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Post by Phoenix on Mar 23, 2014 16:46:27 GMT -5
It is a new year, a time in some eleven year olds' life they will never forget; the beginning of their magical journey at Hogwarts. They ran through Platform 9 3/4, made new friends (and enemies) aboard the scarlet Hogwarts Express, and were guided across the vast lake that separates the majestic castle from the rest of the grounds. They step up to the large wooden door hidden by the vines they recently passed through, and are greeted by a wizard in all black. All of the stories their older siblings and parents have told them, they realize, will not be pertaining to them this year.
They are ushered into a small room where the Sorting Hat awaits, and without song or rhyme, it Sorts them into their houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. There is no grand ceremony, no warm welcome from Headmistress Penelope Marevas, and they realize the horrified whispers they heard on the train were true; the Headmistress is dead. According to an older student wearing a shiny badge with the letter "P" she was found this morning by one of the Heads of Houses, Professor Benoit or something like that. There was no sign of forced entry, no sign of the Killing Curse, just an empty goblet and a parchment upon which the words "I'm sorry," written in scarlet-red ink. The Ministry was inquiring as to whether it was a suicide or homicide, or so they heard. The first years look to each other, wondering if this sudden death was a bad omen upon their class.
After what seems like a lifetime, they are brought into the Great Hall with the rest of the student body. Tonight the four house tables are gone, instead replaced by rows upon rows of chairs. Some students are crying, some are shaking, some are twisting their hands with angry looks on their face. The Headmistress was well loved and respected in the community, why would she take her own life, and therefore leave all of them? Filed in among the students are Ministry officials, Aurors, and former students wishing to bid their beloved professor and headmistress a final farewell. At the head of the room, an ebony and gold coffin lies, holding the remains of the Headmistress. Bouquets upon bouquets of flowers surround the tomb, a sign of respect for the woman who touched so many peoples lives while she lived.
One of the young first years feels an odd presence behind them, but when they turn there is nobody there. They cannot help but feel they are being watched, and out of the corner of their eye they can barely glimpse a silvery spectral. They shudder; they know there are ghosts that inhabit the castle interior, but this one feels restless and restrained. The idea of a restrained spirit is laughable, and they give it no other thought as the Deputy Headmaster prepares his eulogy for the dearly departed.
TAG - Everyone
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Post by Stella Meade on Mar 26, 2014 12:27:14 GMT -5
Stella made her way slowly into the Great Hall, dressed in a modest knee-length black dress underneath her black and scarlet Gryffindor robes. Her long brown hair was down and loosely curled with a few bobby pins tucked in to keep it from out of her face. She had greatly respected the Headmistress, and had cried upon hearing the news this morning. At first she hadn't wanted to believe it; suicide? The Headmistress? The information was passed down from the Head Boy and Girl solemly in the front car right before they were supposed to go on rounds, and naturally the news spread like wildfire. She couldn't begin to imagine the amount of variety in what happened as the words were passed through a different mouth.
Right now, all she cared about was finding one person; Jared. There were no separate tables for each house today, but a seat of benches filed one behind the other leading up to the dark coffin at the head of the hall. She shuddered, trying not to imagine the Headmistresses' blank eyes staring up at nothingness within the confines of the space. She took a few steps forward, her head turning left and right looking for Jared. They hadn't exactly made their relationship public, but a tragedy such as this made Stella want to be near him. She finally spotted him among a group of Slytherins, and took a deep breath. It wasn't that she didn't like other Slytherins, but they tended to avoid each other what with her being a Prefect and a Gryffindor. Ignoring the looks she knew she was getting, she walked over to the bench he was sitting.
"Move please," she said calmly. The person sitting next to Jared scooted over and she took the seat next to him. She looked over to him with a sad smile. "I need you today," she said, then let her palm rest open handed on her leg, inviting him to take it.
TAG - Jared/everyone else
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Post by Karina Tidland on Mar 26, 2014 20:00:45 GMT -5
Although clumped among peers of her own house - house tables may have been eradicated for the moment, but like still gravitated toward like - Karina rested in her row feeling quite alone in her feelings; or, rather, lack thereof. She could not connect herself to the woman who lay within the coffin, nor conjure up any sadness. Death is unfortunate, she understood this, but it ended with that. The Headmistress was a figure within the school, and again it ended with that. To pretend she felt anything for someone she did not know, had never held a conversation with, this could not be comprehended. The forced participation of mourning and requirement to share the exact same emotions as every other individual caused Karina sever discomfort. The first day of a Hogwarts was always a long one - last minute preparations with an early wake up call, a long and laborious train ride - that by the time she arrived at school, her stomach growled for attention and her pounding head, acclimating back being surrounded by people, a firm pillow. Selfish, no. She had acknowledged the news of the death upon the train with shock and momentary anger, taken a moment to consider all the gossip and theories surrounding the event, and then accepted it. No reversal would happen, time would continue on.
Yet, Karina took her place among the herd, nodding stoically at various comments hoping others perceived well enough for mourning. Then she could trail off in thought, removed from the anxiety of claustrophobia and judgement of who is showing the right amount of sadness. With a sigh, all she could think with disgust was "Ugh, people. What if someone lightened this up, plenty of other cultures handle death with humor." No, Karina could not. She would not get away with any high jinks, she would be a pariah, she had no partner in crime. She settled with picking at her dress robes, despising the ugly thing - hopefully a hole would appear and mum and dad would accept the news with narrowed looks, never insisting on buying another again. tag
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Post by Jared Carmichael on Mar 26, 2014 23:24:11 GMT -5
Jared Carmichael entered the Great Hall and for the first time in his Hogwarts career did not know where to sit. There were no tables that categorized them by House as there normally were, and that threw him off almost more than the death of their beloved Headmistress. He was accustomed to a strict routine that he did not like to deviate from. He was hungry, tired, and disheveled from that brutal train ride and now he was faced with this uncomfortable situation of choosing a seat. He had been awoken from his typical nap in the carriage by some students loudly discussing some surely ludicrous gossip that he tried to tune out. Surely the Headmistress' death was just a hoax some of the students were trying to pull on the incredibly stupid and gullible first years. Clearly, he was wrong, and in the end, Jared opted for a seat near the back next to some other older Slytherins.
Jared had visited the Headmistress' office only once. It was recent, about the time his parents kicked him out and he was basically homeless. She had helped him find a place to stay. She had been very kind, and that was all Jared knew of her. Kindness. A brick wall of shock slammed into him suddenly and he desperately wished he had something to take the edge off. He needed to get out of there - now. He was about to stand up when a familiar brunette scooted right next to him - Stella. She was the only person in the entire world Jared actually cared about. He didn't give a rat's arse about his parents, and his friends were nothing but company these days. He was a worthless piece of scum compared to Stella, but she miraculously still saw something in him anyway.
"I don't know what's going to happen now," Jared mused aloud, grabbing Stella's hand automatically. She looked clearly distraught whereas he just felt a little dazed. If this was how the entire school year was going to go, then he needed stronger drugs. "This is a bad sign."
tag/Stella
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Post by Stella Meade on Mar 31, 2014 14:09:47 GMT -5
Stella felt tingles go down her arm as Jared's fingers entwined with hers; her mind started drifting elsewhere, but there were more important matters at hand. She squeezed his hand lightly and studied his face. "Nobody I think in their right mind expected this, least of all today," she said, trying to sound reassuring. He had been dealt a poor pack of cards over the past few months, and she knew the Headmistress had been kind to him during those times. She tried to smile. "She saw what I see in you Jared," she whispered softly so nobody could hear her except him. She didn't know who else knew about his situation, but that was his business to tell people as he saw fit.
She looked around at some of the other faces filling into the crowd, mostly somber, some confused, and even a few who looked like this was the last place they ever wanted to be. She supposed she couldn't blame them; you're not allowed to use magic all summer and the first day back you have to attend a funeral? If this was her five years ago as a first year, she would have been fidgeting to keep still the whole time. To be fair she thought, the only reason she was remotely calm was the boy sitting next to her.
She looked at him again. "Do you need to get out of here when this is over?" she asked. She didn't exactly condone his guilty vices, but she wasn't about to lecture him on anything just then. It just wasn't the right moment.
TAG - Jared Carmichael
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2014 14:23:03 GMT -5
Aurora's mind was racing as she glided down the steps towards the Great Hall, where Headmistress Marevas' body lay in wait for her funeral. She was mentally kicking herself over and over again for not having put the pieces of the puzzle together before she died. When she made the prophecy three months ago in front of her best friend Brooke, they had immediately gone to her office to repeat what she said and for other guidance. What Aurora hadn't told anyone was the swooping sensation she had felt in her gut and a vision of a clear vial and the Headmistress staring blankly ahead of her, slumped over her desk in motionless agony. They were too busy arguing over her big Prophecy, the professors were, and sometimes Aurora's visions were simply what could come to pass. There was no way to tell it would have been definite.
Raising her head high, she walked past most of the students who were gathered in the back. She heard some of them whisper, knowing who she was and what she had prophesied, but there was nothing that could be done about that. It wasn't as if Aurora wasn't treated like a bit of an oddball anyway. She was used to being treated delicately because of her powers. She walked right up to the ebony coffin and stood there for a moment. "I'm sorry, Headmistress," she whispered, barely audible over the sea of students and adults talking to each other. She closed her eyes and bowed her head for a moment, a single tear dripping from her eye onto the floor. She then turned around and took a seat by herself, waiting for someone, anyone to get up and begin this funeral already.
TAG - anyone!
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Post by Holly Pendergrast on Apr 1, 2014 14:27:52 GMT -5
Holly hated this. First of all she was in a brand new school, surrounded by people she didn't know and who probably didn't know her. Holly was accustomed to being well known and well liked. The unfamiliar was uncomfortable. Holly stepped into the huge stone room, and quickly looked around. The tables weren't what she had seen this summer when she had visited the school for the first time. She knew she was supposed to sit at the Gryffindor table, but which one was that? Everything was so thrown off just because the headmistress died and it was the day of her funeral.
Which brought Holly to another point. Who has a funeral on the first day of school? She thought that the first day of school was about new beginnings and celebrations of starting a new life. But no, they all had to sit here and listen to this woman's accomplishments and mourn her death. Holly didn't even know the woman. She didn't care what she'd done.
Holly had done some research on who prominent school members were before the start of term. She had also heard that one student was a profit. Luckily for Holly, this prophet girl was sitting by herself at a table. A prophet wandering around the school... what a treat. Maybe this girl would come up with something good for her. Holly drifted over to sit next to the blonde, and smiled a bit like she knew her. "It's just dreadful that we're having a funeral on the first day of term, isn't it?"
tag/Aurora/ Everyone
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Post by Calliope Pendergrast on Apr 1, 2014 15:39:02 GMT -5
Calliope Pendergrast ran her fingers through her sleek dark hair one last time before entering the doors of the Great Hall, unsure of what sight would behold her on the other side. She had heard the news of the current Headmistress' death on that foul smelling train this morning, and it had frankly put a damper on her mood. She wasn't sad at all that the woman had died, but instead she was upset that the school's reputation would now be forever tarnished by this mysterious death. She had spent countless hours visiting schools and Hogwarts was the only one with an ounce of worthiness, and now her first day was already ruined. Callie wanted only the best institution to learn magic from. Her textbooks had been devoured over the summer, and her fingers had itched to take out her wand and practice. Now that she was finally able to use magic again, she wanted to learn from only the wisest and most skilled professors. What kind of school was this if the Headmistress herself, the woman with the highest degree of power within the school, couldn't even protect herself?
The door slammed behind Callie with a rather sharp bang, and a few red eyed students with tears glistening on their cheeks turned to see who had dared cause such a loud disturbance in the midst of a funeral. Students were clutching at each other as if this woman had been their dear old mums, and Callie sniffed at their degree of exposed sensitivity. She couldn't imagine having to attend classes with these blubbering idiots who looked like they didn't even know which end of their wand to hold. As she walked towards the benches, her shoes made a light clacking sound on the floor and she could feel their eyes burning a hole in the back of her skull, wondering who this new girl was and why there was an identical copy of her already chatting up a blonde beside the coffin. Callie felt a sharp twist in her stomach; Holly was already making new friends. Typical. One of the benches was occupied with fewer people and Callie opted to sit down instead of being on display for any longer. If she'd had her way, she would be up in her dormitory, unpacking her things away from the scrutiny of her classmates. Somebody near her let out a loud sob and Callie tilted her head ever so slightly to the side. "How tragic," she said tonelessly.
tag/anybody
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Post by Jared Carmichael on Apr 1, 2014 16:03:05 GMT -5
"This year is gonna be crap," Jared muttered, running his fingers through his blonde hair with his free hand. In previous years of Jared's Hogwarts education, he had pretty much broken every rule in the book. He blatantly defied authority, was never where he was supposed to be, roamed the castle and the grounds whenever he felt like it, and considered his classes to be optional. He pushed his luck but knew that the Headmistress would never expel him. "You're just troubled, Jared," she had told him on their only formal meeting. She had also given him a long detention, but she hadn't given up on him completely. Now that she was gone, the security around the school would only intensify. He could picture it already - everybody in their common rooms immediately after supper, being escorted to and from class, even employing the buddy system for trips to the washroom. There would be no privacy, and no chance for Jared to indulge. Not to mention, Stella's Prefect duties would probably double. Those snot-nosed preteen first years would probably see more of his girlfriend than he would. God, what a morbid year this would be.
Jared snapped back to the present as Stella asked him if he needed to get out of there when the funeral was done. "I'd like to get out of here now," he murmured, although he knew that was not an option. "I just wish the damn thing would start," he said, shaking his head as if to clear it from the constant noise of sniffling and crying. His hand was shaking a bit and he was sure Stella could feel it. He needed to ditch this thing and go outside for some fresh air. The place was swarming with professors, Ministry officials, and Aurors, though, and he doubted he could lie his way out of this. The only thing he could do was suck it up and sit tight, and wait for it to all be over.
tag/Stella Meade
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Post by Adelaide Pendergrast on Apr 1, 2014 21:44:09 GMT -5
Adelaide Pendergrast surveyed the student body from a corner of the Great Hall, watching the various students mingle and comfort each other in their time of grief. The old Headmistress' passing had been tragic yes, but a blessing in disguise for her family. She had just so happened to be in the village of Hogsmeade that morning when news of the elder woman's demise pricked her ears. Immediately, she traveled up to the school to express her sincere condolences to the Hogwarts community. The staff had been most welcoming of the sympathy, and were interested in where she had come from. While she told her long tale of adventure and woe, Adelaide had noticed how enchanted the staff and Ministry members had been of her. She chalked it up to the veela blood in her system. All she had to do was mention casually that she was looking for a job at a school so her girls could attend and attain a proper wizarding schooling, and the Minister offered her the job as Headmistress. She was certainly one of the youngest to obtain the top job at Hogwarts since perhaps Severus Snape in the time of He Who Must Not Be Named. She didn't see it as a pitfall however; to her this was yet another challenge to be conquered with relish.
She saw that some students were fidgeting uncomfortably in their seats, and she stood up. She smiled and raised a hand to stop the Minister from rising as well and she took center stage. "My dear students, it is with sadness and grief that I stand here before you today. The loss of Headmistress Marevas is something I am sure felt by all of you in your individual ways." She paused, letting her first sentence sink in. Several of the students had begun to whisper among themselves, wondering who on earth she was. She spotted her daughters; Calliope of course was in the back by herself, and Holly was chatting up one of the students sitting in front. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she recognized that it was none other than Aurora Montclair, the girl who had made the next Great Prophecy the term before. She would have to keep her eye on that one.
Adelaide gave the students a sad, sympathetic smile. "Although this is a time for a grief and remembrance, it is also time for new beginnings. My name is Adelaide Pendergrast, and I am your new Headmistress." She paused, allowing the announcement to sink into the students' heads.
TAG - everyone
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2014 21:54:29 GMT -5
Aurora had zoned out in one of her trances that she hardly noticed the girl sitting next to her. When she actually spoke, Aurora had to shake her head to snap out of it and register what she had said. Her brows furrowed inwards at her standoffish comment. "The Headmistress died earlier today, I suppose it is only right for the whole student body to be here and see her off properly," she replies stiffly. She turned and looked at the girl, and a flash of red passed before her eyes. She let out an involuntary gasp, only for her vision to be returned properly after seconds. She didn't see anything except red, and who knew what that could have meant. She doubted the girl knew about her powers; no need to trouble her until something became more clear.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name, mine is Aurora," she said politely, offering her a shy smile. Before she could say more, a woman walked in front of the Headmistresses coffin and began speaking. She introduced herself as something Pendergrast...the new Headmistress. Aurora's brow furrowed once again; how strange to have never seen this woman before in any part of the castle, and all of a sudden she is headmistress. It was nothing like she had heard before. "I wonder who she is," she mused aloud to the girl sitting next to her. She realized she really hadn't seen that girl around either, and wondered if it was all connected somehow.
TAG - Holly
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Post by Stella Meade on Apr 1, 2014 22:08:55 GMT -5
Stella sighed and let her head fall down on his shoulder, the dark locks of her hair falling behind him. She breathed in the scent of him and closed her eyes for a moment. She wished she could take away all the pain his family had caused him this past year and cast it into oblivion, but she knew that wasn't possible. A small, nagging part in the back of her brain even wondered if he wanted to completely forget all the pain. It wasn't a topic she sought out though; she knew he'd face his demons in his own way. While she might be busy with Prefect duty and Quidditch practice, she would be there for him whenever he needed, whether he believed her or not.
Lost in her own moment, Stella barely registered what the woman now standing in front of her said. When the words 'new Headmistress' hang out, her head snapped up and she sat upright. Her grip on Jared's hand grew vice like for a moment, then she remembered and relaxed. She looked round at him, her eyes incredulous. "Is this a bloody joke?" she whispers fiercely, then lowers her voice still as to not be heard by anyone. "Do we even know who this woman is? She wasn't even a teacher her for Merlin's sake - why couldn't Professor Scott be Headmaster?!" Stella stopped herself and caught her breath. She was getting very worked up over something she didn't fully have the answer to just yet. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding in and looked over at Jared. "As soon as we can, let's bolt," she decided.
TAG - Jared Carmichael
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Post by Nithranyx Blackwood on Apr 2, 2014 15:41:06 GMT -5
Nithranyx sat in the far left corner of the hall, watching the scene roll out in front of her. She sat upright and kept a serious air about her, neither pleased nor sad, but a practical and reasonable outlook on the situation-- though again, it wasn't as though there wasn't much of a variance in her emotions nor her method in displaying them publicly. She leant back slightly as she listened to several groups of people discussing the death of the headmistress, curious as to how others were dealing with the situation-- the other students mainly adopted a regretful and depressed attitude to the untimely death of the headmistress, or at least that was what Nyx gathered from what she heard around her, as well as the occasional loud and irritating wail that came up every now and again.
Nyx herself was neither pleased nor displeased at the death of the woman. Of course, a death was rarely a cause for a celebration of any sort and the headmistress had not been a despicable woman so Nyx had no particularly hateful feelings towards the woman-- But at the same time, Nyx had never considered their headmistress to be a great nor an outstanding witch or headmistress and didn't always agree on her policies and so in some respect, the whole bloody situation could be seen as an area for potential improvement for Hogwarts. And being fairly practical and logical, improvement and amelioration were far more important than emotional attachments and such nonsense.
Nyx watched as a few students made their way up to the corpse of the woman who had given the welcoming speech every year and watched as many burst into tears. And she tapped her foot ever so lightly on the ground, growing impatient and waiting for all the sensitive, emotional and childish idiots to hurry up. As an unfamiliar woman made her way to centre-stage, Nyx eyed her wearily. If she was to be the new headmistress, then Nyx already had her doubts that she would approve. When the woman began to speak, Nyx's suspicions were confirmed and they had indeed elected this woman to lead the school. Great. She had a annoying smile on her face that Nyx did not approve of, she was too young in Nyx's mind to be running a facility of any kind- let alone one of the greatest wizarding schools in the world, and she had no experience in Hogwarts as a member in staff-- Honestly? What in Heaven's name were the Ministry thinking?!
Tag: Anybody
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Post by Jared Carmichael on Apr 2, 2014 23:43:28 GMT -5
Jared let his eyes shut briefly as Stella rested her head on his shoulder. It felt nice having somebody who deeply cared about him. It was unusual, but it made him feel warm and wanted in a way that nobody had ever made him feel before - not even his closest family members. Opening his eyes again, he was overcome by memories of his earlier years at Hogwarts. At a younger age, his parents had neglected him, but not in an open way. They were just never around, and Jared had always thought that was the way it was supposed to be. And then he came to Hogwarts, and saw children unwrapping homemade Christmas presents and visiting their families over break and he wondered why his parents always jetted off halfway around the world conveniently in time for his summer vacation, forcing him into the care of nannies. As he steadily grew older, he grew more detached and forced his rage onto other students. Stella hadn't made him any less of a bully, or Merlin forbid - soft, but she had helped him cope with his anger issues in a way that made life somewhat bearable.
Jared had been so lost in his own head that he barely noticed some young, unfamiliar woman take the stage, announcing herself as Headmistress. Stella was clearly outraged, but Jared just let out a sigh. If the Ministry had appointed her on such short notice, she must have some redeeming qualities. Or else she had placed the officials under the Imperius Curse somehow which in that case they were all screwed. "She looks pretty harmless," Jared decided, in an attempt to calm Stella's fury. "Scott couldn't control the entire school and keep his teaching duties. Guy can barely control his own class," Jared muttered. Whoever this Adelaide woman was, as long as she didn't interfere with his extracurricular activities, he would be just fine with her.
tag/Stella Meade
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Post by Adelaide Pendergrast on Apr 6, 2014 23:30:53 GMT -5
Adelaide had expected the mixed reactions that rippled throughout the crowds; she welcomed them. The ones who thought her too young, too inexperienced, too unfamiliar with the school, they would get quite the surprise as the year carried on. She allowed them to talk amongst themselves for another moment, then raised her hands again for silence. "I understand how this might come as a shock to you, but be well aware I fully intend to take this school to soaring new heights, and we can have more accomplishments, triumphs and glory among the other wizarding schools of the world. I will not rest until our school has shown everyone what we are made of." She inwardly grimaced at some of the words she had carefully rehearsed over the past week in the secluded room in the inn she and her girls had been staying at. Of course, her first acts as Headmistress would be to put Hogwarts in a place of international recognition and glory, so no other school could ever think to compete with them. What came next was of course, a secret that only she herself knew. She wouldn't even trust her daughters with the surprise, though she was sure they could figure it out. Her girls were incredibly intelligent and sharp thinkers; after all how could they be anything less with her for a mother?
"As today is being recognizes as our dearly departed Headmistress' funeral, tomorrow will be the real start to the term. First years will be formally introduced to their Houses then, tonight you will all sleep together in the makeshift dormitory in the Grand Ballroom." Adelaide used this moment to clear her throat. "Additionally, starting this year any fifth, sixth or seventh year who believes they have the qualifications for the Prefect position will submit an application heralding their case. You will find the application steps on your bulletin boards in the common rooms. If you have not received a letter from us with an offer of Prefectship, now is your time to shine." Here she paused, knowing what she was going to say next would cause discord. "Please note that all current Prefects are encouraged to submit their own applications as if a student in your year and of your gender submits one and you do not, I will have every reason to hand your badge to them," she finished with a sly smile. If that didn't shake up the older students who felt safe with their little badges, she didn't know what would.
"Finally, I would like to meet with each of you individually for fifteen minutes over the course of the week. First years will meet with me tomorrow before you go off to your Houses, Second years the next day and so on and so forth. It will be the time to voice your concerns, ask any questions, et cetera so please be prepared before you come in. Your meeting times will be listed in your common rooms." Adelaide paused for breath. She wondered for a moment if the students had understood half of what she said, before smiling wide again and waving her hands towards the Minister. She uttered something under her breath and he seemed to come out of a daze, walking towards her with a warm smile.
"And now, our lovely Minister will conclude our dearly departed former Headmistresses funeral," she said before sweeping off the stage with flourish and grandeur.
TAG - everyone
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Post by Stella Meade on Apr 7, 2014 0:00:57 GMT -5
Stella allowed Jared to brush off her idea of Professor Scott as Headmaster as an agree-to-disagree moment in their relationship; she knew he didn't care much for any of the professors at the school, so perhaps someone new could be more beneficial to him and his situation than any seasoned staff member would. "I hope you're right," she murmured, and listened when Headmistress Pendegrast began speaking again. Oh, how wrong she was to believe for a moment that this woman had any hopes of matching or surpassing Penelope Marevas. She didn't quite buy her whole speech about making Hogwarts better than before, but she didn't realize the worst was yet to come.
At the announcement of the new Prefect selection, Stella's grip on Jared's arm tightened so hard her knuckles turned white. She looked down and quickly released her fingers from around his arm before she left puncture marks. She closed her eyes to try and control her breathing, which worked about as well as she expected; not at all. The possibility of losing her Prefectship was unheard of unless she had done something to discredit the position, which she certainly hadn't. She didn't think any of the girls of her year would dream of running against her for their years' Prefect position; she got along with them all quite well and they had seemed relieved when she had received the badge over her. Stella's hands were shaking, and she clasped them in front of her, squeezing them together to try and quell the tremor. "This better be a bloody joke," she seethed through her teeth. She realized she wanted more than anything to leave the hall and run, run out the front doors and down to the lake, into a small crevice cave that she had found exploring one day, and pretend that none of this had ever happened. The only thing keeping her in the Great Hall at that moment was the deceased Headmistresses casket and the respect she had for her.
TAG - Jared Carmichael
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Post by Jared Carmichael on Apr 7, 2014 23:19:21 GMT -5
Jared turned his attention fully to this new self-proclaimed Headmistress, studying her critically. She was young, but there was something about her that exuded authority. The entire hall went very quiet as she spoke, even the crying seemed to cease from some students. It was strange to witness really - it was a funeral for the woman who had run this school for years, and now this stranger was going on about how she was going to make this school better than it had ever been before. Jared had never been to a funeral, but he was pretty sure they were supposed to be about honoring the deceased, not declaring how much better off they all would be without them.
Stella's Prefectship had meant the most to her for as long as Jared had known her. Although it had been annoying at first, Jared had come to appreciate the perks of dating a Prefect. Now, this Pendergrast woman was basically stripping everybody of their badges unless they reapplied. Jared kind of detested the Prefect system anyway - students giving other students detention just seemed like utter bull - but he understood how that badge defined Stella. She was pretty much born for the position. Now, this announcement from Headmistress Pendergrast seemed to completely rock her world in the worst way possible. "Don't worry, nobody's going to apply against you," Jared said reassuringly, removing the strong grip she had on his bicep before she left a mark.
The last bit of the woman's speech involved one on one interviews to be conducted within the next week. Jared had never been good with first impressions, and he needed to leave a damn good one on this woman. He didn't need to give her any reason to suspect that he was secretly indulging in illicit activities. That way, he could continue destroying his body in peace. "I wonder what she'll think of me," Jared mused quietly. No doubt, she would already know he was an emancipated alcoholic failure by the time he reached her office door. Guess he would just need to be on his best behavior that day.
tag/Stella Meade
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Post by Calliope Pendergrast on Apr 7, 2014 23:35:49 GMT -5
Callie twirled her wand in her fingers as her mother took to the front of the hall and began to speak. A smirk crept upon her lips as she observed the rest of the room listening to Adelaide. Her mother was so confident and in control. These students were clearly in need of some discipline. She had heard stories about students rudely defying the professors, and abusing their positions of power for their own lustrous desires and personal advantages. Where was the structure? This was a school, not a zoo full of animals. These people needed someone like her mother to rein them in and teach them a little self-control. The Prefects were obviously very comfortable in their positions and it made Callie feel smug to see them get all panicky over the potential loss of their precious badges. She could always apply for the position, but then again she had all the power she needed being the Headmistress' daughter. Not that she was about to flaunt that fact to the entire student body. No, she was not here to make friends or announce who she was anytime soon. She was here to receive a solid education from some of the best witches and wizards in the world (hopefully). She could already sense a shift in the way this school would be run, and it was completely in her favor. From now on, there would hopefully be less drama and more focus on what was truly important and why they were all there - to learn magic.
tag/anybody & everybody
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Post by Kattre Bevan on Apr 8, 2014 14:42:13 GMT -5
Kat stood somberly at the back of the Great Hall watching the funeral for Headmistress Marevas. She had traveled to Hogwarts with the other Ministry officials to attend the funeral and to keep order at the proceedings, should it be required. Kat's mind filled with memories of the former Headmistress as she quietly surveyed the student body gathered around her. While she did not know Marevas well, she had always found her to be a compassionate and rational woman...which made the circumstances surrounding her death even more tragic.
Shaking her head, Kat forced herself to concentrate on the speech being given by the new headmistress, Adelaide Pendergrast. Odd that she had never heard of the woman before today; Kat made a mental note to do some research into her background when she got back to headquarters. The woman was the epitome of confidence...like she had been born to lead. Still, her hurried appointment to the post of Headmistress within a day of Marevas' death did not sit well with Kat, and her mouth subconsciously quirked as Pendergrast finished her speech.
As the Minister stood to move to the podium, Kat tore her eyes away from the stage to survey the Great Hall again. She wondered how her colleagues were faring with the investigation and felt annoyed that she was stuck babysitting while they were trying to solve this mystery.
Tag/Anyone
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Post by Xavier Rutherford on Apr 9, 2014 9:48:57 GMT -5
Xavier was never one for funerals; he had attended his own parents funeral many years ago, and while he couldn't remember much detail, he did recall fidgeting in a stiff suit and wanting to run and play outside like the other boys. His aunt and uncle, ever the attentive guardians, had made sure he sat somberly while people he hardly knew lamented his parents deaths. He had been just a boy of three; he had no idea that his parents had died trying to save him from a manic werewolf, and that their efforts had been in vain. He had been bitten from what he could remember, and that was all just a sharp pain, blackness and waking up in a large and unfamiliar hospital bed with his father's brother and sister-in-law sitting vigil beside him.
This funeral however, was different. From the way the rumors were spreading, it was most likely a sort of poison that killed the Headmistress. Xavier had never though of her as one to commit suicide; she had always been kindly towards him even with his condition, and made arrangements every full moon for him to be somewhere safe. She had even concocted the Wolfsbane potion herself; she hadn't trusted anyone else with the complicated recipe, and had taught him last year so that once he graduated he would be able to care for himself. He would never admit it out loud, but he was more sorry for her death than the parents he barely remembered.
Xavier looked around him after this new Headmistress spoke about bettering the school from Marevas' reign. He seriously doubted she could do so much in a short period of him, but over the years learned not to underestimate anyone, for they could not be all of what they initially seem. He streched his arms behind his back and looked over at one of the other students in his year. "So what do you make of her?" he murmured lowly, as to not attract attention from the other attendees.
TAG - Nithranyx Blackwood
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