Welcome Feast [2026/2027]

It was strange, or rather it felt strange, to be giving the welcome address. After all, Andrei Kessler had not really ever left the castle since the previous school year. Sure, he took time to be with his family and to attend the World Cup, but it seemed most of his waking hours were spent in these very halls. Such was the curse of being headmaster. Though, nonetheless, he put on a smile and walked to the podium just as he had the previous year. Indeed, the only difference being that, instead of floating candles and starless sky, spiral galaxies and shooting stars lit up the great hall with their splendor—magic truly was a wonderful thing.

"Welcome, welcome one and all," his magically enhanced voice boomed across the room and over the four long tables stretched out before him.  "I hope you all enjoyed your summer breaks and are feeling refreshed and ready for another year at Hogwarts."

A mixed reaction spread through the crowd. Some students were clearly quite pleased to be back in school with all their friends. And others, well, others were less than pleased, to say the least. Such was the life of a kid, though.

"I will try to keep it short because I know we're all hungry," he flashed a smile that seemed to belong to a younger man. "Before that, however, I hope you'll all help me in welcoming back our staff from last year..."

Much like the previous year, the Headmaster introduced each teacher in turn. Luckily, this year was much more stable on the hiring front than the previous years. In fact, he only had to hire one teacher for Charm class, Amanda Hanzel, over the summer; the rest of the staff were returning. Stability in staffing was a long term goal the man was aiming for. It simply wasn't conducive to learning if classes had a new teacher every year.

"...And, lastly, I would like to remind each and every one of you that the construction zone on the seventh floor is strictly off limits to all students. If all goes according to plan, we will soon have a new addition to our astronomy tower, but until then those found there without permission will face disciplinary action" he paused for a breath before continuing. "Now, let's eat!"

The construction project was something dreamed up by the board. The idea was that it would allow for better study of the stars. Apparently, it would be able to support the latest in telescopic technology or something like that. Truth be told, the Headmaster hadn't had much say in the matter, though it seemed to him a waste of money. There were more important things to pour money into, but the project made some donor happy so it wasn't all bad.

Azalea had returned to the castle around midday as was expected of her and other permanent staff members. Following the unspoken ritual from last year, she would be helping Grayson with the sorting ceremony, something she was perfectly glad to do now that she too was partaking in the first day jitters most of their newbies would be experiencing. Hers of course stemmed form the looming meeting with the headmaster regarding her research.

Nevertheless it had felt goo to come in early, find Grayson with his books and spend an hour catching up with him over a lovely tea blend he had acquired from somewhere. Then she had gone of to find Annika to remind her that yes, it was the first day of school an yes, the Slytherins' morale would increase greatly if their Head of House was present. Finally, Azalea had been introduced to the jolly new Charms teacher who spoke way too much of her twin daughters.

"Oh they look lovely," Azalea commented after seeing the fourteenth photos of the girls at some kind of extracurricular activity. Ballet, horse riding, art class, Krav Maga, the brunette had lost count.

"I'm talking too much about them, aren't I?" Amanda apologized eventually, turning the topic over to Azalea. "How about you, do you have any children?"

"I... uhh..." The brunette tried to formulate an answer but failed. Did she have children? no, she had one child. But it wasn't as if she could tell a virtual stranger who Mimosa was. "Umm, my partner does. His name's Ethan, the child, not my partner. Ethan's about two, sorry I haven't got any pictures." That was a lie, but the TA didn't want to share pictures of Josh and Ethan just yet.

Thankfully Grayson intervened at the right time and the conversation was steered to safer waters before Azalea excused herself to get ready for the feast.

Back in her quarters, Azalea found a dress steamed and starched just as she liked it with a little note from Josh, making the witch smile. It had been so long and he still took care of the little things. the young mother was still smiling as she donned the dress and set about curling her hair in gentle waves.

The first years this time around were a more confident bunch, or at least being lead by a group of three very confident young ladies. Professor Kessler kept his speech short either because he didn't have much to say or he could read the room well. Either way, Grayson and Azalea were soon busy with the kids, the Transfiguration Professor calling out names while she waited with the hat, placing it on each new student's head to decide their fate for the next seven years.

"Abdul-Wahab, Jamila."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Atkinson, David."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Bowlby, Sareena."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The sorting continued, Azalea helping the new arrivals get their bearing and pointing them to their seats once the hat had announced their House. More than once, the witch took the opportunity to glance Mimosa's way, frowning slightly at how close the girl was sitting to the Headmaster's son. The benches at the tables were always crowded but there as no need for that.

"Zuen, May Teng."

"RAVENCLAW!"

With the ceremony concluded, dinner was announced to thunderous applaud. And it was only at the staff table fifteen minutes later as Amanda was showing of yet more pictures of her daughters that Azalea realized she hand't seen Jake all day.

And that she hadn't even looked.