As the Headmistress rose to give her speech, Tiara adjusted herself to a more regal sitting position. The speech was a formal time, not for slouching as she had been doing. The professor had been sure that Gregoire would be mentioned. During the moment of silence, she reflected on the other bookend feast of the year in which she had been involved with breaking up a fight partially instigated by the boy. She had known then, based on his attitude afterwards and during detention, that he was headed for serious trouble if he wasn't careful - and that was exactly what had happened.

Her heart was sick; she sniffed quietly and blinked rapidly to hold in a tear threatening to wet the tablecloth. How could they - as a staff - have prevented it? Had the discipline system failed him? Or was this just a case of someone determined to ignore attempts to help him straighten up?

But then Tiara noted the change in atmosphere and realized Anastasia had moved on. She managed a weak smile, knowing that several student eyes were sure to be on her neighbor Botros at that moment. As the food began to appear, she made a mental effort to not let such gloomy thoughts darken the rest of the feast. Though we would certainly wait to trek on down to Ravenclaw table until her mood had improved.

Archie had been quiet for the whole beginning of the feast. It was often difficult for him to be so open when amongst all of these exuberant characters. He paid attention to the speech, bowing his head where appropriate when the passing of a student was mentioned.

Finally looking up towards his fellow professors, Archie couldn't help but smile at Airey's energy today. He was clearly excited for summer, as was he. He clasped his hands together and hummed a small tune to himself as he watched the food appear in front of him. Something even more to smile about!

Know something? Maybe...just maybe if he ignored the man, he would GO AWAY. There was Javy sitting between them for assurance and on the otherside Medea and Cassie. Plenty other people to distract from him and that was the way he liked it. This decided, he turned to face the Librarian sitting at the other end. Sensitive hearing came in handy for moments when Airey simply wouldn't...not be himself.

How did he like this first year? It was bloody horrid and he firmly detested half the children. "Brilliant actually! Far more than I could have ever dreamed." He lied with a grin. Couldn't wait to be away from this place in truth. "Positive I'll miss the little buggers over the summer but I'll manage somehow." And so they wouldn't have to spend too long on this lie, Maddox shifted the conversation back to him. "Any summer plans worth mentioning?"

Still ignoring Airey...still very much ignoring Airey, his blue eyes locked back on the smiley Divination Professor. "I see them every weekend and sometimes during the week as well." But even then he missed them. It wasn't the same as being home every day to watch them grow. "We never really make summer plans either, they just happen as we go." What gave anyone the idea that he was organized and lived an organized family life? "See anything useful in my future?" Only teasing but if she wanted to have a go it might shut Airey up when he realizes.

Very very very much ignoring Airey and his proclamation that had Medea prematurely ending whatever it was she'd been saying to him. The man would take that as a no for the hugs--not that Airey needed them with Meredith coming to the rescue. "Just had to humour him, didn't you?" Now the man felt entitled to them. Circe.

And then it happened. In the split second he'd turned away Airey had lunged across the table and gotten hold of him. Thanks for knocking over the goblet, mate, not like we needed it.

T_______T

"Get off." But it was no use, the man was hugging and did so INTO the speech and after. This was...ridiculous...and a lot more Airey than he would wish on anyone. Calmly, Maddox waited out the last of the Headmistress feast and the moment the food arrived there was a loud SMACK that ought to have straightened him out. Wasn't lying when I said I'd smack you." In case that wasn't obvious til now.

OH HUZZAH! An impromptu astronomy lesson for his colleagues. What a glorious time to be alive!

"You ask a MOST intriguing question, Leobald!" Airey chirped as he bounced in place a bit. Questions that he no doubt would most likely cover next term if his lesson focus remained what it was. "You SEEEEEEEEEE, technically the cardinal phases - first quarter, full, last quarter and new - are all momentary events that happen at a PRECISE moment in time and then passes almost as soon as it appears. Quite like asking 'how long does noon last?'. Now, you - oh charming fellow who likes big books and cannot lie - may have missed the first quarter in its purest form...BUT FEAR NOT! The waxing gibbons is equally as breathtaking."

OH AND CULLODEN WAS HERE! Or what was that warm fuzzy inducing nickname people kept calling him? Cossy? Sounded like the name for a fluffy poodle. Or one of those muggle blanket things. The ones that are also a bathrobe or something to that effect. THE COSSY - will keep you warm on those cold winter nights!

OH AND GRANDPA BOTROS! He really out to go over there instead of making the poor man hobble all the way over to him and --

"OH LOOK! IT'S AN 7TH FLOOR PROFESSOR SAAAAAAAAAAANDWICH!" he exclaimed as he wiggled around a bit to make sure that Meri Berry was in between himself and Cassiopeia. And those SNAPS! What a glorious sound! Like, firecrackers of joy bursting and warming the coldest of nights!

"Looks like I am popular with the ladies this evening," he chuckled as Tiara joined them as well. "Come on now, gentlemen. A hug will not take away your masculinity or anything! They don't have cooties."

AND HE KNEW THAT FOR A FACT NOW! WHAT A REVELATION that had actually occurred long ago.

Now on the other side of the table, arms wrapped around Maddox in an affectionate bear hug, he rocked the pair of them back and forth while Anastasia spoke. "That was stellar!" he exclaimed, finally releasing the Charms professor. "Brava! BRAVA! BRA----"

SMAAAAAAAAAAAACK

His cheek stinging from the impact, the astronomer's head snapped back around towards Maddox with his blue eyes wide and in a daze. "That was..." he began, his hands coming in close to his chest. "THE MOST AMAZING SLAP IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE! WASN'T THAT JUST THE BEST SLAP YOU'VE EVER PERFORMED?! It certainly was THE best slapped I ever experienced." Pausing for a moment, the astronomer considered giving Maddox a round of applause, but he thought of something MUCH better. "Snaps to you, professor. Snaps. To. You."

Snap snap snap snap snap.

Hmm? What had that word meant that had just danced off Medea's tongue? OH LOOK FOOD!

Thanking Maddox for his slap once more, Airey shuffled his feet towards his own seat where he did nothing more than grab a large smoked turkey leg from a platter. Using it, the leg, to salute Tiara and Grandpa Botros, the astronomer then hurried around the end of the table and towards the Gryffindor table.

"Medea, you should come with," he called over his shoulder with a wave of the turkey leg. They DID have some announcements and matters to take care of before everyone was ushered back to their common rooms for the night.

Botros was about to reply to Tanner when he saw the headmistress stand up and trying to get the attention of everyone. He looked forward to the general student body whose faces were now all focused on Annie. The great hall fell silent for a moment in respect to the lost student. Botros bowed his head and did a little runic prayer for the boy before they were allowed to raise their heads.

The rest of the small speech was brighter. Botros beamed in the direction of his house's table, giving them a subtle thumb-up with his right hand on winning both the Gobstones and House cups. They were a scary bunch of hardworking, very difficult to defeat. He was very proud of them. Actually... maybe he should go and tell them that themselves. Botros left the brilliantly smelling food and slowly made his way down the dais.

Meredith smiled at Leo but waved off the pumpkin juice. Not in the mood at the moment but the guy was a right gentleman for asking. "Thank you, by the way. It's been quite fun teaching this lot!" The brunette gestured to the rest of the great hall, a cheerful smile playing on her lips. It didn't hurt that she seemed to have a knack for the teaching thing. Her confidence in this particular area was now through the proverbial roof.

Oh right, the summer field trip! Meredith didn't fancy spending her free time with the kiddos as she had one of her own at home who she liked BEST but how nice of Leo to take time out to further his bond with the youth of Hogwarts. "I bet it'll be quite the trip! Make sure you bring some sun cream, yeah?" She nudged the man and then nodded seriously. Didn't need the guy getting burnt to a crisp!

...

Hehehe! Rocketman, pls.

Meredith let out a girlish giggle at Airey's words and gave him another squish before letting the man go. She didn't know where all this joy was coming from but she wanted whatever he'd had, okay? He was excellent entertainment right now and yes, Maddox, most certainly worth egging on. The Charms professor got a wink and a smirk. You're welcome.

...

She was seated again by the speech, one which calmed her considerably, considering the beginning. The brunette had glanced over at Cece and then towards the Slytherin table as the moment of silence occurred. The loss had hurt the Muggle Studies professor considerably, as the loss of a child was something she couldn't even imagine given her own daughter at home. To have been here when something like that happened was hard on her heart and she could only imagine what the snakes must be feeling.

Luckily the second half of the speech lightened the mood a bit, yes?

The former Gryffindor clapped enthusiastically for Hufflepuff, though her eyes did dart towards the lions and she raised her eyebrows slightly. C'mon, people! They couldn't let those badgers get away with this. ...But Botros was cute so Meredith was okay with it, she GUESSED. Though if she was still a student, she'd have been throwing food. AHEM.

"Congrats on the win!" She raised her goblet towards the older man and then watched as he made his way down towards the students.

Guess she could eat now, yeah? Brilliant!

Turning his attention to Cassie he said. "I'll stop by your office and pick you up on the way down." That seemed best. Leo wasn’t certain how long he'd be in the Ravenclaw Tower. Maybe some of the student’s needed an extra nudge to get packing? Smiling broadly he repeated. "Yes, I've got something for you, a present." He was however not going to spoil the surprise even if Leo could tell that Cassie was excited and eager to know what it was.



Eyes flashing over to Tiara he beamed in agreement. "Yes, it’s a wonderful evening. I'm even feeling a bit hungry." Sitting on the dais waiting for the speech always made Leo extra hungry. It came with these festivities. Following Tiara’s gaze to the sky-ceiling Leo replied "I'm going to be one of the leading staff supervisors on the school trip to Loch Ness. And then I've got plans to spend time with Cassie and also Javy and Piers." And well his family but that was only natural. "How about you, any grand summer plans? Will you go on the field trip?"



Leo was sipping quietly on his pumpkin juice as Annie rose to give her speech. As she mentioned Gregoire’s death he followed her lead and bowed his head in silent respect. He looked out over the student tables as the speech continued on a happier note. Even if Leo just wanted to forget this year cup wise since Ravenclaw had finished fourth after a promising start. He knew that Botros must be brimming with house pride and he didn’t discourage him that Leo just couldn’t be super happy too.

As Annie sank down into her seat again and answered his question Leo replied. "Quality family time seems like a good summer plan to me. I hope to do the same after the summer field trip endeavour."



Gaze fixing on Medea once more he had to admit to himself that he had missed her. Smiling he nodded. "I'm glad to hear it." Filling up his plate with his food he continued on. "I'd love to catch up with you. After the feast I have to see to my eagles but I’ll definitely stop by your office tomorrow morning for a good chat before we all leave." Leo would make time for that.



"I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed your first year." Leo said with a beam to Maddox. "You won’t have much time to miss the students before you’ll see them again." And if the charms man had plans to visit Diagon Alley during the summer vacation he would almost certainly run into some student’s. "I'm doing a little bit of everything but I’m super excited about going on the school field trip for the first time. It will definitely be memorable."

"Have you got any summer plans?"



Oh dear. He shouldn’t have asked. Airey was practically bouncing in his seat and what he was saying didn’t make much sense. Leo had just wanted to know if he could still see the quarter moon if he walked out on his balcony tomorrow night. Airey just made him bewildered. Shrugging he said trying his best to hide his confusion. "I'll keep my eye out for the waxing gibbons then. Hopefully there will come some clear sky nights on vacation."



Leo pulled his plate towards him; topped his goblet with more pumpkin juice and then dug into the food on his plate. He ate in silence for a few minutes. When he wasn’t as hungry anymore he looked up and replied to Meredith with a cherry smile. "Of course I will. Sunscreen is a must. I don’t want to get burned. But I agree it will probably be an awesome trip."

Finishing up the last of his food and downing the last in his goblet Leo rose to his feet. With a look to those who sat closest Meredith included he said "I should go visit the eagles. I'll see you all later."

With those words Leo made his way around the staff dais only stopping to give Cassie’s left shoulder a gentle squeeze as he passed her seat. To his fellow claw leader he said "Tiara will you accompany me down to the eagles?" Not waiting for an answer Leo left the dais.