Finneas wore a vacant expression as he looked across the hall. He had faith that a sense of normalcy would return with more time, but at the moment everything still ached. He willed himself not to look over at the empty seat at their dais and instead turned towards the student tables. Silently, he counted those present at each. It had become a habit. A way to cope. And despite the outcome of the battle, the counting still settled the lingering unease.

As his gaze fell upon the Hufflepuff table, Finneas found himself overcome with emotion; the hug shared between Claudine, Minjae, and Mamie touched him in a way he couldn't have anticipated. Making an effort to keep himself composed, the frail noodle-man reached for his handkerchief.

June Flamsteed .... was here. Tired and a blank in the aftermath of things, but she was here. Seated besides Schmoe, she had merely passed him a small smile before avoiding all chances to look over at Cassie's empty seat.

She had no words, no words at all to explain exactly how it felt to lose one of their own like they had.

It had just been a really hard year. Nothing else could compare.

Quiet, and very unlike herself, she sat there simply watching the kids as Schmoe was.

It was a strange thing, sitting here on the dais in the way she had when she’d first arrived here this term. She’d been nervous, unsure what kind of Professor she’d be, unsure of whether she’d connect with the kids and the other staff..so much had changed. She’d changed in ways she probably didn’t even realize yet. And these people in this hall with her? Well, they were like family now. You didn’t fight a war with people and have it any other way.

Clasping her hands in front of her, the brunette watched the kids. Would they be able to bounce back from this? She hoped so. She wished it more than anything.

Well, that was quite a painful year.

It all began right here in the beginning of term, when Lucien Rosier marched through the doors, revealed his identity, and let the alliance take over the school. So much happened between then and the present moment, Aguilar thought as he sat at the staff table for the last time. Memories, mostly happy memories of pleasant interactions he had in and outside lessons, rushed through him as he watched the students at the four house tables. He was proud of them for the remarkable resilience they showed this term, and knew that he would miss all of them dearly.

He would also miss his fellow members of staff ... he already missed Cassie, who had been such a positive influence on him. Unlike Finneas and June, the flying instructor looked over at the empty seat close to him every now and then. He swore that he would never forget all the sacrifice that was made to protect the Wizarding World from irreversible destruction.

This was not how Shreya expected her first term as a professor to go.

She had dreamed of scintillating class sessions, innovative research days in the lab, and trips to Hogsmeade to supervise the students. Bonding with the children in the courtyard, chuckling with her colleagues in the Great Hall over supper, and taking brisk walks around the Black Lake.

She never imagined war.

As the Potions professor moved quietly toward her chair at the table, limping slightly from the still-healing gash in her thigh, she couldn't help her eyes from sweeping to her right. They settled on the now-empty chair where Cassie used to sit. A pang of sadness nestled itself deep in her core as she took a seat. She nodded solemnly at the other professors, though she couldn't quite bring herself to speak. Shreya simply couldn't find the words.

There was too much loss. Too much sadness. And too much change. That much was clear from the weary looks on the students' faces. Would Hogwarts ever be the same again?

Never a dull moment at Hogwarts, eh?

Gabriela Recard was exhausted. Between the fighting and trying to help the healers patch everyone up, and worrying about the kids and how they would deal with the aftermath of all this - the blonde hadn't gotten much sleep, and it showed. Although, the only upside had been the nice surprise of seeing her son in the midst of battle, before he got carted away to Mungos to deal with a concussion. To say she was proud of him would be an understatement.

Her heart was heavy, though, thinking of all the loss they'd endured. As much as Cassie had annoyed her with a constant snapping and cheery attitude...there was a hole in the collective heart of the school with her gone. Never in a MILLION years did she think she'd be thinking that...

Poppy had come the moment the war was over. The VeRy MoMeNt she was told of the happenings and the state the school was in. That some children remained was nothing short of an aaaaabsolute miracle.

They needed her.

Unfortunately, up until now, Poppy was too busy behind the scenes. Taking Trent's personal care into her own hands, the woman was away at St. Mungo's more often than she was not. The man tried insisting he come to the final feast but the healer was having none of it. Goodness, no. Malachi Trent fancied himself a chivalrous Gryffindor. He still had the interest of the children at heart, despite the frantic way he flinched away every time she so much as showed him a mirror.

No no no, she would handle this for him and set things to right.

"Good eeeeevening, dearies!" She chimed, making her way down the centre tables. Behind her floated baskets of freshly baked melon and strawberry bread. They settled along each table, enough for the little dears. There was no need for them to STARVE while they waited on the speech. Her Hufflepuff heart wouldn't allow it.

"Good evening, good evening."

Approaching the dais, Poppy took the spot where the Headmaster usually sat....an...unusually wide grin in place. Her eyes shone with all the healing goodness she could offer.

Blue eyes caught the Healer pin on the blonde's (Gabi) just a seat over. It matched the one she now wore.

"Attention. Atteeeeention!" She waited for the students to settle...not that it took much. They all looked like someone had died!

Too soon?

"You're no doubt wondering WHO I am. I'm Healer Poppy and I've been assigned by the Hogwarts Board of Governors in these oh so trying times. I want you all to know that I'm here for you and will continue to be here for you--as long as you all need. I know things don't feel right but they will be, never you worry. Help yourself to some pre-feast snacks. You must be starving. I don't know why they wouldn't just feed you." She paused a moment to spare the Professors seated a glance, not a judging one per se but there was some tutting.

"The decorations no doubt make it clear, House Gryffindor has won the house cup, though I can't imagine that's important at a time like this! We'll be saying goodbye to our Seventh Years--those that chose to stay til the end but I'll be seeing the rest of you bright and early," in the evening, "come September. I don't want to hassle you with too much and know you've all just had the woooorst time. Could not be worse if you prayed for worse, oh Merlin. We've lost many. We have. I hope this will be a summer of healing and I'll be right here when the new term starts. Let's all eat."

With a clap of her hands, more food arrived and the feast was officially on. that settled, Poppy stretched her hand past the flying man to extend it to the school healer. "HI! Healer Poppy! I think we'll be seeing a lot of each other!"

This term had given Norman a lot to think about! He thought his days fighting dark wizards were over when he left MACUSA years ago. He thought taking a teaching job at Hogwarts would be his chance to put that life behind him, but instead he found himself right back in battle. One day he’d look back on this term as a learning experience, but now he was too emotionally raw, both from the recent events fresh in his mind and the memories they dredged up of a life best left forgotten. That was fine. He’d survive, just as he always had. He was more concerned for the kids. What if they didn’t bounce back from this?

He sat silently at the far end of the table, looking down at the plate in front of him so as not to accidentally lock eyes with something or someone that would cause cracks in his impassive demeanor to appear. If he looked to his right, he’d be reminded of Cassie, of the children who lost their mother, of the man who lost his wife. If he looked ahead, he’d be reminded of the kids. Merlin, this wasn’t supposed to happen! He wasn’t supposed to get attached to them, but after a term like this, how could he not? Norman Carton, you’ve gone soft! He inwardly berated himself, but his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden loud voice.

Blue-green eyes turned to the newcomer, watching her every move. Something about her seemed… off, but he couldn’t place it. Maybe it was the wide grin. Maybe it was the tutting - that wasn’t going to be a habit of hers, was it? Or maybe he was just on edge because the last time a stranger appeared in the middle of a feast, they held the entire school hostage for nearly a year. Whatever the case, he would be keeping an eye out later, For now, he was absorbed in the food that appeared. Hopefully eating would distract him from his emotions!