When James had approached the staff table and plopped into her seat next to Annie's larger one, she felt... empty. A bit. Could they... get on with the feast and the speech so she could excuse herself to go make a few rounds to see a few select students? In the meantime, after all the terrible events that had occurred, there was an almost painful, forced smile on Erin's face as she made a point to bid friendly greetings to anyone and everyone who made eye contact with her as they entered the Great Hall. The students probably still needed a friendly face after the last week's dementor ordeals, so she would do her best to make them feel better.

She was glad to have Annie, though, for her own sake.

There'd been a great inner debate as Medea made her way down to the Great Hall. A lot of suddenly turning and walking back to her office before she forced herself back down to the down floor again. The end of term feast was a celebration. One that she didn't feel worthy to even show up for. Keeping to the wall and gaze focused on the floor all the way up to the staff table, the defense professor quickly slid in her proper seat and made herself as small as possible.

Granted, the days after the dementor event the week before had been enough time to figure things out and remember certain incidents that happened, but what bothered her the most (apart from the horrible occurence with their lovely groundskeeper) was she was still unable to produce a patronus. Couldn't when it was needed and couldn't now, when it wasn't needed. To the point of obsession, it was always on her mind. It was exhausting.

This was going to be a long feast.

No.

Just no.

Airey Flamsteed did not want to be here nor did he feel like celebrating. Not only was his ego still severely bruised from the events of last week and the fact that he had seen a dementor's kiss, but he was out of clean suits to wear. Without the house elves doing the laundry and without the energy to portkey to muggle London from Hogsmeade recently, all his suits were either dirty or, eh. Suiting up just took SO much effort.

Still, he owed it to the seventh years to be here at the feast. Last term's feast had been somewhat sad, but this term he knew the graduating class much MUCH better and....could he just curl up in a ball under the table and cry now?

And speaking of kisses....

Airey sort of did an awkward sideways shuffle against the wall as if doing so would help him blend in better and Medea might not notice him. Since he had not felt like going anywhere recently, he had had a lot of time to think and reflect on the term. And...yes...women...confusing... He was glad Calista wasn't here yet. At least he had time to mentally prepare himself. Sort of. Not really.

He nodded his head towards the Flying instructor and continued to fail!ninja his way over to his seat, nodding oh-so-awkwardly towards Medea as he unceremoniously collapsed into his seat.

No smile. No pranks. No Fancy Feast cat food. Just him in his seat wishing he were somewhere else.

Steadily throwing his cane in front of him, Botros climbed up the dais and spotted the only two other colleagues seated. He was surprised that he was one of the first to arrive, he'd been always the late one (what with the staircases playing with him all the time and all), but today was apparently different. No one seemed to be vibrant and lively with goodbye emotions like the term before, the attack last week had drained everyone - no exceptions. Even his Cruppie sulked often in his corner and refused to play with his toy bone.

Having dealt with so many losses in his long life, the seventy-seven years old was at peace with everything that happened. He was immensely troubled and sad, but also coping and managing to nod and smile at professor Flamsteed, Romanos and James. He dragged his chair to the back and fell onto it, balancing his cane beside him.

Peyton sort of awkwardly adjusted her robes as she sat in her assigned seat at the staff table. She felt sort of guilty for coming and going so quickly, but...it was for the best. She'd been offered a promotion she just couldn't refuse and would be returning to the Harvesting Center she'd called home for so long. She'd sort of miss that hut, though.

In ways. I mean, it was a hut.

She looked out over the growing crowd, knowing this would be her last time in this Great Hall for a very, very long time. Would she even have a need to ever return?

Hecate was sitting in her usual seat, sipping on her water, her eyes looking towards the Slytherin table... and maybe occasionally to the Hufflepuff table, but mostly to the Slytherin one. She sighed... it was getting harder and harder seeing her students leave, just as they were excelling... Guhhhh... She wasn't supposed to care about them.

This was going to be a long, sad evening, wasn't it? No one had to tell the Headmistress that she was going to have an empty seat beside her at this feast. And soon enough, the seat on her other side would be empty too.

How depressing.

The redhead let out a soft sigh as she lifted her skirt and climbed the dais. She settled into her traditional position beside Erin, saying nothing and yet everything with just a sad smile. This was weird. This was so weird. She was just going to have to avoid look left all evening, okay? Because. She looked down at her stupid cheap plasticware instead, unwrapping it from its stupid plastic wrapper and letting out a huff of frustration when the plastic snagged on a fork tine. Ugh. Stupid fork, stupid plastic, stupid poor school. This had kind of been the worst school year ever.

This year's End of Term Feast had to be, in Callie's time at the Castle, seemed to be the one she most dreaded. The obvious and well-deserved sadness left behind by the unfortunate events pertaining to Alistaire were still in high effect and her colleagues and the students alike were all rather depressed. To add to this were the few Staff members who wouldn't be returning next term because of other, less drastic reasons, and the fact that Medea had been so distant since the dementor attack she wasn't sure how sitting beside her all night would turn out. And lasty but not least this would be one of the first times she and Airey had been in the same room for more than ten minutes since their kiss in Hogsmeade--that is if he even showed up.

So yeah, total bummer Feast.

The blonde made her way to the table at the head of the Hall wearing a dark teal dress that reached her knees and had with long sleeves. Her bangles jingled as usual but the sound somehow didn't sound as sweet.

Callie flashed Airey an awkward smile and tried to wave at him. He wasn't wearing a suit which was very significant. He almost NEVER didn't wear a suit. She wondered what was wrong but figured he wasn't about to talk to her about it. Instead she passed by him and went around the back of the table to find her chair but not without first placing a hand on Botros's shoulder in greeting.

Once she arrived at her chair she slipped in around the arm and turned to look first at Erin, the warm and loving Quidditch Official and Flying Instructor. It was a hard night for her no doubt and of course she was going to want to spend a lot of it with Anastasia who Callie had heard attended school with Erin. She smiled at the woman and placed her hand on the older lady's and squeezed. "It's been so nice teaching with you Erin, don't be a stranger now, you'll at least write, won't you?" With that the Headmistress also received a polite nod.

Elwood refused to look passed the red-head to the....empty chair.

The Divination Professor turned back to the brunette sitting on her other side. "Medea, I'm glad you came." Her friend received a hand squeeze too. They all needed one really.

After being away for so long, Seren felt it was only right to make an appearance at the end of term feast. To recognise her colleagues and the great loss that had befallen them. The rumours of what had occurred had gotten out, and she was horrified, mortified even at what she had missed. Childbirth wasn't a walk in the park, but she'd choose it all over again than face a dementor attack... poor Firth. And only to add to the pain, knowing that others would not be returning.

Stepping up the the dais, Seren offered her colleagues a respectful nod, opting for a "Good evening," to those closest to her, offering Annie a halfhearted smile.
Taking her usual seat, she peered out at the sea of students.

It felt strange, and lonely, not having Derfael with her, resting him on her chest, in her arms, or on her lap... but she wasn't about to risk exposing him to the crazy that Hogwarts just couldn't shake. It gave her peace of mind knowing he was at home safe with Aron and her mother. Entertained, fed and rested.

Crinkle crinkle.

Fiddling with the plastic her spoon fork thing was in, to at least ease her thoughts onto something else besides failure, she didn't notice the staff starting to arrive until they sat down. Airey being the first. Her cheeks burned as she suddenly turned her gaze forward and not at allllll to her right.

She managed a weirdly angled nod towards Botros though, slumping a little more in her seat as she did so. And Peyton, well, thank Merlin for her arrival and where she seat was. The familiar jingle of bracelets though... her face was going to be permanently red after tonight. Medea began fiddling with the plastic with determination now. Maybe Callie wouldn't speak to her. Goodness, she'd avoided the woman for the past week, along with everyone else-

GASP! She was spotted! And captured!

___.......

_SHE KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWS!

Callie KNEEEEW! It was the only explanation! "Iuhniceseeahermyea...okay..." Slumped even more in her seat, Medea froze.

It was the feast of so many ends.

As more professors join him at the staff table, he nodded his head to each of them and tried his best to offer each a smile. But it was so HARD when he did not feel like smiling. He once again found himself jealous of Old Man River, but this time because of the old man's tranquil appearance. When Peyton showed up, he thought about asking her how the lint roller had worked out for her when he suddenly felt the urge to lint roll his clothing himself...only when he reached for it he remembered that he didn't have it on him. Because he wasn't even in a suit.

Oh yeah. There was some wibbling going on, but he somehow managed to nod his head at the Potions Mistress. THIS WAS ALL YOUR FAULT YOU KNOW!

Things only got WORSE when the Headmistress showed up. Pet rock ABANDONER! He still hadn't found Pebbles and he had tried over and over again to drag himself over to the quidditch pitch to look for her. He got as far as the staircases and then became too exhausted trying to time his descent with their constant moving. Or Peeves would show up and go chanting about his golden underpants. Or a feline monster would appear and he would hide in his office cowering in terror.

Oooooooooh blazing comets there she was.

Airey sort of just FROZE when the Divination professor made her appearance and just STARED at her like an awkward middle school boy at a school dance. What should he do? Say hi? Say bye? You say goodbye and I say hello? Wave? Salute? Thumbs up?

In the end he didn't end up doing anything but stare at her.

And then Medea was blushing and trying not to look his way and Calista was talking to her and it was all so overwhelming and he went to loosen the tie around his neck only it WASN'T there because he had no suits to wear and suiting up was too much effort and Pebbles was missing and he was probably going to break his spork again and this time the groundskeeper wouldn't be there to take points away give him looks for doing it because his SOUL had been SUCKED out and then the two women at the table were making him feel uncomfortable and squirmy and he was afraid to open his mouth because he had TWO TEETH MISSING because Erik had PUNCHED him in the face and now his two front teeth were in his pocket because he wanted to see if Cece could fix him but now she WASN'T here and probably wouldn't show up because the school was POOR and her hours were cut and...

"AND POOR PLUTO IS SO LONELY ORBITING OUT THERE IN SPACE BECAUSE IT USED TO BELONG TO THE COOL KIDS PLANET CLUB BUT THEN IT DID SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND WAS REJECTED!"

And then his forehead connected with a loud THUD against the table while his hands were rested palms down on either side of his head. OH THE HUMANITY!

...and after that outburst, it was truly a relief to be sitting at the opposite end of the table from Flamsteed. If his chair had been any closer to the pajama-wearing man's, Erik might have taken two more of his teeth out. Just for fun.

He had only attended this feast out of pity for the school staff's loss, really, though there was nothing anyone could have done to save the groundskeeper anyway. He still believed the man should have been able to save himself. He was an adult, he had been armed, he hadn't even eaten any of the ice cream all term as far as Erik knew. What had gone wrong then?

The Norwegian shifted in his chair listlessly and looked out at the tables of students. The sooner this thing was over, the better. He had things to do.

Hecate rolled her eyes at the astronomy professor's outburst...

She knew it hadn't been the ice cream to make this one weird...

She turned and saw Vinteren at the table. She nodded to greet the man. At least there was one sane male professor at the table.

Botros was tapping his fingers on the table patiently, watching the students chatting and getting settled in their seats. His young colleagues seemed to be unusually silent and solemn, but it was understood. Even he didn't let his eyes linger on the empty seat by the Headmistress. Instead he focused on watching the kids, and drumming his fingers on the wooden surface...

... Until the Astronomy professor snapped causing the old man to literally jump in his seat. MERLIN, he almost had a heart attack! What was with Pluto so suddenly? He gave the CoMC professor a puzzled look, trying to see whether she got what that was about before turning his attention back to the students. The man obviously was suffering.

Tap...taptap...tap...taptap....

After dropping off Oakey's gift, Cece made her way to her seat at the staff table. As she passed Hecate she noticed her glance towards the puffer table. "Looking at anyone in particular over there," she asked with a mischievous grin. Yeah, we know things about you Hecate. You can't keep secrets from me.

"Mr. Vinteren," she greeted the man as she walked past him. She then took her seat next to Seren. "Hello Seren, glad to see you could make it to the feast. How is your little one doing?" And did the woman have pictures?

She didn't bother looking to her right since there was no one sitting there. Well, the Headmistress was there, but she wasn't right next to her. No, once again that seat was empty. It was as if that seat, or that position were cursed. In the five terms that she had been here there had been three different groundskeepers. Four if you want to already count the new one that will be coming in next term. That is if they could even find someone willing to take that position.

Josephina normally enjoyed feasts. Especially ones where there was NO tie between her golden badgers and those slithering snakes. But today, she was lethargic in getting ready and no matter what she tried on didn't seem right. Not even her go-to black dress. Finally, in desperation, she through on a pair of nice jeans and a black tunic. Surely the Headmistress wouldn't notice, since at least she finished the outfit off with some classy boots. Seriously though, she just wasn't in the mood to dress up tonight.

For one, she had several Hufflepuffs graduating tonight who she was going to deeply miss - Head Girl and Head Boy to start, plus Jory. Though she should be a pro at this by now. Seeing students graduate and whatnot. Except that it got harder as the years went by, because she got to see more students graduate who she remembered when they first started as first years.

Two, there was an empty chair halfway down the table that would remain throughout the whole of the feast. And that was just ... well she liked Firth. Why couldn't such a thing have happened to Hecate? No, not really, because she didn't wish a dementor's kiss upon anyone. But why Firth?

Why?

And why on Earth did Airey have his head against the table?! Slipping into her chair, she hesitated a moment before poking his upper arm. Wake up? Please?

"What? Oh..." she said looking to the student tables. "Just making sure everyone is behaving themselves... What a good Head of House would do..."

Yup...

Cece grinned down the table at her friend. "Right. Just being a good Head of House." And watching out for students at other house tables, like the Hufflepuff table.

Wow... perhaps this wasn't the best time to visit. In fact, perhaps she should have just waited for the next term. But no, then she wouldn't get the opportunity to see the graduating seventh years, and that would have been a shame.

Everyone was... sad... depressed even, and it was slowly but surely getting to her. End of term feasts were supposed to be light hearted and fun, not.. miserable. A quick glance down the staff table, and then out at the sea of students confirmed this. Was there anybody in the hall that was remotely happy?

"Cece," Seren greeted semi-brightly as the school nurse arrived. Cece didn't seem quite so down, this was good. Progress?
"Really really well... he's such a trooper," she replied, smiling now. "I'm only sorry I had to leave him at home." Being away from him was proving to be more difficult that she'd imagine. Producing a small photograph she placed it on the table between them. The image boasted an animated Derfael laying on his back, arms flailing.

It was still cold in the great hall. At least it was to Ivy, but it might have just been the terrifying memory of what had happened just a few days ago in that room. She was quite ready to go home.

Arms crossed, Ivy walked across the room, still paranoid that dementors would burst through the doors at any moment, ready to make them all relive their worst memories all over again. Fear aside, she stepped up to the staff dais, giving her fellow governor only a quick glance before sitting in her seat without acknowledging anyone else.

Leo headed quietly into the hall on his way to his seat he passed Botros and squeezed the older man’s shoulder compassionately saying. "Evening, Abraham!" He knew very well what was on the ancient rune’s professor’s mind. Shaking his head he continued down the table past the very empty chair to Annie’s right. Leo hovered there for a moment or two before he walked down and slipped into his seat next to Vinteren. He flashed everyone a weak smile. "Good evening everyone!"

Could they get this sad feast started?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Crinkle crinkle.

Fiddling with the plastic her spoon fork thing was in, to at least ease her thoughts onto something else besides failure, she didn't notice the staff starting to arrive until they sat down. Airey being the first. Her cheeks burned as she suddenly turned her gaze forward and not at allllll to her right.

She managed a weirdly angled nod towards Botros though, slumping a little more in her seat as she did so. And Peyton, well, thank Merlin for her arrival and where she seat was. The familiar jingle of bracelets though... her face was going to be permanently red after tonight. Medea began fiddling with the plastic with determination now. Maybe Callie wouldn't speak to her. Goodness, she'd avoided the woman for the past week, along with everyone else-

GASP! She was spotted! And captured!

___.......

_SHE KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWS!

Callie KNEEEEW! It was the only explanation! "Iuhniceseeahermyea...okay..." Slumped even more in her seat, Medea froze.

It was the feast of so many ends.

WHAAAAA?

Callie didn't exactly catch what it was that Medea said but she guessed it was a greeting? But why in Merlin's beard did her friend look so horrified. The experience with the dementors, although terrible and in this very hall, the blonde had expected her to be okay a week later. Not happy or anything since it seemed no one really was but okay at least.

What was she supposed to do? "Medea are you alright?" She whispered as to not bring any extra attention from the other people at the table or nearby students.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

As more professors join him at the staff table, he nodded his head to each of them and tried his best to offer each a smile. But it was so HARD when he did not feel like smiling. He once again found himself jealous of Old Man River, but this time because of the old man's tranquil appearance. When Peyton showed up, he thought about asking her how the lint roller had worked out for her when he suddenly felt the urge to lint roll his clothing himself...only when he reached for it he remembered that he didn't have it on him. Because he wasn't even in a suit.

Oh yeah. There was some wibbling going on, but he somehow managed to nod his head at the Potions Mistress. THIS WAS ALL YOUR FAULT YOU KNOW!

Things only got WORSE when the Headmistress showed up. Pet rock ABANDONER! He still hadn't found Pebbles and he had tried over and over again to drag himself over to the quidditch pitch to look for her. He got as far as the staircases and then became too exhausted trying to time his descent with their constant moving. Or Peeves would show up and go chanting about his golden underpants. Or a feline monster would appear and he would hide in his office cowering in terror.

Oooooooooh blazing comets there she was.

Airey sort of just FROZE when the Divination professor made her appearance and just STARED at her like an awkward middle school boy at a school dance. What should he do? Say hi? Say bye? You say goodbye and I say hello? Wave? Salute? Thumbs up?

In the end he didn't end up doing anything but stare at her.

And then Medea was blushing and trying not to look his way and Calista was talking to her and it was all so overwhelming and he went to loosen the tie around his neck only it WASN'T there because he had no suits to wear and suiting up was too much effort and Pebbles was missing and he was probably going to break his spork again and this time the groundskeeper wouldn't be there to take points away give him looks for doing it because his SOUL had been SUCKED out and then the two women at the table were making him feel uncomfortable and squirmy and he was afraid to open his mouth because he had TWO TEETH MISSING because Erik had PUNCHED him in the face and now his two front teeth were in his pocket because he wanted to see if Cece could fix him but now she WASN'T here and probably wouldn't show up because the school was POOR and her hours were cut and...

"AND POOR PLUTO IS SO LONELY ORBITING OUT THERE IN SPACE BECAUSE IT USED TO BELONG TO THE COOL KIDS PLANET CLUB BUT THEN IT DID SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND WAS REJECTED!"

And then his forehead connected with a loud THUD against the table while his hands were rested palms down on either side of his head. OH THE HUMANITY!

Oh yeah, that wasn't awkward or anything Airey.

Elwood gave the Astronomy Professor a quick, sort of hurt look before turning her gaze from him. She took a big gulp of her drink and tried to look anywhere but the blonde man. Even when he shouted about Pluto not being a planet anymore.

She was tempted to point out to him that Pluto, for the majority of the human races' time spent on Earth didn't even know it existed so that it was classified as a planet for a minute time in history so he shouldn't be that upset about that. Especially not NOW when he was the one who just snubbed her and didn't even wave or smile at her.

That's not how you treated someone who kissed you...someone who was your friend!

HMPF.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

After being away for so long, Seren felt it was only right to make an appearance at the end of term feast. To recognise her colleagues and the great loss that had befallen them. The rumours of what had occurred had gotten out, and she was horrified, mortified even at what she had missed. Childbirth wasn't a walk in the park, but she'd choose it all over again than face a dementor attack... poor Firth. And only to add to the pain, knowing that others would not be returning.

Stepping up the the dais, Seren offered her colleagues a respectful nod, opting for a "Good evening," to those closest to her, offering Annie a halfhearted smile.
Taking her usual seat, she peered out at the sea of students.

It felt strange, and lonely, not having Derfael with her, resting him on her chest, in her arms, or on her lap... but she wasn't about to risk exposing him to the crazy that Hogwarts just couldn't shake. It gave her peace of mind knowing he was at home safe with Aron and her mother. Entertained, fed and rested.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The1HBIC

After dropping off Oakey's gift, Cece made her way to her seat at the staff table. As she passed Hecate she noticed her glance towards the puffer table. "Looking at anyone in particular over there," she asked with a mischievous grin. Yeah, we know things about you Hecate. You can't keep secrets from me.

"Mr. Vinteren," she greeted the man as she walked past him. She then took her seat next to Seren. "Hello Seren, glad to see you could make it to the feast. How is your little one doing?" And did the woman have pictures?

She didn't bother looking to her right since there was no one sitting there. Well, the Headmistress was there, but she wasn't right next to her. No, once again that seat was empty. It was as if that seat, or that position were cursed. In the five terms that she had been here there had been three different groundskeepers. Four if you want to already count the new one that will be coming in next term. That is if they could even find someone willing to take that position.

Needing a distraction, Calista stood up from her chair and made her way quickly to the other end to see the returned Herbology Professor. "Oh Seren, it's good to see you. How's the baby?" Callie gave the Healer a smile and a nod of greeting who was also talking with Seren, oh and was looking at the picture?!

Callie perked up a tad and looked at the photo in Cecelia's hand. "Aww he's adorable. You and Aron did well."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Vinteren

...and after that outburst, it was truly a relief to be sitting at the opposite end of the table from Flamsteed. If his chair had been any closer to the pajama-wearing man's, Erik might have taken two more of his teeth out. Just for fun.

He had only attended this feast out of pity for the school staff's loss, really, though there was nothing anyone could have done to save the groundskeeper anyway. He still believed the man should have been able to save himself. He was an adult, he had been armed, he hadn't even eaten any of the ice cream all term as far as Erik knew. What had gone wrong then?

The Norwegian shifted in his chair listlessly and looked out at the tables of students. The sooner this thing was over, the better. He had things to do.

Sitting nearby were she stood talking to Seren and Cece was Erik. The man still interested her but he was pretty stand-offish at the moment. So she didn't say anything to him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Droo

Hecate rolled her eyes at the astronomy professor's outburst...

She knew it hadn't been the ice cream to make this one weird...

She turned and saw Vinteren at the table. She nodded to greet the man. At least there was one sane male professor at the table.

The Potions Mistress seemed in an okay mood, apart from the death glare she sent Airey. That was normal for her anyways.

"Evening Hecate." Callie greeted her with a small wave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

Leo headed quietly into the hall on his way to his seat he passed Botros and squeezed the older man’s shoulder compassionately saying. "Evening, Abraham!" He knew very well what was on the ancient rune’s professor’s mind. Shaking his head he continued down the table past the very empty chair to Annie’s right. Leo hovered there for a moment or two before he walked down and slipped into his seat next to Vinteren. He flashed everyone a weak smile. "Good evening everyone!"

Could they get this sad feast started?

On the way back to her chair she saw the Librarian joining them. She had only breifly seen the man in the Great Hall during the dementor attacks but she had rushed off to try and find Medea and Airey and to get as far away from Alistaire as possible.

"Good evening Leo." She gave him a quick smile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahlooo

It was still cold in the great hall. At least it was to Ivy, but it might have just been the terrifying memory of what had happened just a few days ago in that room. She was quite ready to go home.

Arms crossed, Ivy walked across the room, still paranoid that dementors would burst through the doors at any moment, ready to make them all relive their worst memories all over again. Fear aside, she stepped up to the staff dais, giving her fellow governor only a quick glance before sitting in her seat without acknowledging anyone else.

She also noticed the Charms Professor had taken her seat on the other side of Medea. Callie nodded at her but didn't say anything. She had to deal with the DADA professor at the moment and Ivy would act as another barrier between Airey and herself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

Josephina normally enjoyed feasts. Especially ones where there was NO tie between her golden badgers and those slithering snakes. But today, she was lethargic in getting ready and no matter what she tried on didn't seem right. Not even her go-to black dress. Finally, in desperation, she through on a pair of nice jeans and a black tunic. Surely the Headmistress wouldn't notice, since at least she finished the outfit off with some classy boots. Seriously though, she just wasn't in the mood to dress up tonight.

For one, she had several Hufflepuffs graduating tonight who she was going to deeply miss - Head Girl and Head Boy to start, plus Jory. Though she should be a pro at this by now. Seeing students graduate and whatnot. Except that it got harder as the years went by, because she got to see more students graduate who she remembered when they first started as first years.

Two, there was an empty chair halfway down the table that would remain throughout the whole of the feast. And that was just ... well she liked Firth. Why couldn't such a thing have happened to Hecate? No, not really, because she didn't wish a dementor's kiss upon anyone. But why Firth?

Why?

And why on Earth did Airey have his head against the table?! Slipping into her chair, she hesitated a moment before poking his upper arm. Wake up? Please?

She had almost missed that Josephina had arrived ith all of her fussing over Airey's behavior and the way Medea was acting. She waved quickly to the Arithmancy Professor and called down, hoping that Airey's head would stay donw. "Evening Fina, congratulations on the House Cup for Hufflepuff."

His cool eyes roaming around the Great Hall caught the nod from the Potions professor, unintentionally interfering woman that she was. He returned the nod stiffly.

Pigs could fly. Miracles were possible. Or else the suspicious Healer was actually in a good mood.

"Ms. Tillstorm," Erik replied levelly, doing his best not to seem too shocked that he was greeted by name by the woman.

Erik was also looking for a certain someone and was, to a degree, relieved to see her looking okay when she finally came to the staff table. He gave her a tiny, tiny encouraging smile, and then went back to staring at nothing.

This snub didn't go unnoticed, however, and even though Calista was addressing someone else, Erik leaned in to greet her anyway in the hopes of bothering her some. Had she seen Firth's demise coming? Heh heh heh.

"Good evening, Ms. Elwood." And was that Professor Bentley? She received an almost warm smile. "Seren. How are you."

Shyly, Annabeth approached the staff table. It's now or never. And she couldn't even think about "never" as a possibility. She swallowed. After putting her best grin on her face, she said, looking over the table:

"Thank you, Professors, for all you have taught me during this, which was the best year of my life. I'm very proud of being a Hogwarts student. Thank you very much."

It should be enough to call their attention and look kind. They needed not know that an horde of Dementors seemed to be like cute puppies if compared to her own family. And she wasn't there to snivel about her life. She was there to try to change her life once and for all. She needed a job. She looked at Professor Lafay and said:

"Er... Excuse me, Professor Lafay. May I ask you something? I wish to propose something to you." She crossed her fingers behind her back and grinned. Hopeful the teacher wouldn't take too long for giving her some attention or the girl would get cramp in her cheeks.