flamsteed? Cinnamon Bayless, from the matches I have you hot chocolate, remember?" If not this was awkward. Them she turned to the woman "Hi there Cinnamon Bayless, third year." She introduced herself. Mostly because she was a older first time student and not a student. And one of them were likely the head of house, right? Plus they were going to be her professors, too.

Louis was TIRED.
The train ride had dragged on forever, and the feast had felt like an entire school term of its own. Or, maybe, the lion boy was just hungry. He hadn’t had a proper meal since arriving at King’s Cross, after all, since he'd been too distracted to eat anything more than an apple during the feast.

Pulling his robe off because walking up the stairs had left the boy feeling like it was still the middle of summer, Lou walked into the common room.

OH.
The welcoming party thing, right.
Louis eyed the Lion topiary warily as he walked toward the only three people already in the room. “Professor Flamsteed. Professor Bentley.” He gave them both a smile before his curious blue eyes fell upon the tables covered in all sorts of delicious treats. Awww mannn, cauldron cakes!
Louis reached out to grab one, but then remembered his manners. “May I take one?” he asked, turning to the professors.

That’s when he noticed the third figure.
Heyyyyy! “HC!” He grinned at the third year. What was she doing here already? “You waste no time, do you?” He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

Michael entered the common room with quite the grin on his face. He and Zahra had skipped the feast and had done some much needed catching up since their parents had separated them during the summer. They had decided to enter the common room separately so people didn't know what they had been up to.

But that grin he had been wearing when he had entered died on his lips when he heard the words that his Head of House spoke.

No! It couldn't be right. Surely he had heard wrong.

He made a beeline for the two Professor's and he didn't mean to be rude but he barely gave the other students a fleeting glance before speaking. "Excuse me, but did you just say that Quidditch was cancelled?"

Tell him it wasn't so.

Staircases moved. No one told her that staircases moved. Well, that was a lie. Her mommy had told her that staircases moved but Ellinia had assumed that they'd move like escalators. And in case one was wondering - they did not move like escalators. Nope. They swung from side to side and up an down and did weird things that made her clutch onto the rails for dear life. Was this school safe? Did her mommy and daddy want to get rid of her by sending her here?

With her eyes wide open, Ellinia followed the others into the common room. Still unable to say a word because of the staircases she plopped herself down on a chair and hugged a pillow tightly. Because the staircases were quite terrifying.

Then came another thought. Was she in the right place? Did she follow the wrong pack of people and end up in the wrong common room? She squeezed the pillow a little tighter, wishing it was her snow globe instead and looked around. Okay. It was all red. Gryffindor was the red one. "Hello," she muttered before resuming the task of suffocating the pillow.

SPOILER!!: Seren!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

"They do," she confirmed with a resounding nod. All A's, and Airey was right in thinking it was likely a conscious decision on the parents part. Name selection was such a finicky process, she would know. "They probably think it's cute," she supplied in the end, as reason for the parents choices. "It could be worse, they could have the same name with spelling variations, now that, results in madness." Could he imagine it? An Amy, Aimee and Amie? ... or a Rachel, Raechel and Rachael? Those were a teachers nightmare, she could live with the A's.

The cushion throwing hadn't had the desired effect, the Astronomer's reflexes were quicker than her own had been in throwing it. All the more power to him. Wiggling a bit more she allowed herself to sink deeper into the snuggly folds of the armchair. "No, I imagine they'll be here any moment now, and I do expect a few to have gone astray, they always do." No harm done in the long run ... unless the stragglers actually fell OFF a moving staircase. Which would be unfortunate to say the least.

Mmmm...

"And what, is that?" she asked, pointing to whatever it was Airey put on the table.

Airey chuckled. "You do have a point there." That and those names where no matter how long you stared and squinted at them you just could not for the life of you figure out how to say them - and he had to pronounce some REALLY unique things in his profession as an astronomer.

"Ah, I am glad you asked. Something I discovered properly over the summer thanks to Mr. Barrington and Miss Emmons. Schmoes. Something muggles tend to make around the camp fires. Wizarding folk make them too, obviously, but I had never made a proper one until this past summer. They are quite delicious. Thought it might be something to make using the fireplace once students arri---"

SPOILER!!: Ciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saraie

Well.... That feast was a eventful no quidditch! But she understood lives in danger and all. But even more eventful stuff had happen to night most of which she hoped she'd never have to speak of again. She overheard Louis tell Emmy and Bay the password and rushed up to find the Gryffindor tower.

So.... This is the Gryffindor common room. Cool. It was just as she pictured it. Her dad and some of her friends that where in Gryffindor already had described it to her. She did grin when she seen the lion shaped topiary, Bart had told her about over the summer. It was the first thing she seen. She simply beamed as she looked around the common room. Hey and there was food. Lots of food. Gryffindors did know how to eat. Right? Now she knew that wasn't a gryffindor myth. And it was totally her, too. No wonder her dad was a lion.

There were two people there one of which she thought she remembered from the matches last term. Professor Flamsteed. The astronomy professor. She might have seen the other at the matches as well. But her younger form she didn't recognize her. He wasn't old, old at all. In fact he looked much better now. Of course he did. She grinned at them "Professor Flamsteed? Cinnamon Bayless, from the matches I have you hot chocolate, remember?" If not this was awkward. Them she turned to the woman "Hi there Cinnamon Bayless, third year." She introduced herself. Mostly because she was a older first time student and not a student. And one of them were likely the head of house, right? Plus they were going to be her professors, too.

Matches? Turning his attention away from the roaring fire, Airey blinked at the Gryffindor. Matches? Hot chocolate? "Terribly sorry, but I am afraid I have no recollection of this," he frowned while his brow furrowed. "Was this last year?"

Because that would explain A LOT.

SPOILER!!: LOU LOU LOOOUIS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gryffindoll

Louis was TIRED.
The train ride had dragged on forever, and the feast had felt like an entire school term of its own. Or, maybe, the lion boy was just hungry. He hadn’t had a proper meal since arriving at King’s Cross, after all, since he'd been too distracted to eat anything more than an apple during the feast.

Pulling his robe off because walking up the stairs had left the boy feeling like it was still the middle of summer, Lou walked into the common room.

OH.
The welcoming party thing, right.
Louis eyed the Lion topiary warily as he walked toward the only three people already in the room. “Professor Flamsteed. Professor Bentley.” He gave them both a smile before his curious blue eyes fell upon the tables covered in all sorts of delicious treats. Awww mannn, cauldron cakes!
Louis reached out to grab one, but then remembered his manners. “May I take one?” he asked, turning to the professors.

That’s when he noticed the third figure.
Heyyyyy! “HC!” He grinned at the third year. What was she doing here already? “You waste no time, do you?” He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

And there was one of the prefects now, unbruised by the looks of things too. Good to see that the staircases hadn't gotten the best of him.

"Congratulations on completing your first day as prefect, Mr. Bolton," Airey beamed at the young man. "You can have as many as you want."

SPOILER!!: Michael!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

Michael entered the common room with quite the grin on his face. He and Zahra had skipped the feast and had done some much needed catching up since their parents had separated them during the summer. They had decided to enter the common room separately so people didn't know what they had been up to.

But that grin he had been wearing when he had entered died on his lips when he heard the words that his Head of House spoke.

No! It couldn't be right. Surely he had heard wrong.

He made a beeline for the two Professor's and he didn't mean to be rude but he barely gave the other students a fleeting glance before speaking. "Excuse me, but did you just say that Quidditch was cancelled?"

Tell him it wasn't so.

Airey moved to prepare one of his metal schmoes roasting sticks, pushing a marshmallow down over the tip when he heard the Gryffindor's words. Frowning, he gave Seren a begging glance before his blue eyes were back on Mr. Toussaint. "Well, actually, the Headmistress did first," he pointed out. But perhaps the boy had tuned out the speech. It did happen when one was hungry. Selective hearing and all. "But I am afraid so. Canceled."

SPOILER!!: Ellinia

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBeJenn

Staircases moved. No one told her that staircases moved. Well, that was a lie. Her mommy had told her that staircases moved but Ellinia had assumed that they'd move like escalators. And in case one was wondering - they did not move like escalators. Nope. They swung from side to side and up an down and did weird things that made her clutch onto the rails for dear life. Was this school safe? Did her mommy and daddy want to get rid of her by sending her here?

With her eyes wide open, Ellinia followed the others into the common room. Still unable to say a word because of the staircases she plopped herself down on a chair and hugged a pillow tightly. Because the staircases were quite terrifying.

Then came another thought. Was she in the right place? Did she follow the wrong pack of people and end up in the wrong common room? She squeezed the pillow a little tighter, wishing it was her snow globe instead and looked around. Okay. It was all red. Gryffindor was the red one. "Hello," she muttered before resuming the task of suffocating the pillow.

"Evening," he grinned at the newcomer....who seemed to have a thing for pillows. "Would you care for a delicious hot schmo? I am just about to make one for myself if you want to use one of the other roasting sticks."

Bay made his way through the portrait to finally come to his home, even though it was crazy last year it was still his home. Spotting Professor Bentley and Professor Flamsteed he smiled. "Hi Professors!" he said as he went to go find a seat, now that he was all full of food he wanted to either lay down or nap, yeah napping sounded a lot better.

That's a very interesting feast. The 'No Quidditch' thing really shocked her.

Candice followed her house Prefect to the Gryffindor Common Room. It took forever to get into the common room. She had to climb a LOT of stairs. She had pictured it in her head what the Gryffindor common room looked like but she never thought it would be this cozy.

Oh. Look people.

She walked towards the Professors. Willy had told her about the Gryffindor Head of House and the other Heads as well so she knew instantly that the Woman was her Head of House. "Hello, Professor Bentley. I'm Candice Messer. First year." Just in case she missed her sorting. Her Head of House was sooooo pretty. And the old man got a quick Hello.

She noticed a girl who looked like a first year like her was squeezing a pillow (Ellinia). "Did the pillow do something to you?"

Avoiding most of the Portraits was easy, even with having to watch out for a Firstie as well. It wasn't that bad. Ezra was good at being sneaky enough. Kid was a good egg, a definite keeper for future excursions. She glanced behind her to make sure he was still holding up well though it shouldn't have been that difficult after she'd used a spell to make the food lighter. He had little arms that she didn't need falling off thanks.

At the portrait she gave the password then stepped aside waiting for the portrait to swing out of the way. This was going to be epic, as last minute as it might have been. Professor Airey gave good ideas. She'd probably never have thought of this if he wasn't for him...maybe she should have invited him as a thanks? ....Maybe--

....................

What the kneazle????

Lex froze where she was by the entrance, taking in what looked like a party, with the Professor's and a fancy set up. No way Bolton pulled this off on his own. She blinked and STARED. Someone tell her she hadn't just wasted her time making those last minute preparations and stuff. "You've got to be kidding me."

What a RUSH, like for real, sneaking around the Castle ALL the way to the Kitchens on the first night? Alexa-PREFECT was pretty cool.

Ezra scurried up behind the older girl with his arms full of snacks from the House Elves and looked around the hall one more time before hopping through the Portrait hole behind her and--bumping right into her and dropping a small cake into the floor.

"Why'd you stop--?" he whispered, but that was pointless...EVERYONE was here. Party anyone?

Oooh but there were professors and FOOD? "I thought we were getting the food?" He bumped Alexa with his full arms, looking at the table piled with goodies, his feet bare because he'd lost his shoes.

The Prefect felt downright LIED TO and LED ON. Sure Professor Airey might not have done it on purpose but it was done anyway and now they'd gone and thrown a super amazing looking party with loads of food and everyone and good times and it automatically meant all her plans FAILED. Words would need to be had with Mr. Interrupts People And Their Boyfriends.

Ezra's first whisper didn't register to her, she was too busy staring in utter disbelief. No one bothered to tell her this because? It would have saved her that forever long walk--that truthfully she didn't regret because Ezra was good company, go figure--but it was the principle of the thing!!

"We were. Looks like the Professors crashed the Common Room with a party of their own." She glanced over at the table then at their personal loot. This was deeply upsetting. DEEPLY. "This is now ours and ours alone." She said, turning to him with a firm nod. "Stick them all in here." She said gesturing to her magically extended candy bag. "We'll have a third feast later on our own." Rude people these were.

"Such a waste."

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

The Prefect felt downright LIED TO and LED ON. Sure Professor Airey might not have done it on purpose but it was done anyway and now they'd gone and thrown a super amazing looking party with loads of food and everyone and good times and it automatically meant all her plans FAILED. Words would need to be had with Mr. Interrupts People And Their Boyfriends.

Ezra's first whisper didn't register to her, she was too busy staring in utter disbelief. No one bothered to tell her this because? It would have saved her that forever long walk--that truthfully she didn't regret because Ezra was good company, go figure--but it was the principle of the thing!!

"We were. Looks like the Professors crashed the Common Room with a party of their own." She glanced over at the table then at their personal loot. This was deeply upsetting. DEEPLY. "This is now ours and ours alone." She said, turning to him with a firm nod. "Stick them all in here." She said gesturing to her magically extended candy bag. "We'll have a third feast later on our own." Rude people these were.

"Such a waste."

Ezra's wide eyes went from the food in his arms, to the Professors, to the food on the table, then to Alexa, and then back both sets of food.

She was the PREFECT and she was the boss on their secret journey tonight so he waited for the plan. And that was to keep it all for themselves. The first year lowered his part of the loot into the magic bag she had that was a lot like his grandma's and then turned to look at the smashed cake on the floor. "Do we want this?" He was prepared to squat down and scoop some of it into the bag if she wanted it.

Some of the icing had splattered onto his bare toes.

SWEETS.

Lana's eyes widened in surprise and joy when she walked into the common room. This was new, obviously, but she liked it. The twelve-year-old made a beeline for the tables. The feast, which had finished only minutes before, was all but forgotten as she loaded up a plate with a little bit of everything. It wobbled precariously on her hand as she tried to fill up a cup of juice with her other hand. It was, in all honesty, going to be the start of a really big mess if she didn't notice it soon.

Angel was a bit nervous now, this was the first time she had been away from home and she was beginning to miss her mummy and daddy, she knew she had her sisters at Hogwarts but still it wasn't the same thing, she really wished that Abby had gotten Gryffindor as well but it wasn't to be at least she had Aubrey in the same house and they would be sharing a dorm which was amazing.

All Tag wanted to do was get into his dormitory and fall asleep with Stella in his arms but.... ok. What was this? Bentley AND Airey were here. What was this? A welcoming party? Tag did see the snacks, but like, couldn't this happen over the weekend or something? Did they have to attend this or? SIGH.

But, Tag didn't mind the food. COUGH. So he went over to that table and started piling up the food. Chocolate frog, chocolate frog, chocolate frog. Oh, fizzing whizbees some fruit as well onto the plate you all go. Tag was about to start pouring himself some hot chocolate when he noticed a girl, much younger than him, having a slightly difficult time with her plate. "Need some help holding all of that?" Tag asked her. If not, then he was ok, he was just trying to be kind and helpful.

Oh, look. An older boy. Lana smiled up at him and shook her head. "No, I think I've-" *noticeable wobble* "...Actually, yes, please. Could you pour my drink for me?" She set the juice down and held her plate with both hands, her eyes wide as she continued to look up at the boy.

"What's your name? You look familiar. Which you should, because obviously we're in the same house. Go Lions! But um. I don't think I know your name. I'm Lana. Thank you for pouring my juice." You know. When he did it. Because obviously he would because she asked him to. BEAM.

Oh was Benny glad to be back to his old self to climb those stairs again. The adrenaline of it being the first night back only worked so far. Yet he had followed other lions up to the common room, not even needing the password as he headed in right after someone else. The third year would remember it of course for all the other times he would need to go in and out of the common room.

Greeted inside by the gathering apparently set up by their house leaders, he couldn't help but smile. It felt so good to be back at Hogwarts. "Good evening Professor Bentley...Professor Flamsteed," Ben greeted both staffers as he took in them and the spread laid out.

He went to move closer to perhaps take something when he spotted Angel. The girl not seeming so energetic as she had been before on the train or at the feast. "Hey," he greeted coming up beside her. "You okay?"

Tag watched the girl say she was alright, you know, until she realized she was having a slight problem on her hands. Pun slightly intended. He nodded, when the girl ever so kindly asked for his assistance. Putting down his own plate Tag got her a cup and poured the juice for every, nearly, completely to the top.

"I'm Tag. Like that muggle game!" This is how he should always generally introduce himself to new people. Hehe, go lions. That made Tag laugh a bit. "You've probably just seen me lounging about the common room sometimes." Cause he did that a bit. This girl could talk, couldn't she? Did she even breathe between all her words? Younger years were general chatty. "Well, nice to meet you, Lana." Tag said with a smile on his place, and the cup of juice slightly outstretched to her. "Oh, yes, you're welcome." On the whole juice thing. "Are you a first year?" Tag supposed this thing was to chat and get to know other Gryffindors. He might as well give a go, right?

Lex had taken to looking around the room, wondering where her first stop of the night would be but she was brought back by his question. Did they want what? Looking down she spotted the cake that must have gotten away from him--"Where are your shoes?" Had he not been wearing them when they snuck down to the kitchen? Maybe. It was dark and feet were the last thing on her mind when while tip toeing around in the dark.

To answer his question she drew her wand and vanished the treat with a simple 'evanesco'. "Nah, it's a lost cause now and we've apparently got more than enough." There were VERY FEW things she was willing to eat after the ground had had its turn with them. Cake wasn't one of them...unless it was chocolate cake then maybe......ahem. In any case that wasn't chocolate and no longer their concern.

"Well, this is still a party and I still don't know half these people. We gotta socialize, c'mon." She said, gesturing for him to follow her into the group. Conversations were hard stuff when people were so far apart. "Bet you already know half their names." You know, since he was actually there for most of the feast and all. Ahem. Still not her fault.

"Mikey!" He was the first she recognized once she actually got to looking and the boy got a wave and a grin. For the sake of not sulking and having some fun she'd try enjoying this and forgetting how lied to she felt, so yes, greeting people. "I guess you've heard the news too...?"Oh but lookit that girl (iBeJenn) strangling the pillow. "You know....if you want it squirming, you'll have to animate it first." Lex said, giving the girl a wide grin. She could relax, see? There were nice people here.

That drew her attention to the next girl, this other firstie (Poolicious) if she remembered right. "Don't think I know you,"...no..."the name's Lex and you are?"

Across from her at the table she could see Tag and Lana, they both got waves but she was hardly ready to walk over to the table. Still trying to forget the wasted kitchen excursion, food would only make it worse.

"Thanks for mentioning the party Professor Airey." Yeah, there might have been pointed looks too before looking to Professor Bentley. "How are you Professor? And how are the flesh eaters? Okay enough for a visit....say a visit in the next month or so?" Yes? YES? She kinda needed this to be a yes.

Lucy followed a girl through the picture .. When she entered in the Common Room Lucy greeted the teachers, "Hello Professor Flamsteed. Professor Bentley." Then she turned to the girl and said, "Hello, I'm Lucy, a first year, nice to meet you! By be my first day here was a very busy day .. How was your first day?