Ah...it was time for the end of term feast.

And for the first time Gideon was having feelings of being thankful it was over. Which probably had something to do with the fact that it meant there were no classes to worry about not having a wand for. Not that he was totally dependant on it in his life, his parents had instilled that much in him as he grew up, he just felt odd not being able to do things that he couldn't without it. Would have felt completely out of place if he had lost it during a more busy time of term.

Gideon shook his head as he was reminded of the events in Hogsmeade, pushing it aside for favor of enjoying his last night in the castle. And one of the last times in a couple of months he'd see his friends on a daily basis. The sixth year made his way to the Great Hall after finishing some packing up in his dorm. He was somewhat surprised to see so few already there and even fewer of his own house as he made his wat to the lion table.

Maybe he was earlier than he thought...

OWLs were over.

Selina was overjoyed by that simple statement. The past few weeks she had been crippled by the burden of what, on the outside, looked like just a test. However, the OWLs were not just tests; no, they were life-sucking, vermin that hurt her social life and her sleep patterns. But now she was free and she could not have been happier. But with OWLs Selina had to face the reality- it was the end of the term.

Where had this year gone? Was it not yesterday that she had boarded the train and held Kurumi as her best friend suffered through one of the hardest parts of her life? No, that was months ago now. How strange. And yet, she had experienced a lot this year. Some good, some bad, but she had all-in-all changed. Not much, but small things. Like, she had finally felt what it was like to be bloated. What an AWFUL experience.

Regardless, her blue eyes scanned the Great Hall and saw a mostly empty Gryffindor table. Perching her eyebrow at the lack of lions, she sat down and nodded to Gideon before smiling to herself and fiddling with her bracelet.

This was a bittersweet time for the young lion, who is roaming the halls for one final time. He entered and went to his house table. Not many people in sight just yet. He was mostly looking for his brother-from-another-mother, the Slytherin prince; also known as Kennedy Escalante.

He had very important news to tell. Especially about a letter his mother had OWLed him. He was grateful that his mom didn't open his mail and respected his privacy. Heck, he never doubted that. not once.

Time to get this feast started!

This was it.

The end of Johnathan's era at Hogwarts and Kennedy wasn't ready to say goodbye just yet. Sure, he was going to see the lion over the summer and most likely every holiday, but he wasn't going to be his right hand man here.

So, with a heavy heart, Kennedy strutted over to the Gryffindor table, not showing the least bit of emotions. Nope.

He was cool, calm and collected.

"Why so lonely?" Kennedy said, flopping himself next to John, a smirk on his face.

It wasn't so hard to act like nothing was wrong.

John chuckled and stared at his still empty plate."So I got something to tell you..Actually you're the first person I'm telling.." John said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.

He opened the envelope and pulled out the containing letter. "I got called in.." He said referring to the U.S Air-force military, he had enlisted before he turned 18. "I have to leave in little bit over a week." This was serious. He was proud to serve his country, that he dearly loved. But this also meant risking so much.

He smiled at Kennedy, trying to lighten the tension. They boys already had enough with graduation, and now with...this.

Raising her eyebrow at the lack of Gryffindors at the table Prue sighed, sullenly sitting herself down anyway. This was the last feast... the end of the term... the end of her time at Hogwarts even as she'd chosen to follow her sister and leave Hogwarts, the place she loved to be. Shaking that thought out of her head she put on a smile as she sat, hoping that someone else she knew would eventually rock up, despite most of them being in different houses...

Somewhat hugging the plate she had cast the switching spell on at the Slytherin table to her chest, Kurumi finally made her way to the Gryffindor table while chewing on her lower lip fiercely. She was sort of trying to chew all the sadness out of her body, only it wasn't working. She would go right over to the Hufflepuff table and find Lewis, but this was sort of something that she needed to deal with herself. She couldn't depend on him for everything although she did for pretty much everything anyway.

It almost didn't seem like the end of the term, not in the same sense that it had in the past. Kurumi was just emotionally exhausted and physically drained from the term. It had by far been the hardest term the now sixteen year old had ever faced. She had both been the saddest and the happiest she had ever been in the span of a few months and she had literally felt like butter spread over too much bread far too often - and sort of felt that way now as she clutched the plate to her chest.

Kurumi sort of walked in a trance past the table, but managed to bow her head and smile at Gideon while she continued on her way toward an empty seat. "Congratulations Johnathan," she said with a small wave when she past the seventh year lion speaking with Kennedy, but didn't linger there for long. "Hello Prue," Kurumi said, greeting the younger lioness as she continued her way and eventually sat down across from her best friend...still holding the plate by the way.

It was then that she ventured a glance towards the Slytherin table and saw Jonathan looking her direction and...smiling. Kurumi bit down on her lip again, cheeks flushing just a little, and returned the smile. The two had a silent understanding now and had somehow managed to repair things to a certain extent. If nothing else, the two of them had sort of found peace with things...and perhaps someday in the future they would meet again.

At least she hoped so.

But now...where was the pumpkin juice?

Sarah went down to the end of term feast, not so long ago she was at the beginning of term feast - with the orb and that. Sarah was a bit down in the dumps, not only had she not done as well as she expected, that it was the end onf the school year, but also because she had made a fool of herself in Hogsmead. She was trying to remain inconspicuous as possible, trying to keep out of the range of her prefects - they were probably angry at her and they probably had a right to be. Maybe if Sarah had not said things or drawn her wand... then maybe the lady would have stayed... If only...

So...this was the end of her first year at Hogwarts. And there was another feast? Nice. Hogwarts knew how to begin and end things, didn't it?

But unfortunately, like at the Start of Term feast, the table was empty apart from the plates and utensils and things. Did they have to wait for the Headmaster to give a speech again before they ate? Meh. That speech better be coming soon because this first year lion was hungry.

She seemed to be a bit early though since there weren't many other students at the Gryffindor table, though she thought she recognized most of them. Penelope waved to the two prefects, Kurumi and Gideon, and Captain Selina, then decided to take a seat next to a girl she thought was also in her year, though she wasn't sure they'd talked much.

"Mind if I sit here?" Penelope asked, even though she was already sitting. She could always move if the girl turned out to be saving it for a friend or something.

Sarah's morose thought were interupted by a voice beside her. "Sure, not only dont I mind, I would love that you sit next to me" Sarah said, flashing a friendly smile at the girl who looked about her age. "My name is Sarah Edwards, first year and you are..." Sarah asked the girl searchingly. She was sure she had seen that girl before, yet where?

END OF TERM!

Jordan was excited to finally have finished his third year at Hogwarts yet was slightly nervous as he walked down to the Great Hall. It was now the summer and that would bring a new wave of dangers to him and his friends, but he wouldn't worry about that now. For now he would try and enjoy the feast.

He was disappointed to find an abscense of his friends in the hall when he entered the hall. He glimpsed his quidditch captain and team mate Selina and Gideon who he didn't really speak to outside of training and he also noted Kurumi who Jordan had avoided not spoken to since the end of his first year. So he came to plonk himself down at the end of the house table, watching the festivites around him whilst humming his favourite song under his breath.

SPOILER!!: Selina

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanficfanatict

OWLs were over.

Selina was overjoyed by that simple statement. The past few weeks she had been crippled by the burden of what, on the outside, looked like just a test. However, the OWLs were not just tests; no, they were life-sucking, vermin that hurt her social life and her sleep patterns. But now she was free and she could not have been happier. But with OWLs Selina had to face the reality- it was the end of the term.

Where had this year gone? Was it not yesterday that she had boarded the train and held Kurumi as her best friend suffered through one of the hardest parts of her life? No, that was months ago now. How strange. And yet, she had experienced a lot this year. Some good, some bad, but she had all-in-all changed. Not much, but small things. Like, she had finally felt what it was like to be bloated. What an AWFUL experience.

Regardless, her blue eyes scanned the Great Hall and saw a mostly empty Gryffindor table. Perching her eyebrow at the lack of lions, she sat down and nodded to Gideon before smiling to herself and fiddling with her bracelet.

The prefect watched as more students and even staff became filtering into the Great Hall. Soon enough he was joined by a familiar red head, smiling at her nod before turning his full attention to her. "Alas...the dear Lady Selina has survived her endeavor and returned to grace her loyal servants with her presence," he remarked, chuckling when he was finished with his words. He knew just how bad the OWL exams could be and felt sympathy for his girlfriend as well as shared jubilation that they were over.


Then came Johnathan, a seventh year Gryffindor who would be leaving them. Kennedy his fellow prefect from Slytherin house joined him and he offered a polite smile down the table at them before continuing the trail. A young third year girl he couldn't quite remember was there as well and then finally Kurumi joined the rest of the already gathered pride at the table.

SPOILER!!: Kurumi

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Somewhat hugging the plate she had cast the switching spell on at the Slytherin table to her chest, Kurumi finally made her way to the Gryffindor table while chewing on her lower lip fiercely. She was sort of trying to chew all the sadness out of her body, only it wasn't working. She would go right over to the Hufflepuff table and find Lewis, but this was sort of something that she needed to deal with herself. She couldn't depend on him for everything although she did for pretty much everything anyway.

It almost didn't seem like the end of the term, not in the same sense that it had in the past. Kurumi was just emotionally exhausted and physically drained from the term. It had by far been the hardest term the now sixteen year old had ever faced. She had both been the saddest and the happiest she had ever been in the span of a few months and she had literally felt like butter spread over too much bread far too often - and sort of felt that way now as she clutched the plate to her chest.

Kurumi sort of walked in a trance past the table, but managed to bow her head and smile at Gideon while she continued on her way toward an empty seat. "Congratulations Johnathan," she said with a small wave when she past the seventh year lion speaking with Kennedy, but didn't linger there for long. "Hello Prue," Kurumi said, greeting the younger lioness as she continued her way and eventually sat down across from her best friend...still holding the plate by the way.

It was then that she ventured a glance towards the Slytherin table and saw Jonathan looking her direction and...smiling. Kurumi bit down on her lip again, cheeks flushing just a little, and returned the smile. The two had a silent understanding now and had somehow managed to repair things to a certain extent. If nothing else, the two of them had sort of found peace with things...and perhaps someday in the future they would meet again.

At least she hoped so.

But now...where was the pumpkin juice?

Gideon smiled at her bowed her head towards him, knowing it meant as much as a hello from her since at times she seemed to be quiet around him. Not to mention was often occupied with other things at feasts especially ending ones. He offered her a friendly nod back to her in response before letting her get on her way.

SPOILER!!: Sarah and Penelope

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princesspower

Sarah went down to the end of term feast, not so long ago she was at the beginning of term feast - with the orb and that. Sarah was a bit down in the dumps, not only had she not done as well as she expected, that it was the end onf the school year, but also because she had made a fool of herself in Hogsmead. She was trying to remain inconspicuous as possible, trying to keep out of the range of her prefects - they were probably angry at her and they probably had a right to be. Maybe if Sarah had not said things or drawn her wand... then maybe the lady would have stayed... If only...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

So...this was the end of her first year at Hogwarts. And there was another feast? Nice. Hogwarts knew how to begin and end things, didn't it?

But unfortunately, like at the Start of Term feast, the table was empty apart from the plates and utensils and things. Did they have to wait for the Headmaster to give a speech again before they ate? Meh. That speech better be coming soon because this first year lion was hungry.

She seemed to be a bit early though since there weren't many other students at the Gryffindor table, though she thought she recognized most of them. Penelope waved to the two prefects, Kurumi and Gideon, and Captain Selina, then decided to take a seat next to a girl she thought was also in her year, though she wasn't sure they'd talked much.

"Mind if I sit here?" Penelope asked, even though she was already sitting. She could always move if the girl turned out to be saving it for a friend or something.

He had just turned his attention away from his partner when the 6th year noticed Sarah, a Gryffindor girl he had grown to work with and know over the term. She seemed to to be trying to sneak in and not be noticed but he offered her a greeting nevertheless. "Hello Sarah," he greeted with a polite smile. Spotting Penelope come up over the other girl's shoulder, he waved back to his teammate before she sat down beside her fellow first year.

Perhaps whatever was up could be handled between them?

Hearing her name said Prue looked up and smiled to see Kurumi walk past. "hey Kurumi" she responded with a smile, the thought in her head that she was still betting on Kurumi for next head girl next year! Vaguely she wondered what next years first years would be like, but she ignored that thought temporarily instead looking around before she spotted the pumpkin juice, talking a large gulp of the stuff.

Oh, good, so the girl didn't mind...and she'd love it? Penelope wasn't sure why anyone would love to sit by her, but she still managed a smile anyway. "Okay. Thanks." And then it was time for introductions. At least Penelope was right in guessing/remembering that the girl, Sarah, was a first year. It was nice to meet more people in the same year as herself. "Penelope Greenwell," she replied with a nod.

Selina was thrilled to see Kurumi when her best friend entered the Great Hall. It had been a few days since she had really spoken to her best friend because Selina herself had been sucked into the vortex called OWLs. And yet, when Kurumi entered the Great Hall she completely brushed passed her best friend and said NOTHING to her. Eh, what was that about? Was she invisible or something or was Kurumi still upset that of all the things Selina could have gotten from their back alley experience she only cared about the lady's appearance. To be fair though, her looks were decieving in that picture.

Raising her eyebrow at her friend, she called over to her, "Oi, do I not get a hello or something?" Because she really wanted a hello. She wasn't going to get much time to spend with Kurumi this summer because she was spending the latter half of holiday at her boyfriend's home. So Selina would not get to see her- but Lewis did. She was very jealous.

The redhead then saw one of the most talented underclassmen on her team enter the Great Hall, Penelope. She had to admit that she had taken a liking to Penelope over the term. They had not spoken much outside of practice, but the younger girl's stomach was commendable. It reminded her of her own stomach, which was a feat of its own.

What a lovely, lovely girl. So she addressed her, "Evening Penelope. Ready for summer?" She liked this first year. People like Penelope made Selina glad for the next generation of Gryffindors that would take up the mantel after her generation graduated.

Nodding to Jordan, Selina said, "Hello Jordan." It was nice to see him again. After Quidditch season, she really had not taken the time to speak to the younger boy. He was a nice bloke, but OWLs had eaten up her life. Although she did wish him a good summer. Like she had said, nice kid.

Turning her head to her boyfriend, Selina finally settled into a seat beside hi at the table. She had to repress a smirk when he went on with his charade of knighthood about her OWLs. Although, now as she thought about it, she would have rather have slain a dragon in those days then taken those tests. Alas, she had no such choice, but at least the tests were well and over with. It was a weight off of her shoulders that she was glad to be rid of at this point. Now she could look forward to her summer.

Letting a smile peak through, she retorted, "Well, I couldn't have ignored them very well, could I?" Then she shook away her ladylike airs and asked, "So what are you doing this summer?" She had almost added a Giddy on the end of her last statement, but decided against that route. She remembered what he had done to her last time she had used the nickname.

Kurumi waved at Penelope and Sarah when they entered, noting the lack of food on the table and wondering if Penelope would actually just start gnawing on it because she was too impatient to wait for Headmaster Tate's speech. Which reminded the sixth (almost seventh *GASP*) year that she hadn't brought her cookies out yet. Her heart just...wasn't in it just yet.

Kurumi saw Jordan arrive, but also noted the manner in which he seemed to be purposely avoiding her gaze and presence. He had been that way ever since she had scolded him about potentially using his abilities to impersonate a professor and sneak into...where ever it was he and his friends had been thinking about sneaking to. Kurumi still felt it was completely justified though. It was an abuse of being a metamorphagus - even if it just was a discussion and theory being thrown about.

Her gaze didn't linger on the three younger students for too long, however, as Prue spoke to her.
Turning her head slightly, Kurumi couldn't help but notice that the younger students seemed, well, more than just depressed about the term coming to an end and saying good bye to graduating seventh years. "You...doing okay?" she asked softly. She didn't have to answer that if she didn't want to. A little white lie never hurt anyone, sort of, but if she needed someone to talk to Kurumi was ready to offer an ear. "Anything...you feel like talking about?"

So much for being subtle?
Still looking like an idiot and hugging the plate nervously, Kurumi's gaze turned sharply away from the Slytherin table and back to Selina...who did not look pleased. Kurumi knew THAT look. Or, well, looks that were like that look. Selina had many a pointed look depending on the situation. "Oh, um, h-h-h-hi?" she said rather sheepishly as she placed the plate rather unceremoniously with a loud clang.

Oh...Jonathan was probably going to be wanting this back... But Kurumi couldn't just walk back over there and give it to him. Maybe she should just perform another switching spell...on...the plate and, um, a spoon? Wait, he was going to need a spoon too.

Shoving the plate out of her line of vision with her elbow, Kurumi turned her attention back to Selina and attempted to play it cool. Right...cause her and Selina were just sooo good at keeping things from each other. "So...um...Quidditch training this summer..." Kurumi trailed off as she idly poked her goblet. Where was the pumpkin juice again?

Prue laughed a bit at the idea, a smile on her face for probably the first time since she sat down. "I'm pretty good, excited to be my sister but I guess I never really thought of the year really ending..." she trailed off. "I also guess I didn't expect Mum and Dad to chose to keep my sister and I together again starting next year..." with the way she said it she hoped that the older girl would understand without her outright saying she was leaving!

Then again it also might sound like her sister was coming back...

Elliot had spotted her new Gryffie friend from afar...she wanted to say hello...since Prue seemed to be a bit shy..and Elliot had enjoyed the girl's company enough...AND PRUE LIKED TEA! That was the best part about the girl!

"Hey..PRue..." she said with a smirk. She took a seat next to her and grinned..but she looked...sad...oh no...what had Elliot gotten herself into?! She wasn't good with feelings...not at all...

And Prue was also taking to Kurumi...meh. "Hey, Kurumi," Elliot said with a shadow a smirk. Meh. Elliot didn't really know the older lion...and she was feeling extra nice today...

Seeing the Ravenclaw girl sit herself down at the table Prue smiled at her greeting, she seem a lot more cheerful than she did the first time Prue saw her back at the lake so she changed the smile into a large grin, despite the smirk that she'd been met with it was kinda cool seeing the other girl grin for once. Seriously! That smirk always seemed to be there! This definitely was reason to celebrate... not that she'd ever say it aloud... "Hey Elliot, how are you?"

She also couldn't help noticing that the brunette was indeed acting more... nice than she'd seen previously when she'd noticed her interacting with others, not that it mattered to Prue, Elliot did seem pretty awesome.

Wow. This term just flew by!

Before she knew it, Ronnie wouldn't even be here anymore! That was real weird to think about, Hogwarts was her home. She couldn't imagine being anywhere else, this was where she wanted to stay for....forever! She loved everything...the places to explore in the castle and on the grounds, the professors, and all her friends. It was all amazing, she couldn't imagine leaving.

As Ronnie sat at the table, she glanced around the room. She had made tons of new friends this year, she was a lot more open than she had been eariler. She was so happy she could be back, no more stupid Beaxbatons. She could not stand being anywhere else but Hogwarts. She sighed, wondering what it must be like for all the 7th years. . .

She looked up and down the table for any of her friends, hoping someone would join her. She didn't like sitting here all by herself!

How. Was. It. End. Of. Term. Feast. Already? It was impossible. The time had flew by. Now Lilly was almost a fourth-year. And then she would be a fifth year, then a sixth, then a SEVENTH. Fat chance. She couldn't leave. She would sit in the vegetable patch and refuse to be moved so they would let her stay for the rest of her life. Until she was an old woman. Poor, stupid seventh years. Why didn't they think like her?

"Hi Ronnie!" she said, smiling as she sat down next to her. That poor girl was even closer to seventhyearness than Lilly was. "You okay?" She looked pretty sad. Maybe she had some seventh year friends. She glared at the memory book. It seemed to be making the old people even sadder than they already were. Stupid idea, if they asked her.

"I'm gonna miss you and Rose when you're gone," Lilly said, just thinking aloud. Just a few more years, that was all. She had one more, but that didn't seem that much. "I mean, I'll see her a lot, but not you so much..." Thinking aloud again. She was so stupid.

At least it was the summer holidays now, that was an advantage.

With greetings in order, Gideon turned back to watch Selina as she settled down beside him, looking for whatever reaction to his remark he was gonna get. "Nae, of course not." A slightly bemused look upon his face as he remembered a similar thought or wondering last term where he did indeed ignore a couple of exams. The prefect wasn't aware if she sat for them all but he knew it wasn't the time to ask, soon enough the results would answer that.

"Oh a little bit of this and a little bit of that," he answered with a shrug. He didn't really have any solid plans but there was just one thing he had in mind. It required the approval and assistance of his parents though even with him being legal and old enough to do magic outside of school. Gideon would just have to wait and see if he managed to start a particular bit of training over the summer.

So it had already come to the end of the term...ALREADY?

As Tiffany made her way to the Gryffie's table, she kept questioning herself was it real or not since this term has been going so fast without her notice. Throughout the past three years when she was attending the end of term feast, she just sat down and had her meal as usual, not with any sad emotions or...but this was different. For this very first time, she couldn't help but pouted a bit as it has come to an end as some of her friends were leaving soon and today was their last day. She just doesn't them to leave. Could they just stay and don't ever graduate?

Noticing the lions had already picked their seats, the younger lion decided to join them first before sneaking out to other tables. "Hey Kurumi and Sarah,"she shouted out loud and with a pad of their head as she walked towards them. And there were more lions that Tiffany had never met...then she noticed the girl she met during Charms when they both ran over to help Kurumi. Pe-enlope? Anyway. "And hi to you all! Tiffany Pevensie,"she greeted, adding a smile.

"Dandy, really," she said with a small shrug. She literally didn't know ANYONE else at the lions' table...but instead of feeling nervous, or anxious, about this, she felt even more confident. And haughty. Whatever! "And you?" she asked politely, glancing around for some water. She hadn't gotten any at her own house table...