Originally Posted by The1HBIC

Lighten up... Evelyn thought she needed to lighten up? Oh and now she was giving Marie a look. Marie just laughed and rolled her eyes at her friend. "Whatever Ev."

Glancing up at the staff table then back at her friends Marie just shrugged. "Eh, the staff always seem grumpy at the start of term. That's nothing new." Them being grumpy would be why she never went up to their table to welcome any of them back. That and the fact that she really didn't care fro many of them.

Hehe, Sierra was cracking her up. Walk the dog. Looking between the two girls Marie got great idea for a new name for the dog. "We could always call him Wonder Mutt." Because to her it was a wonder anyone would want to date that mutt. Then again, he did like to prey on the girls that were new to the school, the ones that didn't know what he was like. Of course once they seen for themselves that's usually when they dumped him and he moved on to his next victim.

Bwahaha...

Now that stupid boy was getting it from Ev too. That'll teach him to talk about her favorite professor. "A VERY tough time." she added in agreeance with what Evelyn was saying. Really, this boy had no clue what he was up against here. The She-Snakes took pride in giving others a tough time.

She had been so wrapped up in her anger with the little cretin sitting next to her that she forgot Finn was there with them. "Right, now worried." Not that she was worried, she was just trying to be polite.

Raising an eyebrow she looked between Finn and Evelyn. So, they spent time together on the train did they. "He saved the day? I bet he did." Or at least he tried. She didn't like the sound him saving the day for Ev. She had heard things about Mr. Finn over there so she had a pretty good idea how he would save the day in a cold, empty compartment. All alone with a cold girl. She would have liked to have been there to see what happened to that boy if he even tried getting his lips anywhere near hers to you know... warm her up. She could just imagine what would happen if anyone but Josh's lips came anywhere near her friend. She pitied the fool that tried that one.

Her attention was pulled away from Ev and Finn when she heard Evan again. Really? He was just totally ignoring her like she wasn't even sitting there. Even after she spoke directly to him. So, was this how it was going to be now that he was a prefect? She was going to be invisible to him because he thought he was too important to be her friend now? Whatever... she had another prefect sitting here talking to her. She would let Evan have his little moment right now but she would have a word with him once they were back at the common room.

O____O

Where did Lafay come from? Marie was sure she had seen the woman go up to the staff table. Why was she lurking around behind them? She looked over to Evelyn wondering what exactly she would say was going on there. Knowing how sneaky her friend could be she knew there was nothing to worry about. "Right Professor, we were just teaching the little kid here about proper Slytherin etiquette," and what wold happen to him if he got in their way again. "Like Evelyn said, we don't need any trouble makers ruining anything for us." Especially those that got on the bad side of the She-Snakes.

Seeing movement from the corner of her eye she looked over just in time to see Professor Truebridge head up to the staff table. Yeah, her and Ev would definitely have to make a trip to his office later.

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Just as she turned around, Sierra found that Marie had caught on to the fact that dog, whatever his real name was, had previously been at their table. Maybe he was still here, for all Sierra knew. Her eyes flickered down the table, but she didn't see the boy anywhere. Maybe Evelyn and Marie really had run him off.

It was just as well, though. Sierra was still weirded out over the fact that some random person had just walked up to her and proclaimed that her mother would make a great Minister of Magic. Of course she really would, and it'd be pretty awesome to have a mum in that sort of position, but it was weird hearing it from someone you didn't even know.

Sierra nodded in reply, suddenly finding herself wishing dog boy would come along again just so she could sit back and watch what Evelyn and Marie would do to him. "So, anyone else I should look out for?" she asked, thinking it was likely that if Evelyn and Marie knew of one dog, they knew of them all. She paused for a second then added, "There was a food fight in Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Ha--awesome! Maybe the fact that she'd used a sugar quill for protection in Sugarplum's wasn't such a bad thing to do after all. Food fights in class! Ahh, the Hufflepuffs she could pelt!

"Yeah, but dogs carry fleas and rabies, too," Sierra pointed out, remarking on what Evelyn had said about giving dog boy another name. "So I wouldn't count the nickname out just yet. Rat seems like a good substitute, though."

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"If I can have your attention, students... if you can bear with me for a few moments of business chatter, there is a bountiful feast as reward on the other side. I welcome you back to Hogwarts once again. To returning students, you will see new faces at the staff table. Please make every effort to welcome staff members and students to our home. To new students... the rules at Hogwarts are simple and we will make every effort to make them clear. First and foremost, make good choices and do not die."

Always always... do not die.

"In addition to our new staff, we also welcome Mr. Ikenna Gevrik to Hogwarts. He will be serving as... a special security consultant and is very interested in making the school as safe as possible. It is my desire that you make him welcome and listen to everything he has to say. It is, of course, your own responsibility to way those things you hear against your own conscience and make decisions that are right for yourself."

And... did Gevrik want to say anything? Hmm?

Originally Posted by Ikenna Gevrik

As a masterful, focused man often does, Ikenna ignored those around him still trying to address him and waited for Casey Tate's introduction. He stiffly returned the 'bow', or whatever that awkward jerking was, and then turned out toward the students.

"Thank you for that welcome, Headmaster Tate. I am, as he said, Mr. Ikenna Gevrik, Special Security Liaison to the School." He extended a warm smile toward the assembled students and bowed in their direction as well, though at the same time he swept his arms out, he also cast a nonverbal sticking charm at Vindictus' hands in mid-clap.

With the clapping stopped and a dead silence in the Hall, Ikenna straightened back up with a genuinely friendly expression.

"Those of you who can recall events of the past, from a flooding school to an underground fight club, will find it easy to see why the Ministry of Magic has concerns about security around its most precious asset: the bodies and minds of our future leaders. Those of you who may be younger will at the least realize that a heightened sense of safety and security around the castle will not only allow everyone to sleep better at night, but it will also pre-empt any future warnings from your professors, such as orders to 'do not die.'"

Gevrik's beetle-like eyes glittered for a moment with amusement as he cracked a smile, and then he continued onward in a most amicable tone.

"Perhaps some of your good, safe choices this year will lead to good rewards, not only for you, your professors or your house-mates, but perhaps also for the betterment of all mankind. The times are changing swiftly and as the Headmaster said, I can only ask that you lend me your ears and remain open-minded this school year, for you will all find that I am not your typical dose of Ministry intervention."

No, Ikenna Gevrik could be something much more sinister...but he did not drop the smile from his face or the friendliness in his tone...yet.

"Again, I appreciate Hogwarts opening its doors to me and I can only hope that you will all also open your minds and hearts, for I hold the safety and security of us all very dear in mine."

He bowed his head once more to signify the end of his speech and then smoothly slid back down into his seat.