Even though Skylar had taken FOREVER to get ready, the fourth year had to admit she was pleasantly surprised to find herself one of the first [students] ones present in the Great Hall that evening. With the Great Hall laden in red, it was just that friendly reminder that for the first time since starting at Hogwarts, Slytherin had not won the house cup. And even though she'd done stellar in most of her classes - she wasn't going to think about Defense tonight - there was that feeling like what else? Of course the fact of the matter is that Gryffindor had a substantial amount more gemstones in their hourglass than Slytherin, so there wasn't much more she could have done. And she was determined to not think about that tonight.

Tonight, she was to think about the amazing summer opportunity she would get playing beater for the under 17. She would think about her amazing boyfriend and how brilliant he had done with this year's competition. She would think about the fact that next year she was no longer going to be considered one of the 'underclassmen'. She would think about her adorable nephew that she hadn't seen since Easter break and must be getting so big already. She would think about the fact that Professor Marchand was looking much better tonight than he had all term. She would think about the fact that no exams for two whole months and another whole year of OWL preparation and studies.

Now, where was that boyfriend of hers? And roommates? And friends?

He was here and he found his seat. He could care less to be here and it probably showed, but Eddie was sitting and waiting for the food. He watched around the tables to observe people and thought about how easy it could be to just slip around without being noticed. All these American's still here just made that so much easier.

Why had they had to stay for the feast? Was nothing sacred anymore in this damn castle?


He would be telling his uncle about all of this. Maybe the man would see this school was not up to the standards his uncle felt it was and would send him somewhere else.
Honestly, he felt maybe he'd learn more at Wizard Juvie than he did here. At least more things that would help him in the long run.


For now though he just sat and waited.

Peace out, fifth year.

Classes were over. IMPS was over. OWL exams were over. Brent was just done. He walked into the Great Hall and eyed his brother over at the Hufflepuff table. He gave him one upward nod as if to say, "What's up, Bro?" in a silent kind of way. Kane would get it. This school year had been both awesome and mind-blowing all at the same time. When it had first started, Brent would have never believed he would battle a dementor and the Whomping Willow, trek through an Arctic tundra, and beat the heat of an African forest all in one year. Yet, it had all happened.

Not only that, he'd scored a girlfriend, and a really amazing one at that. Speaking of said girlfriend, there she was, and of course Brent bee-lined toward her. "What's up, Eddie?" he said, passing by the second year snake on his way to his girl. Nobody else had arrived yet, which was kind of weird, but whatever. They'd all show up soon enough. Brent took the seat next to Skylar and smiled at her. "You look great," he said, and she did. He didn't want to get all sappy, but he was one lucky dude to have her.

"I'm starving," he said, glancing up at the staff table. Wonder how long it'd be before the speech?

End of term. It had never been sad before, but Katy hadn't particularly cared that people were leaving before. And now she had her people leaving, some of the ones she liked the best. Not that she was permitting herself to be sad, but if she WAS, then she'd have ever reason to be.

But she wasn't.

Katy slipped into a seat near the middle of the bench and plunked her elbows onto the table. No food yet, but she wasn't above filling her glass with water and sipping it with a certain air of royal nonchalance. She sipped and watched her housemates. They all looked a bit sad. Maybe it wasn't just her.

It was the end of term. The last day of school year. After this last night, he was heading back to his mum. He was not excited. He was thankful, though, for friends that he was able to stay with. It made the summer bearable.

He took a seat at the table and looked around for his dorm mates or his friends. Or just Nat. He then looked around for seventh years wondering vaguely what it was like to be done with school.

The term went by really fast. Apparently now, it was the night of the end of term feast. This definitely gave the fourth year some bittersweet vibes. She was hella excited to go home and bid classes goodbye for now. Vivian wanted to just get her well-deserved beauty sleep. Summer also meant her birthday was drawing near, and she could finally meet with Andrei at Diagon Alley again. At the same time, she wasn't quite ready to move a year higher. Fifth year already next term? That made her feel a little bit old... and the thought of having to base your future on how good you did in OWLs just made things a tad bit scary.

After finishing up some of her packing for tomorrow's train ride, Vivian made her way to the Great Hall. Despite being here every evening for dinner, she couldn't deny but acknowledge how entirely different the vibe and ambience was in here. Guess the staff and house elves just really wanted to rub it on everyone's faces that this was the last dinner together with exactly the same people inside.

Ahhhh, there were her people! The blonde skipped over to the Slytherin Table and wiggled her fingers at everyone present (Eddie, Katy, Slate). She then sat on the seat in front of Sky, because her IMPS champion boyfriend took this blonde's usual seat. Hmm. "Hiiii, Sky!" Vivian beamed at her dorm mate, and then turned to her dormie's guy person. "And Brent!" Because he'd been good to Sky despite that dramatic first challenge, of course. Sky had Vivi's approval, for sure.

Merlin, it smelled good here though. Fooooood, where you at?

The distinct sound of chains rattling could be heard by those nearby as the Baron rose up through the Slytherin House table peering around at the so far gathered snake students. He turned ever so slowly to rest his gaze on each and every students face for a moment before floating over to rest next to Brent Westwood. In his usual raspy tones the Baron grumbled out to everyone present. "Good evening children! Why does the hall tonight not shimmer in Slytherin green and silver?"

Summer was going to be different, Felicity reflected, traipsing from the grounds to the Great Hall after saying her goodbye's to the Aethonian she'd fallen in love with. Still bitter that she couldn't take Floyd home, her mood was marred even further by the fact that she'd be returning to London, and summering in the Lake District. The Lake District. It was definitely not going to be the same as her North Carolina home, or their holidays to St. Barts.

The Lake District.

Whatever. At least Britain was a lot smaller than America, and that meant that hopefully she'd be able to see the friends she'd made over the summer. And then come September... Well, it would be like severing her Ilvermorny ties for good, then. Liss couldn't help but wonder how much different Hogwarts would seem without the American's around.

Slipping into the seat next to Vivian, she smiled at her, Skylar and Brent (and the rest of the table whom she didn't particularly know) and leant her head on Vivi's shoulder. "Where's the food?"

More people... joy, the second year just looked at them all.
Honestly, he didn't understand why students actually got upset at this thing. They were going home and could be away from people. He couldn't wait to get home and hide in his room for a few days only talking to his brother and his parents. The rest could stay away. Plus he had potion stuff to research. That was going to be his summer plans. This love potion was on his mind since the older girl gave him some. The possibilities it could be used for.

Hearing someone talk he looked up, "Well because we didn't win that's why." Duh ghostly Baron. When you were a ghost did you end up forgetting things? He wasn't too sure and he really didn't care enough to think about it longer than a second. His mind went back to his notes and his potion stuff when he noticed a dorm mate sitting down. He gave Slat a nob in recognition.

Mulling over the past year and the summer and the upcoming year in her head, Skylar barely took not of Eddie slipping onto a bench at the other end of the table. Strange boy that one was and she supposed maybe one day he might outgrow it. Whatever it was that was possessing him, at least. She did send a brief smile and raised her hand to finger wave at him.

Lowering only when she was joined by the boyfriend who took his usual seat [as of the past few months] next to her. Praising her, to which she really wanted to say, of course I do or something to that effect, but bit her tongue. Instead she smiled back at him, "Slytherins always do" which was her way of saying, hey, he looked pretty darn cute himself. Someone remind her again how she won over a boyfriend who was sentimental and cute and brave and smart? And of course, always starving. "Naturally," she mused, removing some cockroach clusters from her robe pocket. "It's not much, just some leftovers but it might tide us over."

Aw, was it just her or did Katy look sad? Cue a pouty face and a finger wave for the older snake, hoping to cheer her up a little. And another finger wiggle at Slate too, because why not? Even though she hadn't gotten to speak much to him.

And there were her dormmates! Grinning when two of her favorite snake girls took seats opposite her and Brent, she slid two cockroach clusters over for them too. Since Felicity had asked about food, obviously they could use a snack while they wait as well. "Vivi! Liss!" Now where was Junia and their quartet was complete? "Can you believe we're gonna be fifth years?" You know, in case they forgot.

And there was their house ghost grumbling about Slytherin being 'first place losers'. Okay, so he hadn't actually said that, but that was essentially what Skylar heard which was annoying because she was determined to NOT think about that tonight. Thank you, Eddie, for that esteemed and obvious response. "Good evening, Baron sir," Skylar said out of politeness, choosing to ignore his question because he was not going to ruin her last night as a fourth year. Besides, Eddie reminded him already why the hall wasn't decked in green and silver, so no need to add salt to the wound.

Nothing said 'end of term feast' like a Rooney Bronwyn spectacle. And so he had covered all of the tables in the Great Hall in autographed cards of his face (to say goodbye, clearly) and also confetti of his initials. THEY. WERE. WELCOME.

Rooney Bronwyn'd.

Oh! Would you look at that. Vivian's attention was immediately caught by the presence of their house ghost. She had seen him around before, but rarely did they were get to interact with such a grumpy soul. The grumbling still made it quiet clear to the blonde that he still was grumpy. How... unfortunate. "Good evening!" Vivian greeted him, too, with finger wiggles. And she was going to pretend she didn't hear everything else after that. Why the Great Hall wasn't in green and silver, and all that. Yup. The fact the Gryffindors had what seemed like an exponential lead in the house cup race still made the fourteen-year-old a tad bit sour.

And there was the third of their she-snake squad. Vivian beamed at Liss and gave her space to sit right beside her. "Hiii!" She didn't mind that the other girl leaned on her shoulder. They've gotten close since they first met earlier this term, and she totally adored Liss despite knowing each other only for less than a year. If Sky had Brent, then Vivian totally liked that Liss was around. Feeling and knowing that you were a third wheel was rather awkward sometimes. "I've asked myself that question, too. Maybe after the speech?" The blonde's eyes then trailed over to the staff table. Could the Headmistress just pleaaaaase let them eat now?

But thank you, Skylar Natasha Diggory! The brunette was definitely a life saver. Normally, Vivian wouldn't have taken the cockroach cluster because duh, those were weird. But you know, when you're hungry... you'd take on anything. "Thank you, Mama Sky," Vivian said and took one of the cockroach clusters, then examined it. These better be edible. And... what? Fifth years already next term? "We're old!" A tiny gasp followed after that for the dramatic effect, of course.

... What in the name of Merlin was that? Vivian looked up and saw hundreds of confetti falling over all of the students. The blonde blinked, still registering what was happening, and smiled a little. Looks like someone was feeling festive this end-of-term feast, yeah? She then took one that fell onto their table and read the letters on it. "'R.B.' Uhm...?" Interesting. But the card definitely gave away the person's identity. It was the head boy. He was graduating already, right? Whoa. That was fast. Still, that was one way to leave a mark at Hogwarts. Kudos to him!

Aurora looked amazing, as always - but she looked EXTRA amazing today this was her last day at Hogwarts and she needed to go out with a BANG. She wanted everyone to remember how gorgeous she looked so they would forever regret not getting to know her and worshipping the ground she walked on while she was here.

Of course, Aurora HAD actually had a REALLY fun time. She hadn't won, which had been a downer of course - she had even started picking out her own eyelashes due to the stress of losing, but thankfully starting taking Calming Draughts after that - but going to another school and experiencing another culture was going to look good on university applications regardless. Now, she missed America. She missed her home, where it was actually sunny and there was more than one type of weather besides GLOOMY. She could put her full attention towards her studies and exams next year - and to Jeremy.

Perhaps this had all been good for her. Her emotions were still yo-yoing all over the place, but it was getting better day by day.

She walked over to the Slytherin house table and sat down, smiling at everyone as she made her entrance. "Hello Slytherins! I've decided to spend my last meal here with all you lovely people," she said with a smirk, taking a drink out of her goblet. PLUS the house ghost was here, which was cool. She LOVED the ghosts here, they were so entertaining!

OOOOH, pictures of the cute Head Boy? Aurora promptly took one and tucked it away in her bag. What a lovely souvenir to remember her time here!!

"Well because we didn't win that's why." His bloodiness shot a look over at young master Blaze as he spoke up. The second year certainly had a smart mouth. Very Slytherin too. Grumbling the Baron admitted in his raspy whisper as he pointed a spectral finger at the boy. "Yes, we lost the house cup this year. Now what are you going to do to change that next year young man?" He was not going to stand for it if Sir Nicholas won two years in a row. His ego would be worse to live with than Peeves then.

Ms Diggory adressed him politely enough. "Ms Diggory," He returned with a slight head bow and then reluctantly gave her some praise. He had manners. "Congratulations to ending up on the esteemed house list for earning over 500 house points for our noble house." He was going to overlook the girl's lapse in answering his earlier question for now since she had obviously done her best in classes this year.

Catching sight of the finger wiggles in his direction the Baron turned his black eyes to look at the dark haired young woman that had greeted him. "Miss Fairfield," he acknowledged in his raspy tones making his chains rattle a little as he did so. Before he could let her know what he thought about the finger wiggles something came raining down from the ceiling and through him. Eyes narrowing the Baron demanded as he pointed with a spectral finger at the confetti and cards that now was all over the table. "What in the lady's good name is that gibberish Ms Fairfield?"

Lovely people. Catching the end of the girl clad in non-slytherin robes greeting the Baron turned to look at her in her Ilvermornian robes and huffed out raspily. "Good evening Ms Chae!" before he turned his gaze away to look over at the Ravenclaw table. The Lady Helena had yet to grace the hall with her divine presence.

"Nothing"


What was this ghost about a stupid cup anyway. Did it really matter in the end? Eddie really didn't think so, but all the other students and ghost seemed to think it was the greatest thing on earth. "I don't care much about group competitions or house cups.
" So he wouldn't care if they won or lose. He looked up at the staff table hoping the headmistress would put him out of his misery soon with a speech.

What was...


He looked around as the cards started falling and he noticed it was the head boy.
Full of himself much? Eddie pulled out his wand and pointed it to the tiny cards and set one on fire. Now, this was more like it, some fun while they waited.

His eyes only lifted when he heard some ridiculous American speak. No one cared where she sat so if she was going to sit, she should shut her trap and just sit.

Of course, James was there...coming in late as always. He chose the seat near to the entrance, so he could be the last one in and the first one out. Oh darn it, it seemed as though he came in the wrong time. He made a face at the headboy throwing confetti everywhere on their table. What the heck? He was so not in the mood. Oops, he didn't mean to sit on Rooney's autographed face. Sorrz. He picked it up and threw it over his shoulder, not caring the least. He looked around, hoping to spot his friends. Where were his people at?