Text Cut: BanaBatGirl
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BanaBatGirl 
Well it was about that time. Now that the 'second Healer' was gone from the table, Anastasia stood up to give her traditional start-of-term feast.
"Good evening, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, staff and students." She spoke loudly and crisply, her magically amplified voice echoing across the impressive Hall. "Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. I am pleased to inform you that we have had many of the repossessed items returned to us from Gringotts bank, including the majority of our furniture and supplies from the Hospital Wing, and we have also bought back our quality Hogwarts dinnerware. You'll also be pleased to hear that you no longer need to wash your own laundry and dishes, as our House Elves have also been returned to us."
She paused to give the four House tables an encouraging wolfish smile. "As you have doubtless noticed by now, we have some new staffers joining us this year, including our Groundskeeper, Mr. Cantwell; our History of Magic professor, Mr. Dursley; our Flying Instructor, Ms. Tyner; our Charms professor, Mr. Fuller; our visiting Care of Magical Creatures professor, Ms. Roman; and our visiting Arithmancy instructor, Mr. French, who couldn't make it to the feast this evening. Ms. Hadley has also moved subjects, from Arithmancy to Muggle Studies, and Ms. Elwood has stepped up as our Ravenclaw Head of House. Congratulations to all... Please give them a warm Hogwarts welcome and a round of applause." She paused again to allow for the applause.
"Now this year, we are going to place a renewed focus on academics, as that IS the reason we are all here today and the reason Hogwarts has stood strong for over 1,000 years. I expect you all to work hard and play hard and fair, and to be good examples and leaders for everyone you might encounter this year." Take that as they would. "With that, please enjoy the feast our OWN house elves have lovingly prepared, and good luck in your classes starting tomorrow."
Annie sat down with a sigh of contentment and watched as the steaming hot plates and bowls of food appeared all at once. Ah, now this was what a feast was supposed to be like.
Hearing the Headmistress' voice boom across the Great Hall, Sophie abandoned all her conversations and swirled to the side in her seat. Since she was a first year, she had no idea what most of the speech was about. Repossessed items? Did somebody not pay the bills or something? Meh. Sophie was just glad they starting paying them in time for her to come to school here.
Wash your own laundry and dishes?!
What in the name of Merlin went on last year?! She turned to Caleb and gave him a look that said something like 'Can you believe this?!'. Sophie couldn't tell the new professors from the old ones. Except for her grandmother. They were all new to her. She just nodded a few times like she was following along with every point made.
She could hear clapping, but she didn't know why. She just clapped along anyway, mainly because she didn't want any of her professors to be looking her way and remember her as the kid who didn't clap when their name was called. Work hard and play fair. She could do...most of that. When the speech was over, she turned back to the table, and...FOOD. Thank Merlin!