Last term had been not dreadful. It hadn't been Alfred's best term here at Hogwarts during his afterlife, though. What with trying to copy the Baron's mannerisms in the hopes of being less of a wet blanket...well, it hadn't worked. The Friar wasn't surprised, but he just wanted to get out of this slump he was in.

All of this was washed away at the sigh of the new badgers. Fresh little guys! Smiling faces! All of it pleased the ghost enormously, and he floated cheerfully towards the yellow clad table.

"Welcome, first years and transfers! You are all very lucky to have been placed here!" He said loudly enough for most of them to hear. "And Derfael, congratulations on that prefect badge! You certainly deserve it!" he beamed.