Forrester watched as one woman fainted yet again and as the Ghost of his house floated down past him to the oldest staff member Forrester could ever remember seeing. Shaking his head, he wondered what would happen next.

The Baron was pleased, "Oh my, Valon Kazimeriz! It is good to see you, and it has been a very long time, very long time indeed. It was a sad day when you left, I didn't think you'd come back!" And then the Baron did something that was RARE, he gave the older man a bow, hat off and to the side. "Hogwarts can use your instruction. Not only has a student screamed at me to not eat him, but then he ran and hid behind someone else." He shook his head then looked at the newly revived female professor, "and even some of the current staff isn't made from stronger stuff. How can they mold the future if they are unable to do what needs doing?"

"Dearest Valon! My how you've grown!" the Grey Lady gushed as she arrived at the table. "You are the spitting image of your great-grandfather. Pray tell, how long will this tenure be?"

Antonio sat up again, and the first thing he noticed was one of the bratty twins he had encountered from Diagon Alley standing there laughing in front of him. Just when he thought the term was getting off to a good start! At least there was only one of them here for the time being, at least. He decided to ignore the boy for the time being, if possible, all these two ever seemed to want was attention as it was. He didn't have time to bother with their nonsense.

"No problem at all, Professor," Antonio smiled. "I was worried that the opposite case might be true, and that I might have fallen on you and crushed you. Thankfully, you seem to be all right. And it's very nice to meet you, too, officially, but I do agree. Let's get our shoes untied before we bring every professor at Hogwarts down again! He laughed as he reached down and untied his shoelaces, carefully tying them again. Whoever had done this job had been a real pro, he had to give them that much. What kind of student had this sort of expertise?

Then suddenly he saw them. It was really true, there were ghosts here after all, at least two of them. The female one he recognized from stories as the one known as the Grey Lady, Ravenclaw house ghost, and the male as the Bloody Baron, house ghost of Slytherin. He had seen illustrations of both of them in books, as well as the other two house ghosts and a few other ones. He had understood, though, that the ghosts had disappeared from Hogwarts years ago. How was it that they were suddenly back, or was this all a dream? He pinched himself, realizing that this was no dream!

Professor Kazimeriz half-bowed back to the baron, not leaving his seat but wanting to show mutual respect. "Indeed, it is most fortuitous that I have returned... and the same could be said for your presence. These young minds need the fortification that exposure to diverse individuals like yourself brings. I remember when you all disappeared, after the battle of Hogwarts-- how the school suffered from your absence! I am most pleased that you have chosen to return."

At the presence of a Lady, despite his brittle hips he rose and bowed gently, leaning on his cane. "My lady, my service here will continue as long as I find there is need for it. It is a pleasure to see you again."

Next thing she knew, Anastasia's bright blue eyes popped open and she sat up, noticing at once that The Ancient One had revived her.

And boy was he rude. Hmmph. She wasn't going to have any of that. "Oh thank you for the rude awakening, sir," she spat like a sarcastic wet cat, scrambling up onto her chair again. She fluffed her hair once more and checked her appearance in the shiny plates.

"And they aren't just ghosts they're symbols of evil!" she continued muttering to herself. "It's just wrong. Wrong wrong wrong."

Merlin's purple-spotted periwinkle PANTS! Couldn't they go hhhover somewhere else? Like around the ridiculous CHILDREN?!

Annie scowled and deliberately scooted her chair as far away from Grampa as possible. "I am too made of stronger stuff," she continued talking to herself. "How would YOU feel if you'd spent half a decade of your life being haunted?!"

She shook her head, realizing just then that she was in fact talking to herself. Oii, the ghosts would NOT get the best of her. No way no how. Sitting up with perfect posture, she leaned forward a little and leaned her hand against her forehead, forming a shield to the ghosts with arm. There. Now she could sip her pumpkin juice in peace.

"Far from it, dear lady. They are merely souls caught In Between." he shook his head sadly at her ignorant ways.

At her last self-directed comment, his face fell for just a moment. Oh, there was so much she did not know. "Being haunted is a matter of perspective, child." he said softly, sipping his tea.

The Baron's face became pained. He bowed stiffly toward his one-time love. "Hello again, Lady" he greeted her respectfully.


The Baron nodded sagely, "That they do, that they do." His face now normal, but his chest was heavy where his heart should be. "I should return to my table, Kazimeriz. I shudder to think what those.....students would do without proper instruction." He bowed to Kazimeriz again and floated away, toward his Slytherin Table.

"That is comforting to know, dearest Valon. Your lessons have always been enlightening. Welcome home," she replied and then turned to the female adult who appeared to be a bit shaken.

"Frightened, my dear?" she asked and passed right through the woman. "We would never harm those living in our home. And Hogwarts is our home."

Snapping out of her shocked reverie as someone called her name, Angela turned her head quickly in the direction of the command. Max. "Yes, yes, of course." She muttered. She was on the verge of making her way towards Less and Ian but stopped. Thankfully she still had presence of mind to ensure that she would not fall as her colleagues had.

Once the inspection had been complete, she stood and made her way over to Less and Ian just as Less finished a severing charm. "Not how you expected your first feast to unfold, is it?" She murmured.

She kept half of her attention tuned to the events unfolding around her, and was, alas, not very surprised when two ghosts joined the staff. And to think that she had thought that nothing could surprise her after all that she had seen in years past. Nevertheless, she found her attention riveted to the conversations.

The redheaded professor was very tempted to just roll her eyes and cross her arms at the comments of the old man.

Instead, she decided to feign interest in the ancient guy's words. "Oh, do you have a more insightful perspective on hauntings?" she asked, using her best innocent voice. Truly, she was curious - she was just extremely doubtful of the wheezy old lad's "insight" or whatever his milky eyes thought they saw.

She took a breath and a nice, long sip of pumpkin juice when the Baron floated away. Exxxxcellent.

Sadly, her mouth was still full when the Grey Lady decided to 'comfort' Anastasia and float right through her.

"PFFFFFT!!1!1!" she sputtered, spraying juice across the handsome tablecloth. "My word, would a warning be too much to ask next time?!" Annie growled at the ghost, positively trembling with a combination of suppressed anger and fear. She quickly whipped out her wand and cleaned up her own mess, trying to avoid eye contact with any...half-dead beings as she cleaned.

"My apologies," she added half-heatedly, muttering to the people sitting next to her who may have been coated in juice. When oh when would this feast end?

Natasha looked up at a Professor addressing her "my name is Natasha Lovato, I was just going back to Slytherin table... Is there something you would like to ask?" she asked him politely starting the term with teachers not liking you isn't such a good thing.

"Come now sweety..." Alessia said to the red head who was frightened... "I'm Less... Alessia Lupa, Runes... you need to cool down. The ghost won't harm you..."

"Indeed I do." he said, nodding sagely, sipping tea in lieu of elaboration.

Professor Kazimeriz chuckled softly to himself. Oh, she is delightfully amusing, is our dear lady! He surveyed the cream-clad professor as she cleaned herself up. "I do not believe we've been properly introduced. Professor Kazimeriz, madame. And you are...?"

His attention was diverted by the Slytherin girl. Had she REALLY not returned to her table? He sighed. "Perhaps you should see the nurse for a good ear-cleaning charm, dear. You've already lost 5 points for failing to listen when instructed to return to your seat by both Professor Vindictus and myself. I will give you a single opportunity to return to your table before I make it ten points from your house. You have five seconds. Four. Three... "

Calm down, serenity, calm, tranquility...think of the peace lily...

Anastasia took a slight breath, inhaling through flared nostrils. Perhaps this ah, Runes professor had a point. Perhaps. Not that she would ever admit that out loud.

"Alessia, nice to meet you," she said calmly, eying the woman from head to toe. "I'm Anastasia Bunbury. Herbology."

For a moment, the thought occurred to her that perhaps she should thank this woman for the little bag of runes from earlier....and then not. She brushed the thought aside and warily eyed Gramps again. He was intent on teaching already. Tut.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"Indeed I do." he said, nodding sagely, sipping tea in lieu of elaboration.

Professor Kazimeriz chuckled softly to himself. Oh, she is delightfully amusing, is our dear lady! He surveyed the cream-clad professor as she cleaned herself up. "I do not believe we've been properly introduced. Professor Kazimeriz, madame. And you are...?"

Kaka..kaki....kazikamawhazeee? She thought she going to have difficulties with the old man but wow, even pronouncing his name was hard?!

"Charmed, I'm sure," she said to the man, smirking smiling. "Bunbury, Anastasia Bunbury. Herbology." Straight, simple, to the point. Perhaps he and the ghosts would let her be now?

"Yes, unfortunetly." Alex responded touching the bruise again, "A chair leg decided to formaly introduce itself to my face." she joked lightly.

"Now dear, they aren't pathetic, just scared. Considering the ends most of them met, wouldnt you be afraid?" she asked kindly. "And ghosts can be very helpful, I once had one help me find my way around the Minstry when I worked there."
Alex started to laugh when suddenly, Bunbury was on the floor again. She sighed, "Thank you for saying hello Baron, but please, give this one a break? She needs to... get used to you all first." she said to the ghost, hopefully not offending him.

Glaring at the Old Man, she hauled Bunbury back into her chair, "There isnt anything to be afraid of." she stated in a quiet but firm voice, "What exactly are you afraid of?"
Opening to mouth to help, Alex quickly shut it again. There was no controling the chaos at this terms opening feast. 'I wish David ws here to talk to, he's usually a calm, sane person.' she thought to herself as she rubbed her temples, trying to chase away a headache which was just blossoming.

She spotted David at the other end of the table, near the man who had fallen on the floor, she waved, but was unable to summon the energy to go greet him.

Forrester leaned as if to tell Ari something, but remembered that she was no longer there. He leaned, instead toward the blond girl who was helping the one who had fallen. "Fun times. The Ghosts have returned to Hogwarts."

Natasha stared, that was just sooo unfair; all she was doing was looking for someone and then asking him if he wanted to ask her something. Sasha quickly walked away towards her table so she wouldn't lose anymore points.

Kazimeriz bowed his head. "Enchanted, dear." He leaned forward slightly to address Less. "Alessia, dear, perhaps you and Miss Bunbury would both like to join me for tea in my office tomorrow evening? I should be delighted to invite the grey lady as well; it would be lovely to start the term with such company." he smiled over his teacup at the prospect. Perhaps he could help Miss Bunbury to get over her prejudice against the non-corporeal.

At that moment, Max tugged on Alex's robes. "Shhh! Sit down before he gives us detention!" he whispered and sat down himself. "I'm innocent. I didn't do anything." He kept on saying those words over and over again. "I can't believe he's back...."

Confused, Alex asked, "What? What are you talking about Max? Of course you didnt do anything. You cant get detention, your staff dear, what in Merlin's beard is going on?" The poor man looked like he would have a nervous break down at any moment, Alex patted his shoulder, trying to snap him out of it.

"I would enjoy that." She said turning to the Herbology professor, "I'll send you a note to see what the best time is."

"It's Professor K," Max whispered and was jerking his head in the direction of the DADA professor. "Don't you remember anything?"

"Ouch," Annie murmured, not truly feeling any sympathy for the professor but trying to seem concerned. Really, she was too busy keeping an eye out for those ghosts.

"You should take a potion or make a compress out of a bit of willow bark, dear," she added casually, pouring herself a hot cup of tea now. "Even the Muggles know of its magical properties - I think they call it, ah, aspirin? And they take it in those tiny little candy-shaped forms?" Pills, er, whatever it was. Anyways.

She raised a reddish eyebrow at Alex mentioning the Ministry. Hmm. "Ghosts at the Ministry, eh?" Where weren't they these days. "I had one follow me around for five years. A most unpleasant experience - but," she was going to concede on one point here "--I'm sure not all ghosts are horrid. Like the Fat Friar, he's a jolly lad." Pfffffft.

She was grateful, though, for Alex's helping hand. "Thanks," she muttered distractedly.

"Me? Afraid?" She was addressing the redhead, right? "Just....I was....haunted once...um...ex-fiancee....things didn't end right..." She shuddered at the memory and went back to sipping her tea. Think of the peace lily, think of the peace lily....

Kaziwhatsit wasn't done yet, apparently. And she couldn't possibly turn down an invitation to tea - Anastasia thrived on social encounters. Perhaps she could use this proposed tea party to her advantage sometime. The Ancient One seemed to have a certain level of influence over the rest of the staff and even over the ghosts.

"I would be delighted to attend," she accepted gracefully, setting her tea cup down on its saucer gently. Even if The Grey Lady did attend too, she would be there.

"Wonderful," she added, nodding in the Runes professor's direction. Notes. Hmm, she was curious to see what sort of stationary this one used.

Ian honestly had no idea what was going on. There was just too much commotion for him to pay attention to. His head was throbbing, he was not eating, the ghosts were flying through people, he was not eating, his feet were untied, he was not eating.

And he still had yet to speak with any of his colleagues other than Kapoor. But there was plenty of time to play pranks on his dear friend. He supposed he should meet his fellow professors...but he was ever-so hungry. And plus, they were intimidating. One woman looked like she didn't have the time of day for anyone, one was a skeleton with a pitchfork, still another was a ladies man and was obviously working his mojo, which Ian would not interrupt. Perhaps he would introduce himself to the woman kind enough to free him from his shackles?

Yes. He would do that. "Good evening," he said, outstretching his hand. "I believe I overheard your name is...Less, is it? I'm Ian Ashby, the new charms professor. It is my pleasure to meet you." He gave a short bow, still hesitant to rise from his seat. "So you are the one who gifted us all these lovely....rune sets, are they? I never took runes in my time here, but I would certainly love to hear about them! I've never been much for divining and the like, though."