Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Looking up from the Baked Alaska with the spoon still in his mouth, Marcus gave Annie a wink and took the cutlery out of his mouth. "It's actually really, really good Annie. I just wonder if his writing skills are as good as his cooking?" He chuckled softly before tucking back into the dessert again. If she thought she was going to get any, then she was seriously mistaken. Nobody came between Marcus Lawson and his chocolate...well someone might.

"Really." Really good, eh? Anastasia might have regretted discarding Torin's cooking so soon but it wouldn't be too difficult to make him bake her something else. Something Marcus wouldn't try to gobble up. Pig.

Annie had almost completely dismissed Axe's comment - he was looking far too cozy with Iliana the Baked Alaska anyway - so it took her a minute to make sense of his last sentence. "What? What writing skills? What would I know of Mr. Kane's writing skills???!"

The high-pitched inflection of her voice at the end didn't ah... give anything away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"Good evening, Professor Bunbury." he said quite cordially, smiling warmly at the woman. "You are looking well."

"Oh, evening Professor Kazimeriz," Anastasia greeted the olde man with her eyes still narrowed at Marcus. "Thank you... how was your holiday?"

Tamper with any more wolfsbane potions?

Max couldn't get a word in edge-wise and resisted the urge to smack Pepe with his rolled up newspaper. How dare he allow a senior citizen to handle this situation! Make that a senile senior citizen who has a soft spot for wolves! Unthinkable! And I'm the most senior of all the Hogwarts Staff!

And sometimes, the man had a habit of speaking his thoughts to whoever was listening. Annie happened to be sitting next to him, so he leaned over and whispered into her ear.

"Were they wearing flea collars?" he asked and kept a straight expression on his face while his blue eyes danced merrily.

The speech by the Headmaster brought news that she was familiar with, but the news of Caroline's disappearance was a new subject to her. Eyes widening slightly, Angela drew a short breath. What was going on here? First Edwards death and now Caroline had disappeared?

And the two staff members..had not been at the staff meeting and were not present now.

With a shake of her head, she turned her gaze back towards Macadrian. It was much too early to contemplate such things. "Oh not a problem at all, Macadrian. I completely understand. I'm just happy to hear that things went so well. It's nice to see two people find love."

She sipped at the drink in her goblet before replying. "My summer was fine; a tad boring." She admitted with a soft laugh. "I've been meaning to make a trip to Egypt and I just can't seem to find the time to do any planning. Perhaps I'll just simply have to go on a whim and make plans as I go. A little spontaneity never hurt anyone." She finished with a grin.

"Very hectic. I--" Kazimeriz's eye was drawn to some ruckus with students at the Hufflepuff table, moving to the Gryffindor table. "If you'll excuse me..." he rose, turning to Max.

"Maximus, good evening. It appears we have a discipline issue down at the Gryffindor table. Care to help me resolve it?" He said, giving him a wicked grin.

Max straightened up and wiped the goofy grin off his face. "Gryffindors causing trouble? I'm game!" he exclaimed and stood up.

Alessia looked over to Bunz and felt a panic she didn't realize she could have. She coughed and pretended nothing happened.

"Good night professor." She with nodding his way.

"Yes... I need

"Yes Sir." she said giving him a smile... She leaned to him and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

Max had ignored her completely and now he was whispering sweet nothings in Annie's ear. Well! He could have her! "Well, Max, you can answer my question another time..."

She stood and said "If you'll excuse me... I have a date with a full moon." And she left towards the dungeons.

Kazimeriz smiled, nodded, and left the dais, walking at a more 'normal' pace than normal to get down to where the situation was. The students would not be disruptive while Kazimeriz and Vindictus were on staff...

Max followed Valon to the Gryffindor table with a scowl on his face. But upon closer examination, it was obvious that the scowl was indeed hiding a smirk and the Flying professor's blue eyes were sparkling with delight.

Antonio had listened to the speech with great interest. He wondered who the new Astronomy professor would be. Suddenly, alarm filled his face again. What had happened to the healer, Nurse Avalon? Come to think of it, he hadn't noticed her at the staff table. Already, more things seemed to be happening, things which were not good.

Both the Headmaster and Professor Lupa were leaving. With a start, Antonio realized what time of month it was. Of course, it made perfect sense, he thought to himself.

Antonio heard something mentioned about a disturbance at the Gryffindor table. He knew it was his responsibility as Head of House to go and investigate the matter as well, so stood up from the table to check on what was happening. Even though Professors Kazimeriz and Vindictus were headed over there, he felt it was his duty to appear there and see what was going on, as well. He stood up. He could pick up some food on the way back, anyway, he was still hungry.

Sophie finished skipping around the four student tables before skipping up to the dais. As her flock of winged cookies continued to buzz around her head, she first skipped along the front of the table, distributing cookies, before taking an empty seat. "Howdy!" she declared and then noted the nice big chair in the middle that must be Berty's seat. Where was that dear old man, anyway?

Lars had continued to eat steadily until Bontecou rose for his speech. And when the headmaster finished speaking, the transfiguration professor had immediately resumed devouring his meal. Potatoes and pumpkin juice and some unidentified form of meat. All of it went from the serving dishes, to his plate, to his mouth. Once again, thought Professor Svensson, the house-elves had put together a truly magnificent meal. A feast, almost.

Oh wait. It was a feast.

Luckily he hadn't said anything out loud. He was pondering whether to try bread pudding or chocolate pudding when he caught a flash of pink in his periphery. Slightly panicked, Lars Svensson turned to look so quickly that he would have given himself whiplash if he'd been the whiplash-getting type. (He wasn't, obviously.) What he saw made his jaw drop in astonishment.

She looked like Little Red Riding Hood. Except in pink instead of red, and she looked older than someone with the title Little should be. So she was like... Big Pink Skipping Hood. And she had a halo of cookies. Surely this woman was some sort of Cookie Angel or something. She was even handing cookies out!

Picking up the cookie she had distributed, Lars sniffed it and glanced sideways at Big Pink Skipping Hood. It would be okay if he ate one, right? With a single-shouldered shrug, Svennson opened his mouth and quickly ate half the cookie.

It was not a bad cookie.

Like an ancient ringmaster, Kazimeriz led the way back to the staff table, never even glancing behind him. He was certain that the procession -- Maximus, Lawson, Dumont, and the boys- were just behind him.

He smirked. Now, here's something we hope you'll REALLY like: A little end-of-feast entertainment, featuring a brand new act: Two Levitating Soaking Wet Doomed Boys! he thought, climbing the steps of the dais.

Max and the boys arrived, and he sat them upright. "These soaking House uniforms just won't do," he said rather thoughtfully. With a few swishing and jabbing motions, the soaking uniforms of Willie and Cam were transfigured into bright, sparkly pink tutus with attached glittery purple fairy wings that flapped. Each was sporting a wreath of white daisies on their heads with pink ribbons cascading down the back. "There, that should do it. Professor Kazimeriz, Cam and Willie are all yours."

Kazimeriz nodded, stepping forward. "Nice work, Maximus. But you have a missed a few touches to make them really stand out. You like to roll in filth and act like pigs, and this fact should be obvious to every student in the hall... As easily spotted as the nose on your face." He waved his wand at the boys with a quick jab, sending a transfiguration spell to turn their noses into pig snouts.

EWWWW CAM WAS WET.

How could that professor rid of his nature-ness??? AND THE DUNG, WHAT ABOUT THE DUNG HUH?! Washed away... just like that. THE NATURE PART OF HIM WANTED TO SLAP THIS MAN.... well if he could move of course. But hmmm causing more trouble was definitely not what he wanted--especially if the professors were considering to Face Him.

His parents would complain, alright. THEY WOULD SUEEEEE. But he lay perfectly still, like some sort of a freaky obedient boy. But then in an instant, he felt something wrong. SOMETHING VERY WRONG. Why did he feel so... exposed?

AND WHAT DID THEY DO TO HIS HEAD? AND HIS BODY? Well wha--OMG HIS NOOOSSEEEE. He felt like someone had done a nose job on him. And... it hurt.

...HE. WOULD. SUEEEEEEE. -twitch-

Willie was being dragged around like some dripping wet doll, not able to move an inch of his body. At least they let him hear to what they had to say rather than illuminate every sense they had. He watched Max (Vin..something) curiously, wondering what the man was thinking about. When he opened his mouth, allowing words to fall out Willie was... speechless.

No, really. He couldn't talk. He was under a spell.

Max flicked his wand and then, boom, beem, baam! His wet clothes had turned into... tutus?

PINK TUTUS?!

And... And he felt something on his back. Something... poking out. He couldn't see it.

WHAT HAS THE WORLD COME TOOOO?!

He had also felt something on his head... Oh god, let it not be a crown. PLEASEEE NO CROWNNN. Willie right now was close to tears. He was traumatized!

It didn't seem they were done with them, yet. Nooooooo! Kazi had pulled out his own wand and Willie once a fanboy to him was SHOCKED. Why, why would Kazi do this to him?! HE WAS A FAITHFUL FANBOYYYY. He felt betrayed. All this time, all this fangirling he had given to him had been a waste. A COMPLETE UTTER WASTE! His heart broke into a million pieces, dramatic sad music begun playing in his head.

This boy was a nutcase.

He hadn't noticed that Kazi was flicking his wand, too engrossed into his dramatic thoughts of betrayal. It had hit him of course when something smacked on his face. Literally. His eyes watered a bit, yet that didn't stop him from noticing there was something wrong with him.

Wiggle...

Wiggle...

HE HAD A PIG'S SNOT?!!!

OHHHHHHHHHH THAT WAS SOOOO COOOOOLLLL.

Kazimeriz turned to Maximus. "I think that gives them the proper finish, do you agree?" He smiled and turned, taking the orator's position at the podium.

The wings of the great owl spread open, signaling that the Deputy Headmaster was about to speak. He raised his wand, lowering the lights in the hall except for on the dais. The stage was set, and the ancient showman raised his arms dramatically.


"YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE! Before we call the feast to a close, we have a bit of special entertainment for you tonight. Third years Hufflepuff Willie Crocker and his co-hort, Slytherin Cameron Karsten, have behaved most reprehensibly tonight. They have disrupted the feast and impacted the first impression of this school for our many new students. We want you all to be aware that this sort of selfish behavior is intolerable at Hogwarts."

"In fact, so ashamed are these two boys of their foolish actions, that they will be performing an improvised song and dance routine to win your forgiveness. If you feel their performance is worthy of your forgiveness, you need merely applaud or cheer for them. If not, you may show your very vocal disapproval. Their future-- no, their very fate is in your hands."

With that, he raised his wand and strains of the muggle song I'm Sorry started to play through the hall.

"It's showtime, folks!" Kazimeriz said, turning and smirking at the boys.

"You're on."

As an afterthought, he transfigured their shoes into tap shoes to give their 'act' a bit of extra pizazz.

He stepped back, standing by Max. "You know... you have a flair for discipline, Maximus." he murmured.

"Why thank you, Valon," Max nodded appreciatively and waved his wand at the boys. The full body bind that Dumont had placed on them was now gone. And it was time to dance. And sing.

OH NOOOoooo.

Cam was lifted from the body-bind curse... and found himself wearing pink tutus and WINGS! He felt like a fairy.

What was this song?! Actually... it felt a bit catchy. I'm soooo... SOOOORRY! Lalalalalaaaaaa punnu punny heheee. Sooo their life depended on the student's hands. Hmm. He was populah enough right? RIGHT? Of course. He smirked at the students in his frilly little tutu which made him look less manlier.

NO, CAMERON KARSTEN WOULD PUT UP THE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAARRRRRrrr. Dancing? Wasn't poking just the same as dancing? He could... he could do this in no-time.

Willie listened to what Kazi had to say, his heart ripping apart. THIS WAS BETRAYAL. WHAT WAS KAZIMERIZ DOING TO HIM?! Did he like having his heart broken? Did Kazi enjoy tormenting Willie?! He thought so. Dreams of running across a field of flowers with the old man, laughing and giggling as they did so had fled from his brain and into oblivion. NEVER AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN!

But maybe tomorrow, he'll think of it again.

Squeeeeeeee!

He felt himself being lifted from the bind, now able to move his hands and feet and even neck! He moved his head to the right and a CRACK came from his neck. Yes, yes, he was popping it. Ugh. A stiff neck was so not wanted right now.

The song played and Willie stared, listening to the lyrics. "I'M SOOO SORRYYYYYYYYYYY!!" Gosh, sounded like something Garret would sing to Daphne, wanting her love back.

GAAAAAGGGGGGG.

Unintentionally, he was moving from side to side, his body moving to the slow rhythm. LOOOVEEEEEEE COULD BE SOOOOO CRUUUELELLLLLL.. His lips curled into a smile as he looked over at Cam who seemed to be very interested in the song. His eyes flared at a certain thought. What if... What if...

cackle.

"I'M THOOOOOORYYYYYYYYY!" Willie howled like a dog, going on one knee and grasping onto Cam's hand, his other hand on his chest. He had his eyes closed, wanting to look dramatic. "THOOO THORRRYYYYYY!!!" Now he stood up, pulling Cam into him. The other boy's frilly tutu TWIRLED before they slammed into each other.

"PLEAAAAAAAATHHEEE ACCCCCEPPPPPTTT MAIII APOLOOOO---LOOOOOGYYYY!!"

For a second... Cam did nothing.

"I'm sooooooorry." He started singing, his hands out in the air waving his hands evahhh so graciously. EEEEEEE so embarrassing yet Kazi's choice of music from this high-pitched woman singah WAS AWESOME. "BUT... LOVE WAS BLIIINDDDDD! AND--I WUZZ TOO BLIIIIND TO SEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" His voice was screechy and definitely... definitely bad. Very ear-wrecking. He kept swaying his hands like tree branches heheeeee yes yes WHY DIDN'T HE HEAR APPLAUDS???

He dramatically turned to Willow who was on the ground on his knee. ON. HIS. KNEEEEE. Cam put his hand on his heart just to put some suspense on the scene heheheheeeeee.

BUT BAM!

Cam's body was slammed like a wrestler onto Willie's and he soon found himself snorting through his new nose. Oh right. Song. He found himself twirling and spinning towards Kaziiiii. "YOUUUU TELL ME MISTAAAKES... ARE PARTTTT OF BEING YOUNG," he sang to the old man, his hand still on his heart and soon enough he found himself spinning and eying everyone.

"SOOOOOO SORRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" he sang so horribly he could have sworn his own ears were hurting, but SINGING FELT SO GOOOOOODDD. Chhhh if someone's ear was bleeding, ooooh that'd be bad. But he continued singing loouuuddly through the Great Hall.

Cam... Cam was beautiful! Willie would've cried at his performance, but he had to do his part, too! The curly haired boy began to skip towards the Slytherin on his tip-toes like a ballerina. "YOUUUU TELLLLL MEEE... TELLLLLLLL MEEE" He paused, forgetting a part of the lyric. "YOUUU TELLLL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... Well... I DUNNOOOO BUT YOU LOTTTTTTTT FINISH IT FER MEEEEE" He howled, his voice now scratchy and so out of tune that even deaf people would lose their ears.


Once he reached Cam's side, he held onto his hands again and pulled him into him and then pulled him away from him. "I'MMMMM SOORYYYYYYYYYYY BUT I WAATHHH BLINNNND TERR THEEEEEEEEE!!" He wailed, making faces to Cam. He twirled the boy once, TWICE, THIRCE and... and will he make it for the fourth turn...?

YES HE DID!

"OHHHHHHHHHH I AM THOOO THORRRRRYYY!!!!! BUT LUUVVVVVVV WAAAATHHH BLINNNDDDD TERR THEEEE! No... No... I WATHHH BLINDD TOOOO... No... I WATHHH TOOO BLINDDD TER THEEEEE!"

Kazimeriz smirked, turning to Max. "I think we should let them give us a really big finish, what do you say? Something a little more upbeat?" He raised an eyebrow as if to challenge the creativity of the younger wizard.

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Max grinned and nodded at the boys. "I think you know what song should do the trick. But please spare our eardrums and refrain from playing my grandmother's earbleeding rendition."

Well if this wasn't the most interesting feast yet. Anastasia calmly finished her meal and settled back in her chair, lamenting the fact that all she had to drink was water while she watched this....... show? Could the chaos honestly be called that? Between the woman in pink who made her eyes bleed (she just didn't know how to wear the color right) and the two boys in tutus who made her ears bleed...why....

It was Hogwarts as usual.

Once most of the madness had slowed to dull roar, Annie daintily wiped blotted at her mouth with her napkin and then rose to leave, slipping out of the feast as inconspicuously as possible. She had..... things to do now.