The Start of A New Year

[Providence Moore]

Entering the Great Hall Providence looked around the room and smiled. This room in this castle had always been one of her favourite places. The only place better in the castle in her opinion had been the Hufflepuff Common Rooms but she thought that every student in the school probably felt that way in regards to that particular place. Maybe it was the Hufflepuff in her that made her feel that way but then she had never spoken to another badger about it. Maybe she would ask Retta if she felt the same way.

She thought about what Will had said about Shay and his nature and the secrets that he kept. Will was of course correct in that statement and it was a mark of just how well he knew Shay that he would make that statement. But at the same time it was a well-known fact that the Brock family took the secrets that they kept to the grave. Azalea and Merit were exactly the same and though she had not known him she knew that Cillian Brock had been like that as well. Shay was a Brock to the extreme though and took the act of secret-keeping to a whole different level and he needed no spell to do it, he actually saw it as an insult if asked of him.

“I know how seriously a Brock takes a confidence but what secret could be so much of a burden that he would distance himself from his family and closest friends especially at time when his support was most needed by not only his family but by the Underwood family?”

Providence made her way down the wall closest to what was considered the Slytherin table Providence scanned the room briefly. There were quite a few students there for breakfast already and she was pleased to see that they were not all sitting at their own house tables. She climbed the dais and took the Heads seat in the centre of the table.

She reached for her glass and took a sip of the cool pumpkin juice in it and lifted her spoon and tapped against it. The sound quietened the room slightly and she stood up and smiled at the gathered students.

“I am pleased that I have gotten your attention as I have an announcement to make.”

[Will Crittendon]

As Will respectively followed the Headmistress into the Great Hall, he could see from the side the corners of her mouth turn up. This was obviously a favorite place for her. For him it had both good and bad memories. There was, of course, the camaraderie of the Gryffindor quidditch team, but it also held memories of his despised older brother, and the knowledge that he had taken a different ath and was forever separate from his own family. He reckoned, though, that most students had good memories of this place, and were not so conflicted as he was.

It always did feel that he was forever being pulled in opposite directions, and he sighed slightly at the memory and knowledge of that fact …. with his family on one side and Drac and Shay on the other. There was of course the fact that every time he was reminded of his brother his thoughts went back to those fateful moments in the Hospital Wing where he had had his final confrontation with his brother, Hector. That was a memory he had no interest in re-living, ever. He had never forgiven Drac, for his lack of intervention in his family’s expulsion …. until recently …. but it was curious why he never held Shay to the same standard. Shay was always different he recalled. Even when he was with them, he seemed separate.

“Yes …. They do take secrets very seriously …. especially Shay. But everyone knows that about them and him, and accepts it. He never did anything unless he had a good reason, though, you must remember, at least in my experience. Perhaps one day he will let us know why. But until that day comes it will be a waste of time trying to pry anything out of hi. It will simply not happen unless he wants it to,” he said as he sat down a few chairs away from the Headmistress.

He had only seated himself for a few moments before he watched her scan the room and bring it to silence by the tapping of her glass. He listened to her begin her announcement, and wondered exactly how she was going to phrase this announcement, especially in terms of the former HOH, Dracorious Knight. They all had to have some idea of Will’s and Drac’s history, especially the duel that had incapacitated Will. He wondered what exactly the reaction would be.

[Liam Grace]

Following the girls and Eddie through the corridor Liam had to admit that he felt a little left out. It seemed to him that Sophie had taken a leadership position within their small group and maybe it was his sporting background and his competitive nature that he didn’t really appreciate that and he didn’t really like that he felt that way.

He just felt a little left out like he had nothing really in common with the two girls and even Eddie despite that Eddie was his best friend. They all seemed to have music in common in some capacity with Tallai singing and Eddie playing and though she did neither Sophie had a musical connection through her Uncle’s brother who was in well known bad. He did however find it weird that she referred to this man as her Uncle’s brother and not as her Uncle also.

He perked up a bit as Tallai said that she was also staying at Hogwarts over Christmas and maybe he could get to know her a little better. He noted that when Sophie asked what their plans were that she had not included him.

“Well I am staying here also,’ he said rather loudly as to point out that he was part of the group. He looked at Tallai and gave her what he considered a winning smile. “Maybe we could hang out or something.’
They had reached the Great Hall and entered after the Head Mistress and the Charms Professor. He looked around the quite packed room and was a little surprised as he still considered it to be quite early for a Saturday. Maybe they weren’t the early birds he had thought that they were.

The Slytherin table was the closest but out of rivalry and house pride he was not going to sit at the table. The Ravenclaw table was next closest and there was enough space for the four of them so he headed that way and took a seat and poured himself some pumpkin juice. As he did that there was a sound of someone tapping a glass and he looked towards the Professors table to see Head Mistress Moore standing and say that she had an announcement to make. He looked towards his friends.

“I wonder what that is about,” he said going over in head what in the name of Merlin could she be announcing.

[Deleted]

Eddie followed the girls into the corridor, not saying much as he listened to Sophie and Tallia talk. Neither did Liam until they got to the Entrance and he looked at his mate as he spoke rather loud.

"Dunno " he said answering finally to Sophie about what they were doing for Christmas. "Haven't really thought about it. I know they are heading to see Charlie but my brothers don't want to go, and for that fact neither do I , so I guess if we all ask, they might let us stay. " he said as they entered into the Great Hall.

He looked up as they entered to see the Headmistress there with someone he did not know. She was just making an announcement which he thought was a bit wasted since the hall was only a quarter full. He followed Liam as he sat the Ravenclaw table and like Liam reached over but he grabbed the orange juice rather than pumpkin juice that time of the morning.

"Maybe it's a new professor. I wonder what he is going to teach " he said looking up at the professors table. He gave a small laugh, even the other Professors had not come down yet. Maybe the announcement was not that important he thought to himself.

He saw Mitch and his mates sitting at the Gryffindor table and raised his eyebrows as if to ask if he knew anything, but his brother just shook his head and raised an eyebrow back as to why he was sitting at the Ravenclaw table. Eddie shrugged and turned back to pick up his orange juice.

"Well, whatever it is, I hope don't it take too long, I still wanna get some practice in " he said reaching out for a plate and proceeding to fill it up with eggs and bacon and 4 pieces of toast.

[Providence Moore]

Looking around the room she noticed that most of the faces were quite anxious and she smiled reassuringly at them. She had no idea what whenever an announcement needed to be made it was assumed that it was bad news.

“As you well know Gryffindor currently has no Head of House. I was hoping to hear from Professor Knight in relation to this matter but I have not heard from him and assume that his business had taken a lot longer than he even thought. As an interim measure until Professor Knight returns or stands down Professor Crittendon has agreed to step into the role. I hope that Gryffindor House will welcome him,” she said looking towards the Gryffindor table though considering that only a few Gryffindors were actually seated at their table it was pointless.

She sat back down and took a sip from her glass. She reached for some toast and started to butter it. She turned to Will and smiled.

“I hope that was alright,’ she said taking a bite of her toast.

The post owls swooped in and she watched them and was a little surprised when one of them swooped down and landed in front of her. She took the note from the owl and she read the note:

Headmistress Moore,

Providence! That sounds much more friendly, although I hope it is not presumptuous . I ran into one of your current professors today, Professor Crittendon. He was a student several years behind me. I was lamenting a bit about my current employ and he stated that there may be a position there for a flying instructor. If so - could I drop by and talk with you about the position and the possibility of me teaching there?

Drop me a note. Hope to hear from you soon!

Tas Underwood


Providence couldn’t help but smile at the note and grabbing some parchment and a quill from inside her robes she quickly scribbled a response to his letter.

Mr Underwood

Tas, you are right it is so much friendlier and of course it is not presumptuous we are old friends after all. I have also run into my Charms Professor and he has already informed me of your desire to teach flying. To be honest with you I am surprised that I did not think of it myself.

I would only be too please for you to come to the school for a meeting to discuss the position.

Sincerely

Providence.

She gave the note back to the owl, pleased that it had stuck around the return. She turned to smile at Professor Crittendon.

“Well speak of the devil that Tasgall and he will be coming sometime today to discuss the position.”

She took another bite of her toast and thoughts of Tasgall Underwood made her thoughts return to Shay Brock and what she and Professor Crittendon had been discussing and she shook her head slightly.

“No I don’t think that is quite right. He will only let go of the confidences he keeps when those whose secrets he keeps allows him too do so and I expect that is very rare and I doubt that he is actually the one that tells. He will let the secret teller reveal their own secrets that way he never technically breaks his oath,” she said thoughtfully.

She wondered if it was a secret that had made him pull away from his family so and she wondered whose secret it was…

[Phoebe Underwood]

Following her Head of House Phoebe had to admit that she was hungry and the Professor was correct that pancakes did sound good. She hoped that there would be strawberries to go with the pancakes though she wasn't sure if the season was right for it. Strawberries were just about her favorite food in the world and it just happened to her wood her wand was made off as well.

She gave the Professor an odd look. A sister? She did have any siblings and she thought that if she did it would make it easier when they moved.

"Umm, no Professor. I am an only child," she said climbing the stairs from the cellar into the Entrance Hall, "but I do dream of a girl that looks exactly like me a lot."

Phoebe entered the Great Hall just as the Head Mistress was saying something about the Gryffindor Head of House and she looked at her own head of house and smiled.

"I guess we missed the big surprise after all," she said.

Though she knew that she could sit at any of the tables she headed over to the Hufflepuff one but took a seat so that her back was to two boys who were sitting at the Ravenclaw table but she was sure that they were not Ravenclaws themselves. It was lucky that she had taken her seat because at that moment the owls swooped in to deliver the mail and she was sure that if she had been standing she would have been a complete fool of herself. None the less she still jumped slightly and made a slight squeaking sound

[henrietta]

Retta wandered up from the Hufflepuff dorms and listened to Phoebe as she told her she was an only child. So the girl had no idea she had a sister. Thinking about it, Retta wondered if she had it mixed up, but no it was there, the idea there was a sister, and not just a sister, a twin. But why did Phoebe not know, did the parents split them up for a reason and what was that reason. Oh this was going to haunt her and she knew straight after breakfast she would be consulting the cards.

"Seems we did" she smiled letting the girl head to her own table while she made her way up to the Professors table. ""Good Morning Head Mistress, I see we have a new Professor how do you do, I am Retta Morgenstern, head of Hufflepuff and Professor of Divination, Was I correct in hearing you are the new Head of Gryffindor she asked the man sitting down beside him.

"Let me be the first to welcome you then and congratulate you. What class will you be taking? " she asked as she helped herself to some the pancakes sitting before her. Blueberries she noticed and heaped some onto the plate along with her pancakes.

Picking up a fork she studied the new man a little. Tall and lean, he had a cane beside him so an injury of sorts. Good looking she noticed, a little too good looking and she found herself blushing. It was not like her to be affected by a man, in fact most times she avoided them. Yet there was something about this one, a haunted past perhaps that went along with that cane. She was always a sucker for a haunted past. Maybe that was why she could see a sister for Phoebe so clear. Haunted souls were always easier to see into for some reason.

Retta gave a sigh and forked some pancake into her mouth and looked out over the students.

[Liam Grace]

His eyes never left the Head Mistress as she made her announcement and once she was finished he looked to Eddie.

“That was certainly interesting,” he said turning his attention from Eddie back to the Professors table and Gryffindors new Head of House. He eyed him shrewdly for a moment before turning back to Eddie. “I have never pictured him to be a Gryffindor actually and you would have to think that he would have had to be to be appointed to the position. I wonder what happened to Professor Knight though.”

He turned his attention back to the food in front of him and frowned slightly as he noted the pancakes. He liked them well enough but he always considered them to be rather girly. He saw that there were also eggs and bacon and steak and sausages. He grinned with pleasure.

“A man’s breakfast!,” he said reaching for the eggs and steak just as the owls came souring in. He looked up not expecting anything really but he liked watching the owls. He heard a slight squeak and thought that was odd and turned around to see the back on girl with blonde hair that was almost white.

Curiosity got the better of him as he noted that her back was rather stiff. He turned around fully in seat forgetting only a little that he was hungry.

“Are you alright?” he asked leaning over a bit a placing a hand on her shoulder.

[Will Crittendon]

Will sat as the Headmistress rose to make her announcement. He had wondered exactly how she was going to go about it and what the reaction to it was going to be. He saw that she had opted for the direct approach and had decided to announce him as a fill-in or as a temporary replacement for Professor Knight, and not a permanent one, which he was glad of. He did not want there to be a perception that he was in any way forcing Drac out of his position. The announcement seemed to be reasonably accepted, and what tension there was was dissipated as an Owl arrived with a message. He happy response to her own reading of the message, and the then her quick reply that she sent on the same Owl lightened the mood even more.

Upon hearing her remarks about Taz and Shay, he quickly responded. “The message from Taz isn’t much of a surprise I think. It was obvious that he was quite anxious to leave his position at the Ministry and get back to something that showcased his natural ability. I think you will be hard-pressed to find a better Flying instructor anywhere. Now as far as Shay is concerned it is likely that you know him much than I. But in any case I think there are some secrets that he possesses that nobody will hear of them from him, ever.” And he hoped that his secret was one of those that would never come to light.

At that point he watched as a young student, and an adult who he sensed was a fellow professor, entered the room together. He noted, with his powers of observation, how the teacher seemed to give the young female student an unusual piercing glance, as if she was trying to ascertain some secret that the girl was trying to hide. Within moments, though, the woman was sitting next to him, and it was obvious that her focus had moved from the young girl to him, and honestly he found the sudden attention as disconcerting. Quickly, though, she apparently tried to bridge the awkwardness between them, and began to address herself directly at him.

She introduced herself quickly, and he found out that she was another Head of House, and looking directly into her eyes with his pale blue ones until she looked away, he introduced himself. “Yes, if you didn’t already hear, I am Will Crittendon, Professor of Charms, and head of Gryffindor. So, yes, you are quite correct,” he said as he saw a blush expand across her face. “Your welcome and congratulations are most willingly accepted. I have taught Arithmancy, and have some experience in Defense against the Dark Arts, but Charms is what I teach here.” She saw the look of analysis that she turned upon him, but it only lasted for a few seconds, before her glance swept over the rest of the room, as he heard a sigh escape from her. “Is anything troubling or bothering you,” he asked.

[henrietta]

Retta turned back to look at the man as he introduced himself. "It is nice to meet you Will Crittendon " she replied, giving him a smile. New head of Gryffindor, she had wondered what had happened to Professor Knight who had been the Gryffindor HOH for a few years now. She got nothing on him, so she had no idea and was never one to really poke her nose in, not unless she thought it necessary.

"You have much experience but Charms, I must admit one of better subjects when in school myself. Your accent though, I detect a hint, the USA perhaps. " she asked, thinking this the most she had said to any new professor before, in fact she rarely ever came down to have breakfast in the Great Hall, she had only done so this morning in the hopes of gaining something more from Phoebe.

She went back to her pancakes and was about to the fork in her mouth when he asked if something was troubling her.
"oh, nothing really, just one of my students. " she replied looking out again. One of the Gryffindor boys sitting at the table had turned around to talk to her. That could be good for her, Retta thought, some friends might bring her out of her shell a bit more.

"So will you taking over Professor Knights old offices and rooms. " she asked as she gazed in his eyes. Eyes were the windows to the soul. What she saw made her gasp and put her for down.

"Oh dear, I am so sorry, please excuse me " she said hurriedly standing up and making her way via the back door. For what she had seen was something dark, yet as she hurried away, she could see the good in this man. Dark but good . . what did it mean. .

[Providence Moore]

“Well I am glad that I was of some assistance then,” Providence said in relation to Tas as she watched Retta Morgenstern enter the Great Hall with a first year Hufflepuff. She looked at the girl curiously as there was something about her that was familiar but she couldn’t quite place what it was. “And you are probably right in relation to Shay. There will probably be something’s that he will never divulge that he even knew about it even after the fact.”

She looked towards the girl once more as if the girl and Shay were connected in someway but she doubted that that was the case. She tried to recall her sorting and all she could recall was that the girl’s name had been Phoebe. She had had a particularly bad headache that day and there was very little that she recalled but she did for some reason remember her getting sorted. Maybe it was her connection to Hufflepuff house that she remembered those that were sorted into Hufflepuff more than she recalled any other house’s students sorting.

Retta approached the table and took her seat. Providence was delighted and surprised to see the Divination Professor as it was very rare that she came to meals in the Great Hall. It seemed to be a quirk with all Divination Professors that they preferred to eat in their own rooms rather than with everyone else.

“It is good to see you Retta,” Providence said with all honesty. It was lucky for the school that they were able to find such a capable Divination Professor. Not that Professor Trelawney had been a bad one but Providence believed that while Professor Trelawney did have a gift of some sort Retta Morgenstern was the real deal.

Thinking that she had had enough to eat and a long day ahead of her Providence stood up and nodding towards the two Professors got up, Zeus also got up and followed her and Providence made her between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables stopping to see a Gryffindor boy whose she knew to be named Liam turning around to speak to the Hufflepuff girl named Phoebe.

Maybe she was picking up something vibes from Retta or her own talents with divination but there was some about that girl. Maybe she would check her files and see if she could any information about her or even see if the Sorting Hat could tell her anything. She had never thought to ask the Sorting Hat before and she wondered if he would talk to her about that kind of stuff. Shaking her head she moved on nodding and smiling at students. She finally entered the Entrance Hall just as Taz’s owl flew in and landed on the balustrade. It squawked at the site of Zeus but Zeus only eyed it curiously. Zeus only really made a sound if he thought she was in danger or occasionally he liked to bay at the full moon.

Walking over she took the note. The owl squawked again before taking off and Providence read the note.

Providence,

How about lunch at the Three Broomsticks? I be at the Three Broomsticks at 1:00, if this is inconvenient for you, leave a note there with Rosmerta and I'll snag a broom up to the school and meet you there.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Tas

Providence looked down at her watch and saw that it was almost 10. The time sure had flown and though it was not an overly long walk she decided that she would leave now. She first needed one thing. Taking out her wand and with a waved she made a wide brimmed witches hat appear. Placing it on her head she walked out the oak front doors and into the grounds of Hogwarts.

[Will Crittendon]

He assumed that it had not. On many occasions, he knew, Drac could be as tight-lipped as Shay Brock was. He ruefully remembered how he had said nothing after Will had been arrested with the rest of his family those many years before. He shrugged in response to her comments …. “Well, each of us has their particular gifts I suppose. Give my past experience as an Auror and a Hit Wizard, the Dark Arts are what I a best qualified for. However, I have quite a bit of experience with Charms as a result as well.”

As she went back to her breakfast he answered her comment about his accent. “Yes …. Well …. I suppose spending a decade in the States and trying to learn to fit in among my peers did cause me to adapt my speech patterns to theirs. I guess some of those habits of speech I have not lost yet.” She did take enough of a break, though, to answer his question. He was glad to hear that nothing in particular was troubling her, but he still thought that something or someone was preoccupying her thoughts.

She identified that it was a student issue, and he wondered who she might be referring to, and whether it might be somebody that he knew. She then deftly changed the subject to Professor Knight, which was a subject that Will wasn’t really prepared for either. “No …. That would be be too invasive. I’m comfortable in my own rooms. What would happen if Drac would suddenly return in the midst of the term. No … those are his rooms and offices, not mine, and I have no desire to invade them at this, or any other time,” he said, his mind temporarily going back to that dark evening in the Battle of Hogwarts, and to the losing duel that he had fought against Drac at the Museum.

He wasn’t really thinking about this woman as his mind was focused on these events from the past, and was unaware of the icy stare that was originating in his pale-blue eyes. He suddenly sensed that her conversation had stopped, and that she had gotten up to leave. “Oh, I am sorry, I hope that I said nothing and/or did nothing to disturb you. If I did you have my sincere apologies,” he said as he watched her quickly move away from the main table, and he sat back down in his chair, wondering exactly what had happened. He then nodded at the Headmistress as he saw she was leaving, and looked toward Retta, as she was leaving in the opposite direction, and he shook his head in bewilderment.

[Tallai Cooper-Street]

Taking a seat next to Liam she listened as Head Mistress announced that the Charms Professor was taking over from Professor Knight as the Gryffindor Head of House. Though she found it interesting as she liked Professor Knight a lot and it was sad that he had not returned but since who the Gryffindor Head of House did not affect her she turned her attention to the food in front of her and sighed.

Tallai hated breakfast as there was very little that she could eat but being vegan didn’t leave you all the much to eat at most meals. Only the cereal and fruit really and even with the cereal she had to make sure that the milk she used was soy or almond. She grimaced as she noticed as both boys dug into the bacon, eggs and steak that was available on the table. There were pancakes but she was sure that they would have been made with some kind of dairy and eggs as well. Reaching over she spooned porridge into a bowl and put some apple slices on top and sprinkled some cinnamon just as the post owls flew in. She looked up curiously but she was not expecting anything.

Digging her spoon in and scooping up some porridge she heard a squeak and felt Liam as he turned around. She dropped the spoon and looked over her shoulder as he asked the blonde girl who had entered with the Hufflepuff Head of House if she was alright. Turning around fully she looked at the girl as well.

[Phoebe Underwood]

Phoebe almost jumped again when she felt that hand of her shoulder and she turned to see one of the boys that she noticed when she walked in asking if she was alright. He had really nice green eyes and black hair. She shook her head and gave him a smile.

“I am fine but thank your for asking. I am afraid of birds you see so when the owls come in I sometime freak out a bit,” she said looking down at her hands that still bore the marks of the crows. “I was attacked by crows when I was five.”

She knew that she really didn’t need to add that bit of information but she knew that some people thought that being afraid of birds was stupid. The girl that was sitting next to him also turned around and she looked at her. She like the boy was dark haired but she had blue eyes. She wondered if they were related and tried to see if there was any resemblance to each other but couldn’t see any.

“I am Phoebe by the way,” she said thinking that she should at least introduce herself. She looked back over to the boy. “You are not in Ravenclaw are you?”

[Deleted]

Eddie listened to the Head Mistress. He had wondered what had happened to Professor Knight, Eddie had always liked him and had been sad to find he not come back this year. The prefects had been doing a great job since the start of term but he had missed having an HOH.

"I duuno what happened to Professor Knight" he shrugged at Liam "I hope this one is just as nice" he said tucking into his breakfast.

Owls came down to deliver the letters and he saw one coming down to him. He caught the letter and watched as the bird went on to deliver one to his brother before flying off. He looked at the writing, from his mother he recognised by the handwriting. He tore it open and read it quickly then gave a huge smile

""Hey Liam, it seems I can stay for Christmas after all. Mum and Dad are flying to Romania to see Charlie and she says they can not afford to take us all. This is awesome he said as he turned to look at his mate but his mate had turned around to talk to a young Hufflepuff girl at the next table who introduced herself as Phoebe.

"How are you Phoebe, I'm Eddie and this is Liam, we are second year Gryffindors and that's Sophie and Tallia by the way " he said pointing to the two girls "Third year Ravenclaw, why don't you come join us, it's looks a bit lonely there" he said to her.

Though if truth be known he would have preferred Lucy, but she was nowhere to be seen this morning.