 Yeah I broke that mirror, so what? ll NOT backward ll Official Gryfferin ll Lemon's favourite
He'd caught that look Piers had shot him and returned it in kind. A drink would be lovely for him too...and his wife...and his kids but only after his wife. Just a week or so to decompress before he threw himself back into this mess. It wasn't like everything had been solved and the castle could go back to low maintenance for the summer. No. There was still a BIG issue and he wouldn't be able to rest until it was over.
Did he mention he was tired?
The man watched, eyes somewhat clouded as the others and the students began taking their seats. "Yes, of course." The man replied to the centaur. Suppose he'd be tendering his resignation too. This term had turned into a lot more than he had signed up for, surely, and with the future of the castle still to be seen it only made sense. Malachi wouldn't keep them long tonight. It wasn't the sort of mood for cheerful chatter necessarily and he suspected most would just be eager to get sleep over with so they could board the train and be done with all this. Barlow got a nod out of him, as distracted as the one the others had gotten.
After one final glance, Malachi pushed himself to his feet. He hit his goblet with his fork to gain their attention, amplifying it somewhat as he would his voice in a moment.
When everything was silent, he began. "Well, we did it." Even as he spoke there was a small twinge in his chest as he realized the sentence he'd meant as "they'd survived the mist and saw it through to the end of term" wasn't true for two students. They hadn't made it. A sad sort of look crept into the man's eyes before he refocused on the students.
"Congratulations to Ravenclaw on taking the House Cup for yet another year. Unfortunately, there is no cup for quidditch, given the circumstances that overtook us this term." But honestly, not playing quidditch had been the least of anyone's concerns with a terrifying mist on the loose. "It's the end of the year and we're all in for some well deserved rest. Use the time wisely. If you need to talk to someone, talk to someone." The castle was no more dangerous than any other in the wizarding world--magic begot magic afterall--but he'd seen these children when distracted and il-prepared. They ran toward danger. They took merry skips outside into questionable fog they were warned against.They broke down and cried. For all the dangers they'd seen, some didn't seem any more cautious or equipped. It was as if it didn't occur to them that magic was their reality and that it was both good and bad in equal parts. School was meant to prepare them for the real world and this term had shown him that many still were not. If they couldn't in controlled and safe environments with adults set in charge to protect them, how would they do on their own? It was another thought that made the man sad. He wanted them to be ready. To not take their time at school and go "oh Hogwarts was just dangerous, real life will be way better" when they lived in a magical world where anything could happen at any time.
"I'll be honest, the castle's in bad shape based on reports I've heard and the few visits I've made to the outskirts. September's a ways off and we'll be doing all we can but...it's a little too early for promises." The Headmaster didn't need any overly optimistic kiddos going home and spending the summer swearing everything was alright just to be crushed when there was no Hogwarts Express on September 1st. It was best they be prepared for all eventualities.
"Whatever comes of this, let's use this experience to grow. For the seventh years who are leaving, this is it. You'll be out there. No more hopping on the train and chattering about the homework you forgot. I hope your time here has shown you how unpredictable the wizarding world can be. To those returning..." He didn't know if they'd be returning, but best leave that out for now, "I don't say constant vigilance because it's a cool catch phrase I heard some bloke mutter on the knight bus, it's real. We're not muggles. We don't go to a muggle school. That opens us up for higher stakes. That said, we've got magic and we're learning more and more by the day. There's a reason for that." Most would not grow up and make the decision to live a muggle life so this was something they had to learn to deal with at different scales. "Let's not get down or discouraged. For the most part, this mist was handled well. You stayed away when told, you evacuated in orderly fashion and kept the panic to a minimum--which kept mistakes to a minimum." Did they see how that worked? "There were no reckless and il-thought attempts at breaking out. Common sense prevailed." And because of it, they had made it. "Let's resolve to keep getting better. To greet whatever comes our way with the resolve of wizards who understand magic and how to live with it." It wouldn't be easy, especially not for the younger ones still more accustomed to the safety of home and mum and dad, but that was partially what wizarding school was for.
"I won't keep you much longer. Know I'll be working closely with the ministry to get this all sorted. In the mean time, let's eat." The Headmaster clapped his hands and the food began appearing at each table. The man sunk back into his seat, not all that hungry but glad to have gotten that part behind him.
__________________ Imma say all the words inside my head____________________________________
______________________________I'm fired up and tired of the way that things are said.
|