Staff Table
 

The staff are seated at a long table, stretching across a dais at the front of the room. Feel free to come up and greet them after the feast has started.

Because Fina's the nearest to Jared right now, and everyone else is faaar away :[
 

Jared had, having nothing better to do at the moment, decided to examine the ceiling again. The charmwork that caused it to reflect the sky outside, though basically simple, had to be quite powerful to last as long as it did - at least, so Jared thought because he doubted the Headmaster re-cast it every day. That'd be too much of a hassle. Surely, Tate had better things to do?

Movement made him look to his right, and he gave the young professor that had just sat down a polite nod. Most of the other professors had seats too far off to converse easily. Jared didn't mind. He had sufficient time ahead of him to get to know whoever interested him enough to make the effort of introductions and conversation.

It was in his usual manner that Ikenna Gevrik calmly, quietly and unassumingly appeared in his seat at the Staff Table, directly next to Headmaster Tate in what should have been the Deputy Headmaster's chair.

He smoothed out his tie and folded his dark hands in front of him, leaning forward just slightly so that his deep eyes could roam down the length of the table in search of certain faces. His expression remained neutral, pleasant, even, as he looked past Gaellen Tate and noted the man's obvious unease. Excellent.

Ah, there was Lilyan, and Josephina. He had previously researched the rest of the staff's backgrounds and histories, of course, and was now relishing the opportunity to match a name to a face. Now he could do the same if only there were fewer students or more Ghosts....

The mysterious man settled back into his seat with just the faintest smirk.

Max emerged from a hidden entrance behind the dias (he was detained due to a heated fire discussion with his bossy know-it-all older brother, Rex) and saw an unfamiliar person seated in HIS seat. The nerve of the person!

He walked up behind the chair and cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, you're sitting in my seat," he stated rather calmly at the stranger.

If the man were smart, he'd move.

"Maximus Orion Vindictus." Gevrik spoke politely but did not budge from his current position.

The chair was sturdy. It suited him.

"I did not happen to notice your name inscribed in my seat," he corrected the man with a certain hint of humour in his tone. "But I do believe that is your seat, over there."

Ikenna seemed to gesture toward the end of the table where the flying instructor's favourite chair, usually seen residing in the corner of his office, was currently floating and rotating so that all present could see the name handsomely emblazoned on the chair's backing.

Magic. It happens.

Max looked and shook his head. This idiot knew his full name but that didn't surprise him because he was a famous retired professional Quidditch player.

"No, you're mistaken. As the Deputy Headmaster of this school, I sit directly to the right of the Headmaster. I suggest you stand up and move over one seat," he said calmly but his jaw twitched as he spoke.

Ikenna almost disliked public brawls as much as he disliked Quidditch cretins like the Vindictus siblings.

"Your suggestion has been heard."

And he would not be moving.

Gasp.

No he didn't!

"Perhaps you need your ears cleaned out," Max immediately blurted out without thinking.

Ikenna was amused now. So this was what it was like to work with children.

"Perhaps it is time for you to retire, Maximus Vindictus, and perhaps the same could be said for your brother as well."

It was now that Gevrik chose to turn his head and fix his steely gaze on the aging man. "Think about that one for a moment. You were a Ravenclaw, at some point in time."

They were few children that came to school already furnished with brains, yes?

"Retire isn't in my vocabulary. Besides, who in Merlin's Beard are you?" Max asked and folded his arms across his chest. "Did I crush your head with a Bludger ten years ago? If I did, then the mediwizards must have replaced your missing grey matter with a bunch of hot air."

Hi i'm joey starr she said with a smile.Later i'll be at your house. i need help learning something if you will help or know how.Smiled will welcome to hogwarts professor.

Certain people approach at your own risk. :P (ooc, not from Renée) RPs welcome
 

Eh? Jared had been enjoying the on-the-house entertainment being provided at the staff table, when a girl came up to him and said something that caused him to picture a jaw-drop.

"My house?" He chuckled lightly, putting down his spoon, the action carrying his customary touch of natural grace. "Do you mean my office, Miss Starr?" Trust kids to make mistakes like that.

Help? He'd have to think about that one. Jared had been around enough danger and nonsense to know not to rush into arguments or agreements. "Let's see... you can drop into my office after the feast or tomorrow evening, and I'll see if I can."

The arrival of the student was followed, almost immediately, by that of another professor. Miss Bishop, if Jared had his facts correct - and goodness knows he did not doubt that. The Charms Professor realized, both immediately and unconsciously, that he'd have to sit next to her almost every day, and that gave him enough reason to lightly incline his head in her direction.

"Miss Bishop, if I'm not mistaken?"

Renée, after sipping a tiny bit of water from her glass, had decided to simply look out at the house tables and watch the students interact with each other. It made her remember when she'd been down there, and besides, there really was no need to continue to pay attention to the shair incident, even if it was Vindictus involved. It was just too bad that there didn't seem to be much else happening at the staff table currently. Even students coming to investigate the new professors would be welcome, as at least it would be something to do until the speech.

Glancing down for a moment, she frowned slightly as she saw Bowie had left some loose hairs on her robe, and in brushing them off she noticed the professor sitting next to her inclining his head in her direction. The Charms professor, if she wasn't mistaken. Another newbie like her. Glancing at him as he spoke, she gave him a smile. "You're not mistaken," she said with a bit of a laugh. "And you would be . . . Mr. Descoteaux," she added, only a bit impishly. Even if she hadn't decided it would be good to know the professor's names before she'd come into the hall, it wasn't that hard to get his name from him, since she was looking at him. And since he'd gone with the formal approach, she'd return it.

Yeah that's what i meant,sorry getting use being back she said with a laugh.okay i'll be there i bet you could help she said with a smile its okay if my cousin comes and with me it kinda will help him understand my caution.

"I'm glad. I don't like being mistaken." Jared smiled, a lighthearted half smile, [once again and unconsciously] analyzing her tones. She seemed like a bright - though not unnecessarily bright - type. Easy to talk to. He could value that in a person.

Mr. Descoteaux? "It's Jared," he corrected, out of habit. Nice, simple and informal. Though, of course, she could argue he'd been formal in his approach but, then, he had felt that would sound more polite. "Your subject is... divination?" He could be mistaken. Stranger things have happened, after all.

"That's fine, Miss Starr." Jared gave the girl a polite, though slightly detached, smile. Too soon to bet on the outcome, in his opinion, but he did not say that out loud. "If you feel your cousin might have something important to contribute to the visit, of course."

It did not bother him, either way. Though how like him to have his foot in something that could be called almost enigmatic, already. He'd only been here for half an hour, if not less.

As she seemed to at least get a half-smile out of the Charms professor, Renée relaxed a little more. Creepy man-who-stole-Vindictus's-chair fleeing her mind for the time being, although she had a feeling he'd be back. Mentally, that is. She'd always had a knack for knowing if people would worm their way into her mind, even though it seemed that she'd never really gotten as adept at the flip side of her skills. That would have come in useful, but it didn't seem like Mr. Descoteaux was that dangerous. "I don't think very many people would," she replied, smiling again. At least, she never liked being mistaken about things. Luckily, she rarely was.

But at his correction, she grinned. "Well, if you put it that way, Jared, I'm Renée," she said, regarding him for a moment. It seemed like it might be interesting to talk to him. at least. He wouldn't shoot her down or anything, that she could tell. Something told her he knew her reasoning behind her previous way of addressing him, so there wasn't any need to keep that up. Especially as he'd gone on with the conversation. "Mmm-hmm," she answered, reaching for the water again. "At least, currently." Well, always, but it wasn't like she hadn't done anything else.

Neither did he. Jared gave the Divination Professor a wry smile that pretty much said, 'understatement of the day.' So far, he'd only met one or two people that didn't dislike being mistaken but, of course, there is a difference between people that dislike being mistaken, and that search for the truth if mistaken. Jared had always thought he did not like being mistaken because he fell into the latter category.

Renée. "I'd say you have a beautiful name but, being French, I'd be biased." He smiled again, a real smile this time. "So. Renée. Does this mean you're French?" He'd realized, a few years ago, how common it had become for un-French people to have French names.

"Your subject -" He quietly picked up his fork again - "has given me more trouble than manticores. I failed the first time I sat a Divination exam, and dropped it in my third year. My Inner Eye is clearly either exhausted of me, or on a lifelong vacation." He smiled again, a self-mocking but full-of-humour kind of smile.

last post for the night. Need sleep, etc.
 

Renée didn't need her ability to know Jared agreed with her on the mistaken thing. The wry smile said more than even his thoughts would, and besides, it was almost fun trying to learn things about him without using that. Testing her other social skills, which hadn't gotten a lot of use when she'd been among students. So far it seemed Hogwarts was going to be way more interesting than any of her jobs in New York. Which only made her that much happier that she could be there, returning to her old school and everything.

Another smile graced her face at the compliment, though. "Well, thank you. Even if you are biased," she said, feeling an odd sense of accomplishemnt as his accompanying smile seemed more genuine than any of the others. "Sadly, no. I've been to France, though. Actually, I'm half English, half American," she replied. She always attributed her name to the fact her mother was an actress. Like she had felt the need to give her daughter an exotic name or something because of it. It was interesting, really. And as he spoke of Divination, a wry grin of her own appeared on her face. "I see. Maybe we'll have to change that," she responded, "Sometimes, honestly, I wonder if it's all a matter of having an Inner Eye, or just practice." She never had seen herself as any sort of a Seer, after all. Just adept at reading the Tarot, for some reason. And thoughts, but that wasn't connected to her subject. "And if it makes you feel any better, I can't say I'd do very well with manticores either."

don't worry, Kurumi didn't forget the Professors
 

Kurumi found her hands shaking as she approached the staff table carrying a rather large box of her Hogwarts house cookies. Having finished distributing the proper cookies to each house - and making sure that her charm on the Gryffindor ones was still intact to keep the parade in the air going - she knew that she had to give a box to the professors as well. However, her mind became uneasy and she found her jaw dropping a bit as several of the professors she had come to love were missing. She knew Professor Ruffles was leaving, he had made that announcement during their final...but where was Professor Markovic and her Head of House Professor Carlton? She had finally gotten to talk with Professor Markovic at the end of the term and had been thinking about questions to ask regarding curse breaking because it sounded like a fascinating profession. Then there was Professor Carlton, who didn't want to spend time with her. Kurumi glanced around the table with a small glimpse of hope that then quickly faded. Nope, Dragon Lady was still around. Then there were some unfamiliar faces, new professors and one person in particular that looked, well, suspicious and a little scary.

Realizing that she had probably been standing there in front of the table for a good amount of time with her mouth semi-opened and shaking like jello from nerves, Kurumi found herself bowing at a perfect 90 degrees with the gold box wrapped in a white ribbon in her outstretched hands. Now she had to try and translate what she wanted to say in her head into words without making too much of a fool of herself.

"I'll do my best this term as a second, so please give me good teaching," she said rather quickly. Did that make sense? Was it a little ambiguous? It was probably better than the I humbly ask you to be kind to me sentence she had originally thought of. Sometimes, trying to keep up her Japanese traditions made her look silly. At least her mother would be proud. "Please accept these cookies as sign of my appreciation for everything I was given last year and for things to come."

There, that sounded much nicer. Kurumi looked up and opened the box before setting it on the table. Inside the box, the cookies were aligned in four different rows of cookies: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin.

She then decided it would be best to take her time and bow to each of them - which took a little while because there were so many of them. Her eyes stopped on one of the new female teachers and Kurumi felt like a giant question mark appeared over her head. Hadn't she seen this woman somewhere before?

"Jake never mentioned that his mother was a teacher," she said aloud tilting her head to the side.

A new term.

A new term with hyper children, rolling down hillsides as a mean to arrive to lessons and having abnormally large rabbits as pets.

What an eventful term this would be, indeed. Maya was sure of it. Because, really, nothing was ever 'normal' in this school. But aslong as she had some tortillas and fruit to pelt at someone annoying eat, she would be fine.


The Mexicana strode across the room and ascended the dias, noticing the people at the table. Oh, well hello. New faces... nice new faces.
With a small smile, she nodded to her colleagues, "Good Day, Professors." passing some of them as she headed for her own seat.

Getting comfortable, she scanned the Great Hall, eyes slightly narrowed, wondering just who would be the first one to cause trouble this term...and lose points. Hehe.

Breathe, Isabelle. Deep and true. You have been a teacher for a long time, opening feasts are not a new thing for you.

Issy was going through her breathing technique as she made her way to her seat. For some reason she was feeling slightly nervous. Quite possibly due to the fact that, as long as she had been teaching, this was Hogwarts. The place she enjoyed studying at the most - and a place that obviously hadn't changed much. Taking a quick glance at the enchanted ceiling calmed her though. It always had the ability to do that.

"Good evening all," she smiled broadly at her fellow staff members, before sliding into her seat down the end. Her eyes momentarily flickered to the argument going on with Professor Vindictus and some man she had not had the pleasure of meeting yet. But the night was young, and she'd get to know them all eventually. Although judging by the way that conversation was going, not him just yet.

Clearing her throat, and averting her eyes in case anyone caught her staring, Isabelle folded her hands in her lap and looked down at the students. Please let them behave themselves.

'Well summer break is officially over,' Madam Donovan thought with a sigh as she walked through the Great Hall and past the house tables. Her usual swift and determined steps seemed much more subdued as she climbed the dias and actually SMILED at the professors already seated.

"We're right on time, it seems," she said, passing by Jeremy's seat to get to her own.

Sarah too. <3
 

Following Kimber into the Great Hall, Jeremy stopped rubbing the back of his neck - like he had been all the way up from the grounds - and felt himself smile at how full the tables were already. Yes, it was the start of another term. Even though, he tried to fully be filled with the feeling of excitement for the upcoming year, his hazel eyes involuntarily flickered towards Chad for a moment, regarding the man briefly. He still had to make up his mind about that guy.

Jeremy tore his gaze away from the Groundskeeper as they approached their seats and Kimber spoke up. "I guess so. Though, Hecate is still absent." He pointedly glanced at the empty seat to his left which seperated him from...Isabelle, the woman he had met in Diagon Alley. "Hello there. I hope you chose more suitable shoes this time?" He joked lightly with a small grin at the other woman as he settled in his seat next to Kimber.

Still gazing out at the students, she also couldn't help but notice that her neighbors had not taken their seats yet. Well without Davina there would be a new Runes Professor ... But Risu was returning, right? Ah well, he was probably caught up looking at the stars or whatever he did up in the Astronomy tower. Totally not her subject ... relying on stars, PFFT. The numbers were more her thing.

Oh ... Hello new professor! Josephina said mentally, as some guy gave her a polite nod and then started making small talk with his neighbor. Another new professor. Giving a small smile in both their directions, her hazel eyes focused instead on something just past the pair of new professors ...

Entertainment. There was nothing like the drama of someone new sitting in her former professor's someone else's seat. Except that the new person ... wasn't new to her. She knew him - Ikenna. Decent fellow he was, but not one to be crossed. He was a gentlemen though, really. Buying her lunch and whatnot on a couple occasions.

Pouring some pumpkin juice into her goblet, she took a sip as she continued to watch the drama, trying hard to not laugh.

But in the middle of the entertainment of the chair-stealing gentlemen, she heard a student who seemed to be addressing all the professors at large. OH! It was one of best students - for a first year at least! Kurumi... sweet Gryffindor that girl was. She didn't understand the girl's obsession with baking, but it was a sweet gesture nonetheless and the girl did well in her difficult subject, so Fina wasn't about to complain.

"I expect nothing less from you, Miss Hollingberry." Josephina said to the now-second year. "Hope you had a pleasant summer and thank you for stopping by."


Ah that nice Spanish Mexican woman whom she met on occasion in the staff room had returned! And being that Risu hadn't shown his face yet, there was just one empty seat between her and Maya. Perhaps she could get to know her better?

"Good day, Maya. Welcome back. Did you enjoy your time off?" Because that was important, Fina found to be able to continue onto another successful year, hopefully.

Kristyyeeen and Clawz. ^__^
 

She couldn't be... Jared felt it, almost like a smooth, hassle-free obstruction, if such a thing exists. He almost smiled in his mind, and then decided it to be no big deal. The part of him that he'd always hidden, the secrets he shouldn't reveal - and hadn't revealed - they had been taken away and replaced by false memories, long ago.

"I can't seem to help it." He grinned at his statement. He'd been away from France a long time, and he still could not leave his lingering fondness for it behind. Surprisingly, that pleased him. Still pleased him. Oh, and she had been to France. "It's a beautiful place... and once again, I sound as biased about it as I am."

Change that? "If things come to that, I have a feeling one of us is going to give up out of sheer frustration in the end." To put it in Joe's everyday less-than-polished language: he sucked at Divination. Spectacularly. "My Inner Eye must be pretty down to have ended up in me." Of course, it might - like she had said - not be a case of Inner Eyes after all. "Seers do have a special kind of power. Reckon it's just a terribly strong sixth sense?"


The chair to his right, so far vacant, had finally been filled. The appearance of a girl that apparently had cookies for the staff - Jared raised an eyebrow, but made no comment - however, prevented him from giving any immediate attention to the teacher that had sat down to his right. He nodded in response to the cookie kid's bow, before inclining his head in the direction of the Creatures Professor. Maya Saylen, if memory served correctly.

"Professor Saylen," he said lightly, as he registered Professor Hadley's polite smile and returned it.

There. Done. Jared resisted the urge to grin lazily. Having to meet people could be such a hassle. He hardly ever voluntarily introduced himself - doing so was, nine times out of ten, a sign that someone had sufficiently impressed him or caught his interest - but he'd have to sit next to Professor Saylen almost each day of this school term, and that gave him reason enough to at least make the effort to get to know her, even if superficially.

Weeeeee <3
 

So far, so good. The students weren't doing anything...too bad - Issy eyed the Hufflepuff table just to be sure her former house could be included in that thought. Yes. So far. With that easing her mind, Isabelle leant forward and grabbed the nearest empty goblet. Filling it with pumpkin juice, she had one ear on the voices that were passing her seat. But not to be nosy, she kept her eyes on the drink. Of course being on the nearest end, meant everyone had to pass her to arrive and leave, pretty much. But, unfortunately, none of the voices were ones she knew - until....

She knew that one. Smiling broadly, and laughing slightly at his joke, Isabelle turned her head to look across at the man she knew she would see. Jeremy. "Hello to you, too. And yes I have, thank you. Much flatter and better fitting. The others have been confined to the back of my wardrobe as punishment." Heh. She wasn't joking either. Darn things. Taking a sip of her drink, Issy nodded her head in the direction of the woman Jeremy had arrived with. She didn't know her name, but a polite "Good evening," was forthcoming from her lips anyway. Once she'd swallowed her drink, obviously.

"Oh!" she suddenly remembered what it was she was going to ask him, next time they met. "Did you meet up with your sister in the end? I seem to remember you were waiting for her." Because, honestly, a woman could be lost for hours in the Diagon Alley shops.

So far...all the kiddies seemed to be behaving. But there was still lots of more days to this term. Hehe.
Hearing the happy voice of her neighbour, Maya turned her head and smiled at Josephina. Yes, she remembered her encounter in the Staff room. Welcome back? Thanks seemed...not a sufficient word to describe how she was feeling. But time off, yes, that she could talk about! "Josephina, good to see you again." Yes, actualllyyy. "Uff," she sighed, "It was needed. One doesn't get time to realise just how much work this is." Keeping the students dung bombed-hands of your property. "How about you? Well rested and ready to go?" HEH.

Oooh... who was this fellow?
Maya arched an eyebrow at the male sitting next to her. "Hello..." ...uh, who was he? And how did he know her name? "You are either all-knowing, or you have done your homework." She almost smirked. "I'm guessing the latter." Hah. "Mind telling me your name, sir?" A small smile played across her lips.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand who was that??
Trying to see if she had seen the man before, Maya squinted, her brain working to find out if she had somehow blacked out things from last term. But... where was Masterson? Ooooh.
So, someone at this table was the new Groundskeeper. Hmmm. That was nice.

Maybe a proper 'welcome-to-Hogwarts-the-kids-are-going-to-ruin-your-grounds' visit to the hut later was in order - she didn't much want to shout across the table.

To all professors...
 

Satine grabbed her purple bag and headed up to the staff table....she instantly noticed she was the first student to venture up here... She approached and waited for a brief break in conversations. She always hated interrupting the professors' convos. With a smile she said,

"Howzit, I'm Satine Farris, Sixth Year Ravenclaw. I wanted to sneak up here quickly just to say welcome back to those returning," she said nodding her heads at the professor's returning, "and welcome to Hogwarts to the new professors." she said with her sparkling smile.

She reached in her bag and pulled out a purple coffee cup full of various colors of licorice wands wrapped in clear plastic. "I love love love licorice wands so I put together a coffee cup of different flavors of licorice wands for each one of you to start the year off great." she thought she saw one of their faces squash when she said purple coffee cups. "O and if purple isn't your fave color, no worries...the cups are enchanted to change to your fave color when you touch them." she said with a little nod :yes:.

Not around much today, but heeeere's Risu!
 

Risu hadn't managed to locate a helpful House-elf, so he had been left with levitating his trunk up seven floors himself. He'd just had time to move it into his office before it was time for the feast to start. Quickly switching his travelling cloak for a slightly more festive set of black robes, he hurried back downstairs through deserted corridors that would soon be filled with students again.

When he reached the Great Hall, he noticed he had his robe on back to front. Twisting it around awkwardly, he shuffled past the long table, greeting his colleagues cheerfully. "Good evening, good evening... How do you do... Risu Antares, Astronomy. Nice to meet you." There were a few new faces. Some of the students had joined their teachers at the table already too, and Risu nodded at them with a smile, struggling to get his right arm into the right sleeve.

He shrugged his shoulders, and the robe settled around him as it was supposed to just as he reached his seat at the far end of the table. With a contented sigh, he sat down, finally able to wave at the assembled students.

Jesseroo too. <3
 

Jeremy couldn't help but chuckle lightly for a moment forgetting about his prior conversation with Kimber. "Punishment...for the shoes?!" She couldn't be serious right? She was punishing her shoes...as if they had emotions and would feel bad afterwards for what they had done. "Do they repent?" He teased with a small grin before reaching for his yet-to-be-filled cup and pouring pumpkin juice into it.

Noticing her greeting directed at Kimber Jeremy smiled at Isabelle and leaned back slightly in his seat so the two women could look at one another for a moment before feeling the need to make introductions he said, "Oh, this is Kimber. She's the librarian and one of my closest friends." His closest friend actually. "And this is Isabelle, she's teaching...erm...Transfiguration, was it?" She certainly was sitting in Preston's seat.

Right, that day. With a small half-hearted roll of his hazel eyes he heaved a small sigh, but grinned at Isabelle nonetheless. "Oh yes, I did. They arrived shortly after you'd left. She'd dragged our brother off to Madam Malkin's where he finally had to take her purse away from her to keep her from buying the whole shop." And he wasn't even exaggerating. Much.



Letting his eyes wander down the Staff Table for a moment, he had been attempting to greet Fina, however never reached his friend since he was distracted by a Ravenclaw girl who had walked up to the table. And she was handing out free candy?! N'aww, how cute. The students just WERE adorable here.

With a small grin for the girl - she was going to hand those out right? - he leaned forward in his seat to be able to catch a glimpse of the Arithmancy professor at the faaaaar end of the table, a grin plastered across his lips.

Ikenna and Max
 

you DID challenge me *whistles*
 

There was a bit of a pause it seemed for Maya's response time, which Josephina ordinarily would have assumed that the conversant either didn't hear or didn't want to talk. But as this was Maya Saylen, Fina knew better and that it was like the Magical Creatures professor was just deep in thought.

"I know, right? Much work but quite worth it, I think," she agreed, smiling lightly as she took another sip of pumpkin juice. "I spent a couple weeks home in Italy, which was nice catching up with family that I haven't seen in ... awhile. Then of course, research. It was good though, but it's also nice to be back." And it was definitely going to be an interesting year, Fina was sure of it.

More gifts from students? Well if the students kept THIS up than it WOULD be a good year. This one was older though and not very familiar to Josephina; but perhaps she was just more reserved and stuck to her studies rather than being outspoken. Except for now. Licorice wands though? Interesting.

"Thank you, Miss Farris," Fina said gratefully giving the Ravenclaw a small smile of appreciation. Ravenclaw, hmm? "If you're continuing your NEWT studies in Arithmancy, then I shall see you in my lessons. If not, then have a good term." Mmhm.

Oh hello Risu! Josephina noted as the Astronomy professor took his customary seat in between herself and Maya. Except that he seemed rather distracted, so Fina just gave him a small welcome back smile and instead her eyes caught someone else who was looking her way ...

Jeremy had made his way to the staff table in the company of the librarian, but he had seemed rather distracted at the moment by the women at the other side of the headmaster and thus she hadn't bothered to try and greet or wave at him. But finally it seemed, he remembered his friend way down on the other side as he looked down at her ... grinning?!? WHAAA!?

Well fine then ... Taking a quick sip of pumpkin juice, she looked back at him and then raised her eyebrows in unison several times rather quickly at him ... :eyebrows:

Slight re-arrangement. *shifty*
 

Heh. She had been serious, she generally was about her fashion, but now she heard Jeremy say the words back to her, the comment on punishment seemed rather silly. And of course, that made her laugh. Shaking her head, she grinned in his direction. "Unfortunately not. But at least it will remind me not to wear them again. For a while at least." Because you could bet she wasn't going to let them get the better of her. Some sort of cushioning charm would do the trick.

Ahh there, she could see her better now. How thoughtful of Jeremy to move slightly. She gave him a nod of thanks and continued her smile towards...Kimber? "Nice to meet you, Kimber." And it was. Only the second person at the whole table she had spoken to. She would also have offered to shake the woman's hand, but doing it across someone else would probably seem a bit rude. "Transfiguration, yes," she smiled, answering just before taking another gulp from her goblet. Why was her mouth so dry today?

An unladylike snort would have escaped her mouth, had she not been a lady. *innocent smile* Instead Isabelle stifled it behind her hand. And tried not to let it show. "Well I can vouch for the fact Madam Malkin's is a dangerous shop for a woman with a full purse. Luckily I had the husband equivalent of your brother to give me a glare last time I was in there." And it wasn't even her she was buying for. "I hope he made it out intact?" she asked, eyes sparkling cheekily.

Ohh hello there child with sweets. The voice, and mention of liquorice, momentarily distracted her from the conversation with Jeremy and Kimber.

Satine...sixth year...Ravenclaw...right. Isabelle made a mental note of the girl's name. It would help to know a few of the kids before class started, even if she did have a plan to help her with that during it. "Lovely to meet you, Miss Farris. Thank you for the welcome." Issy leant forward slightly, so she could see better over the table, and so Satine could see her smile. "I'm Professor Magnus. Transfiguration." Simple and to the point.

"Oh how lovely, thank you very much." Issy gently took one of the cups and placed it front of her on the table. THAT would be for after dinner had been consumed. Although it was so pretty to look at, she was having second thoughts about eating them at all. They'd look lovely as decoration on the end of her desk. "I hope you have a good term, Miss Farris. And I also hope that I shall be seeing you in class, yes?" Issy smiled and laced her fingers together. Wouldn't it be nice if all the kids were this....nice.

Satine smiled at the Professor. "It's very nice to meet you Professor Magnus." she said with a slight nod of her head. Satine loved meeting smart women, especially in the Education field, since her mother worked for the Department of Education. "Yes mam, you will be seeing me in your class. I recieved an O in Transfiguration and can't wait to be in your NEWT class." she said proudly.



Satine then shifted her attention to the next professor, "You are very welcome, Professor Hadley." she said with a smile and a small nod. "Yes I plan on seeing you in class, I also recieved an O in Arthmancy." she said with pride.



Satine stepped closer to the new face and handed him his coffee cup...she could tell he was wondering if it was okay to accept a present from a student...so being the outgoing person she was she made the move for him....plus this Professor was a hottie... "It's nice to meet you, Professor?" she let her statement fade out as in the form of a question. "And what do you teach sir?" she said with a slight nod of courtesy in his way.

Worth it?
Eeeeeeeeeh... Maya's 'explorer' side debated wether or not it was worth the sometime annoying children. But, she did enjoy being a teacher...when she wasn't out looking for creatures that might not have been seen for years. "If the students find themselves with more knowledge, then, yes it is." Hopefully they weren't standing at the front of the classroom in vain. "Ah, Italy. I hear it's a beautiful country." So Josephina was Italiana, eh? "I also visited my family... It is wonderful how being home can be so... invigorating."



Ah, here was the Astronomy Professor. Maya nodded at him, waited for Risu to sit down before striking up a conversation. "Happy to be back?" She noted his wave to the students and wondered wether he looked forward to starting the classes again.

Hearing the student take out more than a handful of sweets, and watching her arrange the cups, she turned towards the voice of the new Transfiguration Professor. Well, isn't she nice. Quite unlike anyone else at this table. She seemed pretty normal, infact, which was good. Maya wouldn't be able to stand another one of those 'fair-maiden-princessesssss'. Sigh.

The girl loved loved loved licorice wands?
Maya chuckled slightly, noting how excited the young girl was...and wondered just how much candy she had in her purse. Would one find candy wrappers around the school? She'd better not leave any around the creatures. And if Maya found any, she'd know who to talk to. Hehe.

And the cups changed color, ey? Weeell... Thanks but, "That is very kind of you, Miss." but she didn't touch the cup, just left it where the childe had put them. "Food first, then candy, si?" Hm.


Now, where was the food?
Tortillas, maaaan, tortillllas.



And, ah, another student.
Oh...this one had 'mischevious' written all OVER her. Maya narrowed her eyes a little, glancing at her as she greeted everyone.
Trouble? What the... "That is good to hear," her spanish accent quite noticeable, "Though, if you change your mind, there is always goat poo to clean up." Her serious face gave away no hint if she was kidding...because she wasn't. Heck, she might just ask for 'her help' in cleaning up, just because Maya now knew who this girl was.

Kimber glanced at the empty chair and scoffed. "That's no great loss," she mumbled under her breath, smiling at Jeremy as she filled her water glass.
Catching Chad's smile, Kimber raised her glass at him and let her eyes linger. She didn't turn around again until she heard Jeremy say her name.
Kimber set her glass down and gave the woman a smile. "Aww, Jeremy," she laughed, nudging him softly. "Can I make it through one day without you making me blush?" she whispered, taking his hand under the table for a gentle squeeze.
"Likewise," Kimber replied, inclining her head. Man! She wasn't used to all of this smiling nonsense. Her cheeks were going to KILL by the time the feast was over.

Oh joy, goat poo. The things she could do with that, resisting the sarcasm she held her smile "Well even if I don't get detentions I wouldn't mind helping out every now and again." She shrugged, no she wouldn't, threats did nothing to Nai, except make her want to accept them. Her mother hated that. "I'm Naiomi Mattherson, but you can call me Nai or if I'm in trouble," She made her best serious face "Ms. Mattherson." She said in a deep voic that sounded much like Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings. "I cant wait for ComC." She beamed.

and all other professors <3
 

"Thank you Professor Hadley," Kurumi smiled finding a bit of her Lion Confidence returning. "I am looking forward to Artimancy very much." It was true, Kurumi had taken a rather keen interest in the subject probably because it involved stable things like numbers and calculations.

Kurumi looked around the table and saw another of her favorite professors, Professor Zookara and waved at him. Sure, Muggle Studies wasn't much of a challenge for her since she had grown up muggle, but seeing her world through a wizard's eyes had been fascinating for her.

She then nodded her head to Professor Saylen, she was going to have to go over and properly talk to her later. Professor Saylen had really helped Kurumi last term with Walnut. Having sprayed him with a water bottle, the cat had refused to go near her for weeks. Taking the professor's advice of spraying herself and seemed to fix that. "Good evening, Professor Saylen," Kurumi said bowing slightly. "I hope you had a good summer. I am really looking forward to class this term." An awkward pause. "Um...I was wondering if the dugbogs from last term are still around or not...I-I-I kind of wanted to visit them." Namely Chibi who she had grown rather fond of during class.

Her smile turned into a slight frown and she turned her attention back to Professor Hadley.

"Um...Professor, I mean no disrespect when I say this, not to the new professors or anything, but..." She paused for a moment to try and stop her babbling. "Where are Professors Markovic and Carlton?" She hadn't heard that they were leaving. Not to mention that one of the new male professors had hardly acknowledged her presence at the table.

Max was about to continue on his tirade when Tate finally spoke up. He listened and rolled his eyes. So the stupid git was a Ministry employee. 'Big deal,' he thought sarcastically as he resisted the urge to pull HIS chair out from under the man.

Thankfully, common sense prevailed and the Deputy Headmaster swallowed his pride.

"He started it," Max mumbled as he took the seat directly to Tate's left.

Suddenly, Lilyan noticed a familiar new person... squinting across the table, without being too obvious, she looked at the man briefly. Hmm. Yes. That was the man she'd met in Diagon Alley, not too long before the term started.

But what was he doing here..?

Well, at the moment, he was obviously bothering Max and clearly enjoying it, but in the general sense of the question.. hmm. She wasn't sure, but she had a thought, or two on the matter. All of which she kept to herself.

Her attention was drawn away from the interaction between the two men, when Tate started kicking chairs and being his normal grumpy at the feast self.

Lilyan sat back in her seat. She was close enough to the man that she could speak to him without having to shout across the table, "Did you know that all of that pent up rage is bad for your blood pressure?"

You know, just... being a concerned Healer and all.

Jess, students, etc. as well (quick post before RL stuff)
 

Renée hadn't really tried, but in the brief moment she'd even thought about entertaining using her ability during the conversation, it seemed both Jared had noticed and a bit of a wall had sprung up. Intriguing, but she didn't see a reason to challenge it now. It got filed away for later, though. Especially as she'd been thinking about the skill earlier. It seemd the Charms professor was even more interesting than their conversation was revealing, but then she imagined he could say the same about her. She smiled a little at his almost-apology for his bias, however. "It's no problem. I guess you could say I'm the same way, a little." Different, though. since she had a connection to more than one location. It seemed Hogwarts was one of her biggest.

"It certainly is. One day I think I'm going to go back," she said idly as he continued to reveal his bias for France. It didn't bother her in the least, as it just added a layer to the man. If she really wanted to learn about him, that was. Time would tell, as emotions seemed to be heightened by the excitement of the start of term. And at that point she caught the smile of the Arthmancy professor from beyond Jared, and she returned it with one of her own. She'd have to talk to her a bit later.

She laughed as he seemed to be turning down her suggestion for help in Divination. "That just makes it sound like a challenge. I think you'd find it takes a lot to get me frustrated," she replied, before shrugging a little at his self-deprecation. "It's possible. Or maybe you just need practice," she said. "Or it does." She still didn't think a so-called Inner Eye was inherent to developing a skill in Divination. At least, not so much with the forms she knew well. "Something like that. I'd imagine it's not much different than other metal abilities, really, just channeled in a different way." And they'd both know about what she was talking about now, even if they weren't admitting it.

However, before her conversation with Jared could go much further, it seemed others of her fellow professors had arrived, and she nodded at them as they sat down and got into conversations of her own. She had also noticed that the students seemed to have started filtering up to visit, and she gave most of them a smile. Gifts were always nice, and she appreciated Satine's licorice wands, even if she wasn't exactly partial to them as a treat. Cookies were another thing, and she had turned to the girl from the party at Fortescue's with a smile. It seemed this was a habit of the girl, but at least it was a habit she could get behind.

Reaching over to select one of the Ravenclaw cookies, she paused as the young girl spoke again. Letting out a laugh, she setttled back into her chair as she regarded the confused girl. It seemed they hadn't resolved the issue from earlier. "That would be because she isn't, Miss Hollingberry," she said with another smile. She was way too young to be Jake's mother, and she was choosing to not let the fact the girl could think that make her feel old. "I'm Professor Bishop. Your new Divination professor," she introduced herself, finally. And that sounded odd, really. The formality of it all, even though she'd taught back in New York. Americans hadn't been quite as formal about it all. Back there it was more like how Jared had first addressed her.

Yay for awkwardness!
 

Kurumi's face turned beet red and her now free hands flew to her cheeks, then to her mouth as she tried to cover her gapping expression. Oh dear, she had made a mistake. She felt like hiding under the table and not coming out until the feast was over, but that would probably be even more embarrassing for her than how she was feeling right now. "P-P-P-Professor Bishop!" she squeaked with a deep bow. "I'm" bow "so" bow "so" bow "sorry." And a few more bows. Sure, she had been polite when meeting Professor Bishop at Fortescue's, but had she been professor polite or just new person polite? Oh, if her mother were here right now... "I-I-I-It is very nice to meet you. Well, meet you again. I mean, erm, I'm so sorry." Kurumi was overly flustered now. Clearly, this professor was not upset with her for the mistake she had made so she should feel too bad, but Kurumi was taking it upon herself to punish herself. "I am looking forward to your lessons," she said still bowing, but at least now she had stopped and was staying at a perfect 90 degrees.

"I'm sure," Tate agree with a quiet shrug. They'd all better get used to their new friend, because the man wasn't going anywhere. And maybe he had the power to move them around like chess pieces if it suited him.

It was Tate's job to be sure it didn't suit him.

"Just play nice, please."

"Aw, Lilybud," Tate leaned against the table and peered around his neighbor. "You care about my blood pressure? I care about your blood pressure too. That's why I painted the whole infirmary a very calming canary yellow, and it's scented like lemon cleaning potion."

Lies. All lies.

Smart. Aleck.

"Did you now? I'm glad you picked a color that suits me then." She HAD been genuine with her advice, though. It was the Healer thing. It happened. "Might I also suggest more fiber in your diet?"

Lilyan sent a smile over to him, and raised her glass in a sort of smirking toast. She could be a smart aleck too.

Something Aaron TOTALLY wouldn't do. ;) SilverTiger this ish for you!
 

*cloning*
 

Hecate arrived to the staff table. It was actually quite uncharacteristic to be late. But even Hecate had situations beyond her control that ruled her life. She had an apple core in her hand that she'd taken from the snake table. She had a half a mind to go to the Headmaster and ask him why he'd asked Ethan to come back, because she knew it wasn't the School Governors who reinstated him. But she didn't, she sat down and took out a mirror... She needed to touch up her lipstick, it was nearly gone.

He returned her glass raise and continue to glance at her as she kept smiling. He then finally looked away and back out at the crowd and towards the kids that kept approaching the table.

"I'll try," Max answered in a low voice and decided to watch the students for a bit because if he even dared glance over at the moron sitting in HIS seat, then Tate would have to don the referee stripes.

"Lily." Tate shook his head and hid a smile behind his fist. She was just... incorrigible. Truly.

"Don't worry about my fiber. Worry about... Hufflepuff's fiber. They eat too much candy." Or something. Her problem.

"You know... it's not an ideal situation this term, but the good news is..." He pointed at the students. They were back and bright and healthy and shiny happy people at the moment. It was their job to keep them that way.

"Swing by my office for a drink after the feast." He kept his voice low.

"Will do," Max replied in a low voice and then he abruptly changed the topic. "Oh, look! The Grey Lady is visiting the students seated at the Ravenclaw Table. Isn't that delightful!"

Luckily enough for Maximus Vindictus, the Headmaster had decided to speak up at last and force the boy with a Quaffle for a brain to surrender the chair that rightfully belonged to Ikenna Gevrik.

Amusement was clearly etched in the few visible creases near Ikenna's mouth. He may have even let out a soft rumble of laughter at the flying instructor's continued childish antics but did not pursue the matter.

After all, he was rather proficient in the art of revenge.

"Pardon me," Ikenna dipped his head toward Tate. "But I wouldn't consider myself a Ministry employee, exactly." He smiled politely and flicked his gaze toward the still slowly-rotating chair that had been something of a....joke.

Shame the staff at this school were such a sour lot. The chair disappeared into thin air as Ikenna gestured toward it with a lazy twirl of a few fingers on his dominant hand.

"I don't do happy faces, Tate," he addressed the Headmaster as if they were old acquaintances, even if they were the polar opposite. "I happened to find your choice of deputy headmaster incredibly entertaining, if that is any consolation. I wonder if a few of the students enjoyed it as well."

Ikenna's dangerous eyes flitted out to the sea of young faces again. Young, fresh, easily-moulded minds. Mmmm. He may have been watching the students but he was most certainly listening to the two men seated nearest to him.

Clawz, Lezleh and Kristiiieeyyen. <3
 

"Much as I'd like to tell you it's the former, I'm afraid it's not." She had an easy smile, nothing forced about it, at least not right now, and Jared lightly returned it. "Jared Descoteaux at your service, madame." He grinned and half-bowed his head, the action carrying his customary touch of natural elegance, eyes full of good-natured humour because, frankly, being called 'sir' by a colleague sounded refreshingly strange.

First cookies, and now licorice wands. Jared, who had not done for a long, long time, something as foolish as consuming - without testing - an edible item he had accepted from a complete stranger, had to ask himself if it was safe to try any of the things being offered. Sure, these kids were students, but then Tom Riddle had been a student that one time he had gotten away with opening the Chamber of Secrets.

Colours? It surprised Jared that the student had been worrying about colours. He'd be more concerned about the contents, and if they could change into chocolate if one did not like licorice. He half-smiled, before turning to the student. "That's thoughtful of you, Miss... ?"

Could he, now? Jared's green eyes asked as much. He supposed every person could be biased now and then, and no harm come of it. Feeling it unnecessary to further broach the subject, he let it drop easily, only nodding in acknowledgement of Renée's statement.

"That sounds wonderful. If I happen to be in France at that time -" he highly doubted that and the thought displeased him because, of course, it reminded him how less often he stayed in France now - "It'd be a pleasure to show you around." It was the polite thing to say but Jared couldn't consider it just a formality since it was a pleasure to show off one's real home. "Supposing, of course, that that's okay with you." He gave her a good-natured little smile as he momentarily returned his attention to his food.

"That's something we have in common, then." Lazy grin. It frustrated a lot of the people he knew, how little frustrated him. Then again, the things that did frustrate him, frustrated him pretty terribly. Injustice. Discrimination. He shook the thoughts off. "At any rate, I suppose no harm can come out of giving it a try." Channelled differently... Jared thought about that, and then smiled ever so slightly. "If you look at it from that perspective, it makes a lot of sense." He sounded faintly surprised at his own statement because he'd never thought of Divination like that before.

ooooh, hello Bishop. pretty Healer, look away. =P
 

Oh, but Treyen had totally forgotten he was leading Ellie to the Staff table, because, in all fairness, he'd lost the feel on his hand, and most of him, at the sight of the most beautiful person in the table, and the room.

Healer Moretti. Of course.

And he was smiling, too, who wouldn't? Right?

It wasn't until he heard the awful, awful words that someone else said that he got back to reality. He frowned, instantly, because he couldn't believe that this other woman had managed to link this moment to Moretti. He...hated that.

'Your new Divination professor'.

He hated that even more.

Treyen was now feeling Ellie's hand in his, and he dropped it. Didn't want to have that connected to the newly appointed Divination Professor either.

Truth be told, he was feeling quite nervous, and disappointed, and empty again, because Kingsley was not here yet. "You are?" he said, after glancing down to Kurumi. There was a fake hint of curiosity. He'd already heard she was.

"I guess you're the one that should know that you have some BIG shoes to fill," he said, in a very serious tone, and he actually wondered why had he asked Ellie to come along. And, the woman that had taken Nolan's place, by force, probably, did have some MAJORLY BIG shoes to fill. Seriously. Like, Siriusly. :P

Ellie let her hand fall to her side when they'd gotten to where they were going. Which had ended up being the Staff Table. And the lady sitting in Reyn's seat. Great. She hadn't had anything planned. What was she to do?

Sniffle.

It was all good, though, because Treyen had spoken first. That was pretty good, actually. Totally what Ellie would've said herself. Because this...Bishop was her name? Like a chess piece? SNORT. Still, the fact that she really was the Divination professor exterminated all hope that there was a mistake. That Reyn's seat had just moved.

Sniffle.

Ellie almost didn't want to look at her. She didn't like her. At all. "I don't think she can fill them," she audibly whispered to Treyen. Yeah, she'd wanted Bishop to hear, too.

And now that she'd gotten started, "I bet you don't even know or care about what you've done." This was all directed at the woman now. "You shouldn't have taken Reyn away." Because it was her fault. At least, Ellie'd make her think she thought so. She needn't know about Ginger. Ellie wiped under her eyes again.

We see you, Treyen.
 

Incorrigible? The man probably had a point. A point that Lilyan only enforced, as she gave a salute and settled back into her chair again. Managing only a few giggles, she allowed her gaze to wander over the Hufflepuff table. DID the students need more fiber?

Hmm.. fiber was important to children.

She shifted her gaze once more at the sound of a somewhat accusatory voice. It seemed some of the students were talking the absence of their favorite professors hard, but still, that was no reason to be rude to the new professors. "Miss Stone, surely there is no reason to be so rude." The woman pointed out lightly, kind as always, even when giving a bit of a reprimand.

Be good, child, or we will have to feed you fiber.

*shakes head* And this might be my only post tonight. *pokes work tomorrow*
 

Renée felt sympathy towards the girl as she turned beet red at the correction. Even as her eyes widened as she started almsot manically bowing. It was almost frightening, especially as she hadn't so much been offended as amused by the whole situation. "Really, there's no need to worry," she said, rising slightly out of her seat as she reached a hand out to the girl. Whether in comfort or to stop her from hurting herself was in question, though. She had a weird thought that the girl was nearly acting like a disobedient house elf, which made her worry what would happen. "It's nice to meet you, too. Again. Officially, rather," she said with a friendly smile. trying to relax Miss Hollingberry. "I'm glad to hear that, and once again, you've done an amazing job on the cookies,," she complimented. Hoping the almost stationary bow would stop soon, and glancing at the others seated at the table for assistance. Anything would help.

Hmmm, not exactly what Renée'd expected, as yet another student approached the table and seemed to want to start with her. As the boy spoke, she turned from Miss Hollingberry to lok at him with a smile, slightly questioning look in her dark eyes, although there was a bit of amusement once she actually looked at him. "Well it's very nice to meet you, Mr. Anderson, and thank you for the welcome," she replied. "It's very kind of you. I'm Professor Bishop." She found it oddly curious that he was a Slytherin, really. Even though she had nothing against the house, she still remembered it as a bit less of the, well, friendly houses. She disliked stereotypes, but even she still held on to some of them. And the unsaid compliment really was amusing, and flattering.

Glancing back at Jared, Renée's eyes glinted a little in amusement as she managed to catch the tiniest bit of anything from him. A chink in the armor, it seemed, but she let him drop the subject easily. Just because she found it intriguing didn't mean she wouldn't let it drop. For now.She smiled again, though, as he spoke of France. "That sounds like a lovely idea," she said, brushing off his deprecation a little. "I'm sure you could show me more than I could find on my own, even if I imagine we've had different reasons for being there in the past," she added, going back to her slightly playful aspect of the conversation. It would almost be too bad if she happened to visit when he was elsewhere. The whole almost opposites thing they seemed to have going was too interesting.

"That's good to know," she replied with a laugh. Challenges were so much better than people who folded easily. Her mood turned a bit more curious, though, as momentarily he seemed distracted by thoughts. Thoughts she chose not to see if she could see, just letting him have that for a bit. She could respect privacy, especially as she hoped people would return it. "Of course not," she responded. Trying to teach him a bit of Divination could be fun. Challenging, and something told her he might try to switch things up on her. She paused in her thoughts as he replied to her theory on Seers, however. "Sometimes a change in persepctive is all you need," she said simply, a half-smile creeping back onto her face at the almost surprised tone in his voice. It seemed she was already teaching him a little.



Her amusement at the conversation with Jared flickered as Renée heard a quiet question from nearby, and she instinctively knew it was directed towards herself. She hadn't really tuned in, but she knew. Just as she knew what was being questioned, and she turned to the two new students patiently. She knew the question hadn't been so much out of curiosity as out of other things. Being the daughter of an actress, she knew acting when she saw it, and she simply nodded at the statement that had followed. "I assure you, I'm not intending on filling anyone's shoes, Mr. . . .?," she replied to the boy, hinting for a name. "That would mean I'm actually trying to take over. New isn't always bad, you know. Just as change isn't." So far, she thought she was handling it quite well, although the Hufflepuff crest on the boy's uniform made her wonder if the House dynamics had shifted considerably in the last decade.

And that thought took deeper root as she heard the whisper from the redhead with the boy. The Ravenclaw student, and at that she really felt a pang of disappointment. She didn't show it, though, as her dark eyes locked on the girl long enough to really get something. Other than the sadness that was truly emanating from her. "Contrary to your opinion, Miss Stone," she started, before hearing the Healer interject from nearby.

Turning to her new colleague for a moment, she nodded in silent thanks, before responding quietly to the reprimand directed toward the Ravenclaw. "I'm sure she has reason to be disappointed," she said, in a bit of an aside, seding the woman a pleasant smile. It seemed Miss Stone was a bit misdirected in her rudeness, but she was a child. It hadn't gotten too bad yet. She truly was grateful, however. She just also felt that she needed to say something in response.

Going back to the girl, she stayed serious. "I assure you I didn't do anything. I understand you miss Professor Reynolds, and I bet he misses you all as well. But I had nothing to do with him leaving, and neither did I take him away." Miss Stone could continue to believe whatever it was she wanted, although Renée knew the girl knew she wasn't entirely to blame. Possibly, she knew she wasn't to blame at all. "In any case, you should be off enjoying the feast with your friends. You're welcome to take this up with me later, in private, however, if you'd like," she finally added, directing the statement at both students. At least in her office, she could find other ways of distracting them.

'Different reasons.' The one phrase in her statement that mildly struck Jared. He could not figure her out right now, but that suited him just fine. He did not like many things, but he liked the company of interesting people. "I can show you the Descoteaux Estate, for one thing," he said good-naturedly. One place not many others could, though knowing that had hardly been a source of pride for him in the past. Too many complications, as far as family and family matters were concerned. "That actually sounds like a fine arrangement." She'd just have to let him know in advance, or he might be attempting to convince a manticore to please, not eat him while she enjoyed France's beauty.

Why did his thoughts love to make fun of him? Jared almost grinned and then, realizing that he hadn't said anything out loud to grin about, did not. Not that that made a difference here.

Change in perspective. "Looks like you're already teaching me, mademoiselle," Jared laughed, a warm laugh but one that might have been real or fake [one could hardly ever tell with Jared] not at all aware that he was echoing her own thoughts. "But theory and practice are two different things, entirely. Here's to the hope that if it comes to the latter, you won't throw me out of the North Tower." He lifted his goblet to her, an amused look in his eyes.


Cookies, licorice, and... misdirected rudeness. Jared's left eyebrow twitched as if to shoot upwards as a student came forward and addressed Renée in less-than-polite terms. He might have interjected, but Healer Moretti took care of that and Jared, a firm believer of too many cooks spoiling the broth, decided not to interfere. He did not, after all, feel like Renée needed every professor under the planet coming to her rescue. She could hold her own.

Rearranging posts so it all makes sense...sort of. :P
 

The only way Jeremy reacted to her comment was by raising his eyebrows at her hostility towards the absent professor. He WAS missing his other neighbor, however. Especially since his other one was a little too occupied by other....things. The 33 year old pointedly refrained from saying anything more on that matter but rather turned to the woman at the very end of the Staff Table. Their end of the Staff Table of course, the better end. Heh.

Good thing, Isabelle was there to keep him entertained for the time being. N'aww, they didn't repent? Maybe she should just throw them AWAY and not banish them into the back of her closet. "For a while?!" Jeremy echoed with a rather incredulous look. He would never ever wear them again after what they had done to her feet. Though, he wouldn't wear them in the first place. Obviously.

Even though some part of him - some very dark and irritating part he hardly ever let show - wanted him to say something like 'yesterday, apparently' he only smiled softly at her and with an amused shrug he said, "I guess not." Returning her squeeze of his hand under the table he simply smiled at her for a moment before turning his attention back to the woman to his other side.

He buried his face in his hands in mock-exasperation as she admitted to having similar tendencies like Alysson. "Oh no, here I am, practically fleeing from my sister's constant excessive shopping sprees and now I meet you!" He pretended to inch away from her - automatically closer to Kimber - glancing back up at Isabelle with an amused grin. "What did I do wrong to deserve this, hmm?" Jeremy teased before adding with a 'sympathetic' look on his face, "I do feel for your husband. And yes, Coop made it out alive. Barely." Or something. Heh.

There, so she WAS handing the cups out because who was he to just get up and get one himself, that would have been...not appropriate. In his eyes anyhow. "Zookara. And I'm teaching Muggle Studies." Jeremy finished the sentence for her with a smile, taking the offered coffee cup from her which immediately turned the teal. How nice.

Placing the cup onto the table next to his still empty - when were they finally getting food?! He was starving! - plate he directed his attention back at the Ravenclaw girl. "Nice to meet you too. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't catch your name." He admitted after a short moment of contemplation of whether or not he was supposed to recognize her from class, which he didn't.

Ooooh, so she had noticed him. Heh. Reaching for his glass he raised it in a rather exaggerated way of toasting with a grin before taking a sip. Only to almost choke on said sip as he very uncharacteristically snorted into his drink at Fina's next move. Coughing a couple of times, he couldn't help but continue to chuckle which didn't exactly do any good to the few drops of pumpkin juice which had somehow ended up in his trachea.

After finally having managed to regain a normal pace of breathing and gotten a grip of himself, he rolled his eyes at her with a still highly amused grin plastered across his face. Silly Fina.

In reply to her little eyebrow-show he grinned before flapping his arms vigorously at his sides to show his excitement. :x3: Not really. xD

Kurumi! He caught her wave and immediately returned it with a grin for the young Gryffindor girl. And were those cookies?! :O However he wasn't sure who they were for so he couldn't exactly just levitate one onto his plate. And getting up to ask was not an option, he was feeling lazy at the moment.

And there was his other neighbor. Finally. It WAS quite unlike Hecate to be late, not that she really was but she was definitely later than most of the other staff. "Hello to you too, Hecate. I hope you had a good summer?" Jeremy greeted the woman with a slight hint of pointed sarcasm accompanying his tones at her lack of greeting.

...she was however busy reapplying lipstick? Was this somehow related to why she was late?

"Jeremy." she said letting her mirror float before her, so she could have both hands free to fix her eyebrows. "There is no need for sarcasm." she said curtly. "I would have said hello, however, you seemed engrossed in your conversation, and I didn't want to interrupt." She put away her mirror, looked up at his charming smile and blue eyes and she couldn't help but return the smile. "My summer was... fine. Thank you, and yours?"

And a bit for Claudiiiiiaaaaa & Droo, too. <3333
 

"Likewise, my dear," Isabelle gave the Ravvie a beaming smile, to match the one she was receiving. Wasn't it nice that the kids - some of them - were so thoughtful. She could feel her nerves evaporate the longer she was there. And this was a smart child as well. Truly Ravenclaw it seemed. "An O? Well congratulations! In that case I only hope I can guide you towards the same grade in your NEWTS." Issy nodded and took out one of the liquorish strips she'd been given. No she couldn't wait. Sweets were a weakness.

Kimber's response to their introduction was short, but pleasant. Although it gave Isabelle the feeling that she was interrupting something between the woman and Jeremy, even if neither of them said it. It could have been the giggling and blushing going on. Smiling and nodding back, she placed the liquorish wand in her mouth and chewed on it. They were as nice as they looked.
Heh. Men. They just didn't understand sometimes. Woman wore shoes that hurt them all the time. Although Issy was going to make sure the little blighters wouldn't do it again, before she put them back on her feet. "Yes. They are nice shoes Jeremy, I wouldn't want to part with them completely." Dear me no. Giving him a wink she took another bite of the wand.

Which she nearly choked on when he went into his poor me routine. Coughing and laughing at the same time was not at all a good thing. "Ha ha." she responded, shaking her head, but smiling now all the same as he edged away. "I think we can say you're safe while we're here at the castle...Can't say the same if you ever happen to go shopping with me though." Wink. Totally true. She'd probably have him buried under a mountain of bags. Like Alastair usually was. "Ahh well, that's the question," she smiled, mock evilly in reply to his question. "Only you would know the answer to that."

Oh, he felt for her husband? "So do I sometimes," she sighed, chuckling as she twirled the candy between her fingers. "But he generally holds his own...Like your brother might need to do if goes shopping with your sister again, by the sound of it." Men and shopping. Didn't always mix, it seemed.

.....

Letting her gaze wander along the table, Issy spotted someone glancing at her. Although she had no clue who it was, something that would HAVE to be rectified, she gave the woman a smile and raised the sweet in greeting. A goblet or glass might have been a more sophisticated way of doing it, but that wasn't what was in her hand at the time. Just go with the flow, people. Go with the flow.

Of course with her gaze in that direction, Issy could see what was going on near the Headmaster. Raising her eyebrows, and curling her lips in an amused smile, she tried to listen to the hushed words, but couldn't make them out. What was obvious was that Vindictus gave in to the man in his chair. Hmmm, interesting.

Then her view was blocked. By a dark haired lady sitting in the seat between her and Jeremy. Hecate, did he call her? Well, she'd seemed to ignore Issy completely. Not that that was going to stop the forty year old saying hello to her. "Good evening," she smiled. Keeping it to that, as the woman was now engaged in conversation with Jeremy.

Hecate turned her head. With only her eyes, she took in the woman who'd spoken. She looked from her eyes, down her body to her shoes, assessing the woman's clothing and posture, scrutinizing her. Her eyes then went back up to meet the woman's gaze. "Evening. You must me the new transfiguration professor." She said... and where most people would insert Welcome after that, Hecate did not. "Potions Mistress and Slytherin Head of House, Hecate Lafay." She said introducing herself.

He wouldn't mind helping? Maya tried hard not to show a...crazy smile, and simply nodded at the girl. "I will remember that." Oh, yes she will.

Thinking the girl would introduce herself and then be off, the Mexicana was rather perplexed by the way she made her voice go lower. Why...why did she do that? "Ah...yes. That is," Odd. But she put on another relaxed smile, "I will see you att the lesson then." Yes yes.

Ah, see, not all-knowing. How weird had that been if it were true, frankly, but she was slightly amused by his manners. "Mucho gusto, Mister Jared Descoteaux." Yes, repeating the whole name helped her remember it. "So, will you be chasing students away from the pumpkins or letting some owl loose in the classrooms?" At this she smirked, remembering the talk of the Professor and his phone-owl teaching. And hey it was a legitimate question, the way Maya would ask them in all seriousness.

Letting her eye look away from Jared for a second, she saw Jeremy way over there (this table is freakishly long...) and also remembered his hat. She had wanted to return it, but now thinking of how they had a winter coming over...and she forgot hers because she was in denial, she should keep it. Until she gets her own, that is. Heh
But she smiled at him and inclined his head in a sort of greeting. Smirk. Yes, this will be an interesting term indeed.

Oh, she saw her!
Staring was bad, but hey, the Mexicana was curious. Seeing the smile and the...raised sweet, Maya raised her eyebrows. The woman wasn't going to...drink from it, was she? Er. But having to return the gesture, another incline of the head and a small smile was appropriate. So she did that, but soon returned her gaxe to somewhere else as the contact was broken.

Another professor arriving.
And Vindictus arguing with some other dude that Maya had no clue who it was. Interesting. Yes it was. And what was he teaching?

Mucho gusto? How Mexican. Jared had to grin, even if he did it a little lazily. "El gusto es mío," he responded lightly.

Mister Jared Descoteaux? Ah. "Jared'll do, ma'am," he said, tones good-natured. God knew he did not need to be reminded he was a Descoteaux, though his tones said nothing of that kind. "Not unless I'm certain that's the only way to become the Minister of Magic," he joked. "But I have to ask... what gives you the idea that I might?" He grinned again, another lazy-looking grin.

Satine smiled at the new...and pretty eye pleasing...professor, "Well it's nice to meet your Professor Zookara... I'll be in your Muggle Studies NEWT class this year." she said watching the cup turn to a teal shade. "I'm Satine...Satine Farris, sixth year Ravvie." she introduced herself with a little nod. "I'll be easy to remember because I'm the only one in the whole school with bright purple hair." she said pointing towards her hair with a little shrug.

"But I'll let you get back to your conversations, plus I better get back to my seat before the food gets here, which I hope is soon because I'm absolut starving." she said with a wink and a little wave before she headed back to the Ravvie sea of blue.



Satine smiled at the Professor, "You are very welcome and I'll see you in class. I'll be easy to spot with my bright purple hair." she said with a little giggle and a little wave before heading back toward the Ravvie table.



Satine smiled at the Professor as he hesitated looking at the licorice wands, "Miss Satine...Satine Farris...Sixth Year..." she said with a little nod. "It's nice to meet you sir, but trust me these licorice wands are nice and innocent but are just scrumdiliuptuos. I'm def not one of the students you shoudl worry about..." she said glancing at the girl down the way announcing that she was going to be good this term...yah okay...insert sarcasm here... she smiled back at the professor, "I'm almost always point leader in the Ravvies and pretty much just harmless."[/B] she finished with a her infamous sparkling smile....yes and boring...she thought to herself.

"But sir, I better head back to the sea of blue before the food gets here or I might run the risk of missing out with all these hungry peeps running around...it was very nice to meet you." she said with another little nod before turning towards the Ravvie table.



Satine smiled at the lovely Professor and then answered, "Si, Madame. Primer alimento dulce, más tarde ... fue un placer conocerte. No puedo esperar a verte en clase ..." she said with her thick Texas accent and a small mischievious smile followed by a giggle..."I'm from Southern Texas mam so I know a little...well poqueto...Spanish." she said with a shaking of her head.

"But, I'm sorry if I interrupted anythig and I better head back to the
Ravvie table before the food gets here...which I hope is soon..." she said glancing over her shoulder back towards the sea of blue. "I hope you enjoy the licorice...after dinner, of course." she said with a little nod of her head as she turned back towards her table.

Somehow the way she was talking about shoes reminded him SO MUCH of his sister's way of doing it it was scary. A good scary though. Sort of. "But they are ju-" '-st shoes' was what he had wanted to say but in the end decided against finishing the sentence. He didn't want her to hate on him that early into the term already and something told him she wouldn't exactly approve of his opinion. "Nevermind." Was what he ended up saying with a small shake of his head before taking a sip of pumpkin juice, smiling into his glass.

He was in grave danger. He really was. Oh no! "Which I'll put on the very top of my list of things NOT to do this term." Jeremy joked with a few chuckles, patting her softly on the back a couple of times as she seemed to be choking on her water. "I'm sure you'll erm find somebody else to go shopping with." He briefly glanced at Kimber for help but as it were she probably hadn't even listened in on their conversation so with a small sigh he turned his attention back to Isabelle. "You...are an evil one, aren't you?" He stated with a dramatic gasp before adding, "Of course I have done NOTHING to deserve this." Duh!

Made aware again by the movement of her twirling the candy between her fingers he brought his attention back to his own licorice wands (right? xD) and picked one up, examining it a little more closely. "Oh trust me. He won't ever go with her again. Not without me anyhow. He's traumatized." He joked, his eyes still on the candy before letting them flicker to Isabelle's face again with a grin.

He had been trying hard not to stare too much at the girl's bright purple hair but somehow it was just too distracting. Had she dyed it that way? And if she had WHY?! "Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing you in my class then, Satine." Jeremy said to her hair finally bringing his hazel eyes back to the girl's face.

"Yes, that's really hard to miss." He joked glancing back up at the subject at hand - her hair - chuckling lightly before giving her a smile. "Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the evening." And with that she went back to the Ravenclaw table. Students, weren't they just adorable? Especially the ones who handed out free candy. Heh.

Jeremy only continued to smile at her curt answer, watching her regarding herself in her mirror. She always had a reply ready in her defence, always it seemed, which somehow was amusing in his eyes. "I wasn't serious." He simply stated with another grin, even though he sort of WAS curious of the reasons why she had arrived that late.

Somehow, it seemed now was not the time to ask though, now it seemed was the time for smalltalk. "Same...a little busy really what with moving and all. But you know, relaxing all the same." And way too short. But somehow it did feel good to be back for yet another term. Half-listening to her and Isabelle's conversation he was tempted to throw a 'Behave' in but refrained from doing so with an mental grin.

None of his business after all.

His eyes lazily wandering down the staff table, they passed some kind of 'important' new guy who was occupying Max's seat with pride, whereas the latter looked far from happy about the other's presence. Nor did the Headmaster really. Who was this new person, though?!

A movement caught his attention and made him glance even further down the staff table to meet Maya's gaze who was smiling at him. He mouthed a "Hey" at her accompanied by a grin as his eyes flickered to the person who was sitting in Carlton's seat...the Charms Professor presumably. Hopefully he wouldn't be as drama-prone as his predecessor had been. Heh.

Oh. Maya raised an eyebrow. And he speaks spanish, too. The corners of her lips twitched, but didn't say anything as they moved on. Ma'am? To say the Mexicana was not used to hearing that word was correct. This man was fun, she was realising. "Bueno, Jared." Descoteaux. Hehe.

What gave her that idea...let's see. "Hmmm..." Grabbing the water jug, she poured some into her goblet, pretending to look him over as if he had a sign on him that gave her the answer. "Oh, I don't know... You seem like someone who cares about...the things around him." Eh? Then she narrowed her eyes a little and spoke in a lower voice, "Although, looks can be decieving." Smirk.

Taking a sip of her water, she waited for the man to respond with a curious glance.

Ay. Another person who...spoke spanish. Like.
Not wanting the girl to see her look, Maya nodded again and tried to seem as nice as possible. The texan accent was not unknown to the Mexicana, but the small giggle the student let out was amusing. "Quite...well, miss Farris." It was more than most people knew.

"No interruption at all." Well the food wasn't here yet. Sigh. "Thankyou Miss Farris, you aswell." Maya smiled and watched the girl scadaddle off.

...wait, what did he say?
The man was rather far away and she couldn't read lips. So, she squinted and was kind of focused on his lips, even though he had already said whatever he had said.

Maya in turn mouthed a 'Que?', forgetting to do so in english and waited for some kind of sign that Jeremy had understood and to repeat whatever he had mouthed. Obvious...right?

:blink:

Then he heard Ellie whisper something to him? Except, that was no whisper, it could be perfectly heard by anyone who was in close range, like the new Divination Professor.

The boy was slightly surprised by that, though, by the way Ellie spoke again. There was only the tiniest smirk on his face. Even if he sort of knew that her words were totally uncalled for.

Oh, but he didn't want to face Ellie, he wouldn't want to venture the sight of tears on her face.



That voice was, like, music to his ears. A choir of angels singing right beside him. This time he did venture a look towards the beautiful voice and smiled. "Evening, Healer Moretti," he said, totally oblivious as to what she was saying and to whom it was being said to.

She could be deadly, you know, Moretti, because he seemed to wander off into other world.



But whatever cloud he'd been at, thanks to the Healer, he was brought back to earth rather hard and pretty fast.

The boy couldn't help but eye the Healer before turning back to meet this other woman's gaze. He wouldn't want his favorite Healer to think badly of him, would he?

Treyen straightened himself and had that tiniest smirk again, "Lockhart," he said, with a slight feel of pride as he said it. He'll always say it that way, no matter if he already knew the truth about Gilderoy. 'New isn't always bad'. "But we don't know that, do we?" he was trying to keep his voice away from any rude hint whatsoever. The Healer was paying attention now. "At any rate, we'll hope things go well," and was that the nicest thing he had to say? Yes.

He, of course, listened to what the woman said to Ellie and sincerely hoped that the words wouldn't make the Ravenclaw cry. He truly did hope so, since the words had managed to make him teary on the inside.

Then again, his heart was already broken, he was bound to be a bit more susceptible to those words. But he nodded when she mentioned her office. They may pay a visit....or not. We'll see.

And he was about to head down to his table...when...'new transfiguration professor'.

He. Froze. In. Place.

Even his eyes seemed frozen, for they weren't even managing to blink. He swallowed hard and kept his eyes on Lafay. He must have heard wrong, right? Treyen didn't even want to look towards where Kingsley should be sitting.

Yeah, that was it. He was becoming a bit distressed about the fact that he wasn't around at the moment, so now he was hearing things, yes. The boy should probably head back to the table. His table. Hufflepuff table, that is.

Hope you don't mind, Karla. Heh. <3
 

Whaaa...?!

Maya was mouthing something back...something like 'Kay?'. Jeremy squinted slightly to be able to decipher what exactly she was trying to say but unfortunately there was nothing else she added. In addition, she looked really confused which in turn confused him even more. What was she saying?

Whatever it was the whole situation sort of made him chuckle, shaking his head slightly to show her that he had no clue what she had just been trying to say. "What?!" He mouthed, clearly amused by it all.

...

It was only through sheer coincidence that Jeremy happened to notice Treyen standing near the Staff Table, seemingly frozen to the spot. He seemed to be staring at something and when he realized what, or rather who, that something was he swallowed as it was his left-hand neighbor, Hecate.

Whatever it was he highly doubted she liked being stared at. Especially like this. Which why he cleared his throat and spoke up, trying to direct Treyen's gaze at himself rather than the woman next to him. "Are you alright, Treyen?" Look at ME!

Regardless, Lilyan Moretti, who rarely gave a reprimand, had felt that it was necessary. Obviously the students would be upset about not seeing their favorite professors, but, like she had thought before, it didn't give license for them to be rude.

She nodded to the woman, and made a note to owl Lexi when she returned to her office. Maybe it would make her feel better to know that the students had not forgotten the missing professors.

As she thought, Lilyan noted the look of another male professor. What subject was he teaching, then? She offered a polite smile at him, since he was looking, and because she was not the type to yell at people across a table.

There would be plenty of time to get acquainted later on.

Turning her eyes back to the students, Lilyan smiled at Treyen, though he was not exactly off the hook either, "Good Evening to you, Mr. Lockhart, did you have a lovely summer?"

She was suddenly reminded of the little boy who appeared in her hospital during her first term, worried about scarring his "beautiful face". Ah. Kids grew fast, didn't they?

She smiled at him too. "I am glad you weren't serious." She said and listened. "I didn't realize you were moving... Where did you move to?" She asked. She looked at the food on the table... she really wasn't hungry, she'd just eaten before she got to the feast.

Suddenly Jeremy's attention was to a child. She turned and looked at the student in question. What was he looking at her that way for. Oh Merlin... "Lockhart. Answer professor Zookara." She said now glaring at the boy. If this kid didn't stop staring she'd make him.

I love you two!--er, three! *grins*
 

Blink.

It was a voice that got him out of whatever spell he'd been into. And his eyes mostly appreciated the 'blinking'.

Ducks!

"Professor Zookara," he said, with a small smile on his face, "I--yes, I am, thank you," just hearing things, nothing unusual, "Hope you have a great summer, Sir," well, that was just a great change in character, wasn't it?

The tone was far too different than the one he's used on the woman sitting on Nolan's place. Perhaps he was more than biased since Jeremy Zookara was a second now. Second on his favorite Professor's list, of course. Kingsley was first...if he ever made an appearance.

But he...wanted to know?

"Professor, do you happen to know where Professor Kingsley is?" but he wasn't certain if he'll be hearing what he thought people will be saying, since he was now hearing what he wanted to hear. And he didn't mind which Professor answered either.

Though, he supposed he ought to head back to his table, NOW...and take Ellie away from this table, too?

Mr. Lockhart.

Haha. It sounded just perfect when she said it. Which was not that regularly she managed to do so, by the way. At least once a year, and he didn't need to hear it more than that.

He was a happy Hufflepuff now.

Beam. "I did, I did," he said, nodding, "I suppose you did as well," especially after working SO HARD for the tournament. Tate must have granted her a special vacation, no? If not, then the Headmaster owed her.

Forget about leaving the table, couldn't he just seat here instead?

Straight from the Hufflepuff table, Jake had strolled up to the Staff table, tucking his glasses into the collar of his shirt. He gave Vindictus a nod, he gave Tate a nod, and he gave this guy... a look.

Jake would have to remember to go see Tate later; make sure he got the paperwork about his sixth year and ask him a leeeeeettle question.

Back to this guy though, the one Lexi had told him about, who had apparently been rude to the Quidditch professor, whom all Quidditch players looked up to.

"Who are you?" he said simply. Not rudely, but not politely... just inquisitively.

He could be the start of some interesting interactions. Hehe.

Each is it's own little RP xD
 

Well now, it was not unlike she was having a muggle x-ray performed on her. Isabelle followed the woman's gaze, looking down at her own clothes and shoes, before fixing her eyes straight ahead, raising her eyebrows slightly in a confused manner. It took an age for her to respond, and when she did it seemed rather curt. Was she always like that? "Yes, I am. Isabelle Magnus, nice to meet you, Hecate." Ohh, informal. Judging by the Potion's Mistress' demeanour that might not be such a good idea. "Or would you prefer Professor Lafay?" Always best to check with people you don't know. Oddly scary looking people you don't know.


It was very difficult to get to know people when they were literally metres away from where you were sitting. So the greeting between Isabelle and, who she assumed was another professor, was kept to just eye contact. And a liquorice wand. A very tasty, almost gone, one. And then it was all over and they were both looking in different directions. Shame the table wasn't a bit shorter.

"I'm sure I certainly won't miss you in a crowd," Isabelle laughed, commenting on Satine's bright hair. It was very pretty, and would most likely help her remember the girl in future. "Thank you again for these," she gestured to the sweets as the girl waved and wandered back to her table. Very nommy they were, too.


She never really thought that a guy was who she would be discussing shoes with. Alastair usually just rolled his eyes when she mentioned to him that she'd bought another pair. Although she didn't really do that much anymore, what with the house to do up. But that is digressing. And for some reason, Isabelle thought she knew what he was going to say, before he cut himself short. "You can say it you know," she laughed, taking another liquorice out of her cup. "I won't bite your head off for thinking me strange to like shoes so much." But there could be worse things to like, no?

As Jeremy patted her on the back, Isabelle nodded her thanks, eyes still watering a little. "Oh don't worry, I wouldn't think to put you through such an obviously awful experience." She wiped her eyes and giggled slightly. No, he seemed quite keen to avoid it - even with his own family. And she wasn't cruel. Far from it. "I'm sure I will." Eventually. "Evil? Me?" Issy drew her hand up to her chest and dropped her mouth open in fake shock. "Not at all. And I believe you, of course." She patted him on the arm and wiggled her eyebrows mischievously. She was enjoying this amusing conversation.

Issy dared to take another bite of her sweets, even though the risk of her choking again was quite high. And it nearly happened, too. Thanks to Jeremy again. "Traumatised? The poor thing. Tell me though - why is it so bad going shopping with us women?" Maybe if she found out the answer it would help her to NOT put Alastair through it again.

And then she felt as if eyes were boring into them.

Slowly Isabelle turned her gaze onto a young boy stood the other side of the table. He seemed to be frozen in some sort of - shock? Although he appeared to be looking at Hecate. Issy's eyes darted between the two of them as she waited for something to be said, or to happen. Not being able to take the odd tension anymore, she was just about to speak up when Jeremy and Hecate did instead.

The boy's response make her choke a little more. Ahh yes, Professor Kingsley. He was the man whose job she had taken over, the name registering in her mind. Oh dear. Best keep out of this as long as possible.

Moretti's down at the bottom, too. There's just a lack of quotage.
 

Oh, great Healer Moretti, thaaaanks. Now the mean teacher knew her name. Ellie was planning on going phony or something. HMPH.

And Meanie Teacher was NOT making this situation any better. True, Ellie was less sad now, but she was more angry. She didn't like this woman's choice of words. Nope.

"You don't understand! And you don't know anything about Reyn to tell us that he misses us," Ellie shot at her. That was just coldddd, teacher. Sniffle.

And the whole 'nothing to do with him leaving'? Yeah, lies. She was sure of it, now. Well...not really. Deep down, she knew Bishop had nothing to do with Reyn leaving. It was all Ginger's fault. Meanie Ginger.

Later? Ellie chewed this thought over. She presumed the 'in private' was code for 'office'. Which would mean no other teachers like Moretti sticking up for the newbie meanie teacher. Therefore, she liked the idea. "I think I'll take you up on that offer." Probably in the morning, though, cuz crying was actually making her pretty tired. And tomorrow still counted as later.



So with that business temporarily out of the way, Ellie became conscious of Treyen losing focus on the IMPORTANT part. That was until she'd caught and processed what was going on. Something about 'new Transfiguration professor' and 'where's Kingsley'.

OHNO.

Ellie, dry of tears, was able to clearly focus on her friend. If Kingsley was gone...that'd be, like, the end-all for him. He'd dressed up as the Professor for the costume ball last term, for Merlin's sake.

"He must've taken up another post," she quickly said. She wasn't one for letting things go, apparently. "Like Charms, maybe." It was similar to Transfiguration after all. It crossed paths occasionally, too. Didn't they go over that in class before? And since Carlton's not here...

Wait.

Where was Carlton?

"Healer Moretti..." Ellie began. She knew about the Hawaii thing. Carlton mentioned it at the feast when Ellie was trying to convince Reyn not to leave. "Professor Carlton...she's just running late, right?" She was probably just applying aloe to the sunburn she must've gotten in Hawaii. Most likely.

Rude much? She was just about to scold the boy when... she saw who he was speaking to. She let the boy be, curious of the answer.

"You are a professor, you may address me as Hecate, if I may address you as Isabelle." She said with a shrug.

Hecate gave a knowing smile. She wanted to answer that question so badly... Destiny said it best... revenge is a dish to be savored... and she was enjoying it immensely.

Treyen & Ellie
 

What?!

Treyen's eyes widened ever so slightly when he heard what Ellie was replying back the newly appointed Professor. Had Ellie been that attached to Nolan? Yes.

"Ellie, that's enough," he said, keeping his voice low. It was almost a whisper, honestly. He was actually worried about Ellie gaining a detention or something.

But, hey, if it helped with the NO tears strategy, then he was all up for it.

His face was turned to Ellie when she spoke next. Another post. She was forever smart for saying that, but why did it feel like she was doing that so he'll feel better?

There was no answer from his side, though he was blinking, at least. Even if he was terrified of knowing the truth if it meant that Kingsley was gone.

Terrified. So, yes, he was close to panicking now, AGAIN.



The ever-soothing voice managed to keep his panicking away. And he was grateful for that.

He smiled, again, and it seemed that it was the only thing he did whenever Moretti was around. Even if someone was dying at the tournament, he was smiling.

Oh, and she went to Hawaii? "I'm glad you did," he said, still smiling, yes, "You must have looked beyond beautiful there," and that's when he noticed what he said, "I mean--not you, the landscaping you know, you must have looked at pretty beautiful sights in there," and now the Hufflepuff was blushing only a bit.

He'd never been to that side of the World, but he'd seen the pictures, the Muggle ones, and it was beautiful.

Now, he could stay here forever, honestly. Who needed the Hufflepuffs? Actually, the Hufflepuffs didn't need a Lockhart, right? They already had a Fletcher. Soooo, he won't be missed if he stayed here...or at the Hospital Wing the whole year.

He placed his elbow on Ellie's shoulder and totally leaned on her. Yes, he was comfortable, or as comfortable as one could be when that shoulder was at the same height as your own. Except, he had no idea he was leaning on Ellie. He even crossed his right leg in front of the left one as he did so.

Man! That wall was comfy, the one he was leaning on.

Casey, Max & Gevrik who notices everything anyway.
 

Kurumi took a deep breath before slowly raising her head. Her hair was a bit of a mess now from all the bowing with lose strands falling out of her once neat pony-tail and some of her bangs sticking straight up, off to the side, and in all directions. "Thank you," Kurumi smiled seemingly to have stopped her nervous stuttering. Should she apologize for bowing over again over again? No, that would probably make her do more bowing. Best to just do as the professor said and relax. "Professor, if you don't mind my asking, why were you at the party?" Perhaps she was a friend of Jake's mother?

Kurumi smiled back at Professor Zookara. She saw him eying the cookies, but didn't pick any of them up. Perhaps he was waiting for the Headmaster to take one himself before he did, but the Headmaster seemed a little preoccupied with creepy man and the fight breaking out between her Flying professor and another man. "The cookies are for everyone," Kurumi whispered pointing to the contents of the box as she set it within reach of him. She wondered what cookie he would pick. Perhaps his old house? Kurumi never had asked the professors what houses they had been in at Hogwarts. Then again, she had a hunch about Dragon Lady and it most certainly hadn't been Gryffindor.

"Hecate it is then," Issy smiled warmly, reaching forward for her goblet as she did so. Taking a quick sip to whet her lips, she nodded at the enquiry. "Isabelle or Issy, I don't much mind which." Most people went with Issy once they knew her for a while, but you could say they weren't at that stage yet.

Ethan was acting as if he'd never left... "Ethan," she said and smirked. "Let me be the first to welcome you back to staff." She said and took her glass of water, raising it to him.

"Very well, Isabelle." She said and looked over at her Slytherins, "If any of my snakelets bother you, just let me know.

The scraping noise of a chair being moved to his left failed to rouse Vindictus.

But then he heard a familiar voice.

Max tore his eyes from the Ravenclaw Table (he was on the lookout for problem 'Claws) and turned towards the voice.

"Ethan - welcome back!" he exclaimed.

...

"Alright." He agreed. She could be first. He waited and eyed the glass of water from behind his stunna shades. Oh. Well, Max was first.

Sorry about that, Hecate. He glanced at the woman again -she could still be second- and turned his attention to the Ravenclaw Head of House.

"Thank you." He paused. "Many new faces."

Including the one that stole your seat good sir. He leaned forward just slightly so he could see that particular man, and then turned his head to Max again.

Why was there a ministry type here at Hogwarts?

Why had Casey not mentioned that when he asked him to return?

Hmm.

He supposed he should make conversation. Or something.

"I heard about the Quidditch Pitch failures," He began politely, "will that effect things here at Hogwarts at all do you suppose?" As far as regulations and assessment and permission to actually play.

...

Alright?!

Was he daft? She remembered him to be smarter in school. But alright was his response... Whatever... She raised her glass toasting to him and drank her water. "Welcome." She repeated under her breath.

Max rolled his eyes at Ethan's subtle reference to the Ministry git who was sitting in HIS seat and shrugged his shoulders. He really didn't care who the man was or the fact that he was a Ministry employee.

"It's horrible isn't it?" he replied in response to the mention of the Pitch failures. "However, we're lucky - the Pitch here at the school is perfectly safe. Rex sent the top inspection team to check everything and it passed with flying colors. But leave it to my brother to fail to inform me about it until after the fact."

Second.

She was second.

"Thank you, if you truly mean that welcome, Hecate." Ethan pushed his sunglasses up into his hair, and watched her seriously, his hazel-green eyes calm and detached.

"I suppose our pitch is doubly protected, considering the pitch itself and the school have fairly formidable wards in the very foundations themselves." Truebridge mused.

He wasn't entirely sure he'd call it horrible, just... surely it wasn't a fault or an accident? And in that case, if it were sabotage, why would anyone target a Quidditch Pitch of all places?

He paused. "Brothers are often that way." Zan murmured vaguely. At least, from what he recalled of his own.

He poured himself a glass of water and transfigured the glass from a regular cylinder into a squared tumbler, still not being a particular fan of round things.

"No deaths here in a while." He noted, glancing past Max to eye Casey.

He'd be pleased about that, probably.

Nymphy saw the Professor that his friend had pointed out to him and walked up to her. "Sorry to interupt. My name is Nymphy Smith. Someone told me tha you were the new Head of Hufflepuff House. I just wanted to meet you and introduce myself" he said, smiling warmly.