Tapio feared he was running a little late for the Closing Feast. He had been putting a few plantings and student projects to rights just beforehand and then had had to stop to wash the dirt out from under his fingernails before hurrying up from the greenhouses to the castle.
All in all, it had been a pretty successful first year, he thought to himself as he strode along the grounds with his long legs. Classes hadn't gone too badly, though he was still getting the hang of things, and his Festival of Lights event back in February had been very well received. He felt he was starting to get to know people, and they him, and hopefully folks weren't as put off by his large and odd appearance as in the beginning. But as pleasant as he found Hogwarts and its nearby village, Hogsmeade, Tapio was looking forward to meeting up with his wife, who would be concluding one of her creature-hunting expeditions just as the school year ended. They were meeting up in Vienna for some much-needed quality time (a very romantic city, Vienna!) and would then collect their two children (who both thought of themselves as quite grown up) for a family holiday.
Upon entering the Hall through the staff entrance, Tapio saw that the Headmaster was already there and a colleague or two, but he did not seem to be the last to arrive, so that was all right, then. "Good evening, Kamran!" Good evening, Leanne," he called to them as he took his seat at the long staff table and looked out over the Hall at the arriving students.
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