subplotkudzu | And the Monster of Amristar III

Chapter 3: The Banquet

The boats docked in the caves under the school and the students disembarked, one of them too soon, so that he made sodden squishing noises for the rest of the night. Facing them was McGonnagal, who gave them her standard introductory speech, ending with "The Sorting ceremony will take place shortly in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up,” she paused to shoot a glance at the dripping first year, “as much as you can while waiting."

As the students fretted the Grey Lady slipped in the back of the room, looking pensive and clasping a large text to her chest. Her appearance freaked out the first years: Peri & Rowena yelped, as did Juliet, Jasmyn & Lochland, but the Dee boys & Grendel are made of sterner stuff. She approached Castor in a silent glide, leaning down to whisper in his ear and giving his head the feeling of being struck by a boreal wind. "Be not afraid. A ready mind is humanity's greatest weapon and strongest shield, so you are well armed. But be vigilant. Older troubles seldom rest easy, even as new life is born." At that the Grey Lady disappeared.

McGonnagal returned to bring them into the hall, explaining the basic rules of the Sorting Ceremony. To their surprise, the hat began to sing.
"You keep we hats in cupboards
or closets cramped and dark
but as a Sorting Hat I'm different
imbued with sense and spark.
Into your minds I'll glance now
Your cupboards stuffed and dim
And decide from what I find there
Which houses you'll be in.
Do you belong in Hufflepuff
With faith and quiet strength?
Where duty is performed
With no heed to pay or rank?
Or perhaps it is in Gryffondor
With tempers bold and hot.
Where your sisters are courageous
And your brothers a brave lot?
Those sorted into Slytherin
Are those who seek to lead,
And find their noble brethren
Where ambitions are all freed
At last there are the Ravenclaw
For those whose minds take flight,
Grounding intellect with fancy
To banish darkness with the light,
There's one sure way to learn
Which house you should call home,
Just place this sorting hat on your hair
Curly locks or shaven dome.
And I will make a judgement
With a hat's good sense,
So step right up, don't be afraid,
I'll seat you with your friends!

With that McGonnagal called out all of the first year students names. The Sorting Hat's comments are audible only to the student in question, and the letter indicates the house affiliation.

Ames, Aldeberon R
Angelo, Peter H
Bottomsley, Hugo G
Boulstridge, Ora S
Cooper, Mason R
Davis, Beatrice R

Dee, Castor R
I see you have a clear mind, no doubts there but you're ambitious too. Oh, you're the smart one. Better make you a RAVENCLAW!

Dee, Pollux H
I see a strong desire to do things, so Slytherin could no doubt help you, but it's so much about accomplish-ment and duty that you'd do best in HUFFLEPUFF!

Duncan, Andrew H

Fitztoggle, Lochland H
Hrm, tricky. You're certainly brave, even if you don't like to show it, but with such a strong sense of loyalty to your friends you're best place is in HUFFLEPUFF!

Fontaine, Jasmine R
You're brave, no doubt, but with a mind like this your home is in RAVENCLAW!

Garrott, Simon G
Green, Grendel S
Hardcastle, Melinda H
Highgarden, Hillary G
Jackson, Jerimiah G
Jones, Francine H
Leatherby, Ulee R
Lung, Luci S
Miller, Hazel H
Moore, Juliet R
No questions here, you're a RAVENCLAW!
Morris, Dan G
O'Neill, Sean G
Orealis, Aurora B. R
Quinn, Patrick R
Quisarcton, Olivia G
Resquiat, Roberta S
Rosacaea, Rowan H
Srinivasen, Kai H
Stone, Crystal G
Thornton, Rose G
Turner, Wilhelmina S
Undulata, Paracelsus S
Upadhyad, Aadi G
Valgi, Victor S
Villars, Barbera R
Wadd, Helena H
Walker, Sky H
Xerces, Gregory S
Xerces, Kelly S
Yayer, Sue H
Young, Frank R
Zane, Zane S
Zylberstein, Daniel R

There was a cheer as Castor sorted Ravenclaw, and a moment of silence when Pollux was sorted Hufflepuff, followed by wild yells from that table - the prediction a Dee would be a legacy in Slytherin was proved false.

The sorting ceremony finished, Dumbledore stood asked for silence. "I have glad tidings to share: over break our Muggle Studies teacher, Professor Orelena-Plantagenet-Tollemach-Tollemach found a wellspring of the greatest magic of all, that is to say Love. So, as of last week, no longer is she Professor Orelena-Plantagenet-Tollemach-Tollemach nor even Ms. Orelena-Plantagenet-Tollemach-Tollemach, but instead Mrs. Plain, and I for one, could not be happier. A toast then, to the happy couple. And with that news, tuck in!"

The banquet occured. Pollux talked to the Fat Friar, who proved a voluble companion, offering up services as a confessor and advisor. At the Ravenclaw table two 4th years - Fortinum Hill & Mason Lake - resolved a bet, Mason having statistically predicted that Ravenclaw was due for the first & last sorted students.

After the banquet Dumbledore stood again to make the rest of his speech. After the standard admonitions about the forest and magic in the halls and a reminder about Quidditch, he continues "I'm sure many of you are wondering about the new additions to our table. First, seated beside his bride is Dr. John Plain, PhD. For those not aware, that's a muggle term for highly advanced studies." Juliet & Pollux recognized him as the odd man from Diagon Alley. "Dr. Plain is indeed a Muggle, and will be staying on campus this year as both guest lecturer and doing research for his own work on explaining our customs the parents of those students who were unaware of this institution until the receipt of your letter. I expect everyone will treat him with the utmost courtesy.

"Seated to his right is our newest faculty member, Professor Briar, who is taking over the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. As most of you know, Professor Pellinor felt the need to travel again, and Professor Briar was kind enough to step down from her duties as an Auror to help in the filling of young minds. Which leads us to our anthem - pick a tempo and sing along!"

With that the words come out of his wand and the students sing along. Juliet (for reasons not entirely clear to the GM other than book emulation) decided to sing a funereal dirge (ala the Weasley twins in book 1). Much to her dismay her affinity for musical magic kicked in uncontrollably, producing an air so melancholy that it cut directly into the emotional core of the listeners and reduced much of the room to tears. She found herself unable to leave the song unfinished and ended, accompanied only by Dumbledore, the center of attention in a weeping room. At the end she blushed and tried to shrink away even as Flitwick cheered madly at the display of magical musical prowess.