OK, this time Brian was definitely treating Juno like she was the dumbest person on the planet. She was actually one of the top point earners for Hufflepuff last year, thankyouverymuch. He was messing with the wrong girl. She could knock him out with her pinky toe while eating pizza doing a hand stand...he really didn't want to make her angry. Her face flushed a little at his remarks. At this, she decided she would rather not take his cookies if he was going to be rude just because she asked what kind they were. She gave him a small smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Never mind. I'll just eat whatever the House Elves have made us." She turned back to her plate with a smile and began eating her dinner.

Juno Grinned at the older girl, (Paige), "Don't worry it happens all the time. The yearbook staff even mixed up our pictures last term. Trust me. Even our parents have trouble when we dress similar because we are so identical it is ridiculous." She smiled, "Best way to tell us apart...I'm always wearing some type of boot." She winked at the older girl, before taking a bite of some mashed potatoes. "I don't think I caught your name," she said before taking another bite of mashed potatoes. Why was the food so goooood? She really needed to give those House Elves a thank you card or something.

Juno blushed a smidge. She really hoped so, but her co-prefect didn't seem to like her because she asked what kind of cookies he had. So baffling how someone could dislike you for silly reason. "Thanks Az. I really appreciate the confidence and support." Now if only he co-prefect would respect her as the younger kids did.

Juno noticed the sudden shift in the girls smile. It didn't reach her eyes. "Az what happened?" She may not know Azura as well as Esme, but she could always tell when she was upset or hurt about something.

What in the world did these ghosts think they were doing? Normally, she wouldn't mind having them around but their discussion was not needed at the Hufflepuff table. Many students were in mourning over a Professor that they loved very much, and really didn't need them causing problems. Juno heard what Brian had to say but she was going to go one step further.

Juno stood up on her bench to get a little closer to the floating ghosts, "Baron, sir. Not to be rude or disrespectful at all, but could you please take this discussion to the Staff Dias or anywhere else in the bloody castle, please. We have many students upset over the news of a past Professor dying, and you having a discussion with Peeves and Miffy at our table of all places, is not a good location. Please, with no disrespect what-so-ever, leave." She folded her arms and gave them a very hard look. She was not having her Hufflepuffs dealing with this mess.

Then there was Professor Myers. She hopped down from the bench, and approached him slightly frustrated. "Sorry, Sir. The Baron decided the Hufflepuff table was the best place to talk to Peeves and Miffy about their engagement announcement, when many of the students are in mourning and really don't need to hear an argument." She was clearly upset for her fellow Puffs and hoped there was something he could do. "Is there any way to get them out of here, perhaps coaxing them into the entrance hall?" She was going to step up for her house, and prove to Brian she deserved her badge.

Did Brian Woods just ignore the condescending smile his head girl send his way? Most certainly. Though he did hear his name mentioned in her conversation with Paige, but really, he was much better than eavesdropping. If it was important, he expected Paige would come at him to overload him with all the information related to the matter.

More yelling. Though it was nice to have support, Brian was a little skeptical about the situation at hand. The staff table seemed largely unperturbed and the sixth year did not fancy points lost because the professors largely didn't care about what was going on down here. Placing his hands on Brady's shoulder, he gently pushed down. Not hard enough to force him into the seat at all, but definitely hard enough for him to get the point. Quietly, he bent a little to murmur into the student's ear. "I've got this. I knew him personally."

His back to the rest of the table and his face angled upwards, Brian did miss the smile Azura gave him, but rest assured that if he hadn't, it would not have gone unappreciated. But for his politely given comment to have gone ignored? That was ruder than the interjection the prefect had given in the first place. And he was about to go all badger boom when he heard a slightly familiar voice do it for him.

As fun as flobberworms. Like they were supposed to be having fun at a wake. At a memorial. At what was as close to a funeral as their Head of House was likely to get with the presence of the rest of them here.

Wait.

PAIGE? This was fantastic!

"EXACTLY." Brian's voice was toeing the very thin line between assertion and yelling, but he hadn't crossed just yet. And well, when Professor Myers appeared, he figured that if his statement was not likely to be heard by the ghost, he would find someone to pay attention to the pleas of his house. Swiveling over the bench and grabbing the crutch the he had leaned against the bench, Brian made his way towards where the leaders of his house were situated. Excuse his tempo, this leg took getting used to.

"Sir," he said firmly, somehow managing enough self-restraint not to roll his eyes at his co-prefect and her sucking up. But she had a point, and he would let it slide. "The Hufflepuffs are outraged that not two seconds after our toast to Professor Botros, that the Baron would call the poltercouple to our table - especially considering he has his own house and should really deal with his dirty business there - to begin an argument about appropriateness. We consider this highly hypocritical, and you know, sir, that we don't get angry without reason. But Professor Botros was my head of house. Badgers get rabid when you attack their own, sir, and this is a very personal attack on one we consider family. In quite a literal sense for some here too."

Was his tone gentle? No. But Brian was angry, and it was obvious. And Myers knew that in all his years in this house that Brian had never been pushed this far. Mildly irritated, he knew the Herbologist was well used to. Angry? Surely he could see the gravity of the situation.

Things had turned quite chaotic. He could see the students were yelling. They were clearly upset, as was he, and he floated closer to Peeves, Miffy, and Sir Bloodiness the barrel head Baron.

"The students are obviously distressed....Baron, why in the heavens would you pick our peaceful table to cause chaos at? And Peeves," he whipped around on the poltergeist. "And you." He pursed his lips (which made his look of sternness very obvious; the friar had large features). "Do not insult this table whilst we mourn the loss of one of our own, you ungrateful, brat-excuse for a ghost!" He was shaking slightly. "If you want people to be on board for your wedding, well, you're going about the wrong way!" He made a face. "See if I'll ever marry the two of you!"

And who else would marry the two besides the Friar on campus?

He could easily change his mind. His heart was too big to let them suffer; but for now, he was upset, and he floated off mumbling angrily to himself.

okay okay OKAY.

The badgers had looooootttts of feeeeeeelings and were bombarding him with yelling/loud voices/EMOTIONS. Powerful emotions. But he thought he could get a sense of what was going.

"SO," he began, folding his arms across his chest. He looked at Paige, Brian, Brady, Juno. And a few of the others....his entire table. "You're telling me...that you are YELLING at the Bloody Baron, Peeves, and Miffy....for coming over here, assuming it would be OKAY--" he shot a dirt look at the Baron. "And it most certainly was not because you all were mourning Professor Botros, a former Hufflepuff himself. Well....you decided to aggressively stand up for yourselves?" and for a moment, he looked like he might be mad. Disappointed, even.

However, it was not the case.

"For your willingness to go to arms for one of your own, your loyalty and your display of both Hufflepuff pride AND Hufflepuff values, I award Hufflepuff house TWENTY points." He glanced at the ghosts. "I think standing up for yourselves and each other is a wonderful quality to have, and is something Hufflepuff is known for." And he smiled widely. He figured that if your house was misbehaving at a feast and you could take away points, then certainly the opposite could happen. Remarkable behavior deserved points!

He didn't know what to do about the ghosts, though...should he try to shoo them away? Or...? Was it his place? Hmph.

The Baron had no choice but to look at everyone and everything going on. If anyone had faith in this ghost, which by the sounds of things was NOT the case. Did they forget about the fact how a certain poltergeist could only be contained under his command? Or did they just not even care to remember? Evidence speaks for itself.

The ghost was actually willing to acknowledge one of the lady hufflepuffs who strung her words together in an attempt to coax him. His dearest apologies went out of the window as soon as more complaints echoed. "Eh tu, Friar? Did I ask any of your residents to take part? Was I floating past any of the students? Do you seriously think I would've known everything that is going on at said table from across the hall?" That was a no, for those who weren't thinking. How completely disrespectful. "It is your own table who is bringing chaos to a conversation that you know full well I'm capable of keeping peaceful enough for you to continue your extra tributes." Why at their table? "Does it really matter where it was held? Do you really think the Slytherins would approve either, or the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors who already were suffering their rath along with the Staff? Or did you perhaps neglect to notice how dragging them away outside only invites them to steal more food and interrupt others on the way over?" His good mood. Officially gone now. Well done everyone.

To think even their Head of House who wasn't even apart of the conversation to know the full story was siding with the overly sensitive ones.. How clever. "Perhaps Professor Myers your students and male prefect should take a lesson from Miss Skeeter on how to direct one elsewhere from the spot with respect." It was official, this table has lost their brains for whatever was left over. Oh will the Head be glad to hear of this, if he wasn't aware of it already.

"It appears our calm conversation will have to be forced elsewhere, Peeves and Miffy. I do not approve of this wedding of yours when you know full well what this will bring on the school by involving the student body. And of all places to announce it, right on the late Headmaster Botros' night of respect, like some type of sick joke. Therefore it will not happen." That was it. He was practically fuming from the disrespect to continue this here. "It appears they mind my own presence over yours so I shall take my leave." That's right. Something else to think about as he floated away, with the chains rattling.

Harriet had gone quiet.

and that was because chaos had erupted at her house. Couldn't these ghosts see that she was trying to eat, and that they were trying to be respectful of the old headmaster. Clearly not. Since they had come floating all over here, and were being loud, and annoying. They were not hufflepuffs. That meant that they should go away. It wasn't like she was barging around the other houses. She was being nice, and eating, and being respectful. More eating than respectful. But yes. She was good.

But. She was just watching. Enough people were defending what they were doing, and Hattie decided that there was no much point in her just repeating what everyone else was saying. So Hattie was quiet. It would also prevent her getting a loud mouth reputation, which actually was a really good idea.

She just blinked a little. She was kind of lost and really didn't know what was going on. Minus the fact that they had been interrupted in their being respectful of Professor Botros' death.

"Sir...." Hattie murmured to Professor Myers as she watched the Baron float away. "Maybe we should restart our Toast for Professor Botros" Since they had been rudely interrupted, and it seemed like the right thing to do.

So.. let's see. According to the eyes and ears of the Slytherin Head of House there was shouting that could be heard from across the hall. First from the Baron's booming voice that was heard from the Staff Table attempting to summon them over. That was much too loud for the young puffer's ears? Cause it looked like it as he was getting the blunt of the interrogation by the time Justin's feets approached the table after Paul. That annoyed him, both actions. Couldn't the Baron just lasso with those chains of his over at Peeves ahead and drag him away? Oh wait, that'd be too much of a show.

All this back and forth was starting to grate his head. "Alright, alright Bloody Baron, I think you made your point. Now take these two with you." If he was really going to just leave those poltergeists here out of spite, so help him Merlin. Now what was Paul going to do?

What? Did Paul really just reward them over all of this? Oh boy. Folding his arms "Yes.. well done Hufflepuffs, shouting at a ghost attempting to do his bidding and making the situation worse." He nearly smiled. Nearly. "I therefore will have to take 30 points from Hufflepuff for causing such a racket and disrespecting a figure of Hogwarts preventing him from stopping Peeves and Miffy." Considering his track record, Justin was going pretty easy on this house. He could've taken way more from a prefect on losing his cool and him having to not finish his wonderful meal. Some students were quite aware of discovering the other side of Justin. But hey, he had to do what he had to do. There was other things that needed some attention.

Like this little girl.. Miss Paton wasn't it? "An excellent suggestion, Miss Paton. Take 5 points for such a wonderful idea!" Now he was going soft. As for Peeves and Miffy who seemed to have been forgotten throughout this. "Well Peeves and Miffy, you've done your announcement. Now go and let us enjoy the rest of the feast in peace." So yes, buzz off. Shoo. Go away with the Baron. Justin had his own snakes to attend to.

Miffy did more flips. She was enjoying the outbursts from everyone *GIGGLE GIGGLE* "Delicious chaaaaaaoooosssss!'' Miffy wanted more but the Baron and Friar had other plans. THEY SAID WHAT?

"WHAT??????????????" Miffy thundered. Every ounce of playfulness and mischievousness evaporated. "Just because your love lives have been ruined or non existent doesn't mean you have to ruin mine and Peevsiepoo.''

Miffy floated higher. "YOU WILL REGRET THIS!'' She gave a screech of anger then turned to leave the idiotic feast.

Oh, man, Brady was loud. But Henry didn't expect any different and he grinned at his friend as he loudly exclaimed his name upon seeing him. "How's it going, Brady? Glad to be back?" He certainly was for the most part.

Oh, had Paige not heard him? he had only been making small talk and nothing all that important, but Henry opened his mouth to repeat himself when she seemed to gather herself to respond. Oh, maybe she had just been momentarily distracted. "You are, really? I was thinking of joining Dueling Club this year too, actually," he replied with a grin. Good to know he wasn't the only one who'd have a little bit of a late start. Henry nodded when she returned the question. "Yeah.. Summer was great, and really busy, but I like seeing my friends everyday, you know?" Crisp? Sure, he was always hungry. "Thanks," he grinned, reaching to take one. Er, chocolate? Were they meant to be dipped in? Huh, interesting.

Henry turned to watch the sorting again, but first caught sight of Azura out of the corner of his eye. Oh, that was cool that she stopped over to say hi, but... he also caught some serious unspoken tension between her and Brady. Was something else going on between them? Henry didn't know but it was sure curious. Or maybe he just imagined it because Azura was all smiles when she turned to him and he grinned back. "Hey, Azura! How was your summer?" She was one of his friends that he hadn't bumped into at all over break. Oh.. it appeared that he was not the only one distracted and he glanced over at Hattie again.

Ah, she caught him. Henry tried to play it cool and act like it wasn't him who dropped a napkin on Hattie's head, but he couldn't help but to laugh when she looked over at him. "I guess I could have... but this was more creative and I thought you liked creative." Since she was into art and all. "Plus I wanted to practice my magic." It had been all summer since he had been able to, and it was harmless anyway. "Summer's been great! Busy, but you probably knew that," he added with a chuckle. He was sure he remembered her at one of his games. "How was the rest of yours?"

Henry was tempted to take another cookie from Brian, but he knew that the food would be coming any minute. And as hungry as he was, he didn't want to ruin his appetite for that. "That was cool of you, Brian. Did you bake them yourself?" He glanced up at the staff table again to see if the speech might be happening any time soon, though some chaos between the poltergeists at the Gryffindor table drew his attention over there. It didn't hold his attention long however because he soon caught sight of Charlotte Kettleburn waving and blowing kisses his way. He gave her a grin and wiggled his fingers at her in return. He'd definitely have to go catch up with her soon, maybe after eating.

Oh, but then it was speech time and the fourth year's attention was diverted yet again. He looked at the many, many new teachers as they were named, wondering to himself how he was going to remember all those new names. Might take him a couple weeks. Now he did not know who Professor Botros was, other than remembering that name as a recent former Headmaster, and he had not heard that he died. But Henry did stand for a moment of silence just like everyone else. It was always sad when someone died, and he didn't know he was a Hufflepuff and a former Head of their House! That somehow made it sadder.

The boy turned his eyes to their house ghost next and he raised his glass in unison with everyone else at his table. "To Professor Botros!" He'd have to look the guy up. He seemed pretty awesome by the way everyone was going on about him. Too bad he hadn't been here in the last couple years, but that might have made it sadder if he actually knew him when he died. Once the toast was done, Henry eagerly turned back to the food, piling his plate full. But that didn't mean he didn't still have time for his friends!

Hugging Kat back, he gave her a grin before taking a bite of his mashed potatoes. "Yeah, it's great to be back, right?" Fourth year was just going to be awesome, he was sure of it. "Man, I missed this kind of food." His mom was a pretty good cook, but the start of term feast was just the best. Eating a little more, he nodded as Juno confirmed that his name was Henry. And he was glad that she confirmed her own name, causing him to laugh. "Yeah, I wasn't completely sure.. but I had talked to your sister a few times, so I thought maybe you were Juno. I just didn't want to be wrong." But they probably got that a lot, mix-ups and people not being sure. He heard her tell Paige that she was the one who usually wore boots and he gave a quick glance to her footwear. He might try to remember that.

Now what was going on with these ghosts and poltergeists? Henry heard something going on at the staff table but was more focused on the food to pay that much attention. Now that they were congregating at his table, he watched with vague interest while he ate as it was mildly entertaining. And then it escalated. As loud as some of his housemates were, Henry didn't think they were wrong, but he also didn't think it necessary to add his voice on top if it. They got their point across rather well, and he nodded along to some of the points between bites of roast beef and mashed potatoes.

"A lot of new professors," he said to Scarlett as she brought up the Divination professor. He didn't take that class, but it was a vast improvement from the hag, he was sure. Henry looked up at the chaos again just in time to see the Friar float off. Oh. He looked awfully sad and upset. Maybe he should go and see if he was alright. But Henry didn't have much time to give that any thought because Professor Paul was now standing at their table looking quite angry and Henry turned his focus to him now.

Henry kind of stared at him, wide-eyed, for a moment. Was he... yelling at them? His look soon turned to a smile and he laughed a little. Well, that was an awesome surprise, and he grinned at some of his housemates. They did have really good values here at Hufflepuff and he didn't like that some people seemed to think that they were doormats to be walked over. But his smile soon faded as the Groundskeeper had his say next. He was taking 30 points right after Professor Paul gave them 20... for pretty much the same thing? Could he even do that when their Head of House was standing right there? He looked from one to the other, somewhat speechless. It seemed like undermining his authority and Henry really didn't think it was right. Maybe he was still caught up in the whole standing up for people that everyone was doing here, but he felt the need to question it.

"I don't mean any disrespect, sir," Henry started to MacLeod as respectfully as he could. "But Professor Paul is our Head of House and he's standing right here. Shouldn't he be the one to discipline us if he felt we needed it?" And not you. It might be different if it was in class and their Head of House wasn't around, but he was right there! Henry figured MacLeod wouldn't like it if Professor Paul went over to the Slytherin table and did that to him while he was standing over there.

Paige would have been aghast at the news that yearbook had messed up the pictures of the Darcy twins. She would have also liked to have continued to share her crisps with others and perhaps discuss reasons for joining Dueling Club with Henry some more - because she still felt like she needed a bit more of a push in that direction - but with everything else going on at the feast and the misconstrued slander of the Slytherin Head of House...she was quite ready to just be in her dormroom snuggled up under her blankets with a nice hot cup of tea surrounded by all plants covering her bed like a gentle green curtain.

No one had shouted at the Baron...he had been the one to rudely ignore their requests that he take the conversation elsewhere. Peeves well...he had been shouted at...and by the seventh year herself...and seemed as though he and his poltergal were now being rewarded for the interruption since her house was being punished. She always strove to see both sides of each situation, but this time not even her Hufflepuff heart could do that. It wasn't fair.

Her blue eyes shot towards Professor Myers, frustration so clearly reflected there she may as well have been shouting at the man, she decided that she was quite done with the feast and pocketed a few dinner rolls into her robes to eat with some jam back in her room.

Glancing at Brian, she offered him a subtle shake of the head and warning look just to let it go - because she was sure that his blood was boiling over like a cauldron with all this - and nodded towards the exit. She knew he had prefecting duties to attend to and therefore would not keep him from those...but she was going to call it a night.

"See you all in the common room," she said with a meek smile to her housemates as she stepped away from the table, throwing Professor Myers one final apologetic look before making her way out of the Great Hall.

Okay, so now, Brian was getting increasingly aggravated. Nobody had shouted at you, you homicidal ghost. How Peeves had any respect for the old spirit was definitely beyond this Hufflepuff, considering that his personal respect was dwindling very close to absolute zero. That's right. Negative two hundred and seventy-three point one five degrees Centigrade. His respect was well into the negatives.

So if the other houses wouldn't be happy, what made the ghost think that Hufflepuff would be calm and happy with his intrusion on their moment of respect? At the Slytherin ghost's personal jab at him, he met Paige's eyes with an expression of absolute bewilderment. Which part of his statement towards the ghost had been disrespectful? Perhaps it was the please, or his level tone. Maybe he'd just forgo that and go straight to the shouting like Paige had. No offense, best friend. Just saying.

And now Professor McLeod's statements? Condescension from an educator had never been a way to earn Brian's respect, but he'd just ignore it for now, he supposed. Water off a duck's back, despite the fact that this duck's blood was b o i l i n g. Giving Henry a rueful "I guess we can't win" smile, he let out a heavy sigh as the groundskeeper refused to leave their table. Like. There was chaos at your own table, please go. We don't want you here.

Noticing that the first years were largely done with their food - and he didn't even blame them, drama was very good for the appetite - the prefect stretched a little and stepped away from Professor Myers and Juno. "First years and new transfers, with me, please? I'll show you to the common room." And should they so desire to come back to the feast after, then so be it, but if Paige was not going to be at the feast to ground him, Brian certainly didn't trust himself not to implode right there at the table. He was sure Juno could more than handle the situation, since all he was doing was making it worse.

Peeves has cackling and enjoy all the fun going on at this table. Nobody wanted the Baron around. But then he had to go and not even give their wonderful idea a thought and just reject it.

"YOU WILL REGRET THIS BARON. YOU ALL WILL"

Peveves yelled and floated after Miffy.