So here it was. The Great Hall. Tate hadn't seen the place in... well, okay. He saw it yesterday when he gave himself a tour of the school, but OTHER than that, he hadn't seen it in years.

Not since his own seventh year.

Tate leaned back in his chair and watched the students file in, a little frown on his face. Just look at them. All small and shiny and new. Like pennies yet to be spent. What was he supposed to do with this lot?

"Dude," JD elbowed his buddy in the side, "you look old, you know that?"

Maybe it was the fact that the Great Hall didn't look as GREAT as it used to.

"When did we get old?"

And WHEN did he get so itchy? And his eyes so watery? And his nose so...

"AAAAACHOOO!"

Stuffy?

At the sound of someone's sneeze, Gabriella Ashford blinked then glanced up at a fellow staff member seated not too far away. It was only then she noticed the students had arrived and were quickly filing into the Great Hall. Were there always this many children? There sure seemed like a lot already in here...and there were still more coming in! Maybe it was just her perspective, though. Maybe everything would seem different now that she was looking through an adult's eyes rather than a child's.

She tapped her fingernails lightly against the table then took a few moments to arrange and rearrange her utensils. She'd convinced herself that she couldn't---and wouldn't---be nervous, but she was. She was confident in her own abilities, but at the same time, this was all so new. ...being a staff member, that is. Hogwarts itself was just as familiar as it'd always been. Especially since she'd been here quite a few times in the past month, moving herself in and getting the Hospital Wing all set up.

*ahem*

"You really should come by to see me later on, you know. I have a potion that should get rid of that sneezing straight away," she remarked, her blue eyes focused on the sneezing man. Man---is that all she knew to refer to him by? Man? She mentally scolded herself then changed her expression to a smile. "I'm Gabriella Ashford, the new Healer." Her gaze changed from the sneezing man to the one being called old. He didn't look so old, but then again, Madame Primpernelle has been known to work wonders now-a-days.

"Speak for yourself," Tate dropped his voice as he propped his elbows on the table and gave some little girl a stare when she waved at him. Merlin, they were sort of terrifying.

And what if the best man he had on staff was Kade? They were all DOOMED.

"Actually... you are. We're the same age, within months."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

At the sound of someone's sneeze, Gabriella Ashford blinked then glanced up at a fellow staff member seated not too far away. It was only then she noticed the students had arrived and were quickly filing into the Great Hall. Were there always this many children? There sure seemed like a lot already in here...and there were still more coming in! Maybe it was just her perspective, though. Maybe everything would seem different now that she was looking through an adult's eyes rather than a child's.

She tapped her fingernails lightly against the table then took a few moments to arrange and rearrange her utensils. She'd convinced herself that she couldn't---and wouldn't---be nervous, but she was. She was confident in her own abilities, but at the same time, this was all so new. ...being a staff member, that is. Hogwarts itself was just as familiar as it'd always been. Especially since she'd been here quite a few times in the past month, moving herself in and getting the Hospital Wing all set up.

*ahem*

"You really should come by to see me later on, you know. I have a potion that should get rid of that sneezing straight away," she remarked, her blue eyes focused on the sneezing man. Man---is that all she knew to refer to him by? Man? She mentally scolded herself then changed her expression to a smile. "I'm Gabriella Ashford, the new Healer." Her gaze changed from the sneezing man to the one being called old. He didn't look so old, but then again, Madame Primpernelle has been known to work wonders now-a-days.

He glanced up as a young woman introduced herself. Too young. Way too young. Who hired this one?

"Healer Ashford. Headmaster Tate. Professor Kade." He did a big introduction. Tate didn't waste words when he didn't have to.

Constantine was seated in his usual seat, drumming his fingers together lightly. Merlin, the term had just started and he was already bored. Not to mention, he missed his daughter and wife. He'd had to cut his vacation short in order to come back and get the grounds looking their best.

He couldn't help but notice that part of him that really wanted to be at home.

Max had been sitting and staring at the man who was now occupying Pepe's (and formerly Rae's) old seat. Sure it was rude to stare, but at least he wasn't pointing. So staring and stroking his moustache was perfectly acceptable. The new headmaster was awfully young to be sitting in that seat. He looked like a frat boy who barely graduated from college.

But Max knew that this new headmaster had to deal with the world's grumpiest old man - Valon Kazimeriz. And he was wondering how Kazi was dealing with this latest snub.

Slowly, the Great Hall began to fill up with students and Max made it a point to wave at the students, especially his Quidditch captains, the prefects, and the new Head Boy and Girl.

For a moment, Ellie followed the conversation between the two men---the sneezer and the "old one" (or so the sneezer claimed him to be old). They were, oddly enough, discussing age. She had the strongest urge to ask them exactly how old they were, but she didn't want to offend anyone. Not on the first day, at least.

The "old one" said all of three words to her. Well, six if you counted Healer, Headmaster, and Professor. Men. Why were they all so untalkative? She shifted her gaze to a nearby man quietly drumming his fingers against the table while another man was quietly waving to the students. She smiled at both then turned back to the Headmaster---or was he the Professor? He hadn't specified who was who---and nodded a few times. "Right. Nice to meet you, Headmaster Tate," she said, assuming he was the Headmaster, since he'd mentioned that name first.

Her eyes flickered away and she glanced down the table. Surely she wasn't the only female on staff. There were other females, right? She really hadn't gotten a good look at everyone who'd sat down at the same table she had. She'd honestly been too nervous to do so. Oh, and she'd been concentrating on not tripping over her robes.

Marcus watched as the students entered the Great Hall with a kind of glazed look in his eyes. The summer had gone by so fast, it was hard to believe that another school year was starting.

He picked up his goblet and took a small sip as he turned his attention to the staff table. Of course there were new faces among them, seeing how Ethan had been fired, the Headmaster had disappeared, Caroline had left/been fired and yeah he was unsure of what had happened to Borr.

So another year at Hogwarts was about to begin and he wondered if it would be as eventful as his last two?

And he had a new subject to teach. And from what he had learned about muggles over the summer, thanks to his wife and Jake...well things were certainly going to be interesting.

Here she was! Again! Goodness, she hadn't been to Hogwarts in.......well, a couple weeks at least as she had to prep her office. Yes, HER!office. How cool was that? REALLYREALLYREALLYCOOL! Oh yes it was! She walked down the floor, her red hair bouncing with each step. In fact, it wasn't long until her body was bouncing...as in skipping, down the floor. She tried to avoid it, but she couldn't! She swore it was part of her heritage, but truthfully, it's just that if she gets REALLYREALLY excited, she had excess energy she had to get rid of, and this was just the usual way it happened.

She was joyfully skipping when she came to a sudden halt. Oh mymymymymyMY! When did Hogwarts start employing such HANDSOME men? She stood there momentarily frozen, mouth agape before she shook herself back into the present and shut her mouth. Blushing, she hurried along, eyes down, and around the FAR end of the table, keeping herself away from the handsome men she'd been staring at. Obviously, they would have seen it. Oh, merlin. How EMBARASSING! She quickly got around and took a seat in a chair, not paying attention to who she was next to.

Lars glanced down the table at the young blonde woman. She looked familiar. Scratching his chin, the man looked out at the tide of students entering the Great Hall and frowned slightly. How in Merlin's snow white beard did he recognize that woman? He did not get out much. And she certainly had not worked at Hogwarts last term, so... Maybe she had just graduated. Yes, she looked young enough. She must have graduated and gotten a job immediately. Interesting.

He should have brought something to read.

Heaving a huge sigh, Professor Svensson slouched a bit in his seat and stared out over the heads of the student body. This was why he usually brought a book to meals. So that he would not have to worry about socializing with his coworkers during his dinner.

Gabriella needed food---not to eat, necessarily, but to give her something to do instead of sitting here feeling awkward. Another female had joined the table a few minutes prior, so now Gabriella could be assured that there was at least one other female on staff. Maybe she talked. Merlin knew none of the men did.

She twisted sideways a little to allow herself a better view of the staff table, but when she did so, she accidentally knocked her fork to the floor. It made a clinging noise then came to a sudden stop near her foot. Gah. She sighed a little then bent to retrieve it. When she came back up, she noticed that a man on down the table was glancing her way. He looked familiar, even if Gabriella had no idea how she might know of him.

"Hello there," she greeted, stopping to glance towards her fork. Dropping once was quite enough for one day, thank you very much. When her eyes met the man again, she smiled. "I'm Gabriella Ashord, the new Healer. You seem familiar, although---...did I happen to meet you in Diagon Alley?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

At the sound of someone's sneeze, Gabriella Ashford blinked then glanced up at a fellow staff member seated not too far away. It was only then she noticed the students had arrived and were quickly filing into the Great Hall. Were there always this many children? There sure seemed like a lot already in here...and there were still more coming in! Maybe it was just her perspective, though. Maybe everything would seem different now that she was looking through an adult's eyes rather than a child's.

She tapped her fingernails lightly against the table then took a few moments to arrange and rearrange her utensils. She'd convinced herself that she couldn't---and wouldn't---be nervous, but she was. She was confident in her own abilities, but at the same time, this was all so new. ...being a staff member, that is. Hogwarts itself was just as familiar as it'd always been. Especially since she'd been here quite a few times in the past month, moving herself in and getting the Hospital Wing all set up.

*ahem*

"You really should come by to see me later on, you know. I have a potion that should get rid of that sneezing straight away," she remarked, her blue eyes focused on the sneezing man. Man---is that all she knew to refer to him by? Man? She mentally scolded herself then changed her expression to a smile. "I'm Gabriella Ashford, the new Healer." Her gaze changed from the sneezing man to the one being called old. He didn't look so old, but then again, Madame Primpernelle has been known to work wonders now-a-days.

"Professor Kade" He introduced himself to the little blonde woman, with a little apprehension. Forward women... tended to be dangerous.

He scratched the back of his neck, rather than reach over to shake her hand, "Charms Professor, to be specific."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"Speak for yourself," Tate dropped his voice as he propped his elbows on the table and gave some little girl a stare when she waved at him. Merlin, they were sort of terrifying.

And what if the best man he had on staff was Kade? They were all DOOMED.

"Actually... you are. We're the same age, within months."



He glanced up as a young woman introduced herself. Too young. Way too young. Who hired this one?

"Healer Ashford. Headmaster Tate. Professor Kade." He did a big introduction. Tate didn't waste words when he didn't have to.

"You'll always be older than me." Two months to the day, to be specific. Well, sorta. Long story.

Poor Iliana could not get comfortable in her seat no matter how hard she tried. Finally kicking her heels off under the table, (so that no one could see) she pulled her feet up underneath her and sat with her legs criss-crossed in her chair. She glanced around the table with a puzzled look on her face before finally leaning closer to Marcus. "Who are these new people?" she whispered. Had they missed a staff meeting while they were away?

Glad that Constantine was sitting on the other side of her, and not some new stranger, she cast him a questioning look as well and then sipped at her water.

Turning his head back towards his wife, Marcus also leaned in and spoke in a low voice. "You know I am extremely oblivious to these sorts of things." He gave her a sheepish little grin and took her hand and gave it a small squeeze. "I'm guessing the one sitting in the middle of the table is the new headmaster...but...you know I could be wrong."

Marcus gave her a wink as he nodded his head towards the end of the table. "The young red head seems to be full of life though" he chuckled as he picked up his goblet and took another sip.

Look out Annie!!

You has some serious competition.

Constantine leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. He happened to glance at Iliana just as she was throwing him a questioning look. He tossed her back a little shrug before turning away to glance down the table. There was that Tate person. The rest of the new crew he didn't recognize at all.

Sitting at the Ravenclaw table he felt a bit jittery like...he wanted to go do something. He kept glancing up at the Staff table and at all the shiny new professors. Time to make yourself known Vorkosigan. With a grin he grabbed Fia's hand, not wanting to be apart from her, and headed towards the Staff table. As he reached the table his grin widened and he looked around making a specific stop first in front of the new Headmaster, "Hi! I'm Miles one of the Ravenclaw Prefects. Just wanted to welcome you to the school." He looked young. Might be a fun Headmaster. Pulling Fia's arm he pulled her next to him and smiled, "And this is Fia." Maybe he'd go say hi to all of the professors...but he wanted to say thanks to Vindictus he hadn't really thought he'd made such an impression as to made Prefect. Looking at the Headmaster he held out his hand in greeting with a grin.

Professor Kade. At least Gabriella knew for sure now which of the two men was the Headmaster and which was the professor. The Kade man seemed a bit reluctant to introduce himself to her, but then again, she'd found most of the men at the table a little on the quiet side. Maybe they all just happened to be the type of person you had to get to know first---the type that stays quiet when you first meet them but turns out to be really outgoing later on.

"Charms...I've always liked Charms...being a Healer and all. Charms and Potions, to be exact," she said, trying to say something, anything, to carry on conversation. First meetings were always so very awkward. "So how long have you been teaching here at Hogwarts?"

Another quick glance down the table showed Gabriella a few more staff members she had yet to meet. That brought the grand total of unknown colleagues to...ohhh, just about the entire staff. She'd been sitting here for a while now and only knew two people by name. It wasn't like she could have done this any differently, though. It'd have been odd to just stand up and make one big announcement---"Hey, everyone! I'm Gabriella Ashford!" Psh, yeah right. She'd just stick to eventually making the rounds and getting to know everyone little by little.

Cela was curious about the new faces at the staff table, she was all ready to go up and say hi. Sooo... she did.

She was pleaaased to see Miles up there too considering he was her co-prefect and stuffs.

Where was Kazimeriz and why was that guy sitting in his seat?

She pouted just a little.

It was sad that Healer Avalon was gone and Pro.. Mister Truebridge, but she was still essited to meet the new faces.

Cela moved up to stand by Miles and Fia, just a little in front of them.

She smiled brightly at the new staff people, addressing them all since they were all sitting nearby each other.

"...And I'm Celandine." No need to introduce herself as prefect, her badge made it pretty obvious.

Hummm.

They were kind of cute.

"It's my pleasure, Healer..." But she'd already lost interest in them and engaged someone else in conversation.

That was... fine. He wanted to continue to stare at the students. A little fear never hurt anyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by druidflower

"You'll always be older than me." Two months to the day, to be specific. Well, sorta. Long story.

"And smarter and braver and taller and handsomer and..." He responded, keeping his voice low. Oh, Kade. Honestly, he wasn't sure he could do this and stay sane without Kade around...

Something he would never admit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinn-O-Bun

Sitting at the Ravenclaw table he felt a bit jittery like...he wanted to go do something. He kept glancing up at the Staff table and at all the shiny new professors. Time to make yourself known Vorkosigan. With a grin he grabbed Fia's hand, not wanting to be apart from her, and headed towards the Staff table. As he reached the table his grin widened and he looked around making a specific stop first in front of the new Headmaster, "Hi! I'm Miles one of the Ravenclaw Prefects. Just wanted to welcome you to the school." He looked young. Might be a fun Headmaster. Pulling Fia's arm he pulled her next to him and smiled, "And this is Fia." Maybe he'd go say hi to all of the professors...but he wanted to say thanks to Vindictus he hadn't really thought he'd made such an impression as to made Prefect. Looking at the Headmaster he held out his hand in greeting with a grin.

They were being invaded by Ravenclaws. First the male prefect and then the female prefect showed up. Tate leaned forward on his elbows, an amused smile tugging at his lip. Rawr. Attack of the eagles.

"I would have expected the Hufflepuffs to show up first," he admitted. "I'm Ca..." He glanced at Kade. "Headmaster Tate. I suppose you can get away with calling me Tate behind my back if you'd like. I'll look to you to help the new students settle in and to report any situations to me."

Ahem. He gave both 'Claw prefects a steady look. "Directly to me."

Jack never usually visited the staff table, but ever since he had become Head Boy he had decided it was time to pay the place a visit once he got to school (yes, he had been thinking about this the whole FOUR WEEKS that he had had his badge. He had too much time on his hands during the summer).

But what had intrigued him the MOST was the fact that the lady he had walked to the Leaky Cauldron was UP THERE! He had nearly flattened a staff member! Like--how EMBARRASSING was that?! He waited until he saw other students approaching the table before he nervously walked up there, heading towards the new staff members in particular. Bunbury and Kazi and Lawson and all the regulars knew him already, but he'd still say hi. It was only polite.

He smiled at Cela and Miles. "Hey guys!" he said happily. They didn't deserve to be ignored even though he hadn't necessarily come up to talk to them, yes? He was happy they were up here, actually--he hadn't wanted to be the first student to approach the table. He was not even close to being that confident yet. Hehe. He'd get there, though!

Now, erm...what did he say?

"Hello...I'm Jack. Umm, Jack Fritzera. Head Boy. I just wanted to come up here and introduce myself and just...say a quick hello and welcome you to the castle," he said with a smile. Wasn't that what Miles had just said? Ahh well. Don't blush...whatever you do DON'T blush. You're not allowed to, anymore, Head Boy! He then looked over to the blonde woman from Diagon Alley...what was the best way to awkwardly bring up the fact that they had met before?

"Hello again," he said with a slight chuckle. Hmmm, he wondered where she would be in the castle...charms? Divination? The Hospital Wing? The Library?

Fia felt herself being dragged towards the staff table. Her eyes scanned, looking at all the new faces...and then there was her name. "Hiiiiii," she sang with a quick wave of her fingers and a bright smile to match. Still happy. Still...Fia.

OHHHHH! There was her favorite Quidditch Professor of allllll times! her only one, andddd....andddd there was Mr. Mastersonnnnn...andddddd....Ohhhhh! Professor Lawson andddddd....the Creature lady. YUP! Professor Morgan?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Professor Kade. At least Gabriella knew for sure now which of the two men was the Headmaster and which was the professor. The Kade man seemed a bit reluctant to introduce himself to her, but then again, she'd found most of the men at the table a little on the quiet side. Maybe they all just happened to be the type of person you had to get to know first---the type that stays quiet when you first meet them but turns out to be really outgoing later on.

"Charms...I've always liked Charms...being a Healer and all. Charms and Potions, to be exact," she said, trying to say something, anything, to carry on conversation. First meetings were always so very awkward. "So how long have you been teaching here at Hogwarts?"

Inquisitive little thing wasn't she?

Must be her youth. She'd grow out of it. Be weary and bored after she'd seen enough projectile vomit.

"First term at it. I guess it's the same for you then?"

Another quick glance down the table showed Gabriella a few more staff members she had yet to meet. That brought the grand total of unknown colleagues to...ohhh, just about the entire staff. She'd been sitting here for a while now and only knew two people by name. It wasn't like she could have done this any differently, though. It'd have been odd to just stand up and make one big announcement---"Hey, everyone! I'm Gabriella Ashford!" Psh, yeah right. She'd just stick to eventually making the rounds and getting to know everyone little by little.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"It's my pleasure, Healer..." But she'd already lost interest in them and engaged someone else in conversation.

That was... fine. He wanted to continue to stare at the students. A little fear never hurt anyone.



"And smarter and braver and taller and handsomer and..." He responded, keeping his voice low. Oh, Kade. Honestly, he wasn't sure he could do this and stay sane without Kade around...

Something he would never admit.



They were being invaded by Ravenclaws. First the male prefect and then the female prefect showed up. Tate leaned forward on his elbows, an amused smile tugging at his lip. Rawr. Attack of the eagles.

"I would have expected the Hufflepuffs to show up first," he admitted. "I'm Ca..." He glanced at Kade. "Headmaster Tate. I suppose you can get away with calling me Tate behind my back if you'd like. I'll look to you to help the new students settle in and to report any situations to me."

Ahem. He gave both 'Claw prefects a steady look. "Directly to me."

Ha. Go Casey! The mild to moderate stare! Good for staring contests, feigning interest in Professor Stockwell's class, and scaring young children.

"I'm only giving you taller. And you've only got me by an inch," JD grumbled. Okay Casey was easily braver, but he wrote that off as a lack of survival instinct.

Gryffindors! Pffft!

After smiling at Jack, Cela made a slight face. The new Headmaster obviously wasn't a Ravenclaw himself. Didn't he know that they absolutely had to KNOW stuff? Starting with who the new faces were of course!

Besides... why was HE Headmaster? Cela looked around in obvious confusion for a second and then when he continued to speak Cela blinked.

Report to the Headmaster?

"I usually... um... report?" Like a spy?? "...Report... to Professors Vindictus and Kazimeriz sir." She explained earnestly, untouched by the bossman look. "I just wanted to come say hi."

Antonio was running a bit late, at least he thought he was. He rushed towards the staff table, noticing there were at least half a dozen other staff members who were here already, including the brand new Headmaster who he had only met briefly. At least the welcoming speech hadn't started yet.

With a nod towards each of his peers, he took a seat. This term should be interesting, he was teaching a new subject this term, something which he was just as much fascinated by as he was with Muggle Studies - Divination. He hoped it would be a fun and exciting year.