Welcoming Feast 2026 Official Thread

Word Count: 265

Cabin Name: N/A
Department: Magical Accidents and Catastrophes

Date: August 4th, 2026
Time: Afternoon/Evening
Location: Campgrounds, Hogwarts
Participation: [Open]

Xio was out of breath when she finally arrived to the Campgrounds. She had seen the glow of activity in the distance from the castle and couldn't help but break into a sprint closer to the commotion.

First, she admired each of the elaborately decorated tables and respected each assortment, occasionally she would pick something up from one of the tables, fumble with it, then quickly put it back before anyone noticed.

She quickly found her table, the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, the crimson and gold decorations immediately giving her a sense of warmth and excitement. She was excited to put her energy to "good use", and responding to danger sounded like fun. Once she had located her table she weaved between the other tables and quickly filled up a plate filled with various selections, if anyone asked, it obviously looked too much for her to eat.

But she didn't mind since her mind was immediately preoccupied with the request she had received earlier:

Find someone who: - thinks your department is overrated and ask them why
Ask someone who: -someone which magical law they think is most useless

Nearby, as she took a bite out of a savory looking wing, she noticed @Fawkes Chaos, and walked over to her with the prompt card presented towards her.

"Good evening! My name is Xio Arcana! I'm a part of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, may I ask you question?"

Xio asked with a bright smile as she balanced her overfilled plate in one hand, and tried to read the prompt card to Fawkes in the other.

Mention: @Denisse De Vera, @Rain Lucien, @Elara Whitlock, @Xio Arcana,
Open to Interactions

Bella walked through the campgrounds, seeing the different departments mingling and talking. The Sun shone brightly, casting a beautiful golden hue on the trees. A calming melody played over the noise, setting the calming environment.

She was given a piece of paper, a card with a prompt on it, to motivate other students to engage in discussions. Bella got, "Ask another trainee which spell they use most often in daily life" and "Find someone who is in a different department than you." They weren't half-bad questions, Bella told herself.

Bella saw one of her friends, Xio Arcana, who was already talking to another person, and waved to Xio as she walked on, trying to find someone new to talk to.

She saw rows of tables, each covered and decorated in the colors and topic of their department. The Department of Mysteries were in shades of indigo, dark blue and violet, as mysterious as its name.

There was a buffet, placed on top of multiple tables with delicious servings on every platter. It was plentiful, colorful, and the aroma of the delicious delicacies filled the air. Pitchers of drinks were also placed along the edges of the buffet.

Around them, portraits were placed to watch on the celebration. Bella recognized one of the witches to be Hermione Granger, the brilliant Gryffindor who helped Harry Potter defeat He Who Must Not be Named. Of course, that was some time ago, but she was one of the most famous and powerful witches to be known.

Bella made a promise to herself, right then and there, to try to reach her full potential. She strolled on and saw a group of students sitting at a table, not really talking but seemingly comfortable with one another. There was a girl with dark brown, fair skin, eyes shaped like almonds, and wavy black hair. At her left was a boy who seemed slightly overdressed. He had medium brown skin, two dark beauty marks, glasses, and several freckles. Finally, there was another girl, with chestnut brown hair and soft grey-blue eyes.

She approached the table and awkwardly stood there for a second or two before deciding to speak up.

"Hey, hi! My name is Bella, and I'm a first year. Umm...I think I am supposed to ask somebody one of these prompts? Do you mind if I ask you?"

Antoine wasn't surprised to see a girl from his cabin approach him. Elodie, if he remembered correctly. She had seemed nice enough, polite, too. Exactly the sort of company he preferred to keep. She was wearing something casual, just like he was, but he had the suspicion that she had the level of composure and conversation that he was used to. And that was just a way of saying he didn't mind having her around.

"Please, sit down," he said politely, gesturing to the seat next to him. He stopped scanning the other people present, and shifted his full attention to Elodie, only to realize he didn't have hers. That annoyed him slightly, but not enough to say anything. He couldn't expect everyone to possess the manners that he did, having been trained for high society. Instead, he glanced over to where she was looking, only to spot silver boxes, locked. His polite smile morphed into a genuine one. Antoine could certainly see the appeal of them. However, he didn't spend too long looking at them, instead turning his attention back to her. "Wondering what's inside, Elodie?" It was a subtle way of telling her he did still remember her name, although he wasn't sure if she remembered his or not.

For Antoine, remembering details about people was important. It was the difference between seeming friendly and being a friend and, although he certainly didn't have a lot of those, he knew letting other people think he was was important. Friendship came to him with difficulty, the trust required being a foreign concept. And besides, Antoine had been raised to be polite and aloof, not friendly and trusting. But, if he were to open himself up, which he had learned in his first year that he might have to do, Elodie seemed as good a candidate as any. She possessed the very qualities that Antoine, and more importantly, his parents, were accepting of, and so he decided he ought not to be too cautious.

But, on the other hand, it could all be a facade. For all he knew, she was planning on twisting everything he said and using it to her advantage, and that thought brought his facade up once more. He had gotten inside his own head, and his expression shifted into a slightly pained smile, and he turned away from her to hide it, focusing on his food. Of course, one can not behave that way permanently, and so he looked back at her with renewed composure, a faraway look in his eyes once more and, just like that, the connection he had offered was gone, and his aloof demeanor returned.

It wasn't on purpose, but whenever Antoine felt he ought to open himself up, his worries would kick in and, as soon as the idea had come, it would be gone, leaving a small boy who pretended to be tall and powerful once more. If one was lucky enough to meet him in the presence of his parents, the boy was far more open, or so it seemed. However, on his own, Antoine retreated back into his little shell, often taking a few steps out, before rushing back in throughout the course of a conversation.

Cabin: D&D Den Camper: Elara Whitlock

Saturday, 1 August 2026 :Date Hogwarts Campgrounds :Location

♡

A moment later, Elara noticed Denisse coming over to the table. She gave her a small nod and smiled when their eyes met. Not long after, another girl walked over. Elara looked up from the table as she greeted them. She introduced herself as Bella, a first year Slytherin, and asked if she could ask one of her prompts. “Hi, Bella. I’m Elara.” She smiled at her. “Sure, go ahead.” Elara turned a little so she was facing Bella. She stayed quiet, giving Bella the chance to speak. Her own prompt was still in her pocket. She had been thinking about it since she got it, mostly because she wasn't sure who she could ask.

She had also been wondering where she and Rain should start. Walking around the feast and stopping random people didn't sound very easy. Elara wasn't very good at approaching people she didn't know. Maybe this will make it easier. Elara looked back at Bella. “I actually have a prompt too.” She paused, then gave a small smile. “So I guess we can help each other.” She rested one arm on the table. She wasn't sure what Bella was going to ask, but at least she didn't have to worry about approaching someone for the moment. She waited quietly for Bella to ask her question.

Mentions @Rain Lucien @Denisse De Vera @Bella Light

Mentions: @Elara Whitlock, @Rain Lucien, @Denisse De Vera

The girl with chestnut brown hair introduced herself as Elara. She seemed friendly and really nice. Bella instantly felt much more relaxed.

“Nice to meet you, Elara! So…for my prompt, I got…find someone who is in a different department than you."

Bella paused to look at Elara and her friends.

“I’m in the Department of Mysteries, where we pursue really philosophical random questions about the universe. It’s pretty fun and kind of deep, with the thinking and stuff. Wait, what department are you in? If you are in the Department of Mysteries too, oops, ignore what I just said. I mean, either way, it was really nice to talk to you, and since I'm new, I really wanted to get to know more people."”

Bella blushed in the slight awkwardness, cheeks turning red.

“Anyway, what prompt did you get? What do you think of this feast? It seems so nice, doesn’t it? And who are your friends?”

Bella was hopeful that this may be the start of some new friendships, reaching out to all four houses to add up to the great list of friends that she may have for the next few years.

Cabin: D&D Den Camper: Elara Whitlock

Saturday, 1 August 2026 :Date Hogwarts Campgrounds :Location

♡

Elara listened as Bella explained her prompts. She nodded when Bella mentioned being from the Department of Mysteries. When Bella asked about her department, Elara answered, “I’m in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.” She glanced at the card in her pocket when Bella asked about her prompt. She reached into her pocket and took it out, unfolding it on the table. “Mine says I have to ask someone what enchanted object they would most like to own.” She looked at the words for a moment. “I haven’t really thought about that before.”

Bella then asked what she thought of the feast. Elara looked over the table and at the empty plate in front of her. “It is. The food was good too. I liked the pumpkin tartlets and the Eton mess.” She picked up her empty glass and turned it slightly between her hands. “The cinnamon cider was nice too.” When Bella asked about her friends, Elara glanced to the side. Rain was still sitting nearby, while Denisse was at the same table. “These are Rain and Denisse. They’re my cabinmates.” She paused for a moment. “I’ve only known them for a little while, but we’ve been getting along.” Elara folded her card again and slipped it back into her pocket before looking at Bella. “What enchanted object would you most like to own?”

Mentions @Rain Lucien @Denisse De Vera @Bella Light

Mentions: @Rain Lucien, @Denisse De Vera, @Elara Whitlock
OOC Notes: Open to interactions

Bella mentally jotted down that Elara, Denisse, and Rain were cabinmates, and that Elara was from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Then, she paused as Elara told her about her prompt.

What enchanted object would I like to own?

Bella exclaimed, "That's an interesting prompt, Elara! I'm not sure what I would like to own! Give me a minute to think, okay?"

Elara replied to Bella's question about the food and told her that the cider, pumpkin tartlets, and Eton mess was good. Bella made a note to try those foods out later. Of course, she is going to sample some of the other foods as well, but she will start with what Elara mentioned.

Surprisingly, thinking about the feast gave Bella her answer.

"Honestly? I kind of want the Clock of Invisibility. Is that weird? Like, it is just so interesting! It's not because I want to sneak around and prank a bunch of people, though that would be very exciting, but just because it seems like a useful tool to have! Besides, it doesn't break, so I can pass it down and give it around. Maybe share it with friends! Well, Elara, how about you? What enchanted object would you like to own?"

𝕯enisse remained seated in a corner at the Magical Creatures table with Katya nestled beside her, when Bella sat down. Denisse listened as Bella and Elara shared what they received, her fingers drumming against the folded up card in her pocket. The perfect little handwriting seemed to glow back at her: Find someone who thinks Muggle inventions are useful.

Her chest constricted with a pang of familiarity. That one always cut the deepest. As a muggle-born, of course half of her life revolved around those Muggle inventions.

Cameras, radios, the washing machine clanking loudly in the background while she was in bed reading, all were taken for granted by those in the wizard world.

You never forgot them, but how easily was their usefulness disregarded?

She tapped the card on the table and then spoke to Bella without really looking. “My prompt is about Muggle inventions,” she said, voice not wavering, but soft. “I don't mean to butt in, but I'm supposed to find someone who thinks they’re useful.”

The girl tilted her head with curious, almond eyes.

“Do you? Of course I found them useful since I'm muggle-born. Muggles can send messages much faster than owls,”

The firelight in the corner flickered and made tiny silhouettes dance on the table before the various terrariums. The question wasn’t mocking, but it had an emphasis behind it like she wasn't just inquiring for the sake of having something to talk about. Denisse was wondering if there was anybody in the room who could possibly understand what she was asking.

Katya reached, tail swishing against Denisse’s wrist, so Denisse leaned her hand there. A chorus of sounds filled the great hall, yet all Denisse could hear was silence, as she held her breath for Bella’s answer.

WC: around 205
Mentions: @Elara Whitlock, @Rain Lucien, @Denisse De Vera

Bella was waiting for Elara's answer when the brown-haired girl, Denisse, spoke up. Denisse took out her prompt card and placed it on the table.

“My prompt is about Muggle inventions,” the girl said. “I don't mean to butt in, but I'm supposed to find someone who thinks they’re useful.”

Bella was surprised by the question. She was raised with one foot in the muggle world, the other in the wizard world, ever since she was born. Sometimes her parents argued about the right way to teach her things, but mostly they agreed that exposure to both was important.

Denisse turned to look at Bella.

“Do you? Of course I found them useful since I'm muggle-born. Muggles can send messages much faster than owls," Denisse told Bella.

"You're muggle-born? Cool! My father is muggle-born, but my mother is pure-blood, so I was raised as a half-blood. I found several Muggle things easier to use than wizard inventions, honestly. For example, communication, technology, phones, you know? And also cars and planes...anyways, what I meant to say was yes, I do think that Muggle inventions are useful!"

Bella smiled at Denisse, glad that someone in Hogwarts shared a view on Muggles like she did. It seemed like sometimes, the wizard and muggle world seemed completely separate, though that's not true at all.

𝕽obin blinked once. Then twice. Then he realized the mistakes he had made. The boy is signing at him, meaning that he's most likely either deaf or mute. That's one mistake, then there's another one, the fact that he spilled some of his blackberry drink on his shirt. Robin opened his mouth to say sorry again, but closed it back up after remembering what he had just deduced. My knowledge of sign ends at telling if someone's signing or just doing random hand gestures . . . he first sighed and tried his best to mimic a "sorry" expression even though his face couldn't usually extend far beyond flat, then bowed his head with the hand holding his drink up near his heart.

I can't just leave, right? Robin thought to himself, Maybe I should cast Scourgify on his shirt? No, "magic should only be used in relation to studies and extra-curricular activities" so this is inappropriate use . . . or is it? It's just for cleaning though, not harmful at all . . . After making up his mind, Robin separated a finger from his drink to hold up and form a "one", then hurried towards his table to finally set the plate and cup down. Then he came back, and took his wand out from his pocket, circling it on his own shirt where the boy's was ruined. He mouthed the word "scourgify" in case the boy can lip-read, but mainly emphasized his hand movements and made a gesture that looked like he picked something up from his shirt and threw it away. Robin hoped the boy could somewhat understand his intentions, since he wouldn't want to cast a spell on someone if they didn't want him to then get in trouble.

Readying his wand, Robin gulped and swished his wand in the shape of the letter "S", "Scourgify." The incantation was pronounced carefully, and only just loud enough for his intention to be known. Upon the successful casting, the boy's shirt was magically rid of the dark liquid. Hope that wasn't uncomfortable in any way. The boy then hid his wand back into his robes and bowed his head at the boy again. After standing there for a couple of seconds, Robin decided that his debt was paid and started backing away, mouthing another "sorry" as he made his way back to the Department of Mysteries table to work on his desserts.

ooc notes
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