"8 years? Wow thats a long time. Which position did you play?" Mere asked. She knew a little bit about quidditch but not that much.



She gave the new professor a smile. He seemed lost in thought about something so she didn't make conversation at the moment.

"Alessia, my dear, you wait this long to greet me? My heart will surely break. Come." He gave her a warm, paternal -- and entirely genuine-- smile, holding out his hand to encourage her to come to him so he could greet her properly with a hug.

Alex's face softened as she noted her young friends concern, "Dont worry about me dear, I've been through worse than this and I made it out ok." she said with a wink and pat to Ang's shoulder. She was about to continue when she over heard another professor addressing a student.
Alex gave the man a strange look and muttered to Ang, "Well that was a bit harsh on the poor girl." Shaking her head she wondered why the old man thought it was his job, or place, to speak to a grown man in that fashion, especially a collegue!

Trey sauntered up to the staff table looking to see if there were any teachers that looked familiar from his previous stint at Hogwarts. However the teacher he recognized was not one from then, however one he had run across in Diagon Alley. Not to mention this teacher did not let it known that he was in fact a teacher. Ethan Truebridge was in the bar that day when Trey helped a student 'act a little older'. In fact that student was also up at the staff table. And it appears had no idea about 'Professor' Truebridge either.

Trey slowly approached Anna, the Gryffindor Prefect and lightly tugged at her school robe. He then closed in and whispered lightly into her ear, "Umm, Anna. There is a slight problem," he said motioning towards the other end of the table where Truebridge was sitting, unbeknownst to her.

"Beater," Vindictus replied with a smile. "I came out of retirement for the last World Cup. Five appearances for good ol' England." He glanced about the table and wondered when they would be allowed to eat.

"Yes sir," Ethan paused before amending, "At least I can take points instead if a student harms the tomes, no?" Ethan responded, "And I got a new wand recently so perhaps that might help my... err... temper."

The smirk.

Was shudder inducing.


"Hmm." Truebridge responded, "That one needs a lesson or two."

He shifted his feet and felt a little pull but thought nothing of it.

Forrester felt jerked out of his reverie as he felt the sensation of a body moving around his feet, he looked down to discover his shoes had been tied together! Fuming, he untied and retied them at once, looking for a possible guilty party. He muttered something under his breath and glanced around once more, only to see one of the new women smiling at him. The familiar one. Did she smile because she was kind? Or did she smile because she knew him? Hm. Tough call. He returned the smile, however, and put some food on his plate, and pushed at it with his fork. Sighing again, he poured himself a beverage and took a gulp. This term was definitely going to be different.

Lyra giggled once again from Vindictus' comment. "Hmmm. It's always on a girl's mind. We have to look our best for the gentlemen to see." She gave a grin showing her teeth.

When Anna felt someone tug on her school robes, she turned around, confused as to why someone would tug on her robes and not just talk to her normally. "Oh, hey, Tr--," she started to say, but she stopped when he leaned forward. It seemed as if he had something important to tell her. Something he couldn't just say outloud for anyone and everyone to hear. Well, that at least explained the robe-tugging. "A problem? Yeah, I've already seen that staff members shoelaces are tied together," she said, talking about Cela's recent little mischievous act. That hadn't been what Trey was talking about, though. He was motioning towards the end of the table, and Anna looked up to see just who he was so upset about at the moment. "Treeey, I don't get it. They're just the new pro---." Once again, Anna stopped short, and her eyes grew wider then she ever imagined they could grow. "Trey!" Anna half-whispered. "Why is Ethan-Frazzling-Truebridge sitting at our staf's table?!?"

Ah, a babbling badger this boy was. Still, he was just a firstie and therefore not yet a bratty teenager. Anastasia could be patient for this one.

"Yes, I do teach Herbology," she said politely, still smiling. "Muggle gardening is just excellent, I'm sure you'll be great at Herbology." She was liking Set already, especially since he had just complimented her class.

"I'm afraid I have no idea who Shaketon? Shacklebun? is," she replied though, frowning a bit. "This is my first term here, you see." And what a term it would be.

It was a shame Bunbury hadn't been of much help to the overager Hufflepuff; thus she was still frowning when she turned back toward Ethan.

But how she frown at him? The man was just so darn....amusing. Anastasia felt like she was at a Muggle circus the two times she had encountered him thus far - and then she remembered that he didn't have a sense of humour. Alas, she could always laugh at him. Heh.

"Prada is just one of my many favorites," Anastasia replied casually, waving her hand as she spoke. "Chanel, Gucci, Givenchy, Christian Dior...there's just so many Muggle designers out there, as I'm sure you know."

She smirked and raised an eyebrow at the fork he was brandishing. "Perhaps you should wipe that off before eating with it, Ethan...."

Annie was about to add something about the perils of pointy forks when lo and behold, a teenager with manners actually approached her.

The woman's ice blue eyes did their preliminary scan up and down the girl's figure, taking note of her somewhat fashionable appearance. Hmm. Perhaps this one would be easier to get along with than the brat from Diagon Alley.

"Muggle fashion, I did indeed did reference that," Anastasia replied carefully, smiling slightly at the blonde. "Would you happen to know something about haute couture, dear?" Unlikely, but she could always feign politeness and ask.

She stood from her seat and made her way to the man she considered more family than her own parents. She hugged him, taking in that familiar scent. "I've missed you so..." she whispered.

Kazimeriz glanced at the woman, his expression not changing but his eyes giving her a glare that would freeze lava. He pursed his liver-coloured lips, contemplating speaking, then decided not to. He had no intention of defending his decisions as a master of this school to anyone, much less a younger and far more inexperienced professor. He returned his gaze to Truebridge.

Professor Kazimeriz smirked at him. "I believe that's your responsibility now, isn't it, young man?" He quirked an eye toward the insolent young Slytherin. "No one will do it for you. Or perhaps cheek is acceptable in your presence?" He gave him a challenging look, wanting to see what Truebridge was made of. Will he have the gumption to make an example of the child, or will he be facing a career of facing down insolent young punks?

His attention was broken by Alessia's presence. He returned the embrace warmly from his position in his seat. "And I, you. You look well, dear. Pray tell me, where have you been keeping yourself?"

Ella looked over the staff table from her house table to see if can get anything funny to relish with. There were some new faces..pretty happy..remorseful..and happy too. And ...oh..wait..who was that?! Her eyes widened at the site of the so called hyper woman was sitting on the row. Oh..Merlin's beard..what she was doing..oh..great..a Proffesor! Well..well..Her mood was turned upbeated now.

She got up walked over the table..approached the woman..the banana hater..the honourable recipient of green spiky hair.."Excuse me...ma'am, How have you been?" said as she leaned in, smirking.

Chris Potter a second year Gryffindor student walked nervously up to the staff table to the porfessors on the dial. "G-Good Evening Professors." he said smiling. " I am just soo happy to return to Hogwarts this year and those of you who were here last year, thank you for your kindness and welcoming me to this school. And to those new professors it is me welcoming you to this new term. I cant wait to attend all of your classes this term." He smiled as he pulled a bag from behind him. "My father the historian Wilkinson Potter, took me to China with him this summer to study the Ancient Chinese wizards. While we were there we went to the Chinese Fire-Ball dragon reservation." he put his hand in the bag a pulled out a harmless (he had made sure of that before he bought them) little blue dragon that fit in his palm. It moved around and looked up at the staff table. "I took the liberty of buying each of you one of these little models, so that you can feel my thanks for teaching me." he smiled at each professor as he placed one on the table in front of them.

Talking in a loud whisper, Trey turned back to Anna. "I have no idea what he is doing. He never once mentioned being a Hogwarts staff member did he?" He asked her before recalling the scene in his head of Anna talking with Truebridge and laying down a white lie that she was quite a bit older then she really was. Trey had decided to help out in that matter. For what reason, noone knew. But now there were pressing matters. "What do you suggest we do? I mean he does know that I am a student. So I can talk to him I suppose." Trey was just blurting things out. He really didn't know what to say in this matter. His mind raced, as he hoped Anna had some kind of idea cooked up.

Angela smiled slightly as Alex reassured her that all would be fine. "I certainly hope so...and you know to come to me if you ever need something." She just hoped that Alex's natural stubborn nature wouldn't rule over in a potentially dangerous situation.

Glancing towards an older professor...and she used the term older loosely (more like oldest wizard that she had ever seen), Angela studied him for a moment. He carried an aura about him that spoke of much experience and no patience for ignorance, and for expected obedience.

"Guess we all have our own strategies to bring about obedience." She murmured back, glancing towards Max with slight surprise as he actually looked shameful at the reprimand. What on earth?

Professor Kazimeriz leaned toward the student, inspecting the gift. "Bribery is ill-advised and unacceptable. Five points from Gryffindor for trying to influence the staff ...and you're lucky it's not more for taking protected species from the reserves. Please deliver these to the Care of Magical Creatures professor for safe return to their reserve at once. And apologize to the staff for your misdeeds." He glared at the child.

And the woman spoke more of the language she loved. This was definitely one she could get along with and maybe she would understand her a little more. "Ah, why yes I do," Lyra smirked with both eye brows raised. "I am learning the Paris fashion since it is my profession during the summers. I will pay closer attention once I leave Hogwarts for a few years in runways or catwalks if you must know.

"But to comment on the sweet words of fashion designers you speak of, you forgot about Dolce and Gabbana as well." That was her favorite brand and the ones that seemed to like her style the most when it came to modeling fashion. Now she was able to throw around names and look more like a muggle than a witch. Was this a bad thing or a good thing? To her it was good and that was all that mattered.

Anna eyed E---Eth---UGH. She suddenly felt that it wasn't the brightest idea to refer to the man as Ethan anymore. She doubted he was really a professor, but if he worked alongside the real professors in some manner, Anna would probably be expected to call him Mr. Truebridge or something. Ewww, no. Anna shook her head. "No, he didn't. He said he was a...a...a something on Broadway or something like that. Whatever that is. I think he works in research or something," Anna said. "He can't be a professor. He just doesn't seem like the type." Anna shrugged and moved Trey to where he was standing directly between Anna and Ethan. Maybe if Trey stayed there, Ethan Truebridge would never see Anna. "Well, one thing's for sure, I'm staying away from that man during his little visit here," Anna said.

"Thank you... I've been in France..." She said letting the word linger. "I will speak to you more later about it, if you will allow me to come to your office and make you some coffee.

"Coffee is unkind to an old man's digestion. I would be pleased to have you in for tea, however. I'm eager to hear of your adventures, dear." He smiled before turning his attention back to the dragon-toting Gryffindor, his countenance returning to a glare as he waited for the boy to obey his orders.

"I know Ang, and I will if its ever something I cant handle on my own." Opening her mouth the speak again, she heard the old man take points from another student, a Gryffindor. One of her Gryffindors.

"He was only trying to be nice." Alex said to the older man, trying very hard to keep her face calm and reasonable, "I dont believe he meant to influence the staff in anyway, just trying to say thank you." It took all Alex's might, which was weak at the moment, to keep the accusation out of her gaze.

Ethan shrugged, "I'll just use another fork." He answered matter-of-factly before placing the rescued fork down and neatly snatching hers. He placed it in his mouth incase she got any ideas about taking it back and brandished it at her once more, "I like, nice things. Like... Prada." He'd have to check the rest of his labels before continuing this conversation.

"It is." Ethan agreed, with a level look at Professor Kazimeriz, "I'll be watching her. One against so far. And I'm sure- if I remember being a Slytherin well enough, her housemates will be severely displeased as it is." Though it was a moot point about whether they'd be more upset about the point loss or her utter failure to suck up. He lifted his chin slightly...

...bravely facing down the devil.

He examined the model placed in front of him and shrugged, unimpressed. Idly he wondered how quickly the students would realise how not to approach Krazymeriz.

He looked up and turned his head slightly, spotting Trey who he had met at the Leaky Cauldron and...

.... hmmmm.

With a crooked smile he offered a wave in greeting to Trey and Anna before turning his attention back to his fork.

Alessia nodded to her surrogate grandfather and moved away. She turned to the headmaster and sat in the seat beside the Headmaster again.

Trey's eyes became big as Anna quickly moved him in between herself and Truebridge's eyeline. He shuffled quickly as she did so as to not trip. What if this just isn't a visit though, would I have to be a human shield for the remainder of the term? Trey wouldn't of minded though, Anna seemed rather interesting to him, and was quite easy to look at. But yet the thought still razzled his mind. "But what if he is in fact a professor and not just here doing research?" He asked her, trying to help her with the big picture. All the while he moved his arms from his hips to behind his head, attemping to be the best darn wall he could be. He shot a few glances back to Truebridge as if to 'check' on him, but he seemed engaged in conversation. The more he stood there, the more Anna's method of thinking took over his mind. There's no way Truebridge is a professor. He just doesn't look the part.

And then there it was.... Trey tensed up, offering the slightest of waves back to Truebridge. Did he see Anna through Trey's 'man-made wall'? The smile seemed to indicate so, but perhaps he wanted Trey to offer up that drink he owed him. Yeah that's it. He just remembers I owe him a drink.