Pepe was a bit nervous about this first meeting with the staff. He wasn't really sure what to expect. He was uncertain a lot these days. Was this part of the new him, too? Well, being on time might make something of an impression. He didn't seem to get lost so much anymore. He stood by the fireplace, staring into the flames while waiting for the staf to arrive.

Antonio walked into the staff room a bit nervously. So many things had happened since last term. He thought things had reached a new level of craziness with the flooding and everything, but the term had ended in an even crazier way. As he looked at the Headmaster, he was forced to think back on that general assembly. He had been there, he had seen for himself what had happened, and he wondered if he would ever be able to forget it. Everything, everything possible had gone terribly wrong. That was the day he first became aware that poor Alessia suffered from lycantrophy, and she wasn't supposed to have transformed there in front of all the students like that. Antonio had a feeling the wolfsbane had been tampered with, and he knew that matter was still under investigation, but he did know that Headmaster Bontecou had tried to protect the students and had been attacked by Alessia in her werewolf state, he thought he had been bitten as well. Fortunately there were a lot of professors there who had helped to subdue Alessia. Antonio remembered distracting her with bunnies, and he knew she must feel absolutely horrible about everything. It would be hard to show your face in view of all these circumstances and happenings.

Antonio had absolute trust in both Alessia and the Headmaster, and hoped everything would go well for them this term. It was still early to tell what would happen and how others would react, but hopefully nothing else would occur. Not that things hadn't occurred already. There had been other rumors of things that had happened over the past summer break.

But no good to think of that right now. It was the start of a new term. "Greetings, how have you been?", Antonio asked Headmaster Bontecou with a smile. He had always had utmost respect for him.

It seemed as though her mind had never been completely clear since the end of last term; first with the situation at the assembly, the Ministry meetings, and then discovering the news of the death of a fellow staff member. If anything else, that was what had shaken her the most out of everything. She still found herself on the brink of tears when she thought about it.

She walked slowly through the castle, making her way to the staff room where the first meeting of the term would take place. It was comforting to be in a familiar place, when the past few months were nothing but unfamiliar, which put her on edge,understandably.

For a moment, Angela hesitated outside of the door and then swung it open, revealing two others already inside - the Headmaster and Antonio.

Once she stepped inside and closed the door, she gave a smile to both of them. "Hello." She knew that the Headmaster and Alessia would both be returning to their position in Hogwarts. She just wasn't certain how the masses would handle the news, but she, herself, had little doubt that all precautions were being taken to avoid another spectacle.

Lowering herself into a nearby chair, she moved her gaze to the flickering fire in the fireplace, watching the hypnotic dance of the flames for a few moments before glancing up at the others.

And the first of the staff arrived. Pepe smiled, a bit hesitant at first, but it gradually turned into his full smile at the greeting. "I'm doing really well, actually. And yourself?" he said not bothering with the 'all things considered' part that less optimistic, doom-and-gloom mentality personalities might use to qualify that statement. Pepe was genuinely happy despite being a bit nervous over his colleagues' and students' reactions to him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granger1814

Once she stepped inside and closed the door, she gave a smile to both of them. "Hello." She knew that the Headmaster and Alessia would both be returning to their position in Hogwarts. She just wasn't certain how the masses would handle the news, but she, herself, had little doubt that all precautions were being taken to avoid another spectacle.

Lowering herself into a nearby chair, she moved her gaze to the flickering fire in the fireplace, watching the hypnotic dance of the flames for a few moments before glancing up at the others.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts!" exclaimed to the librarian and rewarding her with a twinkling smile. He did love the ladies.

Antonio smiled. He could sense just a bit of hesitation to elaborate on the Headmaster's part, and that was something to be expected, of course. "I'm doing quite well, actually," he said cheerfully. "I've enjoyed spending the summer months with my daughter Antonia, it's hard to believe that she's already almost 5 years old. How quickly time passes away." Antonio tactfully decided not to mention any of the rumors he had heard, especially the fact that he had heard that Professor Forrester had been killed in the Leaky Cauldron and that the Headmaster had been speaking to him at the time when it happened. These were all things which were best unmentioned.

Oh, how badly Constantine wanted to bring little Jadyn to the school. Not that he wanted to show her off or anything. Nu uh. No no. *cough* But, Madison just wouldn't have it. Ohhh no. No no. Merlin, the lady was scary when she wanted her way.

Constantine threw whoever was in the room a small smile. Now was not the worrying over his own trivialities. Another term was about to start and there seemed to be quite a few oddities about it already.

Alessia Lupa approached the door of the staff room and held her head high... she wasn't going to let anyone tell her she was wrong. She had received many letters from werewolves... telling her she needed to be strong... telling her to walk with her head held high... and more letters telling her she was a disgrace, and she should be chained and stoned for ruining everything werewolves had been trying to achieve. It was because of them, she returned to the school. She was going to salvage what she had done... or not done.

Less lifted her fist to knock on it and she halted... she could hear Pepe's voice... she closed her eyes trying to muster up all her courage... she was so afraid to face him... She'd cursed him for all eternity.

"It must be extremely difficult to be away from your children," Pepe replied to Dumont, but included Masterson as he noticed the groundskeeper arrive. "Good afternoon, Constantine. I trust your summer went well?"

She took a breath and then began to knock again. No. She was a professor, for merlin's sakes, she had a right to be there. So she opened the door and walked in. Her chin up and raising her gaze to those in the room. "Good day... everyone."

Unable to help the smile that appeared without thought on her face, Angela looked up at the Headmaster. Well, if he were to make the effort.."Why thank you, Headmaster. It is nice to be back."

She glanced towards the door as it opened again and Constantine appeared, all the while keeping an absent ear tuned to Antonio's words about his daughter. For a moment, she felt a prickle of sadness but quickly brushed it away - no time for such thoughts.

"Constantine." She greeted with a smile. "How was your summer? How's Madison?"

When the door opened yet again, Angela turned her gaze briefly in that direction, only to find Alessia standing there. For a moment, she did nothing, nor said a word. Oh, this was ridiculous. She was the same woman as the one who had invited her to the sleepover last term. The situation last term was not her fault.

Rising from her chair, she walked over to her and quickly hugged her. "Alessia..it's good to see you." She spoke warmly.

Pepe beamed at Less as she walked through the staff room door. He was very pleased to see her back at Hogwarts. "Welcome back," he said, still grinning like a fool.

Alessia let her lips curl in a smile. "It's good to see you too, Angela," and held her in the hug. "Thank you..." she whispered to the woman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biochemkris

Pepe beamed at Less as she walked through the staff room door. He was very pleased to see her back at Hogwarts. "Welcome back," he said, still grinning like a fool.

"Thank you, Headmaster... happy to be back." She said not meeting his eyes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biochemkris

"It must be extremely difficult to be away from your children," Pepe replied to Dumont, but included Masterson as he noticed the groundskeeper arrive. "Good afternoon, Constantine. I trust your summer went well?"

Constantine, who had been off in his little planet thinking of ways of bringing Jadyn to the school for a few days, returned back to smile at Reynard. "Afternoon, Headmaster," he greeted, folding his hands together in his lap. "Oh, yes, very well. Summer was merely all about adjusting to having a new mouth to feed in the house." Constantine smiled gently and opened his mouth again to ask the man the same question, but quickly shut it. Hmm..perhaps that wouldn't be a good question.

Wow, awkward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granger1814

"Constantine." She greeted with a smile. "How was your summer? How's Madison?"

"Angela," he greeted back, smiling gently. "The summer was excellent, thank you, and Madison is as peachy as ever. She's...err, in her highly protective phase over Jadyn right now," he chuckled, scratching his fuzzy chin. Shoot, he'd forgetten to shave.

"What about you? Good summer?" He was then distracted by the appearance of Lupa in the room. Aw. The poor woman...

Angela nodded once to Alessia's thanks, knowing that the woman would understand her unspoken words. She drew back from the hug, smiling still before glancing towards Constantine as he answered her.

Angela's eyes widened in delight as Constantine mentioned the name of his little girl. "That's wonderful Constantine! I'm so glad to hear that both Madison and your little one are doing well."

"Yes, yes, perfectly fine summer. Not much to say about it." And there really wasn't. She still had yet to plan her vacation to Egypt, which would hopefully happen sooner rather than later; but unfortunately had not happened this past summer as she had hoped.

"Yeah?" he asked, noticing that she still wouldn't meet his eyes. "How good is it?" he fished, preparing to corner her into something.

"How good?" She repeated. She held onto her left arm at the elbow with her right hand. "I don't understand what you mean, headmaster. I am happy to return to these halls... happy to be allowed to teach again... and hope to make you proud."

"It's Pepe to my friends," he winked. Pepe decided he probably shouldn't be playing with her when she clearly wasn't up for it, so he just came right out with it. "Good enough to be Slytherin Head of House?" he asked, hoping his idea to ask her in front of people wouldn't backfire.

She turned around the room and looked at the man's chin... did he say... Head of House? She looked around for Forrester and didn't see him. "And Edward?" She asked Pepe.

Pepe shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, grin wiped clean. Now he was the one not meeting eyes. "You haven't heard?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Ed was killed in the Leaky over the summer."

"Kil-" But she couldn't finish the word before she covered her mouth in horror. Edward Forrester had been killed? So many thoughts ran through her head about the man who had been the Head of Slytherin house... She was in shock. "Yes, of course I'll take on his duties..." she said absentmindedly. Her mind wasn't thinking about the Honor it was to be Slytherin Head of House at the moment, it also wasn't thinking about the fact that Pepe had chosen HER, a known werewolf to most kids at the school. She sat down still thinking of the man she knew briefly.

The soft, rhythmic clong! of a silver tipped cane striking a stone floor served to announce Professor Kazimeriz as he entered the room. "Good day, gentlemen... ladies." he said to the room in general.

"Headmaster... It's good to see you." he nodded warmly to the younger man, looking at him just as he always had, with nothing to note that any concern or curiousity about the man's experience or condition.

"Am I early or are we just missing a fair few people?" he asked, taking a seat in a leather armchair.

Kapoor entered not in enough time to catch the end of what Pepepepepepepepee Headmastah had said. He was with, not only a hopeful grin, but a pair of bright balloons. "Good day, Professors, Headmaster, Madame Kohan, Mr. Masterson." He greeted his colleagues.

"Reynard, Reynard, I brought you a balloon." He said handing the headmaster a shiny lemony balloon. "And here is one for you too, Professor Lupa." He said giving her the other one. They had been through a lot the two of them. They NEEDED these balloons! He clapped both Professors on the back and found an empty seat. Awkward, much?

Alessia nodded, still too much in shock to really say anything to her Godfather.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlytherinSistah

Kapoor entered not in enough time to catch the end of what Pepepepepepepepee Headmastah had said. He was with, not only a hopeful grin, but a pair of bright balloons. "Good day, Professors, Headmaster, Madame Kohan, Mr. Masterson." He greeted his colleagues.

"Reynard, Reynard, I brought you a balloon." He said handing the headmaster a shiny lemony balloon. "And here is one for you too, Professor Lupa." He said giving her the other one. They had been through a lot the two of them. They NEEDED these balloons! He clapped both Professors on the back and found an empty seat. Awkward, much?

She looked up to the jovial man and once he clapped her on the back, she snapped out of her daze. She shook her head to clear it, and took the balloon... "I... Thank you, Professor Kapoor," she said and looked up at the shiny yellow balloon. Yellow was a cheering colour. Yellow was supposed to produce a warming effect, and bring cheerfulness. She gave a sad little smile. The man was a sweetheart. "Thank you." she repeated.

So the rumors were true after all, the rumors that Professor Forrester had been killed. Antonio felt a shock go through his body as the words were said out loud. He could see the expression on Alicia's face and could see that she was taking it really hard. His heart went out to her, she was having a really rough time of it. Antonio knew that she was close with the professor, well, closer than he was, anyway. As hard as it was for all of them, it had to be even worse for her. There really were no words. All he could do was smile at her, just a tiny bit, trying to convey that everything would be okay. He hoped she understood. If she needed anything, he was there for her.