Despite the brevity of her summer holiday, Macadrian was feeling quite relaxed and at peace with being back at Hogwarts for her meeting with the Headmaster and the other Heads of House. With her hair a few inches shorter and her attire a bit more visually dynamic than last term, Macadrian swept into the Staff Room, her pointy-toed heels clicking with each step.

Spotting that she was the first to arrive, Macadrian plopped herself down into armchair and made herself comfortable. With her wand in her hand, she idly created bubbles from the end of her wand and left them floating about the room, observing their paths as she waited for her colleagues.

"Bubbles, Macadrian?" Max casually called out in an informal greeting as he entered the Staff Room. He looked a little scruffier than usual since he was sporting some facial hair and his clothing was fashionably casual. Not to mention, he was still wearing his shades. From behind the dark lenses, he was able to make a quick observation of his cousin. Shorter hair, brighter clothes, and . . . who gave her that? "Love the hair and clothes, but something has changed. Care to spill the potion, dearest cousin?" he grinned and plopped down on the couch.

With a jab of her wand, Macadrian popped a bubble that was hovering dangerously close to her nose and causing her to go cross-eyed just to keep her eyes on it. Just as it vanished, Max strode through the door looking as casual as she was used to seeing outside of Hogwarts, but the scruffiness seemed so foreign within the Hogwarts walls. She couldn't recalling seeing him this casual at Hogwarts in the five years she taught here.

With a lazy smile, Macadrian inquired, "Would you prefer something other than bubbles? Bludgers, perhaps?" With a long swish of her wand, Macadrian feigned like she was about to send bludgers his way, but then stopped and explained, "Naaaah. Might break those snazzy sunglasses of yours and then what would we do?" With light laughter, Macadrian sprung up from her chair to give her cousin a small hug. And when he noticed the difference in her, she knew she needed to come clean.

"Well, Gooberus Maximus, I have some very important news. I acquired a rather precious item during my travels to Spain... There is going to be a wedding in the family in the very near future!" And with that said, she held out her left hand to display the ring and looked into his face with anticipation.

"Break these babies and then I'll have to twist your arm to go shopping for another pair," Max quipped and pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head. Then he took her hand and examined the ring she was sporting. Expensive. Well beyond the salary and taste of . . . . And he smiled. "Congratulations, Macattack. So, who's the, um, lucky man?"

Pepe burst through the door at a dead run, glasses askew, and a huge grin on his face. "I'M EARLY!" he triumphantly declared and punched the air before breaking out into a rather amusing victory dance, oblivious to those already in the room.

Pepe's Victory Dance - please note that this is meant to be ridiculous and is not supposed to actually BE Pepe

Antonio walked into the room, catching only the last tiny bit of the victory dance. "Hope I haven't missed anything," he called out in greeting before taking a seat at the staff table.

It was difficult for Antonio to digest the fact that the summer break was nearly over and that classes were about to resume again. My, how the time had flown, it seemed like only yesterday that the students were hard at work on their finals. He smiled at the memory of the finals, the students had really outdone themselves and performed brilliantly. He would have to think of something really awesome this term to outdo that!

His brain wasn't functioning, all he could do was slump into his chair at this point, listening to the banter between Macadrian and Max.

Forrester walked into the staff room and calmly removed his fedora. His younger self had found it amongst his stuff the term before, and he quite liked the way it looked on him. Though he didn't plan on wearing it inside the school much.

Looking around and seeing the group already there, he asked, "Have I missed anything?" as he took a seat on an arm rest.

"You missed the funky Pepe dance and one brilliant conference in Las Vegas!" Max exclaimed and pointed at Macadrian. "Oh, and she's got a rock on her finger but won't spill the potion. Isn't that right, Macattack?"

Macadrian blushed lightly as Max directed attention to her. "Ah, my 'rock' as you call it is hardly worth discussing now that we're all here for the meeting! I'd hate to delay our discussion with stories about my summer." Macadrian was still grinning from ear to ear, intentionally diverting the question amongst her colleagues. Besides, the answer should have been obvious, right?

Oh well. Macadrian turned her attention to the Headmaster and inquired, "Other than demonstrating the fine art of victory dancing, what is on the agenda for today's meeting?"

"Well, first of all, I might have finally solved that issue I'd been having with finding my way around so hopefully I won't be TOO late to anything again in the future," he grinned and waited for applause and then continued. "Next, I wanted you all to know that I've given up potion mastering because I just don't have enough time to be both headmaster and teacher. Professor Kazimeriz has agreed to accept the post of potion master in light of the recent... ah... accident... which has inflamed an old wound and rendered him incapable of continuing on in his capacity as defense teacher." And now that he needed to stop for breath he decided now was a good time to let the heads interject any comments they might have.

"Professor Kaziimeriz teaching Potions, that should be very interesting indeed," Antonio pronounced thoughtfully. "I'm very sorry that you won't be teaching it anymore, though, you were always an excellent teacher, sir. I understand your commitments to the school and know that you are going to be very busy just with your duties as Headmaster alone, so I can certainly see the reasons for that decision," he nodded. That was all he had to say, and he would wait and see what the other staff members had to offer on the matter.

Macadrian's head tilted slightly to the side as she listened and processed Bontecou's words. She could certainly understand how difficult it must have been for him to both teach and oversee the entire school's business. She wondered where he'd found the energy last term. So, Kazimeriz as potions master? Sure, he'd likely be capable enough. How could someone that old not know enough to teach that subject! But that meant another new staff member to replace Kazimeriz in the Defense post. Macadrian inquired, "If Professor Kazimeriz is assuming the post of Potions Master, then who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts? Another new staff member? It seems like we have changes every term. Are you sure we're not cursed?"

"There are many ways to inflict a curse, Professor Shackleton. And to be cursed can carry... many definitions." Kazimeriz said cryptically from the doorway, eyeing Macadrian and then the others. "Good day... to you all. I trust.. I am not... late." He spoke in short, measured breaths as he made his way into the room, obviously fatigued from the journey in. Thank goodness the room was on the ground floor, or he may never have arrived. He found his way to a chair not far from Pepe and sat gingerly in it, resting his ancient hands on the head of his cane.

Forrester raised an eyebrow in Pepe's direction, victory dance? Too bad he hadn't been there already.

Listening to Pepe's speech, he nodded, "That sounds like a good idea, we may be getting a new staff member, but that's preferable to you running ragged."

He nearly stood to help Kaz to a chair, when the old man made it himself.

"Thank you for coming, Professor. Your insights will be most helpful," Rey inclined his head toward Kazimeriz. "Oh! Speaking of new staff and responsibilities, I'm afraid Professor Pierce has had to leave so, Professor Dumont is new Gryffindor head of house, hence his presence at this meeting. We've also got a healer intern again next term. Marcus Lawson will be teaching defense. He was previously employed as defense teacher at a school in Australia. And Lars Svensson will be joining us from Durmstrang to teach transfiguration.

"And that's about it for changes at the school. The only other business I have that I can think of off the top of my head is the choosing of head boy and girl," he finished and looked around the room for nominations.

"I personally think Anna Greingoth would be great as Head Girl," Antonio suggested. "She's always been an excellent role model and a real inspiration for the other students. I know she has been very inspirational to Gryffindor House, all the students there look up to her and she has been a splendid prefect. As a matter of fact, I can't think of any girl more qualified for the position than Anna."

Macadrian was a bit startled by the addition of another voice. Turning her head to observe Professor Kazimeriz, Shackleton's brows pulled together ever so slightly. I thought this meeting was for Heads of Houses only. The full staff meeting wasn't supposed to take place until after this one had concluded... But no matter! The man is here and the more heads the better when it comes to school affairs.

Professor Shackleton replied to Kazimeriz's cryptic remarks, "Indeed, sir. I know that truth only too well, as I spent many years as a cursebreaker for Gringotts." Not too mention I wonder sometimes if I might be leading a cursed life... although things certainly are looking up as of late.

Turning her attention back to Prancing Pepe, Macadrian added to Antonio's suggestion, "I concur. Anna Greingoth is the prime example of an ideal Head Girl with impeccable grades, a knack for handling tricky situations with ease, and an ability to lead her peers. I second that choice. As for head boy..." Macadrian contemplated for a moment some of the males who might be considered worthy of such a responsible and honor. "Mr. Denton is certainly promising, though he's a just a hair younger than ideal. Oh, I know! What about the Slytherin prefect, Clifford Carden? He's always so enthusiastic in my lessons and is quite likeable. Certainly capable of such a role, no?"

Forrester nodded, "Both Anna and Clifford have my vote. Anna is an inspiration, while Clifford is enthusiastic, and that has a tendency to rub off onto people. Both are very responsible."

Antonio said, "Yes, Clifford Carden would be a fantastic choice for Head Boy, I agree 100 percent. He's a cheerful young man, very well liked by his peers, and he has always performed extremely well in his classes as well as having prior prefect experience. And, as Macadrian has mentioned, both he and Anna are the right age."

Pepe nodded and couldn't help but smile. That was quickly taken care of as those had been the two prefects he'd had in mind as well. "Well, then that's settled. Those were my picks exactly so, if there are no objections?" he glanced around just to be sure and then plunged ahead. "I thought I'd open the floor to you guys. Any concerns? Is there anything with the common rooms that needs taking care of? More beds, furnishings, etcetera? I did get everyone the class lists for this year, right?" Had he forgotten that? Now he couldn't remember. Too much paperwork and not enough clear desk space.

Everything was fine...except for two things...

"Headmaster," Forrester began, "the Slytherin common rooms, though under the lake, are usually very dry. However, they've become a bit damp and colder since the last term ended.

"There is also the question of the Slytherin quidditch team." He added, hoping to not be overrun by any enthusiasts. Common room first, Quidditch team second. Priorities.

"Colder and damp? That's odd. I'll have the house elves look into it and I'll do a bit of research on drying charms. We don't need anything getting damp, especially not potions supplies!" he said and made a note to look into it. "And what about the quidditch team?"

Forrester nodded, "The last two terms, the teams themselves have been horrible to their captain. Not bothering to show up for practices, not being ready for games, and ostracizing their captain. I'm hoping the captain change this term will help, but if the attitude of the students does not change, I'm afraid I'll have to ask permission to remove Slytherin from quidditch for at least a school year. Quidditch is a privilege, not a right. Taking away their fun is not something I want to do, but I cannot allow them to treat people the way they've treated their former captain."

Pepe nodded. "We definitely can't have that. Perhaps we should seek Vindictus' advice as well. The full staff meeting will be starting shortly anyway," he said and then looked around, including Forrester in his gaze, just in case. "Any other business?"