pre-term meeting (open to proffies)

Professor - Headmaster Riddle - looked around his old office. When he was in charge of the decor, the area resembled something very unfeeling for someone who put so much emphasis on the importance of emotion. Then again, he only really spent time in it when seeing students.

The office was much different now: surfaces coated with long, velvet runners and various displays placed too precisely for it to be a man's work. Armchairs had already been conjured and fitted sensibly within the space, so there was no chance of obstruction. A floor-to-ceiling display of opalescent glass ornaments stood reflecting their colours; the desk was now beneath a rug, decorated with framed, moving artwork and a large, ominously floating orb above a neat stack of papers; the scent of the room now had rich floral notes, perhaps lavender, mixed with the lingering scent of cleaning potions.

The main feature, however, stood to the side of the desk: a large hourglass the size of an adult's torso. He noticed the absence of sand within there. It was just... empty. Even the plaque at the bottom didn't say anything. Lochlan inspected it closely, grasping his goatee in wonder.

"What is this?" he asked his auburn-haired friend, with a wide smile.

"A lesson," she replied ominously.

And that was all he ever needed to know.

She sat in one of the armchairs, helping herself to a plum cordial spritzer. Her nails, like talons, painted like oil sheen, pinched the stem of the glass delicately as she raised it to her lips. She watched as her friend and former schoolmate pottered about the newly designed office, wondering if any of the other Professors would be as engrossed with it.

She was yet to meet them, but would be imminently. The door to her office stood ajar and waiting for them to gather before the pre-start-of-term meeting began.

@Reed Jackson @Dione Cross @Calista Felling @Javier Morais @Frederick Renshaw @Hermione Granger @Leythan Selwyn @Tessa Shaw @Winter Lestoat

Although he would be arriving by train to the castle in a few days, via the Hogwarts Express, it was no bother to use the temporary floo network Riddle had offered for the meeting's travel. Leythan still wanted to ride the train. He doubted his Aunt had the same sentiment, but that was no matter to him.

Currently, he had no idea about Professor Riddle's changes to the school except for his new teaching role, so he was looking forward to hearing them. As he sashayed through the door of the Deputy Headmistress's office and twirled about, he first offered his Aunt a dashing smile before attempting the same to Riddle.

"Afternoon Aunt, Headmaster," he said spiritedly, plopping himself into one of the armchairs.

Frederick walked in as soon as he could tell that it was necessary; even when he worked as a healer, he always knew the importance of making a good first impression. Lochlan had to know that he picked the right man for the job, and he was going to prove that by being extremely punctual.

His chin was scruffy as ever as the healer robe of the team he last worked for draped over his broad shoulders. Seeing who was already in the room, he nodded to them. "Afternoon, everybody."

He wasn't sure how he expected the office to look, but it was nothing like how he remembered it being when he attended.

@Lochlan Riddle @Eluren Oathwaite @Leythan Selwyn

Come on, Reed. You got this, man!

Reed was taking in some of the various appearance upgrades after arriving via floo; he liked that some of it was more vibrant, but he really wanted to see how Voclain would've changed it. He whistled down the corridor proud that he made it through his first year of teaching; he was officially seasoned into the profession!

Stepping into the office, Reed took a seat, blissfully unaware of some growing sentiments on the magical side of Britain.

Dione was sad to see the summer come to an end. She had spent the entire summer in her greenhouse tending the exotic and rare plants that she kept there and she hated to leave them behind. But duty called and she knew that she must go back to Hogwarts. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy her job, she did love sharing her love of plants with the students. It was just so hard leaving her extensive greenhouses behind. She would survive, though. At least the plants would remain well cared for. She had made sure of that.

She carried a beautiful potted plant in her arms as she made her way to the new deputy headmistress’s office. She had heard the position had been filled by a new professor and since Dione had been new the year before, as had many of the teachers as she had learned, she wanted to make the new deputy head feel welcome. And who didn’t love a potted exotic plant to liven up one’s office. As she walked into the room she nudged the door back so that it was only opened a crack with her hip before smiling a bit. ”hello everyone.” she said before her eyes landed on a woman she didn’t recognize. ”you must be the new deputy headmistress. I brought you a gift to liven up your office a bit.” maybe the woman would hate the gift… not everyone enjoyed plants but Dione was trying to be welcoming so she hoped that wouldn’t be the case.

@Eluren Oathwaite

Unlike some of her colleagues, Hermione had already been at Hogwarts for a few hours; Ron was working at the store and both of her children were out with friends, so she had taken the opportunity to redecorate her office before attending the briefing. In just a few days, she would be able to welcome students back and help them adjust or work through hardships.

It was going to be strange not having Camille around to always send encouraging messages; she knew she was going to miss her previous boss, but she didn't think it would hit as hard as it did. A very slight tear rolled down her cheek as she walked through the corridors to reach what was now Professor Riddle's former office.

Wiping her cheek just outside of the door, Hermione entered the room putting on her usual warm, friendly smile. "Hello, I hope all of you have had a splendid day so far." She took a seat in one of the armchairs awaiting the start of the meeting.

Javier had taken the floo network from Romania where he had been working for the summer. It's where he had been before he had accepted the job at Hogwarts and he had not hesitated to take a summer position on the reserve during the summer holidays. Though, he knew that was soon going to come to an end since he would be returning to school in a few days.

As he walked into the office, he still had a bandage wrapped around one arm from a burn he had gotten earlier that morning. He had underestimated the dragon he had been working with in his rush to get through things before he had to be at this meeting. Luckily, it had just been a little burn. It hurt like hell but he had just covered it with some burn salve and a bandage and been on his way. He stood near the back of the room, looking every bit of the brooding bad boy he had been when he was back at school himself.

Calista had been at the school for a few hours already. She had to make sure that the hospital wing was well stocked with supplies and potions that they might need throughout the year before the students were to arrive. She had been going through their stores for what had felt like ages before she looked up at the clock on the wall and saw that it was nearly time for the obligatory meeting with the professors. She wasn't sure why she was included since she wouldn't actually be teaching the students but she wanted to get to know the other staff since she had come so late in the year last year so she hadn't questioned.

She put the last of the potions she was sorting up on the shelves and then locked things up before she left the hospital wing. She hadn't had long to learn the layout of the castle yet so she managed to get lost a time or two before she found the deputy headmistress's office and walked in through the open door. She smiled and nodded to those who turned in her direction as she entered before taking up an empty seat.

Being handed a cherry cordial spritzer by his Aunt, Leythan crossed his legs over and slouched languidly inside the armchair, glad to be watching as the cavalry marched in one by one. He was glad to observe, but was mostly keen on any that stood out to him; either for being fiercely attractive, fiercely intriguing, or both.

The first to enter was a man of middle age, whose humble appearance likely reflected his personality. Following was a stout, younger man in very casual clothing: he had all the grace of a jolly fat man and Leythan's lip curled up in minor disapproval. He didn't like jolly fat men. The next couldn't have been more of a contrast: a breathtakingly beautiful woman who almost seemed ethereal, as though she was merely an echo of a breathtakingly beautiful woman that would play on your mind but never was feasibly there. He adjusted his position in his seat a little for her, interested.

Hermione Granger followed next - of course, he recognised her instantly. Then came another, younger Professor. Leythan failed to realise he was biting the side of his finger as he regarded his adeptly chiselled features and the way he carelessly propped himself against the wall. A blonde was the last to enter, and she too was quite pretty. Overall, he concluded, the Professors at Hogwarts were a good-looking bunch. And there is was, hours before, fearing that he wouldn't have anything good to look at but cold, stone walls.

"Well. I can see that you prefer not to be surrounded by doddery old scholars, Headmaster."

Eluren didn't have quite as much interest on judging her colleagues by appearance as her Nephew did. Instead, she merely handed them each a spritzer of varying fruit combinations which they could either clutch like a safety blanket or actually drink. It was up to them, really. Everyone liked to have something in their hands when there were meetings: it made everything seem more spirited and less like a drilling.

When she went to hand a blueberry lemon combination to a woman who entered, however, she was surprised to be handed something in return. A plant. Liven up the place, she'd said. Eluren was displeased about having her newly refurbished office being seen as drab and lifeless, but it hadn't shown in her expression. Much.

"How thoughtful," she responded to the woman, trying a smile. Beside the desk, Lochlan gave a very meaningful cough that she knew was mocking her.

@Dione Cross

"As I am a doddery old scholar myself, I don't like seeing too many of them around. Makes me realise I'm one of them."

He laughed genially before taking a sip of his drink. Taking an armchair that was left vacant, he cleared his throat in a manner that meant the meeting was going to begin now - so be quiet.

"Well, as most of us are here, I'll begin. Those who turn up after and miss any important bits - I'll have to speak to at the end. Once I get going I prefer not to start over," he told them, with that sappy grin of his, "First of all I have a few introductions to make. The new owner of this office, who quickly saw that it was stripped of any evidence of its former owner, is Eluren Oathwaite. She will be filling my former positions of Deputy Head and Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor."

He gestured to Eluren, giving her a smile that she didn't return.

"Next over yonder," he said, gesturing over to Renshaw, "Is someone I'm very lucky to have this year, as it is a job that actually needs doing this year and needs doing well. Frederick Renshaw is our new Health Professor, and will be guiding our students through the turmoil of adolescence. What with the alarming number of pregnancies last year, I needed someone who would put that statistic down to zero. He is the only man for the job, as I see it. So I hope you give him all a warm welcome and perhaps give him lots of potted plants in particular, Dione."

Chuckling, he continued.

"The strapping young man over there, trying to seem modest about my compliments, is a former student of mine - Leythan Selwyn," he said, gesturing to Leythan who wasn't looking modest at all, "He will be filling a new teaching position this year, as dance instructor. This will be a class all students will have once a fortnight in the evening. This will be to improve the school image as a whole, as well as giving the students a meaningful way to spend time together intimately, but chastely, and be able to express themselves in artful ways. He will also be offering students needlework lessons as another practical skill they can learn, to use in adulthood."

He paused there, taking a sip of his drink.

"These changes I am making are an attempt to produce more well-rounded, expressive and confident young people at Hogwarts that we can all be proud of. I want this fine institution to be one that is respected as much as it was in former years, and I fear my former colleague and predecessor, Miss Voclain, was leading it in a direction of mockery. I hate to say it, but it's how I feel. So, please bear this all in mind when I explain the biggest change that will happen this year."

Frederick nodded in thanks as he was handed a complimentary beverage; it was like he was already a core member of the Hogwarts team. He glanced at his colleagues as they walked in, giving each of them a slight wave. It was strange to think that he was going to be working in the same school as Hermione Granger; she was likely the only person in here he could really recall attending Hogwarts with other than Lochlan and Eluren. Most of the faces, however, he didn't recognize. The wizarding world was quite small, but frequently traveling around the world for quidditch tournaments made it far too easy to be out of the loop on certain things.

Once Lochlan was done introducing him and the other new professors, Frederick stated, "Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to hearing everything you have planned and helping students not make any stupid decisions."

@Lochlan Riddle

A good-looking bunch, but he was the best looking. Perhaps the Brazilian man was a close second. The potted-plant-gifter third, blonde fourth...

The Renshaw man spoke, and Leythan wondered whether he should make some kind of acknowledgement to the Headmaster's words as well at this point. He managed: "Yes - ditto," in a way that was neither committed nor grateful, but he wished to be seen as humorous.

... he wanted to get to know all of them, really. He just wanted to get to know some of them better than others.

Was the Brazilian sporting scars? How rugged.

Of course, Dione had no idea what the office would look like before she had entered it. She had just been going off the knowledge of what it had been like when Lochlan had been the one to own it. Though, she had to admit that the changes that had been made did make it seem much more welcoming in some way. It was no longer as sparse and severe. She still thought that the plant would make a lovely addition. She smiled as she was thanked and took the beverage she was handed. "It is from the jungles at the top of the mountains of Cape Melville. It is a species only found there." She rambled on warmly, trying to let the woman know how special the plant really was. The area it grew in was so underexplored that she doubted any muggles had ever laid eyes on one. And it was strikingly beautiful once it fully bloomed.

Then Lochlan was launching into his speech and Dione flitted to one of the empty chairs to listen. She smiled and nodded to the new health professor and then laughed musically as the new dancing instructor made his joke. They seemed like they would be pleasant enough a sort to work with. "My greenhouses are always open if you need plants for any type of lesson. There are many healing plants there." Because health class wasn't just about sex ed, right? Even if that seemed to be what Lochlan was mainly worried about. She then fell silent as she waited for those changes to be spoken of.

@Frederick Renshaw @Eluren Oathwaite

Reed attached the names to the faces of his new co. workers to the best of his ability; how long has it been since Hogwarts added a new subject? Ages? He hoped at least one of them was another muggleborn as it was just him and Hermione; imagine how awesome it'd be to have a lad on the team who also knew his way around the muggle world?!

Tapping the arm of the chair melodically, Reed bopped his head to the Death Grips song that was his earworm of the summer.

"Hey, man, since we have dance as a class now, is it possible for the music night to become an annual talent show? Like, man, some of the kids at this school are really talented!"

And that was about the only item Reed could contribute to the meeting thus far, his complimentary drink already empty.

@Lochlan Riddle

"As some of you may know, last year I had put forward my own suggestions for handling student aggression, and that Miss Voclain went ahead on her own and devised a lock in. In that, she hoped that students would be kinder to one another. Of those of us who know human nature and understand some of the trials of youth, we know that there will always be squabbles, arguments, lashings and fights - but what if we could change the way students address them?"

Most of them knew of his attempts to get a duelling system. Well now the crown had passed from one golden head to another, greyer, and therefore wiser head. He was going to get what he wanted, and sooner than he thought.

"The duelling system will be implemented as soon as the students arrive: I have already made alterations to the castle's enchantments to allow for such a thing. When the students find themselves in a heated argument or dispute, they are allowed to duel one another within the duelling chambers, under proper duelling rules. Any violence outside of the duelling chambers will be severely punished, and there we have it."

He gave them all a cocked grin, looking very pleased with himself.

"I see this not only as a way of managing tempers, but as an incentive for students to improve on their magic skills. This is a school of witchcraft and wizardry, after all, and I intend to turn out great witches and wizards, not just people."

Retrieving a pile of papers he'd left on the desk, he began handing them out to his staff, one by one, which had a few more details on how it would work. When he was back at his chair, he took a moment of silence as the information was digested. How many of them would be for it? How many against? How many would say as much?

((OOC: refer here !))

As the papers were being handed out, Reed felt a pit in his stomach; the lock-in definitely wasn't done well, but couldn't Voclain have gotten some cred for having her heart in the right place? When his copy was handed to him, Reed's eyes widened when he noticed the mention of three duelling chambers. There's three of them now?

"Hey, man, what other parts of the school got an upgrade?"

He hoped the music room was one of them; Reed had left most of his materials there over the holiday so he wouldn't have to worry about bringing them back.

@Lochlan Riddle

A duelling system? Hermione had heard murmurs about it from speaking to her relatives and their schoolmates, but she didn't think about it being immediately implemented the moment Lochlan became headmaster. Although a part of her did worry about how it might affect her position as a guidance counselor, she couldn't help but worry about how many kids might end up being targeted for existing. How many kids would end up fighting a duel they have no ability to win? Not every student had their strength in duelling; what were they supposed to do then?

Her disapproval was silent as she absorbed more of the words written on the informational sheets. This could get terrible really quick...