Oktoberfest Baking Workshop Closed

Welcoming the students. Open to interactions.

Elena inspected the interior of the tent one last time before she would welcome the students to the Baking Workshop. The grass of the Grounds had been transformed into a wooden floor where the tent stood, creating a space that had allowed them to set up rows of baking stations. Oak tables functioned as worktops for the students to make their Lebkuchen on, their utensils neatly arranged on top of those tables. Scales for weighing the ingredients, spoons, bowls, baking tins, and cutters in different forms and sizes had been provided. The most plain of the cutters were simple hearts, a form that was popular for Lebkuchen, while others would create ghosts, pumpkins or human-shaped forms. Three small wooden stools stood beside each workplace should the participants of the event need a rest, and all ingredients had been placed at the right side of each table, towards the middle of the tent.

The Professor and the two Prefects who had volunteered to help her with the event would distribute the recipes later, but first Elena wanted everyone to take the time and form teams. This was a group activity after all, so she wanted to make sure that all people who wanted a partner or two would find them.

Dark eyes followed the first students as they walked into the tent, most them with excited looks on their young faces. Elaine tried to greet everyone with at least smile and a nod, mumbling the names of those students she already knew in greeting. Those she wasn't familiar with she hoped she would get a chance to talk to later, when the teams had formed and everyone was getting to work. Maybe the odd Professor would join too, she expected some of the colleagues to secretly have a sweet tooth.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to today's Baking Workshop!" Her voice resounded through the tent, garnering the attention of almost all the students present. "As you all should know I am Elaine Pendrast, Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor of Hogwarts. I'm happy to see that so many of you have come on this beautiful day." Running her eyes over the assembled students she took note of who paid attention and who she would have to keep an eye on, lest they'd have a mind to sabotage the baking with a little mischief.

"Some of you have already spread across the work stations, I see. Everyone else I would like to mingle a bit and choose a partner or two. You can work alone of course, but the baking will be easier for you if you work in groups, so I encourage you to find someone to team up with. It can be a friend, a housemate, or a student from another year or house. If you have baked before you can take some other students under your wing and teach them a thing or two along the way."

While she talked some of the children were already making eye contact with the students beside them or others across the room, loose teams beginning to emerge. Elaine approved, as this was an activity that benefitted from the students helping each other.

"Now, let's go everybody!" She clapped her hands twice, the room brightening for a second before the light went back to normal. It was a cheap trick as far as magic went, but it would entertain the younger students.

After one last glance at the mingling students Elaine walked over towards the two Prefect girls who had so kindly offered to help. A Second Year Ravenclaw and First Year Gryffindor. They'd been a great help so far, but as a teacher she wanted every student to have fun today, not only those who'd come to be entertained. "Ms. Beckett, Ms. Stewart," she addressed them, giving a nod to first the one and then the other. "You might want to mingle as well. You were a godsend in helping me setting this up, but please go and enjoy the workshop if you want to. I expect you will be able to lend a hand should anything go awry and still take part in the baking."

All students have time to mingle and form teams now. Elaine will announce the further proceedings once teams have been built.

Interaction: N/A
Mention: Elaine Pendrast
Open to Interactions -- Looking for a partner

In a way, Bloom was thankful for having a whole month of events. It was only a couple weeks ago when she and Ben had broke it off between them. Without these Oktoberfest events, she would most likely be dreading her decision of breaking up with him because realistically-- she missed him. It was that she could not handle the amount of pressure she was going to have to be with him. And now that word is out about him being the masked student, in a way... Bloom was glad to not be associating with him. Though, she often wondered if he was okay. She noticed quite a bit of people were truly upset with them. Unlike her, they did not know that it was the mask that made him into that horrendous person, not him.

Bloom buried the thoughts in the back of her mind and made her way to the second Oktoberfest event: baking. She was truly excited because in the first event, she met a couple people she would not have otherwise met if it weren't for her participation. She wondered who she would be meeting this time around. And if not meeting, then who would she see that she already knew.

Walking into the tent, she saw that there were not a lot of people there other than a few students and a professor-- both who were running this event. Bloom, feeling a bit shy at the fact that she was "alone" walked up to the professor. She introduced herself as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Rumor has it that the DADA position often gets replenished throughout the year. She wondered if she was to stay for the whole year, or leave. Though, unlike the other DADA professors that Bloom had, this one seemed rather nice and warm.

Listening to the professor's instructions, she mingled around for a bit, seeing what was around in the tent and then looked around the other students to see if anyone was willing to partner up. Bloom was typically the type of person to go up to others and ask to partner up, but for some reason, she was not feeling as extroverted. One thing's for sure was that she hoped for someone who knew how to bake as Bloom was never the baker in her family. Her mom and older sister, Claire, would often be in the kitchen while she spent most of her time with her dad. Perhaps there will be someone out there that knows how to bake and will ask her to be her partner.

Interacts with Aurelia.

Howie made his way towards the grand white tent, the sign posted “Baking Workshop” pulled him in like a tractor beam. He missed the days of working at home, helping his mother in thier small bakery. The autumn season was also making him feel particularly nostalgic. It was by far his favorite time of year. A time for beautiful colors and warm spices. 

Throwing aside the fabric of the tent, Howie stepped inside. The sight before him immediately brought a smile to his face. All the familiar tools and utensils were neatly laid out for them. He couldn’t wait to get his hands back into the flour, to knead some dough, to fill the tent with the warmth from the ovens. 

A voice spoke out across the workspace, drawing his attention to Professor Pendrast. Howie listened closely as she gave her instructions. Lebkuchen! Now he was really excited! Something he had never made before, a new challenge. From her description it sounded like it might be close to ginger bread, but it was still exciting all the same. He would have to send some home for his parents to enjoy.

Professor Pendrast instructed them to mingle about while they waited for any other students. Turning around Howie spotted Aurelia. A pang of guilt shot through his belly as he noticed her still bandaged hand. It was his fault she was injured. Deciding there was no need to avoid her or make things anymore awkward, Howie made his way over to her.

“Hey Aurelia.” Howie said as he stared at his shoes, slightly embarrassed. “Would you want to partner? I could help you with the assignment.”

For the vast majority of the festivities, Ben had stayed far away. It wasn't until a baking workshop was announced that he decided to brave the event. At home in a muggle household everyone was expected to help out with holiday cooking. Young Ben had even helped bake a few times. He considered himself somewhat knowledgeable in the process. The muggle born boy was curious if magic changed how they baked things though. Did he have to know a certain spell or ingredient to make magic baked goods? Ben was a bit nervous about that bit but he felt confident in his basic skills at least.

Disguising became pretty impossible once he was outside in the crowd. Ben opted to just hopefully blend in without being spotted by people. Getting into the workshop was actually fairly easy as he tried to show up early enough to get in but not too early as to stick out. It was just the right amount of early. Ben had carefully calculated when to leave and which path to take. Really he had been watching from a window until the time was right, but the Ravenclaw in him tried to justify it as calculating.

"Seems you..," Ben began to ask a girl who was not partnered up yet before he froze. "Bloom. It seems you need a partner..."

Silent cursing filled the boy's mind. He could not believe he had not recognized her from further away. His focus had been so much on getting in quickly and partnering up that he didn't really see who was around. The pair had split up recently and it hurt so bad still. Now he had just walked up to her and opened his big mouth. This was a disaster.

"I... can wait for someone else if you prefer." He said coldly, not looking her in the eyes.

Interacting with Bloom. Open to others too.

{ Interacting with Pendrast and briefly Delilah & Anastasia }

Believe it or not, Hjørdis Jensen was a woman who did enjoy baking. It seemed so unlike her, given how cold and indifferent she acted to things that involved 'nurture' or 'care'. However, there was something about cooking and baking that she enjoyed. Perhaps it was the alchemist in her that liked the idea of creating something. It was a little like potions but without the magic. Potions for muggles, shall we say?

But you would never know that Hjørdis Jensen was a woman who enjoyed baking. She would never tell you that. The way she acted, it almost sounded like she was doing it out of necessity, rather than desire. Then again, she made it seem like everything she did was out of necessity rather than desire.

Hjørdis made her way over to the Baking Tent that had been set up by her fellow Slytherin Professor and a few Prefects from another house. Whilst she normally dressed up, she expected to get a little messy today and so, was wearing a pair of ripped jeans, a white jumper without sleeves that would get annoying and a pair of trainers. It was still a nice outfit but it lacked any bracelets rings or too much material that would get in the way of her ability to use her hands to knead the dough. She did wear a little necklace that she had been given as a gift but that was mostly it. It was casual, compared to her usual style but she was in a very casual mood today.

The Slytherin entered the tent. It looked like everything had already been set up. She nodded politely at the Professor in charge of the event, pleased to see her. If anyone asked why she was there, it would be 'to support Professor Pendrast, of course' as though that was obvious. Nothing about actually enjoying baking. Of course not. But Hjørdis had a feeling she would get along with her fellow Slytherin very well given their recent interactions. She had a remarkable amount of respect for the older woman too, something that was rare to come by. The list of people she had respect for was not very high, after all.

She waited for her colleague to finish introducing the session before heading over, "Good day," She greeted the organisers, "The place looks wonderful, you three, well done." She praised the team, as she approached the prefects that Professor Pendrast was talking to. The praise was aimed more at the children, than her colleague but she recognised it was a joint event from all of them. Looking over at the older lady, "Is there anything I can assist you with?"

Outfit of the day

A new tent had appeared in the festival grounds, and Arthur naturally went to investigate it. The Buttebeer tasting event had been fun, if occasionally disastrous, so he had high hopes for whatever new activity the professors had come up with. A big sign over the tent said 'Baking Workshop'. At first glance, it appeared to be gingerbread. But upon closer inspection, he recognized the pastry from his recent trip to visit the magical side of his family in Germany for the first time over Christmas. "Oh, Lebkuchen," he muttered to himself as he glanced inside. It looked like people were already gathering inside.

He wasn't much of a sweet tooth himself, but the treat brought back warm memories that made him smile. Maybe he could send some to his sister in London. She'd written him recently to say she gotten a job there in the Ministry and that they should correspond to help her keep up her English ability (which frankly, was already excellent, far better than his German). Edging inside the tent timidly, he looked around, hoping he wasn't too late to join. It seemed like nothing had started yet, but of course, he didn't have a partner or a group to work with.

He pulled on his sleeve nervously. It seemed like most people were already starting to form groups. He didn't hear how many were allowed.. Maybe he could join in with one of the other groups already formed. Worst they could say was no right?

Of course, that was an easy thing to tell yourself. A little harder to take in reality. Going over to Bloom Silverton and Ben Eckenrode, he asked, "Um, I got here a little late.. Did they say what we're supposed to be doing?"

Interaction: Ben Eckenrode & Arthur Morgan
Mention: Aurelia Bezuidenhout & Howard White
Open to Other Interactions

Bloom, still waiting for a partner, saw two students come in. She was about to ask them if they wanted to be partners, but it seemed that they had already planned to be with one another. Feeling slightly alone, Bloom waited patiently for a someone to walk through the entrance, looking for a partner. She had wanted to get to baking-- although she was not at all that great at it.

Waiting patiently, she saw someone walk through the tent entrance. Watching, it was none other than Ben Eckenrode, her ex boyfriend, entering. She had no idea what to do. She clasped her hands together and played with her fingers. This was it, she had to be partners with him. Her heart was beating fast as he was coming up to her.

The sound of his voice was comforting. There were so many reasons as to why she would want to be with him, but only one large reason that prevents her from being his girlfriend. She nodded, agreeing that she was in need of a partner.

"No, it's fine. We can be partners," she gave Ben a small smile. "How are--" Bloom, about to ask him how he was doing was interrupted by a Hufflepuff. She looked at the student dressed in yellow and black and her smile was larger.

"You have to find a partner and get to a station to start baking. Um, for the time being...," she started, looking at Ben, "you can join us and when someone else comes you can be their partner?" she offered, knowing how lonely and awkward it can be waiting for a partner in the first place. In a way, having one on one time with Ben is a little too soon. Perhaps the Hufflepuff is a blessing to help pick the ice between Ben and Bloom in the beginning.

"By the way, I'm Bloom Silverton, second year Ravenclaw," she introduced herself to the Hufflepuff. Bloom extended her arm to the boy, accidentally caressing Ben in the process. Her heart skipped a beat. Just touching him made her miss him even more.