Hecate sat at the table, looking at her tea cup. She saw reminisces of her summer in the cup. Not in the leaves... Merlin no, she did not understand Divination in the least, she was simply daydreaming as she looked at the now cool drink.

Madam Donovan was so busy STARING at the Gryffindor table that she barely noticed the others around her. Some of her students she was happy to see. But there were others... yeah, not so much. She did NOT want the repeat of problem children she had last term.

Finally pulling her eyes away for a moment, she sipped at her ice water and turned to offer the Potions Mistress a smile. But... okay Hecate was being weird.

"Is everything okay?" she asked softly, leaning slightly towards her.

Gemma smile out into the crowd of students. She was sure that her excitement shined around her like a bright aura of some sort. She really didn't understand that aura stuff but she was sure right now her's would be a bright neon blue with all of her excitement.

She glanced slowly up and down the table taking in everyone and trying to size each member of the staff up. She recognized a few faces that she was sure had been at Hogwarts at the same time as her. And, of course, she recognize the Headmaster...everyone would recognize the Headmaster.

She grabbed her glass and took a little sip. As she sat it down, she checked her reflection in the glass to make sure that her teeth weren't orange or something and continued staring out at the excited students. She could remember her years at Hogwarts so vividly.

Hmm. Tate surveyed his domain with a raised eyebrow before turning his attention to the professors sharing his table. Ah, a new one.

"I swear this lot is likely to burn a hole through the students with the way you're all staring," he commented, addressing Cerulean directly, although the comment was just as much for Madame Donovan as anyone else. Since she seemed determined to glare her way through the feast.

Connor walked up to the professor's table. He bowed low and then rose and said. "My name is Connor Corun and I am a transfer from Drumstrang, A 5th year, and I was just sorted into Slytherin house. I was wondering which of you is my Head of House." he asked politely

Quietly surveying the students as the filtered in through the doors of the Great Hall, Josephina was quite pleased to see some of her favorite students sitting there, along with a handful (or five) excitable new faces too. Glancing down the staff table - the only way to glance seeing as like all years except one, the Runes Professor's chair on other side remained vacant still.

Staring? Huh? Who was staring at what? Distractedly taking a sip from her water goblet, she almost missed a Slytherin student coming to introduce himself and looking for his head of house.

Yea. Someone needed to come talk to her, but with no Maya, Fina had no idea really who was going to still be her on her side of the table. Renee and Jared would still be here, right?

"Hmm? Oh." She said coming back from her daze... "Yes. Of course." She said and rolled her eyes at herself. "I have a lot on my mind..." She told her colleague.

Hecate leaned over to Kimber and smirked. "I thought he told me no more fires..." She said not bothering to whisper.

Hecate looked down at the child, a look of pride on her face. "I am the Slytherin Head of House Master Corun, I expect a lot from my students, few achieve my expectations. I hope you are up to the challenge."

Gemma was awaken from her thoughts, and..staring by the Headmaster's comments. She turned towards him with a smile and a little giggle, "Sorry guilty as charged....but I guess it's not so bad since I have a smile on my face....you know with a smile the students will never see the flames coming, they'll just sneak up on them.." she said with a little shrug of her shoulder and a mischievous smile hoping that someone else would like her pretty lame joke... "I guess I was just taking it all in and remembering being in their shoes...so it wasn't so much as staring as it was just gazing at nothing...." had it really been that long ago...

"Hello all." Lilyan Moretti found her seat, but not before sparing a smile at everyone who was present at the table so far. Extra big smiles today. Had a good summer, well, heh, yes, as a matter of fact, she had.

After taking her seat at the long table along the dais, Seren peered out across the great hall at all the students. She had a gentle nervousness in her stomach, like small butterflies. Grinning broadly she delighted in scene in front of her, pouring herself a tea.

She was very much looking forward to her time here at Hogwarts. Seren turned to look down the table at her colleagues, she recognised Headmaster Tate of course, and Fina, Jeremy, Jared and Hecate... yes it was nice in a way- it soothed the nerves, knowing she wasn't entirely alone nor entirely new.

Seren payed particular attention to the Ravenclaw House table. Reminising on the days she sat there, enjoying the food, the pumpkin juice, and the company.

"I hope that I meet your expectations Professor LaFay. I shall do my best to meet your expectations. He smiled at his professor and bowed respectfully to her again.

"And I stand by that," Tate glanced away from the women and back towards the students. No setting people on fire. Period, the end, no more story.

"You're a closet Slytherin, aren't you?" Tate grinned wryly at her. She must be with all that talk of sneaking up on people to burn them. "Keep on your feet, Professor. These kids eat new professors for dinner, and they're very very hungry right now."

He nodded at the two new arrivals almost cheerfully before taking a sip from his goblet. This was going to be an interesting year.

Oh there was another familiar face. Waving briefly at Lily who seemed to be greeting all them, Fina noted someone else sit down near the healer. Judging from the smile, she guessed the woman had an enjoyable summer.

Bleh... Why did everyone she know happen to be on the other side of the Headmaster? Where was Renee and Jared? Noting the open spot that remained on the other side of Hecate, Josephina wondered for a brief second if anyone would notice if she slid down to that end.

Taking another sip from her goblet, she sighed and smiled at Seren. "You made it," she called over the head of ... well mostly Tate and Lily (and some empty chairs) since no one else seemed show their faces yet.

Seren had been paying too much attention to the students... and of course the floating candles (they got her every time), when she had overheard a snippet of Tate's conversation with another staff member. Another new staff member at that.
"Oh well they may eat new professors, but I have a whole host of plants which could eat them should they attempt it", she said smiling mischievously.

Seren leant forward a little in an attempt to look down the opposite side of the table past Tate. Smiling at Fina she gave a small wave.
"Oh I did indeed, how are you?"

Gemma tilted her head to the side and her right eyebrow cocked up a little bit and with a smile she continued, "Well Headmaster I have to admit that I've never been accused of being a closet Slythie in my life...you know I'm not mean natured just playful...there's a difference..." she said with a little friendly wink.

She glanced back out at the many faces of the students, "I'll try hard to keep on my feet and keep them on their toes..." she said with a little nod. She glanced at the professor that had mentioned the plants....


"And I'll have to make sure to stick close to this one...just in case I need help with some of them..." she said with a little giggle and nod towards the woman.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy was impossibly packed, and not for the first time ever since he'd sat down--which was only a few minutes ago--MacFusty wondered if the Ministry knew what went inside the institution's walls. Was it truly impossible for them to create another school? It would be easier for the teachers to have less students, and really, the education would even improve. Not that there was anything wrong with the education in general--or that Lachlan was entirely worried about that part; mostly, he was both worried and bemused over the prospect of having to deal with so many brats at the same time.

Teenagers weren't really easy to deal with. Itchy spots weren't easy to deal with it either, so the man rolled up the sleeves of his dark blue robes to his elbows and examined with an air of detachment the small, red swollen spot near the crook of his elbow. Lovely. "Chizpurfles," Grumbled MacFusty in low tones and mostly to himself. Thoughtlessly, he added, "Sons of a Banshee."

A voice near him alerted the Care of Magical Creatures professor that he was not alone and had failed to acknowledge anyone, so MacFusty bit his tongue for a moment and acquired his most dignified expression. There was the Headmaster, talking to a woman he didn't know; there were a lot of women, actually, all of them strangers, but mercifully all the way down to the table. MacFusty gave them all a polite nod of his head and instead addressed to the staff member who was nearer to him--yet another member of the fairer sex, no less. "Hello." How terrible eloquent of him. "Lovely night, is it not?"

Chad plopped right down into his seat at table, right in between Tate and Moretti. Mmm, it was GOOD to be back. Granted, he wished that the summer never had to end, but alas. His eyes glanced up and down the table, seeing the new staff...and the old staff, lingering on one in particular. He then looked out at the student's tables.

Oh look...the Treyen kid. Sans girl? Hmm, interesting...

Vindictus was sitting quietly beside Tate watching the Ravenclaw table with a rather distant expression. The summer had been rather eventful - especially the past three weeks. Maybe he could get his hands on a TimeTurner and fix a few things to everyone's satisfaction (or not). What was done was done and he was in the doghouse at home, and returning to Hogwarts was his escape.

Perhaps he should smile.

Not.

Seren offered the woman a smile, yes it would be wise for new professors to stick together, strength in numbers. "Sorry I don't believe we'e met. I'm Seren, Seren Bentley", she offered the woman her hand.

Oh Merlin! he was still teaching? Seren's smile grew as she saw her former Head of House and Flying Instructor. All those years ago, and yet there he was, still teaching, and still looking as good as ever- more or less. Though he didn't seem to be too cheerful.

Seren decided he needed a distraction. Leaning acorss the table she offered him a smile. "Professor Vindictus", she said giving him a nod of the head. She wondered if he would recognise her after all these years.

Oh figures that would be her luck; just as Fina gets into starting a brief conversation with Seren, more of her colleagues take their seats between them - including the groundskeeper and Professor Max Vindictus.

Leaning back to look at Seren better. "I'm alright. Looking to forward to seeing what food has been prepared for us this year." Because you know, food was such a big part at Hogwarts. "And yourself?"

In the couple gentlemen to take their seats between her and Seren, Josephina had failed to notice the addition of another. Perhaps it could have been the fact that she was so focused on the looking around the other professors that one more in between was hardly noticeable. No matter though because it was the voice, husky sounding that alerted her to the presence of someone near here. Finally.

The someone who was sitting in Maya Saylen's seat, which also alerted Josephina to the fact that this disheveled, brown-haired wizard would be replacing (*sniffle*) Maya as Magical Creatures Professor. But she would be polite anyhow and not judge on his messy hair, since after all, given the position he was in, it was labor intensive. "Quite lovely." Sure. "Josephina Hadley, Resident Arithmancy Professor. And you're obviously the new Creatures Professor..." And your name is? Because hopefully behind the crazed locks he should have some decent etiquette.

Kimber looked back at Tate and flashed him her biggest smile. Silly man. "Nothing to worry about, Tate," she said. "I haven't hurt anyone." Yet. "Besides, can't you see? I'm still wearing my ADORING Head of House hat," she added innocently, trying not to smirk.
Ah, yes. Kimber knew the feeling well. She glanced over her shoulder for a just a glimpse... When she turned back to Hecate she was smiling. "I do hope your summer was enjoyable."

His mind was elsewhere but he recognized the voice. "Oh, hey Seren. When you get back to the table, please remind the rest of the House to behave themselves and no food fights," Vindictus replied without even looking at his new colleague and leaned back in his chair. Maybe he should start a food fight - it would get his mind off of some pressing issues.

"Oh yes, I'm very much looking forward to the food as well", she mused.
Ah indeed the food. Seren remembered the abundance of food at the great feasts when she was a student. And for some reason she always managed to end up with a pile of peppermint hum bugs on her plate beside her mashed potato. Strange as it was, it had been part of her routine here. She hoped they would still serve peppermint humbugs.
"I've been well, greenhouses are all set up, I have a few surprises this term which I hope the students will appreciate."
Oh yes... the kids were in for a treat... or at least Seren thought so.


Letting out a small laugh, Seren grinned at Vindictus.
"Oh Max... perhaps your age is getting to you", she said an amused expression on her face. Though she did remember the food fights. All the memories, how dear they were to her.

Maximus Vindictus showed up and for a split of second Lachlan felt like a flushed sixteen year old with a wounded ego all over again, after a particular dreadful Flying Lesson. As much as he loved Quidditch, MacFusty never managed to master the art of flying using a broomstick much unlike his brother and sisters; Vindictus' presence brought back a string of memories embarrassing enough to make the nearly thirty-two year old clear his throat, massage the back of his hot neck and stammer out a, "Professor Vindictus!" Never Maximus or Vindictus to his face. Ever. MacFusty had already decided referring to him as such would be an impossibility. Clearing his throat again, MacFusty added, sounding less like a startled teen and more like a proper, albeit surprised adult. "It's good to know some things remain the same!"

Except not really. Vindictus and his larger than life Flying skills made Lachlan MacFusty feel inadequate and that wasn't a feeling he was fond of.

He'd just avoid the man altogether.

The voice of the woman he'd addressed to before managed to completely tear him away from the vague memories of his teen years, and blinking a sharp blink, he looked back at her. She was having a conversation with a blonde down the table, it seemed--a blonde who was, too, seemingly at shock at the sight of Professor Vindictus.

It gave him some comfort to know he wasn't the only one surprised, and he had the half-mind to greet her but that would require him to speak louder or even shout, and shouting would be awfully rude. Instead, he focused his attention on the woman who had introduced herself as Josephina, and gave her a short polite nod. "I was horrible at Arithmancy," Commented MacFusty conversationally, and then caught himself. "Wait, no--I was horrible at Ancient Runes. Arithmancy was alright." Not worth all the hours he'd spent locked up inside the Library, though, but he refrained from pointing this out. "Lachlan MacFusty. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."