Anna blinked and gave the nearby intern a startled expression. "Are you alright, Miss Trelawney? I'm sure I could get someone to assist you...Professor Myers, perhaps? Professor Myers!!!" Anna called out, seeking out the Defense professor in case help was needed.

Anna smiled when she heard Professor Brooks begin to tell what sounded like a nice, juicy story to the headmistress. What luck! Anna always managed to pop up at the best of times. "Hello again, Professor Brooks!" Anna greeted. "As a matter of fact, I do...well, we do, actually. Cale and I are going to Hawaii! I can't wait! It's going to be my first trip to America!" Anna beamed with happiness, excited at the thought of going off on a tropical vacation. "Anyway, Professor, I couldn't leave for the summer without telling you and Professor Myers goodbye. The two of you are like my mother and father away from home. If you ask me, the two of you would make wonderful parents..."

Ahhhh HA! There was the Headmistress and...

"Hello Anna," Caleum stated with a perky smile on his face. Well, Sophie was trying to gain the attention of Rae, his head turned to the side noticing what seemed to be sadness. Women were so funny sometimes in their emotional state, TRELAWNEY, but Rae was always understanding with things.

As the student praised him for a great year in the classroom he smiled, making sure to peek at the little intern to see if she heard. "Why thank you Anna! It is always so good to hear that from students." He looked down at his nails proudly then raised them with a snicker of laughter. "Their clean.

"By the way, are you doing anything special for the sum-WHAT? Oh...I'd be more than happy to help." He heard Trelawney choking and stood up from his chair and walked over to where she sat.

"Excuse me? May I be of some assistance?" Sly smile was already in place.

But then it disappeared again.

Did Anna just....say that he would be a good parent? Like...daddy? Like...."Father? Me?" His eyes widened in shock. Maybe he needed a glass of water now before passing out.

"Hello again to you, too, Professor," Anna greeted, smiling and rocking back on her heels. "You're quite welcome. I do believe it's well-deserved!" Anna's gaze traveled from her professor's face to his fingernails. Anna giggled, remembering the time she'd given him a manicure back when she was a fourth year. His nails really did look clean now. He must really be taking care of them! "Very nice, sir! So not only are you amongst tops in the classroom, you're keeping yourself up, as well. Very nice...very nice, indeed, sir."

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I was just telling Professor Brooks that Cale and I are headed to Hawa--," Anna started, but soon cut off. "Oh, yes! I nearly forgot! Miss Trelawney is choking! CHOKING!!! I wasn't sure who to call upon, since she's the nurse intern, and it's usually her who deals with these sorts of things. I called on you, because I have every bit of faith in your ability to heal, as well!"

"Oh, and yes...you...father!" Anna innocently said. "I was saying how you and Professor Brooks are just like my parents away from home--erm, sir? Are you going to be alright?" Geez. The intern was choking, and the Defense professor was---ill or something. Anna fully expected Professor Brooks to fall out on the floor herself at any given moment.

There he stood with the same dumb-founded look on his face. Jaw dropped, mouth hanging open, drooling and thinking of running away right now. He looked left...clear. He looked right....clear. But just as he was about to make a run for it, he heard the scared voice of Anna calling out once more to Trelawney. He shook his head a couple of times.

And just about to assistance once again, there was the talk of...parenting. "Help," he squeaked out in a tiny little voice as the look of horror returned. He wasn't ready to be a father. Merlin's left toe! He wasn't even married. He and Sophie had known each other going on two years now but most of that was spent over the summers away from Hogwarts.

Lightheaded. He was extremely...lighthea-

"I...need....chair."

OH MH GOSH! What was going on, Sophie didn't know where to look or who to Answer first. She couldn't help to snicker at the chocking intern and the fact that Caleum was there to offer a helping hand. "Ooooo Hawaii! How lovely Anna. I'm sure you'll umm, have fun." Sophie winked., taking a sip of water, only to have it squirt out of her nose. How charming! "Parents?" She coughed, wiping the water away. She didn't know what to say, Sophie looked from Anna to Caleum, who had gone white. it's not that she hadn't thought of being a mother, but hearing it outloud...that was different.

She was stunned and Caleum... "CALEUM!" Sophie called, getting up and going to his side to hold him, leading him over to a chair. Oh he didn't look good at all.

Making his way over to the dias, Professor Kapoor took a seat near the end of the table. As he waited for the Headmistress to give her speech, he searched the room idly, seeking out all the students and hoping to remember the lot of them by the time the next term rolled around. Meanwhile, he began to fiddle with the flatware and caused a spoon to go propelling off of the edge of the table. Accio'ing it back, he tried to sit quietly and enjoy the end of term feast.

"Erm, Professor?" Anna asked, waving a hand in front of his face. "You're not going to die on us or something, are you?" Anna frowned at Professor Myers. He didn't look well at all. What on Earth had happened to cause such sudden symptoms? Maybe Anna should turn around right then and there and make a run for it back to the Gryffindor table? It just might be safer there. The only threat of trouble over there was a man by the name of Paul Kutcher who'd carved his name into the table many moons ago.

"Well, I'm trying to help, Professor!" Anna replied, hearing his weakly mumbled squeak. "What can I get you, sir? Water? Pumpkin juice? Chocolate frogs? Oh, candy would be nice, right? If you're going to be a father, you need to know how to utilize the power of candy! My mum always gave it to me when I wasn't feeling the greatest. Remember that day you bought them for me at Hogsmeade? See there! I told you that you would make a great father!"

"A chair?" Anna asked. "That's all you need?" Erm...how was she supposed to guide someone double her body weight back to his chair?

"Erm, what?" Anna asked, barely picking up on what was being said. "Oh, yes, Hawaii! The best part about it is that it's my first trip without my parents!! That's going to be so exciting. There's going to be adults there, just not my mum and dad!" Anna jumped back a bit as Professor Brooks proceeded to spew water nearly all over the table. "Oh, yes...parents! I really look up to you...and to Professor Myers. I think you'd both make wonderful parents!"

Oh, good. Professor Brooks was getting up to help now. Anna did her best to do her part and help Professor Myers over to his chair once again. "Professor? What on Earth is the matter?" Anna asked.

Caleum walked over to the chair like a old man trying to move his slow, dragging feet. All this talk of parenting was going straight to his head making him lightheaded and ghostly white. "I'll...be okay," he said as he finally sat down in a chair, clinging to the sides like someone was about to pry him away and he didn't want to go.

"Can we...change the topic, maybe?" There! He would explain to Sophie later but right now he could only handle one thing at a time.

Spotting the assistant Defense Professor, Kapoor stood and made his way over to him. He appeared to be a bit pale and unhealthy looking. This presumably could've been for any number of reasons. Why in Merlin's name Kapoor went with promotion, I do not know. But, in an effort to help, he reached out a hand and patted Caleum on the shoulder.

"Congratulations, m'boy!", he boomed jovially and left the staff table to go and mingle, perhaps say good-bye to a few 7th years.

Alex entered the Great Hall, eyes down reading a small piece of paper as she walked. Her face was a bit pale and her mouth set in a grim line as she sat down at the Staff table next to David. "Good evening David" she said with a smile that made her look like she wasabout to be sick, "How are you? I'm terribly sorry we didnt get to spend more time together during this term."

As she spoke, the hand resting upon her lap was crumpling the paper, which appeared to be an official looking letter, and stuffed it ino her pocket with force.

Not completely oblivious to the tension that settled around a few of her fellow staff, Angela did her best to ignore it. There was no way she was getting involved.

"Yes..that is certainly true. I don't know what I would do without Hogwarts. It certainly has been a place of comfort." She agreed as she pulled a goblet towards her. "Good and bad...I suppose that goes with anything in life." She remarked nonchalantly as her gaze wandered over the chattering students.

"Well, perhaps next term then." She answered before nodding slowly. "Quite well, in fact. Nothing of ill ways came about, so for that I'm quite thankful."

A smile lit her face for a few moments as she noticed Sophie sit next to Caleum. "Sophie! Hello! Had a nice term?"

Nodding towards Professor Kapoor as he took his place at the table, Angela's attention was diverted towards Sophie and Caleum momentarily before she noticed Alex.

Her quick eyes picked up the tense movements and her usually cheerful expression turned down into a frown. She shifted her seat a bit closer, leaning over to catch Alex's attention. "Hey..what's going on?" She inquired quietly.

After she said hello to David, Alex was lost in thought. A voice suddenly broke through and she jumped slightly before recognizing the voice as Ang, "Oh, hello Ang. It's nothing, just a letter from Gringotts has me a bit on edge is all." she responded with the same sick smile she had sent David's way. "How are you doing dear? I'm afraid I've been a bit of a recluse this term." she added.

When he returned to the dias, he found his chair once again and this time was joined by the familiar and friendly face of the Transfiguration Professor. "Good evening, Alexandria." He smiled back. "I'm quite well, quite well. That was one busy term, wasn't...", he stopped short as he noticed Alex stuff something away, but before he could say anything about it, they were joined by Madame Kohan. H'mm...question marks.

"Angela.", he said in friendly greeting towards the librarian as she approached. "Lovely to see you again."

"I find their choice of words that they use in their notices to be rather...brash and unfeeling as well, my dear. You are not alone." He said, probably missing the point, but trying to be comforting none-the-less.

Alex smiled at him sadly, she wished brash and unfeeling were the only problems. "Yes, I agree. I am all for equality among magical beings, but goblins do seem to be rather, brutish and angry."

"It's quite good to see you as well, David. Had a nice term?" She inquired.

As Alex admitted that a letter from Gringotts had her a bit on edge, Angela couldn't help but wonder what exactly had been said in that letter to make Alex look so sick. "Oh..well, I do hope that the situation gets better." She murmured, now feeling greater concern.

"I'm quite well; just a bit saddened that the term is ending, of course. I haven't accomplished what I wanted this term, but perhaps next term will be better..." Waving a hand as though pushing away Alex's remark about being a recluse, Angela went on. "We're all busy. That's completely understandable."

Kapoor nodded in agreeance with the school Librarian, not wanting to poke the personal situation before Professor Pierce was ready to share any information and to the fact that it was a busy term this passed year.

"Oh?" His ears perked. "A project in the works? Could you use any assistance, Angela?", he asked eagerly.

Sophie shook her head at Anna, hoping that she would get the hint to stop mentioning baby talk. "Th thhank you Anna." She said with her cheeks a little red.

Her attention turn back to the ghost Caleum. She got some butterbeer for him..and herself and handed it to him "Drink up. It will help you feel better." Sophie said, still in a bit of shock, especially by Caleums reaction. A hundred thoughts were racing through her head.

A change of topic, yes, that's a good idea. "Caleum, didn't you have to speak to the headmistress about something?" She asked, slowly her sly smile was returning.


Now that the small, crisis was over, Sophie turned her attention back to Angela. "Angela! It's good to see you. My term was, well, interesting. Turned out to be pretty good. What about you?" She smiled brightly.

Cassandra glares at Caleum... if he even tried to tap her on the back she'd... she'd... well... She'd do nothing, because she didn't have a wand. Not understanding what Brooks was on about talking to the headmistress, cause let's face it, Trel is smart, but also oblivious, she took another sip of her water to calm herself down.

No longer chocking she turned and smiled to the Divination Master... "Professor Kapoor, it's nice to see you again. I feel we have not interacted all term, excuse me," she said before she coughed and cleared her throat. "I had some water go down the wrong pipe." She cleared her throat again.

She had been listening to Anna... Sophie was like a mother to her... but she wondered if it was the same way Blaylock and then Rae had been for her. Now that Cassandra was of age, she was no longer welcome in her mother's home... and her father had never really wanted her, now he had his new family...

She looked towards the Slytherin table for her fiancee... He wanted her as his wife... he'd always been there for her and now... they'd get married and move in together, and start their family. He wasn't there yet... Just like Alex, always late. She then looked for the little Slytherin she'd grown so fond of...

Raiden slowly approached the staff table, a small, crudely wrapped present in his hands. It was tiny, quite like the other one he'd had for Miss Healer Intern Lady Trelawney. Actually... it was exactly like the other. Because it was the same object. He bit his lip and searched down the table for her... and there she was! He smiled and bounced toward her, coming to a stop in front of her and grinning across the table.

"Hi Miss Healer Intern Lady Trelawney," he said brightly. "I have... a thing for you."

He held it out, waiting for her to take it, but his little mouth couldn't wait for her to finish opening it. "It matches the other lucky cat that I gave you earlier this term, but I didn't have a name to put on it... so you get to name it. Do you like it?"

Angela glanced towards David as he inquired of a project. With a small smile, she nodded slowly. "I've been meaning to get around to it, though I haven't had the opportunity to do so with such an eventful term."

"As I mentioned to Alex at the beginning of term, I was planning to write short stories, some of which dealt with the students of Hogwarts. Unfortunately I didn't have the chance to actually do much. I'm hoping that I can accomplish something during the break."

She smiled again, feeling quite grateful for the offer of help. "Though if I need assistance, I'll certainly keep you in mind."

Angela grinned back at Sophie. "Interesting? That's always nice, though only if it's the good type of interesting. But mine was nice as well; a bit quiet, but nice all the same...Any special plans for the break?"

Antonio's mind was starting to wander, thinking about his quest to reunite with his daughter and his plans to go and find her and bring her back home where she belonged. He was suddenly alerted to the fact that the Headmistress was about to make her speech, and that she appeared very sad and down about something. What was it that she was about to say that caused her to be so sad? Were the schools going to be divided again, or was it something else? Antonio felt apprehensive, but waited to see what was about to be revealed.

"Thanks Ang. I hope so too." she replied looking grim. She shook her head slightly to rid herself of the rather depressing mood and listened to her friend attentivly. "Next term dear, you'll get them done next term, I'm sure of it." she said with an encouraging smile.

After drinking her juice and eating a small chocolate frog she had manged to keep thought the term Ari picked up her bag, knowing that she had to do the thing she was dreading before she forgot and began the very long trek up to the staff table. Madame Kohan had already arrived so she wouldn't have to do anything drastic, like stomp her foot and demand to see her favorite librarian. No, she was more mature than that; and besides she wasn't like that to begin with.

Stopping at the front of the table, she looked around, and making her way over. Making sure a smile was on her face she felt better as she stopped and waited for Kohan to notice her before saying, "Hello Madame."

Angela reached over and patted her friend's hand. "It will, Alex. And if you ever need something, know that you can come to me." As the topic of conversation switched over to her, Angela nodded once. "Yes, I think so. I'll have break to determine what exactly I plan to do and hopefully get started on it right when next term begins."

A flash of movement caught her eye as she finished commenting on her project to Alex. Turning her head instinctively in that direction, she took note of Ariana standing in front of her. "Hello Ariana!" She greeted. "Haven't seen you in a while." Her gaze moved towards the bag that Ariana held before she spoke again, her eyes moving back towards the Ravenclaw. "Enjoying the feast, dear?" She knew it would be bittersweet, just as it had been when she was a seventh year at Hogwarts...but it could still be enjoyable.

And there he was... She smiled.

She opened the gift and placed it beside her plate. "I'll call it Raiden." She said and smirked at the child. "Thank you." She said to him. "It's really thoughtful of you." You couldn't have given me a new wand? She thought to herself, but this was a nice gift. "I hope you have a good summer, Raiden, and that next year you will apply yourself and become Top Student." She said.