Hufflepuff Welcome First Year Hufflepuffs Closed

Jake was about to begin his sixth year at Hogwarts, and for maybe the first time ever he felt...confident? It was his third time starting the year as a prefect. At first he'd had no idea what to do, or how to talk to others. But now? He was finally getting used to it. Over time, he'd found himself knowing what to say without having to practice, and this was the first time he'd started the year just feeling... ready. He'd even managed to grow a bit over the summer which was a LONG time coming. Newly sixteen, for once he actually felt like the older, responsible, guiding light he was SUPPOSED to be, rather than somebody playing dress-up in responsible clothing. Though he sometimes still felt awkward amongst his own peers and still had things to sort through in his own life, welcoming the first-years was easier. And he knew first-hand how important a job it was.

As Jake watched the first years line up to be sorted, (some looking thrilled, some eager, some antsy, and a few terrified) he remembered how frightened he'd been when he'd started school, overwhelmed with no idea what to do, or who to go to. It was his house-mates that had made him feel okay there, even welcome. From his friends like George, Jack, and Dorian, to Professor Browne, the prefects, and all the others he had looked up to that had made him know that he had a place. To Jake, that was what Hufflepuff represented. A welcoming house where everybody belonged, and nobody was made to feel like an outsider. Now it was his turn to do his part to make that happen for the new kids, and as the first one got called over and greeted by Emma, he gave a wave that he hoped was welcoming. He cheered with the rest as some new students made their way over to the table, and after a few had been sorted, he joined Emma to greet them.

"Hey, everyone, my name's Jake - I'm a Hufflepuff prefect too. Welcome to Hufflepuff! I know you guys probably have a million things you wanna do, but if anybody has any questions about anything at all, Emma and I would be happy to answer them. You guys are lucky, Hufflepuff's a home that I think you guys are gonna really love." Without knowing what else to say, he gave a thumbs up. He was so used to having pretend to be more confident than he was, that it was almost surreal to not have to fake it.

This thread is now open to first year Hufflepuffs!

Being sorted into Hufflepuff came as no surprise to Amelie, nor would it to anyone who knew the tenderhearted soul. Had she been any less excited she might've noticed the slight pain in her cheeks, a result of the large smile she wore upon approaching the table that cheered out upon the hat's declaration. Everyone looked happy; inviting, even.

Finding a seat would be the first challenge, though hardly one at that. Smiling faces greeted her as she made her way down the isle, sheer warmth of the room enveloping her like a soft embrace. Looking across the length of the table, it was dotted with familiarity. Brief exchanges from the train to passers-by in Diagon Alley, though most completely new. If not for her joy, perhaps the first emotion would be anxiety. Fortunately in the first year's case, her newfound house made little room for that.

The voice of a girl, one much older than her's, managed to grasp Amelie's attention. There, at the far end stood to be a student. Older indeed, though seemingly just as enthusiastic as the rest of the bunch. Grey eyes followed intently as the prefect introduced herself, alongside a boy that possessed the same authority. That word always came with a sort of grim connotation, responsibility and duty all under the same miserable guise. This could not be any farther from the case from these two, their easygoingness apparent from the way— Jake, it was, offered them a friendly hand gesture.

Her gaze now turned upon the peers seated amongst her, an opportunity for an introduction now open as ever. Amelie glanced from left to right, only to speak out to no one in particular. "Quite the home."

Credit to Sienna Lenoir for my awesome banner!

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Thankfully Jake jumped in before Emma had enough time to overthink what she had said, or maybe even read in the silence that she had been too much. Grateful, she smiled at Jake.

Emma heard the first year say "Quite the home" but wasn't sure if it was meant to be to her or Jake or just in general. So she smiled for a moment and when no more words were forthcoming, she jumped in with "Why yes, yes it is. Though the castle can be a bit...well much at first, our common room is quite cozy. And you'll find your way around quickly once you get the hang of it. Jake, how many times did you get lost the first week? I could have sworn for me, it was like a million." Emma exaggerated.

To be fair, some of that getting lost may have been because she hadn't known magic existed until just before she was supposed to attend Hogwarts. It wasn't like she had had much exposure. Or known that invisible steps were a thing. Or ghosts or anything else that couldn't be found in the muggle world. So maybe some of that getting lost had been caused by distractions.
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1 September, 2024

Riley stepped toward the table, trying not to stare at the two prefects who were greeting one of the other students who was sorted into the Hufflepuff house. She reluctantly approached, assuming meeting the prefects was a requirement. Familiar was an understatement for how well she knew the prefects at her muggle school. She wasn't a troublemaker, but Emily and Finn were quite eager for mischief, so sometimes Riley found herself dragged in.

Hopefully it wouldn't be the same here at Hogwarts.

She looked to the prefects again, then to the other first year, and smiled a difficult smile.

"Hi, there. I'm Riley. I'm a first year student - oh, gosh. You already knew that. I don't know why I said it," Riley said, feeling a tinge of heat in her cheeks at her verbal misstep. "Sorry. I'm all new to all this: magic, that is. Just being in a such a big castle is a huge change, but there are floating candles. Moving paintings. It's all a bit much."

She wrapped herself in a robe like a cocoon, as if that could hide her from her embarrassment and the culture shock of being thrown into a school full of people who could do things she'd thought impossible just months ago.