Closed First Year Entrance: Group 1 2023-2024 PV

Joined Boat 2

Minnie looked up from her spot in the shadows of the boat. I should probably make myself known. She thought. She had been silently reading a book about a muggle spy, and was so caught up in it, she had forgotten to introduce herself. But I really don't like talking to people. What if I say something insulting? Then she reprimanded herself. Nope. You are going to be fine, and you are going to be in Slytherin. Just like your Mum and Da and sister. It's fate. That thought brightened her a bit. I guess I should tell them that there's another person in this boat. She bit her lip and spoke up.

"A lovely evening isn't it? It's so beautiful and the lake is so clear. This would make a perfect cake...I mean....it's such a nice way to enter Hogwarts, right?" She blushed. I can't believe I said that! I told everyone in the boat that I'm a weirdo who invents cakes. Then Minnie gave a wistful sigh. I would make a wonderful cake though. I just wish I could talk to people. I guess I should try again. Forcing herself to talk, she switched conversations. "So...are you excited about the sorting? Do you know what house you'll be in? I hope I'm in Slytherin, but Gryffindor wouldn't be too bad." She hoped that someone would respond. Maybe I can make friends tonight! And she inched out of the shadows.

Joined boat 6



Emiline Hunter was super excited to go on the enchanted boats. She had heard from her older sister that the ride would be great but she had to be careful of the monters in the lake. She thought that her sister was kidding, but she'll soon find out. The cool September breeze ran through Emiline's long brown hair and sent a shiver down her spine. She tucked her robes tighter around her body as an attempt to keep her body warm. And wiggled her frozen fingers and toes
Emiline looked up at the sky and saw the fluffy clouds dancing through the dark sky. She hoped that it wouldn't rain because that would be embarrassing coming into the sorting ceremony with dripping wet hair and soaked robes. Then she realised that there is proberly a spell that can dry you quickly. Duh.

Emiline was startled out of her thoughts by the proffesor saying something that they should get in the boats. Her stomach fluttered with excitement and apprehension. The boat gently rocked as she got in. A gentle rock. With a calming rythmn. Emiline watched the clear water nervously, is there anything in there? Please, please, please don't let me fall in. Emiline prayed to no one in particular.

Safe(ish) and Sound(ish)

One by one, the sopping wet students would be lifted back into their boat. Thankfully, the boats had well and truly stopped spinning, the surface of the lake still once more. With a grunt, Finley hoisted herself into her boat, putting her dripping hair into a bun. "Jesus," she said breathlessly. "Everyone okay? Yes?" Her eyes scanned over the group of students, doing her headcount before realizing it was useless without the other students here. She looked up, trying to search the lake for the other two groups, only to see them as small dots of light floating in their direction. "Well, the good news is that we're almost there. Once we take this bend you'll see the castle, it really is a beautiful view." She took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "Forward!" The boats moved forward once more, this time gliding through the water as if it were glass. No turbulence or jerky movements, this was good.

Finally, the castle came into view of the boats. The massive structure was backlit by a massive moon, twinkling lights shining through the windows. It was hard to look at the sight and not feel a sense of, well... magic.

The rest of the ride was uneventful, and finally the boats arrived at the castle docks. And no more than a moment later, the other groups of boats that had split off docked as well. "Welcome back, everyone. Did you all make it? I hope you enjoyed the ride regardless... Is your wand broken? No worries, we'll get something sorted out for you." Finley gave each student a hand as they exited, offering those who had been plunged into the lake a casting of the hot-air charm to dry them off.

With a beginning like that, it was sure to be an... interesting year.

All Aboard! → Seperation Anxiety → Twists and Turns → Safe(ish) and Sound(ish)

OOC notes:
Thank you all for participating in this year's first year entrance! This thread will remain open until it has not received any replies for 3 months, so feel free to write any final posts.

The list below is for tagging purposes.

Reducio

Boat 1: Finley Greer, @Ashley Young, @Astra Norrick, @Sere Nade
Boat 2: @Joyce Cromwell, @Kerry Foster, @Ulysses Drake, @Minnie Duke
Boat 3: @Boston Cardoni
Boat 4: @Helena Rose, @Remedy Norden, @Leaf Shard, @Pyxis Hellebore, @Fang Yun-Xin (Due to an oversight on my part, this boat is allowed to have 5 people in it as a ONE-TIME EXCEPTION. Your boat has been specially fitted to allow for an extra person, you're not squished).
Boat 5: @Lucy Summer, @Kit Isabelle Blaine, @Kenyi Diallo, @Edmund Ayala
Boat 6: @Riley Bluemont, @Yehor Barnes, @Quinn Brook, @Emiline Hunter

"This is so exciting!" Dustin whispered as he, Lucey and Sage grabbed a boat. "I hope I'm in Slytherin like Olive. People say that it's the evil house, but it's kind of just a blend between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff - Ambitious, which is hardworking like Hufflepuff, and Cunning, which is smart like Ravenclaw."
They couldn't see the castle in the dark. "I want to be in Gryffindor," Sage said. "That's the house my parents and sister were in. I won't mind too much if I'm not, though. So long as the people I'm with are friendly, then I'll be happy."
"I really, really wanna be in Hufflepuff," said Lucey. Dustin wrinkled his nose, but she carried on. "That's where my sister is, and I'll know people there. I think - woahh."
The castle came into full view. It shimmered like amber in the dark, candlelight seeping out from the windows. The turrets climbed taller than Lucey could see. The lights reflected on the water, creating a mirror effect. Her breath knocked from her body as she took it all in. Sage and Dustin looked unimpressed. They were both purebloods, though - this was probably the norm for them.
Their boat docked on the shore with a thud. They all exchanged glances, ready to be sorted into their houses for the first and only time.

Emily huddled in with several other students in the boat once she clambered on. Between the spectacular view of the castle ahead and the beautiful waters beneath her, she didn't know what to be more impressed with; as if being a muggle-born girl chosen to study at a school of magic in another world wasn't impressive enough already.

Her mind took her back to various books she read where protagonists where transported to new worlds by various means. There was no one to say she didn't feel like one now, with the boat gliding over the lake like she was skimming along like a dragonfly. She stayed calm thinking about what her novel heroes would do when faced with arriving in a new world. However, no amount of literature could prepare her for the fantastical realism she was experiencing - an oxymoron she never predicted to come across.

The castle edged closer the longer the boats travelled. It wouldn't be long before her real journey started. But she knew she wasn't alone. She was just like the heroes in her books; she admired the environment and remained hopeful. With this amount of wonder and excitement, only good could follow it.

@Joyce Cromwell

Just like my fellow first-year students, I got off the Hogwarts Express and headed towards the Dark Lake. On the train, I was sitting with two pure-blood girls who had known each other since they were babies, so they pretty much said "Hello" and then ignored me for the whole trip. Now, I'm alone again.

I don't care much about which boat I get into, but I did intentionally avoid clumsy-looking boys who seemed to be able to drown themselves in the Lake sooner or later. Suddenly, I spotted a quiet boat. There was only one girl there. She had dark hair just like me. I quickly approached her and asked if I may sit next to her. She nodded.

"Hi, I'm Mickie, Mickie Campbell", I said.

"Nice to meet you, Mickie. I'm Joyce, Joyce Cromwell." She replied with a shy smile.

Then, the boat is again filled with awkward silence.

"Um, hey Joyce. I'm a half-blood from Wales. Well, technically speaking. I mean, I haven't got much connections nor memories about Wales besides having a Wales wizard farther who mostly worked in England. What about you? Where are you from? Do you have wizardry heritage? " I asked after a while.

Date: 1st September 2023 (20:14) Mentions: @Finley Greer (#635013) | @Aston Beckett (#1a4174) Interacting with: Open Outfit: Reducio

Jess stepped down onto the platform, grasping her satchel and wand tightly to her chest. She was jostled in the tightly-packed group of students, moving as one towards the station exit. Barely audible over the puffing of the train were the yells of students, each trying to find their friends and navigate out of the crowd. After what felt like several minutes of chaos, she could just make out the commanding bellow of an adult, which was a welcome sound to the now very lost Jess.
“First years, over here! Leave everything behind! Miss Hawkins, you are not a first-year! You take the carriages.”
Following the voice as best she could, Jess found herself looking up at an impressive woman with black hair. Jess smiled up at her, but was unsurprised at the fact that she was ignored, as the woman repeated her yelling chorus in an attempt to attract as many First Years as possible.

Finally, when more of Jess' new classmates had gathered, the woman addressed them in a calmer tone.
“Right then, is this everyone? Miss Hawkins, I know that’s just you with a moustache. Go.”
Jess turned eagerly to find the mysterious perpetrator, and giggled at the sight of an older girl scurrying away while gripping a terrible fake moustache.
“Alright, I’m Miss Finley Greer, the caretaker of Hogwarts Castle. Don’t break everything you touch and it’ll be easy to stay on my good side.”
Miss Finley Greer - what a nice name! Jess thought she would quite like her - she had that tough exterior and warm soul that Jess had grown to love in her past teachers and elders. Miss Greer clapped her hands together, and continued.
“Tonight, you’re getting a special view of where you’ll be spending your next seven years, as we’ll be traveling to the castle by boat. After that, you’ll all be taken to the Great Hall for your sorting ceremony, where you’ll be sorted into one of four houses. I’m sure you all chatted about that on the way here. These two things only happen once during your time at Hogwarts, there are no do-overs. No pressure.”
Jess felt a breeze of cool air rush down her spine. She shivered. No pressure. So much was about to happen that would determine at least the next seven years of her life, and the all Jess could do was hope that she made the best impression.

Miss Greer stepped aside to reveal the collection of wooden boats on the moonlit bay.
“Go ahead and pick a boat, sit with whoever you’d like. Just no more than FOUR to a boat. Got that? Four. Alright, off you go!”
Jess had never been in a boat before, but she had to assume they were magically enhanced to ensure safety... Pushing the thought aside, Jess joined the rest of her year as they rushed forward to find a boat. They filled fast, and before Jess even knew it, there were significantly less seats available. Jess opted for the third boat, which was nearly completely empty, and turned to find Aston, who was lingering near the back of the group.
"Aston, over here! Let's get in this one"
Stepping carefully into the belly of the boat, Jess sat down with caution, and waited for Aston to join her.

date: 01/09/23 time: After dark location: The Great Lake

mentions: Reducio @Jess McLeod

languages english: #1a4174 thoughts: italics

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Aston stepped out of the train, he decided that it'd be best to leave later rather then soon as to avoid the large amount of people. By the time he made it out it seems the majority of the people have headed in one direction. As Aston prepared to follow them, trusting that these older students knows where to go he heard the voice of the caretaker, telling the first years to head to her direction and leave their things behind, so that's what he did. He walked over the the caretaker, lingering at the back of the group. After the caretaker, Miss Finley Greer, made her speech she stepped aside allowing the students to get a look at the boats. Many of the first years quickly stepped into a boat, next thing Aston knew he was standing around not knowing which boat he could join. Luckily for him Jess, whom he lost track of during the wild mixing of people at the train station invited him to join the boat she found. "Aston, over here! Let's get in this one" She suggested to him, which Aston eagerly obliged. "Hey Jess! Sorry, I lost you back there while getting off the train, there was a lot of people." Aston said while getting in the boat, after he seated himself, he said to Jess "I can't wait to find out what house I'm going to be in, they all seem so cool!"

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Coding by @Estelle Nyx

"Hey Jess! Sorry, I lost you back there while getting off the train, there was a lot of people", Aston said while getting in. Jess was happy that he'd decided to join her, because they seemed to be the only ones in this particular boat! After he'd seated himself, he continued:
"I can't wait to find out what house I'm going to be in, they all seem so cool!"

"They really do, don't they?", Jess replied, overcome with excitement. She desperately wanted to continue chatting with Aston, but was aware of Miss Greer and her stern glances over all of the students. I really want to make a good impression... But what harm can one conversation really do? Resolutely, Jess turned back to Aston, and spoke quickly.

"I've heard there's a giant squid in this lake, and that when it gets hungry, it just takes students, right out of their boats, for a snack! I really hope that's not true, but I wouldn't mind seeing a real life giant squid..." Jess chuckled mischievously at her last statement, just as the group of boats lurched forward.

Jess hadn't heard Miss Greer's warning words, but was now listening attentively, her eyes fixed on the Groundskeeper.
"Whoa, steady everyone," she said, and Jess was mildly concerned by the look of confusion on her face. Aren't the boats always like this?

But before she could get too worried, Jess was distracted by the extraordinary sight in front of her. In her haste to get into the boat and chat to Aston, Jess had completely neglected the fact that she was finally able to see Hogwarts up close, and there it was, in all its mystical beauty. The turrets were even more impressive now, from their viewpoint on the water, and yellow lights twinkled through windows all over the castle. If Jess screwed her eyes tight, she could just make out the shapes of owls, swooping above the school, and she sighed in amazement. No one could possibly understand the sensation, without being here themselves. At that thought, Jess was painfully reminded of Felix, but she pushed the idea out of mind - now is not the time.