SIXTH YEAR!!!

This Hufflepuff was thrilled for the new term, even if there was something he wasn’t looking forward to later on. BUT he would handle that when the time came. For now, there was someone he was beyond happy for: Cousin Hady! He could hardly wait to be in her classes and knew that his sisters felt the same.

Speaking of sisters… he spotted Reagan at the Gryffindor table but where was Keigh? Had he managed to lose her like he always did at the Start of Term Feasts?

Why were he and his little sister like this?

Fifth-year meant OWL examinations, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, but unlike his older brother, Daniel had pledged to himself that he would achieve all passing scores. Ideally, he'd hoped to receive all Outstandings but he also realized that it wouldn't be realistic. But he could try.

Daniel entered the Great Hall and sat across from Jude at the Hufflepuff table. He was still unsure if he had truly forgotten his book at home or whether it had been misplaced in another bag. He hoped it wasn't... Writing home on the first day of school was an nuisance.

He sighed, running his hand through his now-blonde hair, and looked up at the older Hufflepuff, who seemed to be looking for someone. "Who are you looking for?" he questioned, leaning forward slightly to see exactly what he was looking at.

Margaret was not in a hurry. She was a seventh year now, after all, which meant she was at the top of the food chain (well, except for professors).

And those at the top of the food chain didn't hurry (unless they were a cheetah, and she preferred to follow rules). After taking her own sweet time to rouse from her nap and find a carriage and meander into the Great Hall, she took a seat towards the front, close to where the first years would be.

After all, she was a seventh year. She'd be a very valuable advisor to any new Hufflepuffs. Just like Florrie had once been a valuable friend and advisor to her.

...well, still was, actually. Florrie wasn't dead.

Anyway. Margaret put on her best friendly face and clapped politely for non-Hufflepuffs and enthusiastically for the 'puffs, to welcome them to the house.

She was of two minds going into seventh year. On one hand, Cailyn wasn’t entirely worried about NEWTs and the like, simply because she trusted her own knowledge. On the other, she still felt awkwardly like the odd man out. The girl nobody bothered to consider as an option to be their girlfriend. Her own crushes notwithstanding, considering most if not all of them had already left Hogwarts for good. It wasn’t a fun feeling, but she also wasn’t apt to tell anyone about it because she also didn’t want to seem desperate. Instead, she was planning on just focusing on the school term and whatever else wanted to happen could happen. It was easier that way.

The petite seventh year had taken her time arriving to the feast just because. No actual reason, she just felt like it, like she could burn the memory of walking to the opening feast into her memory. It wasn’t as if the act would be repeated any other times after this, and there had been memories of the same arrival as a first year mixed in with that as well.

Even so, she’d acknowledged the housemates who had arrived before her with a smile, taking a seat near Margaret. No reason other than just that it was comfortable to stick with her best friend. Even so, she’d turned to the others as she heard Daniel’s question to Jude. “Your little sister again?”, she added, rather offhandedly but still showing concern, before returning her attention toward the new students being Sorted and the newcomers she noticed at the staff table as well. A lot of newness for the last year.

Maria was hungry and sort of looking forward to the new year. She was not a firstie anymore. That was a milestone. She was though not happy about the basket that she carried into the great hall and dumped down right in the middle of the badger table. Letting her scared eyes dart around to meet Jude's, Daniel's, Margret's and Cailyn's she said to all of them "Hi! Erm, does anyone know what i should do with the hideous grey snake with red eyes in the basket? I found it on the train with my name on a piece of parchment..." After a short pause she added "I know my dad is still mernapped...but..." then she grew silent burying her hands in her lap. Was this just a nasty prank?

This was his favorite night of the school year. The sorting was good and well, but the food? That's what he was really looking forward to. And so, in preparation, Jasper had eaten very small portions of breakfast, lunch, and lunch part 2 today. So when he walked into the Great Hall and saw the plateware set on the tables, his mouth watered immediately. Almost instinctively, even.

"Sup," he greeted his housemates all in one as he took a spot beside Margaret. "I hope the speech isn't long tonight. I'm starved." It was his general sentiment on feast night. As he was about to ask about the remainder of her summer, however, he was pulled away from the conversation when a younger housemate walked up to the table looking distressed.

...........

What? "Maria, what's-" He paused, briefly looking to the basket in her hands and then reaching a hand out to set it on her shoulder. "Hey. Are you alright?" The snake they could give to the groundskeeper, but it sounded like there might be bigger things at play here.

Yukie was hungry. Not very hungry, but the idea of the feast starting and the appearance of food in front of them all sounded more appealing than the sorting ceremony right now. Absolutely no offence meant to the first years and the transfers. The sugar rush from the bites of cauldron cake she had on the train, along with the warming feeling from Dad's traditional first day soup, had simply worn off now.

The now third year joined her house table, smiled and waved at the people sitting close to her. Yukie wanted to know about their summers, but instead of that, she overheard someone mentioning a SNAKE on the train and that...was not exactly something she'd expected to hear on the first day back. Or, you know, maybe she should have expected it. Then apparently the snake was HERE at the table, and Yukie found herself pulling her legs closer to herself. What if it escaped?? Snakes bite and can be poisonous?? "Shouldn't we tell Professor....?" A glance at the staff table showed that there was a new Creatures professor. That's not Professor Crabtree sitting there at all. Maybe the groundskeeper instead? "A member of the staff?" Professor Euka was also not there on the table, which meant a new head of house and Divination professor too.

So many changes. These were all good distractions from her hunger, really. Just as long as Yukie didn't think about the fried chicken, all will be fine.

Keighley.. may have.. gotten a little distracted on her way to the great hall hall and lost her older brother in the process as per usual. Which was perfectly okay because she had wanted to meet up with Olivia before first before heading to her house table before the feast anyhow. She knew better than to take very long and within only but a few short minutes was making her way through the doors heading for the Hufflepuff table and Liv headed towards the Ravenclaw one. Bright blue eyes were already seeking out her older sister Rea, cousins and one of the newest Professors.

Spotting Jude right away, the fourth year plopped herself down right beside him as she always did. "Heeeey, Jude," she sang softly in the same way that she normally did, nudging him gently in the side with her elbow to make him smile. "How was everyone's summer?" she smiled and gave a little friendly wave to those already at the table.

Spotting the basket on the table and finally hearing bits and pieces the chatter around her, tried to catch sight of what was in inside it. Was that- Erm.. why was it at their table? It was kinda cute! From the look on Maria's face however she wasn't at all happy and it seemed that this snake wasn't hers? "Should we get Ha- Professor Paton? Maybe she could help?" That was going to take some getting used to.

Another year and another feast. Kirsten just wanted to go to her room and start her new book. She had tried three times on the train but first years kept coming in and out exploring. To find a quiet corner where no one was around was something Kirsten could never find on that bloody train.

She found a seat and smiled at the others. In the three years prior she knew people's faces and their names, but to say she had made friends or even a best friend in the past few years would not be truth. The truth was she enjoyed creatures over people and her books. She wouldn't be mean and she did long for a friend to connect with, but she she also felt she had many friends, all the characters in her books.

Jude tore his eyes away from the Ravenclaw table, having just noticed the bestie and having returned the smile with an enthusiastic wave. He glanced at the guy who had just sat down opposite to him. “Hi, Daniel!” Because… ya know, manners. At that moment, Cailyn appeared and he grinned at her, answering both hers and Daniel's questions. “Yep, seems to be our tradition. A lame one at that…” Then it hit him: Keigh was probably with Olivia. That made sense; SO much sense and so he relaxed a hair. This meant he could fully focus on his Housemates now. “Looking forward to seventh year, Cailyn?”

He was now watching a bunch of the others arrive. Happy grins went to Jasper, Yukie, Mamie and Kirsten. He paid particular attention to Kirsten because she was usually quiet and by herself. “Heya! Saw any new fascinating creatures over the summer?”

Then… FINALLY. There was his baby sister. Yes, never mind the fact that she was now a fourth year; she’s always be a baby to him. Jude smiled broadly when Keighley sing-sang the greeting to him. She was adorable like that. He nudged her back, gaze fixing on a certain Ravenclaw female who had not been there earlier. “Guessing you were with the girlfriend then?’’ he asked softly, smirking. Not that his question needed an answer.

Spotting Maria and the basket, Jude was about to greet her and ask her about what she had there. He actually thought it was a puppy - or better yet, a cat. But no… a SNAKE of all things. Someone… just sent it to her anonymously? The sixth year doubted a secret admirer would do that, unless they thought that Maria liked snakes with red eyes. “I agree with the others. Professor Paton is more than capable of handling snakes.” She OWNED one for years now.

Desiree was listless tonight, and she didn’t know why. Maybe it was the end-of-summer blues. Maybe it was a sugar crash after way too many sweets on the train, or maybe it was something else. Whatever the case, she was feeling less than her usual upbeat self. Nonetheless, she still waved to her housemates as she took her seat at the Hufflepuff table. “Hi, everybody!” she greeted. “Have a good summer?”

Willing herself not to doze off before the feast began, she propped her head up on one arm. She absentmindedly listened to the conversations going on around her until the mention of a snake caused her to sit upright. Hold on, did Maria say her dad was mernapped?! And a snake just happened to turn up in a basket with her name on it? Did anybody else find that ridiculously suspicious? Maybe it was the years of warnings from her dad making her paranoid, but she didn’t think that was a coincidence.

Should she say something or…? She blinked, her bright blue eyes darting from the basket in the middle of the table to Maria. One look at her, and Desiree decided against voicing her concerns. Instead she gave the younger girl an encouraging smile. “Hey, it’ll be okay,” she said. They’d tell a professor, like everybody else was saying, and get to the bottom of this. “Chocolate frog?” she offered, reaching into her bag. If there was one thing she’d learned from her dad, it was that sweets made everything better!

"PeeEEEEeEEEeeEEEEEEeEEEVES!"

Did anyone order a poltergeist?

Preceded by his personal war cry and cackling uproariously, Peeves zoOOOOMed into the Great Hall, juggling several huge, filled-to-bursting maybe-water-balloons. His bow tie span and his eyes glittered with innocent menace as he drifted leaisurely over the Hufflepuff table.

"Ickle wee badgers, who wants to play a game with old Peevesie?"

So Jude's sister was the mysterious missing person. Which, after hearing what Cailyn had to say and the fact that the girl was probably late, was no longer a mystery.

Instead, he focused his attention on a second year who had brought a snake with her. Isn't it against school rules to bring anything other than an owl, rat, toa, cat, or pygmy puff to school? He leaned in closer to hear what the young girl was saying, and his attention was completely captured when she mentioned the mernapping

He had read about the situation in the Daily Prophet, but instead of feeling bad for the people who had been mernapped and their families, Daniel was more interested in the 'why.' Why had they taken them when the gathering had been a symbol of peace, hadn't it?

Perhaps it was a /blessing/ that Peeves arrived before Daniel could open his mouth to bombard Maria with questions, and he let out a silent groan. He looked up at the hovering poltergeist and observed what he was juggling. Daniel didn't believe for a second that those were ordinary balloons, and he suspected they were filled with water, flour, or something else.

He silently took out his wand from his expensive holster and placed it on his lap, ready to conjure up an umbrella or any spell to protect himself.

As more Hufflepuffs came to join them, Yukie gave each of them a polite smile and bow of her head. The ones she knew more, like Jude and Desiree, received bigger smiles and waves for the littlest Rasting. How was Yukie's summer? Suppose there's no harm in sharing indeed. The first night back always felt like one big show-and-tell, and Yukie always happily contributed. "I went to Japan like all summers, and I watched my best friend Mozzie's one-man show!" The third year answered Keighley's question. She was the GUEST of HONOUR at the show too! It was the most important part. She had all the VIPiest of the VIPiest perks.

For Peeves, though... well. Yukie watched the balloon's in the poltergeist hands and she would rather avoid those. She had no idea what was inside them, and she had no intention of finding out. So instead, she just smiled at him.

————————

Henry Hembree was HERE, folks! On his seventh, last, final year! Who would've thought, right? Time truly did fly when one was having fun, especially after the summer that he just had. The best, most fun summer of them all! Oh, how he missed Paris dearly. And the French boys. And the PASCAL Fashion House where he interned. Paris was a great and most welcomed change of pace from England. What if he went back there? Hmm.

Anyway!

"Evening, Peeves!" Henry greeted him, not aware of the poltergeist's invitation to a game or of the items he was carrying. The seventh year just wanted to sit for now and talk to his people. But before that happened, he noticed a basket right there.

THAT!!! Now that could only mean two things, right?? Either someone brought a basket full of pastries to school OR a whole baby. Henry decided it was the latter, apparently. "Ooooh did someone bring a BABY to school? I wanna see the adorable little th—" WHAT THE.

"IT'S GOT RED EYES!!!" Who brought a SNAKE INTO SCHOOL? That's not a traditional pet or whatever!! Henry would know because he was a dog person and dogs weren't on the list!! He gave all the Hufflepuffs close by a WILD look. Whose basket was that??

Eyeing the basket, willing the snake to not peek it's grey slimy head out from under the blanket at her Maria turned her black curly haired head to Jasper when he put a warm hand on her shoulder, and mumured in reponse to him eyes still scared. "No, I'm not all right. Jasper, the snake," trying to calm herself she added between breaths. "Who'd leave a snake for me on the train? Is it a prank?" And who'd know which compartment she was going to sit in? She wished her daddy was here.



Hoping Jasper didn't remove his comforting hand Maria looked from Keighley to Jude and asked "Jude or Keighley can you fetch Professor Paton? I don't know who she is? Is she the new CoMC professor? Or Professor Holden..." Why couldn't an anonyumus gifter had gotten her a pygmy puff or something else harmless instead of a snake that potentially was poisonous? Maria didn't need this on top of everything else.

Taking slow breaths and looking everywhere, but not at the beast in the basket Maria eyes darted over to Desiree. The older girl had questions and concerns, but thankfully she didn't bombard her with them, at least not yet. Instead she got an encouraging smile and a chocolate frog offer. Nodding she murmured "Thanks, I hope so too. Desiree, it's scary.`` While waiting for the frog Maria at least attempted to follow the sorting when of course they got an unwanted visitor.

Maria looked on as Peeves the Poltergiest leisurely drifted over to her table. Why couldn’t he have chosen one of the other tables to bother on this opening night? The ballons peeves was juggling looked ominous, but for some reason Maria got up the nerve/courage to say to the old spirit. "We’d like to play a game with you Peeves, but another time. We’ve got a snake problem to deal with." Her eyes darted to the basket then where a red tongue now stuck out as if it sniffed the air. Please don’t let Peeves see it. Pleasee?

Was Jude trying to make her blush right then and there at the table in front of everyone? Because that's what happened. As per usual when any mention of Olivia was brought up now, her cheeks would flush. She just couldn't help it. The very same thing would happen whenever Charlie's name was mentioned. "She isn't my girlfriend or at least I don't think she is.. but yes." Keighley replied in a soft tone, the smile on her face never wavering for even a second, if anything it only grew brighter as she found her gaze shifting towards the Ravenclaw table for a moment before returning to Jude.

"Hi, Desiree! My summer was amazing! How was yours?" This had been the best summer so far. Keighley could easily spend the entirety of feast talking all about the things she had done over the break but she was sure no one wanted her to do that.

Did Yukie say Japan?! After the talk she had with her sister Rea awhile back about wanting to travel after she graduated from Hogwarts, Japan had become one of the many places she wanted to visit. "I'd love to go there someday! What's it like there?"

Keigh offered a soft comforting smile to Maria. "It's going to be alright. We know who she is. Professor Paton is going to be the new CoMC's professor." Speaking of which, she looked towards the staff dais and spotting the professor in mention smiled warmly and lifted her hand waving her over urgently. That would be much faster than going up to the table to get her. Wave. WAVE. Nod. NOD. A gesture at the basket holding the snake. A few more gestures at cousin Ha- Professor Paton. "She'll be able to tell us what type of snake this is and what to do." Best to give the snake to someone that new all about them. "Would you like a hug?" Hugs usually helped her feel better.

Peeves. How could the blonde not take notice to him when he was announced his own presence like that? Lifting her blue eyes up at him, she smiled softly. "Hello, Peeves. What game is it that you'd like to play?" Her eyes fell upon the balloons he was juggling. Yup, those were surely going to be trouble but maybe if she played along...

He wouldn’t really be a proper older brother if he didn’t tease Keighley, would he? Jude started to chuckle as he watched her blush. Really, it was so easy to get her to do that! “You guys need to have that talk but I have a feeling she’s going to be your girlfriend eventually.” He couldn’t wait for that to happen but he also knew things were rather complicated because of things with Charlie. The sixth year smirked again as he watched Keigh glance at the Ravenclaw table again. “I’m just happy that you’re happy. Well, happier.”

Jude inclined his head back at Yukie. It was a Japanese thing if he recalled; traditions from around the world always fascinated him. “Hey, Henry! Not an actual baby-” And there went the exclamation about red eyes. “Uh, guys? Maybe we want to keep things quiet? I mean, we wouldn’t want to startle the snake, yeah?” Little Desiree who was not so little anymore joined them. Honestly, Jude would never get over how quickly the younger ones around him grew up. “Hey, Desiree,’’ he called, smiling at her. “It wasn’t bad at all!” In fact, it was definitely one of his best. “How was yours?”

Shouting… MUST people SHOUT? Or in this case, must the poltergeist shout?! Jude dealt with bigmouths in the form of Reagan enough but that didn’t mean he had become comfortable with anyone - or poltergeist - yelling. The Hufflepuff saw that Peeves was holding water balloons and his first concern was that Peeves might throw one and upset the snake, the snake in turn causing some sort of chaos at the Table. He reached for his wand discreetly and held it under the table in his left hand. He pretended to ignore Peeves but was really watching him out of the corner of his eyes. He caught Daniel’s movements and though the younger Hufflepuff had gotten his own wand ready as well.

There was a nod directed to Maria. “Professor Paton is more than capable,’’ he repeated, smiling a little to reassure her. Even as he was speaking, Keighley was making attempts to get their cousin’s attention. “Our little snake friend here will have a good home wherever that will be.” He’d offer a hug too but he was much too busy sharing his attention with Peeves.

"Evening! Certainly is!" These puffy wee huffles, sitting innocently by. Never did nothing to nobody - perfect for breaking up the boredom. Look at them with their smiles, their suspiciousness, their-...

"Snake problem?" Oho. "I believe the politically correct term is-" Peeves flipped upside down. "'Ssssslytherin.'"

Now topsy turvy, his juggling act became complicated and perilous, but the poltergeist seemed hardly to break his stride.

"I'm glad you asked!" he said to that one Hufflepuffle who had, indeed, asked. "CATCH!" And he zoomed up the table, indiscriminately lobbing water balloons - which were in fact full water... stinking water, scooped directly from the Weasley swamp on the fifth floor - at random Pufflehuffs seated at the table.

SPLASH. SPLATTER. SPLAT.

“IMMOBULOUS!”

A blue light was seen hurtling towards some of the balloons that Peeves had released. It’s origin? The willow wand that Simon was holding. Chances were he most definitely didn’t get them all but hopefully he had managed to stop one or two of them. He was here to manage the situation- well - situations because he wasn’t aware of their new house “pet”.

He looked at his Hufflepuffs momentarily before addressing the Poltergeist. First, he’d need Peeves off the scene and then he could repair things. “Peeves that’s quite enough for tonight!” he spoke loudly. “Be gone unless you want to clean up your mess.”

Blue eyes filled with concern, he turned to address his Hufflepuffs. He did notice that some of them had drawn their wands which made him smile. “Is everyone okay?”

This feast was one she had looked forward to, in contrast to her feelings last year. Kayla had been nervous and apprehensive last year, the new school a daunting experience ahead of her. But with that term under her belt, she felt more confident this year. At least she had friends, and the potential to make new ones too seemed far more possible than it had last year.

Still, even though she did not mind large groups, it was a little intimidating to find the right moment to jump into any of the conversations going about the table. She sat at the end of the bench, listening and watching with a small smile, trying to keep up with everything -- but there was a lot going on.

Something about...something with red eyes? Snakes? And- Peeves. With alarmingly large water balloons. And some of the students were already trying to engage with him, but-

SPLASH.

No. Way.

Kayla froze as soon as the water balloon hit and exploded water -- swamp water -- all over her (and possibly splashing onto whoever might be sitting next to her too). She spluttered as some got into her mouth. Ugh, that was absolutely vile.

Oh, but her hair! Her robes! She. Was. Soaked.

And not happy. This was not how she'd planned to begin her fifth year.

"No, not really," she mumbled in response to the Professor's question, fumbling to pull out her wand. Or perhaps she ought to head to the restroom to check her makeup. Most of it was waterproof, but whether that included swamp water from a magic school...ugh, Merlin, she definitely needed check it.

Daniel knew that he had made the right decision to take out of his wand the moment when Peeves had arrived. The fifth year watched the poltergeist as he floated above the table as one of the last things he wanted was to get a cream pie or bowl of mashed potatoes smashed into his face...

When the attack began, Daniel lifted up his wand almost lazily. Being a member of the duelling club and practicing spells every day since his first year meant he was quick to respond. As a waterballoon was flung at him, the Hufflepuff muttered an incantation and shielded himself with a see-through umbrella as one of his Housemates (Kayla) got soaked nearby.

It didn't take long for one of the staff members to arrive at the table and immobilize the moving water balloons in the air, but Daniel wasn't ready to lower his improvised umbrella just yet. He would once Peeves was gone.

Looking through the umbrella at Professor Holden, the Hufflepuff shrugged and nodded when asked whether they were okay and was able to observe a small badger pin on the man's tie now that he was close by. Huh. Interesting choice. He wanted to look at the staff table to see if Professor Euka was there to check if his train of thought was correct but he didn't dare take Peeves out of the corner of his eyes either.

"If you say so." Maria murmured back at Keighley when the older girl reassured her that Professor Paton their new CoMC profssor would be able to identify the snake and what to do with it. Maria just wanted it to be not here. Before she could respond to the hug offer she was stopped by a screaming Henry. Swallowing she said to him "I'm sorry Henry. I didn't know what else to do." Eyes turned for a moment to the snake that had now stuck it's full head out of the basket, and was eyeing her with red eyes. Drawing her gaze away from the snake she said weakley to Keighley with a big head nod "I'd really like that hug now. Waiting to see if the older girl meant her offer she cast a look at Jude. "You're not allowed to bring a snake to school right?" Please don't tell her that she was going to be in trouble for a gift?

One of the unwritten rules of Hogwarts was to keep at least some of your attention on Peeves when he was nearby or you could be in for an unpleasant surprise. Maria of course was distracted by the snake with the red eyes, because who wouldn't when a water ballon splattered right over her head and she was doused in smelly swamp water. "Ewwwwwwwww!" she cried out as the water dripped down on her skin. Feeling the vile build in her mouth she tried her best not to gag.

Finally a professor decided to show up at the badger table. It was not Professor Paton, but Professor Holden. Maria kept quiet as Professor Holden tried to make Peeves clear off. Which usually was easier said than done. Hearing his question a few moments later Maria shook her head several times as she said weakly, eyes beginning to tear up to Professor Holden. "No, I'm not okay Sir. I'm soaked in smelly swamp water from head to toe, and someone left me a snake in a basket on the train." She gestured then to the snake that Professor Holden already must have taken notice of, right?

"HEHEHEHEHEHEEeeEEeEeeEEEE!" Gleeful that even a few of his projectiles had made contact, Peeves cackled his way all along the table, until sOmEoNe came along to ruin his fun.

See, usually Peeves might have had a little respect for these professory types, just a little bit, but he. was. so. BORED. Too bored to heed anyone. Too bored to be stopped. A frankly dangerous level of boredom which told him he still had work to do, something for more than just the Hugglepuffs, maybe. But it was time to go, before he caught the attention of Sir Bloodiness the Baron.

"I'll be baaaack!" Peeves grinned menacingly, then put his little poltergeist hands to his little poltergeist face, smushed his cheeks together and blew an enormous raspberry at Professor Holdenpuff. As he did so, he zoooOOOoomed backwards, down the table, out of the Great Hall, and out of sight.

Dropping one last stinking swamp water balloon over the head of the head of house as he went.

Jordyn had taken her sweet time arriving to the feast. Her objective wasn’t to make an en-trance, but she wasn’t exactly opposed to it either. Feeling somewhat conflicted, she made her way to the Hufflepuff table for her last “Start of Term Feast.” Was she sad? Happy? It was hard to say.

“Hello my Hufflepuff people”, she said to no one in particular and everyone in general. The seventh year just had time to find a seat and get settled before the Peeves shenanigans began. Thankfully, Professor Holden put an end to the madness and Jordyn had remained unscathed. She looked around the table, trying to take it all in. Making memories and all that.