"Sore. Old. Like me," he grumbled and gave the shoulder a little jab with his fingertips. "I should be back to normal, Lil, not grunting and wincing like some arthritic old man."

And it wasn't so much that it was her fault as that he had confidence that she could fix it and was choosing not to do so.

"Thank you," Tate nodded at the young man. "And you also. Have a safe, enjoyable summer."

"I think I chose wisely. Your party thing was a rousing success. You leave big shoes to fill." Tate gave the Slytherin girl another polite nod. Polite polite. He was so so polite.

"I suppose I better be sure Cari actually likes sand and things before I drag her off to the desert," Tate growled a bit over the idea. Not of asking the woman's permission, but of taking her somewhere she would be uncomfortable. The boy was fine... he deserved to be uncomfortable occasionally, but Cari didn't need the stress.

"How can you forget that? It's... the whole point of things." Don't die was more than just a rule. It was a mantra. A lifestyle.

Sigh. Men. They really were her worst patients. They either never admitted to the pain, or they WHINED about it. Sigh.

"Even with magic, healing depends on how cooperative your body is, and I suppose your body is just as stubborn as you are." She grinned. It was all in good nature, though.

The woman produced a potion bottle and held it out to him, "I'm so nice that I brought this for you, it will make you feel better." She barely managed to keep away from the baby talk, and gave the good shoulder a pat.

Man up, Tate.

Tate gave his speech after cavorting with his testosterone friend. This was boy's club, if it wasn't Vindictus, it was Truebridge... Ugh...

"Thank you," she said taking her bag. Could have been something potion related in it.

Yeah... the charms professor was very pretty... very pretty indeed...

"Congratulations Miss Browne. I know you will make us proud."

She took another sip of water and looked around.

Rae made her way up to the table where once again, Prof Chaud, and Professor Bishop were sitting next to each other. Sigh, brush it off Rae, brush it off. She gave a short nod to Professor Bishop and a small smile, letting her know she was acknowledged and they were still on good terms for now. Then to Prof Chaud it was more of a WIIIIIDDDDEEE grin. Hey hey there good lookin' Rae had to quiet her thoughts down, because of course she couldn't say that aloud. "Hi Prof Chaud! I'm sorry I wasn't too great with my Charms this year, but I'm REALLY hoping for some Charms help before I take my NEWTs next year.... I guess I'll have to step it up and put in some hard labor to get a good grade.. Don't worry Prof Chaud, I'm really gonna try. You can expect me in your classroom everyday if that's what it takes!" Heh, yeah, and that's what it will take all right. You've been forewarned Prof Chaud... Everyday.

Kyle smiled to Professor Lafay, "Your welcome Professor" she smiled brightly the girl was happy really happy and oddly enough she was of the breed of girl who always gave a teacher something at the end of the year.

Sucking in deep breaths of air, Emily managed to relax a little. YATI! YATI! YATI! she thought to herself. Yes she would miss Hogwarts but there were always going to be other things, possibly better things that she could fit into her life. .. Graduating wasn't the end of the world... it was the beginning of the next chapter. And Emily knew the next chapter was already going to be brilliant, she could feel it.

She turned to Professor Saylen, she had been a terrific Care of Magical Creatures professor. She would miss the classes, though she couldn't say the same for digging around in poop....... hhmmm
"Thank you Professor Saylen, I really enjoyed your classes this term, they were brilliant. I hope you have a great summer and good luck for next term."

Emily smiled, good... things were good.
"Thank you Professor, I'm sure it wont be long till you're reading about my successes in the Daily Prophet." She smilled mischeviously. Oh yes... she had ambitions. Sensing the professor was taken aback by her comment about herbology.. of all the subjects he taught , she added. "I thought I should also mention, your flying lessons were great this term to.... Sir I was just thinking... promise me you'll keep an eye out for Jacob... I think the win has gone to his head a bit. I wouldn't want him to hurt himself- or anyone else for that matter."

"Thank you Professor... I will certainly do my best. Hope you have a good summer break and goodluck for next term."

The staff table had become a tad crowded, as several more students arrived. Selecting a dish, Jared spooned some of the contents into his plate. Emily chose this moment to address the staff in general, and he nodded to the Ravenclaw as he replaced the ladle.

"Good luck in your future endeavours, Emily."

He gave Kyle a light smile as she thanked him, before turning his attention to Rex. "I don't doubt it," he grinned, as the Gryffindor expressed his certainty that Jared would find a lot of things to do. That he would, even if he did not accept a certain, standing offer. "Enjoy the feast." He gave the young man a light nod as he took his leave.

Now that the crowd around his side of the table had thinned a little, Jared finally applied himself to the contents of his food. His and Renée's conversation had a rather halting touch to it, punctuated as it was by a series of other conversations but, bearing the start-of-term feast in mind, Jared hadn't expected anything else. He supposed she hadn't, either; and, as she spoke, he found himself grinning at her two-word remark.

"You never said they could, either," he pointed out. "Omissions can be dangerous, mademoiselle." The grin continued to lurk.

The Little Human had a victorious little glint in her eyes.

Best not ask himself why.

"I don't think you're supposed to take authentic candid shots of your professors," Jared pointed out. Professors beings professors and all.

One more? He hadn't expected that question, and it came as a mild surprise. Jared considered it.

"Only if you admit it's possible to fall off the top of Mount Everest."

Grin.

Catching Hecate's gaze, Jared raised his goblet to the Potions Mistress - a greeting being out of the question, considering the distance and din.

Given all that had happened during the term, he ought to have been prepared for this. But, Jared - being Jared - had hoped nothing of this sort would occur and hence, was not. One of his faint smiles returned Rae's gigantic grin. He'd gotten used to the nickname, but that might have been the only thing he had gotten used to; because, by the time the Slytherin had finished speaking, his smile had disappeared.

Must. Remain. Calm.

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.

"I'm pretty sure you'll be able to tackle the syllabus if you concentrate, Rae." There. That sounded normal enough.

Finally managing to eat a bit of her chicken, Renée had continued wtaching as the table was visited from all sorts of students, both graduating and otherwise. It seemed Patroclus was having a panic attack not far from where she and Jared were seated, due to the conversation between Josephina, Isabelle and Professor Saylen, but she stayed quiet. That only reminded her that she'd not gotten to know her colleague very well and now the woman was leaving. It was upsetting. hearing the voice of Emily was oddly calming, though, and she turned to the Ravenclaw with a smile. Swallowing her food first, of course. "You're very welcome, Emily," she replied, sensing the emotion in the girl welling up and hoping they could ease it all. End of term was always stressful, especially for the graduating students. "I'll miss you as well, and I hope you do amazingly in whatever you go on to do."

And then Renée turned as Kyle took her leave, smiling at the girl again. "Yes, go enjoy your meal," she said with a slight laugh. The goody bag had been spirited off to her robe pocket as well, to be investigated at a later time. Hopefully the other students hadn't devoured it all before Kyle could get back. She doubted it, but there were a few students who might try. Perhaps she'd be able to enjoy her own food as well, if the visits truly tapered off because of it all. She had her doubts as to that as well.

Renée wasn't about to dismiss those who had already come over quite easily, though. They had every right to be speaking with her and the other professors, even if the praise and gratitude made her feel on the spot again. as such, she smiled at Nika as the little Gryffie continued with her excited speech. The chicken could wait a tiny bit longer. "That's nice to hear, Nika. I'm glad you enjoyed them, and I'll hope to see you again next term," she replied. When she'd hopefully have come up with more interesting topicss regarding Divination to discuss. It would take some thought. "All you need to do is focus and practice, and you should do fine." In any subject. It was good advice, given quite graciously, and she hoped the girl took it to heart.



It seemed more students had spoken to Jared than herself, but Renée chose that as time to eat a bit more of her meal. She was listening to everything, though, out of habit. Especially when it came to jared, as anything could end up as part of their conversations. She knew he was aware of that, but there was no need to tip the students off. So, eating. At least until the next time she was addressed, and that came rather soon. She grinned at Jared, letting him have his unsaid point. "Very true," she replied, taking a moment to glance over as he'd raised his glass and smiling at Hecate down at the other end of the table. There was another colleague she hadn't spoken to much, but she figured that had more to do with being at opposite ends of the castle. She hadn't speant much time below the first floor, and beyond meals, she hadn't seen Hecate above them often. Other than reportedly in the grounds, but never wherever she'd been wandering.

Turning back to Jared, she'd grinned again. "Now, where were we? Omissions being dangerous, I think," she continued, setting her fork down again. She could go back to her food in a second. "They could be, but then, when have we been afraid of that?" At least metaphorically. She knew he didn't exactly have a track record for avoiding dangerous situations, at least. "But anyway," she added, intending to ask him about what he hadn't been saying to Rex about his summer. But it seemed that conversation needed to pause, as Rae had chosen that moment to appear. Interesting, she thought, returning the girl's nod with a smile, choosing to stay silent for now. It was much more amusing watching the girl give Jared a bit of a panic attack, and she found herself lightly resting a hand on his arm to hopefully ground him, before going back to her meal. Shortly before he'd spoken to Rae, and she had to hide another smile. He'd handled that rather well, even if she knew it wouldn't affect Rae's crush much. The girl would hang around if she wanted, and it had little to do with Charms.

Benjamin reluctantly walked into the Great Hall and headed straight for the Professor's and other staff table. For once, he wasn't nervous as he walked up to Professor Lafay.

"Good eve, Professor. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate all that you've done for me over the year. If it hadn't been for you, I'd still be the freak with all the dark runes covering my body. And I probably would've still been too closed and pent up inside that I never made any friends. So, thank you very much." He bowed to her and stood up straight. "Oh! I almost forgot. I have this for you." He stuck his hands in his pockets and pulled a small vial out of his robes and laid it on the table in front of her. "This is for all of those potions you had us make. I went above and beyond the boundaries of a first year and made you the Draught of Living Death. It's in this vial. I figured you'd like to have something back to remember a student during the vacation. I'll see you next term." He smiled a little and walked back out of the Great Hall to pack his belongings.

"You are welcome." she said.

"I am not sure, Miss Hollingberry. We'll see next term." She said shrugging.

...

She smirked. That's where this conversation, was going was it?

"Not this term, Jeremy."

And turning to the other professors, she left it at that.

"Dungeons are perfectly prim." She said with a shrug.

... She was?

"Healer Moretti," She said with a nod.

"Well, Maya, we'll certainly miss you..." Hecate said without looking at the woman.

Hecate inclined her head towards the student.

"And to you, in the auror office." She said.

She blushed and looked away. It was true. Just because she was on a diet didn't mean she couldn't look at the menu, but it was when the menu looked back that she got nervous.

... "You did, did you?" She took the vial. "Next time go above and beyond a second year's boundaries and earn more points for your house." She said pocketing the vial.

Hmm. "I don't remember ANYTHING about that." Truth.

Ellie chewed on her lip, thinking over this TOUGH...challenge. Should she accept? And admit it?

But...it WASN'T possible. Just wasn't.

"It's possible to fall down Mount Everest." He totally didn't notice the change there, right?

That grin...that was so...tempting. Ellie could just...take the picture now, right? While he was looking at her, and legitimately grinning? Yeah?

Her hands twitched on her camera, indecisively.

Patroclus couldn't believe it, nay he wouldn't believe it!

"Yo no quiero que te vayas..." For some reason Saylen had reminded him of his mother, and losing her was hurting him in a way he hadn't expected from a teacher.

"Pieros will be lost without you, I will be lost without you!" He had helped rear the abraxan, but only so much! "What do I do next?! When will he fly?!" The boy felt a panic attack coming on, but he didn't want it to happen, he wanted to say goodbye, the right way!

"I will miss you very much Professor Saylen!" he would....the school would feel weird without her, like it had when he returned to find Professor Carlton gone, Lawson and Trubridge the first time........ "I hope you will come to vist us again!"

Professor Zoo was awesome (even if he didn't want them to play Rugby). Legend didn't know why but he had half the mind to say he was cooler than Hadley. Not in front of the woman of course, Legend was smart enough to know that females were crazy. And she would not react nicely to that. So, he just kept his thoughts about Zoo being the best teacher in his head. "Professor!" He said in the same exactly tone, with a small smirk. He couldn't help himself! Mocking was just in his nature.

"Yeah! It's gonna be awesome. I gotta get refreshed for my last year here. But like always it's gonna be weird going back in the Muggle world." Extremely weird. At least they had good sports! "What about you? Are you coming back next year?" He hoped the man stayed. Legend hated when Professors that he liked left. Looking over at the Headmaster as he gave his speech, Legend nodded his head slowly. Yeah. The term had been strange. But at least Tate had managed to somehow stop Descoteaux from taking over his job. Or he had in Legend's mind at least.

"No the best gift you could give me is being her next term to help me some more. I know my... condition isn't the easiest to relate to but I really appreciate the fact that you did. So many people I feel wouldn't understand, I don't even understand, but you did. Truly ma'am you inspired me this term to keep moving forward." Selina said shyly. Bishop in a way was the small girl's hero. She understood her like no one else and tried to make her feel comfortable with her ability. Although it would be some time before Selina could accept her role on her ability having a helping hand was always a positive.

Looking down at her feet and squeaking her shoes Selina said, "Ma'am please stop me if this is too forward, but uh if I need any assistance over summer holiday could I owl you? Purely for school sake of course."

Ooh! Another student bearing gifts? Were these students trying to get ahead and be on good terms for NEXT year or were they genuinely being nice? HMM... Josephina watched as the blond Ravenclaw handed out the bags, taking her own as well. She was about to say thank you when the girl had headed back to her house table to enjoy the feast. Instead, she sent a brief smile in the girl's direction before turning back to the bag. Debating on opening it to see what was included in her own bag, she instead set it beside the fortune cookie. More things to do after food.

Excellent. At least she had one student guaranteed in her lessons next term, but she knew there would be more. At least she hoped so. "Excellent. Have a great summer, Miss Adler!" Because you could bet your numbers that Josephina was going to!

Surprisingly? Actually, on second thought, was that just a FLASH of LIGHT?!? Josephina glanced downward to see a familiar brilliant shade of red hair that could only belong to Ellie Stone. Oh well that explained everything for Jared. He had scary, underage females, crushing on him. Similar to her underage male problem, but she imagined his end of the deal was worse. Hormone-induced teenage females were VICIOUS!

"So any plans for the summer?" Besides the obvious famous professor pastime of sleeping.

That was true; Renee certainly had a good point. Hogwarts students weren't all that much more difficult, particular if you had taught before. And she was almost sure the seemingly soft-spoken Divination Professor had, though she hadn't seen her full out resume so she couldn't be sure. Hehe. "Most aren't," she said, agreeing at her with a nod as the woman seemed to have taken liking to the chicken judging from what she added to her plate. Fina decided she'd stick with her potatoes, however, as she was trying a new thing of no meat. "So any plans for the summer?" Like what's in the tarot cards?


Aww! We are so going to miss you, Emily Browne Fina thought as the seventh year Eagle approached her professors and such. Stifling back a few sniffles, Fina willed herself not to cry. Cause you know, she wasn't supposed to get attached and all that. It made things easier. Right?

"Thank you, Miss Browne. And I'm sure wherever your life leads you, you will be fine." Hadley said to the girl, inhaling deeply afterward. Yup. Be good, she told herself. You could handle this.

Overhearing the Transfiguration professor speaking of something about South Africa, Fina tilted her head that way and looked toward Issy. She would have to catch up with the women later it seemed. "If you do go to South Africa, do let me know, Issy dear. I did spend two years there." You know she could offer some useful tips and perhaps some names up for good hospitality.

Mm. And now she was heading back with Jeremy to the other end. Smiling at them, she waved. "Catch up with you both later." Yup, yup. Cause time to continue enjoying the feast now and chat more with Maya . . . for the last time at Hogwarts. Sniffle.

Other fantastic plans? Naw . . . her life path wasn't derived of fantastic plans. It was what she made of something ordinary that made it fantastic. "I don't try to make fantastic plans," Fina said solemnly. "But I do try to make anything fantastic." If that made sense. Haha. "Excellent. We shall be in touch then about timing and whatnot for you to come see my hometown." And her artwork of course too! Meet the familia.

Aw shucks. "Hmm?" Sniffle. "I just said ... I'm really gonna miss seeing you up here. So yes, please do come to Italy with me." She smiled at the women. Besides it would totally be better facing the parents with a colleague even if her mother would still be nagging her about why she wasn't married yet.

AWW... The Head Girl was SO sweet! And being soo... sentimental. Was she gonna cry or something? Because if she cried then Hadley was afraid of what might happen. No, she was strong, she wasn't getting attached. Right? Except maybe to the current batch of third years who were first years when it was her first year teaching No attachments.

"Thank you, Miss Malfoy, for a term well-served as Hogwarts Head Girl. I am sure that you will do wonderfully, wherever life leads you. But good luck in your future endeavors." She smiled at the seventh year.

She had a point there, but Jared saw no reason to admit it. The facetious side of things did happen to be far more amusing than simple agreement. "I'd be less concerned about being afraid, and more concerned about a certain mademoiselle's reasons for failing to mention certain things." He grinned, feigning certainty that the omission had been purposeful, not accidental, and the reason was anything but innocent.

It didn't escape Jared's notice that Renée had given Rae a smile. Someone else might have taken that as just another simple gesture but, knowing Rae's semi-animosity towards his colleague, he had a feeling those two had patched things up - or at least, Rae had patched things up, Renée never having treated the Slytherin any differently than the rest of her students - or at least, tried to. Feeling the light touch on his shoulder, he gave Renée a light smile. He fully expected to be teased about the situation later; but, for now at least, she'd chosen to offer comfort.

He could always do with some, in Rae's case.

Hecate Lafay, blushing. Ellie ought to have photographed that. Jared grinned lazily, before returning his attention to his meal.

"It's supposed to be general knowledge." Jared resisted the urge to ruffle the Little Human's hair.

Down?

Your tricks shall not bamboozle us, Little One.

"And off the top of," he grinned.


Setting down his fork for the moment, Jared noticed a familiar figure. Legend Chosen. Perhaps the fact that Tate continued to be Headmaster had convinced the Gryffindor, by now, that Jared's objective had never been to overthrow Tate? He did not get to pursue that line of thought, however, as Josephina spoke again. He gave her a light nod.

"Pursuing an old career, for starters." Having said that out loud, Jared realized he had not just made the decision, but made the right decision. He picked up his fork again. "And may I ask yours?"

No, he hadn't just asked.