 Swedishfish Girl! Madame Librarian! Jess's Soul Sister! Sweetest Swede!
Paul trickled in next looking dapper in a suit and he was missing his traditional feast poncho. Was he feeling all right? Laurel had to wonder. It was unlike him. Pushing it aside she returned his wave with one of her own and then a warm beam formed as she accepted the congratulations with a nod of her head."Good evening Paul, and thank you so much! Have you got any sage advice to give a newbie head of house on her first night in charge of hundreds of students?"
Finally was the first word the popped into her head for some reason when Roderick came up on the dais and sat down in his seat next to her in a suit the smelled like it had been ironed recently. Turning her blue eyed gaze to him she greeted with a smile pursing her lips. "Hello Roderick!"
"Thank you so much Roderick! It will be an interesting challenge to take over leading the snakes after Justin. Is it all right if I come by your office to get tips if i need any from one head to another during the year?" Laurel asked. She had confidence in herself and her abilities but she didn't have experience yet.
Laurel's attention quickly turned over to the Headmistress as she came up on the dais and casually announced after sitting down in her throne that the student's were arriving soon. Flashing the other woman a warm smile Laurel greeted. "Good evening Regina, lovely dress!"
She almost missed Roses arrival in a classic black piece because of Regina's entrance, but when her girlfriend met her eye and threw a comment her way Laurel immediately responded with a warm beam. "Hi Rose, I absolutely adore the classic black piece you're wearing tonight too Rose. Do you think we were born with noses for finding the perfect dresses for ourselves?"
Pouring some cold pumpkin juice into her goblet as she awaited the students arrival her attention was caught by the feathered and overly dressed and large man beside her yet again. Raising a brow at Haraldurs confusion Laurel sighed inwardly, but outwardly she smiled sweetly "I understand, I just don't want you to faint from being over heated or something Haraldur. The temperature in the hall will rise considerably when the student's get here." Which was why she wore a light dress and a shawl around her shoulders that she mostly likely wouldn't need by the time the food arrived.
The two pats on her shoulder was a nice gesture though from him. "Did you work as a groundskeeper before coming here?" Laurel wondered conversationally. It couldn't hurt to start to get to know her feast buddy even if he reminded her acutely of Justin not being there.
Moments later River arrived to claim his new seat on the dais. Laurel got the sense that he was unhappy about something, and that he downed a potion phial in one go probably was connected to it but she had better manners than to snoop in that. She had a feeling he didn't want to talk about it. "Good evening River, are you looking forward to the new year?"
Taking a few sips of pumpkin juice Laurel watched with relief as the first few students started to trickle into the hall one by one or in groups to find their tables. It was at that time that Kay snagged her attention again. "It's a very pretty dress. You should wear it to more events than just the opening feast." Laurel suggested. Smiling she asked "Then your hiking trip was memorable?"
Nodding she beamed brightly "I'm ready and excited to take on my new challenge. Justin gave me some helpful tips when were at Disney together during the summer."
Laurel's gaze had strayed over to the snake table where it looked like one girl was playing with something but from where she sat she couldn't see what that was. Oliver was there though so he could sort it out. Turning her head to Camilla again she beamed warmly "I'm glad to hear your trip was great! I'd love to join you guys, but I'm really not much of a hiker girl." Laurel could walk for miles it was just that her feet didn't like it. Nodding she said excitedly. "Awesome idea Cami! We could have an all ladies meeting in the staff room and plan and gossip together some night soon."
Gaston should be elated and excited for his first night as Lion Head but instead Laurel just got the impression that he was sad and troubled about something. Best not to poke her nose in what was the cause. She had seen things though. Shrugging Laurel pointed out."All vacations have its up and downs. It comes with it. Are you ready to axle the head role after Art?"
Laurel managed to drink more sips and observe the students at the snake table a bit more before handsome Tristan responded to her earlier question to him. Smiling she shared with him. "This will be my third year at Hogwarts. And I do love being back here just as much as you do and rekindling friendships with other old classmates on staff is an added bonus. I predicted that I'd come back one day and it really feels like being home." Tristan would know what she meant. They'd been good friends in their school days.
Looking down to the right end of the where she found Ciara's gaze and called down. "I'm glad to hear it. Didn't you like potions already when were at school?"
Then Kalen's face came into view just as Laurel leaned back against the back of her chair to take another sip of pumpkin juice from her goblet to quiet the hunger pangs that was stirring her stomach. Smiling broadly at Kalen she said "I did more stuff than I normally do and that's why it became an eventful summer. I'm glad you had a good summer too. Do you really want to hear everything about the seer convention, disney trip and everything else i did? It will take a lot of tea drinking." Just a fair warning.
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