It had been a pleasant, relaxing break. Now it was over...and Alice was more than ready to be back to school. Unlike last year, she was actually looking forward to it as she made her way to the staff table and assumed her seat in between two empty chairs. It seemed she was one of the first.

Many of her colleagues would not be returning this year. Alice hadn't been close to very many of them, but she had wished them the best (even that foul Tristan of Care of Magical Creatures - though privately she had also wished that one of his beloved creatures would bite his foot) and was curiously interested in their replacements. Mr. Thereos was a unique choice, to say the least.

Alice didn't do much in the meantime she waited for the others than sit up straight and stare vaguely down the hall. She began to meditate.

Carmine had been sure to get Valetudo settled and fed before she'd made her way down to the great hall herself - it wouldn't do to return to her quarters to find a crotchety raven had ripped everything to shreds, even if she'd long ago made sure to protect her valuables with magic.

Having an official seating plan struck her as odd and unnecessary. She'd much rather choose where she sat, and who she sat with. Even the children got to do that to some extent, bar the house thing, at least initially.

Also, how was a centaur going to fit at the table? There was a lot to consider.

She nodded at the other current occupant of the table as she arrived, but given this whole seating plan, it was quite a ways down the table and so conversation wasn't really feasible. Did the other woman even see her? She had a glazed over look that suggested otherwise. Regardless, Carmine sat down at her end seat and took a small book out of one of her robe pockets.

Hogwarts. The man hadn't stepped foot within the walls of the castle since ... well, Colin honestly couldn't remember. Even with his special visits to the school when he was playing Quidditch professionally, that was many, many years ago. Nevertheless, being there was quite nostalgic. Though he couldn't pinpoint the last time he had stepped foot within the school grounds, he still had fond memories of the place.

After walking beside the length of the Gryffindor table, the Flying instructor stepped onto the staff dais and took in the sight of the two ladies already seated there. Now, what were their names again?

Mentally he was sifting through names and trying to pair one to a face as he made his way around the staff table. However, he soon gave up on trying. Truth be told, his priorities fell on other things he deemed more important, like Quidditch, fan mail, his family, and so on.

Regardless, he did greet them both, letting that heavy, loud Scottish accent ooze right out of his mouth as he sat in the seat right next to the headmaster's seat (whether that was by coincidence or the boss man just wanted to bask in the essence of the renowned Hot Scot, he would go to his grave claiming the latter). "Good ev'nin', lassies. How are yeh both doin'?"

Excuse her, what? Lassie? The disrespect.

"Please don't call me that. Ever." Carmine said, polite but firm. Lassie. "I'm Healer Carmine Beryl. You can call me Carmine, Healer, or Professor." Not Lassie. She was a grown woman and wouldn't allow it. Whether the other woman appreciated it or not, Carmine wouldn't guess, she wasn't speaking for all women, only for herself, and she did not like it whatsoever.

The start of a new academic year was always a time Ayana very much enjoyed. The excitement in the air, the freshness and untainted nature of beginnings. This castle, smaller than her previous school but just as impressive, was brimming with magic waiting to be analysed and manipulated in the name of learning. She could feel it as she made her way to the Great Hall, with its grand archway and awe inspiring ceiling. Whoever had thought to recreate the sky inside this hall had been nothing short of a genius. What a simple and effective way to get students to emotionally engage with the school.

She could see herself calling it home one day.

Her yellow opal coloured robes shimmered in the candlelight as Ayana glided up to the staff table and bowed her head towards the teachers already there. "Good evening everyone," she greeted them evenly, a soft smile on her lips. She looked at the Ancient Runes professor with a twinkle in her dark eyes. Having caught the end of the ongoing conversation, she was inclined to agree with her. Lassie was certainly not appropriate.

Now, to her seat towards the end of the table. Ayana was pleased by Arithmancy's place between Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, since both subjects fascinated her greatly, and the professors certainly seemed quite lovely. How truly fortunate.

Kaysha had quite made up her mind about her future as a Professor here at Hogwarts. However, there was still time to get through all of that as the term progressed. What mattered now was that she was present for another Opening Feast. What's more, a few of her new colleagues had beaten her to the Table. She reasoned they were all eager to get started on their Hogwarts career journeys. "Good evening, everyone! I hope you're all well settled in by now.'' She beamed before moving her way down to her assigned seat.

"Hello, Alice. Are you prepared for another term?'' Kay asked conversationally. She herself was quite ready. Lesson plans were about ninety percent completed and perhaps if she was up for it later tonight, she would continue to work with them.

His brow was no less furrowed than usual, and yet there was a healthy glow about Noble's complexion as he made his way towards the staff table. His tour of southern Italy and weekends watching the cricket had left more than a hint of a tan, and he was wearing a striking new charcoal robe procured whilst on his travels. The robe was deceptively simple in design, the detail in the asymmetric shaping of the cuffs and collar, and the flow of the fabric as he strode over the stone floor showing off its true quality.

Relaxing, his break had certainly been. And without a hungry pink rodent in sight. He'd even had chance to overhaul part of the potions curriculum he'd found lacking in approach.

"Evening," he greeted his colleagues as he arrived at the table, taking in the new faces already there. There had been quite the staff turnover since he'd first arrived at this table four years ago. More than he'd expected, honestly. He moved to take his seat, as ever not in the mood for small talk. Maybe he could chat about the weekend's quidditch with Colin once the Scot stopped failing to try woo the, er, lassies.

She brought herself out of her meditating just as Carmine was sitting down. Since she'd just been meditating it was hard to tell whether she'd ignored a greeting. Just to be on the safe side, she gave a small nod and smile to her before turning to see who else had just come into the hall.

Did this man just call her and Carmine lassies? Woah there. "Please, Mr. MacKenzie, call me Alice, or Professor O'Hara, or Miss Alice if you must." Yeah, basically echoing Carmine's sentiments. "But I am doing quite well. And yourself, MR. MacKenzie?"

"Good evening, Ayana," said Alice with a small smile to the new Arithmancy professor as she entered the hall. "Good evening, Professor Noble, I am glad to see you again." They weren't friends, but she appreciated his orderly approach.

One person she was happy was returning to Hogwarts had just arrived next to her. "Good evening, Kay," she said in a friendly tone to the Muggle Studies professor. "I am very much looking forward to this term. I can't believe I'm saying it after the chaos of last year, but I missed this place. I think we've got this. How was your summer like?"

Taurus Ascendant. He had put off his arrival long enough.

Trotting the perimeter of the Great Lake, the flames from the lanterns of the first year boats glistening over the calming surface of its waters, Thereos had made his way to Hogwarts castle and took the steps leading to the great doors at a leap.

Saturn was particularly bright tonight.

He would have opted to spend his evening in the Forest had it not been for the request by the Headmaster himself that he be in attendance.Though it was with much reluctance that the centaur had agreed and a compromise met that he may hold his Divination instruction in the elements. As it should be. As the heavens divined so.

Clip clop clip clop clip clop clip.

His hooves left a muddy trail through the corridors and along the edge of the Great Hall as he took to a bit of a gallop so as to make the jump atop the dais to which he was to dine. Trotting behind the table, the centaur gave a bit of a grunt at the uncivilized table settings though managed to greet the Ancient Runes and Artithmancy professors with gruff "Thetis greets Uranus in Draco this evening," before arriving at his seat.

And then promptly kicked the chair aside, towards the stone back wall with a clatter, to make room for himself at the table that came up to just around his navel.

Since the Headbro insisted upon proper dress or whatever, Cornish had donned a somewhat wrinkled yet perfectly clean set of dress robes that managed to only just hide the fact that he'd foregone dress shoes for boat shoes. Hey, dude, at least he wasn't wearing flip flops. Probably kill his big toe on the stone floor in a pair of those, but at least they didn't PINCH.

The table was half full as Cornish arrived, and he gave the professors at his end of the table a solemn nod. Probably would spend some time getting to know folks as the term went on, but since he lived on the grounds and well away from everyone else, it wasn't going to be easy. The centaur, though, they could be best mates in no time.

Cornish sank into his seat and yanked on the neck of his robe. Punishing thing, wasn't it? Why did people wear these? "Good evening, fellow staff people. The weather is exceedingly pleasant and my health is unremarkable and now that we've done small talk, what are the chances of bread pudding with dinner tonight?" With raisins, because he wasn't an ANIMAL.

Thirteen years.

It had been thirteen years since he had "retired" and went back home to open his doggy daycare. Acres of green land, a nice big garden, and about two dozen dogs running around his yard. Free, happy dogs. He had often felt like one of those dogs - running around with no rules, just free, his ears flapping in the wind...

Well, not anymore. WHY? Because for some reason his conscious was telling him that he needed to be back at Hogwarts teaching Charms again. Not to mention he was also in charge of the rascals in green, which were often the most rowdy and unruly. But he would handle it, he promised, as long as he was able to bring some of his dogs with him.

So, Piers was back. Charms Professor, Slytherin Head of House, and Groundskeeper. And Dog-Keeper, but that was an unofficial title.

Anyway, he was there. He was NOT late. He was just on time. Eyeing the staff table with mild displeasure, the former Slytherin found his seat at the dias... right after Thereos, the centaur kicked his chair away and stood at his place. He wasn't even sure WHY they bothered putting a chair there for him if he clearly couldn't sit... Anyway. Piers cleared his throat as he approached his seat between the centaur and the Grant, just as Grant was rambling about... Oh, actually, that was sort of funny.

Piers took his seat. "You know, you might be in luck. I think I smelled something very similar to a rum sauce when I came up the stairs." Piers had a very good bread pudding recipe back home. It had been a while since he had made it.

Let it be known that the 'O' in Mitchell O. Barlow most definitely didn't stand for 'On Time'. Because it didn't and that was something he very rarely was. The newly hired professor scurried into the Great Hall and up past the house tables in the direction of the staff dais, trying to smooth out his shabby robes as he went. They'd gotten rather crumpled during his nap. So had his hair which unbeknownst to him, was comically flat on one side.

"Did I overhear something about pudding?" He asked on his way to the vacant seat at the end of the table he assumed had been left for him. Pudding already AND he was left with the worst seat at the table. Was he that late?

Thereos was neither here nor there on the matter of this bread pudding to which Cornish was requiring about. Was this truly what wizards spent these ceremonious evenings discussing? Pudding of all trivial matters? Thereos had been tempted to pack himself a more honest meal wrapped in leaf and bound with the sturdy hairs of his own tail that had fallen out this morning while one of the young foals had been brushing it as he shared stories around the morning fire.

"Centaurs do not dine on such things," he spoke airily, his eyes cast upwards towards the enchanted ceiling with an unsettled look about his brow. "The moon grows full...it's aura pulsing in Pisces... all should be wary of their feet upon which they step and refresh the eyes that have gone blind from the New Moon in Virgo past."

Now rum sauce. That sounded more to the centaur's refined taste.

"I require a bowl of that," he nodded while addressing Fuller, a man with whom which he recalled with a certain vagueness as sharing the Hogwarts grounds with previously. Though the centaur had known the Charms professor's companion much more personally. "...there is a certain matter on the grounds I wish to discuss with you as well."

It's sudden appearance along with the Full Moon bringing the centaur to pause.

"As well as remind you that the removal of my stump would be discourteous."

And he did wonder if some of the floral arrangements lining the corridors were of any personal attachment to any of whom he shared a table with. The freesia in particular looked delectable.

"Rum sauce?" Cornish's unruly brows arched in interest, and he leaned waaaaay back in his seat to eye his new neighbor. He'd seen him around on the grounds, although he hadn't taken time to meet the man yet. Not rude, necessarily, but practical. There was a lot to do to get the barns ready for the students. Other things too.

"I'm Cornish. Grant Cornish. Care of Magical Creatures. I believe my dog has been visiting with you. Don't let her convince you that she's not being fed. The girl is straight spoiled." He gave a nod to the man at the end of the table who was also interested in pudding. PUDDING, bro. This was serious business.

As for the centaur, Cornish would never be rude to a fellow nature lover, although he found the centaur's words dead amusing. Probably not on purpose. "Yes, sir, I'm very wary of the feet upon which you step." He eyed those huge hooves and was glad that he wasn't wearing his flip-flops after all. "It's my pleasure to meet you, and I bring you greetings from Bayard of Bantry Bay. I run with his colony when permitted."

With Kaiser sorted and a few last minute reports sent off in his office (a half attempt to wait long enough for the boy to get done freshening up), Malachi finally made his appearance at the staff dais. By now the sorting was under way and a very many first years and transfer were now sitting with their respective houses. Not missing a beat, he applauded the next to be sorted as he sunk into his seat.

"Sorry about that. Had a student that needed attention." He informed his staff. Which reminded him. Trent leaned forward onto the table to address Carmine. "May need you looking him over later, precaution if nothing else." Just as a heads up.

It seemed he'd actually missed quite a lot because before he knew it, the sorting was over and it was time for him to address the crowd.

Malachi paused a moment to settle himself then rose with his goblet. With his fork, he began knocking the side, the sound magnified to catch the attention of everyone present. "Greetings!" He began cheerfully. Best to start high, work your way to a comfortable medium then end on the standard threats. Start with the threats first and some would completely ignore everything else in their panic. "Whether you're happy to be back here or not, I'm happy to see your bright faces." Courtesy of the current lighting rather than any real glee but details details. "To those of you joining us for the first time, well, good luck. Follow the lead of your older peers, they've proven adept at staying alive and I'd take it as a personal favour if you did too." Just asking. Dolly was enough, thanks.

"We've got quite a few new faces on staff this term--not that some of you would know but I'll go ahead all the same. To the very right, our new Healer and Ancient Runes Professor, Carmine Beryl. Next to her taking on Arithmancy, Professor Ayana Sissay. Professor Simran Sandhu will be your new Astronomy Professor and Professor Grant Cornish will be taking over Care of Magical Creatures. Returning, after years of service sometime back, Professor Piers Fuller-Thompson doing Charms and Groundskeeping. Now I know many of you miss Professor Dopple but let's not make this weird for him." Dolly would do that all on her own, he had no doubt. "We have Thereos, a forbidden forest resident centaur aiding with Divination this term, please ask him what he'd like to be called. Nod even if you don't understand." Because the explanations would only get worse and more convoluted. "To my very left, Colin Mackenzie. He'll be your new flying Professor and Quidditch Official. Many of you know Professor Sutton. She'll be taking over the role of Herbology Professor and at the very end, our new Transfiguration Professor, Mitchell Barlow." Here he waited for the applause and continued to wait until it died down.

"It's been a long ride, I'm sure many of you are exhausted so I'll make the rest of this quick. The forbidden forest, you guessed it, forbidden. Locked doors around the castle? Locked for a reason, leave them that way. Strange noises? At least take a friend along. One of you needs to live to warn the others, that's common courtesy. ANYTHING pink, fluffy and likely to eat everything in its path? Report it immediately. I don't like giving detention, you don't like having detention. I'm not sure which of us enjoys it less, but we'll find out if you break school rules. Actions have consequences. Poorly plan your pranks, get sloppy, reckless, don't think it through well enough and get caught and by Merlin everyone will agree you'll have deserved it. Right. Let's eat!"

He sat down and watched the food begin to appear but shot right back up before anyone could dig in. "Oh! One more thing! Classes begin bright and early in the morning. You'd be wise to get a good night's sleep. I don't have to tell the returning students but for our first years anyone late to Defense Against the Dark Arts will not be allowed to enter. Curious to know what will happen after that? You shouldn't be, that's silly. Just be on time. Now we can eat." Back in his seat, he reached for the gravy for this mashed potato. Mmmmmmmm.

Carmine, unfortunately, was unable to greet the newly arrived staff members, as she was suddenly overcome with allergies. Her nose twitched as Thereos arrived and clip-clopped around behind her, and soon she was sneezing. Circe and Cliodna! She took a handkerchief out of her robes and dabbed at her nose and eyes. It almost was bad enough for her to excuse herself.

"Excuse me. I don't know what came over me." She said to her nearby tablemates as it calmed down, right in time for the Headmaster's arrival. Oh? A student already needed attending? That was fast. She nodded. She'd look him over.

Putting her handkerchief away, she smiled kindly at the students and nodded in acknowledgement of her name mention. And it was feast time.

Oh goodness gracious, Simran had somehow managed to forget to set her alarm. She'd always been a night owl, which often meant that she took naps in the day, but rarely did she ever sleep through to dinner. And on the first day of term as well, how embarrassing.

Scurrying quickly past the entrance hall and students, midnight blue saree rippling with the movements, she slid up to the dais just in time to see the headmaster himself re-enter the room.

Simran sat herself down quickly and smiled almost apologetically at those on her end of the table. "Apologies," she said. "There were... unforeseen circumstances. I'm Professor Simran Sandhu, Astronomy." It had most certainly been unforeseen that her clock would malfunction – but it did not surprise her. No, indeed, she would simply have to tinker a little more with it and ensure it didn't interfere with the magic in the castle.

And then the lovely lady at the end of the table sneezed. "Oh my stars!" exclaimed the older woman, eyes widened, fanning herself. "Bless you, dear." And she would certainly hope this was not contagious.

Oh, and to be just in time for the speech! Simran clasped her hands together in delight – if there was one thing she recalled from her days here at Hogwarts, it was that the food came shortly after the speech was made. She nodded in acknowledgement of her name, and smiled at the others who were new to the dais. It seemed that her entire side of the table had not been teaching last term, how quaint!

And now, they would feast! Her first since she graduated 66 years ago. Oh, how time seemed to fly when one was in a relative frame of reference!

Her spot being one seat away from the end of the table meant that Ayana could not join in on the sauce discussion unless she wanted to raise her voice, which suited her just fine. She was not a fan of either. The only thing the discussion does is remind her of yet another thing she'll miss about Uagadou, and being at home - no injera at Hogwarts. None at all. It was enough to consume her with a debilitating sense of sadness. Luckily for her, the arrival of the Astronomy professor, coupled with Thereos' curious claims and Carmine's worrying sneeze attack, quickly pulled Ayana out of her funk. "Ayana Sissay, Arithmancy," she quipped back with a smile at the woman, and offered Carmine an additional handkerchief should she need it. "Bless you! Allergies?

Ah, but then Headmaster Trent began addressing the students and a silence fell over the hall. Ayana gently smiled towards the sea of students as she was named the new Arithmancy professor, and studied their faces until Trent's speech was over. Though, the speech certainly raised some questions for her, and she made a mental note to inquire about them at a later date. Locked doors and forbidden forests first, poorly planned pranks second.

Regardless of all that, she was genuinely excited to be here, and as the food appeared on their tables she grinned. What a neat little system. Perhaps the absence of injera was not the end of the world. Perhaps she could get used to the food served at Hogwarts. Perhaps- by Hypatia, what in the numbers was that? Ayana peered at the serving plate containing something fried with deep distrust. Hmm. Perhaps this would take a while.

Pudding, yes, that was decidedly the topic of entertainment at the Staff Table. It wasn't a bad start, really. Several people seemed interested in the topic of pudding. Pudding conversation required no real depth or thought - required no one to consider too deeply whom one was talking to, nor did it matter...

Text Cut: Thereos

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thereos

Thereos was neither here nor there on the matter of this bread pudding to which Cornish was requiring about. Was this truly what wizards spent these ceremonious evenings discussing? Pudding of all trivial matters? Thereos had been tempted to pack himself a more honest meal wrapped in leaf and bound with the sturdy hairs of his own tail that had fallen out this morning while one of the young foals had been brushing it as he shared stories around the morning fire.

"Centaurs do not dine on such things," he spoke airily, his eyes cast upwards towards the enchanted ceiling with an unsettled look about his brow. "The moon grows full...it's aura pulsing in Pisces... all should be wary of their feet upon which they step and refresh the eyes that have gone blind from the New Moon in Virgo past."

Now rum sauce. That sounded more to the centaur's refined taste.

"I require a bowl of that," he nodded while addressing Fuller, a man with whom which he recalled with a certain vagueness as sharing the Hogwarts grounds with previously. Though the centaur had known the Charms professor's companion much more personally. "...there is a certain matter on the grounds I wish to discuss with you as well."

It's sudden appearance along with the Full Moon bringing the centaur to pause.

"As well as remind you that the removal of my stump would be discourteous."

And he did wonder if some of the floral arrangements lining the corridors were of any personal attachment to any of whom he shared a table with. The freesia in particular looked delectable.

Until Thereos chimed in about moons and auras and.... Pisces. Truthfully, it made him smile because the Centaur stuck out like a sore thumb. Or, quite literally, a centaur among humans. That was obvious enough. Really, though, it was amusing. He was sure their simple human conversations would never mean much to him.

"It's good to see you again, Thereos," Piers replied genuinely to his divination-y comments. True, Javy had gotten to know him better, but now it was his turn at being the Groundskeeper - a matter that Thereos apparently wished to speak to him about. Piers nodded at the centaur. "Alright," he replied simply, then paused. "Right now..? Or..."

Later?

As far as his stump went, Piers had no problems with it. "I don't plan on removing any of the... foliage on the grounds. Your stump is just fine." And he had no intentions of getting on the bad side of a centaur, especially when his new living quarters were right next to the forest.

Text Cut: Grant

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"Rum sauce?" Cornish's unruly brows arched in interest, and he leaned waaaaay back in his seat to eye his new neighbor. He'd seen him around on the grounds, although he hadn't taken time to meet the man yet. Not rude, necessarily, but practical. There was a lot to do to get the barns ready for the students. Other things too.

"I'm Cornish. Grant Cornish. Care of Magical Creatures. I believe my dog has been visiting with you. Don't let her convince you that she's not being fed. The girl is straight spoiled." He gave a nod to the man at the end of the table who was also interested in pudding. PUDDING, bro. This was serious business.

As for the centaur, Cornish would never be rude to a fellow nature lover, although he found the centaur's words dead amusing. Probably not on purpose. "Yes, sir, I'm very wary of the feet upon which you step." He eyed those huge hooves and was glad that he wasn't wearing his flip-flops after all. "It's my pleasure to meet you, and I bring you greetings from Bayard of Bantry Bay. I run with his colony when permitted."

Back to his pudding pal, though. Piers looked back over at him and gave him a pleasant nod, followed by a chuckle when he spoke of his dog. "Well, I'm sure she'll find the barrel of dog food I spoil my own dogs with in no time. But don't worry, she's welcome along with mine anytime we do our rounds." He didn't want to get blamed for making his coworker's dog fat. And quite honestly, Piers didn't mind another dog. He would have brought thirty of them if he could have.

Apparently this guy knew some other centaurs, which made sense considering his profession in Creatures.

And then Carmine sneezed. And Piers had to hold back a laugh. He cleared his throat and sipped his water, right as the Headmaster finally arrived. A student needed tending to already? On the first night? Merlin, he hoped he wasn't his...

Sitting up a little straighter as the Headmaster rose for his speech, Pierson looked out at the crowd of teenagers wondering again, why he was doing this. It was interesting to note that despite very different headmasters, the speech remained relatively the same over the years: "don't don't anything stupid, don't die, etc." He had been made aware of the Professor just before him that had been... unfortunately devoured by a furry, pink creature, and was extra grateful for his secondary position as the Groundskeeper. That meant he didn't have to linger in the office where she died. The ghost of Dolly Dopple had already startled him twice, interrupting his lesson planning to make sure he was "doing it right". He ensured the woman that he had done this before, but... really, he didn't think she heard anything he had said to her.

Pierson nodded briefly when the Headmaster introduced him, his eyes lingering on the Snake table, which was now in charge of. But he didn't SMILE, because he didn't want them to think he was any FUN. He was a SRS MAN.

And he was serious about this food, too. Lesson planning made him hungry.