An Evening In For The Students (Slytherins)

[etainmctiernan]

If there was one thing Etain McTiernan knew better than teaching, it was how to throw parties. Honestly, it was the only thing she had been doing longer, given that she helped her Mother throw Revels.

The elder witch had enlisted the help of the house elves assigned to Slytherin, and had led them in creating a simple social event for the Slytherin contingent of the school. She’d hold an open event later in the season for the entire set of four Houses, but right now, their Head wanted to mingle with her charges and get to know them. If it was over copious amounts of butterbeer and snacks all the better. There was one thing that could get a group of young witches and wizards socializing, and it was food. Etain had arranged a pair of elegantly draped tables swathed in emerald green on one wall of the Slytherin dungeon. And with a clever combination of charms and transfiguration, she’d made the inside of the room look like an Irish castle, complete with tapestries and candlelit sconces.

One table groaned under an assortment of finger foods, while the other held trays of little desserts. Butterbeer bottles sat in a warming tub, while chilled sparkling ciders and juices chilled in a separate tub. Comfortable chairs and couches, in blackened wood with green and silver upholstery, were arranged around a circular hearth in the room’s center. There was room for everyone, from the oldest seventh year to the newest first year, and Etain was eager to meet them all. She’d met some of them in her advising sessions, but this was where she would truly get to know her students. The masks came off at parties, more often than not.

Etain thanked the house elves for their assistance, snitched one of her favorite brie and raspberry pastries and then lit the candles with a wave of her wand. The house elf contingent disapparated with a crack, leaving Etain alone in the room. The Slytherin students should be coming back from studying any moment, and Etain looked forward to surprising them. It would be a good and quiet evening, hopefully filled with the clink of glasses and the murmur of conversation.

Ivanova, her firebird, drifted down out of the rafters and perched on the pad designed into the shoulder of her elegantly cut dress robes. The beautiful little creature’s jewel-tone false sparks glittered against the deep amethyst of her velvet robes. Ivanova butted her head against Etain’s cheek and was rewarded with a gentle scratching of her crest. “Ah, my little friend. I hope this goes well. I am very much looking forward to meeting these youngsters.” Just then the door to the Dungeons started to creak open, and Etain turned to the door.

[parisnowan]

(Ooc:)Admittedly, I am crazy excited for the new Head of House!(/Occ)

Paris Nowan rushed down the halls of Hogwarts at a noticeably quicker pace than usual; well, usual not including the past couple of days. Yet, usual in the sense that in other months she would have walked relatively slower than her current pace. Continuing on her path, her shoes making a sort of clacking noise as she walked closer and closer to her destination, she clung to her bag tightly, her eyes intent on her goal spot. At this point, her dark eyes cared little about what the surrounding observers thought. She was confident that she did not present herself as being stressed, but merely firmly intent upon reaching a certain destination in quick time. Besides, if any bystander were to give her a look revealing a contrary opinion, she would have certainly met them with a dark glare. For Paris Nowan wanted to like as if she was feeling anything but stressed. For the truth was, she inwardly was in a state of near-panic.

Everything was just too much for her these days; but what was everything to her? Nothing. Nothing at all! She had nothing, and nothing had her…but everything….see? It didn’t even make sense! All she knew was that she was that she knew too much about the Shadow Wars…yet too little at the same time. And her conscience was killing her, yet at the same time she no longer cared! She didn’t want to die. And she wanted a reason…she wanted a reason to live! She wanted something to fight for…but she didn’t want to fight! She wanted to go back to the way things were…the way things were…the way things were back when…when exactly where things ever ideal? They were too ideal, yet never at all. As her mind was polluted with such thoughts of irrational conflict, Paris continued on her way to the Slytherin Common Room.

Her life now seemed meaningless, and insignificant. Yet, at the same time she couldn’t completely amount herself to believe that. She’d done a lot…hadn’t she? Or, at least with what she had been given. It wasn’t as if she had much to work with. Some people were born into lives of legacy, with a great destiny awaiting them. Some people were born into tragedy and a calling to live up to conquer it. Some people were born into crime, and an expectation to do great and terrible things along with it. And some people were born with amazing gifts; so naturally, they had to use them some way or another. But Paris never really had anything real to live for except herself.
So what would it be like…to die? She knew death couldn’t be the end. It just couldn’t. It couldn’t…But that fate almost sounded better…no, wait, it didn’t. Yet still, the thought of moving on without having made the most of her life here was terrifying. It wasn’t that she was afraid to die…well, maybe it was…but it was more of disappointing herself; letting her high opinion of herself fall to waste. And to move on into the world of the unknown…(well, sort of unknown, she kind of had a picture in her head of where she was going to go…) was just too much.

Then there was the fact that perhaps those fears were completely unfounded and all this thought of death was purely ridiculous and embarrassing. If everyone knew what was going on inside of Paris’ head she would be ashamed of herself forever. Truly, all this worrying was not normal for Paris. She was the type of person that remained confident to an extent that it was sometimes even aggravating to others; and she liked that about herself. She was known for her narcissism and cool outlook on life; surely Paris was loosing her mind for no reason. Or was she?
And before she knew it she was speaking the password to lead her into the Slytherin Common Room, and walking quickly into the low set room. But quickly she realized that something wasn’t right. The look of the entire room…was just overall different! There were different tapestries! Different lights! It was all wrong!!! For a second the change in the style of room sent a shock into Paris’ system which resulted in a moment of panic and fear. But her initial response was soon replaced as her mind snapped into action. It was just a room. Now she was able to truly analyze what the change in the room meant. There were butterbeers displayed; finger foods and deserts ready to be eaten. Well, if Paris did not know better, she would think it was a set up for a party…in fact…it was.

An instant smile came across her face, and it widened as she continued to look around the room. This had to be some sort of sign. She loved parties. Loved them. In fact, it was her love of such events which so often got paired with her character description. She truly loved them, in all their diversity. She loved the elegance of her parties back home, and the spontaneous ness of other parties at friend’s homes. She loved how each party was always different; how there was always something new for her to experience. Even in the most boring of parties Paris always found herself with a new experience to remember. This love of parties was also shared by her Gryffindor Twin Sister, Lydia, although Paris didn’t care to think of that. With an excited sigh, and a smile still present, Paris finally spoke, “This is…this is great.” Her excitement nearly even boiled over into a soft laugh before she saw who was definitely responsible for the change of décor. “Ah. Hello…Professor?” She assumed that she was standing in front of the new Head of House she had heard rumors about but for some reason she could not initially bring herself to soundly announce it. “It’s…so very nice to finally meet you!” And she meant it.

[etainmctiernan]

(OOC - Why thank you, m'dear! I'm excited too!)

Etain smiled and gave a jovial chuckle. “Good evening and welcome young lady. You must be Ms. Nowan; I recognize your image from my student files. I’m Professor Etain McTiernan, the new Head of Slytherin and the new Deputy Headmistress.” She gestured to the tables. “Make yourself at home, dig in and we can talk when you’ve gotten a plate.” Etain moved over to the hearth and waved her wand gracefully, lighting a cheery blaze. The smells of pine and apple mixed and spread through the room as the wood caught.

Etain watched the young woman as she moved to fix her plate. Paris Nowan, one sixteen year old Slytherin. The young lady had a twin sister who had been Sorted into Gryffindor when they’d both arrived five years previously. Odd that. Most twins ended up in the same House. Although given what little she knew of the Nowan twins’ family background it wasn’t surprising that the girls were in different Houses. Etain sighed. Some things never changed. Ivanova trilled softly in her ear, sensing her sadness, and she stroked the firebird's plumage absently.

Etain walked over to the table and started making up a plate of her own. “You’re lucky to be the first here, Ms. Nowan. You get the best choice of everything.” Her smiling violet eyes met Paris’ blue ones. “The seats by the fire should warm up nicely. Feel free to grab yourself one.” Paris reminded Etain forcibly of her granddaughter Amanda with all that gorgeous blond hair. If Amanda got Sorted into Slytherin this autumn, maybe she’d introduce them.

Etain grabbed a bottle of warmed butterbeer, chuckling to herself. Well, the students would find out about that secret vice of hers soon enough. Etain loved the drink and had since she was a student here all those years ago. The older witch settled herself into one of the green upholstered chairs on one end of the hearth. She could see every part of the Dungeon from this chair, so it was perfect for her to keep an eye on events. She hoped more students would show up soon. Meanwhile, there was warm butterbeer, brie tarts and little shepherd’s pies, and she was going to enjoy all of it while conversing with her charges. “So, any particular favorites you see, Ms. Nowan?”