First lesson. Kaira was thrilled. And nervous. Lesson by the Headmaster! Oh boy!

She walked into the..classroom? It looked very different from what you would expect from a classroom. There were no chairs or desks. She double checked her schedule to see if she had come to the right place. But.. everything seemed right!

Maybe this is the way things were carried out here. She decided to wait it out in the room..

And it begins...

He chalked it up to muscle memory from SOREs last year, but Jackson was wide awake today. Jackson entered the classroom and as he said "Good morning Headmaster," he was distracted by the change of... hour. Was it still dark? Or dark already? Hard to tell because his eyes had to adjust a little. And nowhere to sit meant that Jackson stood along the side of the classroom. "Well I'm interested in where this is going."

There was a feeling of excitement and nervousness that Daisy was experiencing as she made her way to the classroom. She had learnt that one had to be prepared for anything especially when it came to DADA lessons and this was no exception as she surveyed the layout of the room.

"Good morning, Headmaster," Daisy greeted with a smile.

Mornings definitely weren’t a problem when they weren’t expected to go for a run at dawn. It was the first day and Stasya was already feeling more optimistic regarding the term ahead, even if there were all sorts of new professors to learn how to deal with and she might’ve been a bit sad over the departure of the previous Flying professor. Generally, it couldn’t be anywhere near as bad as last term had been. Hopefully.

The sight that greeted her upon arriving at the classroom barely registered as odd in her mind either. Professor Hirsch had rarely had a normal classroom setup and she was actively using a mental block to remember last term’s DADA lessons so it was rather expected that the classroom wouldn’t be normal.

“Good morning Headmaster Trent,” she said brightly, as she’d made her way through the door and past the man, settling into a spot near the edge of the bog to wait and acknowledging her fellow prefects and the ickle Claw with a smile that probably wasn’t entirely visible. Dark rooms made it hard to be seen, even if she’d slipped her wand out to be prepared. She didn’t cast a lighting charm or anything. She just held her wand loosely in her hand, ready for anything.

Defence against the dark arts had to be his least favourite subject. Not that it wasn't fascinating because it was and he learned lots in these classes. It was because he was scared easily when it came to dark creatures and arts and now that the new Headmaster had put up his own rules and one of them had been not to scream and run away, he was more nervous than ever before cause doing those things were his specialty.

The fifth year wasn't surprised at all to see the setting of the classroom and he even let out a chuckle when Kaira checked her schedule a bit in front of him before entering the room.

The night scenery did nothing to ease his nervousness and Dorian wondered why it was always supposed to be night. Why couldn't they have a lesson in the butterfly garden for once?

Spotting the new Headmaster holding a lantern in his hand, the Ravenclaw nodded his head in his direction to greet him "Good eveni-- i mean morning, Headmaster" well at least he sounded a bit more confident than how he felt...

After he had greeted him, he turned to look who else was present already and while he greeted Jackson with a "Sup?" he stood near Daisy while he waited for class to begin.

Walking into the classroom was strange but then again, wasn’t everything in Hogwarts? With the moon bright behind the ominous clouds, Ewan couldn’t help but smile slightly at the classroom. Night time was both one of his favourite and least favourite things although the clouds did spoil what he liked about the night.

“Hello Headmaster Trent, How are you this morning? Or uh…evening?” he smiled at the headmaster now, genuine and rather excited for the lesson ahead. “I can’t wait to get started today” Ewan continued, rather tentatively now, which may or may not have something to do with the previous headmaster.

Walking further into the classroom now, Ewan spotted some other students. “Hey Kaira, ready for your first lesson?” smiling at the first year now, he couldn’t help be excited for her. This was her first lesson!

Turning to face the other Ravenclaw now, Ewan gave a smile and a wave “Hey Jackson, how was your summer?” Hopefully his fellow Ravenclaw had had a great summer and forgotten all about the last school year.

Isla had no problem finding her way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom this morning. Thank goodness! She didn’t want to be late on her first day of lessons! Part of her reason she woke up extra early today so she could wake the others in her dormitory. Isla didn’t want them to be late to class either so she volunteered to become an official human alarm clock for her Gryffindor sisters! Teeheee~~

Merlin, she was too eager to start using her magic! She has been waiting for this moment for soo long. She wish to flourish her wand alreadddyy~!

As soon as she enters the classroom, darkness overwhelmed her senses. Oohh, what’s going on? She scanned the room, amazed seeing the indoor night skies just like the ones she saw in the Great Hall. ”Good morni~ evening, professor! Where are we?” she asked politely.

First class of her last term and Stephanie was honestly a little sad. Though it wasn’t her much preferred class, she still didn’t want to miss it. Heading to class with everything she needed in her bag, Steph smiled and greeted the headmaster as she walked in. ”Hello, headmaster,” she also gave him a small nod. Oh my was it dark in here! Steph looked a bit confused but knew it obviously was part of the lesson and went to stand near a window of the room. Clearly it wouldn’t be smart for someone of her height to stand up front. Most students probably wouldn’t be able to see over her.

Defense Against the Dark Arts? It was one of the fun classes, typically. And there weren't too many of those so that was saying something. 8 AM? The WORST time of the day. Despite hardly getting any sleep the night before, Zoryn Spinnet was FULL of energy. Perhaps it was because of how wonderfully she had pulled off her prank. Or maybe it was because she no longer had to worry about Sylvie Norcott. OR maybe it was because she was a seventh year and ruled the entire school, officially.

Mostly likely it was because she was on some sort of sleep-deprived-energy spike.

"Yo Headmaster, are we learning about dragons today?" Bringing it back for the last year. RIP Professor Hirsch.

It would take Tessa a good few weeks to really get used to being up this early again. She still considered herself a morning person but that didn't mean the crack of dawn early. It meant, you know, 9am or 10am. Definitely NOT 7.30am.

She let out a few yawns on her way to the classroom. Better to let them loose now rather than in class. Professors often took offence if students were yawning through their classes, even when those classes were first thing in the morning. Or perhaps she was just thinking about last year, a year she would gladly forget.

Anyway, enough of that sort of thinking. She was trying to be extra positive.....this....year...... Her thoughts trailed off as she entered the classroom and saw, well, nothing for a moment as her eyes adjusted. The walls and ceiling mimicked the look of a night sky, but this was Defence Against the Darks Arts, not Astronomy. Tessa noticed their Headmaster surrounded by a few students and went over to them. "Good mor-eve- Hello, Headmaster. Or would you prefer Professor when you're teaching?" She asked, a curious and friendly grin on her face. She gave the room another look around, wondering whether they would be dealing with or learning about some kind of dark creature that liked bogs in the night time.

Caolan had almost done as instructed and had an early night but truth be told there was a lot spinning around in his head from the night before and he had spent a good hour lying down in his bed staring up at the ceiling lost in his thoughts. He was trying desperately to stifle how tired he was as he turned up for the first lesson of the school year not wanting to give a bad impression. He entered the door after a group of students and blinked a few times as he was met with darkness on the other side.

“Huh?” He blinked and rubbed at his eyes testing whether he was really awake or whether this was just a part of his dream. He stepped out the room for a second and then came back in spotting the Headmaster at the doorway holding a lantern. “Good.. morning Headmaster?” It WAS still morning right? He hadn’t stepped into some weird alternative universe or something..

The fifteen-year-old looked around for a seat or desk but was met with nothing of the sort. He stood by himself near a wall of the room with his arms folded across his chest. He was kinda excited about starting school but he didn’t want to show it being a cool teenage boy and everything.

After the happenings at the feast the previous night and only managing a couple hours of sleep, three hours... maybe, Rylee was wide awake and ready to go. Managing to somehow completely avoid a specific older lion and after talking to a certain Hufflepuff things were okay. At least between the badger and herself that is. She had been able to go about her morning and get ready for the day which included a quick run around the pitch, breakfast and than back to her dorm for a shower and to get ready for the first lesson of her fourth year.

And all of this before eight a.m. Good thing Rylee was a morning person, well actually she was an anytime of day person. The hyper lioness that she was had a warm friendly smile on her face as she stepped into the classroom. "Good mor- uh... Hello, Headmaster," she greeted stumbling over her words just a moment as it was morning but the room clearly depicted that of nighttime.

Blue-gray eyes quickly scanned the entire area or that which she was able to see. A smile or a nod of her head was sent to anyone close enough to notice. Spotting a special younger lioness she went to stand beside her lightly bumping her shoulder against hers. "Hey, Issy. Did you have a good first night?"

Odaline was going to kill him.

That was all Igor could be thinking about as he got up this morning and remembered what happened at the feast it was so normal and then he was acting really really weird. It was just weird. That's all he could say as he walked into DADA class first thing in the morning.

"Hello, Headmaster. Are you having a good morning?"

Manners.

Or um was it night now that he was in the room. This was some cool cool cool magic for this eleven-year-old to see.

Also, that lantern made his look a million times more spooky and it wasn't even Halloween yet.

......where is he suppose to sit or is he?

Mary walked down the corridor, hair still damp from the shower she had taken after her morning soccer practice. Noting that the lesson said appropriate attire for practical, she sported athletic clothes not unlike the ones she had worn for this morning. The only difference was, of course, that she was wearing a pair of practical leather boots.

She held the hazel wand in her right hand, entering the room that very much did not look like a classroom. She stopped in her tracks, surprised by the complete atmosphere change. She stood by the door of the classroom, along with the already congregating group of students.

There was something in the air. Because he was pretty sure he'd wake up feeling pathetic and hating his need to pretend his way through his days - but he had actually managed to get out of bed in an okay mood.

He was in an even better mood by the time he reached class - because turns out running with free will did wonders in lifting up your spirits.

The atmosphere of the class perked up his interest too. Was this it? Was Hogwarts finally coming through? Or were his expectations just very very low this time?

Regardless, he greeted the headmaster as he entered the room and found himself a corner to be at.

Torii was really nervous. She'd tried to will herself to push the nervousness to the back of her mind, but the moment she'd stepped out the common room and headed toward the class, she'd honestly felt sick. She was still fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall every time she thought about her mom, her dad, and her school--Ilvermorny. Yes, Ilvermorny was still her school. She was claiming that. She hadn't wanted Hogwarts, and she still didn't want it now.

At least she was on time. Or, at least, she thought she was. When she entered the classroom, she started second guessing herself. It was...nighttime? And they were in a bog? ... Hinkypunks? If so, that only added to her nervousness, and she felt her stomach flutter at the thought. Noticing the Headmaster nearby, lantern in hand, the fourth year looked up at him. "Hello, Headmaster," she said, her voice a mix of a whisper and a normal tone. With that, she stepped out of the way, although she did stay kind of in the proximity of the Headmaster.

With her books in her bag over her shoulder and her hawthorne wand in the holder on her forearm, Holly walked into the first class of the new year. Carefully moving through the doorway, her eyes focused in the dark room; noting the lack of tables and chairs.

With a quick look around her, she tried to find her brother, Jorgie or Alis - but figured they would join her soon enough. Finding a space in the room she gave the Professor (and Headmaster) a very small smile. "Good morning." She didn't want to be rude... she was just... hesitant. After all, she'd never spoken to the man in front of them before.

Curling her hair around her fingers, she waited silently.

Finally!

Odaline had wanted to get straight to classes as soon as she arrived here, but instead she had to sit on a stool in front of everyone, sit at a table with the worst people in the world and then deal with Igor. Who was lucky she hadn't broken both of his arms.

Which explained why she did not stand anywhere near him as they gathered into the classroom. Because she still wanted to break his arms.

Could they start now? There was already too much mingling happening.

First lesson of the term. This should be interesting. Skyler was so used to last year that as she entered, she merely gave the headmaster a respectful nod and stood in an area not saying anything after that not really paying any mind to the surroundings.

Hogwarts students had already made quite the impression on the new headmaster, she was sure, so Vita could only imagine what was going through the man's mind given his lesson was the first of the year. Honestly, she was just glad that she hadn't been one of the students making lovesick puppy eyes at and confessing her love to random classmates, because she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to live that down.

Slipping into the classroom, the sixth year paused to take in her surroundings. This...looked like the perfect setting for a hinkypunk encounter, didn't it? She couldn't say she'd ever been interested in seeing one of those up close, but she was curious to see if her hunch was right.

"Good morning, Headmaster Trent," She offered politely as she crossed paths with the man, noting his lantern. She wanted to add something more...welcoming, too, but she just wasn't sure how to express her hope that they hadn't completely put him off to being their fearless leader already.

Spotting Zachary, Vita pushed past some younger students and took her place beside him, offering him a smile. He was stuck with her for now, she hoped he didn't mind.

Drewett Slinkhard wasn't a jack of all trades, but he was rather skilled with a few things. And one of those things was the ability to avoid people. The moment he woke up this morning, he just wanted the world to eat him alive already. And he had to deal with the awkwardness in his dorm room with Hudson and Keenan. Drew was not at all having it today. Not. No. Nope. He kept his head low as he made his way to the classroom from Defence class, their first ever for the term and with the new headmaster. Drewett knew there were others who were probably as embarrassed as he was, but he felt weird. It was so weird. He didn't want to be here.

And oh thank Merlin the room was dark. Drewett would hate it for people to see the obvious embarrassment on his face. He was avoiding a lot of things. "G-good morning, Headmaster..." he greeted and hurriedly took a space for himself at the back. He was going to be a wallflower today and for the rest of this term.

First lesson at Hogwarts ever... no biggie. None whatsoever.

Of course it had to be Defense Against the Dark Arts, easily the scariest-sounding class out of all of them. Couldn’t it have waited a few days to spring itself on her? A week or two, even?

Another unpleasant surprise was that it appeared to be taking place in a swamp.... Ridiculous.

Needless to say, though, Charlie would still be making a concerted effort — through gritted teeth, but an effort nonetheless. In a satchel slung over her left shoulder, she had her well-used textbook, quills, pencils, parchment, and just about everything she could ever need for the classroom.

She didn’t prepare for the swamp, though....

With a gulp and a feigned sunny disposition, she made her way through the classroom door, making sure to say “Hello, Headmaster Trent!” as she passed him. She relaxed her face once she had made pleasantries with the professor (He taught and was headmaster? Weird...) and scanned the room for familiar faces.

Charlie spotted Kaira and made a beeline for her, grinning at her friend, housemate, and dormmate before she began mentally preparing herself for the lesson.

She would need it.

Besides hearing his speech at the Start of Term Feast, Hanna didn't know anything about the new Headmaster. Still feeling nervous after what had happened last year, with the Headmaster, all of those rules... well, she wasn't quite sure what to expect. If she greeted him, would it be points lost? If she sat down, would it be detention? There were some confusing times last year, too, and she just wanted clear-cut definitions.

Alas, no such thing. But it did appear that the castle had returned to normal. Students allowed to be at ease, so long as it was done with respect.

She entered the Defense classroom, feeling very much alert after a shower and breakfast, to see that... it was NIGHT. Looking around, she saw that at least there were no chairs. There would be no confusion as to whether she had to stand or not. And, hearing other people greeting the Headmaster, she figured it would be safe to do so, and indeed she enjoyed greeting people. Felt rather rude otherwise. "Good morning Headmaster," she greeted the man, an almost nervous looking smile on her face.

Indigo had not wanted to get out of bed this morning. Not even because of the early hour but because events from the feast the night before had been... interesting. And he didn't want to have to face anybody. But his fear of getting in trouble had won out so he was there, heading into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Which didn't look much like a classroom at the moment. He assumed that meant this class was going to be interesting.

There was the professor - er, the headmaster - by the door. Should he say good morning? Should he not? Indigo didn't know what was the proper thing to do. After last year, he was a bit anxious about the rules. He settled for saying nothing, because if Indigo had a choice between saying something or saying nothing, he generally went for saying nothing. He just glanced around the room for somebody he knew. Oh, there was Vita. He moved her way and gave her a small smile as he stood next to her.