Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 10315770)

Tate waited for the boy to depart before finally standing. Time to deliver the speech and let the poor kiddos have their dinner. He waited a long moment for the room to fall as silent as could be expected before speaking.

"Students! Welcome back to Hogwarts for yet another exciting term. As I'm sure you've seen from the empty seats at this table and the sprinkling of new faces, we have undergone many changes in the staffing for this term. I would like to take a moment to welcome our new staff members, and to let you know that those empty chairs will be filled by Ministry provided staff members who were hand selected by Lord Berty Borr." Lord indeed... the man was meddling in his school, and Tate wasn't sure how he felt about that.

No, he was sure... he didn't like it.

"Those staff members will not be holding office hours at Hogwarts, so I suggest you form study groups if you need additional assistance in those subject areas. My training room from last term is still available for those who want to work on their Defense development, and we will do what is necessary in any areas you may feel necessary. Please be frank with us as the term goes onward." And he expected to hear plenty of complaints, but hey... he could only do so much.

"I'm sure many of you read the Daily Prophet over the summer, and you are probably well aware of the ship currently floating on Black Lake. After extensive magical investigation, I feel fairly confident the ship is free of traps and spells and sturdy enough to be explored. More information will come on that later, but I think we can expect an opportunity to go aboard later in the year." After Max got through with it, of course. Hehe.

"I know it's been a long day, and you're all quite hungry, so let me shut up and sit down and let you get around to stuffing your faces. I wish you all a good meal and a good night to follow, and I hope we have a good year." Free of deaths and all that. Tate clapped his hands and food appeared on each table.

"Eat!"

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 10342327)

"I don't have much of a sweet tooth at times, but I think it'll work out quite nicely. Students tend to scoff at my paltry offering of biscuits," Tate pointed out the dinged up cookie tin. He actually seldom remembered to offer the biscuits, but students in general didn't seem impressed with them.

"I hope you'll call on me if you need anything as well.... actually." He tilted his head in consideration. "I have a history issue. We all do. Perhaps you can work with Madame Donovan to see what you can find about the ship on the lake. We found some documents on board that I sent on to our historian, but any insight would help."

Originally Posted by Lezleighd (Post 10343361)

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 10344094)

"They were remarkably well preserved, all things considered. It's damp on the ship, but I find it hard to believe the thing was submerged. I don't know how else it was just... hidden, I suppose, but it's not rotting and falling apart." Hmm... something in that. "Maybe it's magic."

Of course, it was probably magic. Stupid thing to say, really. "Feel free to wander around down there."

Originally Posted by Lezleighd (Post 10355685)

Gemma was even more intrigued about the ship and these mysterious documents. She smiled at the Headmaster and stood up extending her hand, "Well I am very happy that I stopped by, but I know you are busy man, and I have to admit that I'm anxious to go check out these documents..." she paused and then continued, "So, I'm going to head down to see what all I can find out."

Originally Posted by Liisa (Post 10457956)

With her own wand in front of her, the librarian shuffled the other two inside and closed the gate behind them.

"It's right this way..." she started, walking past them towards the shelves in the very back. Very gingerly, she pulled out some aged (but not ancient looking) documents, bound together with a boring piece of string.

Turning towards the professor, she held them out to her with both hands. "The Captain's log," she presented.

Originally Posted by Liisa (Post 10459667)

Kimber turned to face the child with a wide-eyed expression. "It says, 'His name was Captain Barnabas'," she answered. "Also known as Barnabas the Bloody." The name was practically chill-worthy.

She quickly turned back towards Gemma. "And do you see the date? The year?! It was written nearly 300 years ago. And yet..." If one looked at it's condition...

No sooner had she thought this, when Kimber heard a tiny "clink" of something landing on the ground. When she looked down, there laying on the stone floor, was a golden comb. Stooping down, she carefully picked the item up and examined it in her hand. "This wasn't here before..." she muttered to herself.

Originally Posted by Liisa (Post 10478916)

Originally Posted by Lottiepot (Post 10479961)

"Charlotte"
The voice that echoed down the hallway didn't seem to fit the child that it came out of. It was mature, stern and very powerful, the expression on the small brunettes face equal to the authority her voice seemed to hold. She reached out and grabbed the Librarian by the wrist, her face serious. "I will take you to Barnabus, I promise you I will" her eyebrow shot up as she spoke. "Come to the ship, in the Lake. He will be there, waiting for you" she lied, looking around at who else was there. Quite a few students it seemed. Her voice lowered into a whisper "But you have to do something for me.."


She looked out towards the direction of the staircase. If they hurried they could get on the ship without a load of students bombarding them.

Originally Posted by Liisa (Post 10480065)

Originally Posted by Lottiepot (Post 10482064)