Staff Table

Staff Table

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The Staff table is situated at the very back of the room. Everyone sits side-by-side so they can see the students.

It had been ages it seemed since Ruby’s last Opening Feast. She refused to say exactly how many years it had been, because she couldn’t believe time was passing so quickly, but looking at the children currently being sorted just made her feel, well, ancient. Not a good feeling. She looked up at the ceiling, at the floating candles and smiled. Despite the insane storm outside, it was perfect inside.

At least she could count on that.

Still, with the way things had gone over the summer – ever since she took the job as Headmistress and began learning things about Hogwarts she had never imagined learning before – she was nervous. She’d been in this room many times, seven actually, but never in this capacity. Sitting on the elevated part of the Great Hall, at the table that looked out amongst the others, was strange. She’d spent some time here during the summer while she prepped for term, but now there were others here.

Blue eyes looked over at the Gryffindor table that she had called home so many years ago. She wouldn’t have considered her popular by any means, however she was a good student. She did what she needed to do to get the grades she wanted, and have a successful career as an Auror. Now, shifting gears to Headmistress – well, it was going to take a while to get used to that.

Ruby looked down at the notes she had for her speech that she would begin after the sorting ceremony was over. She was to deliver some bad news and some concerning news and some warnings. She prayed that nothing else would pop up as the evening wore on, as she wasn’t entirely sure if her nerves could handle it.

Wait – no, they could. She was a confident woman now, not that kind-of-brave-but-also-scared child of the late 80’s and 90’s anymore. It was the room, that’s what did it. She blinked and looked beside her at Gideon Blackwood, her second in command. She was thankful that she was not the only new face here. “How long, do you think, until the parents feel comfortable sending more?” she asked, concerned about the smaller headcount than she had expected.

She was back.

If she were being completely honest with herself - and why wouldn't she be, really - she'd never thought she'd step foot here again. After her sudden and abrupt resignation prior to Nicholas's discovery and consequential ousting, Julia Laurence had been perfectly content to resume her uncomplicated life, curating museum exhibitions and taking care of her - now - children.

Alas, life continued to throw curveballs at her.

Her brother had insisted she return, to keep an eye on things and report back to him. She hadn't been the most enthusiastic, having finally felt like she was easing back into the swing of things at the British Museum and being preoccupied with getting Kathryn settled, returning to the castle was low on her list of priorities. In addition, Ruby, the new Headmistress was sorely lacking for professors, forcing Julia to actually teach, instead of just managing the library.

The things we did for the ones we loved.

“How long, do you think, until the parents feel comfortable sending more?”

It wasn't a question posed at her, but one that had occurred to her all the same. Honey-brown eyes flicked out over the Great Hall, her lips pursing in quiet contemplation. Most of the students that had returned this year were Purebloods, their families wanting to be a part of reestablishing the school as a prestigious institution, and not the fucking joke Nicholas had turned it into.

"Not long," she said genuinely, turning to offer Ruby a slight smile. "The first term was bound to come with some doubts. Once they see what we're about, they'll send them."

And if they didn't she'd be out of a professor job and back to the museum. It was a win-win situation for Julia no matter how one spun it.

Roufas sat on the end of the staff table with an uncomfortable feeling of isolation and other-ness that he couldn't shake. He knew why he had been asked to come teach, and he had a sneaking suspicion that the other professors knew why too. It had never made him feel uncomfortable being undercover before, during his days as an Auror, and he wasn't precisely undercover now. He was genuinely there to teach. It seemed to him a fine thing to do now that he had chosen to slow his life down some. There'd been subtle hints about more though. It was no secret the fiasco the previous head master had caused and the turmoil he had left in his wake.

"We could use a trustworthy professor on hand, someone not unfamiliar in handling such things." Is what Roufas had been told. It was always the same. Someone needed something from him, he was the trustworthy one, he would follow orders in a pinch. He smirked, pulling a silver flask from his coat and sipping at the smooth vanilla heavy bourbon it contained. The rich brown notes of caramel on the back end soothing the disquiet his soul felt as the liquid warmed him. Roufas tucked the flask back in his pocket, regarding his fellow staff, quietly taking in the conversations around him. He knew so little about them all. It would behove him to learn what he could.

There had been the typical introductions of course, but Roufas couldn't quite shake the feeling his new colleagues didn't quite know what to make of him.

“How long, do you think, until the parents feel comfortable sending more?” The headmistress had asked of her Deputy, Gideon.
Roufas listened to the conversation unassumingly, Professor Laurence offering a reply."Not long. The first term was bound to come with some doubts. Once they see what we're about, they'll send them." She said with a slight smile.

Professor Laurence seemed alright so far, but was apparently highly knowledgeable of the Dark Arts, something that filled Roufas with unease given his decades long career combating just that. Roufas lifted his flask out of his coat pocket and gave it another sip, looking over the student tables, appraisingly.

"Zacarius, Gregory!"

He had spoken the last name on the list, the poor solitary boy trotted up and plopped down on the stool. It tool three seconds for the hat to scream Hufflepuff, another one for him it seemed. With Gregory running towards the table swathed in Yellow and Black, Gideon picked up the hat and stool and walked towards the room, just at the back of the hall.

Thankfully his job was done for the evening, well, at least for the sorting portion. The hat had finished its yearly duties, ready to sit in silence for another year, thinking up another song. Pretty cushy job honestly.

Once the stool was put away and the hat stowed, Gideon walked over to the table filled with new faces, ready for the school term. He took his seat next to the Head Mistress, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he took his seat. Making eye contact with a few of the staff, tipping his chin in greeting.

“How long, do you think, until the parents feel comfortable sending more?” Ruby asked, him, but loud enough for the others around them to hear. It was a good question, one he had been pondering, while looking at the house tables barely half full.

"Not long," their librarian spoke up. "The first term was bound to come with some doubts. Once they see what we're about, they'll send them."

Gideon nodded, agreeing with Julia. “Once word gets out that we are righting wrongs, more students will come. Give it time, a lot has changed.” He said plainly. Taking a sip of his water. It was time to relax, enjoy the feast, then retire to his quarters. Where thankfully, a good cigar and high shelf whisky waited.

Seated at the head of the Great Hall is somewhere Emil never believed he'd be at the beginning of a Hogwarts term. For all intents and purposes, He had barely given a thought to his alma mater since graduation with no ill will or intent thought behind it. Even when news of the scandal hit, there was no concern or care within Emil.

Of course, by then, he'd already... changed.

Emil, situated in front of his house's table, kept his eyes down on the book, 'Essence and Inscription', in front of him. Occasionally he would glance over to his fellow professors who would make up the majority of adults he would be spending time with, but his glance was limited to his left and right. Since his magic had mostly returned to full strength, his eyes had trouble adjusting to the sight of so many auras at once. The students seated all around the great hall had varying colors and shapes to their souls, and to take it all in was visually overstimulating to say the least.

The adults to his left and right, however, were much less densly packed in. It would ease his eyes to look at only them and the book in front of him. Joining in on their topic of conversation would be another thing altogether. Words of more students entering the castle. Of righting wrongs that led the castle to the tumultuous state that it found itself in.

He wasn't sure if he wanted more work, after all.

But he had been given permission to work here on the condition that he contribute to the restoration of the castle in both it's education and magical defenses. He'd also been placed in charge of his old house, Slytherin. It was nothing short of a miracle that he would find himself in this position after the last decade of chaos in his life. A perfect storm of circumstances got him from where he was to where he sat now. Nothing to gain from being abrasive and isolated, but everything to lose.

"Yes, surely." Dry but polite. His finger drifted to the corner of the page he was on, fiddling with it softly before turning it. "We'll get things back on track."

"Not long. The first term was bound to come with some doubts. Once they see what we're about, they'll send them."

Julia, the Librarian, responded. Ruby smiled slightly, nodding. She felt ridiculous needing reassurances; after all, she’d been a Gryffindor the last time she was at Hogwarts. She was still a Gryffindor – and a proud one at that – and yet she still felt slightly annoyed that of course things were complicated when she took over.

“Once word gets out that we are righting wrongs, more students will come. Give it time, a lot has changed.”

Gideon, between here and Julia, agreed with the Librarian. They were right, of course. She knew that. But she couldn’t help but to have doubts. However, she was confident that this team would be successful turning everything around for the better.

Next term, if not before then, would be back to normal.

"Yes, surely. We'll get things back on track."

Feeling a renewed sense of confidence, Ruby nodded and looked out at the students. “Well… here we go…” she said and then stood from her chair and made her way to the front.

---

“Hello, everyone, and welcome to the 1920 school year at Hogwarts. I’m sure you notice all of the new faces up here,” Ruby said, motioning at the staff table. “I am your new Headmistress, Ruby Haswell. Gideon Blackwood is the new Deputy Head Master. He is also the new Head of Hufflepuff. For the other houses, we have Charms Professor Roufas Bourne who is also the Head of Gryffindor. Potions Professor Emil Roan is also the new Slytherin Head of House. And your Transfiguration Professor and Ravenclaw Head of House is Etain Battersea. Dark Arts is now being taught by Librarian Julia Laurence. And the Care of Magical Creatures Professor and the Groundskeeper is Maddox Barlowe.”

She motioned towards each person when she mentioned them, encouraging them to wave at the students. Turning back to the students, Ruby cleared her throat. “Due to the events of last term, I am sad to inform you all that Quidditch and Duelling have been cancelled this year.” Groans of disappointment erupted from the tables before her and Ruby nodded in agreement. “Yes, I know, it is quite disappointing indeed. However, I have been told that we are introducing a Spellcaster’s Society, led by Professor Barlowe, and The Wandering Wands – a survival club – led by Professor Bourne. There is also an opportunity to help in the library as Library Assistants, led by Professor Laurence. Please see them for more information. Also, do not be discouraged by the smaller number of house mates… I am sure as the term goes on, more and more will return to us.”

Ruby grinned, almost completely done with the announcements. However, there was just one more thing she needed to say: “Before we can fill our tummies with delicious food, I do have a word of caution. We have noticed that some things around Hogwarts are not quite… as they should be. Some of the things we have seen include the Grand Staircase – we have seen them stuck in the same position for days on end, and one day they were gone altogether. For a couple of days, some of the doors in the castle transported those who went through them to random rooms. There was also some time when the Gryffindor Common Room was unlocked. But all of these things have – we believe – been fixed. So my caution is to please be aware of where you are and what you are doing, be careful, and always have your wand ready. And please report any strangeness to an adult as soon as possible. Oh, and… the Forbidden Forest has that name for a reason. It is forbidden, and you will receive detention if you are caught wandering around there.”

The Headmistress cleared her throat. “And now, for your Prefects and Head Boy and Head Girl! For Gryffindor, we have Matilda Nordstrom and Rosalie Laurence. Hufflepuff is Benji Laurence and Alice Ravenstone. Ravenclaw is Cassian McCormick and Kaitlyn Dwyer. And Slytherin is Ruth Elliot and Ren Al-Sayeed. Our Head Boy and Head Girl this year is Dylan McMurtry and Angela Howard! Congratulations, everyone.”

The last thing Ruby had to do was introduce the food. Her stomach growled. She was quite famished herself. “And now, let us dine on some amazing food!” she said and lifted her hands out to her sides, her palms up, as if welcoming the food into the room.

But nothing happened.

Ruby glanced over at Gideon, and then jumped when a house elf appeared at her side. She bent down to allow Fluppy, the Head Elf from the kitchen, whisper in her ear. “Oh dear…” she commented after a moment, as she stood up and looked out at the students before her. They were all excited for an amazing meal, and yet – they (as well as the adults) were to be sorely disappointed.

“Unfortunately, I have just received word that there is an issue with the kitchens. Because of that, we will be dining on sandwiches and fruit for dinner. I promise that once the issue is resolved, we will ensure everyone gets the meal they were hoping for.”

At that moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened and in came an unnumbered quantity of platters and bowls, charmed to float, along with the rest of the house elves from all over the castle who immediately began depositing the platters on the tables. Pitchers of various types of juice, an assortment of sandwiches, bowls of apples and bananas took place on each table. A moment later, in came another round of platters, these with heaping mounds of cauldron cakes among other sweets.

"Not long. The first term was bound to come with some doubts. Once they see what we're about, they'll send them."

"Don't jinx us, love. I've only just gotten to enjoy the quiet." And that was already coming to an end. Maddox slipped into the empty seat next to Julia, wasting no time before his posture slouched with one hand hanging off the back of his chair. He'd been late but not so late as to miss Haswell's speech it seemed. On the contrary,the man showed up in time to hear his placating co-workers reassuring their boss that some day--perhaps as early as next term--they would be back to having extra children they had to watch.

When Maddox had handed Halloway his resignation letter, it had been his intention to take himself off to his next adventure. He had thoughts to return to his career in dragonology and had even heard back from a small reserve nestled in the moutains of Peru. Maddox had already begun making arrangements and had let Rose know he planned to take Evander from the country.

The Board of Governors had had other plans. The chairman had been relentless in his insistence the man remain behind to serve his country like a proper Englishman--that he consider the future of wizardingkind and rescind his resignation.

How he wished the man had told him he had other duties in mind for him when he reprised his role of creature professor.

Maddox's head lolled to the side, blue eyes cast on his friend who hadn't wanted to return any more than he had.

"You know what they say, careful what you wish for; a hoard of Gryffindors might show up."

The man quieted as Ruby rose to make her speech. None of it came as a surprise to him, not even the disgruntled mutterings when the more egregrious news was delivered...or Elliot's unsolicited boos and cries for death. Whatever would they do without the ability to knock each other off brooms and send their classmates to the infirmary with third degree burns and boils?

A travesty, truly.

Maddox flipped his fork over and over, twirling it between his thumb and forefinger while he listened for the magic words that would see them closer to the end of the feast. Those words however...were usually accompanied by food. Well then. Nicholas Halloway, the gift that kept on giving. Impassive blue irises locked on the doors when the platters came floating in. Sandwiches and fruit with cauldron cakes for desert. It was the welcome they deserved for all choosing to return. "This will go over well." he muttered, lowering his fork to pick up and apple. He tossed it into the air twice. "I know a tavern that'll still be open if anyone's interested in a real meal when this fiasco's done." An invite to all before he turned his gaze back to Julia.

"Coming?"

A table full of new faces, aside from the one that sat himself down beside her. The previous term had seen many of their colleagues apprehended alongside Holloway, and she wasn't the least bit surprised to see that she and Maddox were the only two to return - also having been the only two to resign when they recognized what was actually happening.

"Don't jinx us, love. I've only just gotten to enjoy the quiet."

A more genuine smile met her eyes as she turned them towards the man she'd considered her closest friend. In the past two terms they had been a shoulder to lean on for one another through many of life's unexpected surprises, meeting each other with humor and sarcastic quips along the way. She'd never tell him so, less his head grow bigger than it already was, but Maddox - by simply being her friend - had gotten her through some of her worst days this year.

Needless to say, she was relieved that if she had to be here, he was here as well.

"You know what they say, careful what you wish for; a hoard of Gryffindors might show up."

"Can always count on you for your optimism and cheery outlook, mon soleil." She patted his knee as the other professors seemed to quietly agree with her assessment. Riveting. A staff table full of echoes. This would...take more patience and grace than she felt she had available at the moment. They were all friendly and seemed nice enough, but Julia was dealing with quite a lot right now, and having to endear herself to a new group of staff seemed - unnecessarily necessary.

She watched the last of the students file in, Benji taking his place quietly where he belonged for once. And Rosalie...

Julia let out a long-suffering sigh as her cousin took it upon herself to kiss the McCormick boy - in front of everyone - before heading to her own table. That girl truly was going to be the death of Julia before her seventh year even commenced.

“Hello, everyone, and welcome to the 1920 school year at Hogwarts..."

Julia listened politely as their new Headmistress rose to address the gathered, offering caution and announcing the student leadership for the term. There was zero part of her that had supported Benji or Ruth being named as Prefects, and Merlin help them all that they were anyway. She knew her son and his girlfriend - very well - and rather than be an example to all, they would use their new status to exploit every advantage they gave them.

It meant she'd be on patrol a lot more often this term.

And then - the hammer.

“Unfortunately, I have just received word that there is an issue with the kitchens. Because of that, we will be dining on sandwiches and fruit for dinner. I promise that once the issue is resolved, we will ensure everyone gets the meal they were hoping for.”

Moans and groans filtered throughout the Great Hall - the loudest coming from the Slytherin table where Ruth was on the edge of revolt. Emil seemed to have no interest in corralling his student, and so, Julia would do his job for him. "Silencio," she said with little enthusiasm, flicking her wand in Ruth's direction. She caught Benji's eye before he could start, and did the same to him, before tucking it back into her pocket. There.

Now the Headmistress could finish this feast in relative peace.

"I know a tavern that'll still be open if anyone's interested in a real meal when this fiasco's done. Coming?"

"Gods yes," she replied softly, taking a cucumber sandwich for herself. "You know me, always up for a party." She smiled as she rested her chin on her hand and nodded back out towards the students. She lowered her voice slightly, so that it was clear the offer was only for Maddox. "You find a babysitter, and drinks are on me."

*flip*

The chapter on improving magical bindings was fascinating enough to call his attention through the uproar. Not even the broken promise of the extravagant feast could tear his eyes away from the application of a circular runic seal wrapping around an item causing an extra layer of binding magic to enact itself.

That was, until, the volume kicked up a notch. It was really his fault for trying to get a good read in during the feast.

The grumbles and complaint about the quality of the food coming was lost on Emil. There was nothing particularly wrong with sandwiches and fruits. Heck, there were nights he'd subsisted on sugarcane while having his own bad spells. There was one somewhat sad looking sandwich in particular that called his attention. The plain cheese sandwich. Nothing fancy about it and as simple as the day is long, but it called to him never the less. He reached into his pocket, removing both his wand and the bookmark, the latter of which he placed between the pages that had captured his attention. He would be back for them without a doubt.

He took his wand and casted a silent Accio towards the debatedly nutritive meal, catching the sandwich before whatever passed for filling slipped out. The tiniest of fires gave the bread a nice, fresh spectrum of toast.

"Silencio,"

The spell caught his attention as his mouth was filled with the flavor of slightly toasted bread and cheese. The rather rambunctious rascal from his table, who he immediately deemed 'Head Of The Dissatisfied Ones Group", or H.O.T.D.O.G. for short, was the target of the librarian's spell. Another boy, by the badgers table, seemed to be her next target. As much as one could with their mouth full, Emil sighed as his body straightened itself up from his sandwich-eating pose. Reaching over to the napkins, an intricate wrap cuddled the quarter-eaten meal as it slipped into his pocket as he reached for his book and wand. Stretching as if he'd just moved for the first time in hours, he turned to the younger lady before him.

"Professor Laurence, apologies, but I ask that you please leave the disciplining of my students outside of your classroom to me. Regardless of your preference for the current noise level, I'd rather save jinxing my students for things that rise to that level of punishment."

He bowed his head and stood up, flicking a silent Finite Incantatem at the Slytherin girl. The Hufflepuff boy was out of his jurisdiction. He'd let the Deputy Headmaster take care of that, or not. He walked around to Haswell and Blackwood, book and wand in hand. He took another bow before interrupting their conversation.

"Headmistress, Deputy Headmaster, I will go to the kitchens and check to see what is going on with the magic there. If you'll excuse me."

And with that, he walked out of the great hall between the tables that housed his Slytherins on one side. Walking past the previously silenced girl, he turned to her and nodded his head before look straight and continuing on. He'd see her tonight, as well as the rest of his house for the first time. It would be a long night already. But first, maybe he could ask the kitchen to whip him up another cheese sandwich.

Maybe grilled this time...

The minute he saw the house elf toddle in, he knew it would be bad news, and he wasn’t wrong.

Sandwiches… Bloody, freaking, sandwiches.

"This will go over well." Maddox muttered for only the staff to hear. "I know a tavern that'll still be open if anyone's interested in a real meal when this fiasco's done." Abso-fucking-lutely. “I’m in.” He said with little fan fair. Hot food and a drink sounded exactly like what he needed, and only the drink was available at the castle.

The four house tables did not take the news of the kitchen’s well. In fact, there may be an all out mutiny on their hands. Julia, the Dark Arts Professor and Librarian saw fit to silence the entire student body. It was an eerie, unnatural silence.

"Professor Laurence, apologies, but I ask that you please leave the disciplining of my students outside of your classroom to me. Regardless of your preference for the current noise level, I'd rather save jinxing my students for things that rise to that level of punishment."

Professor Roan said, removing the spell on his house. Then excusing himself to check on the magic in the kitchens. Gideon tipped his chin in acknowledgment as he walked towards the door. Of all the house tables, the table swathed in yellow was actually quite tame. With a wave of his wand, Gideon removed the charm off the Hufflepuff student as well. “Not that I disagree with your methods, but so far he seems to be holding it together.”

And then the boy exploded. Like a volcano building pressure and letting out a large burst of steam. With another wave of his wand, he reapplied the “Silencio,” shutting the little rabid badger up for the time being. “Nevermind… You obviously know him better. I apologize. So where is this Tavern exactly?”

“You look concerned, what’s wrong?”

“Concerned? On the contrary, just… reflecting. This appointment that has been given to me—”

“Say no more, mo ghraidh… but don’t fret. We’ll see one another on the weekends. After all, we’ve a cottage in Hogsmeade—”

“We’ve a what? Stellus, you…”

“Do you think I’m going to stay in Oxfordshire and leave you here for part of the year? That’s silly! The House Elves will be looking after the place while we’re away…”

“Stellus…”

“And during the summer, we can return home and enjoy our time together there.”

“And what of our children?”

“They can take an extensive holiday around the world, as long as they’re back in time for tea.”

Etain disdained tardiness. She had always considered herself either early or perfectly on time. The former was a matter of preparation. The latter was a matter of foresight. Planning things carefully and meticulously in advance allowed one to arrive at their destination ahead of time without the need for anything further. The latter was born out of habit from dating and marrying Charles Stellus Battersea. He had this uncanny knack for either being in places she least expected or on time in such a way that it intrigued her.

The pale-eyed man would always tap his nose and grin.

Unexpected business caused by an unsavory delay caused her to wisely send an owl ahead of time in case something like this occurred. This delay was followed later by some of her belongings being seemingly lost as well, turning up, and finally being loaded with her. In all of this, Eris was unhappy—Eris wasn’t the most pleasant when unhappy and elected to remain in her quarters, which was fine. The accommodations were more than sufficient for the task ahead of her. Now all that had been needed was to change and arrive with as much grace and dignity as the delay allowed.

The doors to the Great Hall opened, and in walked a woman in a deep blue full-length silhouette frock with black lace trim and a hint of shimmer throughout. High-necked, it had a fitted bodice with voluminous full sleeves that tapered at the wrist. The skirt was full and floor-length. Matching deep blue sapphires, of the same quality and intensity as the one on her ring finger, hung upon her ears. Lastly, her long, ebony hair has been fashioned into a twist and held in place with a pair of ebony chopsticks. It was the best she could do with the circumstances at hand.

Reaching the table, she gave a nod to everyone and noted the feast.

“Go n-éirí an bóthar leat!” She spoke the blessing with a mixture of formality and warmth. “Apologies to all, I was… delayed.” She began to take a seat. “It would appear the House Elves have decided to step outside of tradition. Everything going well, I take it?”

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1. May the road succeed with you.