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On a raised dais situated at the farthest point of the Great Hall stands a long table where the members of the Hogwarts staff sit and enjoy their meal while casting a watchful eye out on the four House tables. Each staff member has an assigned, cushioned chair to sit on throughout the duration of the feast, though the more notable out of them all is the throne-like golden chair in the centre reserved for the headmaster.

Keep in mind that you should not be wandering up to the staff table if you are not a staff member before Headmaster Winterbottom has delivered his speech. Doing so may result in the loss of house points or other appropriate consequence before you even make it back to the dorms. If you wish to speak with someone who is seated up here, you will have to wait until after the speech has been said and there is food and drink on all of the tables. Make sure to keep your visit brief though -- the staff were also waiting on the food to appear and are just as hungry as you.

Was there ever going to be a time when the journey across the Lake wasn’t eventful? Dhruv doubted it. Truthfully, they wouldn’t have it any other way as the happenings always added extra joy to the entire process. Not to mention it kept them on their toes in terms of ensuring their charges arrived safely to the Castle. And they all did this time around like any other. Only then did the professor move to the Staff Table, taking their spot next to Ean. But not after greeting Kraetos and Sarika. He couldn’t help but wonder what other edible surprises the CoMC professor would bring out later, if any. As for Sarika, the duo was yet to plan their meditation dates. “Bartholomew made an appearance so naturally there was a mild uproar,’’ they informed Ean, amusement in their tone as they adjusted themself comfortably in their assigned seat. The fingers of one hand absently tapped against a thigh as they surveyed the Great Hall.


Sarika was happily perched on her seat, having greeted Kraetos and Ean earlier. Her feet were lightly swinging under the table as she reflected on the past summer which had been quite eventful. The biggest change to her life was that she was now married, but she wouldn’t be forcing everyone to call her by her new surname name. No, she’d be patient about that transition. Her attention shifted as Dhruv arrived. Sari’s gave them a big smile in return for the greeting. “Bartholomew delighting the new ones, I hope, more than potentially giving them a scare?”

Marcus had made sure to start early this year to make sure everything was prepared the way he hoped for his house and early classes. It helped that one thing or another had pulled various family members to other things as the end of summer rolled near providing the head of house an excuse to spend his own time away. As such as he looked at his watch after putting the finishing touches on a refreshed common room, he found himself running early for a change.

A quick clean up and swap of work clothes for deep blue robes later he was entering the Great Hall ready for the new term. And the surprise…he was one of the first handful of professors to arrive at the staff dais instead of one of the last. “Good evening,” he greeted his collegues as he passed first behind Kraetos, Ean and Dhruv on one side of the headmaster’s spot having entered from the left and then Sarika on his own side before taking his seat. Chuckling at hearing the talk about the resident giant squid. “I daresay he delights in doing both at times,” the former Ravenclaw remembering his own experiences with the creature during his school years.


Had she been in wolf form, Aurora would have certainly heard the growing energy of the Entrance and Great Halls before her feet finally stepped down the final stair. Only mildly distracted by the wonderful amplified smells to make her nose twitch. As it was the older woman was caught up in the energy of the Start of Term feast as much as the next new student joining her classes this term. It was infectious for sure. “Good evening everyone,” she greeted those gathered before her. A smile on her face, her skirts shifting as she sat and her voice just a little raised to get to everyone seeing as she was completely on one end of the table.

After all the pleasantries, Kraetos was enjoying a lovely snack. Fruit gushers, from the muggle side. But not to fear, he had some Toothflossing Stringmints as well. The excessive sweet did alot to one's teeth over time. On his way to take his seat, "My, my. Is that a new ring you're flashing, Sari? I can see the shine from a distance." Yes, he was exaggerating, but he loved to spotlight good company. Once he was seated, "Want one? I got a pack of fruit gushers or toothflossing stringmints." He offered to Ean and anyone else nearby. Ean declined, such a party pooper. Ravi at least was accepting. He imagined the other E might not be receptive to the candy either, but flossing candy was good for you! Surely, Marcus and Dhruv wouldn't deny a nice treat.

"Bart is always a treat." Kraetos commented. He had some memories of them as a student, but it was a blur for him reminiscing on his school days, all considering. He was good company the previous year, though. "Hmm.. is it just me or did the banners get a new coat of paint?"


Ean was in good spirits when he arrived. It was hard to believe that this was his tenth term teaching and healing at this school. "Evening." His smile greeted each of his colleagues, personally, before he relaxed naturally. He also couldn't help but feel like he forgot something... When his eyes overlooked the hall, checking on his lions, who seemed to be settling in nicely, along with his own babies... he remembered exactly whose presence was missing. But Jan and his friends were out there doing their best adulting. Meanwhile, he had another extra bundle to care for later.

"Looks like I'll be wagering in the Montrose Magpies this year." Ean said casually, while he opened the WHIM magazine to read while passing the time. Suddenly, he was craving some poultry. Which overcame his desire for any sweet treat, sorry Krae. "How lovely. Did good ol' Barty save a few this round?" It wasn't uncommon for the first years to attempt to take a swimming lesson right at the start of the year. He smiled at Sarika, who was dressed as nice as ever. There was even a glow to her, or did he imagine that?

New coat? "Hmm... perhaps." Ean hadn't really focused on that, but there does seem to be a little change. Maybe the Headmaster will acknowledge it if it's true.

Jasmine was over-the-moon on another summer past, this one filled with the excitement of a colleague, now friend, getting married. And of course all the time with her niece and nephew, but that went without saying.

As she passed by each of the colleagues on her way to their seat, giving them her customary shoulder squeeze, she paused an extra long moment by Ean's chair, glancing at what he was reading when he mentioned the Montrose Magpies. "They gained a good player, I agree, but I wouldn't rule out the Arrows." Having observed Jansher Grunt and Emma Montmorency the last two years, she knew that both teams would be ones to watch for certain.

"I'll take some toothflossing stringmints, if you're offering," She said to Kraetos, as she continued to her seat. Once seated she smiled warmly at her neighbors, Marcus and Sari, but it was Sari she was more interested in for girl-bonding reasons. "Can I see it again?" she eyed her friend, leaning in to give her that awkward side hug.

Summer had been a prolonged reminder of why he was perfectly content not to have children of his own. Playing the role of the cool uncle was quite enough responsibility. It required charm, selective engagement, and - most importantly - the perceived freedom to leave before conversations veered into the emotional equivalent of quicksand. The older they became, the more he realized he lacked the particular patience necessary to listen to the first world problems of his niece and nephew without eventually wondering if voluntary deafness was a viable lifestyle choice. Their concerns were earnest, he would grant them that, and even refreshing in small controlled doses... but listening and offering advice required a finesse he simply did not possess. Their parents, thankfully, did.

Still, when his nephew spent the better part of the summer unloading his innermost thoughts to him of all people, the solution presented itself with remarkable clarity. He informed Vashti of everything after their first faculty meeting and would her deal with the rest. Delegation, after all, was a perfectly acceptable and responsible form of care. Avoidance, something the bind runes inked into his skin attested to rather permanently, was apparently a trait that ran in families without requiring a shared blood. While Professor E. Cox recognized the pattern immediately, he also knew he couldn’t advise the boy without doing the one thing he was spectacularly unwilling to do.

And now here he was, slipping into the Great Hall later than was customary for someone with his reputation for punctuality, with one eyebrow half gone and the other blown clear off. Smoke still coiled lazily from the scorched bind-markings worked into the fabric of his deep sienna and navy robes. Students were only just beginning to file in as he shuffled toward the dais to join his colleagues, the low hum of overlapping conversations filling the once empty space with anticipation for the term ahead. They, his colleagues, were all already talking... laughing, exchanging stories, lives intersecting and overlapping with an ease he had never quite mastered. He felt briefly, acutely, like a foreign body introduced into a closed system.

One cuff glowed faintly, as if threatening to reignite, and pulled him from such inconvenient thoughts as he flicked his wrist to extinguished it with a muttered incantation. He paused at his seat - blessedly at the very end of the table - and adjusted his collar while attempting to brush soot from his sleeve. The effort only spread it more efficiently, the dark smear far too reminiscent of ink. Bind runes were temperamental things at the best of times. Encouraging three of them to cooperate under time pressure had been… optimistic.

And moronic.

Still, the failure had yielded useful data.

He inclined his head toward his colleagues in a way that loosely translated to 'yes, I am aware I am smoking, and no, I am not on fire anymore' while quietly hoping that sparkling rings, insufferable snacks, quidditch, and Bartholomew Henry would provide sufficient distraction from his current condition.

“Good evening, Marcus,” Dhruv greeted. There was a chuckle from them at the comment about Bart. “There’s so much truth in that. It sounds like you may have had your own experiences with Bart when you were a student? And you too, Kraetos?” As for the offer of sugars, they debated silently before saying, “I’ll take Toothflossing Stringmints, please.” Aurora wasn’t far behind, and the DADA professor gave her a polite nod.

Dhruv was quite distracted, even as they scanned the Great Hall, their gaze lingering momentarily over the Slytherin table. They thought about the graduates from last term, missing their faces. On the bright side, it meant there would be new Slytherins, and new students in general to know, some of whom they had already conversed with earlier. “That would make a lot of sense,’’ they responded to Ean, quite determined not to stare at anywhere, or anyone, in particular. “Don’t forget to order some of the team’s memorabilia,’’ they half joked. “Bart did. It’s clearly become tradition that at least one student will take a dunk in the lake during this time.” Should they put charms around the boats to prevent that? It was something they would ponder upon more at another time. “Oh yes, Sari. No need to worry, Bart and the students seem to be off to a good start. Perhaps this will encourage him to visit more often.” Those words were hardly out of Dhruv’s mouth when they felt the hand on their shoulder. Even before looking up, they knew to whom the hand belonged to. “Hallo, Jasmine.” They patted her hand affectionately, leaving her to have the Quidditch conversation with Ean. A movement at the end of the table, to their right, caught their attention. It turned out to be Cox brushing his sleeve though… that seemed to make things worse? Dhruv sent him a nod in reply to the head inclination.



“Hello, Marcus,” came Sarika’s simple but friendly greeting. “I take it you were doing some last minute preparations?” It was not uncommon for professors to do so, she herself being a part of such at times. “Good evening, Aurora.’’ The Transfiguration professor was greeted as she made her way to the end of the table. Hearing Kraetos mention her name, she turned her attention to him, giving him a bright smile. “You know it is,’’ she replied, laughing in that husky voice of hers. The entire staff had been invited to the wedding. “I’ll do my best not to let you be blinded, but I can’t promise anything.” The Divination woman was teasing, naturally. “I’ll have some fruit gushers, thanks.” Krae was always nice enough to share, so she wouldn’t refuse his offer.

Catching Ean’s smile, Sari returned one of her own. Yes, indeed she was glowing. Without really thinking about it, she hoped Ean would have that same glow someday. She beamed as she saw Jasmine approaching; they always had much to chat about whenever they met up. “Why am I not surprised that these would be the first words you say?” Laughing softly, Sarika extended her hand in Jas’ direction so that the yellow sapphire ring was on display for her friend. “Laz has excellent taste, doesn’t he?” With her facing her friend’s direction, it allowed her to notice that Cox had arrived, smoke apparently his companion of choice that evening. Mercifully he seemed to be in no danger so Sarika sent a smile his way, instead of a concerned warning.

Everything was prepared and ready in her office and in the Hufflepuff areas for the new term, but Vashti liked to double - or perhaps this was more like a quintuple - check just to be certain. Once she was satisfied, she headed down to the Great Hall for the Start of Term Feast, arriving shortly after most of the other professors had arrived.

"Good evening," she greeted each of her colleagues - Cox, Ravi, Kraetos, Ean, Dhruv, Sarika, Jasmine, Marcus, Bleu, and Aurora - as she passed by them to take her seat between Marcus and Bleu. Cox's smoking sleeves did not escape her notice, but he appeared to have that under control, so it merely drew a curious brow raise from her. The new snacks that Kraetos had brought were noted too, though she did decline the offer - Vashti wasn't especially hungry at the moment, so it seemed best to her to save room for the feast the elves had prepared. Sarika's ring was noted too, and a beautiful ring it was! Vashti was very happy for her colleague; she and her husband seemed like a wonderful couple.

Her eyes also wandered to the Hufflepuff table, where new and returning students seemed to be getting along well thus far, even if this was merely the beginning.

"I trust everyone had an enjoyable summer?" She posed the question to the quieter end of the table with Aurora, but it was open to anyone who felt inclined to jump in.

Wilbur was late, was late, for a very important date! Or rather, a feast and a speech in this case.

The not-too-old man jogged along the way, nearly bumping into a few students in the Entrance Hall who were loitering, shooing them onward with a cheery, "Best find yourselves a seat soon! You won’t want to miss this speech, I assume you. It’ll be brighter than a festival tent full of swooping fwoopers but twice as colourful and less noisy!" One student happened to graciously offer him some colourful feathers to adorn, and why, he couldn’t resist that. The feathers were quickly folded to resemble a circlet around his shiny head. He eventually stopped short of the doors when he made his grand entrance. His face was sun-kissed from the reminiscence of the summer heat, waving as a sparkle of stars left his bedazzled hands. The Sorting Hat had long been put away by one of the staff members. Due to his early absence, Professor Menon had the Frog Choir step in to fill the gap with a splendid rendition of the Hogwarts theme song. It was a shame he missed out on the earlier conversations and snacks, but this display was a treat on its own.

Beaming, he shuffled down the rows of tables toward the dais, his hands rising and falling like a conductor’s (but of an old habit from his days leading the Hogwarts Choir) guiding the final echoes of laughter and chatter as they rang through the hall as his own boisterous voice joined in the final few notes of the school’s esteemed anthem - his own tune reminiscent of that of Greensleeves as was so beloved by his dearly departed wife.

As the last of the voices were still echoing off the stone walls, the Headmaster stepped up to the podium amidst the applause, his fingernails individually painted with all of Hogwarts house colours. His eyes twinkled as he looked upon each of the students before offering his Hogwarts faculty that was equal parts appreciation (for maintaining merriment and order in his absence) as it was effervescent. His positively besotted disposition would surely come as no surprise to any of them, considering his bubbly like a cauldron set to high heat pitch during an earlier faculty meeting. With a flourish, he turned towards the Great Hall with his arms once again held high and waited for the noise to settle down to quiet.

Pausing, he smiled, before brandishing his hands out, "Welcome! Welcome! To another year at Hogwarts!" Wilbur breathed out a gleeful sigh of relief. “It brings me great pleasure seeing all returning and newly sorted faces here. Be thoughtful, be wise, be patient, be resourceful, and of course, make good use of the time you have dedicated to your studies and making friendships harbour.” Adding, "This year, we have a slight change in staff, our resounding History of Magic Professor, who once graced these halls as Head Girl, Professor Amstern, now serves as Head of Hufflepuff house." Allowing time for her to make an acknowledgement amidst the applause.

"Now that’s not all the news we have today. Having spent a summer dedicated to the fine arts and learning about the importance of fresh change, behold, you may have noticed a fresh coat of paint amongst the hallways. This year we will be dedicating to promoting House unity and Hogwarts pride, rounding off the year with a little big something I think you all will find quite festive. In due time, you will receive further details through your Professors and Head of Houses." But of course, he would not say much more. The mystery of such events is left to one’s imagination and anticipation. "Now, on the more competitive side of said House pride. Gobstones and Quidditch tryouts will take place among our other extracurricular activities. Be sure to take a look at notices around the school for that, as well as speaking with Professor Feirgrund for information on joining Summer Gobstones and Professor Springer for Summer Quidditch through U-17."

He paused to allow this information to sink in and finally lowered his arms while his hands and fingers remained as animated as ever.

"As said throughout the years, I strongly caution all students from taking a stroll through the Forbidden Forest unsupervised and without permission. If you happen to see something or someone attempting to enter or arrive from the forest, do tell, as the safety of others most certainly is the exception to all tattletale peer pressures. I’m quite sure their ghost would’ve appreciated someone looking out for them." And finally, some closure, "Now, with all that said and done. I offer you some key advice to make your year one for the books: Take note of your surroundings and think, how can I improve? Where can I improve? The choice is in your hands. And with that said." Clapping his hands, a shower of glitter flew from under the sleeves of his robes, before the tables filled with all the food. "Dig in!"

And fear not, dear colleagues ― he had a perfectly marvellous pun waiting in the wings, stretching its legs and clearing its throat, as tradition so cheerfully dictated.

"To be honest, it's all a blur! But Barty always gave a friendly wave when my friends and I took a dip during the warm spring days." At least during the more peaceful years. As for the other E, on the far side of their table, my, he was looking smoking hot. That wasn't his way to flirt; it was the truth! Perhaps Ean would offer him some assistance on that.

Kraetos felt like a dealer with the amount of snacks he handed out. And good thing too, since the Headmaster was unusually late (from the typical standards). When the last student was sorted, he went ahead to call forth the Frog Choir members to perform their rendention of the Hogwarts theme. Perhaps nature took a calling to Wilbur? The show must go on, they say.


Ean was thinking about everything these days, he smirked, "I think Firash will be sending some shortly, knowing him." If he was proud, imagine the how the Head of Games & Sports was with their own pride and joy following his lead into the Professional league. Sarika and Jasmine were enjoying a healthy discussion on her wedding. It was an unforgetable experience. His eyes then looked towards the Gryffindor table and.. hmm. That master Melo-Dreamer fellow seemed to be running. Not the first time, and surely he'll hear about this soon. Also, there seemed to be something going on in the Ravenclaw table. He glanced in Marcus's direction in case they both needed to head over or if he would send them to his Office/Hospital Wing area after.

Thoughts were interrupted though, once Wilbur finally made his entrance. He was looking quite festive today with the extra colours. Once the feast began, he took a few bites of his meal before getting up to make his rounds. Can't help out effectively on an empty stomach, after all.