The words interesting and quiet put together in a sentence to describe a school year at Hogwarts seemed to contradict each other, Gretchen thought, experience from her own school years - which hadn't been all that long ago - taught her that much. It was a politely vague response, but the woman didn't mind in the least. "That's good." Re-arranging a couple of backward-facing bags, Gretchen's brown eyes moved back on to the pair of students as young Arya asked a question of her own.

Blinking as Charles looked to her first, Gretchen brushed off her wandering thoughts and forced a smile to reappear, the smile becoming more sincere as she turned her own gaze back onto Arya and Sabel. "I'm just here to help friends." Gretchen answered happily. "So have either of you looked into careers as of yet?"

The gifts? "Oh no, not these. These are gift bags for the guests." important guests, Gretchen had been informed. Casting Alexander a curious look, unable to not notice the man seemed to be looking for someone, Gretchen said nothing about that but gestured toward the gift bags. "Care to take one?"

Blinking her brown eyes, a slight look of puzzlement crossed her face. Why would they be lucky to meet her? Lord Borr was the host - kind of - of this party, people were here to see and meet him. Not her. Instead of replying, Gretchen just smiled and hummed a soft, short hum.

"That sounds exciting, though. New Department, new changes for the better." Gretchen was pretty sure that wasn't everything that had been going on, but she left further details on the subject alone. Before she could say anything else to Charles, another student had come up to the table. Gretchen smiled sweetly at the apparently nervous young girl, "Hello there, would you like a gift bag?" Or a question answered? Gretchen wasn't sure.

Right...hand shakes. She wished that her father's calm voice had been the one to enter her head and her her overbearing mother's. Oh well, at least this woman wasn't like Dragon Lady and would turn her into a newt...or something worse...for her stuttering. "I'm Kurumi, Kurumi Hollingberry," she said ignoring the handshake, on accident, and bowing again.


Kurumi looked at the other woman who had spoken and actually breathed this time before going into panic mode - which seemed to help her nerves a bit. "Actually I was wondering..." she trailed off for a moment casting her gaze on the gift bags. "We get gift bags?" Hopefully they were better than the t-shirts they had been given. "Forgive me for sounding ungrateful...but, why do we get gift bags?" Maybe she should have brought more cookies. Kurumi tightened her grip on the box and the top opened a bit to release some of the blueberry aroma that had been trapped inside.

Sabel wasn't expecting an introduction from the man that was there, nor the rather strange compliment he received. Not too sure what to say, he gave the man a respectful nod of his head. "Thank you...I'll be sure to pass the compliment onto my parents---father." Biting his bottom lip, he drew his hand back. It was thanks to them he had the manners he did, but he could only thank one of them.

Shifting his weight, he cast the man a bit of a strange look when he complimented Arya's name in the way he did. Or maybe it was the expression Charles had when he made the statement. Either way it was impossible not to move a little closer to her and wrap his arm around her waist, albeit in a casual gesture so as not to arouse suspicion as to his defensiveness.

To cover it up, he gave Gretchen a small nod. "Security work...ITF or Auror." A glance was spared between the two adults, confusion furrowing his brow. "The Ministry has been revamped?" This was certainly news to him.

Kurumi. What a lovely name she had. "So Kurumi, I am guessing your a Hogwarts student?" Anastasia asked, she did look younger, so she probably didn't work in the minerstry, "I work at the Minerstry of Magic, in the Magical Creatures department" Anastasia told Kurumi a little bit about herself.

Arya didn't know what to make of the look the man was gave her with the complement, but before she could put any thought into it, Sabel had snacked his arm around her waist proving to be enough of a distraction. She leaned on him a bit, letting a smile twitched its way onto her expression as she looked up at the man. "Thank you."

She nodded her head at his response to her question, not really surprised by the response. He seemed the type to go into ministry or the like. It was Gretchen's response that had her wondering what friends the woman was referring to. And this time she did have a bit to think on it while Sabel spoke of his possible future careers.

Her response was to shrug one shoulder nonchalantly. "I'm still not to sure what I want to do specifically, but I'd like it to be with creatures." Despite OWL's and all the questions she was suddenly receiving about her future, she'd still neglected sit down and really think on the subject. Careers wasn't her biggest priority at the moment. Curiosity flickered onto her expression at Sabel's question, and she looked at the two adults expectantly.

A bit surprised, Alexander nodded toward the gift bags. From what he knew of Borr, he'd have guessed the man would have a gift bag table for his own gifts, but then again, Alexander also guessed there just might be one that he hadn't actually come across yet. He overheard that there was also some sort of book lying around where party-goers could document their praise for Borr. Hmm...

Did he care to take a gift bag, though? Hmm... His curiosity had gotten the best of him by now, and if he knew Borr at all, he'd bet there were some mighty decent gifts inside that bag. Giving Gretchen a polite smile, he said, "I believe I will have one. Thank you, Gretchen."

OOC for Charles: Did you mean to quote my last post and not put any text? Just wondering if there was meant to be text there.

Gretchen blinked, slightly puzzled by the young girl's words. Was she wondering about the gift bags, or was it something else? There had been a pause there. Dismissing the puzzlement, she waved a hand toward a bag near the girl, welcoming her to take it. "You do." Why? Gretchen blinked. That was the second time someone asked that question, she still found it to be an odd question. "Because it's nice to give a little gift to those of whom attend the celebration." She offered with a smile.
"Those are both very honorable career choices, very noble." Gretchen remarked, though thoughtfully. "Any particular reason for choosing that path, or is it just something that interests you?"
The young woman smiled more as Arya spoke of wanting to work with creatures. These two, they would make a difference. Gretchen was sure of it. "You like creatures? Another very good choice. There are many fields that work with creatures, from healing to breeding to rescuing; You'll have plenty of options to choose from when the time comes."
As she finished putting together the last of the unprepared gift bags, Gretche n smiled and offered it to Alexander. "You're welcome." She said, unable to help but add rather curiously, "Are you expecting to run into someone at the party? Perhaps I could point you in the right direction." Gretchen had noticed his occasional scan of the crowd.

Keeping his dark eyes at the Throne Dias, Ren deftly made his way through the crowd towards the Gift table, where he spotted the lovely blonde at the corner of his eye "Hello there Gretchen." he greeted her quietly but clearly as he took his place behind the table, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he watched the Hogwarts guests squirm and fake pleasantries with Lord Borr. It sounded like they were being made to sing? Usually he would roll his eyes and grow impatient with such frivolity, but he quelled a sigh and kept his face pleasant but detached. Not exactly his preferred form of entertainment, but he does enjoy watching them squirm.

One recruit down, Morgana only knows how many more he could convert before the day was out. Having spotted his bro from where he was in the buffet area he ducked over to the gift bag table with a smirk on his face.

"Wonder how many times they can pass that little blonde around before she vomits on them all," he said as he slid in behind the table. He was SO not helping, but the view from here was better. Heheh.

Ren smirked at Alex. He's had his eye on that same blonde child since he got there. Something quite enticing flinging a child around like that.

And now there was another child-- a brunette, offering cookies to Lord Borr. Brows crease slightly. Oh child, have no one told you not to feed that which you have no idea how it would react?

"Well the fact that the little blonde is still standing means that she either has incredible lung capacity or her guts are made of sterner stuff."

Maybe watching children isnt such bad entertainment after all.

Alex couldn't help but chuckle a bit as Ren spoke. "Looks like she is trying to eat Tate's shirt or something. This is too much fun. Glad we took the time off to come witness this," he said quietly as he watched the scene with great amusement.

He would probably die laughing if Borr smacked one of them with that scepter. Oh please, hit a child with something, old man. PLEASE.

"That would be one good thing that would come from these shirts." Ren mumbled as he looked down at his own sweater vest transformed tshirt, trying to keep his mind from drifting too long at the image of the blonde child with her mouth stuffed with the blue fabric.

Then he shifted his eyes at Alex, the shirts had a primary purpose" How is the recruiting going on brother? Any potetinally gifted ones amongst the masses?"

"We can set them on fire later, bro. THAT will be the best the shirts have to offer," he said with a smirk. Yes. Fire.

"One thus far. Bartender at the Leaky. Hook, line, and sinker, dude. Ryoma Shiradou. Told him we'd be in touch soon. There is a kid... needs some manners taught to him, I believe. Seems to be quite a little mouthpiece about how this event is a joke and then he ran into me," Alex said swiftly, keeping the anger from flashing in his eyes.

He did not care for that kid one bit. And he was up on the dais right now. Fancy that.

Alexander accepted the gift bag with a smile yet didn't open it right away. Gretchen was fairly busy here at the gift table, and he really should be saying his goodbyes and taking his leave. He started to do just that but paused quickly when Gretchen spoke first.

"That obvious, hmm?" he said with a laugh. "I am, but I'm sure I can manage finding them on my own. It was good catching up with, Gretchen, and thank you again." On that last note, he held up the gift bag and nodded toward it. A moment later, he'd turned and headed back into the mix of the party.

Ah yes fire. Alex sure was one for flames "We shred the shirts up first, be easier to burn them." and that was mostly because he so enjoyed cutting things up.

He nodded his head silently at the potential new recruit. Shiradou. Bartender Leaky. Yes quite easy to remember, not to mention a perfectly placed. Brows creased again as Alex mentioned a kid needing some manners "And where is this little mouthpiece brother?"

Alex gave a slight chuckle. "But of course. What fun would it be if you didn't get to cut things up before I played with fire?" he said with a rather disconcerting smirk.

Alex pointed a finger toward the dais. "The one holding the little blonde's hand actually. Real pain, that one. I already warned him that he needed to be a bit more careful. Not sure it got through though," he added quietly, smirking still.

With the event moving on and the children busy with their Headmaster and Borr, the line of people had suddenly disappeared. Not that she minded, especially not when Ren turned up and Alexander returned. She really didn't want to be left on her own with Charles.

Listening to what she could of what was going on elsewhere, Gretchen's attention did turn toward the two men after a moment, Ryoma being mentioned just barely registering with her. A slight frown worried at her lips, brown eyes now on Ren and Alex. "You two behave. We're not here to teach children manners today, if Lord Borr doesn't have any of our heads for interrupting his party The Prophet will." She said in a soft undertone as not to be overheard.

And Gretchen was not talking about the Daily Prophet. She was talking about Martel.

"Oh, well, that is very kind," Kurumi chirped. Not to mention right in line with the way she had been raised. Kurumi turned her gaze to the pretty blonde girl and blushed. "Sorry for such a bold question. I-I feel a bit overwhelmed by all this." Although, Kurumi was not talking about the party exactly.

Kurumi's gaze flicked around to the other two people who had arrived in the area. Shiradou? Hadn't she just met a man with that name? It certainly hadn't been Ryoma though. It had been something different and he had been really creepy with his sunglasses. Kurumi was probably starring at the two men...a little too much.

Ren matched Alex's disconcerting smirk. Ah yes, rockin' n rollin', cuttin' n' burnin', just like the old days. This side of the Wizarding World has no idea what they just let casually in through the doors.

He turned his head as he tried to see who it was that Alex was pointing at. Right now he could only see the back of the boy's head. But he figured that the student will have to turn around and return to their seats, from which he will be able to see the his face.

He angled his head slightly as Gretchen spoke, not breaking any eye contact with the Little Mouthpiece "Don't worry Gretchen, Alex and I are at our best behavior today." he said as he flashed a reassuring smile. And it was the truth, there arent any outbreaks of fire or blood spilling yet now is there?

He then hears his name boomed from the dias "The Great One is singing my song. If you could excuse me a moment..." he said as he squared his shoulders and marched for the Dias.

"Keep your knickers on, Gretchen. No one will do anything rash," Alexa echoed Ren with a snort. Not now... with all of these witnesses anyway.

Hearing Ren's name Alex smiled slightly and joined in a short burst of applause as he watched his brother, for all intents and purposes, strut off to be with Lord Borr. Better him than Alex. At this distance he could escape the stench.

Armen decided it was time to mix with the People and not just the special guests with him up on the dias with Lord Borr. The department Head had been walking around smiling and waving at strangers until he noticed a table laden with gift bags. Oh he was definately getting one of these!

The 35 year old walked over and began to peer inside of them. Hmmm interesting. He decided he was defiantely going to get one now, taking a large bag for himself.

At the security check in Clarissa had heard from some other guests that gift bags were given out during the party. Leaving the seating area after some food and drink the red head moved over to check out the gift bags. She was more curious as to what was in the bag rather than getting one. As it came to be she happened to be up at the gift bag table next to a dark brown haired man about her age. Gesturing towards the bags she asked "Any idea what is in the bags? Think it matters if you take a big or a small one?"

Adjusting the very dislikable t-shirt a little she thought back at the encounter with Valentina earlier. Around that woman Clarissa didn’t seem to be able to do anything right hopefully they could become good friends down the line when the other woman’s bruise had healed.

Standing in front of the gift bag table, Leonidas' hands were still exposed and his emerald
ring shown brilliantly in the light. He looked around for the wandmaker, Mr Bryce, but there were so many people here that even he was lost. His trip to the shop had been unsuccessful, but he was sure to catch him sooner or later. He turned to see the people gathering around all the tables and wondered if they really had all of those friends and acquaintes or just people that they had passed. While standing there, he sensed that the table was staffed by Cult members. He looked at them through the corner of his eye. Yes, I know your secret. and once Mr Bryce meets up with me, I'll know for sure just how high you rank. He wasn't sure whether they were the ones to even talk to. But the wandmaker will figure that out for him. He was getting bored just standing there looking around. He pulled back his sleeve a little to look at the time.

He knew he was supposed to be meeting Leonidas at the celebration but where exactly and at what time...that part they hadn't figured out. Not that the wandmaker minded of course. It gave him time to mingle with others and whatnot; time to enjoy himself.

However, he was heading up to the gift table anyhow to grab one for Colby, who reaaallly needed to lighten up! He was putting a damper on the parteh!

Once he got there though, all SMILES and GRINS, his gaze landed on a quite familiar man. Ohhh so this is where he'd been hiding all this time? The gift bags must have been more popular then he had though! "Hello Leonidas." he greeted, holding out his hand for a friendly shake. "Haven't been waiting long, have you?"

"Not too terribly long. But I have your gift in my pouch for when you take me to the right people. this really is a big thing, isn't it? I come from the northern part of England, and we only really celebrate when someone dies. So, you can see why I stand in a public place. Wait, wait just one moment. I'll Pick out your bag for you." And he gave Mr Bryce a wink. He knew some of the bags were cursed, so he gave him one that wasn't as he waved his hand over the bags. "Here. Take this one. It's safer than some. So, shall we get on to business then? Introduce me to a few upper ranked people you know? I know this gentleman and woman behind me are members, but I'm not sure on how they rank."