Was it September 1st already?

The Headmaster felt like he'd gone to bed on the night he arrived home and had woken up back here in the castle. Like an endless loop. Was that possible? Of course, he knew that wasn't true. The man remembered clearly the family vacation he'd taken, he remembered sleeping three days straight when he got home, he remembered a lot. So, in fact, summer had definitely happened.

He was pretty certain at this point.

Malachi made his way up to the dais, knowing the students would be arriving soon. It'd been a week of quiet time in the castle with his colleagues, getting last minute stuff taken care of. The final meetings before they got into the full swing of things. For the most part, everyone seemed on the same page where the students were concerned.

Trent sank into his chair at the centre of the table and without realizing it, had his gaze land on the Gryffindor table. Merlin knew the sort of year he'd be in for with that lot.

Well this was.... weird.

It felt bizarre to be back in here, in the Great Hall, at Hogwarts, as a professor, without his old friends. When was the last time he'd talked to Oliver and Waylon and Cece anyway? When was the last time they'd all dined together here? William was hit by a wave of nostalgia as he slowly did the math and then realized he hadn't been at a feast in twenty....twenty-three years! MERLIN'S BEARD! Had it been that long??!?! He was ancient now. Old. Grizzled. Changed. Why had he come back?!

As he continued through the Great Hall, now looking rather somber, he paused to collect himself before heading up to the staff table. Malachi Trent did not seem like the nostalgic type, and William wasn't feeling like talking to the boss right now anyway. He settled into his seat with a grunt of greeting for the Headmaster. He wondered what the kids were like these days. Did they even like animals??? Had he taught all their parents???? Ughghhh. This was going to be a strange year.

HOW EXCITING WAS THIS!!!

Cassie had been wishing time away all day. After she saw her own children off she flooed straight to her office and made sure everything was in order and then she just waited. She waited and waited and FINALLY, it was time for the feast. She never thought she would be back here teaching, but here she was and she was thrilled, though she worried that Leo might have trouble holding down the homestead and the shops while she was here. She had faith in him though.

Making her way towards the staff table she couldn't help but stop and just beam at the ones already here. "Helllllllllllo everyone! Is this just the most wonderful time of the year." Her happy snaps already starting as she continued to walk towards her seat.

"I just couldn't wait to get here today, this will be marvelous." Plus with her own daughter being sorted tonight it made it extra special, her baby coming to Hogwarts, goodness where did the time go.

It was WONDERFUL to be back. If you had told him a year ago that he would have been counting down the days until he got back to Hogwarts, then he would have called you crazy. BUT he had been. All summer. He'd marked each day on a calendar with a cross as it passed, THRILLED that this was his job. And like he had ended the previous term, Gus clutched a picture of his three kids and carried it with him to the staff table. "Hello, hello, hello." Sorry excuse us got to get to our chair and set our kids down. Thanks cool awesome bye.

When the picture was set in front of his chair, Gus was ABOUT to properly say hello to his colleagues when the new divination professor started that insufferable thing with her fingers. And Gus had to fight off the sour looking thing that his mouth wanted to do - scowl.

INSTEAD he grabbed a napkin and a marker from his pocket and scrawled in his uppercase handwriting an 'IS SHE GOING TO CLICK HER FINGERS ALL YEAR?! BAN IT PLEASE.' and then passed it along folded into quarters to Trent. Thank Merlin she was on the other side of the table to him.

This year, preparing her office in the hospital wing had taken practically no time at all. Last year, after those disastrous events had left the place in shambles, Gabi had been scrubbing the place from top to bottom well into the fall term, simply to make sure sterility was managed in the place where she was supposed to be treating students ILLNESSES. But this term, it had taken her just a few hours to make sure it was all up to her impossibly high standards. Which was good, as she had quite a bit planned for this term that she needed to focus on - the less cleaning she had to do, the better.

She smiled at all her colleagues who had already arrived as Gabi took her place at the table - regrettably, one place further down that last term since the Flying professor had taken up residence next to her. She grinned at Gus and took her seat, just in time to hear that infernal snapping of the fingers coming from the Divination professor.

Trying not to wrinkle her nose in annoyance, she glanced at Gus just in time to see him scribble something on a napkin and shove it in front of her, obviously meaning to pass it down to the Headmaster. She bit her lip to stifle a smile as she glanced down at it. Gabi already had misgivings about Divination as a subject matter - but something about this newcomer and her peppiness was annoying. Maybe it was because GABI was the resident blonde bombshell at the table and did not appreciate this woman coming in and trying to divert the attention to her. No, no, Gabi was not nearly that immature anymore or so she would tell herself. Whatever the reason, her petty Slytherin side decided she was not a fan.

Speaking of annoying, where was Schmoe to make some sort of bumbling error on his way to his seat? He was at least annoying in an endearing sort of way.

Yes, speaking of annoying! Thank you Gabi for what made a great segue: Schmoe entered the great hall, decked in forrest green dress robes that dragged behind him just a bit as he bumbled his way towards the dais. He wasn't surprised to see that Malachi had already arrived, nor was he surprised to see Gabriela, Gus and--

Ah. Size 5, Ah.

Well, this was an awkward time for Finneas Schmoe. Well, all times were awkward times for Finneas Schmoe.

BuT in his dEfEnSe!!! This time was more awkward than most because William W. Williamson was back to teaching Care of Magical Creatures. Not that this was innately awkward on it's own. What made it so awkward, however, was that William W. Williamson had been HIS Care of Magical Creatures Professor eeeeeeeons ago. And suddenly Finneas forgot how to act.

He waved to everyone, in that strange way he did. Standing in front of his chair about to take his seat before for some reason, he wore the biggest, strangest (most UNNATURAL) smile. "H-hullo, Professor Williamson."

The year was 2077. Finneas Schmoe was an awkward, 13-year old with wobbly knees, terribly inconvenient cystic acne, perpetual morning breath, and a voice that did not want to keep consistent. EVER. Like, AT ALL.

To say he was glad to back, was an understatement. It has still felt bizarre leaving Derek behind, but his Healers were all impressed with the recovery he had made last over the last year and Eliot had apparently been hassling him daily to do his therapy and Carwyn knew that no-one could hassle better than their oldest son. Smiling at that very thought, the man who was a few days away from being seventy-one straightened out his robes over his pale blue shirt and grey waistcoat. He was going to miss his old, worn-in brown boots now that he was back teaching but there was something to be said for a good pair of brogues too.

Stepping closer to the Dias, Carwyn inclined his head towards the staff members as he walked past them. He welcomed and greeted those he knew and gave greetings to those who he hadn’t had more than a short minute to speak to already. ”Hi, Good evening. Glad to be back. Piers, good summer? Hello, hi. Headmaster. Good evening. Gabriela, Gus - I trust you both had a nice break.” He stood at his own chair and turned to look further towards Finneas and… what was he doing.

The older man carefully put a hand on the young man’s shoulder. ”Finneas? Are you okay?” He looked over him carefully, but the Welshman didn’t see anything particularly worrying about the Muggle Studies Professor. Nothing injured, nothing missing, no obvious reasons … for him… standing. Just standing.

He looked over his shoulder at Gus and Gabi to see if they knew something that he had missed… Or perhaps the new Professor knew something? William Williamson… If he remembered correctly. Yes, he was sure that was what Malachi had introduced the tall man as. Hmmm.

The Transfiguration Professor took one more look at Finneas, and then slid into his own chair on the other side of Gus.

Look at them all, just look at them. Cassie was beaming so hard that she might have busted her face if she tried to get her smile any bigger. After a few more snaps she found her seat right next to the headmaster. "Good evening, hope you had a wonderful day. Everything is looking ah-mazing tonight. The students are going to just love being back, I just know it."

She was loving being back and speaking of being back she heard Eris say something about Piers and Cassie turned to see the man that would be sitting next to her. The only one she had worked with before, it was weird not having his husband here too, but she adored getting to teach along side him again and to be seeing Curtis more as well. This was going to be a fabulous year.

She did catch the eyes of the healer and gave her a wave, oblivious if the woman had any issues with her already or not, Cassie was never one to notice those sorts of things, but there was something about healers having issues with her, it really could be the blonde thing if she really would have noticed or put thought into it.

Malachi inclined his head at Williamson's grunt. Not much of a talker it would seem. Though by now, Trent had learned to wait for the term to unfold before deciding on any opinions of his colleagues.

Except....maybe Cassie.

He....already had a few ideas of the sort of woman she was and her entrance was only cementing that. Really happy, wasn't she? Were most people that happy? Had he simply become jaded far too early into his career as Headmaster? He might have thought so, until he caught the note that passed from Gus to Gabi and eventually to him.

Malachi spared the pair a curious look before unfolding the parchment. Oh Merlin. The snicker escaped the man before he could do anything about it but it was quickly stifled and the parchment pocketed as Cassie took her seat by him. He sat just a little straighter in his seat and made an attempt at full composure, fully equipped with a clearing of his throat.

"We'll take a vote, later." Was his only response to the Herbology Professor. For now, he was still waiting to see how much of a problem it turned out to be. How bad were a few snaps really? How far would she take them? All questions they would need to wait to have answered. For now. "Not sure how many of them are eager to be back, but I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see their friends again and spend the night giggling away like they don't have my class at 8 am."

Eris' question had Malachi turning his head in the direction of Finneas. He'd only just been about to return the man's greeting but that smile....

Um.

....

Was he alright?

"Whatever it is, don't tell us til morning." Just in case. Malachi had no doubt this year would find some way of going south. He'd just rather not have it happen on the first night. "Unless you're dying. You can tell Gabi, but not the rest of us until tomorrow. It's only fair."

"He's not dying," Williamson finally spoke up, with a nod toward his former student.

His former student.

From Hogwarts.

Who was now ALSO a professor!?!

By Morgana's saggy eyelids, William was OLD!!!!!!!! Old enough to know that if he didn't say something, Schmoe might just stand there all night.

"Hullo, Finneas," he returned the greeting of the gangly noodle man. The boy man looked nearly the same as he had as a student, only like he'd been stretched by a potion and had somehow managed to wash the acne off his face. Merlin, was he almost as tall as Willy now?! "Why don't you take your seat? And we can catch up later?"

Maybe Willy would send him a pygmy puff for company, send it right on up to whatever floor they studied Muggles on. (He wouldn't know, he hadn't taken that class.)

Joining the team last year and getting to sit this year again between his joining buddies Carwyn and Gabi was wonderful. Mostly because Gabi was in on his note passing from the get go and looked like she agreed with his thoughts of the click clacking finger snapping lady down the way. The appearance of Finneas didn't phase Gus as the man was usually quite...strange at times. He liked him, sure. But that didn't change how weird the Muggle Studies Professor was at times.

The reaction of the Headmaster to his note didn't go unnoticed and Rainwater could only grin at it. "I vote that my vote is the only vote that matters. Gabi's too if she agrees with me." Which... she would, right? They were a little group of buddies, were they not?

"The kids are here!!!" HUZZAH. OH. Look at their familiar faces! Look how wet some of them were. "Must be raining outside. Let's see how many of them pull their wands out to dry off and how many sit in the soak."

The kids.... *grunt*

Williamson spotted more than a few that he recognized, mostly because he really did know their parents and the genes were strong with these people. He had one eye on the Slytherin table, though, his old house. And also because some little girl had some weird-looking, top-heavy, twitchy robes on. That wasn't suspicious or anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanners

"The kids are here!!!" HUZZAH. OH. Look at their familiar faces! Look how wet some of them were. "Must be raining outside. Let's see how many of them pull their wands out to dry off and how many sit in the soak."

Yes, the kids were here and as strange as ever. He tore his eyes away from the girl (she was clearly smuggling something) to glance at his colleague.

"Wanna place a few galleons on it?" he responded to the plant man. Gusgus Rainbow or something, wasn't it? William really did want to know how many kids were competent spellcasters so far and how many were not. "Five galleons says only a handful use their wand." Most would probably not even notice the rainwater; they probably hadn't learned constant vigilance yet.

Oh the headmaster made her laugh and give a few more snaps on his comment about staying up too late, "Well I remember when I was at school, it was the best time to catch up with your dorm mates. So I could see why they would stay up." To be young again, though she would take her time here as an adult over her student years.

"Oh I hope they help the first years dry off, if not I don't mind helping them." Especially her daughter and Hope. Seeing her godson head to the Slytherin table she did give a little wave, did he see? Then it was time for the sorting and she gave snaps of excitement especially when Gemma got into her old house.

"This looks like such a smart group of kids, I can't wait to open their minds in lessons this year."

Huh? Okay? That was a ridiculous question. Was Finneas Schmoe ever OkAy??? Not really, to put things simply. He was probably the least okay man ever. He looked from Carwyn to Malachi with bulging eyes and swallowed quite loudly when Professor Williamson spoke on his behalf. ”Errrrr, yes,” he gave an awkward thumbs up to all parties involved. ”Excellent,” he saluted (for? some? reason?) before pulling out his chair and sitting down.

Finneas didn’t have much more to say. So he just sat there. Like an awkward thirteen year old. And waited for a speech. And food.

...did Finneas just SALUTE Williamson? Good Merlin. She never knew what to expect with that one, but even on Schmoe levels of awkward that was...something. She smirked over at Gus again and nodded. "We're veteran professors now, so obviously it's OUR opinion that matters most," she joked along with him with a small chuckle. She was joking, of course. Obviously. Only one term on staff didn't make you a true expert on anything...

Were they sure the first years hadn't simply fallen into the lake? That usually happened at least once a term. As they began to banter about whether or not they were going to dry themselves off, she turned to Finneas and shot him a look of concern. "Are you alright there Finneas? Do you need a Calming Draught?" Gabi always had one on her. Because when dealing with hormonal, dramatic teenagers, you never knew when you might need one!

Carwyn snorted. Honestly snorted at Malachi’s reaction to Finnease. He coughed into his hands to cover it, trying not to outright laugh. He eyed Professor Williamson, and nodded happily being told Finneas wasn’t dying. That was truly good news. The Muggle Studies professor was much too gentle and entertaining to die of… shock?... right at the start of term.

Eyeing the awkwardly still standing Finneas again, Carwyn turned to looked over to a voice he didn’t know but he gave Professor Kitridge a smile regardless. Personally he knew a good few of his own grandkids who weren’t looking forward to being back at school… although he knew that they wanted to be back practising magic and to being with their friends, so hopefully they trumped their want to be home for Summer. Maybe, maybe the students would all settle in easily, happily and it would be plain and easy sailing. Heh.

Oh, look. Finneas had sat down next to him. Hi, hello. Good to see you sitting. Nodding his head, he leant back in his chair as he let Gabi see past him and he watched the students filing in.

Hmmm. Who had paid attention enough to dry themselves off? Interesting question that. Quietly, he settled into his seat and waited for the speech.

The first years had safely been brought to the castle, the stragglers in the entrance had been ushered inside, and finally Piers could finally join the others at the staff table. To be honest, he didn't really mind the duty of making sure everyone was inside the castle and being the last one to sit. It meant he didn't have to endure the awkward conversations of everyone else while they waited for the students to arrive. Although Schmoe... he was always interesting. But he had a whole term of that ahead of him.

Piers walked up to the staff table, a small carrier in each hand, thanks to the last minute hand off from Claudine. He knew it wasn't very appropriate to bring cruppies to dinner, but the young Snake didn't leave him much choice. He obviously didn't have time to run down to his hut to drop them off since he was sure Trent was going to make his speech any moment. So, the pups came with him.

Not feeling the need to explain himself, Piers joined the others at the table and set the two carries containing one sleeping cruppy each behind his chair and then took a seat between two new staff members, both of which he knew. One of them being the woman Piers and his husband (for some WILD reason) chose to be Curtis' godmother. The woman was crazy, but maybe she could help him keep the boy in line this term.

"Cassie. William," the Charms professor greeted coolly. Piers took a seat in between them with a nod and unfolded his napkin, glassing past the woman inevitably in pink to nod at the Headmaster, a gesture that meant he'd need to talk to him during or after the feast about the two cruppies that were napping behind him.

So, was it dinner time yet?

The sight of Piers made Cassie beam, but what he was carrying made her squeal a bit, "Are those puppies Piers?" Why was he bringing puppies to dinner, but more importantly why were they in cages and not being petted by her and everyone else. Did everyone else see them?

"After dinner are we going to be able to play with them, what are their names?" Honestly how cute are they! She gave a few snaps of excitement before looking back at Piers fully. "It feels like old times when we were sitting here together before. I can't believe I'm back teaching again, what an exciting opportunity, especially with Curtis and here now both Jackson and Gemma." She was excited about teaching, but that her kids had an uncle on staff as well.

So not dying then, good good. Merlin knew it was too late into the term to find and hire a new Muggle Studies Professor. And, the paperwork involved in that didn't bare thinking about. In any case, the pair seemed to know each other so he would leave Finneas to Williamson. He...surely...knew how to handle that...

Meanwhile, he would handle....the double team that was Gabi and Gus. The man did his best to keep the amused smirk from his face. The snaps weren't that bad yet. It'd barely been a week. "We don't throw democracy out the door over a few snaps." But he would like to give his own take on this bet. Malachi looked toward the students, considering for a moment before finally offering up, "None of them." Okay, maybe one or two, but for the most part, none. "Hogwarts is full of magic, including the magic to make the students forget common sense the moment they arrive." He dared anyone to argue that, especially in the last few terms, consecutively.

It was Cassie's further enthusiasm that had Malachi looking to the students again and that's when he noticed Piers...and....cruppies...?

The feast hardly seemed the place to take pets but he assumed there was some method behind that so the look he received was returned with nothing more than a raise of the Headmaster's brow. He supposed they'd talk about it later.

For now, with the last of the sorting over, Malachi rose to his feet and tapped at his goblet. Attention attention, yes attention. The Headmaster waited for them to settle before continuing.

"Good evening and welcome or welcome back to another magical year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. To our First Years and transfers, congratulations on your new houses. I trust the rain hasn't put a damper on your spirits. I wanna believe this will be a good year, so let me start by imploring you all to act like you've got some sense. You know what's expected, fail to act accordingly and the Hogwarts Express is on standby to take you back to London. This is a school. Surprise, surprise, schools have rules and consequences for breaking those rules. I won't put up with further folly." As fair a warning as the "avoid the forest" one he gave at the start of every feast. In the last two or so terms, the behaviour of some students had gone down the well and drowned. It was time they went back to acting like the students he knew they could be.

"And, y'know, while we're already on the subject of don'ts--I didn't wanna start negative, this isn't me, I'm not this person, but some of you have made it a necessity at this point. Let's do some quick recap, to get everyone up to speed. The forest near the end of the grounds is called the Forbidden Forest. Want to know what happens if you ignore the implications of that name? I've got a Slytherin and a Gryffindor who can answer that for you, if the acromantulas don't first." Wait. "That might be too vague so let me come right out and say it. Stay OUT of that forest. Consider this the first and last warning to all." Everyone was present. Everyone received instructions. Now he would wait to see who truly thought themselves above the law.

"On a lighter note, let's welcome our new Professors. From right to left, our new Astronomy Professor, Jane Cravit. Taking on Care of Magical Creatures, Professor William Williamson. Filling the role of Divination, Professor Cassiopeia Kitridge." He paused for appropriate applause.

"Classes start tomorrow at 8. I don't recommend staying up too late. Fuller-Thompson can tell you what happens to those who show up late to my class. I don't recommend finding out for yourself. Merlin, it's been nothing but warnings, hasn't it? It's hardly any way to start the school year. Join a club, try something new, make new friends and improve your grades. The possibilities are near endless and there are plenty of ways to gainfully occupy your time. Let's have a good one, yeah? Let's eat!"

Malachi gave a clap of his hands before sinking back into his chair. Right on cue, the food arrived. Rather than dig in, he looked to his colleagues again. "I'm accepting volunteers for detention chaperoning. We all know we'll need some." He wasn't, for a second, holding his breath.

William was saluted by Finneas? Ahhaahahaha. Well that was unexpected but welcome, yes. He accepted the salute with a small nod and a smirk. Age had some perks, dinnit? Look at all this respect from young Schmoe; now if only the students would replicate it. He would definitely have to catch up with the Muggle Studies professor later.

He relaxed in his seat somewhat as his old classmate, Piers, showed up with two... crates of cruppies? What were those for? William was, OF COURSE, interested, but not in the same way that Leo's wife was interested. Merlin, she was chipper. How did LeoBALD put up with that positivity all the time always? Hearing Cassie bubble like a brook made Willy feel relief for not being married. Who needed a wife, huh? Who needed an eternal spot of sunshine in one's day? Not him. Not this guy. Definitely not him. No regrets here at all. Not even one. So. Anyway. Uhhhh. It was nice to hear the Headmaster was in agreement about the prowess of the students. Some things never changed, heh. Anddddd speech time!

He gave a small wave of acknowledgment when his name was called by Trent. Who were these kids sneaking into the Forbidden Forest though? Slytherins would do such a thing?! Didn't they have more self-preservation than that?! Willy was a bit taken back by that but not enough to put him off the food, once it finally arrived. He tucked in and deliberately packed his mouth full of chicken and mashed potatoes so that he couldn't answer Trent.

Rule number one to survive teaching at Hogwarts: Don't volunteer for anything.

"Give me better stakes than money. Covering first five detentions for the school year and extra curriculars during exam time." What was he going to do with money back at Hogwarts? He already had his resources sorted for the school year and he saved as much of his wages as he possibly could for his summer adventures with his children. And five galleons wasn't all the impressive in the long run.

"I'm saying more than five and less than ten use their wand."

Gus had very quickly realised that he was going to have to exercise his most professional behaviour this year and just hope that the kids were too much for the old lass to stick teaching at Hogwarts out for more than a term. Because the snapping continued. "I don't think the children need you to step in and dry them off, Kitridge. They'll warm up soon enough. It isn't life or death." What would be life or death was if she came with her snapping fingers into his greenhouse, because he'd have to introduce her to some of the more dangerous plants.

Maybe.

Probably not, but he could at least think about it. If she was still teaching when his own kids were of school age, then they were going elsewhere. He didn't want the snapping lady opening any of his kids minds. Sounded like a surgery and not education.

With a loud laugh, Gus nodded. "I'm going to make us veteran badges. We'll make extra veteran ones for those here longer than us. Like Ignatius." And Malachi, but he wasn't going to say that when the man was as close as he was. But, now that Gus knew that Gabi was of similar mind about things to him, he'd be visiting her office to destress when he wasn't marking or teaching. He was making time.

........... were those......?

Gus squinted the way down the table towards Piers and nudged Gabi to draw her attention to the addition to their group. And by addition, he didn't mean the Charms Professor. He meant the carriers that were now behind Piers' chair. Had he got gifts for the new Professors? Because... he hadn't given gifts to any of them last year. Huh. This was such a weird dynamic.

Gus gave Malachi a knowing look and then a grin. "I'll get back to you in a week, then?" He was just teasing - he wouldn't one up the man in charge of the school, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't be that person in staff meeting that had to take a deep breath every time someone else started talking or in this case...snapping. Malachi would snap out of it eventually. Hah. Hah! How many times could Gus make that joke this year? WHO KNEW. He was going to keep a tally. "What's common sense in teenagers?" HAH. C'mon! That had been funny. Did his colleagues still not appreciate his ho ho humour?

But it was TIME for the speech (which also then meant time for FOOD!!!) and Gus had to press his lips tight together to stop from laughing about the stupid teenagers and the forest. Honestly... they could hit them over the heads with books about common sense and every skill they would ever need and teenagers would still make stupid choices. He didn't envy Malachi for having to deal with them, honestly.

"Yeah, sure. I can snap myself into detention mode." FUN. What was even more fun was piling his plate high with food and turning the photo of his kids to face him. Meal time with the family!

Smiling down the table at the Herbology professor she just laughed and waved him off "Oh dear me no, I know it's not life or death. I've been through this before. I just like being helpful and if they needed help I sure will do it." She smiled sweetly, wasn't the entire staff just the sweetest. She was already enjoying all of them and just knew they'd all be the best of coworkers, though she did miss Nessa up here with her this time around. Her eyes moving toward Hope as she too went to Hufflepuff and Cassie gave her snaps. She's have to mirror her dear friend after this to fill her in on all the great things.

Soon though the speech was here and Cassie couldn't believe how quickly the night was going. She was just too excited and fell into celebrating all the first years that everything was just moving right along. It was in the headmasters speech that she went wide eyed about the forest, why on earth would students being going there? Her memory of her time as professor was enough to keep her from that area if she needed. When he mentioned lateness and called out a particular name she glanced over at Piers before looking to the Slytherin table giving maybe more of a motherly look then she intended.

When the new professors were being names she gave them happy snaps and a little wave when her own name was called. As the food appeared she took her vegetarian option and began to eat. Though the detention comment caught her off guard, people actually volunteered for that? If she didn't, would she be assigned to it? For now she just ate her salad and thought this over.