Chapter 5: Announcements
*****
They were all seated in the Great Hall, the sorting was completed and the feast over with. Professor Dumbledore got to his feet as Professor McGonagall tapped on her water glass to get the students' attention. Dumbledore peered around the hall over the top of his spectacles and smiled.
"I would like to go over the beginning of the year announcements, now that there are no longer so many growling stomachs to talk over. I would like to remind everyone, but especially our first years, that the Forest is forbidden to all students. Hogsmeade visits will continue this year as usual for students third year and up as long as we feel that it is safe to do so."
"I'm sure you will all also be happy to know that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will resume this year…" he had to pause as the cheers from the Weasley twins – and the rest of the Quidditch team members- began. Smiling broadly, he gestured for silence and as the room fell silent, he continued.
"Madam Hooch, upon consultation with the House Heads, will be posting times for team tryouts, as there are numerous positions to be filled before the season begins."
The hall went silent as everyone tried not to look at the Hufflepuff table where Cedric had once sat.
"There will also be two other events happening this year. The first will be a talent show of sorts to take place after the Halloween feast, more details will be released later this week. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick have agreed to serve as sponsors and I would like to have Miss Roane serve as the student representative. She has a fine sense of the dramatic, is use to keeping her own council and has all the necessary skills and interests to be very helpful with this endeavor. Once details are finalized you can go to them with any questions."
He glanced down the Gryffindor table to catch Alinora's eye "If you could meet briefly with your co-sponsors after the feast…?"
Alinora flashed a wicked grin and nodded in agreement, trying to control the giggles his words had sparked as well as ignore the curious looks she was getting from her friends.
"Lastly," Dumbledore continued, "we will be having another Yule Ball this year a couple days before Christmas so those who wish to spend the holidays with their families will be able to do both. The ball is only open to those fourth year or above, or anyone invited to the ball by one. Hopefully we've given everyone more than enough notice to allow them to plan accordingly."
With that he dismissed them and the students started heading back to their common rooms to discuss the latest news.
"I'll be up in a minute- I just need to see what's up with this talent show stuff." Alinora headed off towards the head table to speak to the professors.
*****
A couple hours later, thinking back, she was still amused. She had gone down to meet Professors McGonagall and Flitwick as the rest of the students slowly left the room.
"Professor Dumbledore hasn't given us much direction as to where he expects us to go with this new idea of his, other than all talent must be music based in some fashion and the theme has to be 'in the spirit of the holiday'." Alinora could tell from McGonagall's expression that she would've appreciated a bit more clarity.
"He did also mention that he wanted this to be a way for everyone to learn more about each other- to 'get under the masks we all wear' is what he said" added Flitwick looking quite excited about the prospect.
"Humm, well that shouldn't be too hard then" Alinora smiled at the look of confusion on their faces, "it will be Halloween after all. Let's do a Masquerade theme Talent show, with the participants masked during their performance- which we'll also have them keep secret. Can we actually find a way to enforce that? Not allow them to talk about what they're doing once they've agreed to participate?" she glanced at Flitwick who, after considering it briefly, nodded in agreement.
"It can be done, but we will have to be very specific in how the charm is defined. It can be a very tricky thing to do."
"Then we will leave that to you to work out Professor Flitwick." McGonagall said. Turning to Alinora she continued "I think your idea has merit and I certainly don't have a better one. I suggest we all think on it over night and meet to finalize details tomorrow."
"I think you should also know that this is a test of sorts for you. You've been doing extra studies with us for over six months and you're more than ready to move onto the next step, but this will prove it. And this will hopefully peak the interest in the next batch of students."
"I understand. And, as tests go, I'm really looking forward to it" she smiled. "I'm looking forward to the next step as well- I have an idea of who might be good prospects when the time is right. Of course they don't know it yet…"
Professor McGonagall gave a slight smile in return, "Professor Dumbledore said he thought you'd feel that way about this, which is why he wanted you involved. Now I think it's time for you to head back to the common room. Based on your proposed theme I trust you won't give away too much information before it's time."
Alinora got up to head for the doors of the Great Hall.
"Oh, Miss Roane…" Alinora turned back to look at McGonagall. "Please tell the house that I expect that Madam Hooch will be announcing the date for the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts tomorrow and that it will be within the next two weeks. That should take over the topic of conversation enough that you won't have to deal with too many additional questions." she said with a smile.
Lying in bed now, thinking back, she was quite glad to have had that information to divert all the questions that had been hurled at her as soon as she'd stepped through the portrait hole and into the common room. She told them that more details would be out in another day or two then mentioned McGonagall's news about Quidditch tryouts. That had effectively killed off the talent show conversation and a heated discussion quickly developed concerning who should become the new Gryffindor Keeper and whether it would be a good idea to go ahead and see about getting backup Chasers and Beaters trained since the twins, Angelina, Alicia and Katie would all be graduating at the end of the year.
Alinora had eased out of the center of the discussion and retreated to a shadowy seat to watch her friends. While familiar with the game- who couldn't be here at Hogwarts?- she didn't play herself and had nothing to offer to the conversation. So, she observed what was going on for a while, then started taking notes on her ideas for the Masquerade.
After a while, when it appeared that the discussion wasn't going to end any time soon, she announced she was going up to bed, as classes started tomorrow morning, then headed up to the room she shared with The Ladies- her name for Katie, Angelina and Alicia.
While lying in bed she'd come up with a wicked idea for herself and The Ladies for the talent show, if they were willing to go along with it. Talk about removing masks! This would definitely show a whole new side to them, one that had been sorely over looked due to their prowess on the Quidditch field…
While the thought was a pleasant one, sleep finally overtook her and Alinora drifted off.
