Alex was trying to hang in there, but every movement her little brother made as he carried her from the train hurt. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move.. It hurt. Tears were flowing down her face as she looked up at the staff table.. "Please, is one of you the new healer? I.. am hurt." Her voice was weak, and she was holding onto her brother's hand tightly. The pain showed in her face.

Warren looked around at the teachers.. He remembered about the new nurse situation.. But he didn't know which one was the new nurse!! ''Sister.. Ribs.. Pain.. Nurse.. Where are you!!'' It was like a game of 'Wheres Wally' He looked down at Alex, she was in more and more pain everytime he moved, he stood still by the table and kissed her forehead to show everything was going to be alright. ''Torin.. shes struggling to breathe again!'' her breathing rate was varying.. now she was finding it more difficult to breathe.. Probably because he was carrying her..

"Panic will not help your situation, children. Calm down and address the staff with more respect," Professor Duskurk spoke up as a trio of children came up clamoring about needing the nurse.

When the latecomer finally spoke to her, simply stating his name and nothing else, Gabriella turned to him and just nodded once in reply. He definitely didn't seem to be in the mood to chat, and something about him made Gabriella not want to push the matter. On the other hand, though, she couldn't help but wonder if no man on staff went by his given first name. They'd all introduced themselves to her by their formal titles---Professor, Headmaster. She started to arrange and rearrange her forks again when all chaos finally broke lose. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. May as well be in front of an entire Great Hall of people...*gulp*.



As she rose from the table, wand in hand, Gabriella had to keep talking herself out of completely flailing about over this situation---her first as the Hogwart's healer. There was a Slytherin boy calling out something about sister, ribs, pain, and healer. Another Hufflepuff boy was stating that a girl's ribs were injured and the nurse was needed. Thou shalt not flail...thou shalt not flail... The children's voices were making her far nervous than she should be...far nervous than she could be.

She shook it off and hurried out from behind the table. "She needs to be lying down...on her back," she said, directing her words to the boy that was carrying what she assumed to be his sister. Gabriella could gather that the girl's ribs were hurt, but before she went to casting and healing, she needed to know something a little specific than that. "What exactly happened to her?" she asked, directing this question to anyone who might be able to answer.

Alex nearly sighed in relief as a nice looking Lady came forward to help them. She could feel Warren put her down, and she was able to take a slightly deeper breath than she had been able to. "I.. was hiding from someone, and a girl kicked me in my ribs, right as I turned around to leave....I heard something crack, and then it was so hard to breathe.. and move, and walk..." This short speech took a few minutes, as Alex was trying to breathe, and the pain was intense. She was crying more by the end of this speech. "I'm sorry.."

Although she had many questions that she wanted to ask---Hiding? Why...and from...? ...and what in Merlin's name did they kick you for?---, there simply wasn't time for a conversation at the moment. Gabriella knelt down beside the girl and positioned her wand towards her ribs. Broken bones, even the kind episkey couldn't heal---was something she could mend non-verbally and, thankfully, within a few moments.

Although rushing would seem logical, Gabriella didn't do so. She took her time seeing to each and every rib. Upon inspection, she found that they were cracked, not crushed, which was the best case scenario. Well, to a person that had been kicked, that is. As she finished healing the last of the child's ribs, Gabriella glanced over and smiled at her. She'd found smiling always put a person at ease, even in the worst situations.

"She'll be sore...for a few days, at least, but she'll be just fine," she said, glancing towards the Hufflepuff boy who'd accompanied the group to the staff table. "Have her come see in a day or two, just so I can make sure she's doing fine. Although, I'm sure she will be." She stood and took a step back so as to let the girl stand on her own. The ribs were no longer cracked, so standing shouldn't be an issue at all. Only the soreness, just as Gabriella had mentioned.

"Oh, healer?" Jack asked with a smile. He couldn't help but be a little disappointed on the inside, though--Healer Avalon had been realllllllly nice to look at. Jack usually didn't have crushes on professors but he had made an exception for her. Hehe. True he had never really gone to visit her (she was pretty, yes, but sort of scary) and now she was gonnnne. Poo. "I had no idea that I almost erm...ran over the new Healer in Diagon Alley," he said with a small chuckle. "So. Yeah. Anyways. Welcome!" he added with a small chuckle.

He smiled at some of the new--and old--staffers as they came to sit down, and he couldn't help but take notice of one of the newer professors, the one who sort of snapped at Torin and his friends as he brought over a girl with...cracked ribs? MERLIN how had that happened? This new professor was NOT giving off a very good first impression, if you asked Jack. He was kind of...creepy.

Avoiding eye contact with him, he looked at Healer Ashford again and smiled. "Did you ever end up finding the Leaky Cauldron that one day? I accidentally lost you in the crowd," he said with a small chuckle. Wow, some Head Boy he was turning out to be. He couldn't even keep track of tiny little women in a busy street.

And then he saw his favourite Professor watching what was going on.

He smiled at her. "Hello, Professor Bunbury. Have a nice summer?" He knew that he had. And he could show her his new Badge too.

"Mmhmm, thank you," Gabriella replied, glancing back over at the Hufflepuff boy. This one, she'd decided, must be the boyfriend. How sweet of the brother and the boyfriend to accompany this girl to the healer in her time of need. Gabriella stuffed her wand back into its holster and took in a sigh of relief. Her first order of business hadn't been so bad after all. She'd convinced herself out of flailing about, and the child she'd tended to had been properly healed. A win-win situation for all involved...thankfully.

"Hmm?" Gabriella questioned, hearing the word healer once again. At first, she thought someone else had been injured or fallen ill, but when she turned around she came face to face with the Head Boy, who was simply continuing their earlier conversation. Suddenly feeling very short, Gabriella stretched herself to her full height before replying to the boy. "Well, I had no idea I was almost mowed over by the Head Boy himself. ...and yes, I did eventually find the Leaky Cauldron."

She was just about to ready to engage in more polite conversation with the Head Boy when a slightly familiar voice reached her ears. Gabriella, who'd been in the process of sweeping her hair back behind her ears, froze in place as she listened to a Miss Starstalker being greeted. She spun around and glanced at the woman who'd done the greeting---a redhead seated next to another female professor.

Gabriella blinked then glanced quickly away, fixing her eyes on some random pole while she considered why the woman's voice sounded do familiar. Familiar voice...plus red hair...equals...."Anastasia Bunbury," Gabriella stated, turning to glance at the woman once again. She and Annie had never really been what a person would friends, but they'd never exactly been enemies either. Back in their Hogwarts days---as students, that is---Gabriella had silently referred to she and Annie as frenemies.

Apparently, their Hogwarts days had just reached version 2.0, as they now seemed to both be members of the staff. "It's...been a while," she continued. "How've you been?"

Celandine overheard Professor Kapoor's booming voice as he spoke to Professor Dumont and looked that way in surprise and worry.

ZOMG so what class was Professor Kapoor taking if he was no longer teaching one of her favourite subjects in the world?

Celandine smiled at that.

"Well if they don't report to you sir, then I suppose I can do that." Her smile turned into a giggle but she soon cut herself off in surprise as she noticed a new professor join the table.

She knew who that was.

She heard the confirmation she needed when the man introduced himself to the healer. Did... anyone recognise that name at all? She looked around at the other ... badged people that had joined her, waiting for at least a flicker of recognition but.... nothing.

Cela was surprised but suddenly very eager and she perked up at the idea of all the things that she'd be able to learn in... well historically speaking, Thomas Duskurk taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, right? And that position had become open when Professor Kazimeriz has ordered Professor Lawson to switch.

So yay!

Celandine smiled at the new Headmaster and gave him a teeny curtsey.
"I'll return to my table now since it looks like almost all the Professors are here. It was nice to meet you sir." She waited to be dismissed and stood there sneaking excited and impressed little glances at Professor Duskurk.

He was assessing his surroundings, just looking around and scowling at everything when h noticed the girl speaking with Tate kept looking over at him as if she'd just spotted the muggle Santa Claus. Her pursed his lips and turned to appraise the girl. Apparently someone recognized him. This amused Thomas and his pursed lips turned upward into a small smile for at least two moments before going back to scowling.

Maidee felt a chill go over her body as the newest member of the staff joined the table. He seemed so....so stiff and unfriendly. What was he doing at a school? Surrounded by CHILDREN? She shouldn't judge, however, maybe he just didn't like adults?

She was about to introduce herself but the Healer had beaten her to it. She smiled and watched the man as he, very primly, dabbed a napkin on his lips. She giggled, she couldn't help it! Never before had she seen someone actually do that in PUBLIC! teehee.


Down the table, on Maidee's other side was yet another sensation. Like two holes burning in the back of her head. Two....eye sized holes. She turned around and found another redhead (and people had said the hair color would disappear!) staring....no, GLARING at her. What had she done? Maidee couldn't think of having insulted this woman, in fact, she couldn't even remember ever seeing her before.

Still, she wanted to be polite. Turning so her attention was on the other red head at the table, she stuck out her hand. "Maidee McFarlane, Astronomy Professor. It's a pleasure to meet you......." she smiled and waited for the other woman to offer her name.

For a moment, Gabriella honestly believed that Annie really didn't remember who she was. She was just about ready to call the situation a lost cause for the time-being when she heard it---that blasted Eleanor nickname her sisters had started back when Gabriella was an incoming first year at Hogwarts. How Anastasia had gotten ahold of it, one could only wonder. She had, though, and of course she'd just had to address Gabriella by that dreadful nickname.

"Gabriella...it's Gabriella," she said, correcting Annie just as she always had. In the past, Gabriella would have come back by addressing her as Anita, but she thought it professional to refrain---for now. She also wasn't entirely sure if Annie even knew that Gabriella was her full given name. Back in their younger Hogwarts days, barely anyone at all hadn't referred to Gabriella as Ellie. "I'm glad you've been well," she continued, making her way back to the seat she'd previously occupied. When she was situated, she turned towards Annie once again. "I've been doing well. I can't complain, at least. What are you teaching?" Since she'd been standing further away tending to a student, she hadn't heard Annie mention Herbology to the other redhead.

And there was Thomas. Tate was working his way up to sending out a search party, but the man had finally arrived. He raised his fingers in a little wiggle-wave to let him know that he saw him and that he'd noticed the man was slow to arrive.

They were going to have a talk about punctuality. And seating arrangements.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celandine (Post 9006734) Celandine smiled at that. "Well if they don't report to you sir, then I suppose I can do that." Her smile turned into a giggle but she soon cut herself off in surprise as she noticed a new professor join the table. She knew who that was. She heard the confirmation she needed when the man introduced himself to the healer. Did... anyone recognise that name at all? She looked around at the other ... badged people that had joined her, waiting for at least a flicker of recognition but.... nothing. Cela was surprised but suddenly very eager and she perked up at the idea of all the things that she'd be able to learn in... well historically speaking, Thomas Duskurk taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, right? And that position had become open when Professor Kazimeriz has ordered Professor Lawson to switch. So yay! Celandine smiled at the new Headmaster and gave him a teeny curtsey. "I'll return to my table now since it looks like almost all the Professors are here. It was nice to meet you sir." She waited to be dismissed and stood there sneaking excited and impressed little glances at Professor Duskurk.

He nodded as the girl departed. Trouble, that one was. She may have recognized Thomas... that didn't last long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl (Post 9007071) And just as she finished smirking at Ellie, Annie's lips pursed at the sight of the Astronomy Professor's hand. Really, a woman teaching Astronomy? Ha. No doubt this one had her head in the clouds... stars.... galaxy.... whatever. "Anastasia Bunbury, Herbology. The pleasure is all yours." Obviously, she wouldn't be shaking that hand.

Tate heard her introduce herself from several seats away, and he couldn't help but crane his neck around to see the woman. So this? This was the Anastasia Bunbury?

He was looking forward to figuring out the mystery that had presented itself here. What was the story of Anastasia Bunbury and Ethan Truebridge?

But for now... it was all clamorous at the table. Too much so. "Students are welcome to make their introductions to individual professors during office hours. At this time, you need to return to your seats."

And they could eat soon, right?

He grinned as she noticed his Badge. He still liked impressing her because she was the best Professor ever. But she had had a bad summer. That sucked. "I'm sorry, Professor. I hope this Term is better for you. She's not my friend," his jaw stiffened slightly, "But she is better now I think."

Alex took a deep breath as the healer finished healing her ribs. The first deep breath in awhile, that hadn't hurt. She sat up slowly, a smile on her face. "Thank you so much." She said warmly, as she found the healer's smile nice, and she felt much more at peace. She did feel sore, but the Healer had just said she would be. She turned and was about to thank Torin when...

Alex stood looking slightly shell shocked by Torin's statement. Surely he still didn't hate her? She looked to his badge and sighed, she knew why he had helped her. Cause he was a prefect and that was what prefects do.. She could feel tears coming to her eyes, She would have rather had broken ribs, than him having to help her.

"Thank you Healer once more." She said softly, she turned to Torin, "Thank you too..." She then turned and walked off towards the Gryffindor table, slightly stiffly..

There are so many things I want to quote that I can't find them all...
 

Maidee let her hand fall away. Herbology? What a dreadfully stereotypical female profession. Maidee resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Ah, yes. I should have suspected." Something about rooting around in dirt surrounded by pretty things certainly made people lack social skills.


Maidee took a look to her other side, and heard the Healer introduce herself....or some form of it. It sounded like the two women knew each other, yet Bunbun - yes, Maidee was already having nick names come into mind for this woman, she'd probably find out later which one(s) would irritate the other woman most, and keep that one. - Bunbun couldn't seem to remember Gabriella's name. Yeah, dirt plus flowers equal no social skills.

Thomas looked wistfully at his plate. The sooner they ate the sooner they could get back to their own business. When Tate finally made the cretins get back to their seats, Professor Duskurk was sure he would stand to make the infamous speech. But it didn't come. He waited just a moment, then stood and walked up behind the headmaster, bent at the waist, and spoke in his ear while glaring at any remaining students in front of the head table. "I believe it is customary to give a speech so that the food will appear," he whispered.

Cela eyed the headmaster as he… nodded. Okayyy? She took that as a dismissal and slipped away toward the Ravenclaw table, shooting another interested glance at Professor Thomas Duskurk as she walked past him.

Oh strange. His presence… felt familiar.

Feast + Speech tiiiime!