"Yeah?" Jake responded, looking round like a rabbit who'd just been offered some nommy treats.

Wait... now he was confused. "I did return to my seat, Professor. But then I came back after the speech...es," he explained simply. "I didn't disobey you."

As for being rude, well, Jake was quite frankly insulted. "And I wasn't being rude. I called him sir like I was told to and I think we all deserve answers to these questions."

'Twas true, yo.

He still wasn't used to being called 'Morgan' just yet, either.

Although he shouldn't have come to the great hall this way, or dirtied up napkins, Hecate wasn't someone who was afraid to get dirty. She took his mostly clean hand and shook it. It's not like she was eating dinner. "That smells like plain muggle potting soil. I have a potion you can use to increase fertilization. If you wish, I could send it to you."

"I'm sure..." she said to her. "Are you alright?"

"Oh..." she said and smirked. "I think I remember where I have heard your name." She said and glaced to Ikenna and back to Chad. "How is former Minister Reagan?"

... She had been too distracted by Tate and Gevrik to notice if the boy had gone and come back.

She turned to Moretti and said. "He's one of yours..."

Was away y'day. Just gonna dive right in here.
 

Paying much more attention to the feast speeches than typical, Madam Donovan turned her head towards the new speaker and eyed the man suspiciously. Something about him seemed familiar. Not his face... but more his demeanor. He had a way about him. Like the type that used to frequent her parents' place.

Without warning, Kimber stood from her seat. "I must go check on my kids," she reported, excusing herself from the table.

Lily nodded twice, as if deciding. It was now law. Of some sort. "I will. I plan on writing her tonight anyway, I will be sure to add your regards as well."

Ah, proper.

Lily smiled again and lifted her glass as well, to return the gesture. There was a lot of conversation going on down that end, and no room for more talking.

He was in a familiar seat, though. Was that Lexi's seat? Hmmm...

Lily turned her smile to the children on the other side of the table, and nodded, "I'm sure we will be seeing each other soon. Enjoy your evening, Treyen, Ellie."

She kind of got distracted, or possibly lost as the man spoke. She thought on the day in Diagon Alley, when she met him, and that meeting he had invited her to. The one that she had dragged Lexi along with her, so she wouldn't have to be by herself.

The man that Evander did NOT like, and had made rather clear by not actually saying much about. He was always secretive about things, though by not saying anything, he had said a lot.

She wasn't quite sure what to make of it yet.

Having been lost in her own thoughts, it took Lily only a second to rouse from them, and be present again. "I'm sure you will get answers to your questions, Mr. Morgan, though, perhaps not in the timely way you would prefer." She motioned to the Hufflepuff table with her chin, "For the time being, you should rejoin your housemates, and enjoy your night, yeah?" It wasn't a question, and it wasn't a suggestion, it was a decision.

Besides, did he really want to get on Hecate's bad side?

Lily didn't.

Hmmm... too bad. She thought to herself and then said. "I assume you are from France? Or are you from another French speaking country?" She asked him.

Small talk...

Fun...

Hecate turned and saw Kimber standing and leaving for the Gryffindor table. That's right. She was now head of house. She seemed... oddly... upset.

Really?

That's all she was going to say?

No... point loss? No... detention?

... No hexing?

Hecate nodded to the woman. If it would make Jacob leave it will have done it's job.

WHAT?! And they called JAKE rude?!

Jake's eyes narrowed furiously behind his sunglasses and he glared at Lafay, forgetting she couldn't see him. HE wasn't ONE of ANYBODY'S.

Enough of that.

And... why would he be 'one' of the nurse's? That was just bizarre.

Jake could only stare for a little while, suddenly very confused by what was going on. "Why, Professor? I am merely having a conversation, as plenty of other students are with other professors, without them being sent away."

Like children.

"Our distinguished guest hasn't complained about me yet. Nevertheless, despite having done nothing wrong, I will leave," Jake told her.

Well... he would. In a moment. After Ikea spoke. It was, after all, rude to say something to someone and leave without giving them a chance to respond.

And the staff were big on manners.

"And, ma'am, I would much prefer being adressed as Jake. My last name... it's a delicate subject. Would that be alright?" he added. "Please?"

For the very first time, he was suddenly struck with the thought that maybe the staff percieved him as being rude... may as well put them right.

"And, Professors, I do not intend to be rude. It just seems to happen." Jake turned his head towards Truebridge as well... they'd work out he was more like the man than they realised.

Yes, quite so. She was sure. No more trouble than any of the other houses anyway. "Oh I'm fine, thank you. Just a few first day nerves. Nothing that won't go away." Once I've eaten. Candy on a previously empty stomach might be the real problem. Maybe she shouldn't have skipped lunch.

This boy was certainly determined to stay there. He was right to be curious, of course. Things were different to how he knew them. Different faces, names. Isabelle would have been surprised if there weren't anyone asking questions.

Not that she wanted to butt in, but he had addressed the rest of the professor's as a whole. "Jake, is it?" she smiled, leaning forward in her seat. "Your Head of House is correct," she WAS the HoH, right? Ohh Issy really needed to get to know more people. "Perhaps if you wait until tomorrow, after the feast, when everyone has had a good dinner and a decent nights sleep, they might be more inclined to answer your questions? Mr Gevrik included." But don't take her word for that one. She didn't know the man.

Lilyan glanced down the table, seeing no other students around, but him. She raised her eyebrow at the boy, as if to relay this information to him. The other students have returned to their tables.

"I will respect your request, if you would respect mine." Lilyan could call the child whatever she deemed so, and so far, he had not listened to Hecate, or herself, "And since you have not, I feel less inclined to do so. You may not intend to be rude, but you are not obeying, and that is rude."

So.

"Since you have not returned to your table as requested, I will be taking points, and, Professor LaFay may care to take hers as well." Lily didn't care, he had started with the woman, it seemed only fair that she would get a piece of it as well. Lilyan acknowledged the other woman, who was trying to help, but the time for civil negotiations was over.

The truth be told, Lily didn't really care if the kid wanted to stay, but the simple fact that he had refused to leave when told, negated her caring completely.

"I am." She said trying not to look over at Jacob Upstead-Lawson-Morgan-whatever. "So what do you think of Hogwarts so far?"

She turned and looked at Jake... if he left now... no point loss... if he opened his mouth again... points. He glared at the boy.

He gave a grin. "I used to go to this school, Madame. I was a Gryffindor some...21 years ago." Ouch. He just dated himself. "I am quite glad to say that not much has changed apparently. What about you? How long have you been here?"

Huge post! O_O
 

Oh really, he could say it? Somehow he doubted it. Not the part about biting his head off, no, he wasn't going to let THAT happen but still, she probably wouldn't be exactly too pleased. "I won't challenge you. Let's just leave it at that." He therefore replied with a small knowing yet slightly mischevious grin. This was certainly interesting - and maybe useful - to know about Isabelle.

Okay, maybe she wasn't THAT evil after all as she promised him not to go shopping with him, or force him to go shopping with her rather. "Do you think going for a drink would be likely to end up in a shopping spree?" Jeremy joked with a grin, while at the same time offering for them to meet up for a drink some time. She was certainly entertaining to be around. Heh. He simply shrugged innocently at her pat on his arm accompanying her somewhat doubtful reply.

Without having yet taken a bite it he gestured at Isabelle with his licorice wand as she asked what exactly it was that was that horrible about shopping. "How much time do you have?" Jeremy chuckled lightly before reaching for his drink once again to take a sip. "You know, I really think that each shop should have something like a bar or a café attached where the men can go to while the women do their shopping." He stated truely with a small grin, showing that he wasn't completely serious. Or was he?

It really was good to have his other neighbor back, whatever had kept her from being on time. "Well, it was rather spontaneous really. My sister and I moved in together. And we're still not done with furnishing the apartment. Well, I would be but Alysson keeps on buying more and more stuff." Not that she got rid of the old ones either. No, now they had about 5 couches in the living room, because they totally needed that and all.



YES!

Treyen was now looking at him instead of Hecate. Go him. And it seemed Hecate hadn't noticed either. "You sure?" Jeremy automatically replied as the boy claimed to be fine, which he obviously wasn't. Unless, being fine normally meant behaving like this for Treyen. Who was he to know. "Yes, it was, thank you."

Oh no, apparently his gaze had lingered on Hecate's face for a little too long after all. The way he was asking about Preston made it quite obvious that a) he hadn't known about him leaving and b) he had been quite fond of the professor. Which therefore would mean he wasn't going to be too welcoming to Isabelle at first.

As Lily seemed to answer the question for them Jeremy briefly let his eyes flicker towards Isabelle again who looked rather taken aback by the whole situation. And who could blame her? He gave her a quick smile trying to keep her from thinking this was her fault.

Oops, she had noticed his longing gaze resting on the cookies she had brought. Oh well, she should take it as a compliment. Heh. "Why thank you, Kurumi." Jeremy grinned at the adorable little girl while getting up from his seat a little, so he was able to see what the cookies looked like. Oh they were shaped like the four Hogwarts houses!

Since he hadn't gone to Hogwarts he didn't really have a special 'bond' to either of the houses so he practically chose the one which looked the best. Bleh, they all had animals on them. With another grin for the girl he took a Gryffindor cookie mainly just because it was closest in his reach and settled back into his seat.

Oh and now she was sorry eh? Well maybe she should have thought of that BEFORE making him nearly choke on his juice. Had there not been that many people between them Jeremy would have probably stuck his tongue out at her but then again with all those other people probably noticing he refrained from doing so.

So in the end he only rolled her eyes at her teasingly before shifting slightly in his seat so he could face the Headmaster who had just risen to give his speech.



Jeremy glanced at the new person in Max's seat, Mr. Gevrik, as Tate mentioned him and his position and reason why he was at Hogwarts. Not however why he was sitting in the Deputy's chair. Something about the man made him feel a little uneasy. He certainly didn't look like he had come here to make friends. Scary person.

It is, of course, your own responsibility to way those things you hear against your own conscience and make decisions that are right for yourself. The way the Headmaster said this made him frown slightly, curious as to why he had felt the need to include those words.

And then said 'guy' got up himself to give a speech. What did they need a 'Special Security Liaison to the School' at Hogwarts for? Oh, and he explained, finally. Or something. Hang on, there had been a FLOODING at the school?! And an underground FIGHT club?! Oh wow. That was just...wow. Okay, maybe they did need some additional security. Maybe. Not sure they needed it from this guy.

Creepy guy.

Kimber was leaving?! He couldn't quite keep the surprise off his face as she simply got up from her seat and went to talk to the Gryffindors. Well, he supposed it was her duty but she had chosen a quite interesting moment to do so. Glancing after her for a moment he mentally shrugged it off and moved his attention back to the other people who hadn't left.

Okay...so now he was squinting too, which made Maya raise an eyebrow. Pft, what did he have to squint about. And now he was laughing?? Was he laughing at her, because if so, that was just rude.

Pursing her lips, the Mexicana was just going to drop this whole 'conversation', but when he mouthed something else, she got curious. What was he saying??

'I can't understand...' she mouthed back, lightly touching her head, as if that would explain her words...or trying to connect with him telepathically. Hmmm. 'You'... Point to him, '...no...' wiggle of finger, '...make any sense! And then she proceeded to sort of point at her own mouth. How that must look too him, she had no idea, but Maya definitely thought that would make sense.


And there was Miss Sylvie. Maya thought she was one of the normal one's too. She gave her a smile, wondering when she would get to talk to the young woman after the feast since she had barely done so last term.

Ah.
Yes, indeed, this man was a fun one. Maya would probably get along with him just fine. So, did she chase students? "Ofcourse." She let a small smile on her lips and shrugged, "But not not away from pumpkins." That was the groundskeeper's job, right? And the owl? "If I find anyone not giving a creature the respect it deserves..." There was no hint of sarcasm or jesting in her expression now, "...I won't be a happy woman." Oooh yeah, she'd keep an eye on everyone in this room. Could you put security cameras out on the grounds?

Well, I can agree with that. The exams were probably too easy... Hmmm.

Visit? Visit Italy? With Professor Josephina Hadley?
This jolt of suspiciousness made her more alert. Was this woman...tricking her? But why? And what for? Same questions? Probably. But the Mexicana quickly tried to relax and smiled, "I'd love to." Ooooh, "There are some quite interesting creatures in Italy I'd love to look at." Yes she would, not to mention seeing the country aswell.


Maya was about to ask her something about that country, but was interrupted by no one other than Tate. Ay, finally. They would get their food!
She listened- well more or less, and waited and waited. Didn't clap because she didn't want to...and right when the Mexicana thought they would get to eat, this other man stood up and started speaking.

To say she was more suspicious of him than she'd been before was assuming that the hoof of a piglet was small. Yes, yes it is small and she was very suspicious. But oh, a security person? Her eyebrows went up when a thought popped into her head... Was he here because of the Tournament last year? Was he here to make sure it didn't happen again?? Oh, that would be bueno!

Her thinking made her miss whatever else the dark skinned man said, and suddenly everyone was clapping. Again, Maya didn't clap, but she did give him approved nods.


So...food now, si?

Max, Hecate, Baron & Jake. anyone else who cares to notice his discomfort.
 

"More than you know." Truebridge repeated, the epitome of calm. Some people spent so much time reaching for the stars that they end up with their head in the clouds without even knowing it. Better by far to let someone else do the reaching, and then when the time was right, make the stars they caught your very own.

He glanced at the Baron again but wasn't about to try to make polite conversation in front of others. No he'd always gotten along better with the ghost without others around to interrupt.

....................

Ethan Truebridge choked on his drink a little bit. It took him a few moments to recover and he was very close to just getting up and making an escape but he was peripherally aware that Jake was... nearby being Jake, and that was enough to keep him from leaving right away.

He coughed and got his breath back and then after a moment of silence, hidden behind his shades still, he managed an answer.

"....no."

Ethan looked over at the boy.

"Jake." He spoke simply. "My office. Directly after the feast."

And if any more was said about the marriage.... thing, by anyone? Well, Truebridge himself would be disappearing up there right away.

Marriage.

He was going to have a panic attack. Surely, surely Annie had no such expectations? Surely? She'd never said so at least...

Katie looked up at the new professor, so this was Truebridge? She smiled at him, "Hello Professor Truebridge, I'm Katelyn Star, I've heard great things about you" Katie said, she remembered Torin telling her how awesome he was. :D

Hmm?

"Torin Kane?" Hufflepuffs always seemed to like him for some reason. Not that he minded he supposed, but at least this one, as the robes made it clear, was a Slytherin.

"Nice to meet you Katelyn. Greatness has ever been thrust upon me as it were." He paraphrased Shakespeare and nodded a greeting from behind his sunglasses.

Droo & Con
 

It all happened sooo fast and now Ethan was about to have a severe panic attack in front of the entire school.

"Way to go, Hecate - you said the 'M' word!" Max exclaimed and he leaned back in his temporary seat. "As you can see, Ethan can barely handle the thought - no, the mere mention of that word. So let's drop it and discuss why Hufflepuff isn't in the negative. Are you getting soft on us?"

"It is, indeed," he said, nodding. "Lesson prep, actually, though your offer gives me an idea."

He paused, though, as the Hufflepuff kept on keeping on, and let his eyes wander to the other professor who seemed to choke on his tongue at the mention of marriage. He made a small amused noise, before turning back to Hecate, noting that the Hufflepuff was still there.

At first sign of a break in conversation, he jumped in again, hoping to not step on others' words. "Your offer does give me an idea, though, Professor. I don't like to discuss business over meals, but I would like to speak with you at some point about that potion."

"Then send her regards, but I think love would have been more amusing. Perhaps only if I was there myself to witness it," Tate mused. Perhaps it was a bit cruel to speculate about the lovely and volatile Bunbury, but Tate was actually fairly fond of the woman.

"I know you're doing that silent judgment thing, Zan, but I've decided that I don't care." Or only a little bit. He couldn't care about everyone's opinion of him, so he was settling for Ikenna and his compatriots, followed by the students. Or was it the other way around?

"Dakest..." There was only a hint of warning to his tone, as well as a hint of amusement. Really... all these years, and the boy still needed to get his elbows in on the very first day. Some things never changed.

"Thank you, and welcome back to you. I want to see you in my office tomorrow or the day after, please. The gargoyle will be expecting you."

"Upstead," Tate sighed over the monstrous scene the boy insisted on making. "I sincerely doubt anyone objects to questions, but it is the timing, tone, and persistence that lead us to believe you have less than innocent intentions. Just give it a rest, lad."

*rearranges* (to Ikea as well)
 

"It is," Jake replied, turning to face the other professor. Maybe it was good that his attention was off the same people for a minute... Jake knew he would be unable to control his temper if it flared. And he didn't wanted that.

"Head of House?" the young man repeated, looking at Moretti again. ANOTHER new Head of House... when did that happen?!

"Perhaps..." Jake repeated, looking at Ikea again. What to do?

WHY was he getting an eyebrow raise? Could she not see Kurumi, Nymphy or Ellie?

Fine. FINE! Fine.

"Thank you, ma'am. Though it seems we have a different interpretation of rude," Jake shrugged. "I'll respect your opinion."

In a minute.

And... "Points?"

Jake turned and looked back at Lafay, not saying anything. Not at all.

Nnnnope.

Give it a rest? Fine. Jake would.

Because HE wanted to. Being himself didn't work, nor did his attempt at being civil.

FAIIIIIIN!

"Very well. And my name isn't Upstead."

It was JAKE. And only Jake.

He had decided.

"I will give it a rest. And I will visit your office tomorrow. Sir."

Jake may have been an adult... but he was still VERY much a sullen teenager at times.

"Unless you would prefer me to be seen and not heard all year?"

Jerk.

Jake had just opened his mouth to give the entirety of the staff who were against him a piece of his mind... when Truebridge spoke up.

And Jake had a mini-heart attack. That... kind of scared him.

The young man closed his mouth, turned back to Ikea and GLAAAAAAAAAARED at him from behind his sunglasses. "I'll try and find you so we can talk another time," Jake spoke quietly. "Sir."

And with that, he turned properly to Truebridge and did what most of the staff had no doubt been waiting for for so long. "Yes sir," he said quietly and took one step back away from the table, even though he hadn't asked him to leave.

Well... if they were taking any points, he'd prefer to be there to hear it.

"A Gryffindor? Let's see... I would have been a third year when you were a first year... And I would have been head girl while you were a fifth year..." She said smiling, "I tended to keep to Slytherin though."

"Your sister?" She said narrowing her eyes, "I couldn't begin to live with my sisters, or my brothers for that matter... we don't get along." She said and shrugged. "I'm glad you do."

Uhmmm she didn't really like the sound of that. But she let it go. She glared at him when he choked on his drink. Really? What a cliche... men who are afraid of commitment.

"Really Max? You can't say marriage?" What was wrong with men. "I guess I'm not afraid of it... what with having gotten married three times." She said and shook her head.

"Let me know when and I'll be happy to come to the greenhouse and discuss the potion." She said and nodded.

That boy was not leaving. "Very well, Master Morgan, I am deducting twenty points for disobeying every member of the staff who has asked you to return to your seat. Now I suggest you go."

Jake only shrugged.

"Alright," he replied. Points were, quite simply, points. He'd leave even though he hated going mid-conversation.

As he turned and stepped down from the dias, Jake forced his hands into his pockets. He was still a Lawson, and detested being called Morgan for some reason. He missed the old name.

"Very well. On my way."

Seen and not heard. They had rid of him, which was, of course, what the staff always preferred from him. Clearly.

Jake would make his rounds to the offices later.

"Merlin's Beard, woman! I told you not to say that word. Of course I can say it but I'm not going to say it for Ethan's sake. Show some compassion - look at the poor man!" exclaimed Vindictus as he gestured at Truebridge.

Kristiyyeenn, Colleyh, Clawz and sortofConn. <3
 

Loopholes. He'd come across a number of amusing ones in his life, and Jared personally thought he could see enough in the Ministry's laws to cause its fall at the hands of someone that had enough of a brain and an interest in a fall. Perhaps Mr. Gevrik should be more concerned about that.

Then again, he didn't know the man. Not enough. Not yet. Jared preferred not to suspect unnecessarily.

Her laugh caused him to smile lightly. She had a perpetual advantage there, an added perception, but it did not bother him. Felt fine, if anything. Their abilities, polar opposites, did balance each other in an odd sort of fashion. "Extreme sports," he offered. "It's always more fun if you might end up unconscious," he added jestingly.

Healer Moretti. Jared gave her a polite smile but, since a certain Jake had decided to make his presence known and she seemed inclined [like half the staff] to tackle his behaviour, he did nothing else.

The smile she had given him earlier once again, amused, not at all forced. That must mean she enjoyed chasing students. "From your office?" He asked, a lazy, little grin playing around his lips. "I've been told to expect traffic." He could not say he did not like having a little time on his own.

The seriousness in her tones was a clear indication that she believed in respecting magical creatures. Excellent. In Jared's opinion, they could remain on a mostly good footing just from that. "I can understand that," he said, a little thoughtfully. "It seems we share a love for magical creatures. I assume there's a creature nursery here?" He had yet to inspect the grounds.

Truebridge looked like a panic attack hovered directly above him. Jared, having caught enough - though not much - of the conversation going on there, had to suppress a grin, though his lips twitched.

Poor man. Jared could empathize.