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Felixir · #1 (**permalink**) 12-26-2021, 08:01 PM

On a raised dais situated at the farthest point of the Great Hall stands a long table where the members of the Hogwarts staff sit and enjoy their meal while casting a watchful eye out on the four House tables. Each staff member has an assigned, cushioned chair to sit on throughout the duration of the feast, though the more notable out of them all is the throne-like golden chair in the centre reserved for the headmaster.

Keep in mind that you should not be wandering up to the staff table if you are not a staff member before Headmaster Kazmi has delivered his speech. Doing so will result in the loss of points or worse before you've even made it an hour into the term. If you wish to speak with someone seated up here, you will have to wait until after the speech has been said and there is food and drink on all of the tables. Make sure to keep your visit brief though -- the staff were also waiting on the food to appear and are just as hungry as you.

Photos!: Seating Arrangement

(Click image for larger version.)

*MadAlice* · 09-01-2022, 11:23 PM

Tapio was one of the first faculty members at the Start of Term Feast this year. He knew he was often one of the last to arrive, delayed by plant emergencies and the long walk up from the greenhouses. This was the beginning of the year, though, and so he thought he'd made the best of it and arrive early.

He sat smiling, thinking of the excellent summer he'd had--a romantic interlude in Vienna with his wife, the outing with his entire family. Everyone was doing well this year and had such interesting stories to tell. Tapio was beginning to miss them already, but they had all gone off on their various pursuits as well. It was as it always is--summer cannot last forever.

And there were plenty of things to look forward to at Hogwarts in the coming year. He was no longer the newest teacher, for one thing, and he felt that he was much better prepared for the school year this time. He'd set up a new, more comfortable (comfortable for him, at any rate) office. And best of all, the greenhouses were all in splendid shape after their long rehabilitation and he could not wait to show them off to everybody!

Watson · 09-01-2022, 11:56 PM

With a hand in his pocket, Simon made his way up to the Staff Dais. This year, he didn’t have his signature notebook with him. Instead, he wore a gold Bager tie pin to show his support to the Hufflepuff House which he would watch over. Speaking of said house, he stopped in his tracks momentarily to glance over at the table in question. Hopefully his Badgers were behaving themselves….

Ah yes. They were. A warm smile crossed his face as he spotted Anders, Yoon, and a few other students were there already. “Excellent,” he muttered to himself before ascending the Dias. He was looking forward to this term.

His eyebrows arched when he saw Tapio had arrived. Tapio beat him to the term feast? “Tapio! Good to see you. How was your summer?” he asked with a grin as he took a seat next to him.

Deezerz · 09-02-2022, 02:59 AM

This was almost unreal to Kennedy Escalante. He was back at Hogwarts after many, many years of having graduated. The last time he stood in this room he was seventeen years old, with dreams that felt much too high to reach, with anxieties he wondered if he would ever heal from. He also left with a great foundation set by amazing professors. Lafay. Hadley. Schirmer. Vindictus. Bentley. Many more. They all taught him valuable tools he would always be grateful for.

Now, with several degrees under his belt, having made an entire career and name for himself at MACUSA, and co-started a broomstick company with his brother, Kennedy was here, walking the Great Hall as the new Flying Instructor. Life worked in many, many ways. When he reached his designated seat, he nodded at his colleagues. "Nice evening," he greeted with a smile, in that deep voice of his.

Ah, the students were flooding in. This was also new. A different point of view from what he had previously experienced. It didn't take long for him to hear his daughter's voice from the crowd, calling for him. Kennedy almost face planted as he took his seat, but resisted. He opted for a kind wave and for professionalism. He was a completely different man during summer little league soccer games. Compartmentalization.

*MadAlice* · 09-02-2022, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watson

His eyebrows arched when he saw Tapio had arrived. Tapio beat him to the term feast? “Tapio! Good to see you. How was your summer?” he asked with a grin as he took a seat next to him.

Tapio smiled broadly at the look on his colleague's face. He knew Simon liked to get to the feast first. "It was wonderful!" he replied. "The wife and I celebrated our anniversary with a week in Vienna--very romantic city! And then we joined up with the boys and the whole family went for a fortnight's hiking holiday through the Cairngorm Mountains." He paused a moment, picturing the summer holiday once more. "Isla and I were thinking that we might not have many more holidays with everyone together. Our sons are getting older and making their own lives, so they may have other ideas in the future."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deezerz

When he reached his designated seat, he nodded at his colleagues. "Nice evening," he greeted with a smile, in that deep voice of his.

Tapio looked across to see one of the new teachers, who apparently had a voice nearly as deep as his own. "Welcome to the feast--Professor Escalante, isn't it? But it's not your first time here, is it?"

Charely Potter · 09-02-2022, 01:24 PM

Adom was already at the table by the time students began pouring into the Great Hall. He was in a quite pleasant mood. Minutes before seating down, he had made his way from the opposite side so he could at least have a proper conversation with others before the distance ended it, "Evening Simon, Tapio," He happened to cross through in the conversation. "What a splendid holiday, Tapio." Traveling was one of his own favorite ventures and he especially related to having limited time with his own son off to University now. "How was your summer, Simon?"

As Adom was seated, he had his usual newspaper, this time of The Satellite, he wasn't shielding himself with his face fully visible to enjoy more pleasantries. "Nice evening, Kennedy," Adom said. "How's it faring to be back in the halls?" Though they attended at different times, Adom was able to note his colleague had their mark left in the school, via the trophy room listing achievers.

Lissy Longbottom · 09-02-2022, 05:04 PM

Javier yawned a little as he made his way up to his spot on the staff table dias. As always he'd waited until the last minute to get things all set up in the potions classroom, and then there had been a pumpkin related emergency down by his cabin. Don't ask. He didn't even like those silly pumpkins. They just kept growing there each season no matter what he did, and it felt weird to get rid of them when they'd been a staple outside the groundskeepers hut for so long.

Anyways. No further questions on THAT.

As he made his way to his spot, he raised an eyebrow at one of the newcomers. Was that...Kennedy Escalante? His former housemate? Seated RIGHT next to him no less?

Merlin. What a small world.

Smirking a little, Javier took his seat and turned to his old schoolmate. "Nice to see a familiar face around here," he said with a soft chuckle. Sure, he didn't think he'd ever really spoken to the guy at school - nothing personal, Javier didn't talk to anyone really - but still. It was always fun when someone you knew already joined the staff.

MadMadamMalfoy · 09-02-2022, 09:43 PM

Another summer had come and gone. It seemed as if Norman had just blinked, and it was over! Now with the new school year upon him, he made his way to the Great Hall, taking his usual seat at the far end of the staff table. As his bluish-green eyes scanned the dais, he saw that he was neither the first nor the last to arrive. Good, just as usual. “Good evening, all,” he greeted his colleagues with a slight smile and polite nod.

Noticing Simon’s badger tie pin, he added, “Congratulations on the new position, Simon.”

With the pleasantries out of the way, he turned his attention to the sorting ceremony, applauding politely for each new sorting - applause which may or may not have been slightly louder for the new Ravenclaws. His eyes flicked toward the house tables, watching for any sign of shenanigans. So far, so good.

Watson · 09-03-2022, 12:32 AM

Simon grinned as he listened to Tapio describe his summer. A romantic trip with the wife sounded quite pleasant and gave him a few ideas on how to spoil his wife next summer. “I’ll have to get all the details of that trip for sure. I need to spoil Bianca… It’s been so hard to manage the little ones so a trip away would be nice.” Maybe they could ask her sister and his brother-in-law to watch the kids? A family trip did sound like a good solution… Simon’s kids were all very young. “Maybe one last hurrah before they get too old? How old are your children, Tapio?” he asked curiously as he leaned his chin on the back of his hand.

Simon had, of course, heard of Kennedy Escalante. A fellow housemate who attended school at a different time to him. He could have sworn his sister had spoken of Kennedy once or twice. “A nice evening indeed. Any troublemakers lurking about?” he asked his new co-worker. He did like the ex-Slytherin house representation present at the table so far! Oh! Speaking of Slytherins, he could see Javier not too far away.

But first, Adom was addressing him. He grinned at his colleague. “Summer was good but busy at the same time. Bianca and I were constantly juggling the kids. A newborn and toddlers are always… a time…” He chuckled. ”We did take them to the beach and the Zoo which they loved. How was yours?”

Simon turned his gaze to his Table that he was monitoring and he noticed that it was becoming more… animated. Blue eyes flicked back to Carton who addressed him. “Thanks Carton. Proud to lead the Badgers..” His smile dropped; however, when he saw Peeves appear to badger his Badgers. “I see we have company.” He motioned over to Peeves’ entrance by the Hufflepuff Table.

*MadAlice* · 09-03-2022, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissy Longbottom

Smirking a little, Javier took his seat and turned to his old schoolmate. "Nice to see a familiar face around here," he said with a soft chuckle. Sure, he didn't think he'd ever really spoken to the guy at school - nothing personal, Javier didn't talk to anyone really - but still. It was always fun when someone you knew already joined the staff.

"Hello, Javier!" Tapio noticed his colleague on the other side arrive and greet one of the new professors. Looking from Javier to Kennedy Escalante, he observed, "I take it you two know each other?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watson

“I’ll have to get all the details of that trip for sure. I need to spoil Bianca… It’s been so hard to manage the little ones so a trip away would be nice.” Maybe they could ask her sister and his brother-in-law to watch the kids? A family trip did sound like a good solution… Simon’s kids were all very young. “Maybe one last hurrah before they get too old? How old are your children, Tapio?” he asked curiously as he leaned his chin on the back of his hand.

Absolutely! Vienna is a wonderful place to visit any time of the year. My children? Oh, Frasier is 22 now, and Acton is 20. They think themselves quite grownup and independent now, though they don't always know as much as they think they do. They grow up so fast--relish all the time you have to spend with yours while you can."[/b]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watson

Simon turned his gaze to his Table that he was monitoring and he noticed that it was becoming more… animated. Blue eyes flicked back to Carton who addressed him. “Thanks Carton. Proud to lead the Badgers..” His smile dropped; however, when he saw Peeves appear to badger his Badgers. “I see we have company.” He motioned over to Peeves’ entrance by the Hufflepuff Table.

Tapio followed Simon's gaze in time to see Peeves lob what looked like a water balloon at one of the students. What on earth was going on? It still rather amazed Tapio that Peeves was allowed as much license at Hogwarts as he was, but his antics seemed to be toloerated all around. Though he usually did not disrupt really important occasions, like the Start of Term Feast. "Simon? It looks like trouble over at your House's table, maybe you should go over and take a look." For Tapio also noticed a strange looking basket over there that was attracting a lot of attention from the students. Really, was it too muc to ask for to get through the first dinner of the term without all chaos breaking loose?

Watson · 09-03-2022, 11:58 PM

Simon was taking notes about Viena. Beautiful city to visit any time of year. Yes, yes! When Tapio spoke of his children and cherishing the time that he had with them, Simon nodded. He couldn’t believe Arthur was six already. Five years and his own son would be ready to attend Hogwarts with John and Moriarty following behind… “I will try,” he smiled before diverting his attention back to his House Table. Right… He was already standing when Tapio recommended him to go check out the Hufflepuff Table which was precisely what Simon was going to do.

“Excuse me. I’ll be right back,” he said to his peers with a swish of his cloak as he made his way over to the Badgers.

Deezerz · 09-04-2022, 12:26 AM

It was going to take time to get used to his new title. When Tapio greeted him, Kennedy nodded. "It's not," he smiled, green eyes glancing out into the hall before returning to his colleague. "This was my home when I was younger. Slytherin to be more specific." Green and silver still held a piece of his heart. Kennedy believes no other house would have helped him defeat the odds he had been given when he was younger.

"Adom," Kennedy nodded in greeting. "It's surreal, to be honest. It's something I saw myself doing when I was younger. That I'm here doing just that...it's nice." He had a similar conversation with Johnathan (senior, not the student) the day before. They reminisced on quidditch, lessons and professors. And yet, it still felt like he was going to wake up soon.

Kennedy had seen the list of Hogwarts Staff and had seen a familiar name on it. They might have not interacted, but back in his Prefect and Head Boy days, he had made it a mission to familiarize himself with names or faces of Slytherins. "Javier Hernandez," he said, a crooked smile slipping onto his face. "A small world, isn't it?" What were the odds?

At Norman's greeting, Kennedy nodded and returned it. "Evening, Norman." At his mention to Holden's new position, Kennedy's attention was on the History of Magic professor. "Congratulations on Head of House," he said before chuckling softly at Simon's question. "Not yet. It's still early, though." If he was lucky, there would be no chaos tonight. And if the stars were on his side, it'd be a smooth term.

He. Spoke. Too. Soon.

Felixir · 09-04-2022, 08:42 PM

Well. This was certainly... an evening.

With business dealt with at the Slytherin table, and the Hufflepuff swamp party in Simon's capable hands, Kamran ascended the staff dais. All in all, he was feeling pretty okay about the term - ignoring the fact that it had barely started. Aware as he had been that Peeves was on the warpath today, he felt a strange relief now that the poltergeist had come and wrought his havoc and was likely done for the night - though perhaps not a relief the Hufflepuffs shared.

But Kamran was rather composed as he finally reached his seat in the middle of the staff table. "Evening, all," he greeted all those sat at the table, taking care to send a nod each to the newest in their ranks. "I get the feeling our resident poltergeist is happy to have the students back."

_____

He'd not been aware of it until sitting down, but hunger now nagged at Kamran, as though pulling incessantly at his sleeve like a needy toddler. He glanced at his watch once or twice, but only once a semblance of calm had been restored and the Hufflepuffs seen to did he finally get to his feet in order to give the speech.

"Your attention please, everyone," he said, for the sake of those who had not yet noticed. Once he had quiet, and most eyes on him, he went on.

"First of all, welcome! And welcome back! To those of you who are new to this school, I am your headmaster. You may call me Professor Kazmi, or Headmaster Kazmi, and you will find my office on the second floor, if you have cause to visit it. Recent staff changes..." As he reeled off further introductions, he gestured to each individual in question. "Professor Hadleigh Paton will be your new Care of Magical Creatures professor, Professor Septima Rook will be teach Divination, and Professor Kennedy Escalante is our new Flying instructor." After a short pause for the appropriate applause, Kamran went on, again gesturing to each professor as he spoke their names. "Professor Simon Holden is the new Head of Hufflepuff House, as you, ah... may have already gathered. New Gryffindors, your Head of House is Professor Leanne Mancini; Ravenclaws, you should look to Professor Norman Carton, and Slytherins, to Professor Javier Hernandez."

And that... was pretty much it for new notices. No big events that Kamran was aware of, no mysterious hidden chambers, no secret guests in the castle hidden away for their own safety. Said guest had now been relocated to the Forbidden Forest after all.

Ah, yes. "A polite reminder that the Forbidden Forest out on the grounds is, you guessed it, forbidden. Going into the forest without permission from a member of staff will land you directly in detention - at best - and I regret to inform you that I will pass your sentence with great relish." Kamran smiled then. "Thank you for your attention. Classes start bright and early on Monday morning, so make sure you're well rested and ready to learn. Now, enjoy your feast."

He sat, and practiced what he preached, for with his final words the food had appeared on all the tables in the Great Hall. Perhaps this, for most, was the moment that truly marked the start of the term. It really was very good food.

Lissy Longbottom · 09-04-2022, 10:19 PM

Javier had noticed the little situation at the Slytherin table a millisecond before Kamran stepped in, which was a relief because he had JUST gotten comfortable in his seat. A second or two after THAT, chaos erupted at the Hufflepuff table. Well, sort of. It certainly wasn't as chaotic as it could have been, but still it was never good when Peeves showed up. Ugh. It was always so nice when the poltergeist decided to take a few terms off - it looked like he was bored again. Sigh.

And also poor Simon. Javier saw that balloon make contact. Yikesss.

"My snakes not giving you too much trouble I hope?" he asked as Kamran returned to the table. He looked over at the Hufflepuff table again and sighed. "Where's the Baron when you need him?" he mumbled under his breath at the mention of Peeves. If Javier wasn't so scared of him, he'd ask the ghost to teach him how to control that little pest.

With that, he sat back and listened to the Headmaster's speech, keeping a close eye on the Slytherins. They better not make HIM get up and abandon his meal...

Same goes for Peeves.

*Kolyander* · 09-06-2022, 03:17 PM

Many years ago, Hady had been told by some of her professors that one day they could picture her returning as a professor herself. She had never been able to see that in her future. Yet, here she was. Taking her seat at the Staff Dais among the other Professors and Headmaster. It felt so strange being where she was and being able to look over the student tables where she could see her younger siblings, cousins and three of her own children sat there. It was hard to explain how she was feeling in that moment.

"Good evening, everyone. I hope you've all had a wonderful summer?" Perhaps they could trade stories where they had the time. It would be nice to get to know each of them a little bit.

Not wanting to be rude and butt into the conversations that were already going on around her, Hady turned her attention to the happenings around the Great Hall. Her gaze falling upon all the faces she already knew at each table. A small smile on her lips when she spotted Keighley waving at her until she realizing the waving was more of a frantic gesturing and pointing at a basket on the table. As she prepared to get up and go see what the issue was, Peeves had arrived at the Hufflepuff and was tossing balloons at the students!

Oh, dear! Half raising from her seat she was ready to go handle it when it seemed she didn't have to. Simon already was on his way there and had it very well under control. Settling back down into her seat, the brunette shifted her attention to Kamran's speech and gave a warm smile and a wave to the students when her name was announced.

Now it was time to eat, yes? Everything was good at the students tables?

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