”Excellent summer, actually!” The man replied with quite a bit of enthusiasm. It had been a good summer, for what it was worth. Sun, sand, beaches, his family and no furry pink things trying to EAT said family. There wasn’t much more he could ask for.

”I trust you had a productive summer?” He understood that summer was meant for forgetting there was such a thing as school but this would be the year of the NEWTs for the boy and that warranted some amount of prep.



”Morning, Swann.” He returned, his tone light as he rocked back onto his heels just once before regaining his stance. There had been some worry surrounding the girl last term. ”Hope everything’s alright now, or getting there at the very least.” The girl had had a few things that she needed to work through. Trent could only hope she was now on her way to better days. She was another NEWT one afterall.



”Look alive, Firstie.” Names, he would certainly get to learning the little people’s names soon. The first lesson was not when that would be happening. ”We’ve got a whole class ahead of us, you can jog in place if you think you need a bit of a waker upper.” Because falling asleep was not something he’d tolerate and while a yawn was by no means indication of someone’s intent to fall asleep then and there, yawns were contagious little buggers. He’d have a sleeping epidemic in no time and how would they stay alive during the lesson if they were sleeping? Important questions.



See, see this one looked more ready for the lesson ahead. Not a yawn in sight and a bounce in her step. Would that more of them showed up to class like this….or not. On second thought that might have freaked him out even a little. EVERYONE couldn’t be chipper and that was okay. This one was and earned herself a warm response in turn. ”Morning, Prichard.”




Did it bothered him that this one wasn’t particularly enthused upon entry? Not really. So long as the Hufflepuff came prepared to work and had a good head about her for when the activity rolled around, there was really nothing for him to concern himself about. ”Good morning.” Hopefully she wasn’t a screamer. That sort wouldn’t have too great a time in this lesson.



That was more like it. It was good seeing the Slytherin back in school robes looking ready for the term ahead. A step up from the disheveled boy he’d run into at the feast. They’d need to keep it this way.

”Morning. Had a stop in with the Healer yet?” While the boy didn’t appear to be dying when he saw him last, you could never be too careful. Better safe than sorry, yeah? That was nearly the basis of everything he was teaching them. It paid to be prepared and stay on top of things.



And there was another student he could count on to show up to class looking in a proper mood. The smile he returned was an easy one. ”Morning Newton.” Yep good mood all around. The look of curiosity plain in the girl’s expression made him all the more ready to begin. He may have been the only one looking forward to this but it didn’t make it any less exciting for the man.



And this one was a hopper. Enthusiasm was enthusiasm, the man supposed and the kid was far less likely to injure himself in this padded room so Malachi simply returned the greeting with a nod. No need to discourage the activity, it might have been the only thing keeping the boy awake for all he knew.



This one...this one didn’t look quite so enthused as his classmates did. In fact the boy almost looked ill after walking into the room and taking a proper look around.

”Looking a bit green in the gills there Dooley. You alright?” Was he going to pass out or otherwise have a melt down? If so, it was best he get it over with before they got into the activity when such things would no longer be….ideal…..



”Pretty good, Fairfield, I was just—“ Was she…? Well that...he...this sponge wasn’t meant for flopping and testing. Malachi blinked at the young girl. He was aware enough that she wouldn’t hurt herself but what if it’d been an illusion? The girl may have found herself in an unnecessary world of hurt. Yikes.



Still watching Fairfield, it was the Gryffindor’s greeting that pulled him back to the rest of the room and the students entering. ”Well as I can be, all things considered.” He replied with a nod of his head. Yes, he was fine. He hoped she would be too when the lesson was over. He hoped they all would be—but was confident in their ability to shake things off!




Oh look, another new student whose name he’d have to work at remembering. Suffice to say Trent couldn’t wait til the point in the term when he was comfortably on a name basis with them all. It’d make taking the register easier and would reduce those “hey you” moments when the name simply wasn’t coming. ”Good day to you, too.” For now, ambiguous greetings.



Well this was refreshing. Malachi watched the Ravenclaw enter the room, noting the obvious change in disposition from the previous term. ”I like what I’m seeing, Katharos. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come from you.” The boy had always been hardworking and left the man with no doubt he could get his work done but when one walked into a room like THAT, clearly they had something to show everyone else and the man was keen to see it, whatever it was. Please be good.



It would seem Katharos had picked up a shadow, another of the little people whose names evaded him. There were quite a few of those, weren’t they? It was one of the only things that really bothered him about the start of term, going back to square one with names and familiarity. Almost made him feel like he was back in his first year on the job. ”Good morning.” Yes, that would do for now.



Oh look, another bright one ripe for learning. It did his heart some marginal amount of good to see the students come in, ready to receive a solid education. Even more amusing? Hearing them make little guesses about what the lesson could possibly entail.

”That’s both a yes and a no.” And he would leave it at that. Yes, Malachi was aware the question hadn’t been posed to him but he was in the best position to give a response so why not?



”Good morning.” He wouldn’t prevent an attempt at sitting. There was still time before the lesson started and it was of no consequence to him that she’d just have to get back up once he began. One downside to the set up of the room was how inviting it came across...which...well it was but wasn’t meant to be. Yet another thing that didn’t really need bringing up this early into the lesson.



”Morning.” The pile of nameless students was getting bigger. You’d think at some point he’d whip out the class roster and at least make small attempts to put names to faces but this was probably for the better. The littlest were more prone to crying for their parents. If things got out of hand—as crying would surely have things be—he’d know their names, suddenly he’d be imagining a whole backstory. They’d have a family and ambitions and a lot of stuff he didn’t need playing on his conscience while he was trying to teach a lesson. Nameless Ravenclaw you shall remain, for now.



”Looking sharp as ever, Castillo.” He replied. There was always a bit of sunshine in this one--from what he saw anyway--and it was a nice contrast to some who walked in looking like the entire world was coming to an end or they were being sentenced to 47 years hard labour. Granted, his classes did usually require a fair bit of heavy lifting when it wasn’t theory based but he didn’t think it was that bad.

Put some hair on their chest. Figuratively of course.



”Morning, Tamesis.”

Was this room bouncy?

”I suppose it could be. I confess I haven’t given it a fair shot. Fairfield over there has some sort of idea but I reckon it couldn’t hurt to try it yourself before we begin.” There would be no bouncing at that point. It would be right down to business.



”Morning, Kowalski!” Enthusiasm was naturally matched with enthusiasm. The boy may have (hopefully been) a reformed criminal but he at least got the work done. He wasn’t one of the ones he had to constantly run behind in order for them to pay attention and that earned him quite a few points. The fact he was enthused when he came to class earned him a few more. The further fact he hadn’t had to drag him into his office and put him under house arrest again was all the more reason the boy was growing on him.



”Hey Mallari.” One of the freshly badged. This one, he wasn’t worried about. This one was responsible. It was nice, knowing you could put even the smallest hint of trust into the people you badged. The set that graduated, he didn’t have anything against. They were a good lot in need of a little push toward accepting that wearing a badge meant being the bad guy sometimes. This new set he’d wait and see, in case they didn’t need the talk.



”Morning McCarthy.” He’d heard a lot about this one, courtesy of a certain Gryffindor taking remedial classes. Indeed, there was now a set of students that the Headmaster felt he knew entirely too much about thanks to a certain Gryffindor. At least it wasn’t innately horrifying things that would make it impossible to look the boy in the eye ever again. Given the speak before thinking method Chosen operated under, it was honestly a miracle.



Ah and here was Dakest. Malachi turned to the young boy, understanding that sometimes he felt running and certainly a little screaming couldn’t hurt a given situation. Today would be the exact day that something like that would be il-advised and as a responsible adult, he felt he had to caution the boy.

”Morning, Dakest. Ready for the lesson? I need you to scream. Just get it out, right now. Imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen then really let go. Think absolute dooms day. Think ‘we’re all gonna die’ then go for it. Run around a bit too, hit the walls if you must.” Because...ahem….later was not an option.



It was an understanding by now. He wouldn’t be getting much in the way of enthusiasm from this one and that was just how things were going to be. It was fine. The class had a nice enough balance between the particularly chipper and the reluctant participants and everyone in between. Malachi returned the boy’s nod, still waiting and perhaps bracing himself a little for Dakest to begin screaming while there was still time. Any second now?



Malachi raised a brow at this one. It was a strange greeting coming from Botros for the simple fact it was overly superficial and not quite like what Botros usually was. The kid didn’t usually have to force his enthusiasm. Was this more a method of keeping himself awake? The man had caught that yawn as the boy walked in. ”Morning, Botros. You...you alright, son?”



He caught the small fumble, smiling just a little to himself in amusement. The double title did throw students off quite a bit. Usually the man was fine with responding to whichever was offered during the lesson. Around the castle he was the Headmaster but in the Defense setting, he was fine shifting gears to professor mode. It was, afterall, what he was doing by default of teaching the subject.

”Morning, Rousseau.” He opted to draw no attention to the earlier slip up. It didn’t make much of a difference.




The Headmaster cracked a wide grin at this one. "Absolutely, McCarthy. Last ditch effort to save you all from the real deal. I'm glad someone's seen through my little farce of a lesson." Was it bad that he didn't actually consider how this room might have otherwise looked to the students until she said it. Taking another look around now, he could understand the hesitant looks of some of the earlier students.

Huh. It was like it's own little asylum space.



The now Second Year's smile was returned, along with a pleasant "Morning." In light of how he now saw the room, he could understand the frown. It might have been a little unsettling. Or Merlin maybe he should take back what he said to Dakest in case the boy got the wrong idea entirely.



Another to get the titles a bit mixed. Malachi offered an easy smile, truly not bothered. There were worst things the students could be doing. There were worst things he'd both heard and caught the students doing. This was a much easier fix. "Either's fine while we're in the classroom." Little person. Little person #6? Yes, this one could be #6 until he finally got around to learning the names of the new students. Only thing now was remembering that she was meant to be #6. Perhaps assigning them colours would have been easier.



"Hello to you, too." He greeted, a welcoming smile in place just seconds before he glanced down at his watch. It was getting to be starting time soon and he was rather ready to begin. Sure there was a lot of ground that would need covering but they'd get to the part he wanted eventually.



He wasn't wrong, there was still a bit of time left before the door was shut and sealed. Whether it was luck or a good bit of athleticism, this one would not be getting locked out today. Good for him. "Hey there." Another glance at his watch. Yep, it was almost time. "Is that a feather...?" He had questions but at the same time he didn't. Sometimes it paid to not know when it came to the general Hogwarts population.



Aaaaand it was time.

Malachi drew his wand, lowering it slightly when Calrissian moved through the doorway. Had to say, thanks to the younger McCarthy, this ones reaction was put perfectly into context for him. It DID look like a mental institute in here.

"You." He said with a grin. "Didn't wanna tell you before you got here in case you decided not to show up. Now remember, this is for your own good."