2019-2020 First Year Entrance Finished

Jorah exited the Hogwarts Express and stepped onto the platform. It was a long ride and he was beat, but the feeling from stretching his legs brought a relief. That comfort was soon replaced with mild panic as the platform erupted with a commotion of students pushing and shoving to get by. Ok, where do I go now?, he thought. Jorah stood on the tips of his toes, trying best as he could, to look for a sign amongst the sea of heads rushing around him. "First years this way!" Jorah turned to catch a glimpse of an older wizard calling after his class.

Jorah scurried over to his direction, side stepping the larger students walking in the opposite direction. The first years gathered in a group before two adult wizards and a witch. Jorah's anxiety dissipated with the knowledge that he was where he was supposed to be. With the rest of the first years in the company, the group set out down a tree-lined path. It was late and the only visible light to show the way came from the adults up ahead. Where are they taking us? Why aren't we going with the other students?, Jorah wondered.

Before long the group reached the edge of a large black lake lined with little row boats. The students were instructed to enter the boats, four per boat, three if with a professor. Now Jorah liked the water usually, but not when it was this dark and these were unfamiliar waters. In the back of Jorah's mind he replayed the bedtime stories his father would tell of the Loch Ness monster, a creature lurking in the depths of a lake, just like this one, preying on children caught by the water after dark. Those were just fairytales, but it made Jorah wonder and with the castle was still nowhere in sight he wasn't taking any chances.

Jorah was gonna be on one of those boats with a professor. The other students were already snatching up seats, completely filling the witch's boat. Jorah locked his eyes onto the wizard who had originally called them off the platform. He hurried over to him, seeing his boat quickly filling up with students as well. He caught the professor's attention and politely asked, "Excuse me sir, may I join you"?

Interacting with @Artemis Vernatis @Santario Martin @Logan Baird

Interacting with @Alaric Equinox 

Quinn hurried out of the train and towards the lake, which was shimmering before them in the light of the setting sun. It was perfect. Seeing the castle there, only a boat trip away from them, was enough to bring all their childhood dreams back to life and spark something like... hope. That they would be accepted here, accepted the way they were - and that they would be able to do magic. "Magic..."  Quinn whispered the word aloud to get used to it. Their heart started beating faster and faster as they ran towards the boats slightly rocking on the water, dragging their giant trunk behind them not caring about the grass stains on the soft leather. 
"Hi!" they called out breathlessly, speaking to no one in particular. "My name's Quinn. Quinn Prescott." They smiled at their fellow first-years and quickly brushed a strand of hair out of their face. A vague chorus of "hi", "hello", "hey" met them, without anyone really seeming to pay attention to them. Quinn grinned at the others nevertheless. 
Three of the people there were way bigger and older than the rest - presumably teachers, Quinn thought, and found themselves sidling closer to a man with extremely pale skin, showing a great resemblance to various drawings of vampires they had seen. 
Despite the teacher's intimidating appearance, Quinn had a feeling that he was not nearly as dangerous as a stereotypical vampire would be, and was curious to get to know him. He had a lovely warm, comforting voice. 
As soon as the Professor had helped two boys into a boat, probably the one he was going to cross the lake with himself, Quinn stepped up to him and smiled broadly. They were an outspoken person, and so they directly told him what they wanted - and why. "Hey! My name is Quinn. Quinn Prescott." Quinn was awkwardly aware of the repetition. Would anyone mock them for it? It was just the way they always introduced themselves... but it did sort of resemble My name is Bond, James Bond. She took a mental note to change her introduction sentence to something less... distinctive.  "If you don't mind, I would love to travel in your boat? You seem friendly, and also way more interesting than the other two teachers - as though you had a lot of stories to tell. May I?" Already quite sure of his answer, she stepped towards the small boat. 

Santario would nod at Artemis with a small smile something that seemed a bit more forced than a natural response for her. She would carefully get into the boat and just in time no less at the professor she had just been speaking to was full-on assaulted by none other than the professor she hated the most. It only further helped to darken her perception of the woman. It was a good thing she had moved to because if she had not it was more than likely that she would have ended up in the lake herself.

After that whole ordeal was over with San saw two other students approach Artemis and ask to be in his boat as well. Considering that would make three Santario would offer to help then in when they did get into the boat. She may seem a little strange and a bit overly formal, but she was not without manners in the least. She would even take the first step to introduce herself. “Hello, I’m Santario” she would say to each of them when they did get into the boat with her. Baby steps but steps none-the-less. Now she just hoped that the pink professor just didn’t try to jump into their boat during the ride and send them careening into the lake. She had heard rumors that the squid had been known to help students who did rarely fall in during the boat rides but San was just as convinced that it also might try to eat them.

@Artemis Vernatis @Logan Baird @Jorah Moussa Interacted as much as I could without godmodding anyone.

“Suddenly you know that it’s time to start something new and to trust the magic of new beginnings”

September 1st… the day that would change Aydeen’s life forever as she embarked on a brand new journey into the once unknown wizarding world as a brand new student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, for the past two weeks the young brunette had spent her time alongside her family on holiday within the city of London before departing to the school earlier that day for the very first time. Getting changed into a set of clean black school robes just minutes before the Hogwarts Express would arrive at the platform in the school grounds, the young irish native would disembark from the train alongside those whom she had been sat with during the journey leaving behind her belongings as instructed.

The early evening was somewhat cold and dark as they left the train to arrive on the platform meaning that tying up her long hair had become more of a chore than necessary but the surroundings of the platform with a dark shimmering plane of water left the young girl almost speechless completely unexpected as all of the first years would overhear a voice instructing them to follow, looking around the large busy platform to locate the sound the young girl would set her gaze upon a tall dark haired woman through her eyes of icy blue following behind promptly before boarding what seemed to be a small canoe shaped boat for the journey ahead a little confused and somewhat nervous about what the night ahead had in store for her as the group were met by a few other adults who they would soon learn to be some of the school’s professors.

Boarding the boat beside a set of three unknown students just seconds later after being prompted to pair up and board by the staff, Aydeen’s mind flittered in curiosity to what may lurk deep beneath the depths of the cold dark waves beneath the boat as they made their departure for the school wondering in her usual eccentric way in somewhat of a daydream being brought back to reality as she would overhear the speech of those around her. Thinking over what she had learnt so far since the arrival of her letter earlier that summer, Deen wondered about the sorting ceremony and what house she would end up being sorted into later that evening knowing of the four houses of Hogwarts named after the school’s original founders Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw.

Admiring the scenery in amazement as the school came into view across the lake, the nerves began to take hold of the young female as she wondered what in the world she had agreed to, surely she wasn’t cut out for this right? Only time would tell how her journey into her new life would take hold and shape her over the upcoming years and today was only the beginning, the next step would be her house sorting and well then the future was hers to create along the way as everyone knew that every decision they tended to make in life would eventually lead to something down the road didn’t they? Or was it just her who happened to be raised to believe that? Either way it was too late to turn back now as it was right here in front of her the start of forever.

Interacting with @Asher Ravencroft, @Ruthie Greer, @Rose Morgan

Olphie was quite pleased to see her popularity being confirmed, as her boat was the first one to fill. It was only nature, of course - she was quite a bit more beautiful than the other two, though they were quite handsome. But men just didn't have quite the charm as a woman of Olphie's nature, with makeup perfectly accentuating all of her best features. She agreed happily to the other two children joining her boat and beckoned the others in after she entered.

"Right, now! Onward!" She yelped. "You ready, Alimerick? Artsandfarts?! The children are probably starving!"

She urged the boat forward, ignoring whatever the two men would say. While they were handsome devils, they did not always seem the brightest; they always were accusing her of not remembering her name! As the boat lurched forward, Olphie, wand now extended to continue the magical levitation of her lantern, made some exaggerated "Oooh"s and "Aaah"s, even though there was very little being revealed besides the blackness of the lake, moon reflecting upon its glassy surface.

After a few minutes of her theatrics, Olphie decided that it was probably worth getting to know the children she was graciously guiding to the start of their lives - because, let's be real, the first 11 years of their lives were probably useless and insignificant. 11 years were, quite frankly, worthless. At least Hogwarts would make them better, and in seven years, they would be thanking Olphie Camille Bercegeay for teaching them everything they knew. 

The first girl who had entered her boat introduced herself as Roof, and she broke the silence by asking Olphie the question that all of the first years probably wanted to know: did she play Quidditch professionally? Olphie turned to look at the girl, eyes glinting, as she replied, "Why yes dear Wrath, I did! Though I retired to take the position; at the end of last year, when the handsome Barnaby Ryker got promoted, there suddenly was an opening for a new Flying instructor, and what do you know! Headmaster Leaf thought I was the perfect girl for the job! I'll grace you with many fabulous stories from my time on the Harpies during class, and some tea if you come visit me for tea in my office -" she winked "- but for now, is there anything specific you'd like to know? Care for an autograph?"

"So, children," she called, attempting to include the other two as she continued to let the magical boat steer them onward. "Are you ready for Hogwarts? What are your names, you two? Do any of you have questions?"

The incoming first years might be overwhelmed by three, rapid-fire questions being shouted at them on their first night of school, but Olphie was nothing short of overwhelming. Not that she knew that, of course. To Olphie, she was nothing short of perfect. A true role model. Someone that the first years in her boat would certainly look to as a mentor in the years to come.

To say that her life got flip-turned upside-down would be quite the understatement at this point in time. That would have been around the time she walked into that hidden street in the middle of London... what was it called? Ah yes Diagon Alley, but that is a story for another time... She was looking forward to visiting there again, but her parents had said that it would be a while before they went there again. It was a shame really, though she did wonder why her father had turned ghostly pale. Heck his skin had become whiter than hers and that was an achievement by itself!

Then there was that whole ordeal with King's Cross. Who would have thought that there would be another platform there ?! And who could forget those weird and amazing sweets on the catering cart.... with every passing moment her excitement grew exponentially until it reached its' peak.. if that was even possible. It really did seem like the proverb like a kid in a candy shop was used for a reason.

As soon as the train reached the destination platform she jumped out of her seat, hoping to be one of the first people, but Maggie soon realised that there was no possibly of that happening. The sheer number of people that had appeared out of thin air was absolutely staggering. It was likely that the seniors already knew when the train would arrive and had anticipated the crowd, completely filling the small corridor. No matter. She would turn around and take a seat in her small cabbit once again, the two strangers offering a nod as they did the same. Even if her intentions were different she ended up being one of the last people to vacate the premises of the train, though that couldn't stop her excitement.

She had expected a lot considering everything, but this, well this was something else entirely. "Wow!" Maggie exclaimed as she stared into the distance. It was difficult to see much over the trees, but there it was - Hogwarts. Or at least the very peaks of the towers. Oh she couldn't wait!

“First years this way!” A voice rang out above the hustle and bustle of the humongous grouping of students of varying ages.

She looked around for a moment before finally deciding to follow the instruction, making her way over and eventually somehow finding herself sitting in a boat, something she had never done before. Whilst she did enjoy the countryside this was something she had never done before, especially in late September. It was getting quite cold during evenings such as now after all!

"It's even more amazing than I thought!" Maggie couldn't help but contain her excitement, before attempting to stand up in the boat, something she quickly decided against as she felt completely unstable with no ground underneath her feet. It was safe to say that she really, really wasn't in her element. "Whoah" The girl couldn't help say out loud before settling back into a stable position in the seat of the boat.


@Aydeen Eilis Murphy ((I would appear to have stumbled upon your boat))

Emerly coughed into his elbow as he dismounted the train. He certainly hoped that was magic smoke wafting out of the top of it, not the byproduct of actual coal. It certainly smelled like it. He blinked and squinted, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the newfound darkness as he was jostled to the edge of what appeared to be a lake, glad for the wild, Scottish night air tinged with water and soil replacing smoke. Now that he thought of it, he could have gone without overhearing whispered rumors of a giant sea monster in the depths of the lake surrounding Hogwarts on the train. His anxieties soon had more to consider.
"Three or four to a boat?" His stomach dropped. This was the practical equivalent of "alright class, get in groups". His eyes darted between the moving students and professors amidst the many bobbing boats. Taking the route of least resistance, he meandered over to an empty one just on the outskirts of those already occupied, carefully stepping in, trying not to rock it too much, and occupied himself with pulling the mitts of his fingerless gloves over his nails, noting as it was filled with two witches and another student. One stood and nearly lost her balance, and Emerly feared the worst before she miraculously righted himself.
He shot a relieved look at one of the other passengers and looked back, wanting to warn her to be more careful. However, he decided against it, and instead he looked over his shoulder. In any case, she was right, it would probably soon look fantastic.

Marjorie hopped of the train. She was wondering how'd they get to castle when she noticed that the first-years were being lead towards the Great Lake. Her eyes widened: she hated open water.

Thinking fast, Marjorie noticed that other students were heading over to the carriages being drawn by invisible forces and began to follow them when someone stopped her. “'ey, in'cha a first-year? Aye, come along, then!”

She didn't even get a chance to defend herself but she decided that it would be pointless, she was that tiny. She forced a smile on her face, muttering an apology as she she passed by, but her grin faded once she passed. She was already feeling nauseous; she could try to go through with but was it really worth the risk of throwing up in front of her peers?

It was too late to bolt anyways, because the prefects were rounding up the first-years, guiding them towards the boats that lined the shore. Her stomach was feeling really queasy but she just readjusted her robes. After looking lost for a bit, she chose a boat at random and carefully climbed on, trying to focus on one thing.

Luckily the boat didn't rock too much so all she had to do was stare at the black water. She couldn't see the waves well so it didn't bother her stomach...actually, nothing was bothering her stomach, it felt suddenly fine. She then remembered the magical chocolate she'd eaten on the train and thankfully sent her prayers to her parents, who'd given her a few coins to spend on candies.

Marjorie gazed around at the others on board, biting her lip. She wondered how they felt about Hogwarts, a new experience to every first-year present. She knew that she was feeling more than nervous than usual, which made her look off to the side. She staring at the reflection of the moon, avoiding the castle.

Marjorie has joined the boat of Margarita, Aydeen, and Emerly.

@Piérre Marchonné, @Janus Lumley, @Daniel Booker @Quinn Prescott

Alaric looked to the third child to approach him to enter his boat. “Of course you can, that would make three for us so our boat will be full including me. Feel free to converse with the others while I finish helping everyone else.” He would help the young boy into the boat. However when another child approached him and introduced themselves as Quinn Prescott. “I’m dearly sorry I can only have three students in my boat at one time and it would seem the final spot was filled up just a moment or so before you approached. However, you are more than welcome to get into another boat with students close to me and we can still converse.”

Alaric after a moment would get setting into his boat with his three students and look over at Olphie. “Yes, we are ready Ms. Bercegeay.” When the boats lurched forward he helped keep his boat steady and slightly scoffed at Olphie’s theatrics. “Don’t worry we’ll see the castle after we get halfway across the lake.“ He said to the boys in his boat. “So I know you are Piérre and I overheard your name is Janus correct?” He then looked over to the third boy who had entered his boat last. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.” Only after the boy would answer would he continue. “My name is Alaric Equinox you may call me Professor or Professor Equinox and I teach Astronomy. Which for you will be Friday evenings. Do any of you have any questions about Hogwarts? We have a decent amount of time before we get there.” He would smile warmly to them all in turn and if they had no questions for him he would be content watching over their boat and the others close by.

Interacting with @Piérre Marchonné, @Janus Lumley, @Daniel Booker and @Quinn Prescott

Quinn stood nearby, smiling as the teacher assured a third boy that he would of course be permitted to enter the boat, then deliberately overlooking the part when he mentioned that the boat was now full. 

They stepped up to Alaric, politely, but excitedly smiling at him, expecting to also be allowed to cross the lake with him. “I’m dearly sorry I can only have three students in my boat at one time and it would seem the final spot was filled up just a moment or so before you approached. However, you are more than welcome to get into another boat with students close to me and we can still converse.”, he explained, with a smile which the first-year interpreted as extremely arrogant. Quinn stared at the man in disbelief, a rage which had been to this point unknown to them surged through their body. 
They didn't usually become aggressive, or even angry - but somehow, this refusal, this feeling that there was no room for them, at their first attempt of social interaction with someone at Hogwarts, filled their mind with rage. "Surely there must be room in the boat, we can squeeze together", they said, fists clenched, barely trying to hide their emotions. However, a quick glance at the small boat proved that Quinn was mistaken - it was full, no fifth person could possibly enter, not even one as small and scrawny as them. "One of you get out of this boat", they snarled, voice quivering, as they turned towards the three boys inside. It was as if the friendly, bubbly student that had asked the Professor for a spot in the boat had entirely disappeared. "I picked it, I have as much right to be in it as any of you. So. Who's going to swap boats?" They glared at every one of them, waiting for someone to stand up and leave. 
Suddenly, the boats lurched forward, the water crashing against the boat hull; the boats were picking up speed rapidly as if driven by invisible oars. Looking around, Quinn realized that every single boat was already departing, and, desperately wanting to not be left behind, they ran a few steps into the water, wetting the bottom of their robes, before jumping and clinging to the boat hull of Alaric's boat with their fingers. Their cheeks were bright red with shame as they unelegantly hitched up their robes, revealing a pair of black tights, and clambered into the small boat, landing inside with a loud "oomph".