 Mentions, but mostly about the staff table
When the Grey Lady congratulated him, he bowed his head. “Thank you, I appreciate your words,” he told her. As more students approached the table, Jackson smiled (quite genuinely actually) and tried to start remembering the Firsties’ names. Not that he would have any luck this early in the year, but he apparently had more confidence in himself. In farce, he remembered Alastair’s name long enough to greet him as he sat down. “Welcome to Ravenclaw!” Looking down the table a little, he heard someone say… Rubik’s cube? He looked around, always interested in talking with others that knew about Muggle life. Seeing the cube in Drew’s hand, Jack made a note to talk to him later, maybe try his hand at it again. For now, he appreciated seeing a First Year striking up conversation. It reminded him very much of himself. Oh look more familiar faces! When Tad spoke up to him, he turned. “Yep, I don’t mind it,” he answered with a wink. He waved when he saw Juni again, saying hi to Hanna, Septimus, Shera, Nettie, and Chloe... and was that Jessa sneaking in in the back? Jackson didn't expect much else from the Head Girl to be honest. She was probably patrolling already.
Looking up at the staff table, Jackson almost felt like a new student again. Merlin there had been quite a few changes... And with the Sorting almost done, more adults came through the Hall. Who were they? Perhaps one was a new professor as there was still an empty chair, but… this seemed like a different situation. Jackson was watching more intensely than he realized, but felt almost instantly justified when the Headmistress Hawthorne stood and… was leaving the Hall…? Had something happened out there? Should he follow and help? Watching as the Headmistress departed, a rough voice cleared itself. Jackson turned back to see the messenger addressing them all. Eyebrows still furrowed in confusion, Jackson took a moment to register what the man said but stood as asked. He listened to the man’s words. The messenger was talking about coming out of retirement as an Auror? Not that the school couldn’t use an Auror or two, but… wait predecessor?? Wait. WAIT.
As he put two and two together, Jackson’s eyes widened a bit and darted back to the doors as though Headmistress Hawthorne would be standing there to confirm. As the supposed new Headmaster spoke, Jackson was reminded very strongly of a History of Magic lesson where they had gotten into a pretty deep conversation about Professor Umbridge, from the Trio era. The eeriest part of the situation unfolding in front of him was that the professors looked just as confused as he felt. He could hear the students around him muttering this and that to each other, and he since he had nothing to add he remained silent for the time being. Was it out of left field? No. But why now? Couldn’t they have had the decency to just start the year fresh? They had to fire the Headmistress DURING the Sorting?? It was juvenile in Jack’s opinion. In previous years, he would have yelled out in protest. If not for what was happening, then for how they were treating his professors. He knew he would have to come to terms with this changing of the guard, but for now he was feeling a headache coming on.
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