Post by Prof. Raspberry Cheetah on Jun 17, 2013 12:31:40 GMT -6
In the Hogwart's welcoming ceremony, the faculty and staff were always seated first. Even though Raspberry had heard the time correctly, she arrived for the ceremony a full three hours before the faculty were to be seated. As a result, she was indeed the first person there. And also the only person there, for a very long time. She used the time to doodle in a journal, ruminating on her thoughts and hopes for the semester. She was relieved when other professors began to trickle in around the scheduled time.
When the students were seated, she squirmed in her seat in delight, but also discomfort for having been sitting for so long. Granted, it was her own fault, but that didn't make the restlessness go away. She studied the faces, especially the HufflePuff table, wondering which would be in her classes, which she would make friends with, and which would be the first to couple up into romantic pairs. After all, it was always the most exciting and precious thing about going to school, and the students were always so adorable with their bashful awkwardness.
She listened intently to the speech, nodding here and there, and grateful that it wasn't too long. When the Headmistress finally sat and began to fill her plate, Raspberry did the same. Gooseberries, boysenberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, turkey, pumpkin pie, cider, ale, milk, wine, water, soda of every variety. It was a feast, indeed!
"So which students do you think will earn the highest marks this semester?", she whispered to the person nearest her, hoping to spark up a conversation. It was far more interesting to speculate on the lowest-earning students, but such things weren't nice, and negative attitudes were strongly discouraged from staff, and for good reason. After all, she did want to see her students succeed, so speculating who would fail would only set early false expectations in her own mind, and perhaps even influence her grading subliminally.
Post by Prof. Pavlo Ponikarovsky on Jun 18, 2013 2:44:28 GMT -6
Pavlo applauded along with the rest of the staff and students as each incoming first year was sorted into his or her house. Having attended Durmstrang, the Ukrainian had never been certain how he felt about the idea of separating students by certain qualities into different houses. There were times when he felt it created tension where there shouldn't be any, and other times when the rivalry seemed enjoyable. Either way, it seemed to work well enough for ancient Hogwarts. He had once briefly considered trying the Sorting Hat on himself, but decided against it in the end. As a professor it was better to not be biased.
The Headmistress kept her speech, if you could call it a speech, incredibly short. Much to the obvious relief of the students as the dishes began to fill themselves like they always did. That was one little trick Durmstrang and Hogwarts did have in common he found.
As he was filling his plate he heard the young Arithmancy professor ask a question. "I will guess the Ravenclaws or Slytherins, more than likely. They always seem to have the most competitive ones when it comes to grades," he responded in his slightly accented voice. "I've always had rather good luck with Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs in my class though, so I know they have their fair share of brains."
He glanced on his other side at his friend Phoenix Valentine, "What say you Bird? Do you think your Gryffindors will be able to best the brainy Ravenclaws or cunning Slytherins in grades this semester?"
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem. - A.A. Milne
Post by Prof. Phoenix Valentine on Jun 19, 2013 1:10:28 GMT -6
Like all of the other staff, Phoenix applauded as the last student sorted happened to be in his own house causing a larger smile to form across his face. Not soon after the headmistress gave a rather short speech. Clapping softly once again, Phoenix watched as his plate was suddenly filled with a rather large steak. Why the house elf's cooked so much was beyond him but he could not complain since their cooking was better than what he could ever do.
Phoenix was about he go to work cutting the steak into smaller more manageable portions when he suddenly heard Pavlo call him 'Bird'. Glancing up at the tall professor, Phoenix gave a small shake of his head, "Pony. Don't make me use this knife on you." Smirking slightly he waved the knife toward Pavlo before once again going back to work on the steak that was before him. Stopping for a moment he glanced at the Gryffindor table before replying, "To be honest I believe they can but it would be a large task. Grades are nice and all, but I would rather them have fun instead of trying to be better than another house or student." Nodding Phoenix finished his cutting of the steak and took a small drink of wine.
“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”
Post by Headmistress Cerise Charmant on Jun 19, 2013 16:45:26 GMT -6
As Cerise Charmant dug into her dinner, a curious combination of bacon, sriracha, and fish with no accompanying starches, she listened with interest to the conversation the professors around her had as she enjoyed her bacon-wrapped fish (Cerise had an odd diet that included peanut butter, bacon, and of course sriracha sauce; the house elves seemed to always please her palette with their unique, random kitchen creations).
Professor Cheetah raised a rather interesting question about students receiving the highest marks this term, and Cerise pondered on that answer herself as she chewed on her quite chewy food. Unfortunately, she did not know a great amount of students on a student-to-Headmistress academic basis. So, it was only natural for the Headmistress to take an interest in the students who the professors believed would excel this year.
Looking over to "Pablo," Cerise nodded at the mention of Ravenclaws excelling in class. Yes, that was probably natural, although she very well knew she had Ravenclaws even on her staff who did not excel in class, but other things. As the Headmistress and former Professor, Cerise realized that she genuinely hoped for each student's success in classes. She hated seeing students have trouble in their academics; those students had to see her in her office, and she only sometimes enjoyed those kinds of conversations. Cerise listened, too, as Professor Valentine encouraged enjoyment over academics. Even with a full mouth, a laugh still managed to escape her lips. Those were the words of a true Gryffindor.
"Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
Post by Prof. Pavlo Ponikarovsky on Jun 20, 2013 20:12:36 GMT -6
"Did you really just threaten me with a knife?" he said to Phoenix, almost choking down the bite of potato he had just taken. "Did you turn into a squib overnight and not tell anyone? I wonder if that's ever happened..." He pondered that in the back of his mind while listening to Phoenix talk about his Gryffindors. For a second he could have sworn he heard the Headmistress laugh, but she seemed to be concentrated on her dinner when he looked.
He took a sip of his own wine while examining the students in front of them. "Unless Quidditch is in the picture I bet. That seems to get everyone's competitive juices flowing," he replied, glancing up and down the table. "I just realized I'm the only non-Hogwarts alumni at this table, aren't I?
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem. - A.A. Milne
Post by Prof. Phoenix Valentine on Jun 22, 2013 0:57:40 GMT -6
Phoenix glanced toward Pavlo with a faint smirk as he also slowly nodded his head. "Why yes I did just threaten you with a knife. Don't think a couple of these won't do some damage to you," his voice faded as he took a bite of the steak he had cut moments ago. Just as he thought it tasted better than anything he could have come up with. Savoring the taste Phoenix nodded once again to the Quidditch comment.
"Now that is one thing that I believe Gryffindor should win. But I think Hufflepuff may end up being a surprise to us all," Phoenix said before taking another drink of his wine as Pavlo looked up and down the table. "Ah, its ok Pony we are not going to treat you like an alien or anything. Hell you should probably go try the sorting hat on to see what it says to you, im sure the Headmistress wouldn't mind it to much."
“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”
Post by Prof. Pavlo Ponikarovsky on Jun 22, 2013 19:06:22 GMT -6
"Death by steak knife...the Tragedies section of the Daily Prophet would get a kick out of writing about that incident. Especially since it involves a former Auror. They'll think you've completely lost it after all these years," he replied while cutting through his roast.
Glancing at the Hufflepuff table as Phoenix spoke he nodded in agreement, "They did well last year and seem to have an even more determined group this year, so you may be right. We'll find out soon enough."
After pouring some brown gravy over the roast, he gave it a try. Delicious as always. He had to give it to them, house elves knew how to cook. He had never even had much experience with house elves until he went to Durmstrang. Apartments in large muggle cities in the Ukraine didn't exactly attract them. "I know you're not going to treat me like an alien because I'm foreign. Everybody is too busy treating me like an alien because of my height to do that," he joked. "I don't think I should. I have thought about it but...perhaps it is better for me to remain neutral."
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem. - A.A. Milne
Post by Prof. Raspberry Cheetah on Jun 25, 2013 10:06:23 GMT -6
Raspberry listened to the banter about violence with steak knives with alarm, and tried to come up with some ideas to relieve the situation. What if she gave the professors detention? No, that couldn't work. What if she told them to play nicely? Nah. Before she could think of something worthwhile, the tension seemed to die down on its own, as it had only been playful teasing.
"Since all students take the same finals, I can request old test results and measure the scores. If there's no significant statistical difference, then you'd be right that no one house is smarter than the other. "
"Well, since all students are aligned to houses, and most professors came from Hogwarts, perhaps it would be more inclusive to align yourself with a house that best represents yourself? I believe that is what the sorting hat does, to some extent."
"Oh, look at that boy over there balancing grapes on his nose. He's so silly."
Raspberry's voice faded off as she watched the young adults eat, play, talk, and spend their nervous, anxious, excited energy on socialization. She'd see all of these people in the hallways, and some of them in her classes.
