After the Sorting Feast Fest

[Desideria Tapia]

September 1, 2008

The Sorting Feast was over and either fears were quelled or re-enforced. First years had been placed in their according Houses, Houses that would suit them and and vice-versa. The new crop of Hufflepuffs were a good-looking bunch this year. A few wide-eyes, strong wills, friendly and yet nervous smiles, but they looked like they'd do well in her Alum House.

As soon as the Feast was over, Desideria spent a moment speaking with her colleagues before disappearing down the one set of stairs in the entrance hall. Those stairs would lead the woman to her former home at Hogwarts. All day she'd spent with a few House Elves making sure nothing was out of place in the bright yellow common room. A warm fire roared quietly in its fireplace; yellow walls were spaciously decorated with announcements and streamers and banners welcoming all back; and a large table off to the side looked as though it was sagging beneath the weight of snacks, sweets, pumpkin juice, and butter beers. It was what was to greet all students upon entering.

Tradition older than the woman was Hufflepuffs were to celebrate the new faces of the House and to welcome old ones back. The woman had specifically devised the party nearly the week after being promoted to Head of House. Planning and saving. All summer, on top of trying to make a few extra galleons for the potions ingredients and other such things she needed, Desideria had done her best to make some extra to throw a party for her House. What better way to celebrate and get to know one another (meaning all students for her, her for students, and all for those who didn't know one another) than to have a party? The fact was, there was no real other way.

Coming from a wizarding music player, some of the more popular tunes that played during the Music Festival could be heard. Hopefully it would be a good night for all. Her only fear was the tradition had not been continued long beyond her years as a student and they would think she was odd for throwing a party their first night back, especially when they had classes the next day.

[Matilda Wentworth]

After five years of Feasting Every September First, Matty never got tired of it. Sure, it was practically the same thing year after year, but the happy spirits, the joy and excitement in students faces, it was all worth it time and time again. And after five years of being a student here, Matty had been chosen as her House Quidditch Captain. Some may not have considered this role to be as important as Prefects, which it probably wasn't, but on the sporting field, she was the one who pulled things together. But nor did the girl show a cocky attitude about this, she simply took it in her stride, and did what had to be done.

As tradition followed, Matty was looking forward to the Surprise Party for the first years. Last year she had helped pitch in allot with Krissy and Seanna to pull it together, and as a result, the new comers had been ecstatic about it. The teenager remembered the awe and excitement on the faces of the youngsters, when then toddles in for the first time. The girl had specifically remembered two girls, Summer and Maddy, who she had taken favour to the past year. Unfortunately, Summer hadn't made it through to this year after the Deva Attack. However Maddyson Cross, whom was like a little sister to Matty, remained a faithful Hufflepuff.

The older student got away from her table after saying goodnight to her friends in the other houses, before getting a little ahead of the First Years. Sure, the older students were most likely aware of the party that would commence, but the youngest years may not have. The Quidditch Captain moved swiftly and entered the common room, her green eyes surveying the colours decorations. Cheery music hit her ears as the Badge grinned at her New Head of House. Prof. Marv had been a good, entertaining man, and allot of the house had been sad to see him go. However, Professor Tapia replaced the man, and she was quickly proving to be a kind, fare women. Matty respected that. "All set to go, I see." she commented with a smile charming to her Head of House.

[Maddyson Cross]

It didn't seem like a year had passed since the young blonde had become a member of the very exclusive hufflepuff club. A lot of time had passed, exactly one year to the day, but Maddy still felt like the immature, fun seeking twin that she was when she first entered the common room. She could still remember the feeling of awe, as she first set her sites on the party that awaited her indoors, but there was an odd feeling this time around, a feeling of regret. She had bonded quite closely with her hufflepuff mates, a one Summer and a one Sally, the best friends that Maddy had made in the place, before they left.

But nevertheless, the young blonde had survived her first year, and nothing was going to stop her surviving the next six. She was still excited, as she knew that her whole life still lay before her, and there was nothing in the present that was ever going to take that away from her.

Maddy was one of the first people to leave the halls. She wanted to get up to the common room a while before the first years did, so she'd have time to unpack her things properly, and then come back down to see their faces when they came into the common room. Maddy hoped that they were having another party, and with no surprise to the girl, when she climbed into the common room, they were. She immediately kicked off her shoes at the door, and smiled at Matty, a girl that had been like a sister to the young blonde.

"Another party? Oh, I guess we have one every year." She said, giving the girl a slight hug. Maddy grinned over at Professor Tapia, of whom Maddy had heard was taking over Professor Atwood's job as their head of house. "Good evening, professor." She smiled, taking a lolly from the table and popping it into her open mouth.

[seanna]

After the Sorting Feast had finished, Seanna and Alexander walked close near the first years, showing them the quickest way down to the Hufflepuff common room. The moment had a sadden touch to it, as it would be her last time that she would be taking the first years down the familiar route, down the stairs off the main hall and then finally to the red bricks on the grey wall that entered into Hufflepuff common room.

The trip down to the common room had been an uneventful one and a quick one, the Huffle girl knew there was a party to attend and Seanna didn't want to keep the people inside the common room waiting for a long time. Percy fluttering down beside the Huffle prefect, and waddling over towards the entrance as if to say to the girl to hurry up, Seanna turned to the first years, a huge smile on her face.

Looking over at Alexander, she gave him a smile too, glad that he was there with her to show the firsties the way down to Hufflepuff as their last time as prefect. "If you have any questions, or just need to know something, feel free to come and see me or Alexander, or any of the other Huffle's. We'll be glad to help you out with anything" Seanna said to them, thinking that they were probably really nervous and excited about coming to a new place for the first time.

"Just behind those red bricks is the Hufflepuff common room" Seanna started, taking a deep breath and letting it go again, trying to get her thoughts straight so she could finish her some kind of speech to the new Huffles. "Once again, congratulations with getting into Hufflepuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay with us" Seanna said to the new firsties, throwing them another huge, welcoming smile, before turning and giving the password to the red bricks behind her.

Wanting the firsties to get the big welcome that was waiting for them inside the common room, Seanna stepped back next to Alexander, allowing the firsties to go first inside to the common room.

[Desideria Tapia]

Smiling at the new Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain, Desideria nodded slightly. She'd never understood the real concept of Quidditch, it just reminded her of people getting in the only chance they had to beat each other out, and sometimes literally if the chance was provided. "Everything's set, the place is decorated and the food is out."

Though, with the amount of food offered at the feast, the potions professor wasn't sure how much they'd really be willing to eat. But that was fine by the woman, a good sealing charm on a few dishes and the food would keeps for days, possibly weeks depending on what it was, and her students could eat it at their leisure. Smiling at the entrance of a younger Huffle, Desideria's mind traveled back to her day. Oh, the times her House had with the new first years especially. One time, they'd gotten them real good, but the woman wouldn't let her students in on that one, they'd gotten in quite a bit of trouble for it afterwards, but it was a good laugh back then.

"A party ever since I was a first year that I know of," she commented to Maddy. "I don't think we ever missed out on one when I was a student, and our Head of House always tried to have a hand in it without showing favoritism," she winked at the young lady. She knew there were a few rumors hovering about in accordance to she playing a favorites, but could she help it if some students excelled over others and she was willing to give second chances to a number of students? If they came to her, who was she to turn them away?

And when the wall opened, Desideria's eyes glowed in anticipation. A good crop was how they looked to her at the feast, hopefully her thoughts would prove to be correct.