Originally Posted by Cassirin

"Be careful with him, Seren. We try not to push too hard, or else Max happens," Tate directed at the Gryffindor Head of House with a small smirk. His deputy was certainly rife for ribbing tonight. If he had more time, he'd probably continue in that general vein, but as it stood... his speech was all that stood between the students and their big meal.

He could be generous.

Tate stood. "Students. I'd like to welcome you once again to Hogwarts for another exciting term. For those who read the Daily Prophet, you may have seen that we are celebrating an exciting anniversary this term, and your staff has been hard at work with some events that will help us feel the true spirit of all that Hogwarts has to offer. If you'd like to help us celebrate or you have any additional idea, please feel free to share them with me via owl."

With a gesture, Tate pointed out the new staff members spread out along the table. "We would like to welcome some new faces to the staff table, as well as the new faces we are welcoming to each house table. Please do not inundate their office with greetings, but I hope you will make them very welcome in the coming weeks. Remember what it is like to be new and offer them all your support."

And now... almost time to eat? "I don't have much more to say this term, aside from the usual... don't die. Eat your vegetables. Write to your parents, because they miss you. And... be kind to each other. We're all in this together. As you begin your meal, I'd like to invite Nimma the house elf to speak to you briefly." He figured they could now eat AND listen.

Originally Posted by iceblossom22

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

Max overheard those words and a loud gasp escaped from his lips.

He sat there like a stone statue and stared in disbelief at the young Ravenclaw girl.

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Seeing at the Headmaster had finally made his speech, Kurumi thought that now was the more appropriate time to go up and greet with the school staff. Stepping away from her lions for just a moment, Kurumi made her way to the staff table with a medium sized box in her hands. She had tried something a little different this term with her cookies and had gone with a silly sculpture method along with some small cakes. Nothing too fancy since she had assumed that the house elves had everything back in tip top condition and didn't want to have anything that would take away from what she HOPED would be a delicious feast. The tables had been clean, so that was a start to be sure.

The Headmaster had mentioned that Nimma would be making her appearance as well, which was perfect since Kurumi wanted to see if she actually wanted or needed the help that Headmaster Tate had assigned the prefect to at the end of last term. Summer was a long time and she hoped that the baby house elf had grown and matured enough to not go on kleptomaniac sprees through the castle.

Starting at one end of the table with an unfamiliar face (Professor Jenkins) beside the familiar one of Professor Hadley, Kurumi bowed to this section of the table. "Good evening, Professor Hadley," Kurumi smiled as she reached into her medium sized box for some smaller ones containing the results of her experimentation and her brothers' dare and a small cake. "And...welcome to Hogwarts, professor."

Her gaze and box giving continued, bringing her to stop in front of Professor Roslund. "I hope you enjoyed the train ride, Professor Roslund," she said, eyeing him slightly and glancing at Professor Schirmer. The two sandwiched a new professor the one who looked like he liked hugging trees and she bowed to them all before handing out a box to each. There was another new professor beside the Charms professor, and Kurumi offered her another bow with a smile before setting a small box in front of her as well. "Good evening and welcome to Hogwarts," she said to those new faces. "My name is Kurumi Hollingberry."

Moving along to Professor Vindictus and the Headmaster himself, Kurumi set the boxes out on the table and greeted them both. "Good evening," she said with a slight hint of nervousness. Vindictus always did intimidate her, so she didn't linger too long and headed towards Professor Bentley, passing two more unfamiliar faces as she did with a brief greeting and introduction of herself.

FINALLY she found herself in front of Professor Bentley, her new Head of House. While Kurumi had already said her congratulations in an owl over the summer, it deserved being said again. "Professor Bentley! I suppose that I can now officially welcome you to Gryffindor," she giggled, setting a box in front of her. "I am really looking forward to working with you this term and already have a few things I would like to run by you, at a later date of course." She was bubbling on the inside with excitement. She really couldn't wait for the term to get rolling. Kurumi was also concerned about that plant she had saved...it was acting strangely and had the odd habit of trying to pull all of Walnut's fur out with its little leafy stem-arms.

Kurumi froze for a moment, before hastily putting a box in front of Professor Scabior. "Professor Scabior, I am looking forward to attending your lessons this term." LIES sort of, but it wasn't because of the subject matter...he was just scary.

Now reaching the end of the table, all three women with familiar faces, Kurumi set her wrapped sweets down and bowed once to each of them. "Professor Cerulean, Professor Lafay, Professor Magnus, I am looking forward to another term with you."