The regal older woman, one of the finer examples of someone who embodied the more admirable aspects of the experienced witch. She was dressed in a very stately but elegant midnight bllue dress, standing up at the podium, looking over the assembled students. Her eyes, almost as blue as her frock, examined each of them in her own rapid way. Her hair, surprisingly still ebony at her age, was flowing behind her and she smiled at them as she started.
"As a number of you new students already know, alongside all of our returning student body, I am Lucille McAllistair, the standing Headmistress of Hogwarts Secondary, as well as the Transfigurations Professor, and I wish to welcome all of you here to Hogwarts for this academic year."
The round of applause filled the room, and it was very expected. She noticed a few students were not really doing so, but that was expected. There were always some, in every house, who had issues. She then continued, speaking immediately on the subject of what was different that year, not wasting too much time on the fluff as most rules were knowing already to even the new students.. except the changes.
"As many of you returning students know, Professor Upton retired last year after the Bangers and Mash Incident. This term, the Great Hall has been re-enforced with prank counter spells provided by the prestigious Weasley family."
There were boos, mainly from the second through fourth year males students, that made it clear that was not a popular decision. She continued, wanting to move through to the Sorting as fast as possible.
"All pranks during the first part of the first term are not permitted unless consistent self-control and decorum is established in the permitted areas. This is also the decision of the Ministry as well."
She then lead them all in the school song, making certain to keep it the version that is curriculum related not the long version that is required on the graduate level. After a minute or two she then started with the list, smiling as she did.
"As I call your name in alphabetical order, you will come down and sit in the Chair here on the side of the podium. Please move quickly, the house elves are very much on time here at Secondary..."
Name: Samual Christopher Anderson (Sam, Chris, Andy)
House/Year: Gryffindor, Sixth year
Blood Type: Full
Wand: 12 inches, Sycamore, Dragon heartstring, flexible, attached to the hilt of a Royal Navy cutlass.
Broom: Not yet
Attire: Gryffindor travel uniform
Location: The Great Hall
Travel: From home to the Station, arriving
Tagging: Alice, Ashely, Anyone within sight range.
Stealing glances at Alice, he smiled at the speech. He was very aware of why the Bangers and Mash Incident caused Upton's retirement, as someone was using a spell that was far too advanced for them. He was also highly suspicious of who was the planner of the prank, as it was bad enough that six students had gotten in so much trouble yet none of them were the leader. He then listened as the time had come for the actual Sorting itself. He was very calm, as he was very hopeful that what he wanted for each and every one of the first years that he had met so far. He spotted Ashley, giving her a smile of encouragement and understanding. He then stole a look at the figure in the cloak. He was highly concerned now, as something had to be important or risky concerning the new and yet unseen new girl.
Name: Ashley Shannon Palin (NPC)
House/Year: First, unsorted
Blood Type: Half-blood
Wand: Red Oak, 10 inches, Granian tail hair, supple and flexible
Broom: (if you have one on hand)
Attire: Travel cloak over basic Hogwarts uniform
Location: The Great Hall
Travel: N/A
Tagging: Katy, Alice, Samuel, Anyone else..
Ashley actually took notes during McAllistair's Opening speech to them. She knew she had to be on the ball in any way she could, and she was very concerned that if she messed up in any way someone perhaps would pounce. She would show only fear and weakness when she could get away with it, and she was very pleased that she would be able to prove to both herself and her house, hopefully Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, that she belonged. She then heard the first name called for the Sorting Chair and hat, amused that they would go by alphabetical order still.
She fiddled just a bit in her chair, her cloak hiding her apprehension. She still felt it, knowing that she was about in the end of the second potential third or the beginning of the potential third fourth of the list of new students. She had spent a lot of time very patient about things, only about two years ago learning about herself and her real past. She would live in display of the fact that some family legacies were not to be lived up to , but to be eclipsed and phased out with one's own. That was especially true if the legacy was as personally repugnant as her own.
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