From their meeting in the student garden, Seren could tell he was an eager
beaverbadger, so it came as no surprise to see he was among the first - and THE fist - to make it down for today's lesson.
"Hello Cris, it's good to see you too," she grinned. The temptation to ask if he'd been attacked by any more plants since they'd last met was too great, but she refrained from doing so, not wanting to jinx the boy for today's lesson.
The exuberant and muchly appreciated greeting from a Slytherin boy was all that was needed to set her off beaming again, and now she didn't have to trouble herself with making general chit chat with the Hufflepuff. With other students arriving such conversations would die quickly, which would only amount to awkwardness in the end.
"Good morning," she replied, flashing her pearly whites and bouncing on the spot. Positive energy was contagious, did he know?
"It's an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance Ethan..." the rest of the name escaped her in the quick fashion the boy had enunciated it.
Seeing Bay cross the grounds, Seren waited for him to near before returning the greeting.
"Morning Bay!" and what was that?... Aaaaaawwwwwww.
"Thank youuuuu, that's very sweet of you," she replied accepting the container and twisting off the cap. Her hands were still cold despite the gloves, and she could never say no to tea, especially where waiting fo students was concerned.
"Would you like some too?" she asked, she was more than happy to duplicate the cup if that was the case, they could all share in the joy of warm tea on a chilly morning.
"Good morning, Angel," Seren greeted one of her first year Lions. She was still concerned for the girl, and would be keeping an eye on her this lesson. Yep.
"G'morning Cutty," Seren replied to the somewhat reserved Slytherin as they waited for the others to arrive.
Seeing new and unfamiliar faces was always exciting, and it was even more exciting when these faces introduced themselves without her having to find out by other means.
"Good morning dear," she returned the greeting, before bowing her head slightly as introductions were given.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Jasmine, I hope today's lesson is to your liking." It was most certainly to her liking, but that much was a given.
Aaaaawww, such a sweet little Lion. Seren beamed with pride. Of course, naturally, she knew the young girls name, had it already committed to memory from the sorting ceremony.
"Good morning, and welcome to herbology," she greeted, offering the girl a small wink.
And more of her Lions were gracing her with their presence, and in a timely manner too. Excellent.
"Good morning Benjamin," Seren returned the greeting, smiling brightly at the Gryffindor.
And no greeting from Mackenzie? Seren was mildly disappointed, but figured the energy of the assembled group was a sufficient enough distraction, so she didn't take it personally, instead she continued to sip the tea Bay had gotten for her.
Oooohhhhhhh, it was Jun. Heheee. Seren had gotten hold of the Apparecium article, and it was rather amusing if she could say so herself. As a result, the grin she wore was in part due to that, as well as the general cheer she felt at the beginning of this lesson.
"Good morning, Jun," she returned the greeting.
Wonderful! More greetings with names she wouldn't have to guess at or tiptoe around.
"Lovely to meet you Bryant, welcome to herbology!" aka, the best class ever in the world... though she was probably most definitely biased. No matter.
Seeing more students arrive, Seren assessed the features of the Ravenclaw that tagged onto the back of the line. He didn't look too pleased as yet, but she was confident that would all change soon. Good moods were infectious, and there was plenty of that around.
The waving is what first caught her attention, even as she sipped the tea she'd received. Lowering her cup, Seren gave a smaller wave so as not to spill anything and replied with a cheerful,
"and good morning to you too."
... ... ....
Was the girl sick? Seren was by no means a germophobe, but she wasn't particularly keen on receiving whatever bug the girl had.
"Perhaps a trip to the infirmary might be in order," she noted, eyes on the tissues... yep.
.... Great mother of Circe.
"Kevin," she started, eyes on the Gryffindor.
"You have... something on your forehead, did you know?" she asked, curiously. She was still in a spirited mood, and though she was amused, Kevin didn't seem to share that feeling. Best not push him for details.
The little people, first years, were absolutely adorable. And as a result of this, Seren was having a difficult time preventing herself from hugging them all. This one though, was not one of hers... and nor did she know the girls name, so she could hardly greet her properly. Shame.
"Welcome to herbology, dear," she settled with. Bright smiles and all.
She'd been wondering where her top students were, when finally Toby showed his face. Seren returned his cheerful wave with one of her own, she was rather excited for this lesson to get started.
A quick inspection of her watch - whilst sipping tea - indicated to her that they still had some time for the stragglers to come.
Noticing little Candice arrive, Seren offered her a small but apologetic smile. It was early, and it was cold... the poor girl.
"Morning dear," she greeted, refilling her cup with the tea from the container.
"Here, have this to warm you up," she offered, holding it out for her to take.
Bay had been generous to bring it for her, but she'd had her fill of tea, some of the other students would benefit from it more than her, and Candice was a prime example of that.
And more new faces! This was trully exciting, and they all looked so bright eyed and eager to get started... aaaahhhhhhhhh ... this was simply delightul.
Opting to return the girls wave instead of yelling a greeting over the top of other students, Seren offered the girl a bright smile too.
Welcome!
Of course, the familiar faces were just as nice to see as those that were new, and this Ravenclaw's was no exception.
"Good morning Gwen, enjoyed your summer break?" she asked idly, smiling pleasantly while they waited for the last to arrive.
Lux was always such a delight, with her bright personality and cheerful demeanour. A welcome addition to the group.
"Hello, dear," she replied brightly,
"I'm excellent, excited to get back into the swing of things... and yourself?" she asked.
The little ones, were not handling the fall cold very well.... funny that. But considering it was their first year here, it was understandable.
"Hello dear, we'll be going in soon..." she promised, yep... she wasn't going to let them freeze to death.
This Slytherin wasn't sour per se.... but he could do with some lightening up, this much was evident. It was also a tad disappointing that he hadn't introduced himself as some of the others had done, so he would be known as Snake Boy for the time being.
"Good morning, welcome to herbology," she greeted with a small smile.
AHA! SEEE!... this was the level of excitement she was feeling on the inside, and that was slowly but surely creeping to the outside with the arrival of Lex. Her excitement was all that was needed to have her bouncing on the balls of her feet too.
"Morning!" she was quick to reply to the Prefect, bright eyed and grinning.
"All in good time, all in good time," she acknowledged. Snargaluffs were delightful, yes, but they'd done them not too long ago. So now it was time to explore some of the other varieties of flesh eaters. Weeeeee.
"Looking after the first years is always a given," naturally,
"so please do keep an eye out for them." Especially the tiny frail looking ones. Some of the trees liked crunching bones... and the bushes weren't averse to having a crack at it either.
Still feeling the excitement that Lex and the others brought with them, Seren rocked on her feet,
"Morning!" she trilled, bright smiles for the Hufflepuff.
"Very well, very very well," she mused.
And whoa whoa whoa .. this one had energy! Seren was thoroughly pleased, and perhaps a little amused that it was Dash's offspring with all the energy. The man himself was fairly reserved in that respect.
"I know who you are," she mused with a wink. Having watched the sorting ceremony and all she knew he was here, but the fact that he'd been around the school when his father was here hadn't escaped her memory either.
"I'm Professor Bentley," he supplied, though she'd have thought he knew that much already.
And more delightful Ravenclaw's to join their little family huddled outside. Seren grinned brightly,
"And to you Miss Brown," she replied fondly.
"Good morning Adi," Seren replied, offering the Hufflepuff a small wave as well. His enthusiastic greeting only made her feel warmer on the inside.
It was perhaps a good thing she'd spent some time in Angel's company already, because it made telling the sisters apart somewhat easier. This one was most definitely not homesick and mopey...
"Good morning Aubrey," she chuckled in reply to the girl's greeting. Head of House Professor ma'am? Okay.
Ooohhhh.... ewww... negative energy! Seren smiled nonetheless, though it was more reseved than the others she had given.
"Mister Kinsley," she greeted the Slytherin. She hoped everyone elses positive energy would rub off on the Snake, otherwise why he chose to sit through the subject was beyond her, it was no longer compulsory for him after all.
But things were soon made better with the arrival of another valued Gryffindor.
"Morning Zander," she replied warmly,
"it most certainly is, the frost is already setting in... before we know it, winter will be upon us." Because time seemed to fly when one was at Hogwarts.
No greeting from Mister Stone? That was a shame... but he didn't ooze negativity like some of the others, so Seren could overlook this. Yep.
As was habit when being caught slightly of guard, Seren found herself returning the greeting that was given to her.
"Heeeeyy..." she replied, drawing it out some.
"It most certainly is, but at least it makes for a good wake up call, don't you think?" And it was best they all be alert when they finally enter the greenhouse. Her favourite greenhouse -- not that she had favourites amongst her babies, except that she did.
And my my my, someone was having a good hair day.
"Good morning dear," Seren replied, perhaps taking a moment to admire the girl's shiny locks. What did she use? Flobberworm mucus? tea tree oil? a special blend of tea for rinsing?
And another new face, one that was polite enough to introduce herself. Given the courtesy, it only made sense to return it.
"Morning dear, welcome to herbology," she started, offering bright smiles,
"I'm Professor Bentley."
Marisol... the name would be committed to memory now, for sure. Such a beautiful name for such a delightful young lady.
No... NO... NEGATIVE ENERGY WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING HERE!
"Ahem," she cleared her throat.
"I'm inclined to agree with Lux on this one, unless you have somthing nice to say then you'd best keep your words to yourself young man," Seren mused, unimpressed by the boys negativity. Bay was simply being nice. She knew this, because he was HER Lion.... and because tea wasn't going to get anyone anything other than a friendly smile, a thank you, and the gesture returned.
"Two points from Slytherin for bringing negative energy to class and for being rude to your peers..." not to mention implicating her own character in the process.
Miss Newell's presence was appreciated. She recieved a warm smile and a quick,
"Hello dear," before her attention was drawn elsewhere... and it was nearly time to get started.
"G'morning Michael," Seren replied to the young Lion.