A Huffie Encounter after Sorting PV Emily Shephard Reopened

September 1st 2024
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
Huffies! With @Lyanna Oak

Continued From Here!

Emily would be getting her leg day with all the standing up and sitting down she was doing after cheering for every new Hufflebuddy that was sorted in with the other badgers. Every time the legendary HUFFLEPUFF was bellowed by the Sorting Hat, she shot straight up and clapped merrily as each anxious but secretly excited new student shuffled their way over to the Hufflepuff table, being greeted by their new peers and exchanging hearty introductions.

But for all the wibbly worried Firsties that came over, one came bounding over as she graced the Hufflepuff table with her Sorting. She sat down and scooched up to Emily, filling in one of the many vacant seats down at her end of the table.

"Hi, I'm Lyanna."

Emily Huffle Mode. Activated.

"Hi! I'm Emily! Welcome to Hogwarts and an even bigger welcome to Hufflepuff!" She high-fived her and shook her hand energetically. This itty bitty First Year would be one of many to learn how cuddly Emily can be when she's in high spirits, though on the other hand Emily was always cuddly and snuggly no matter what day of the week it was! Anyone who breathed a few lines of conversation with her would learn that straight away. Scout certainly would have on a whole new level. Best buds get the ultimate snuggems!

Oh what they hay!

Emily's arm slunk around Lyanna's shoulder and gave her a quick friendly smoosh before letting go of her.

"I'll think you'll like it here...!"

_{Word Count: 293}

Stats: Stamina: 7 | Strength: 6 | Evasion: 6 | Wisdom: 8 | Arc Power: 7 | Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

The moment Emily started talking, Lyanna felt her cozy, snuggly and kind vibe sweep over her. It was a strange but great feeling, as if she had been let into her private bubble for a moment. Emily greeted her energetically, giving her a high five and even handshake. It felt so much more like home, Lyanna realized, when there were people to share experiences with, talk to, give you a shoulder to cry on, and, well, take care of you. Emily had made her day by giving her such a nice welcome, and she would be forever grateful.

"Thanks, you're so kind! It's really nice to meet someone already. I mean, I'm very exited to finally be here, but...there's so many people I don't know, I can't help feeling lonely..." She blushed, then trying and failing to hide it. "So, what year are you?" She said, trying to change the subject. "I mean, you're a Hufflepuff, maybe we could hang out sometime...?" Lyanna smiled, pulling herself back together. You'll be fine. Stop worrying. I mean, I've already met a kind Hufflepuff, let's just hope she stays nice and doesn't laugh at me...maybe I was stupid to ask...

Lyanna looked at the girl, Emily, but then moments later the middle of the table was not empty anymore, but filled with delicious-looking, steaming...food! She was so hungry, and even for Hogwarts standards the feast looked amazing. "Oh wow...I just remembered how hungry I am it looks so good!"

Notes:

Speech: #1d3596

Interacting with: @Emily Shephard

Date: September 1st, 2024

Word count: 261 words

OOC notes: n/a

September 1st 2024
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
Huffies! With @Lyanna Oak

Emily remembered her very first day at Hogwarts. She was petrified; being far from home, grappling with the prospect of being a witch, the only witch in her family of Muggles, trying to absorb the immense reality of a whole wizarding world and being tasked by a magical curriculum to master every spell, potion and skill hurled at her like one of those machines tennis players use for practice. It was incredibly overwhelming. She recognised that same similar look of dread and uncertainty in a lot of the new students that got Sorted, yet this bubbly little Puff sitting beside her held none of that fear at all. It was quite admirable!

The energy of the new girl's excitement easily rubbed off on Emily as she grinned sweetly back at her. "You're keeping an open mind, that's good! I know it can be a bit overwhelming at first. Believe me, I was shaking like a leaf when I went up to the front of this room, the Sorting Hat digging around in my head before I was ushered off to this very table... But do trust me when I say that we're all here for you! It's okay to be a little jittery, but give it a little bit of time and you'll make a great home away from home here!"

She gave the younger Huffie another friendly shoulder bump before dinner resumed. With food now on the mind for them both, Emily took elegant nibbles of her veggies as the event progressed, letting the Huffie help herself to the food spread out across the table.

"Stretch or starve, buddy!" Emily encouraged. "One thing you can always count on in this school is the delicious grub!"

_{Word Count: 327}

Stats: Stamina: 7 | Strength: 6 | Evasion: 6 | Wisdom: 8 | Arc Power: 7 | Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

To be honest, Lyanna was actually much more nervous than she seemed. The friendly Hufflepuff Emily seemed not to notice too much that Lyanna was terrified on the inside, but also really excited. She was finally at Hogwarts! She was a Hufflepuff, and knew that her personality would suit her new house perfectly! At the same time, she was alone without her family, was going to learn spells and potions but what if she would be dreadful at both? What if Hogwarts was actually not meant for her after all? A gazillion thoughts whirled through her head, and doing her very best to clear her mind Lyanna listened intently to what Emily had to say.

"I'm trying, I mean, honestly, I guess it's mostly just going to be settling in and getting acquainted to this place and the people here. It's crazy how big Hogwarts is, and I feel like when I've explored it all and made more friends I'll feel entirely at home. After all, who can say that Hufflepuffs aren't cozy?" She said, grinning slightly. "Thanks again for the warm welcome by the way, you don't know how much it helps to already feel like you're not just one lonely firstie in a crowd of unknown people in an unknown place, you know?"

Taking some food, Lyanna was amazed of how delicious it was. What a feast! Helping herself to some chicken, mashed potatoes and greens, she knew already that her new adventure would be the one of a lifetime.

"That's certainly true! It's absurd how much work house-elves must put into this meal every year," she commented.

September 1st 2024
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
Huffies! With @Lyanna Oak

Emily's graceful nibbles slowly developed into slightly bigger, more eager mouthfuls the longer she tucked into her dinner. The peas were good but the mash and gravy were melt-in-the-mouth delicioso! Dinner had and always would be one of the many things that would help the Huffie relax. She snuck a glance at Lyanna to see how she was getting on. She was eating something, which was good! Though Emily could sense that tiny smidge of unease hidden deep, deep down. She was anxious. Bless her. Emily wouldn't blame her. In fact, she would've been a lot more concerned if Lyanna walked into her situation like the most fearless hero of all time.

"No one is expecting you to pick everything up just like that," she said to her reassuringly. "An adjustment like this isn't all sunshine and daisies, not for any boarding school... Especially when it's as grand as Hogwarts. I'm Muggle-born, so imagine my shock when I was not only accepted into a school for magic... But that I am also somehow a witch in a family of other Muggles, descended from other magical people from many years ago!"

Emily grinned, all the memories flowing back to her like this was her first year all over again.

She gave another friendly bump to Lyanna. "Take it one day at a time. And as for making friends... I can guarantee that all of Hufflepuff will be your buddy in zero seconds flat! Like me!"

And Emily wouldn't be the last person to say it either. Lyanna had so many more Huffies that she had to meet just to see that she was in good hands; Like Simon, AngelFyre, Sage, Gemini... The list went on and on!

"Now eat up! House-Elves down in the kitchen make fine meals. You'll need your strength for the next few days. I found the first week the most hectic when I was a first year student...!"

_{Word Count: 361}

Stats: Stamina: 7 | Strength: 6 | Evasion: 6 | Wisdom: 8 | Arc Power: 7 | Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

September 1st 2024
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
Huffies! With @Lyanna Oak

Emily grinned as she watched Lyanna dig into her food. For some reason, food was always the feel-good solution for pushing down worries and tension. Emily remembered reading in a book once that there was a chemical reason for why that was; nutrients that would clean and refresh the mind and gut and provide energy, while selected sugars and sweet things would relax the body. It was nice to see truth to it in some capacity as Emily observed Lyanna's demeanour settle as the feast went on.

She laughed at Lyanna's remark. Indeed, being the sole witch in an otherwise longstanding family of Muggles - as far as anyone in the family was aware - was quite the surprise, which was an extraordinary understatement to say the very least. Even a year on, it was still astounding to Emily that she was here in Hogwarts at all, waving wands and brewing concoctions like she was a heroine out of a fantasy tale.

At the same time though, there was also something bittersweet about the revelation. Her mother, while accepting of the notion, seemed to just not care sometimes that her daughter was a witch. As for her father, being the much more dissociative parent of the two, he didn't seem to remember much of the time that his daughter was a witch in the first place. Only "Auntie" appeared to embrace the girl's newly realised gifts with wholehearted encouragement.

"Growing up with the best of both worlds certainly does help make the transition a little easier," she said. "My best friend has a Muggle father but a Wizard mother, so I relied a little bit of her know-how to help me balance out my overly Muggle knowledge!" God bless Scout - and Casey on occasion - for both of their patience.

Now, what or who was saying that Hufflepuff was lame?? Had they not met Simon, the best healer? Or AngelFyre, the best girl? Pfft!

"I think you'll find Hufflepuff has quite a few heroes to share, not just me!" she said, retaliating proudly against the unseen "some people" Lyanna referred to. "But I won't elaborate any further. Words won't do justice towards the lovely ladies and lads you'll be acquainted with in Hufflepuff!"

She took a few more Hufflepuff-proud forkfuls of food before continuing. "The first few days here might be a bit topsy-turvy but you'll get through it. In no time, you'll have made a name for yourself not just in Hufflepuff, but throughout Hogwarts!"


_{Word Count: 416}

Stats: Stamina: 7 | Strength: 6 | Evasion: 6 | Wisdom: 8 | Arc Power: 7 | Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace