"Oh you do now? Well you must tell me more about him." Hops was VERY interested in this new bit of information. He would have to tell Cassandra for sure. A new positive light needed to be shed on all things Hogwarts including its Board of Governors.

But now the Headmistress began her speech and he stood up and waved to the assembled muchkins when she introduced him, although many recognized him from Hogsmeade. Smile and wave.
"Well you did a damn fine job, it seems you're in the right career path then!" Yes good show and Hops liked the man's layed back and easy going attitude plus he was modest; good qualities for those in his position.

He did a good job too? "Well thank but usually the people are already corralling themselves to me at the bar so that was a new experience alright." Harold chuckled as the man went to find his seat.
Yes, again, strange woman.

He nodded at her mention of riding the trunk and continued to watch her from the side of his eye. "Ah would you look at that." He said amused as her hair filled her napkin and probably most of Cassandra's with rain water.

And then the cheers. Merlin. Lainey must have bumped her head somewhere since ti seemed she thought she was at a Quidditch match or a Weird Sisters concert. But because it was rather hilarious, and she wasn't the only one doing it now, Hops gladly raised one hand and WHOOPED at the Headmaster right along with her.
Hops also eyed Truebridge before leaning back behind the Headmistress's chair to speak in low voices with the President. "Yes, that is for us to wait and find out it would seem, but I'm hoping her past loyalty to the school will facter into our side." She had been a previous Professor after all and surely she would want was best for the school.

The glance to and mention of the man sitting on is other side was something he had definately expected and along the lines of what he had been thinking himself. Harold had made a point to get to know the man as best as possible in hopes to sway his vote along the 'right' way when it came to make decisions that would possibly lessen the grip the Ministry had on them and she well knew that he was making those efforts. "Yes but hopefully his new-found commitments will begin to dilute his schoolmate antics."

When the plant shifted again, Beezley knew they were at the big table now. She knew, because she'd been in this place so, so many times. Elfsies knew their way around places where food was served. Yes, they did.

Now to give the big, scary, leafy plant to Missus Truebridge. Beezley could hear talking, and Beezley didn't want to interrupt. Missus Truebridge seemed as scary as fire, she did. Fire, just like her bright, red hair.

The elf cleared her throat as she stopped in front of the big table.

Staff and Elves! Oh and....shifty
 

The Elfsies had done it, they did what the red haired lady told them too! They did so good Toddles wanted to run around the room and dance like he loved to do. Big pink plant was still on his head.

No one spoke, not Pips, not Nimma, not Beezley, no one. So Toddles did.

"SPECIAL DEWIVERY!!!" There, that was that. Head lady wasn't still talking was she?

Now the plant was getting heavy and giving Toddles a headache so the baby elfsie snuck out from underneath it without the other elfsies seeing him and scurried under the table to look at all the pretty shoes. Toddles was told he couldn't wear shoes but his feet got cold, they did.

One in particular caught his attention they were VERY wet. Yucky. Toddle looked at them and slowly climbed up one tall leg and then the other. Suddenly his baby elf head popped up over the table as he SAT IN PROFESSOR LAINEY'S LAP.

"You're all wet Misses, want Toddles to help?" he slooooowly raied part of his pillowcase and wiped her cheek ever-so-gently-like. Big baby House Elf eyes.

Pips stopped in front of Beezley, cleared his throat as well, hushed Toddles, and began to speak. "Headmistress with Red Hair, the elvsies is bringing you big pink plant in big pink pot with big pink bow and big pink tag with Headmistress' name on it," he said, hiccuping nervously and pushing the plant in the lady's direction. "I is Pips and these is Beezley and Toddles and Nimma and Tippin. The elvsies is late and we is sorry. We is ironing our ears extra hard tonight, we is."

Hiccup.

"Is Headmistress with red Hair upset with the elvsies?" He asked, going into a hiccuping fit. He looked up at the big hoomans at the table and hiccuped several more times. "We is very sorry. We hope Headmistress with Red Hair is forgiving us."

.. And where had Toddles gone?! Into a mistress' LAP?!

"Toddles! Toddles mustn't bother the Mistress or Pips and Nimma is taking away Toddles' snack, they is!" he warned sternly. "Pips says toddles must get off Mistress now!"

"I'm not worried about her," Cassandra flicked raindrops from her shoulder, but her eyes never left Hops. He was a good man, and she liked having him so close to the students. "I'm worried about us."

The BoG were... weakened by letting the Minister put his thumb on them. "Keep working on him, sir. I hope he'll listen to reason."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beezley (Post 11187831) When the plant shifted again, Beezley knew they were at the big table now. She knew, because she'd been in this place so, so many times. Elfsies knew their way around places where food was served. Yes, they did. Now to give the big, scary, leafy plant to Missus Truebridge. Beezley could hear talking, and Beezley didn't want to interrupt. Missus Truebridge seemed as scary as fire, she did. Fire, just like her bright, red hair. The elf cleared her throat as she stopped in front of the big table.

Oooh, Merlin. Cassandra noticed the elves struggling under an enormous plant. Was that... coming all the way up there?

"Put it down right here. I'll make room." She shifted her plate and goblet over. "Do you... need help?"

replies to Gemma, etc. coming later :)
 

"Oh... Thank you...?" she asked perplexed. "I think I may just check this out in my office..."

"Good." She said turning towards the table.

Yup... the woman was a weirdo.

"VP Lainey, I think you and I will get along swimmingly." Merlin, his wife would be jealous if she'd met the woman. She was delightfully quirky.

"I suppose so." Hecate said nodding. "Though with a port key I doubt you'll have issued with it."

"Of course..." He said nodding at the house pride statement. He certainly had it. Though he heard her saying how uncomfortable she was having him on the board. "I don't believe I have veto power or deciding power. My power is merely one vote."


"Alright my dear. Gemma it is, my friends call me Amoroso," He said to the woman.

"Good Evening, Headmistress with Red Hair," Pips greeted the lady politely, inclining his head in a small bow, stepping back a teensy bit away from her and the large plant. It was still scary. But it wasn't theirs anymore, thank Merlin. "Oh. Is the elvsies interrupting something? The elvsies is having no idea. We is sorry, Headmistress with Red Hair. We is sorry you is upset." He looked at Toddles, who was still in the Mistress' lap, sternly, and turned back to the Headmistress. "Is you wanting us to leave?"

They could leave. They could go and iron their ears. But Toddles was no longer getting his treat.

Beezley knew that voice! That voice was the onw beezley had worked for since as far back as she could remember. "Missus," Beezley said, poking her head out from behing the leaves and giving the woman a wide smile. "Beezley has missed Missus, and Beezley thanks Missus for her offer. Elfsies have big plant, though. Elfsies have to give plant to her." Beezley's wide eyes traveled to the woman with the flaming hair.



Beezley ducked back behind the leafsies, getting a mouth full of the plant. Beezley would talk to this Missus from behind the plant, yes she would. "Elfsies have job. Elfsies do job quickly, but...does Missus want us to go? What does Missus want done with big, scary plant?" she asked. Maybe she would let them just sit it down and go. Beezley's little elfish body couldn't carry the plant all the way back to where it'd come from. No, no, no.

Oh goodness gracious hEAvens! So sorry to keep you waiting darlings
 

Oh, what a charming smile the man had. Even if he haaaaaaaad but just the tiniest bit rude in hot introducing himself. "I was and will forever be a Hufflepuff, dear," she giggled almost girlishly, venturing a glance towards the Hufflepuff table. Oh, COULD she go down and visit after Annie gave her speech? Perhaps even sit down on the benches like she used to in her school days? Why, that simply would be maaaaaaaaaarvelous!

Forgive? She supposed she could do as such, so she nodded her head approvingly. "Leobald, siiiiiiiiiimply charmed to meet you!" Properly that is. "I am indeed. Afraid I may need to dust myself off a bit. Stretch these stargazing limbs of mine. It has been some time since I last worked properly."

Oh! How charming! "Why thank you darling." Now...what had her name been? Hmmmm?

"Charmed to meet you as well, dear," Marion replied with a graceful wave to show off her dazzling bracelet - a gift from her husband.

And then Annie gave her speech, or, hmmmm....perhaps Marion wasn't the only one forgetting things these days. Or was there some alphabetical list that came with the Headmistress' speech? She would have to ask Mr. Studmuffin later since he seemed to know all about that sort of thing. Hehe.

Marion's cobwebbed thoughts did not linger there for too long, however. She was already planning tea time with the lovely Divination professor. OH! Perhaps she could do a tea leaf reading for her! Just like back when she was in school. Ohohohohohoho!

Marion cleared her throat rather loudly at the horrid noise. Pardon? But who let a pack of wild animals into the Great Hall? And one of the Board of Governors nonetheless! Goodnees gracious HEAVENS above... no wonder some students at Hogwarts were showing poor manners.

She was sure Annie would set them straight. Mmmmhmmm.

Ooooooooooooh! Look at who had come to pay little Annie a visit. Oh now wasn't that simply chaaaarming. Look, they had even brought a gift. A PINK one at that. Marion much preferred more tame colors, but tame had never been in little Annie's handbook.

Look at that, the Hogwarts house elves loved their new Headmistress already.

"Oh, why aren't they siiiiiiiiiiiiimply adoooooooooooorable," the elderly astronomer exclaimed as she clapped her hands together in a polite golf clap. "I dooooooooo say that the Hogwarts elfsies are some of the most caring creatures I have ever met, besides my dear Henry that is."

Even IF it would have been more proper for them to have wait to deliver the tree. Just because one was a magical creature did not mean that protocol could be ignored. Nope nope nope.

Seriously tried to stop her.. she wouldn't listen.. so sorry :P
 

As the new headmistress spoke, Selina made sure to tune into everything that she was saying. The redheaded lady's speech was well spoken, to the point and very nice although Selina would be lying if she did not sincerely miss the don't die advice at the end. Ah well, she knew that rule by heart now anyway. But once the lady finished her speech, Selina figured it was good a time as any to finish out her work to find Mortimer.

Honestly, Selina needed to cover all of her bases if she was going to find her bat in time for Quidditch season... or for his daily night ritual of story time and cookies before bed. The stories were for Mortimer, the cookies were for Selina. Oh how she missed story time. Her bat had been missing for just over two months now and she was finding it increasingly more difficult to live life without her bundle of destruction joy. She just missed her bat so much.

So with a determined look on her face, because maybe one of these adults had seen Mortimer or knew where he was, she approached the staff table. Although, once she arrived she realized just how elevated the staff table was from the house tables. It was like the Professors either wanted to demonstrate some level of authority during meals or they were afraid that the students would turn rabid one day and the extra height would help them stay out of reach.

Clearing her head of such thoughts, she was on a specialized mission, she cleared her throat attempting to draw the professors attention to her. With a calculated and monotone voice, as if she were reciting a small, practiced speech which was relatively practiced, she said, "Hello! Bonjour! Salve, for our Latin speakers. My name is Selina Skylar for those of you who don't know me. First of all, I would like to take this time to say how excited I am to spend another term with all of you as professors. You all are gifted witches and wizards. So cheers to this term, but, erm, more importantly I would like to draw your attention to something very important- this..." She handed each of them a flyer.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9...zs68o1_400.png

"If any of you has seen this bat- please contact me at your earliest convenience. We appreciate your consideration and support. This is the best of causes..." Because what was better than reuniting a girl and her beater bat? THAT WAS THE QUESTION!

As the Umbrella Vinora was lifted from the arms of the small creatures to beside the newly appointed Headmistress, the plant shifted a bit more. It's long, green tendrils began to sway to and fro, as if dancing to a light melody unheard by others.

The thoughts of CATCHING UP is hurting my head. So this will do. Sorryyyyyyyyy >_<
 

Seren had been lost in her own little universe, pruning away at her thoughts with excessive force, only to be brought back to reality just in time for the new Headmistresses speech.

She wasn't going to beat around the bush about it, quite frankly the sudden presence of the Board of Governors made her feel uncomfortable. But perhaps that was just her being silly, letting nerves get to her. Maybe...

Raising her juice to her lips, she took a small sip before setting it back down. The arrival of the house elves... including Toddles whom still hadn't offered her a personal apology for burning down her research shed... was a fun distraction, especially considering what they were distracting them all with. A PLANT!

It was official. Seren Benltey ENVIED Anastasia Truebridge. Sure she'd had her fair share of gifts in the form of plants, but she'd never had one of THOSE before. A part of her was itching to get her fingers on the petals!... it must feel like heaven, it certainly looked heavenly.

But alas.... back to the speech.

A small crease appeared on her forehead. Firstly, the woman was insane for thinking things at Hogwarts could be normal... that just didn't happen. The place was cursedinteresting. And secondly plan to make some changes around Hogwarts that will hopefully benefit all who are effected ...just sounded dreadful. Hopefully the Herbology budget wouldn't be cut.



Oohh would you look at that. A familiar face. Seren smiled brightly at her Captain. Such an enthusiastic Lion, and such lovely manners too."Thank you Selina, I'll be sure to keep a look out for it."



Now... food.

*tries to catch up*
 

Yes the thoughts of her grandchildren were certainly enough to banish a storm cloud or two from her mood for the moment. So thank you Leo..thanks.

"Bentley turns one tomorrow, so I'll probably be slipping out to visit them if I get the time and Ariana turned four in April. She's started wizard prep, so her Hogwarts days are far from here." Shame really, she'd love to witness her granddaughter being sorted.

Her mood went straight south again when she received a bop on her head from an obviously deranged woman.

Scowl. That one clearly had a death wish...clearly.

Hmmm?

Sophia looked down the table at the man who had addressed her....*blink*. She raised a brow at him."And what pray tell, would be my reason for smiling on a night like this?"Hmmm? answer that one question Mr.Amorosa."Sophia Bellaire, Charms professor."

Time for the speech good, she was starting to feel a bit hungry by now and was anxious to get to her quarters. She applauded at the right moment before looking to her left to Medea.Her hand subtly went to cover her neck...ahem. That accent gave her a very err weird feeling about the woman...like keep your neck far away from her..weird."My summer was lovely, yours?"

Sophia's eyed flicked towards the new grounds keeper and lingered there for a little....he looked so much...like..her husband.

*Stare*

She tore her eyes away from the man when the staff table was bombarded by house-elves. Merlin's Beard...every year it was something else. She shook her head and watched them...right in the middle of the headmistress's speech too. Oooh look, they came bearing gift..how...nice?

Finally though, the head mistress got to finish her speech and Sophia got to silence her grumbling stomach.

*wibbles* last opening feast cookies D:
 

Kurumi had been rather alarmed when Selina hadn't immediately stuffed her face with fried chicken like usual and instead had made her way towards the staff table with her stack of posters. Oh Merlin help them all. Kurumi had had juuuuust enough time to eat a couple bites of Shepard's pie and half a goblet of pumpkin juice before she figured it best to follow her best friend up to the dias....just in case.

Grabbing the gold box tied with a white ribbon, Kurumi made her way to the staff table with her feet dragging slightly. This was...surreal to say the least. Kurumi had been doing this, delivering cookies as a thank you for the coming term, as was custom in her town, since she had been a first year. And now...here she was...a seventh year...doing it one last time.

Of course there would be the closing feast...but that was then and this was now...and her heart was pounding in her chest like thunder.

Bowing to each professor as she passed, Kurumi approached the Headmistress where she bowed politely before speaking, and flashing a quick smile to the house elves present as she did. "Headmistress, Hogwarts Board of Governors, professors, good evening," she said, her voice surprisingly steady for the wave of emotions that were crashing over her small frame. "I'm Kurumi Hollingberry, Gryffindor seventh year prefect. These are just my way of expressing gratitude and appreciation for the coming term and to commemorate the start of it." She then set the box on the table and removed the lid which vanished the moment the edges had left the bottom half, revealing its contents to everyone at the table. As per usual, the box include the chocolate and vanilla cookies with the Hogwarts crest hand painted on them with icing. Yeah, we were looking at you Mr. Come-Work-at-the-Ministry-Cafeteria out of the corner of out eye for a brief moment. Besides those, Kurumi had made some special cookies. Cookies that didn't actually look like cookies. The idea had actually come to her over the summer and she had spent a good amount of time designing new recipes for each of the four sorts of cookies to represent the four Hogwarts houses. Under the red wrapper were raspberry ganache based cookies infused with chili pepper to give it just a bit of a kick. Those under the yellow wrapper were a sweet honey base with lemon zest. Green wrapper cookies were a crisp mint that was so crisp it overpowered the other flavor that was in there - which was lime for those with a good pallet. Finally, under the blue wrappers, were a blackberry ganache based raisin cookie. "Thank you for your time," she said, offering one more polite bow before tugging on Selina's sleeve to encourage her to go back to their table as well.

She did sort of eye the pink plant that was swaying and waving its vines around. Erm....maybe the house elves were right when they said it was scary...

Kurumi glanced over at Professor Bentley with an almost apologetic look in her eyes - her conversation with Selina from the table still fresh in her mind. Tomorrow, perhaps, she would go visit her Head of House in her office and offer a proper apology then. Now was not the time. The feast was meant to be a time of celebration and she didn't want her lions to think it should be anything less. Which is why she put a smile back on her face. "I'm looking forward to one last term with you as my Head of House, professor."

Not making ALL the quotes. Ern, Droo, Elf with a death wish... Selina & Droo againi
 

Lainey shrugged and nodded and dripped in response to Rae. As it turned out, she suddenly lost her appetite anyway.


It wasn't SHOCKING to find a baby house elf in her lap. This was Hogwarts, after all.

She STARED RIGHT BACK with Big Grown Up Lainey Eyes. STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARING WAR ON.

"I taught a class on how to barbeque house elves once." She hadn't. But hahaaaaa. See who blinks first now.

"Hmmm?" She was a little busy here, battling a house elf. Lainey didn't want to go swimming right now. Later, maybe. "At least where people can see, anyway."



"Oh that sounds serious," Lainey took the Missing Bat Poster, but kept her EYES ON THE ELF. SUSPICIOUS ELF WAS SUSPICIOUS. Suspicious plant was even more suspicious, but Lainey would let the Expert Planty-affiliated Bunbury handle that. She'd recognize how SUSPICIOUS that was, surely.

The staring continued through the rest of the speech. STARE STARE STARE.

"That Gryffindor needs help finding her bat. Did you STEAL it, Elf? Do you know where it is? Bet I can find it before you."

With that, Lainey stood with the elf cradled in her arms, then DUMPED the elf in the lap of Amoroso (though.... gently-ISH sort of kind of maybe some). She strode from the table to find a bat, but not before DRAGGING THE TRUNK ALONG behind her again.

And bopping all the Professors again. BOP BOP BOP BOP. She headed towards the tables of STUDENTS.

Also mentions Bunbury, Lainey, Tillstorm and Shiny Gibbins
 

It was okay to come up here now right...? The woman had said all she needed to right?...Well that had to be the case because that Lainey woman just walked off the place and headed down into the students. See this was were the inconvenience came. If she could still talk she would have yelled--yes yelled at her for what she made her have to do but of course even if she tried no words would come out so she let it slide for now. The woman would get hers later.

Approaching the dias she saw that Headmistress woman; which reminded her...she needed to clear up something with her once she got her speech back because she couldn't stand to lose anymore points. Maybe the woman was an understanding one and hey maybe she forgot all about the 11 year old calling her Hogs Head. In all fairness it was an honest mistake brought on by annoying older children who thought it was fun to mess with the firstie! She would get her revenge...just not on the one that actually told her to call her that because well...she had given her a chocolate frog so she kinda had her loyalty....sad but true.

She gave the Headmistress the most polite smile she could manage as she walked by her. Hopefully she wouldn't have thought it rude that she didn't say good even but really she couldn't which was why she was up here!

Her eyes caught sight of the Healer, just a bit down from her target and sought to quickly walk by her. Obviously she knew that the Healer would have seen the make-shift sling that was made from a Ravenclaw tie to hoist her hand up but she didn't want her stopping her to ask her about it. Her wrist may have been changing colour but a student said it wasn't broken so it would be fine by morning! Yup all good by morning so no on would have to drag her up to the Hospital Wing and that being the case there was no need for her to comment on the hand!

But then she had to stop!!! Shiny Ground's keeper!!! She paused right infront of him and gave him a wide grin and a wave. If only she could talk then she would say hi...for now waving would work!

Alexa hesitantly approached the meaner--not that she'd called him that. As she did she tried her hardest to remove any fragments of amusement or a smile...he took 5 points for her giggling, there was no telling how many he would take off if she approached him with her usual smile. For all she knew he might have thought she was being cheeky. Yikes.

Gripping the paper and pencil firmly in her still okay hand she took a deep breath then stood before him. For a moment she just stood there staring at him, wondering if he would say something first. He might of because he had to know why she was up there; it wasn't for the view!

Stare.

STARE.

But then she decided to scribble. Good evening Professor.

Once she was done with him she would probably make her way up and down the table.

Some people and stuff here and there...
 

No, Toddles was not going to come back over there Pips! Not when Missis was all wet and yucky, Toddles had to do his job in caring for the Misses. Toddles liked her hair too, he didn't have any.

Oh and see the Headmistress with the red hair is letting the elfsies stay for the feast! That meant he was going to get to see everyone eat the potatoes he dipped his toe in. FUN!!!!

"The misses is pretty even though she is wet and yucky." Yep, Toddles liked when the masters were pretty not all of them were though, Nope. Since Toddles had done a good job wiping the Misses's face he expected her to hug him or tickle his feet or SOMETHING fun but no, she stared at him.

Toddles stared back. His eyes were probably a bit bigger.

"Barbeque? Is that a game? Toddles hasn't heard of that one before. Will you teach me?" More STARING.

Suddenly he was up and being held like a baby, the good kind that he was, but then she DROPPED HIM IN A MASTER'S LAP! AHHHH. The pretty Misses didn't want him anymore? Was it because she thought Toddles stole the little girl's bat? "Misses, I promise Toddles didn't steal it, honest!" He didn't steal things, just the shiney but that was his friend.

But know the Misses was saying she could find the bat first and started to run off to beat Toddles, A GAME. Toddles was going to get to play with her! "No wait, wait, waiiiiiiiit. Misses, Toddles will find it first, he will."

And Toddles bounced after the Board's VP, tapping around her knees to try and hold her back so he could win.

With a bit of Kurumi and Touz
 

Turning in his seat, Seb gave the woman who had sat down right beside him a warm smile. "A pleasure to meet you Cecelia. And yes I am the new Groundskeeper. Sebastian Gibbins." He held his hand out towards the young woman. "I have a feeling you're going to have a busy night." There had been students with broken bones after all.

Sebastian raised his own goblet back to the woman and raised his eyebrows. "Transfiguration?" Well she was at the end of the table so one would assume that's what she taught.

Well he could certainly get used to this. His first day and already someone was singing his praises. Maybe he could get a payrise. Not that he needed one mind you. He made enough to get by. "It seems so." he said grinning at the man. Yes that's all he had ever known. Taking care of the land.

Seb raised his goblet in the man's direction. "Cheers to new experiences then."

Er...why was that woman looking at him like that. First the Headmistress and now this woman.

Did he have something on his face?

Seb gave her a tentative smile and a small wave before she finally looked away.

He was just thinking about starting on his food when the Gryffindor Prefect was there and he couldn't help the broad smile spreading across his face. He had been extremely impressed with the way the young lady had handled herself out on the station.

"Thank you Kurumi." he said picking up a cookie and putting it to the side. He would eat it after he had eaten his dinner. "I really think someone should be making you something after your efforts tonight."

Truth.

And then the house elves were there carrying a huge plant and Seb eyed it with interest. It was a beautiful plant indeed. He misses working with plants of this kind.

Before he could dwell on it any further, he felt another bop on his head and Seb blinked at the strange woman as she passed by and headed into the throng of students.

How strange.

Just as he was about to take a bite out of bread roll a figure standing in front of him caused Seb to look up and lo and behold there was the little Gryffindor who had made him laugh so much back at the station. He wiggled his fingers at her in a wave and grinned.

She was so adorable. Reminded him of his daughter Mia at that age.

Where was a dying pet when you really, really needed one?

Not that Vanora really wanted anyone's pet to be dying, or anyone's pet to be dead for that matter, but she would have taken anything if it meant she could excuse herself from the staff table. And possibly not come back until after the feast. She felt like she was being stared at! Or, in the case of the woman who sat down beside her, she was really being 'hmmmed' at.

And what was she going on about? Informal meaning semi-formal.. That was just confusing. And it wasn't like she was dressed completely casual. Her shirt was nice.. ish. At least it was clean! "Extinction also means extinction. But I'm not talking to you about it." she shrugged her shoulders as if that comment meant nothing before turning her attention to the other side of the table.

There was Cece!

Who was sitting just a few seats away from the Headmistress.

The Headmistress who.. was not happy with the way she was dressed either. Really! Her shirt was clean. It was just a good thing she decided to leave Grise back in her office. Merlin knew, that would have given her some not so subtle looks.

Vanora gave the woman a smile anyway.

Before turning her eyes even further down the table. To someone who was not turned off by the way she was dressed. "Hello!" she sat up just a little straighter in her seat as she sent him a finger wiggling wave.

Was she going to get looks for talking across the table?

Probably.

"Pleasure to meet you as well." Perhaps there could be some type of introduction later.

Calista was nice, Vanora decided. And it had nothing to do with the fact that she thought her name was pretty.

Okay, it did have something to do with that. But just a little something. She smiled, "Thank you!" Her mother gave it to her. "Yours is pretty, and very fitting for a Divination Professor." Somehow. It just seemed like those two things went together. A subject and a name. Yup.

And just when she thought Calista was nice, the blonde had to go and get all suspicious on her. Was it because she came to the feast wearing jeans that she offered to let her borrow her dress? If she did take up that offer, was she allowed to borrow the woman's bracelets as well? Those were also pretty. "Oh. Thank you." Again. "Not quite sure where I would wear that to, but if I think of somewhere.." Vanora briefly wondered what else Calista was willing to let her borrow until her attention was brought down to the other end of the table once more. To the Board of Governors.

Who apparently could fire them. Huh. "I don't think that will happen." After all, that one Governor had just climbed over her chair. And bopped everyone on the head.



Before she could say much of anything else to Calista, Vanora spotted the Headmistress stand from the corner of her eye. And even if she hadn't, she would have surely heard the ringing from the tap of the goblet. She eyed the Board of Governors as they were all introduced, some more familiar than the others, and clapped to the beat of B-I-N-G-O afterwards. She had to keep herself entertained somehow..

..was what she thought, up until the sound of the Hogwarts elves filled the Great Hall.

Lowering her hands, Vanora placed them on the table and leaned forward to get a glimpse of the little creatures. How cute were they!? Carry that very pink plant. Although, they probably could have found a better way to carry it. She could hardly see them behind it!

Oh look.. Cookies, a missing Beater's bat, more students and food.

Speech was done.

At the sound of a loud clap, Beezley's little elfish legs began to shake. She turned and looked at the Missus with eyes widened in horror. She stared at the woman until she realized that no harm would come. Caring creatures? Caring they were. Yes, elfsies are. Beezley lifted her little elfish lips up into a wide smile. "Beezley is thankful, Missus," she said, giving a bow. "So, so thankful."



...and then Beezley looked again toward Missus Truebridge. Beezley knew her name. Beezley made sure to know this name by heart. She nodded. "Big, scary, leafy plant," she said, and then she widened her arms just to emphasize how big the plant seemed to her.

She grinned again when the plant was taken out their arms. Such a heavy plant. Beezley's arms hurt, but Beezley wouldn't complain. Beezley had a job to do. Accepting the orders she'd been given, Beezley took a seat on the edge of the dais.

"AHHHHHHH!" Beezley called out, spotting a leafy arm swaying in front of her face. She'd cower in fear, but she'd taken orders from her master, and her master had said to sit right here.



...but then Beezley saw one of the most magnificent things she'd ever seen. Cookies--BEAUTIFUL cookies! "Ohh, Missus," she said in awe. "Beezley thinks those are the prettiest cookies she's ever seen. So, so pretty." Her little elfish eyes seemed to sparkle as she took in the sight.



"AHHHHHHH!" Beezley called out again, and this time she did cower in fear. Barbecued house elves? Beezley knew what barbecuing was. Beezley had barbecued some in the kitchens, she had. She gasped as Toddles was tossed into the lap of a man at the big table.

Poor Toddles. Poor, poor Toddles.



"No, Toddles. Noooo," Beezley whispered, gesturing for the baby elf to come back. She was following the Barbecuer, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Trusted! "Toddles come back. Toddles is in danger," Beezley continued to whisper. Beezley stretched her arms out wide, trying to scoop Toddles up.

Toddles was too far, though. Beezley hung her little elfish head sadly. I'll never let go, Toddles. I'll never let go.

How would she ever break the news to Nimma?!

Serenity joined Alexa. She wasn't sure what she was doing up here, especially with the professor who's silenced them. But whatever. So she came too. She thought about adding to Lex's note, but thought she's wait for Professor sir to come and reply before she said anything and lost any of her own points.

She had heard he was an ex-Snake so hopefully he had a soft spot for Snakes? Either way, she didn't want him to take 50 housepoints off her, or Lex. Actualky rather, Serenity. She felt bad enough Lex had lost 5.