Hogwarts Story: Part 5
Nov. 19th, 2005 02:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
unforthWell, didn't get much done today, but once more, it's better than nothing. With the Samhain game tonight, I have almost no time! I want to get to the game nice and early so I can spend XP, and I was hoping to get some work done (which didn't really happen), and it took me almost an hour and a half to get into my outfit (most of which was the time it took to do my hair - how can such a simple fricken hair style take almost 40 minutes to get right? That is exactly why I usually just put it in a stupid little ponytail.) Anyway, I got a little bit of writing done, cause I'm determined not to watch this story putter and stall like so many I have tried to write in the past. Victory will be mine!!
On to the Hogwarts!
Oh, and a note on what I wrote today - I did my best to improvise the Headmaster's opening speech. If anyone can remember something he said that I didn't remember to include an appoximation of (as in, wasn't paraphrased in there) or that I got totally and completely wrong please please please let me know, and I'll fix it. I got in everything Jason and I could remember, but we're only two people and it was two months ago, and I have a lousy memory for things like this. :) Thanks much folks!
As each student took their seat, they were welcomed to their new house by the applause of the house to which they had been sorted, and usually also by handshakes by those whom they took a seat near. It was all a great sign of camaraderie, for we knew that those who had been sorted into our house were likely to have many personality traits in common with us, and therefore had a decent chance of becoming our friends, or at least positive acquaintances (this is an argument I have used more than once in favor of the house system, by the by).
After the sorting had finished, the headmaster arose again, and all of the students fell silent. He ahemed slightly, though unnecessarily, then said: “Before the commencement of the feast, I have a few announcements to make. First of all, first years are expected to know and obey all of the rules. Ignorance will not protect you from retribution, so I suggest that you familiarize yourself with our procedures as quickly as possible. All punishments are handled in the dungeon by our groundskeeper, (insert name of groundskeeper here!!!), which leads me to our second announcement. The extensive project to improve the quality of our dungeon facilities has been completed admirably. Students will now face even more unpleasant torments as a result of their misdeeds, which I hope you all will remember before performing any such actions. Punishment, once again, will be swift and harsh.” Headmaster Nigellus eyed the Lunari twins, who sat innocently at the Gryffindor table, as he said this.
“Next, Quidditch try outs will be held tomorrow for all interested parties. Please speak to your respective Quidditch Captain’s for details on available positions and such.” The headmaster paused meaningfully, and for a moment we all thought he was done. Thus we were all surprised when he continued, sounding both grave and slightly smug at the same time. “We at Hogwarts have been in communication with the Ministry of Magic. As you all know, as part of the war effort several groups of wizards have already been sent to France to assist the muggles in fighting the Germans. It is a great honor for us to announce the creation of a team of Hogwarts students to aid in these efforts. This unit, which will be called the Wizard Armed Patrol, or WAP, will be composed of many of our best and brightest students in their last year of study. Though they will still be attending classes, they will also perform special missions to aid our allies in France. These brave young men will go above and beyond what is normally asked of students at this school, and I expect them to have all of your full supports. The students who have been selected for the introductory team are: Caius Serence and Guillermo Patil, of Slytherin house.” He paused, and tentative applause flitted amongst the students, who clearly had no idea how to react to this news. Caius and Guillermo both stood and bowed their heads towards the headmaster’s table. “James Ferguson of Gryffindor.” James stood also, joining the other two boys. “And lastly, our new Head Boy, Marcus Relius of Hufflepuff.” Marcus stood also. All four boys looked dead serious and I started to realize for the first time that the war wasn’t just a muggle war. Even now, people I knew, wizards I knew, were prepared to place themselves into mortal danger to aid in the effort. It was a horrifying thought, and part of me rebelled against it. Part of me wanted to stand up right then and there and shout for them all to sit down again, that no wizard should die for a muggle cause, and at the same time part of me felt the desperate need to learn more about this war, to learn why it might be necessary for us to be involved. It was a turning point, in truth, and I started to see why, perhaps, I hadn’t been placed in Slyherin house. “Good luck, boys. Please be seated.”
The headmaster paused again, and once more we thought surely there could be nothing else, but the worst was yet to come. “I have also been asked to announce to following news from France. Reports indicate that the following wizards have been lost in aiding the war effort: (insert names of deceased wizards here; I know one was Eileen O’Haver’s brother. Their sacrifices have not been in vain.” A horrified gasp went up from several people in the hall at the announcement of those who had been passed. The boys who had just been inducted into the Wizard Armed Patrol all looked vaguely sick, and, from down the table from me, a choked sob came from one of the new students in my house, Eileen, and I realized, horrified, that one of those named had the same last name as her. The headmaster, however, continued as if he had noticed nothing. “That is all. You can eat now,” and he sat back down with a dismissive wave of his hand.
On to the Hogwarts!
Oh, and a note on what I wrote today - I did my best to improvise the Headmaster's opening speech. If anyone can remember something he said that I didn't remember to include an appoximation of (as in, wasn't paraphrased in there) or that I got totally and completely wrong please please please let me know, and I'll fix it. I got in everything Jason and I could remember, but we're only two people and it was two months ago, and I have a lousy memory for things like this. :) Thanks much folks!
As each student took their seat, they were welcomed to their new house by the applause of the house to which they had been sorted, and usually also by handshakes by those whom they took a seat near. It was all a great sign of camaraderie, for we knew that those who had been sorted into our house were likely to have many personality traits in common with us, and therefore had a decent chance of becoming our friends, or at least positive acquaintances (this is an argument I have used more than once in favor of the house system, by the by).
After the sorting had finished, the headmaster arose again, and all of the students fell silent. He ahemed slightly, though unnecessarily, then said: “Before the commencement of the feast, I have a few announcements to make. First of all, first years are expected to know and obey all of the rules. Ignorance will not protect you from retribution, so I suggest that you familiarize yourself with our procedures as quickly as possible. All punishments are handled in the dungeon by our groundskeeper, (insert name of groundskeeper here!!!), which leads me to our second announcement. The extensive project to improve the quality of our dungeon facilities has been completed admirably. Students will now face even more unpleasant torments as a result of their misdeeds, which I hope you all will remember before performing any such actions. Punishment, once again, will be swift and harsh.” Headmaster Nigellus eyed the Lunari twins, who sat innocently at the Gryffindor table, as he said this.
“Next, Quidditch try outs will be held tomorrow for all interested parties. Please speak to your respective Quidditch Captain’s for details on available positions and such.” The headmaster paused meaningfully, and for a moment we all thought he was done. Thus we were all surprised when he continued, sounding both grave and slightly smug at the same time. “We at Hogwarts have been in communication with the Ministry of Magic. As you all know, as part of the war effort several groups of wizards have already been sent to France to assist the muggles in fighting the Germans. It is a great honor for us to announce the creation of a team of Hogwarts students to aid in these efforts. This unit, which will be called the Wizard Armed Patrol, or WAP, will be composed of many of our best and brightest students in their last year of study. Though they will still be attending classes, they will also perform special missions to aid our allies in France. These brave young men will go above and beyond what is normally asked of students at this school, and I expect them to have all of your full supports. The students who have been selected for the introductory team are: Caius Serence and Guillermo Patil, of Slytherin house.” He paused, and tentative applause flitted amongst the students, who clearly had no idea how to react to this news. Caius and Guillermo both stood and bowed their heads towards the headmaster’s table. “James Ferguson of Gryffindor.” James stood also, joining the other two boys. “And lastly, our new Head Boy, Marcus Relius of Hufflepuff.” Marcus stood also. All four boys looked dead serious and I started to realize for the first time that the war wasn’t just a muggle war. Even now, people I knew, wizards I knew, were prepared to place themselves into mortal danger to aid in the effort. It was a horrifying thought, and part of me rebelled against it. Part of me wanted to stand up right then and there and shout for them all to sit down again, that no wizard should die for a muggle cause, and at the same time part of me felt the desperate need to learn more about this war, to learn why it might be necessary for us to be involved. It was a turning point, in truth, and I started to see why, perhaps, I hadn’t been placed in Slyherin house. “Good luck, boys. Please be seated.”
The headmaster paused again, and once more we thought surely there could be nothing else, but the worst was yet to come. “I have also been asked to announce to following news from France. Reports indicate that the following wizards have been lost in aiding the war effort: (insert names of deceased wizards here; I know one was Eileen O’Haver’s brother. Their sacrifices have not been in vain.” A horrified gasp went up from several people in the hall at the announcement of those who had been passed. The boys who had just been inducted into the Wizard Armed Patrol all looked vaguely sick, and, from down the table from me, a choked sob came from one of the new students in my house, Eileen, and I realized, horrified, that one of those named had the same last name as her. The headmaster, however, continued as if he had noticed nothing. “That is all. You can eat now,” and he sat back down with a dismissive wave of his hand.
