Leilani turned. "Yeessss??" she asked. It wasn't like she'd ditched him. She'd asked him if he wanted to come with her. She'd told him where she'd be. Sigh.

NEW PROFESSORS!!!!!! *jumpgigglesmile*

Chris was sooo pumped for this term! It was his last year at school yes, BUTTTT New Professors, Head Boy Badge, new friends?! it was all way too good to be true. After half walking have lunging himself to the dias that housed the Staff table he walked quickly to the center of the table to Headmaster Tate, smiling happily to the new Professors and waving excitedly to the returning ones.

"Hello Headmaster Tate, and to the new Professors! I see the other students are making you all feel welcome and I would also like to extend my greatings to the new batch, and amazing returning teachers!" he grinned happily at each face at the long table. "For those of you who have no clue who I am, my name is Chris Potter, 7th year Gryffindor and this term's Head Boy. Now if you all need anything at all feel free to ask me, my partner Celandine Toussaint, or the rest of the Prefecting team. I am excited to rekindle the bonds I have with you who are back for another year of teaching, and to create a new friendship and respect for those of you who are arriving today!" Cue winning smile and friendly wave. He couldn't wait to meet them.

"I'm quite sure she did." Ethan answered gravely. "The speech is about to begin, you should return to the Slytherin table and if you like, feel free to come speak with me in my office after the speech.

"Next time you're going to run off," he grumbled. "Warn me." Well, she wasn't as startled as he'd hoped. That didn't work at all, really. Maybe he was losing his touch. Lately it seemed he was the one being startled and when he tried to startle someone else, it just never worked. What is going on with the world where Jimbo couldn't make anyone yelp anymore?

Oh. He must have interrupted something. Whoops. But see, if Leilani had just said she was going to come over to the staff table then he would have been IN this conversation and not interrupting it. And now he was stuck in an awkward position because he couldn't say hi back since he wasn't being greeted, Leilani was. So all he could really do was stare between the both of them until someone said something. And that someone was just not going to be him.

Leilani noticed the headmaster was about to start. Oh yay food!!! Turning to the proffesor, she asked "Would it be alright if I came to talk to you after the speach?" It wouldn't be a good idea to start a conversation at the moment, but if she could find out where his office was she'd be able to talk to him later. That us, if she didn't get lost.



Leilani nodded. "Will do Mr. Bestest buddie, but in my defense I told you where I was going. I will make it clearer next time." giggle. She enjoyed teasing Jimbo, she really did. He had to be the funnest person ever and he was cute ..... uhmmm???

Mmmmkay.

Jake was okay with this arrangement. The boy gave Tate a smile that didn't quiiiiiiiite reach his eyes. He was pretty sure he would stop by... a couple of times maybe. Or once... maybe half a visit. Who knew? WHOOOOOOOO?

Eyes going a little wide went Tate went all shouty, Jake looked at the scolllllded students before directing his gaze back to Tate and giving him a little 'thank you' smile. He was sure that would work... for like 5 minutes.

"Thanks," the boy replied quietly, to everything the man had said in general.

"Thuhh-thank you sssir," Jake nodded to Masterson, trying not to look bothered about anything going on. Even though he was. Why did he put himself through the embarrassment of putting himself on the staff dias where everyone could see him be bullied?

Lovely.

Avoiding looking at Professor Lawson's face, Jake stared at the table again, waiting for some kind of evilness to be rained upon him.

But of course that did NOT happen. Would not. Totally could not.

She was too good.

"Yyyyes, Professor," the boy replied, looking back up again. He did like that stables. And the big... 'horseys'. "That'd buhh-be nnnice."

Jake hadn't anticipated this. The part where he had to take his hands out of his pockets. He ended up making a weird hand shuffley thing to pull his sleeve over his bandaged 'thumb', before reaching our and plucking the paper bag from the crazy lady's table area with his index and middle finger, chopsticks style.

"Thhhhank you," Jake said quitely, really confused by this point. Why exactly did he had a paper bag?

...

...

Feh.


Turning back to the Headmaster, Jake pushed the bag gently into his pocket, followed by his hand, and stood awkwardly for a moment. He still had the bizarre feeling he was in alot of trouble. Probably paranoia, but the way he was BECKONED... yeah.

But... speech...

So Jake ducked kind of out of sight.

Lexi smiled and waved at the Slytherin boy who was bidding her farewell. Oddly enough, he seemed to be one of the few polite Slytherins she'd met since the feast had begun. All the others had either been causing disturbances with poor Nolan or yelling about supposed dungbombs that may or may not have ever been there in the first place. "Have a nice feast, Mr.---," she said, cutting her sentence short when she realized she didn't actually remember his last name. J.D.---that much she remembered. "See you in class!"

Lexi had heard Nolan talk to her---she was nearly sure she had---however, when she turned around, he was escorting two Slytherins out the door and to...well, somewhere. She shrugged her shoulders and busied herself by glancing down the table once again. Speech? Food? Juice?---nowhere to be found. None of it. Meanwhile, Nolan had made his way back in---hmm, that had been a short trip. What had he done---thrown the kids in the lake, or something quick like that? Ha! "Trouble in paradise, Nolan? Already?" she asked. She still had yet to figure out what all the drama surrounding him had been all about.

"Hmm," Lexi mumbled, nodding understandingly as she thought about what Iliana had said. Marriage still seemed like a really foreign concept for her, but her mother had already stressed that once she found 'the one' that would all change. The question now was---who is this person known as 'the one', and where can Lexi find him? Hmm? "That's great to hear, Iliana. I'm glad you to hear you two are so happy. ...and where is he? I mean...while you're here at Hogwarts...," she replied. She couldn't remember if Iliana had said what career her husband was involved in or not---she just remembered something about his name...was it...Marcus?

Oh? Professor Truebridge also had a Chihuahua, hmm? "Really? ...and, who's Professor Truebridge?" Lexi asked, turning to glance down the table at all the men on staff. She definitely hadn't met a Truebridge yet. "...and Masterson? Who's he? Ha, I guess I do have a lot of people to meet." Lexi would have smiled on that note, but Iliana mentioned how hard it was to be away from family...and Lexi was back to feeling a little sad about not seeing Allie as much as she used to. "Allie and I have been together our entire lives. We even shared an apartment in America when we both lived there," she said. She looked away for a moment but eventually turned back to Iliana. "I'm really excited to be here, though." She followed that comment up with a smile that indicated she was sincere about what she said.

Tori walked up to the staff table. Surprise, surprise. Stutter box. Trying to hide.

"Hey Stutter Box. Did you here what Savannah and I said 'bout you? You should've. We screamed so loud that the whole room probably heard it." she smirked.

"Of course." Ethan answered with a nod. It was nice to see some students kept their manners.

That was IT.

Ethan stood up and drew his wand slowly.

He moved around the table, caught the shoulder of this little one who clearly wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and escorted her back to the Slytherin table, shooting one look at Tate as he moved away.

Leilani clenched her fists. She didn't know who this boy was but she'd had enough. She walked over to the girl and resumed the same stance as she had when she'd spoken to the other girl. She did not like it when people got teased like she did for being small. "Listen, cut it out. You are no better than him and I'm only going to tell you once, leave this guy alone."

Leilani gave him a smile and grinned even bigger when he escorted the girl back to her table. Nodding, she set off in the same direction to take a seat for the speech.

"Yes, sir, Ill just come to you're office after the speech. Have a enjoyable evening!" she said politely and walked to the Slytherin table.

A sudden quick movement in the direction of the staff table caught Lexi by surprise. She glanced up to see a very overexcited young man practically throw himself at the staff table. Okay, so that was a slight exaggeration, but he still was moving pretty quickly, yup. Lexi's first impression of this boy was that he sounded just like a door-door-salesman. You know, one of those men in business suits who approach your front door with a really large, fake-looking smile on their face?

Good evening, Miss! My name is Mr. George Wilkinson, and I represent the Pen and Paper Parchment Company. If I can assist you in anyway, please owl my office to speak directly with myself or one of my lovely colleagues, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail...

Lexi had to bite her lip and glance away to keep from cracking up into a fit of giggles. People would think she was absolutely insane for laughing out loud for what would appear to be no reason at all. Besides, Potter meant well, and she knew that. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Potter," she said, turning back around to face the Head Boy once again. "I'm Professor Carlton, the Charms professor."

If he'd been nervous before, it was nothing... NOTHING.. to how Sage Dodson felt right now. The man at the other end of the table who'd been glaring in his direction? Yeah, that nothing. Absolutely nothing now that he'd realised who it was that was sitting directly to his left.

PROFESSOR LAINEY.

The woman who had taught him History of Magic all those years ago. The woman who apparently had a liking for ... pretzels?

Sage simply mumbled something incoherently under his breath. A greeting of some sorts? He just wanted the Headmaster to start his speech already.

Max was ignoring EVERYTHING happening around him and kept his eyes on the students seated at the tables. Too many changes had happened over the summer. First of all, Kazimeriz retired...again. Secondly, there were way too many former students who were now TEACHING.

At least my office is far away from the Castle.

Vindictus pursed his lips into a pucker, folded his hands and began twiddling his thumbs. BORED. I'm bored!

This was really not good. Jake was causing a stir just by BEING there. He froze in the act of ducking down to slip off the dias, eyes wide as he watched Truebridge take away the shouty Slytherin.

He was hurt.

Like really hurt.

Like... run away and hide kind of hurt.

Sooooooo, before he lost it completely, Jake found himself scurrying around the staff table until he was right behind it, when he found it safe to sink against the wall whilst everything died down.

Chris waited for a few seconds for his long, and admittibly formal introduction, settled in to the row of Professors in front of him. Had he not had years of Prefecting experiece this would have been slightly awkward and immensely nerve-racking. He wasn't quite sure what to say next when a woman not too far from him made a tiny sound. Noticing it, the Head Boy scooted towards her, the first new one to converse with!

When he approached the lady she was holding her mouth strangely perhaps she had put on some chap-stick or maybe had eaten something sticky, oh well he could wait. Then the woman had gotten over whatever it was and Chris looked at her with a bright smile and blinked once as she then began to speak revealing herself as the new Charms Professor. "Charms? Well that's nice. I have liked that class in the past Professor Calton I'm can't wait to see what you do with it." he placed his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor for a second thinking of what else to say to her. "Umm...so how do you like it here so far?" for some reason he was shy around her, this never happened, it just hit him.

It was NOT his fault that students behaved badly. Would his speech have prevented that? Keep your pointed glances to yourself, Truebridge.

He gave the students still milling around the dais a hard look. He had TOLD them to sit down. Why were they still there? Did they want to lose points?

'Cause as far as taking away points went... he was ready. He'd had enough of lippy students being cruel to each other.

"Students and staff. I'd like to welcome you back to another year at Hogwarts. I wish I could give you a cheerful sort of happy speech with rainbows and butterflies, but I'm not really in the mood for it." Bullies had put him off rainbows and butterflies. Terrible tragedy. "As you can see, we've had significant changes in the staff after last term. For many of our staff, it simply proved too stressful to continue, but it has provided me with the opportunity to search the globe for the best professors currently in their respective fields. I hope you will join me in welcoming them."

He paused in case there might be some applause or some other happy welcome. "Same old, same old rules apply. Stay out of the Forbidden Forest. I don't call it Forbidden because of my illegal lollipop farm, but because if you go in there, you might die. Treat your professors and peers with the respect I believe they deserve, whether you agree or not. Do not cause harm. And the watchword still is... do not die."

"And now..." He clapped his hands, and food appeared on each table. "Eat, drink, be merry, for in a bit... we sleep."

Etoile silently slipped to the Staff table, and noticed Jake sitting alone up against the wall. Her heart was beating. She walked up to where he was slumped down and crouched down in front of him.
"you're name is Jake isin't it?" She glanced back at the table where chase sat with her friends.
"I Just wanted to tell you that you shouldn't take notice of them. They've been begging for a detention ever since the boarded the train." She hoped it would help. She felt ashamed now, for helping Chase out of trouble.
"Look, They think that just because they got sorted into Slytherin the automaticly can get away with doing stuff like that. Never mind them. They had no right to call you that. To tell you the truth, I used to stutter as well when I was younger. Don't let them get you down, because that is exactly what they want."
she stood up and gave him a small pat on the back. She then turned away and walked back to her table.

This - Lainey missed.

This was why.

...


It had been a few years since Professor Lainey had seen her peer, her buddy, Professor Vindictus. My how the years had flown. They'd flown to Lainey's eye crinklies and her possibly (admitting nothing) slightly graying hair. But to Max? To Max the years had SEASONED him. Seasoned him with rawr... and... stuff....

She was suddenly VERY Pro-Ancient section at the table. Hello Maximus. But on the other hand, she too was thinking it was a very good his office was so far away or she'd be made to embarrass herself twice as often as she already did.


Too bad Lainey didn't still have her bag over her face. It might have covered up the loud, unattractive SNORT that followed that.... speech.




Right then. That was over, no name calling or having to stand up and draw attention to herself. Lainey could, quite literally, breathe easy now. "If I pretend I wasn't your professor, that I'm not older than the bricks that are over our head, will you be offended? I just don't think I can deal with being that old." Lainey CRUNCHED into pretzel before offering some to her former student, Mr. Sage Dodson.

The food now appeared before them and a rumbling stomach urged him to dig in. He grabbed a chicken leg and leaned towards Tate. "Tate, why don't we just cast a silencing spell on the lot so that we can eat in peace?" he smirked and bit into the chicken leg.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lainey, and he winked.

When the Headmaster gave his speech, Sage had thought that was it. They could eat and completely forget the fact that he was sitting beside his old Professor..


... but apprantly NOT.

"My professor? Who was my professor?" Sage muttered clearly trying to feign the obvious fact. THE FACT THAT SHE USED TO TEACH HIM AND THAT SHE WAS OLD. Eek. And pretzels..? "Too salty for me.. but thanks," he declined her offer politely, piling copious amounts of broccoli onto his plate.

This was too weird.

Lexi's second impression of Chris Potter was that he was an extremely shy person---much like Sage Dodson, she gathered. Although she thought that was sort of an odd trait for a prefect and Head Boy to have, she chalked it up to him just being nervous over meeting a new staff member or two. Lexi didn't blame anyone for being nervous over meeting new professors---she even remembered being a little nervous about that when she was back in school, too. Professors weren't scary people at all. They were just...adults, and from Lexi's experience, a lot of children felt kind of awkward introducing themselves to adults. "Oh, so you like Charms class, hmm? That's always good to hear," she said. "...and I'm loving being back here at Hogwarts. It's been---..." She stopped short when she heard the headmaster begin his speech. Oh, that meant the food and drink would be served soon---thank Merlin! She nodded in Tate's direction, then glanced back at Chris, silently letting him know it was probably a good idea to cut their conversation a little short.



Lexi shifted in her seat to get a good view of the headmaster as he spoke to the students...and to the staff, she supposed. The speech was short, sweet, and to the point---which was of course perfectly fine with her. Merlin help them all if they'd ended up with a long-winded headmaster. This feast was already---

...whoa. Wait.

... they're both still here? No freaking way!

Suddenly forgetting all about the food and drink that had filled the tabletops, Lexi scooted away from the table and headed down to the area Sage was sitting in. She smiled politely at her new friend before glancing over at two people she couldn't believe she'd overlooked before. "Professor Vindictus? Professor Lainey?" she asked, still a little unsure of her assumptions. These two...were her old professors..., right? They just had to be! Lexi hadn't been out of school that long to mistake two random strangers for Vindictus and Lainey...

JP stood there in slight awe that a professor actually spoke to him in that manner.For a moment he was left speechless and just stared. When he realized he shook it off. He was absolutely happy. "Thank you professor!" with even greater enthusiasm. "I look forward to the next class! Transfiguration will be Amazing!" JP smiled at this professor and at once knew this would be his favorite class of this term. he whispered to himself "Wow, This guy is great. That arithmancy class is gonna have some tough competition for what class is my favorite now!" Once again waving he turned away from the professor. He hoped that a friendship and a mentorship would grow between them. He now had high expectation for his trasfiguration and would strive to be the best at it.

Max nearly choked on the chicken that was in his mouth and he stared at the woman who called out him AND Anj. "Uh, hey," he replied with a small wave and then turned all of his attention to the food on his plate.

JP was very keen on wanting to meet the head of his house and as his parents had told him "It is essential to having a successful year that you become familiar with you head of house and not hesitate to try and form a bond with then". JP's dad after became best friends of his head of house and still talks to him to this day. JP approched the head of house which to his extreme liking was also the quidditch director. "Hello Professor. I thought i would come and introduce myself since after all you are my head of house. I am JP Santos a first year as im sure you already know. I am especially proud to be a ravenclaw and am glad that you are our head of house." Hoping that he didnt sound completely ridiculous he looked at the professor. he said to himself "I can not wait to try out for the quidditch team!"

JP smiled. "Santos. It's ok. JP is already hard to remember. Im Sure Professor Vindictus will have trouble remembering that too, seeing as he is head of my house and has so many other Ravenclaw first year kids to remember." JP smiled brightly at the charms professor, waved again and turned to the table.