WELCOME

[Auster Gregory Hamm]

The pitter-patter of little feet, a sound that some find adorable. A sound some people gravitate towards in order to be smothered in chocolate kisses. To Auster Hamm, the pitter-patter of little First Year feet was like a shot to the eyes. They had yet to learn that they were supposed to scurry like the vermin they were when the Ravenclaw came down the stairs. He’d make sure they grasped the concept soon enough. As he grabbed a pack of fags from the bottom of his trunk, he could hear their incessant stomping on the steps. Mr. Hamm had never been like that. The older kids never had any beef with him, unless of course he did one in. Verbally of course, Oz never killed anyone for real. Yet.

At the top of the stairs he looked down at the rugrats, his eyebrows arched sending them a ‘what the hell are you doing’ look. He had since discovered that there were three little terrors. For three First Years they sure made a lot of damn noise. ”Is there are reason you little turnips are without leash and collar?” They looked up at him in confusion, as if what he said was so hard to understand. ”Right, get out of my way.” Normally he would stick around to taunt the youth but he wanted to have a read outside, the feeling was twisting his nerves. If he didn’t inhale some fresh air soon those nerves would snap and fray at the ends rendering him a dead blob. Passing the boys, Oz noted their faces for later. After he’d gotten his 'fix' they would face the consequences of their actions. Oz shot a look to the older students in the common room,”You lot honestly couldn’t do anything about that?” No one answered. ”Wow, I love being in the smartest house at Hogwarts. So many brains just bubbling over with intelligence,” the Sixth Year said, feigning a giddy smile.

There were several spots were Hogwarts residents - students and professors alike - went to read. Some stayed in their common rooms. Others chose a nice place outside. This would be Oz' spot for the time being. Books were good company. They didn't annoy him - most of the time. As much as he liked to help students with their self journeys of discovery, he needed time to himself. People who tried to interrupt that little time always walked away wounded. There was a time for everything. The time he spent reading was only for reading. Your issues would simply have to wait. Reading, for him, was something that he had to do. He wasn’t an aggressive person, he was very laid back when he taunted the masses but reading calmed him down. It was almost like a peaceful thing. If Oz was in his reading state all the time people would adore him, but he wasn’t. They would just have to get use to him – which would probably do them some good. He wasn’t a total villain.

That was what people didn’t get. He was blunt, and did not apologize for it. This bothered a lot of people. No one ever took what he said in stride. If they really looked at themselves, they’d realize he was right. Some actually did, they just chose to cry about it instead of make a change. He was doing everyone a service by being the way he was. It didn’t bother him that people thought him to be a menace. Oz knew he wasn’t. He knew that he could be cold in his deliverance, but the truth didn’t hurt as much as a lie. Not in the end. If you were lied to for five years and then found out the truth; it would be a big deal. If someone was upfront with you, you would be hurt but you’d build yourself up and get over it. Hopefully. Oz was tired of seeing the so called strong fall to pieces, and he was tired of the weak never attempting to amount to anything. It made him sick to see humanity in such shambles. No one bothered to find this out. It was no surprise. Everyone needed their mystery.

Oz didn’t bother to access the people he passed, he didn’t bother to make a biting remark about how terrible they looked, he was sort of on a mission. Once he got to the lake he peered around for the spot he favoured. It was a tuff of trees that he could nestle by and read away. As soon as he sat down, the book was out. His eyes were glued and everything else was a blur. It was as though he were addicted to knowledge. He was addicted to reading something new. It was more than a hobby. If he wasn’t on the cutting edge, where would he be? All his life his knowledge of literature, culture, and humanity made him stand out. Oz didn’t read so he’d stay on top. No. Because he read he was on top. That’s where he’d always be.

[HANNAH SOPHIA DIGGORY]

School was definitely in full swing right now. Students were hard at work either socializing amongst themselves, studying, or both. Lovers were hopping in and out of closets like over-hormonized rabbits and friends were bickering left and right. All in all, it was nice to be back at Hogwarts where the gossip was running strong!

Right now, the Diggory gal was making her gossiping rounds with her notepad, quill, and camera in her satchel. She was dressed in her usual Hogwarts uniform and a cloak. The skirt was hiked a bit further up than was allowed, but that was Miss Diggory for you. The Hufflepuff sixth year had started her rounds on the top floor and had gone down each floor in an orderly manner. She'd stopped along the way occasionally to chat with friends and such, but nothing too long as she kept seeing the next big scoop.

And boy had they been big! It seemed that a little goodie-goodie had been caught being naughty in a closet with someone other than her intended. That had been a nice little picture with the two pawing each other in the hallway on their way to the closet. On the third floor, two second year boys were seen rolling on the ground pummeling each other before her older brother had managed to break up the fight. She'd skidaddled away from that one pretty quick after that had broken up. About now, she was looking for a place to sit down and read her latest owl from Laura Clearwater and to pen a response. Outside seemed to be a good enough place to be.

Sophie tugged her cloak closer to her as she made her way outside. She was just about to head inside after the wind blew past her when she spotted Oz sitting with a book. Brimming with mischief, the gossip queen made her way over to the Ravenclaw and said, "Tired of your own common room?"

((Sorry for the wait!))