Oh CRAP!

Caleum placed his hand to his face and began rubbing his eyes. Why? Why and how? His only two questions he had for the moment but...why had to be asked more than once. He turned his attention away from the little Intern that walked...NO!...waltz through the door. "Of all things," Caleum began with a mumble to himself as now he was staring forward. He folded his hands together, rested his elbows on the chair and then placed his hands to his mouth. The eyes however kept their forward glance, staring at nothing but the table in front of them. He was playing nice.

"Nice to meet you again, Sophie," Antonio said. He remembered the young woman briefly from the closing ceremonies last term, when the school was finally reunited once again.

"Excellent," Antonio said. "I've found that flexible is good!"

Antonio watched with interest, there seemed to be some minor conflict happening between Professor Myers and the young intern. This might provide some amusement.

Drago glanced up as Cassandra entered the room and he realized to the fullest: there was no longer any safe place in Hogwarts. This girl had access to everything. He looked to Myers to catch the man's reaction, and it was just as he thought. Ah well. He turned back to Cassandra, giving her a warm smile that, as usual, touched not his eyes. "Piccola mia, come and join us," he said, gesturing to a seat by him and away from Caleum. "We were all just getting to know each other."

Sophie sat back in her chair a little, "Well, how about a little bet? The winner gets their homework marked for them, gets a personal slave? I'm open for suggestions." She said.

Sophie looked up to see the intern walk in, she remembered teaching her only last year. She looked from Cassandra, to Caleum and wondered what all that was about. Then she heard Caleum's mumbles and slightly raised her eyebrow. A frown came to her face. She didn't like not knowing what was going on.

He didn't seemed too pleased by her appearance. The way he rubbed his eyes gave it away. Rude though, that, and both the incomprehensible muttering and the fact he hadn't greeted her.

Her heart melted... He called her that again, it made her so happy when he did. "Of Course," she said and extended her hand to the professor to help her sit in her seat. "Good Afternoon everyone." She said, thought she wished she could add except if you ate Caleum Myers...

"Personal Slave sounds good to me, though the paper grading thing... when some of us do not have that option." she told the other professor.

"Of course David. I suppose life just caught up with me." she said with a sad smile. Truth be told, it was because Robert had died and not only had she become to busy, but playing always reminded her of him.

Angela laughed once more as Caleum agreed with her. "I agree that would be most amusing, though I'm sure that there are many students who could give an excellent, unexpected answer."

"Wonderful! I'm looking foward to seeing you there. I'll probably be at the front desk or my office. Either way, come by and say hello. I'm sure that I can find you a book or two to bury your nose in."

Simply nodding as Sophie agreed, Angela glanced towards the door to the staff room as it swung open again.

Sending a smile in Cassandra's direction, Angela glanced around at the others, simply listening to the conversations; that is, until someone mentioned bets. Interesting. Ah, and the intern had spoken her thoughts aloud.

OY! Personal slaves? Has this room gone mad? Well, that was an interesting question to ask considering what just waltzed through the door, Cassandra Trelawney, the sweet little intern. Poor Ariana! WHOA! I'm thirsty.

-SIGH-

And the words of the Headmistress began playing in his head once more as he remembered she spoke to both of them. And Oooooo! The little intern had the word 'good' in her vocabulary. Out of the corner of his eye, he witnessed Sophie giving him the eye. That questionable look he would receive from his sister sometimes as to what in the world was going on. He sighed once more as he had to play nice.

"Good afternoon, Cassandra," Caleum spoke with a smile, changing his attitude for the time being. Kill'em with kindness. Let's see how she makes out with that play nice attitude.

OH! He liked Angela already. A library full of books was just what he needed. "Good! I will be there very soon. Look for me coming," he chuckled as he was in the mood for a great and fabulous book to sink his nose into.

Cassandra smiled back at Madame Kohan. And then she heard that voice! Great... She'd already greeted the room, his was merely a reply... she didn't have re-greet him and individually for that matter even acknowledge him. So she sat near Caraccio and waited for the cards to be dealt... how many former Slytherins were at the table? Would this be a fair game?

Sophie had forgotten to say hello to the new intern, she was too preoccupied with the almost evil glances between her and Caleum. "Hello Cassandra.... Ahhh, I forgot that not all of us have to mark papers. I guess we can stick with personal slave? That is of course if everyone agrees."

Then she heard the sigh from Caleum. A small sigh of her own came as she continued to quietly bite her nails, wishing the game would start already.

"Personal slave? Sounds like an interesting time to come into a conversation." Ariana said with a raised eyebrow and a laugh. Finally managing to get a slight break she had opted for the relaxing feel of the fire. She was a little shocked to see so many others there. Cassandra seemed to be making nice with everyone....so far. That was good to see. Ari was lucky to have her as her intern and had hoped that Trells arrival would be well received.

"I wouldn't mind a personal slave," Drago chuckled. Though he glanced over to Cassandra. "Though some already help quite a bit, so we may have to deal with individual bets." He glanced about the room then and pulled out a small pad of paper. "Here's a different idea. We can actually bet favors. Name your bet, write your name and what it is on the paper, and toss it in the pot. And of course, you win one, and you can always toss it in again later. It can also be as simple as 'a small favor' or 'a large favor' which can be defined by the winner of the favor later. And of course, through this, we have the chance of winning our favors back. Small favor, by me for instance, would be something like keeping an eye on a plant for someone, brewing a simple potion, or maybe cooking a one-night dinner. Yes, I can cook. Moderate favor would be watching a creature for you, or brewing a more complex potion. A large favor would be... caring for a kneazle, or brewing something... creative. And of course, don't keep writing to stay in the game. Only as much as you may have time for."

Cassandra smiled at the Herbology Professor, he always had smart ideas. "I think Drago," she swallowed at saying his first name, "has a great idea... it's personal slave to a point." She said. "Hello Nurse Num- Arianna" She was never going to get this right. "We're speaking about a wager for the card game that we are about to start."

Caleum was now chuckling lightly to himself. This was amusing. The little intern was amusing. This was going to be quite an interesting card game, if the thing ever took place.

And then everyone was back on the personal slave bit. Really! Hogwarts staff speaking of personal slaves. He always wondered what went on behind closed doors to the staff room and now he knew. Interesting, to say the least. And then he squinted his eyes together for a moment realizing that he was about to do something that just wasn't what he wanted to do at this very moment. Agree with Cassandra!

Another sigh was heard. "I agree," he began NOT saying the person he was agreeing with but if everyone was smart, they would figure it out on their own. "Drago has a good point since not everyone has to mark papers." He nodded his head in Drago's direction and then his eyes turned to a familiar voice that walked in.

"Ariana," he said with a smile. "I'm glad you could get away. Welcome and come and have a seat." At least there was still a healer in this school he could go too if he ever needed it. God what would he do if anything ever happened and the little intern had to take care of him.

RUN!

The door to the Staff room burst open and a jubilant Vindictus entered with a stunning blonde on his arm. "Look what the cat dragged in!" he boomed loudly and twirled Macadrian around as if they were on a dance floor.

Macadrian laughed heartily as Max twirled her around, a light rosy flush rising upon her cheeks, and joked with a smirk, "And by cat, he means handsome stud with a talent for Quidditch and by dragged, he means lured in here with promises of good food, good company, and a chance to clean house."

Macadrian entered the room properly and greeted the staff, "Well, well! Good to see you all! Forgive my tardiness, but I've only just arrived to Hogwarts moments ago for the term. Max found me lugging around a goat in the Entrance Hall and informed me of this lovely card game y'all have going here. So I thought I'd join. Ready to lose your salaries, boys and girls?"

Max was grinning the entire time and escorted Mac over to a seat next to him. The food he ordered from the kitchens was waiting at her seat. "Time to eat, gorgeous," he said as he pulled out her chair. "And I should warn you - she's good at cards."

And there was Max...OH...with Mac as well. "Welcome Macadrian," Caleum smiled shaking his head a little with a smile. "Umm...why did you have a...er...goat with you?" This was a strange question but he was sure there was a good answer to sort things out.

Drago didn't look up as Max spun Macadrian into the room. And he had no intention of watching, to tell the truth. He had decided to socialize, but it didn't necessarily mean he was ready for all it entailed. "Actually, we were just talking of betting favors. Interested? I always like the idea far more than cash."

"So is it poker?" She asked innocently, "Is that the one where you call out the card you need?"

Caleum smiled a smirky grin as he heard Cassandra's question. It was easy to get card games confused but he knew the answer to this question so it was only fair that he...speak up. "Umm, I believe that is...go fish," he said with a straight face but on the inside...he was snickering.

Urgh! He speaks again... "That so?" she said. "Hmmm"

Ariana smiled and waved at Cal. "I'm glad too." She looked at Drago, "I think the idea of favors sounds appealing. There's definitely always something to be done in the Hospital Wing." She patted Cassandra's shoulder and looked to find an open seat in between two people. Ari's mommy has bronchitus and doesn't feel like going though and finding who's by who.

Oh this was tolerable. A sweet Slytherin was never used in the same sentence and sweet could not be even cross referenced to Cassandra. Well, they talk...a few words and be civil, didn't mean he had to be her best friend and go skipping down the hallways holding her hand by any means. He forced a smile on his face then turned his attention to Ariana

Caleum turned his attention to Ariana. She was always so bright, cheerful...hmm. Maybe she knew more about females and it was always good to get a woman's point of view of different...things. He had to learn to be friendly with everyone...including Ari's little torture chamber girlie girl.

"Favors would work well for me, perhaps even more so than cash," Antonio said. "Even though cash is always nice, of course." He laughed softly, trying to break the ice a bit and give others a chance to know him.