Lackey... "Yes... He seems..." She looked over her shoulder to him. "eager..." She turned back to Rae and crouched by her chair "How are you feeling though? Alright? How's little Marcus?"

"It was busy, Prefect Green, as I hope the rest of my year will be." She said. Cassandra liked Evangeline, a good choice for a successor... not a replacement. "Stop by my office tomorrow, we'll talk." she said.

She looked to Caleum then back to Rae trying to ignore him...

Cassandra closed her eyes. Maybe it wasn't her she was talking about... Would Rae fire her now?

'Ah, good! This time he wasn't the last person there.'

Professor Kapoor surveyed the dias momentarily, looking for a place to sit. Scanning the faces of the Hogwarts Staff, he recognized but...a...few. He held his breath briefly to see the new Healer Intern. 'That girl...she...she...



...wears green like it's zebra-print! How very stylish those new Intern robes were!' He finished his thought, suffering from a memory shortage and waving towards the solitary Muggle Studies Professor.

"Play nice," Rae's eyes flitted from Trel to Caleum and back. "Marcus is doing well. He's... not sleeping through the night, but I've decided to call that 'Special Daddy and Marcus bonding time' and I make Doyle take care of it," she smiled radiantly as she got to brag about the new baby.

She wiggled her fingers at Constantine. "We're giving Miss Trelawney another chance, Mr. Masterson."

Constantine stared incredulously at Rae, waiting for her to say "APRILFOOLS" or something else along those lines. But, it did not come and he glared at this 'Trelawney' before turning back to Rae.

"I'm a hard man to humor, Mrs. Rae...but your joke is...amusing, to say the least. Surely, you jest," he forced through semi-clenched teeth.

Play nice? Well for the Headmistress he would do anything she asked, as long as it was within reason of course. So now he had to bite his tongue in such a way that...oh! What the heck! His attention was now placed elsewhere as Constantine seemed to be a little more eager towards the new intern than he was. What was truly going on? A second chance? At what? Oh he was going to sit back and watch to see what was going on at this end of the game.

Not only Cassandra had been the Slytherin Prefect before her, the girl - or woman, eh - now also was a Healer. Or a Healer in training, anyway. Which just basically was what she saw herself doing in the future. How weird. "I'm sure it will be, Miss Trelawney." She stated with a single nod, a bit unsure of what to call her. Miss Trelawney sounded polite enough, so it would do for now. "Lots and lots of broken bones to heal, I'm sure." She smiled and tried not to bounce at the Healer Intern's request. That wouldn't look good. "And I will make sure to stop by, thank you."

"I prefer to be addressed as Headmistress," Rae's face hardened only just perceptibly, but she was still smiling. "I choose to give Miss Trelawney another chance so long as she is able to keep from poisoning my staff or fighting with my students. I choose to keep you employed although you broke Ministry law last term and question my judgment this term. I think that's a fair trade."

David made his way over to Antonio, who seemed to be offways as he'd sometimes observed the man being. He smiled at him and put a hand on his back, patting him a couple of times. "Hey there!", he said, greeting him warmly. "How are you?"

Kapoor would have to introduce himself later to the new gent on staff, as he seemed to be making polite conversation with a young lady prefect. In the meanwhile, he managed to squeeeeeze his round body in between Professors Bontecou and DuMont. Ah, joyousness to be back at Hogwarts once again.

"My apologies, Headmistress," he said quietly, his eyes noting the hardness in her face. He could tell the boundary line was coming closer and if he wanted to keep his job, then he had to make sure he didn't overstep it.

"I wasn't questioning...merely stating an opinion. I still have the right to that, don't I? And, must you bring that up? I was clearly not in control of my actions because some child thought it would be funny to see someone in love with your healer. Besides, I clearly remember someone coming..." he shook his head; what was the point? He was going to lose this battle...or worse, his job.

"No, you are right on two counts. I broke that rule as well, and you have a right to your own opinion. But I want you to forgive, even if it means perhaps that you dont' accept any potions from the Infirmary for a while. Miss Trelawney knows she's here at my good will only," Rae nodded. "Sit down by me, Constantine, and we'll be friendly instead of glarey."

He eyed the pair of them for a few seconds, considering them both before sighing and loosening up. "I'll....try. I, however, am not going to make a promise to something I know I won't be able to keep if the time comes."

He raised an eyebrow though at her offer. He had just caused all this hassle and she still wanted him in the same proximity? Hey, it was her school...

"I would be honoured to sit next to you," he said quietly, and somewhat ashamedly. He pulled the chair out and fell into the seat, frowning as Rae's appearance finally started to register in his head. She seemed...thinner than the last time he'd seen her.

"I'm going to hazard a guess and say that you've had your child?" he asked as he reached for the water to fill the glass in front of him.

Oy! There's a situation I knew nothing about, Caleum thought to himself and sighed. His dear friend was quite personal in keeping things to himself. No wonder he was a bit confused when he was seeking advise last term, but he was more than greatful to point him into the right direction. But now, he sat by himself and folded his arms in front of himself as he leaned into the table. Aparently nothing else to worry with and no one else to speak to at the moment as his thoughts were now on someone else who seemed to be missing from the table.

"It would have been more of a hazard if you had assumed that I hadn't," Rae scolded playfully. "There was an announcement in the Prophet, but so far back... I think Clara Belle was hiding it on purpose. His name is Marcus Orion and he's the image of his father."

Max was cautious when he approached the table. Too many sparks were flying and dessert was yet to be served! His eyes darted at the faces dotting the table and he sighed - Fabian was late (as usual). Taking his customary seat, he leaned over and smiled at Cassandra. "You look well-rested and just as beautiful as ever, Headmistress," he said and reached for a goblet of pumpkin juice. "How are Doyle, the twins and your little guy doing?"

Rae tilted her head to greet Max. "They are all well, Professor Vindictus. I think Doyle is taking to house husband quite well, and the girls are both doing home course work with him. No spells yet, of course, but that doesn't stop Vivi from banishing Marcus Orion to the broom closet on the first floor from time to time. How is your family?"

"Marcus Orion. That's a good name...I'm afraid I missed that Prophet..and all the others," he sighed. "I've been a little disconnected with this world for the summer."

He paused to let Max and Rae chat as he enjoyed his glass of water, while listening to the discussion about the rest of her family. "I remember seeing a photo of the daughters...you've got a wonderful family, Headmistress. Wonderful indeed..." he added softly as he raised the glass to his lips again.

"I have been very lucky in my life," Rae agreed. "I've lost it all, but I gained it back with interest in the long run. I suppose that's what they call the reward for a life well lived." She reached for her water glass. "What did you do this summer?"

Constantine pondered over the question, wondering about which parts to tell and which were irrelevant. "My summer? Working in my garden...reading...meeting up with an old friend...keeping myself alive. Nothing to extravagant," he shrugged, looking disinterested. "What about you? Anything worth while besides the child?"

"Nothing of consequence which was lovely. It was the first time we did nothing all summer except play with the girls, go swimming in the lake, get ready for Mo, and sleep until noon. I think I could spend a summer like that every day."

"It sounds very relaxing," he agreed, his eyes on the students at the tables. "I wish my summer's were more like that," he smiled gently at the thought. "I am glad to be here, though, don't get me wrong. It'll be nice to tend to the grounds again."

"I'm glad you're back, Constantine," Rae patted his hand. "I hired you and then didn't even get to enjoy having you around on my grounds last term. Miss Dion... left something to be desired, as you know.

Constantine turned to look at her again, an amused look on his face. "Did she now? All she gave me was a headache...what did she leave you?"

"I would pay money to watch Doyle do housework and tend to the children on his own without magic," Vindictus grinned. "Ethan's destroying everything that isn't secured to the surface - that little tyke has a knack for getting into mischief in the blink of an eye. Janelle said he gets that from me." He laughed.

"More mental anguish in some of these children than a million years of loving instruction could repair, I fear. We have a lot of forgiveness to beg of them, and I am chiefly to blame," she smiled wryly. "You are making me melancholy."

She winked at Max. "I'll tell Doyle you said that, Professor. You should be ashamed of yourself wishing him that sort of harm. And your poor wife puts up with so much. Imagine having more than one Max at home."

"My apologies again, Headmistress," he smiled comfortingly. "However, there was nothing you could do with your...lovely," he nearly gagged on that one, "brother heading it all. It's over, thankfully, and it's the past. Time to enjoy the future," he nodded, but couldn't help but notice how ironic the statement. Sometimes he needed to listen to his own words.