Post by Trevor Williams on May 19, 2012 22:33:49 GMT -8
Summer = Evie Winslow, Julian Winslow
Layni = Bridget Callighan
Allie = Nicole Carter, Layla "Carter" (Williams), Jamie Carter
Former Member = Cassandra
Me = Casey Winslow, Jennifer Herado, Jennica Herado
Sunday, August 31, 2008
A great banner hung in the front of the Great Hall. Before and far beneath it sat a chair situated a bit higher than the rest behind the long table. At it seemed to be a few teachers who had actually shown early, but Casey Winslow was not amongst them. No, he was outside the doors of the Great Hall with a bunch of nervous looking first years. Amongst this group stood his son Julian Winslow and the Headmistress' daughter Nicole Carter. He couldn't help but feel nervous himself because of that. His son...a first year, already?! Man, he was getting older. It seemed like just yesterday he was holding him in his arms as a little baby and just a few seconds ago, he was that wide-eyed, three-year-old boy. He could only imagine what was going through his wife's mind inside at that table.
Glancing once more over the large group of first years, he situated the Sorting Hat in his hand, glancing through the doorway to take a look at the older students seated within, making sure everyone was settled, and then over to the Professor's table. It seemed everyone was there. Now, he just awaited his headmistress' cue. He closed the door to let her know he was ready whenever and glanced over the little first years.
"Everyone, quiet!" he demanded calmly, and most every eye was on him almost instantly, wide and full of nervousness...most of them. Some, who he was almost willing to bet would be sorted to Slytherin, were chattering and glancing up at him with a jeering look. Even they were nervous. He could see it and sense it. But, he wouldn't tell them. He did his best to hide his own nervousness...the one and only time he'd feel nervous...at least until Lydia was -- no, he wouldn't think about his little baby girl growing up. "So, this is your first year at Hogwarts. We're glad to have you here, and we hope you'll find some aspects --at least-- to be interesting and worthwile.
"I'm Deputy Headmaster Casey Winslow, also Ravenclaw's head of house as well as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." Some of the volume of talking voices had come back up, so Casey cleared his throat loudly and eyes snapped back on him. Oy, he hated first years...at least at this point. The rest of the time they were annoying, too, but now, especially. "Listen, I'm going to need you all to form two lines. Girls in one, boys in the other."
He listened as the sound of robes rustling and footsteps could be heard alongside loud chatter. Oy...kids. Every time you allowed them to move a muscle meant they had to talk, too. He just didn't get it. Never had...not even when one of them. He let out a sigh and cleared his throat again, setting the Sorting Hat on a stool beside him, once the students had settled in lines that were...halfway decent. They'd learn. Only eleven, after all.
"I'm going to need you to remain absolutely silent. No need to have you all wind up in detention after your first night here, right? Right; I thought so." Always worked. Took a bit to keep the smirk off his face and a laugh from passing through his vocals. Too easy to manipulate children half the time except for the half when it...well, wasn't.
His eyes scanned over the silent group, eyes landing on his son for a second and then back around, looking just barely over their heads so it would seem he was looking them in the eye. Poor Jules...so short. Part of the Winslow bloodline, he supposed. Boys always cursed with being a little short for their ages until they got about fourth, fifth year.
"Now that that's sorted, I'd like to talk to you about what you're all about to undergo. I'm sure half of you have heard from your mum or dad or some sibling or another, but then there are those who haven't. So, please patiently listen. This hat," he began, indicating it with his fingers, "will be placed upon your head when you sit on this stool. It will tell you which house you'll be placed in. When it says your house --either Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin-- you are to go to your table. Usually the one cheering the loudest is how you can tell." Casey had learned a long time ago that telling the kids the colors of each never stuck in their brains for very long, so, this seemed to be the way it worked best.
"Any questions so far?"
Casey moved the Sorting Hat, sliding onto the stool, sitting comfortably while looking over the students for any signs of hands shooting up, glancing over at Julian again. What was his son thinking? Did any of the kids know he was his father? He'd seen him hitting it off with a few kids, seemingly, before he'd begun his little speech. Hopefully his son wouldn't have it like he'd had it when he'd been sorted. That had been horrid...teased and ridiculed before ever going through those double doors. Hadn't changed much once he'd gone through them either.
Julian stood their with the rest of the group, waiting for the deaupty headmaster to come. As his dad walked out Julian slowly made his way toward the back of the line. He was nervous enough being here and place the fact that his dad was standing infront of him didnt make things any better
While the rest of the kids around him started talking Julian stayed quiet, he knew how his dad got when he was angry and he heard stories from his mum about when Julian was liltte he was always afarid of the "angry face"... rolling his eyes slightly, he might of known when not to mess with his dad but he wasnt paticulary scared of him..
It didnt seem that anyone really put the fact together that both his parents were professors, which according to him was a good thing, then again he didnt tell anyone his last name either just for that reason. Julian managed to talk to a few people already and they seemed to hit it off as potential friends..lets just hope they stayed that way.
With a heavy sigh Julian glanced down at his watch and rocked on the balls of his feet, listening to his dad go on about this and that. He heard it all before, seen it happen enough times so his hearing turned to slective as he waited to walk into the great hall.
It was going to be weird not sitting behind the head table anymore or sleeping in his 'room' that was in the professors common room with his mum and dad...No, now he was going to sleep in a dorm with other kids, away from his parents and most of all away from his ickle sister. That part was like music to his ears. Lydia couldnt follow him into his house common room like she followed him at home. She coudlnt go complain to mum or dad about him not playing with her, couldnt tattle on him for doing something he shouldnt, couldnt bug him about playing dolls with her or something...Honestly, the girl was bloody mad trying to get him to play tea party or dress up with her....He sometimes thought she belonged in a room at Mungo's instead of at home.
Amongst the Slytherin table sat a brown-haired girl with blue eyes. She wasn't doing much, just sitting there, listening to her little posse go on and on and on and on about something they'd done during their summer, and she was quickly growing tired of it. Glaring, she looked over at the two of them, eyes resting on each for a time, hoping that would work like it usually did, but not this time, it appeared. Joy. "Will you two shut up already?! Gosh..."
That seemed to work and she rolled her eyes, glancing up to the Professor's petty table, eyes scanning over the all-too-familiar professors. At least Professor Winslow wasn't there. Stupid git. Obviously favored Ravenclaw, always taking points from Slytherin. Of course, it seemed the opposite was really true, but try telling that to a Slytherin who had had quite a few taken away because of something she'd done while in his class.
Jennifer Anne Herado, better known amongst the school as simply 'Jenn,' was probably one of the more thick-headed Slytherins out there, and she was proud of it. She was Prefect, and that was something she prided herself for. Made it when her sister didn't. Something she could add to a list of things she was better at than dear old Jenni. She felt her mum always compared her to her younger twin. Drove her nuts, which was why she'd moved to her dad's, especially after her younger brother proved to be a squib. Couldn't stand living with two blood traitors and a squib when she had been taught otherwise.
And now...another year of her life wasted in this drab school with these second-rate professors. Ick. That woman Winslow was annoying as hell, just like her husband. Not to mention, she had learned from her father just how resistant and treacherous she had been to the Dark Lord. How she loathed the woman. Always brought her kids to class. How damn annoying. Everyone else, including her sister, thought it cute, though. Ugh.
And then there was her cousin, always brought her kid to class, always so pathetically sad over the death of her husband. He deserved it, fighting the Dark Lord. Puh-lease...they were all such ignoramuses. Dummies. Yeah, that was her feeling about pretty much everyone in the school except a few choice people. Her younger second cousin wasn't half bad, actually. She'd spent the entire last summer --whenever she could have her cousin over-- teaching Nikki about Voldemort and the Dark Arts. Kid had been pretty keen on it, too. Smart kid. Hopefully she'd make Slytherin.
And then, there was the Winslow's kid. Wouldn't it be funny if he made Slytherin? She'd make him a priority, mold him to the 'Dark Side' then. It'd drive his parents insane if he made Slytherin, and she knew it. Slytherin's reputation was too grand for either of that couple to understand. At any rate, she'd saved space in case her second cousin or that little boy made it. She'd be the one to greet them. She'd make sure of it. Even had a little gift for Nikki...and the Winslow boy. Of course, his gift was nothing as 'grandiose' as what she'd got dear Nikki, but still...it was something, just in case.
She cast a lengthy gaze towards her cousin the Headmistress, rolling her eyes before glancing back at her chattering 'friends.' Bloody annoying.
~*~
Meanwhile at the Hufflepuff table, Jennica Lynn Herado, Jenn's sister, better known to her friends as Jenni, sat at the table, taking part in some lengthy conversation that was about something neither here nor there. With a roll of her eyes and a laugh, she moved her hair behind her shoulders, glancing over at some cute boy at another table: her crush. He was so perfect, and she was so glad to be back where she could see him every day, even if it was only during classes or games...most of the time. She never had had the nerve to tell him, and her friends all threatened to tell him for her, if she didn't hurry and do so herself. But, she found herself to still be just as petrified of the idea.
After a while, she let her eyes wander up to the Headmistress, wondering when she was going to welcome them to a new year and tell them to sit back and watch the first years be sorted...again.
She couldn't believe it. She was back at Hogwarts after nine years away. After nine years of little responsibility and total freedom on a quidditch field she had turned in her uniform for a classroom and a gaggle of children. Bridget still thought she had lost her mind. The good news was that she had been hired without a second glance to credetials as both flying instructor and potions mistress and after a train ride with a group of the children rather than in the teachers compartments she had gotten to know a few from each house and seemed to be a favorite of theirs even though she only spent about twenty minutes with them. Already she had heard a few rumors here and there about how her class was one of the most anticipated, right up there with charms and DADA. That was good news. Especially since the other two favored classes were taught by a veteran couple, husband and wife whom the kids seemed to idol after and adore. Hopefully she would be on that list by the end of the year. With a little luck.
Now though she was running through the halls of Hogwarts after changing into more appropriate robes then her bright green Weird sisters shirt and jeans. She sighed running down the hall in emerald robes, her bright red hair flying behind her, she had kept it down for the occasion. She smiled as she ran through a crowd of first years and gave them all a thumbs up, recieving a giggle and a smile of approval from all the ones that saw her, before heading into the great hall, a few minutes later than she was suppose to be. From the looks of things she was the last professor to arrive if you didn't count the one leading the first years outisde the Great Hall. She sighed and took her seat near the end of the table with a bright smile. Some of the students laughed, most of the students who she had met were applauding jokingly. She stuck her tongue out at them and then straightened out her smile when she recieved strange looks from some of the other professors. She was one of them now, she had to act a little more serious...just a little...
After a few minutes of waiting, the first years finally were herded in and remembering how nervous she had been, Bridget flashed them all a supportive winning smile as the Professor leading them, she couldn't see him from where she was seated, explained what was going to occur. Here we go! she thought. Just like old times...kind of...on the other side of the table.
It was a lengthy process, reading through the names, and this year was no exception, Casey mused as he looked over the large group of anxious first years. His son was amongst them and noticeably avoiding eye contact. Was he embarrassed or something? He didn't see why. Wasn't like he was doing something goofy like his mum might. What? Did he want him to crack jokes and become 'the cool professor' that everyone loved? Wasn't happening. Students usually took him as he was, liking him or not depending on personal preference, house, etc. Mostly Slytherins took to hating him, a few Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, and even Ravenclaws. Hopefully things would get better. If his son treated his mother or himself or even his sister like a stranger in the halls, that wouldn't be lasting long. He'd be brought into the Professor's Common Room for a nice family meeting. He wasn't getting total freedom, even if he was one of the only two that had parents at the school. Casey would allow him freedom, but he wasn't going to undermine his family to stay 'cool.' That much was certain.
Casey was brought back from his moment of thought by the sight of green robes fluttering past him and through the doors and vivid red hair. At first he thought it was Ginny, but it appeared this Professor wasn't (he knew it wasn't a student) Ginny, he decided as he turned his head to look just before the door closed behind the woman, blocking her from his view. Her build was different and hair of a different length and style than he'd seen Ginny wearing earlier that day. 'Must be the new professor,' he thought to himself, turning back to the students, standing from the stool. "No questions? Alright then, I suppose we'll just stand around for a while, and I'll tell you a bit about the school while we wait for the Headmistress to call us in."
He watched as about a dozen or more tiny hands shot up in the air, slight smile crossing his features. "Ah, so now you have questions? Alright, you in the back with the long, black hair," he said, pointing to a girl that was near the very back, hoping the rest of the students would be quiet long enough for him to hear this girl. First years never had very loud voices, it seemed, and this girl looked like the shy sort.
There was some confusion, students pointing to themselves, Casey shaking his head no until the girl finally got it was her. "Yes, you. What's your name?"
"Hannah Chung," she answered quietly, staring down at the ground, some students snickering at something.
"I'll need everyone to keep quiet, please," Casey said, the students knowing from the look he gave that he meant business. The look disappearing from his face, he looked back to the little girl. "Yes, Hannah?"
"Umm...I was wondering--I mean, do you--?" She stopped, shaking her head, deciding she was too embarrassed to speak.
"Wondering...?" Casey prodded, and again the girl shook her head. "Alright, then...any other questions?"
Seemed there weren't as he didn't see any hands go back up. First years...short memory and attention span. Lovely. "No questions? Well, then-- Yes? You with the blonde hair?"
The black-haired woman rushed down the hall quickly with a young blonde clasping to her hand. Once again, she was late. It seemed she had never lost her knack for showing up at the last minute for everything. She slipped through the doors after giving the first years a smile and hurried to the professor's table, sitting down and brushing off her robes. It seemed that the first years were asking questions so she would give them a few minutes. She pulled the little girl onto her lap and wrapped her arms around her stomach, laying her head on her shoulder and sighing slightly.
She glanced about the professors then to the tables, especially the Slytherins. Her gaze fell upon one of her cousins: Jennifer Herado, then to the Hufflepuff table where her twin sat seemingly staring into outer space: Jennica Herado. She shook her head slightly and glanced over at the new professor, still slightly viewing her as a friendly rival from when she had been on the London Quidditch Team. She would have to get her on the Quidditch Pitch one of these days...
O.o.o.O
The pretty young blonde stood beside two other first years, chattering and giggling as if they had known each other their whole lives when in reality they had met on the train ride to Hogwarts. With her cousin Jenn's advice she had reeled them in slowly as her posse with her as their leader. She couldn't wait to give her favorite cousin all the details, often looking up to her opinion.
When Professor Winslow told them to be silent she simply lowered her voice, barely listening to his words. Whenever she did try to listen they seemed to drawl like they would never end so she went back to talking. The only time she stopped was when the students began to shift into a line, quickly slipping in near the front behind the Winslow boy. She grinned slightly and tapped his shoulder, trying to get his attention. "Hey, Winslow, I hear saying the name of the house you want over and over again loudly always works...it worked with my mum and she was quite admired by her house."
Her friends behind her sniggered quietly at her 'ingenius,' making Nikki give them somewhat of a warning look. They hushed quickly and the lines shifted slightly again, Nikki getting lost a few people down before she could get a reply. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, but she didn't push it, simply crossed her arms and glared at the big boy in front of her.
Winslow's voice drawled on again, Nikki this time faintly listening. When he asked if there were any questions she laughed along with a few other potential Slytherins when a small girl was called upon then ended in fright. She put up her hand for the hell of it and rose a eyebrow in surprise when she was called upon. Her hand was put back down and she replied, her voice not as timid and scared as the others, but still quite quiet. "Who are the Heads of Houses?" So it was rather lame, but it was the best she could think of and she was quite curious...wanting to target out which Professors were the haters of Slytherin(as she was sure she would make Slytherin) as all but the Slytherin Head of House seemed to hate them.
Casey had heard the students laughing and had rose a hand, making the usual signal one makes when he wants a group of people to quiet down, giving the group a stern glance, noticing Nikki was in the midst of it. Joy. She was going to turn out like her dear old mum, was she? At least Jamie had changed by the time he'd come to teach her seventh year. Maybe there was hope for her daughter. One could always hope. Though, Nikki had always proved to have a mind of her own and a quick wit, even as a child, pulling pranks and such. Probably got it from her now deceased dad.
Casey heard Nikki's question, realizing who it was as soon as she spoke. Who coud mistake that voice? He was rather surprised (and he must admit, relieved) that it wasn't some rude remark or some question to try to fluster him. "Well, as I said, I am Ravenclaw's head of house, and then we have your mother, Headmistress Jamie Seams, as you know, and my wife, Professor Evie Winslow, is head of Gryffindor. Then, we have _______ as head of Hufflepuff. Hopefully that answers your question?"
The last part was kind of 'duh,' but Casey was accustomed to saying it to pretty much any student who asked a question, so it was pretty easy to slip back into the habit, especially when he never really lost the habit over the summer, seeing as Lydia often needed things explained further, it seemed, no matter how simple. Part of her being young, he supposed.
He watched as Jamie ran past with her daughter Layla in tote. He never recalled Jamie being pregnant that second time, but he supposed she could have hid it again, but wouldn't Brian have acted more thrilled his last few months of life? And wouldn't Jamie have stayed behind the battle that had rendered him dead? And wouldn't she have told Evie like she had when she was pregnant with Nikki? Oh well. None of his business, really. Jamie said the kid was hers; he'd believe her until proven that was an incorrect course of action. He was a guy, after all, and people always said guys were unobservant, even if he thought he himself was definitely observant. Bah.
He returned his gaze back to the students, letting out a sigh. "Seems a lot of professors are running a little late, but the ceremony should start soon. I just need to give her the signal, and she'll introduce us. But, before I do that, let me just make sure everyone is clear on what to do...."
Nikki rolled her eyes at the last part of his reply, knowing she could get away with it as she was too far back for him to see. That was pretty useless to say... She nodded and responded meekly. "I would hope so, Professor Winslow."
She rolled her eyes again as he continued, getting tired of standing. She shifted restlessly, giving out a quiet groan of fustration. It was getting hot in this tight line. She put a strand of hair behind her ear and stomped a foot impatiently.
O.o.o.O
Jamie waited in the Great Hall, thinking that they had had long enough she flicked her wand, causing the doors to open wide. She smiled slightly and leaned forward, laying her chin on her hands as she waited for the first years to file down the Great Hall. Hopefully he had had enough time with them.
Julian rolled his eyes as he felt someone tap his shoulder, knowing full well who it was when she spoke to him. He practly grew up with Nikki but she still never missed a chance to irk him about something or another. Before he could answer she seemed to have got pulled more to the back of the line...Good, at least she couldn’t bother him there.
Her question was a bit…redundant, Nikki knew who the head of houses were, I mean come on the girl lived here 9 times out of ten during the school year…Sigh. Great… Now people knew about his mum to..not that they wouldn’t make the conection after hearing both of their last names but still, he wanted to make friends, not have them shrink away because both his parents were teaching here. This was a mess…Maybe he was making to big of a deal of this, yes, that was it just worrying to much about what they would think of him.
The doors to the great hall finally opened and Julian took a deep breath, waiting for his dad to take them through the hall and to be sorted. His only hope was not to land in Slytherin, wouldn’t that just be peachy? Not… He had heard stories from his mum and dad about when they were young and he did not want to be part of that or deal with any of it any other house would be fine but Slytherin…No, nope, no way
----
Evie sat in her high backed chair at the head table, Lydia playing somewhere off to the side before the ceremony started. She was feeling nervous for her son, remembering all to well how nervous she was when she was sorted.
Come on, come on…
she urged things along quietly to herself, keeping her fingers crossed that Jules would get Gryffindor, her bet with Casey the previous night. He was so confidant that their son would get Ravenclaw but Evie could feel it in her bones that he would be Gryffindor, had to be.
When the doors finally opened Evie called her daughter over to her, picking Lydia up and sitting her on her lap so she could watch for her brother
Keep your fingers crossed Lyd she said thou she was pretty sure Lydia didn’t know why she was doing so
Finally those little brats were coming in. Jennifer was getting hungry, this being past the usual time she ate and having not really eaten much on the train. All junk food on there, she felt, and she wasn't about to eat that childish candy. Even if she had spent most of it keeping an eye boredly on her younger cousin. She was quite proud of Nikki. Had already commandeered herself a nice posse the last time she'd seen her on the Hogwart's Express. She tapped her short nails against the Slytherin table, glancing up at her cousin Jamie once more. Poor soul. Must be torture wondering what house her kid would end up in: Slytherin like her or Gryffindor like her da. Of course, Jennifer was one hundred percent positive it would be Slytherin, but that was because she had been teaching her the Dark Arts. She gave a satisfied smirk as she glanced over at Winslow leading the first years inside.
~*~
Jennica let out a bored sigh as she stared at her growing nails. She'd have to cut them soon, but hey, good enough to annoy a few people the first night of homework, which was sure to be loaded, it being her last year and all. She liked to be annoying at times. Was fun to see people's reactions. But, at the moment she was more bored than anything, rapping her nails on the wooden table surface, glancing back over her shoulder as the doors opened, turning a bit in her seat so she could see the tiny first years without having to hurt her neck, bringing a foot beneath her.
~*~
Putting on a smile as he saw no hands and hearing the doors to the Great Hall start to open, Casey turned, stool and Sorting Hat in his hand, motioning with his hand for the first years to stay for the time being, keeping his smile, walking up to the front of the Great Hall and setting down the stool about fifteen feet from the Headmistress' spot and the house tables, about in the middle of everything, and placing the Sorting Hat upon the stool, beckoning the first years to come in, the beginning of the line coming in, some stragglers outside the door a ways.
He made his hand as though telling the group to stop (semblance of order seemed to vary at different spots in the so-called line) as the hat began to come alive, letting out,
Oh you may not think me pretty,That finished, the hat settled and Casey pulled the scroll of names from his pocket, beginning to read off the list. Amongst the first few names were those such as John Abbot (who ended up in Hufflepuff), Martha Beardsly (Slytherin, smug look from her at that), Danielle Bennett (the tiny girl ending up in Gryffindor, welcomed rather roughly. She looked quite terrified.), etc. Finally, it came to a name Casey actually recognized. Clearing his throat quietly, he said loudly and clearly, "Nicole Carter!" watching for the girl, very curious as to which house the girl would end up in: Slytherin or Gryffindor or something else entirely.
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!1
((1Taken from Harry Potter and the Sourcerer's Stone.))[/size]
As Nikki walked into the Great Hall she started to feel nervous. Her father was Gryffindor, but her mum was Slytherin, and she had aunts that were in Ravenclaw. That put her in a odd situation. She would give anything to make Slytherin where her cousin was. If she made Ravenclaw she was sure she would die from humiliation, she liked to think herself smart, but could she really dwell amongst those nerds and geeks? She shook her head slightly and looked up, hearing Professor Winslow call the names. When her name was called she walked forward, bouncing at first, but then settling down to a 'smooth' walk that Jenn had taught her.
She kept her eyes dull and cold as she sat on the stool, feeling the hat sink down over her eyes. She surveyed the darkness and crossed her fingers. It was barely five seconds when the hat called out. "SLYTHERIN!!!"
Nikki couldn't help putting her hand in a fist and rushing it down in success giving out a rather loud 'Yes!.' She handed the hat to Casey energetically and half ran, half fast walked to the roaring Slytherin table, beaming.
O.o.o.O
Jamie watched anxiously from her seat, fingers crossed with her daughter when she was called. In her mind she begged Slytherin - every parent wanted their child in their old house, right? When the hat was placed on her head she drew in her breath, expecting it to take longer, but it didn't. The hat called Slytherin and she sighed in relief, hugging Layla tightly with a quiet giggle. She glanced at Evie, her eyes giving her somewhat of a 'good luck,' knowing she was probably hoping Julian would make Gryffindor.
Evie watched Nikki walk up to the hat, watching her while the hat called out Slytherin, no suprise there really. Once Nikki was well on her way to her house table Evie looked over in Jamie's direction, smiling at her gester and holding up her crossed fingers before turning her attention back to the sorting
Jenn clapped and cheered with the rest of the Slytherin table as they gained their third member of the ceremony, her dear second cousin. She lifted her jacket from the spot she'd saved for Nikki and the small present, having one arm sort of outstretched as Nikki approached, pulling her into a very quick hug and then saying, "So, squirt, think your big stuff, eh?"
Her face was serious even though she was only giving her a hard time, trying to make the poor girl confused. It was fun at times to confuse her younger cousin. Jenn was thrilled to have Nikki there with her. Easier to continue teaching her what she'd been teaching her.
~*~
Jenni watched as her cousin was called up there, hoping the kid wouldn't be sorted into Slytherin with her sister. Jenn was not a good influence for Nikki, and Jenni knew it. Unfortunately, the hat sorted Nikki into Slytherin within five seconds. Joy. Only bad could come out of this. She glanced up at her cousin for a moment, seeing she seemed happy. Well, at least three out of four were excited. That was good, wasn't it? Why then did she feel a growing sensation of nervousness? Nevertheless, she clapped about as enthusiastically as the rest in her year at the Hufflepuff table --not very at all.
~*~
Casey clapped with everyone else, watching as Nikki walked off to Slytherin. Another promising talent wasted on that house...joy. Not like he couldn't have guessed from the girl's attitude. And so the sorting continued, several more to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, finally coming to another familiar name: "Julian Winslow!" He watched as his son came up, giving him a hopeful smile, crossing his fingers behind his back as he placed the hat on Julian, glancing back over his shoulder to Evie, recalling their bet from the previous night. Hopefully he'd win....
Hearing his name called Julian held his breath, feeling all the eyes of the great hall on him. The rest of the students, professors, his mum and sister...argh! this was torture! Making his was at a steady pace toward the stool, giving his dad a small smile and sitting on the bench as the hat was placed on his head, falling just below his eyes.
----
Evie sat forward a little in her chair..seeing Casey cross his fingers behind his back....No matter, she was going to win their little bet plain and simple. She crossed her fingers, toes, arms, anything she could think of and Lydia did the same, both Winslow women hoping for Gryffindor.....
Ravenclaw!
The hat shouted, Julian let out the breath he was holding, taking off the hat with a large grin to his dad before walking over to his new house table, being greeting by cheers and claps.
Great, just great, Casey wasnt going to let her live this down. She clapped, but not as much as she would have if he was placed in Gryffindor but still all the same.
Winslow? Was that Casey's kid. The boy had been quite the cute one when he was a young lad. Nothing more than a wee toddler at the games in England. Bridget couldn't believe that the boy would be all grown up and at school already. It made her feel old. She had been one of the boys favorites on the team. Whenever Casey brought him back to the locker room the boy was always playful and well behaved with her, and preffered her almost as much as his own mum. Bridget had always liked the boy well enough. He was a handful but he had a good head on his shoulders and quite the wit about him even at that young age. It would be interesting to see where he went. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor probably. Bridget sat up a little straighter in her seat and looked over anxiously. She wanted to see where her old teamate's son went.
Ravenclaw. Excellent. Casey would be proud. She remembered him mentioning the house often. It was his almamater she believed. Bridget smiled and applauded enthusiastically, even whistling in approval, only to get disapproving looks from the other professors. She smiled in a slight appology and shrugged, promising silently to contain herself for the rest of the banquet.
Casey clapped and cheered as he had with everyone else except a bit more enthusiastically. None of them could blame him, could they? After all, it was his son! And Ravenclaw, his house. He glanced back at Evie, giving her a 'told you so' look and then watching his son be welcomed into Ravenclaw. Good, they seemed happy, but when were the welcoming houses not? Hopefully he'd fit in, though, not have trouble adjusting. At any rate, this evening after the feast should be interesting and entertaining. He could give Evie a hard time, or he could play it cool. Either way...women. They were so entertaining and impossible at times. Loved to make his wife squirm/suffer...of course, all in jest and not in reality...all verbally. If someone else were to torture her in any way and mean it, they'd be lucky if they escaped without a scratch. Years living in a war-like situation had led him to be a tad overprotective.
Smile a bit brighter than usual, he continued down the list, ending with Xavier Yaxley ending up in Hufflepuff. Poor kid would have a difficult time fitting in. He'd get a hard time for his name. That finished, Casey moved the stool and Sorting Hat over to the side and out of the way behind the professor's table, going to sit next to his wife and daughter, leaning over and whispering to her, "Told you," and then sitting up, glancing over at Jamie. Any moment now her speech would begin and then it would be time to eat.
Terrific, Evie thought as she watched Casey put the sorting hat and 3 legged stool away. Giving him a yeah, yeah when he sat down and said 'told you' oh it would be war later on she knew that, friendly fire of course but all the same...
Jamie put her face in her hands and shook her head as Julian's new house was announced. Everyone knew that Slytherins were never keen on being friendly with Ravenclaws. Nikki would murder him the way that girl was. Nevertheless she looked up and smiled at Casey and Evie before turning her attention to the other first years, making a mental note to look at each of the new Slytherin's files when she had the time. The Sorting Ceremony ended all too quickly and she found herself quickly summoning all the before-planned words she had chosen. She liked to change things every year as to not bore all the older students.
With a nod to the Professors she stood, fingers fiddling with the end of her long robe sleeves. She cleared her throat for silence, getting most of their attention - especially the Slytherins and began with a level and clear voice. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. The feast will begin shortly, but first I need to lay some ground rules for the first years on up. Curfew for first years is eight pm, curfew for second years is eight-thirty pm, curfew for third years is nine pm, curfew for fourth years is nine-fifteen pm, curfew for fifth years is nine-thirty pm, curfew for sixth years is nine-thirty pm, and curfew for seventh years is ten pm. Prefects may stay up as long as ten thirty and have the right to send any students past their curfew on to bed."
"The Forbidden Forest is the forest that borders the Hogwarts castle on the _____side, no students are allowed here at all. If caught they will be punished with a detention of one of the staff's choosing and not allowed out of the castle for two weeks. Due to this I may suggest that you do stay out of it..."
"Ladies, for your safety, please stay out of the third corridor bathroom as the ghost, Miss Myrtl has taken a fancy to flooding the bathrooms more than she once did before and shattering the glass."
"These are the off-limits of Hogwarts. Now, I would like to welcome our newest professor whom will be teaching Flying and Potions: Professor Callighan."
She let the cheers and clapping die down before continuing. "Without any further introduction I give you our Welcome Back Feast!"
Food began to fill the plates before the students and professors, making the first years gasp in delight as they looked upon all the delicious pastries, poultry, meat, bread, etc. Jamie sat down once more and pulled Layla up on her knee, beginning to fill a plate for her while the small girl tried to divert her mother's hand from the brocolli and to the pumpkin pastries.
O.o.o.O
Just as with the other professors, Nikki barely listened to her mother's speech as she looked at her cousin excitedly when she sat down. Her eyes were seemingly confused at her cousin's greeting, but she tried hard not to let it show. "Actually I'm quite excited and yes, of course I'm proud! I got what I wanted: Slytherin, and a posse that all landed in Slytherin! I knew from the moment I saw them - swiping sweeties off the old fat ladie's cart and mouthing off some others - that they would easily make Slytherin and submit to me. Not so many brains in their heads though, but I can just tell them what to do, they don't need to think it through. I just wonder what they will when I leave them alone at times. Stare at the wall blankly?"
Bridget smiled brightly and waved at the students who seemed to have developed a fondess for her already, or were fans of quidditch, maybe both, and laughed, quieting down so the speech could end. A good start to her first year teaching.
The food appeared and she did what anyone else would do, dig in. She got into a rather interesting conversation with a few professors near her, but beyond that it was rather boring and silent. At least it looked like the students were having a good time. She always remembered that being the best when she was them. The first feast, seeing your friends for the first time in a long time, talking about your classes, bragging about your house, harassing or welcoming the first years depending on your house and who the first years were. Rumors, couples, the whole bit. She missed it, but at least she was kind of back, and she was going to make the best effort to be the sort of professors the students would want to hang out with after class or around the school. That was the real goal.
Casey watched as Jamie gave her speech, hearing it but not really hearing it, zoning out. Unlike him, but hey, he'd heard the speech a million different times in his years, so he didn't figure it could be very much different. He was instead wondering about whether or not Evie would resort to begging him to change what she'd have to do now that his son had made Ravenclaw. Any father's dream, kid to end up in his old house, and his had come true. He wondered if he'd luck out and make it both times. He reckoned there'd be a bet over Lydia, too, in the...five years til she started school. Wow, too soon, too soon. He didn't like that thought--at all. Which was precisely why she had to make Ravenclaw so her brother could keep an eye on her for her first two years and then he'd be protective dad and Evie would have to hold him back, probably. Any guy even so much as talk to her, and he'd be breathing down his neck. No guy would so much as lay a finger on her without him knowing it. Of course, he doubted that, doubted he'd be like that, but all the same, the thought of some guy with his daughter was more than a bit unsettling. Chaperoned dating, that was the way to go. She could date; he'd trust her, but that didn't mean he'd trust the guy. But, he'd worry about that when it came. That was still a while down the line before he'd let her date...ten years. No need thinking about his six-year-old daughter dating when she probably didn't even think about it yet.
When the food appeared, he reached out to put some food on his plate, noticing there was a lot of stuff Lydia wouldn't eat without much prodding. Want me to take care of feeding her, Eves? Casey asked, glancing over at her.
~*~*~
Jenn laughed and shook her head. "Probably. Wouldn't be too surprising. Come in and be like 'What are you doing?' They stare at you like zombies for a second like 'a-duh!' and then realize it's you and snap to reality, coming over. 'Nikki, what should we do now? We're, like, sooo bored!' And you, being you, tell them to get a life...so perfect, eh?"
She sighed, pulling out the small package from under her coat, handing it to Nikki. "Here you are, bought you a little something. I think you'll like it."
Evie looked down at her daughter who was still in her lap, but Lydia wasnt paying any attention to what was being said between her parents, no instead she was looking over at the Ravenclaw table where er big brother was sitting sure, if you dont mind
So, Casey went about filling a plate for Lydia with a little of this, a little of that til he thought it was about what she would normally eat. After doing that, he took his daughter in his arms, getting her to whip her head from the Ravenclaw table to see who was taking her and then relaxing when she saw it was just daddy. "Maybe in a few years you'll be over there, eh, Lyds?" he said, having caught her gaze.
Lydia just shrugged. Joy...silent, again. He took a fork and got a small bite's worth of food on there, telling her to open up, but she unfortunately looked at the food before doing that, making a face and Casey let out a sigh. "Come on, got to eat unless you want to starve. Don't get any dessert later if you don't eat."
But I don't wanna eat that! Lydia protested as her dad tried to feed her something that was green..eww. She moved her head away from the fork as it got closer to her Why can't I pick my own food?
Oh no Casey...Lydia will be a proud Gryffindor, you already have your one Racenclaw child dont you go and try to brainwash our other Evie said as she began filling her plate, overhearing Casey talking to Lydia as he tried to feed her
"Whatever you say, dear," Casey answered as he turned his attention back to his daughter, fighting the urge to roll his eyes at her and tell her to grow up.
"You can't pick your own food because then all you'd eat is that jello salad over there, and that's technically nothing but sweets, even if it has other stuff." Casey attempted to put the fork in her mouth, trying to figure out how the heck to get her to open up. This wasn't working. "Besides, you'd make a meal off it and mummy and I wouldn't get any. Now, don't make daddy do the choo choo train...."
Evie choose to ignore his comment as she began to eat, her mind on more important things..like what tomorrow would hold being the first day of classes not to mention the bet she and Casey had..joy.
----
Lydia moved her face out of the way..Why was he trying to feed her again? She was 6! She could do it herself..Sheesh dad what was he thinking?
I can do it she said, reaching out for the fork after the threat of the train...shudder..Crazy daddy
Casey let out a laugh and handed her her fork. He knew that would work, always did. He wasn't even planning on making good on the threat regardless. "So, you'll eat all the things on here, right? No hiding it in the napkin...or in your pockets?" He asked, raising a brow as he took his own fork and took a bite of his own food. Alright, then, he definitely preferred Evie's green bean casserole to the house elf's. Ick. But, he kept a look of disgust off his face. No need to influence Lydia's already sensitive sense of taste. He glanced over at Evie for a second. He was sure he'd have fun that night, seeing what Evie would do to avoid her unusual 'punishment' for losing the bet.
Cassandra pushed open the side door restricted for teachers only. She had been terribly late and she knew it her hair was a mess and her glasses stayed on her face by luck. Stepping around the door she saw every settled and sorted and couldn't hide her regret.
*Oh no! I missed the sorting...Again! That's two years running!*
Placing a hand on her forehead she sighed and pushing her glasses up she pulled down her hair then whipped into a bun with a set of charmed chopsticks a gift from her late mother. She took the empty seat at the staff table and smiled at everyone. It was then when she heard a younger voice, one that couldn't possibly belong to a professor. Looking to her side she saw Casey and Evie Winslow, she grinned at the sight of the smallest Winslow on their lap. Waving politely to the little girl she nodded to her parents.
Her eyes fell on the Headmistress to whom she mouthed: *I'm sorry for my tardiness* She shrugged and gave a meager smile. Looking around the table her eyes fell on who must be the new potions teacher. A lovely looking woman who had to be Irish with her hair she could even pass as a Weasley. Nodding to the newcomer she smiled and picked up her goblet and sipped lightly she was necessarily hungry and her trip hadn't been smooth so she contented with juice and mashed potatoes.
Casey noticed his daughter seemed distracted when he was asking his question, seeing Lydia smile and wave, struggling to get off her dad's lap, so Casey let go, figuring he didn't need a tantrum in the middle of the feast. He'd seen the woman come in. Seemed everyone was late this year: potions professor, headmistress, transfiguration professor...and they said men were always late. He smirked to himself as he took a sip of his drink, watching as his daughter ran over to Cassandra, holding up her arms.
"'Sandra!" she exclaimed happily. Her favorite part about being back: people she'd played with throughout the year were now back again to be her playmates. Of course, Cassandra was a teacher just like her mummy and daddy, but she still didn't mind. When she wasn't with them, she was always left with another teacher, and she hoped it'd be this one this year instead of Miss Jamie. Her Layla got on Lydia's nerves and that Nikki girl made her mad.
Casey glanced over at his wife. "Seems someone forgot that she's supposed to be eating." He waved slightly at Cassandra, giving a look as though to say he was sorry if his daughter interrupted her meal.
Cassandra pushed out her chair and opened her arms for the little six year old to jump into. She was smiling and laughed at how quickly Lydia had abandoned her food to say hello. Cassandra had met Lydia Winslow at her first year at Hogwarts and she couldn't imagine the place without her she was a cheerful little one and it seemed as if they were destined to be friends. Scooping the girl unto her lap she hugged her and replied with just as much energy
"Hello there Lydia! Did you have a good summer?"
Looking up she saw the apologetic face of Casey and she shook her head and smiled reassuringly. The little girl was no trouble at all, and perhaps Sandra would be the one to trick her into eating.
Casey nodded, mouthing 'Thank you' and then going back to talking with his wife, for now avoiding the subject of their little agreement. He'd wait til later that evening when he could have some fun seeing her beg or whatever to get out of it. If she didn't, he'd be highly surprised. Ah well. Didn't much matter. He could rub it in that their son was a Ravenclaw to his heart's content.
Lydia looked up at Cassandra again after staring out at the huge group of kids. At least they weren't around her. Then, she'd want mummy or daddy to hide behind. She squirmed a little at the thought of the kids who liked to take her and play with her. But, she smiled and nodded.
"Daddy took us to I'land," she said happily, meaning 'Ireland.' "And mummy got me a big doggy there!" She sort of made a motion with her hands to show how big the stuffed animal was.
Cassandra winked at the Winslow's and then rapt her attention to Lydia. She was making large gestures to explain the animal her mother bought her. Dogs were not common to the wizarding world unless they were animagi. So Cassandra deduced that it had to be a toy of some sorts smiling she watched Lydia explain.
"Ireland? I love Ireland I went on Holiday there more than once its so pretty and everything is green. I bet you loved it there you and your older brother. Tell me about this dog what color was it?"
She asked with her right hand she managed to portion out smaller bites of whatever was on the her plate. To her luck it worked with Lydia noticing and she kept on listening as the Lydia chatted away.
Lydia thought for a moment, staring over the crowd again. Um...brown, yeah brown. No...not brown, but it was...The little girl tried to snap her fingers, letting out a sigh, hitting her head slightly with a nervous giggle. I dunno! I'll show you Lucky when we get back, k? she said and nodded her head as though she'd made up her mind that that was what she was going to do. Jules says he's ugly, but I think he's pretty. She was rambling, but she didn't really notice or care. She was fine with talking with this lady. She wouldn't laugh at her, not like most. At least, if she did, Lydia overlooked it and didn't take it that way.
Cassandra put a finger to her chin and thought for a moment. Brown dogs, Ireland- and then it clicked the dog must be an irish setter. However she wouldn't call it that, more like a small pony these dogs were huge and their fur was very wired so she decided to ask.
"Wait is this dog all scrappy looking with fur that looks all tangled? And it looks brown but there are whole bunches of color in it?"
She smiled trying to find some way to revert the conversation back to food but was coming up with nothing. But then another idea came and she smiled as the looked out over the sea of students then back to the youngster on her lap. Cassandra smiled warmly she decided to offer her help with Lydia through the school year, Casey and Evie would definitely need a break from time to time what with handling 7 different classes of student worry about Jules and Lydia. The thought made her glad to be a babysitter and not a parent.
He's not scrappy; he's pretty! Lydia said insistantly, crossing her arms, having forgotten the other part of the question. Blame it on short-to-limited attention span of a six-year-old no matter how bright the kid is. She let out a sigh, uncrossing her arms and sort of squirming again as though hoping to melt into Cassandra as she noticed some kids looking towards her general direction and pointing and laughing. Why did those girls always laugh at her? It was like all she said was a joke. She began to work on getting down from Cassandra's lap, though that wasn't an easy feat with short legs. She wanted to go play with her toys behind mummy and daddy where she knew she was safe from strangers. But, being unable to get down without help, she finally gave up after a few seconds, brown eyes glancing over at the girls who were now roaring with laughter. Of course, Lydia didn't know for sure they were laughing at her, but all the same. She hated attention from strangers. Only those mummy and daddy said were ok did she feel comfortable around, being shy.
"Well that's odd, all the students are laughing at me. Lydia do I have something on face? Or are my glasses askew? Oh it must be my hair because they seem to be pointing high. Here now I'm not that hungry I ate in Hogsmeade, but if I don't eat anything I'll get in trouble with the Headmistress. Do you think you could help me Lydia I was late yo begin with but if I don't eat anything surely Madame Carter will turn me into a frog which I rather dislike being. Please please please please PLEASE will you help me?"
Cassandra asked clapping her hands together and shaking them and bobbing her knees so Lydia moved as well. She closed her eyes as she said please, then she opened one eye then the other and tweeted Lydia on the nose.
"If I was a frog I couldn't play with you. Now isn't that terrible?"
Lydia gave a bit of a giggle at Cassandra's theatrics, shaking her head. Not hungry. I ate on the train, she said, grasping onto Cassandra's robe so as not to fall off, making sure to crawl her way off as smoothly as she could, falling the last couple of inches to her feet. Miss Carter won't turn you into frog, silly! she told her, looking over at her daddy who was beckoning her back over, seeing that Cassandra seemed to be having no luck with her. Daddy wants me. Bye.
After that, Lydia made her way back to her mummy and daddy, Casey picking her up when she came. Still not eating? Lydia shook her head 'no.' Why not?
Not hungry.
Or is it that you filled up on sweets on the train? Or that you don't like what's on the table? Lydia glanced over at her mum for a moment and then back to her dad. You're not going to be able to eat when you're hungry later. Casey looked over at Evie. This would only work, if she agreed and didn't feed her anything later. Isn't that right, honey?
Umm... Evie started, she hated when he put her in the middle of these things, saying no to her children was just so hard when they gave you that face and pleaded and did all the little tricks kids did to get what they wanted right, Lydia you need to eat with everyone else she said after a moment or so, wasnt like she was going to let her daughter starve if she was hungry later...just not let Casey know
Sigh. Looked like another attempt to be made with her reasoning that one night feeling a little hungry wasn't going to kill her, just maybe make her second guess choosing to fill up on sweets when they'd told her not to do so. But, he'd not do that in front of their daughter, wait til later back in their room while they were unpacking or something.
Lydia crossed her arms, leaning back against her dad. You know, Lydia. Might like it if you try it.
No, I won't, she protested stubbornly.
You don't know that...
Yes I do.
Casey let out a sigh, shaking his head slowly. Children sometimes. Wasn't angry, just a tad on the frustrated side of things.
[/font]