Students were beginning to file in more and more, and Paul's chest was HEAVING with nervous excitement. CHILDREN! STUDENTS! PRECIOUS BRAINS! He had to smile at all the excited faces....he could remember being there, excited for term to start.

Not to mention the amazing food.

DRAGON POX?!?!!??!!? Paul widened his eyes at Airey (he'd heard the name, now, and knew his name) and just violently shook his head. "I don't have DRAGON pox! I swear--" he stood up and spun around, his poncho fanning out all around him. He certainly didn't have any SPOTS. Was this man barking mad?! He was sporting a SPARKLING suit..he must be! Paul often found, though, that the best sorts of people were mad! Maybe Airey Flamsteed would be an interesting sort of fellow, hmm.

THERE WAS A BLOODY GHOST SITTING NEXT TO HIM. His former house ghost! Paul just smiled and nodded at the Grey Lady. "How are you doing on this fine evening, Madam?" he asked politely. WOULD SHE REMEMBER HIM? He hoped so! It had been...years and years, though.

Another new staff member waltzed in. She was young, too, it seemed. Hmm. He waved her way and just smiled all around. His tummy began to rumble pleasantly, and he awaited his food...with great joy.

TODAY was a cause for great joy!