That's right, another retro thread. . .

[maximus406]

More Please!

[Ocalagirl]

more....

[LegallyBrunette]

When I arrived at work that evening around five, I noticed I had a new voicemail on my cell. As usual, I was running late so I didn’t bother to listen to it and just ran inside. As I passed my manager, she stopped me and said “Didn’t you get my message? I overscheduled tonight and don’t need you here. You can have the night off.”

WHAT?!? At this point, I was a little torn, as I said my job was 20 minutes off campus and I was dressed for work already. Plus, I could definitely have used the money now that I’d trekked all the way here. But on the other hand, I really wanted to check out Hermione Granger. Initially, my inertia at immediately turning around and rushing back to campus led me say, “Are you sure, I can stay if you need me?” To which my boss replied that I could stay if I really wanted to, it was up to me. I worked for probably a half an hour (it really was dead, I had nothing to do) when my curiosity about Hermione Granger really got the best of me, and I decided to book it back to campus and check out Hermione Granger. After all, I didn’t want to end up wondering “what if.”

Sooo, I raced back to campus, changed as quickly as possible into something presentable and somehow managed to arrive only 15 minutes after the party had started.

This time when I entered the party, I was expecting black cocktail dresses again but instead was greeted by all the sisters wearing jeans and red t-shirts with silver writing that said “Filled with angels, but one hell of a sorority!,” which I thought was a riot. Like at Ron Weasley, the room was decorated with lots of picture albums and paraphernalia and white lights. The sister, Sara, who met me at the door was, by sheer coincidence, also a transfer. We went through the initial discussion of how Hermione Granger helped her adapt etc, like I had with Melanie but it was slightly more natural. Maybe I was getting good at this?

Next Sara led me to a sign in table and took my picture and asked me to fill out a “little questionnaire.” Well, this questionnaire thing was NOT little at all. It felt like an epic and had lots of silly questions in it like “If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be?” I really was not a fan of that but while I was filling it out, sisters kept coming over and introducing themselves. I remember thinking how natural and down to earth they all were. They seemed a bit more diverse and accessible than the ladies I’d met at Ron Weasley, but I remember thinking that could have been because I didn’t feel ridiculously underdressed here. After meeting each girl, I remember thinking, I could really be friends with her! After finally finishing the questionnaire that rivaled my current Con Law textbook in length, Nicole from my class came over and we chatted for a bit and she introduced me to the chapter president, as well as two girls who literally looked like twin sisters. I later found out they weren’t biological sisters at all, but just happened to look very, very similar.

After a while of mingling and snacks (not as fancy as Ron Weasley’s, I noted), all of the rushees were asked to follow two sisters out into a smaller separate room and wait for just a few minutes. In that room, we made small talk and it dawned on me that if I joined Hermione Granger, these girls would be my pledge sisters. Looking around, I was okay with that. Aside from the girls on my hall, I didn’t know any of them personally, but they were friendly and I felt comfortable with them.

After a few minutes, we were led back into the main room where the sisters performed a really moving song (NOT adapted from popular culture) and gave us all a flower to take with us (since it was informal). Now that I’m thinking about it, we were allowed to take Ron Weasley pencils with us when we left that party.

Thrilled that I had decided to go to Hermione Granger’s party after all, I headed back to my dorm with Caroline, Melissa and Megan to discuss the night’s events.

I’ll update tomorrow. I can’t believe how long this is taking—sorry to drag it out!

[AlwaysSAI]

YaY for Hermione Granger!!

[Ocalagirl]

more please!!! Great descriptions btw

[LegallyBrunette]

After Hermione Granger’s party, the four of us met to discuss our thoughts. Caroline still preferred Ron Weasley but admitted that she liked Hermione Granger as well. Melissa also preferred Ron Weasley, but I remember she just kept saying how NICE everyone at Hermione Granger was. Megan, on the other hand, loved Hermione Granger and said she felt much more at home there than with Ron Weasley. Finally, I was torn. I had really liked both groups and knew it would be a tough decision choosing between the two. Plus, there was still Harry Potter! Also, I was trying not to get too emotionally invested in the whole process and agonize over a future decision when I knew it was possible I might not get a bid to either group.

One thing we all agreed on though: The survey at Hermione Granger was too much!

I'm swamped at work today, I'll try to get to Harry Potter soon. Thanks for reading

[AOE2AlphaPhi]

Loving it! More Please!

[tld221]

ive been rooting for Hermione from the beginning! and i dont even watch Harry!

[LegallyBrunette]

Harry Potter’s party was scheduled for Thursday, and despite my lack of previous exposure to them, I intended to go to the party. But during that day, I got a bad headache and had a fight with my boyfriend (about joining a sorority). By the time the evening rolled around, I really was not feeling very social at all and only wanted to sleep. Since I felt like I had a decent chance at receiving a bid to either Ron Weasley or Hermione Granger combined with what my high school friend had said about Harry Potter at her school (I stupidly didn’t take into account the fact different chapters vary at different schools), I made the decision to just skip the party. I felt a little bit guilty about that, since I had almost missed Hermione Granger, and it had gone so well. Melissa and Megan went to the party without me. I can’t remember if Caroline went to that party or not.

As it turned out, Megan and Melissa weren’t too impressed by Harry Potter. They said all the sisters were nice, but seemed kind of disorganized throughout the party, like they didn’t really know what to do with the PNMs. Leslie Ann’s description of Fishing in her thread reminded me of how my friends had described Harry Potter—nice girls, but sort of sad. After getting the scoop from my pals, I felt a little more at ease about skipping out on the party. It didn’t sound like I missed a group I would have loved anyway, BUT I still realized I had taken a bit of a gamble and hoped I wouldn't regret it later.

Sooo, that was the end of parties for informal recruitment. Next up, bid day…

[tld221]

oh no i smell trouble...

[maximus406]

BID DAY!

BID DAY!

BID DAY!

(Chanting)

[LegallyBrunette]

Friday morning. Bid Day. It is absolutely POURING outside. I took that to be a bad sign.

I woke up rather nervous. I was still trying not to get too emotionally invested in the whole process in case it didn’t work out. I knew I wanted to be in Ron Weasley or Hermione Granger, but I wasn’t positive that they felt the same way. I kept telling myself that I’d survived two years of college as an independent just fine, and I would certainly be fine for another two years (and beyond) if that’s how it worked out.

As I had mentioned before, I don’t recall ever being told that bids were going out at a specific time, so I felt a little unhinged, how would I know if I got a bid? When should I stop expecting them??

I went to my first class of the day, which Megan was also in. She had already received a bid to Ron Weasley! AWWW. They had come to her dorm room first thing in the morning. I figured that meant I wasn’t getting one from them. I thought that was kind of a shame because Megan had liked Hermione Granger so much better anyway. Afterwards, I had a short break and then another class with Megan, where she told me she had just been given a bid by Hermione Granger too. What the…? I was a little upset, even though I was trying not to be. She had two bids and I didn’t have any. Oh well, I kept my composure and decided to take a nap and refresh before my last class. I thought there still might be a chance I could get a bid, and I was determined to stay optimistic.

I sloshed back to my dorm room and on the way I saw a sister from Ron Weasley, but she didn’t say hi. Suspicious. I guess they really weren’t interested at all. Maybe Hermione would still pull through. I crawled into bed for a nap and a little while later was awakened by thunderous banging on the door. I stumbled out of bed and was greeted by four sisters of . . .

















RON WEASLEY!! There was lots smiling and hugging and cheering and I was a little overwhelmed and out of it from my nap. They handed me a bid card and a champagne glass with their letters on it filled with smooth stones in their colors. They explained how to accept my bid and show up on Saturday night at one of the function rooms on campus. I couldn’t stop smiling . I know I didn’t accept on the spot, but I told them I was very excited.

Buoyed by the fact Ron Weasley had pulled through, I got myself together and headed to my final class of the day. On the way, I stopped at the on-campus coffee shop for some hot chocolate. While I was there, I ran into the president of Ron Weasley, who said “Don’t forget about Saturday night.” I replied that I wouldn’t and practically skipped off to class.

Oh, and this was the class I had with the two sisters, Nicole and Jenn, from Hermione Granger…

[MaggieXi]

I am glued to my computer in SUSPENSE!!!!

[LegallyBrunette]

So, I head into class all fired up about my bid to Ron Weasley. I’m pretty much planning on accepting, as it’s now 1pm and Hermione Granger is still M.I.A. I don’t know a thing about bid day, except that I feel like it’s getting late for this type of thing. Megan had had both of her bids for hours, after all.


As soon I as I get into class, however, Nicole approaches me and asks to speak to me in the hallway. I’m thinking, “Am I in trouble?” I haven’t been asked into the hallway in class since I got caught chewing gum in elementary school music class. This does not seem like a good thing. Maybe I totally offended someone. My answers to the epic questionnaire were rather cheeky towards the end because I was getting bored. Oops.




Well, turns out I had nothing to worry about. As soon as we get outside, Nicole launches into a very nice speech about how the sisters of Hermione Granger would love to welcome me and hands me a hand painted gourd with Hermione’s letters on it (like a mini pumpkin, I have no idea if gourds are common in the rest of the country) and a hand written letter on Hermione Granger stationary explaining how to accept my bid. It’s all very nice. Again, I’m overwhelmed & excited and I tell her so. But I don’t tell her that now I’m confused too! What am I going to do!!?!?


PS, I know I am very lucky to have been in this situation and I attribute it to the fact that I attended a not-very-competitive school in New England and have decent interpersonal skills. I have no idea if I ever would have been able to get one bid at a competitive school.

[tinydancer16]

I know you're there, I can see your little green light...and I want to know the end!!!