[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/j0mUtMZ.png[/img]Professor Appoline Persnickety rose from her seat at the staff table. The once boisterous room fell silent at the clinking of a fork against a goblet. With everyone’s attention now focused on her, she cleared her throat.

“Good evening, all. I hope you all are well rested and prepared to start the long awaited term. Welcome to another wonderful term and to any newcomers, welcome to Hogwarts! Before we start this delicious breakfast-themed feast the House Elves have prepared for us, I have a few announcements I’d like to share with all of you.

Firstly, it is to our great sadness that Professor Karisha Makshi has stepped down from her position as Transfiguration Professor, Head of Hufflepuff, and Deputy Headmistress.. but for good reason! Over the term break, Professor Makshi was graciously offered a position with the Indian Ministry of Magic. This position will allow her to assist them in the development of new programs focused on helping Muggle-born students and their families understand and embrace magic in her home country. Although we are sad to see her go, we are incredibly proud of her achievements. As you continue onward, we hope you remember that we are your family and will continue to support your endeavors wherever you are. Congratulations, Professor Makshi! We wish you the best!”

Professor Persnickety looked over to Professor Makshi and raised her goblet, an action quickly followed suit by the other members of the head table. The Great Hall erupted with applause as a teary eyed Professor Makshi bowed her head in gratitude to the warm reception. After a few moments, Professor Persnickety lowered her goblet and returned her gaze to the front of the hall. As the applause died down, she continued.

“Secondly, we’ve had a few rearrangements in our staff to accommodate Professor Makshi’s departure. Professor Deidra Morgan, Slytherin Head of House and Herbology Professor, will be stepping up as our new Deputy Headmistress. Professor Aimee Torres Rosario, our Ancient Runes Professor, has replaced Professor Makshi as the Head of Hufflepuff House. As for who will be taking over for Professor Makshi as Transfiguration Professor…”

Noting his cue, the young man sitting next to Professor Yolanda Banks stood up, his long, brown hair falling over his shoulders like a mane. “Good evening, students! My name is Isaac Howard and I will be taking over for Professor Makshi in teaching all the grandeurs of Transfiguration. I look forward to teaching all of you, I can only hope that I can inspire you in the same way many of my teachers inspired me.” Professor Howard took a seat as students applauded in welcome.

“That said..” Everyone’s focus returned to Professor Persnickety once more. “I know you all must be starving, but I have few more words to say before I let you enjoy your dinner.” Professor Persnickety gave a deep sigh before fixing a stern look over the student body, her usual smile replaced by a tight lipped grimace.

“Here at Hogwarts, we are not only looking over your magical studies, but your wellbeing as well. Our top priority at any given time is your safety. As such, we have set rules to ensure your safety during your time here. This year we are implementing a mandatory curfew at 9:30 PM.” A few students looked on in surprise while a couple older students groaned in protest at having an earlier curfew than usual. “Should any student be found after hours outside of their common room, there will be serious consequences. There will be a few exceptions to this curfew, especially in concerns to the Astronomy class, but beyond that I am making no other exceptions. Do not break your curfew. The only other rule I will note tonight is that the Forbidden Forest remains off-limits. Your Heads of House will hopefully remind you of the do’s and don’ts. Now that’s enough lecture for tonight. Dig in, everyone!”

Although the Great Hall was filled with the usual friendly banter and clattering of silverware, quite a few were left confused by their headmistress’ sudden strictness.

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For those who haven't been around for Start of Term feasts before, the way this works is similar to the Christmas feast where Dumbledore ordered pork chops by speaking to his menu. Below is a menu of foods offered. All you have to do is post here with one entree, two side dishes, a drink, and a dessert, and the meal will be sent to you shortly! If you are a vegetarian, please feel free to choose an additional side dish to replace your entree.

Please note that this event is for THIS WEEKEND ONLY and will end on Sunday at 9pm Subeta time!

Entrees

Side Dishes

Drinks

Desserts

Lenore Addlebourne applauds with the rest of the students as the new appointments and changes in staff are announced. She joins in especially enthusiastically as her own Head of House is promoted to Deputy Headmistress. When the new Transfiguration professor is announced however, she nearly forgets to clap altogether. Isaac Howard is gorgeous! A bit belatedly she puts her hands together. Paying attention in Transfiguration might be a challenge this year.

When Professor Persnickety announces the new curfew, Lenore's eyebrows draw together. Such a restraint couldn't possibly have been made without reason. But what could that reason be? She thought back to some of the stories she had been told about events in the school before her time. Dangerous things had happened before.....

Deciding to look into this further later on, she picks up a menu. After perusing in for a bit she places her order with her plate.

"Jam Porridge, bacon and grapefruit, with a classic coffee please."

She decided to skip dessert since the porridge itself was sweet. Smiling despite the nagging question of the curfew, Lenore looked around the Great Hall. It was so good to be back!

[img align=right]https://sapi.subeta.net/shared/272967.png[/img] A breakfast feast, what a treat!

Charlie orders her favourite breakfast of pancakes with sides of bacon and fried eggs and a heart latte to drink and a slice of blueberry lemon bread to have later for a mid-morning snack!

[edit] Food received, thank you! <3

Chell pondered over the menu carefully, wishing she could sample one of everything. She thought for a minute before speaking to the magical menu, "May I have the pancakes, bananas and grapefruit, orange juice, and last, but not least, a cinnamon roll to top it all off, please?"

[edit] Chell giggled with excitement as the food appeared in front of her, "Thank you!" she said before diving into the biggest mountain of pancakes she'd ever seen.

Effy applauded along with the rest of her fellow students, listening to the welcoming speech and various new announcements for the upcoming term. She was especially intrigued by the earlier curfew, wondering at the possible reasons for it. Before her imagination could get away from her, creating admittedly quite implausible and impossible scenarios, she found herself distracted when the dinner menu materialized in front of her. "Oh! Hello!" She greeted the object, glancing over her options quickly. "May I have pancakes with banana, bacon, and the breakfast tea, please? I think I'll skip dessert; dinner should be sweet enough. Thank you!"

[edit] Thanks so much! ❤ begins slicing bananas to top pancakes with gusto

Sitting halfway down the Slytherin table, Wayland Hayes looks about the Hall and lets out a slow whistle. "The stories this old place must have! You will share some of them with me, won't you?" He was addressing the castle itself. Wayland had a habit of talking to places, objects, himself or no one at all.

This was his first year at Hogwarts. Up until now he had been taught by a private tutor as he travelled the world with his father. It would be strange to be staying in one place for so long but he was looking forward to it. He also wondered which room here had the best acoustics. Would he be able to get permission to play his guitar in one of the dungeons?

Callista Zabini sat down near Lenore and joined in the applause with the rest of her House. Looks like it's going to be a good year for Slytherin! she thought. She hadn't got all the way into proper uniform yet, but she was so hungry. And breakfast for dinner is always great!

"I'll have blueberry porridge, bacon, eggs, tea, and the cinnamon roll," she said, and when the food appeared, she slipped Sabrina, her serval, a bite of bacon.

"Lenore, do you know anything about the curfew? I mean, most of the fun is in our House at night anyway, but it's sure going to put a crimp in a lot of things." She shook her head, frowning. "At least the new prof is cute."

Lenore looked up and smiled at her friend.

"Cali!" You're looking nice, as always." She took a bite of her bacon and frowned at the question. "I've no idea but it has me a bit concerned. I'm hoping the heads of house will tell the prefects something about it. I don't know whether I'm more curious about the reason or irritated at losing my nighttime outings. I just don't feel settled at night until I've gotten some fresh air and alone time."

Lenore took another glance at the Head Table and her frown turned back into a grin. "You've got that right. Classes with him just might make up for the curfew."

Teresa Evans entered the Great Hall for the start of term, she was excited to be back at school and sited in silence while listening to the Headmistress. When the new staff was appointed she heard the other girls giggling and saying how handsome the new Transfiguration Professor was. She gave him a second glance and shrugged, he wasn't all that she thought but the girls seem to believe otherwise. Even one of the boys was blushing which made her almost laugh, she looked around to the other tables to see who else have arrived and quickly noticed Lenore from Slytheirn, Merlin, and even his pretty girlfriend River who she met at Ilvermorny. Her cat Prince was at her feet asking for a piece of the food served which she was deciding to get. For Prince she could only get bacon as he didn't eat the rest. "Here boy, enjoy."

The Start of Term Feast was always an exciting event for the students of Hogwarts and Toru felt no different. They quietly sat through the announcements and was a little conflicted with emotions. Change was always happening at Hogwarts and it was usually for the best. Toru nervously fidgeted with the edges of the magical menu and tried deciding what sounded good. Their indecisiveness was slowly spiraling into a small anxiety attack before softly whispering to the menu. "S-Surprise me?"

[Edit] Their meal appeared before them and Toru was surprised but not displeased at the selections made for them. "T-Thank you," they said softly to the menu before eating their meal.

Merlin made eye contact with Terry as she looked through the tables and smirked. He quickly show her his red batch that said Head Boy to her just to see her frown and roll her eyes. It was another victory over her, he was once prefect and now head boy - he would send an owl to his mom with the news and everyone back home.

"He can't be any more annoying, ugh." Terry looked away and saw other friends so she moved in that direction.

Merlin ate his vegetarian option quickly so he could go help around, before going back to duties he gave River () a Vanilla Glazed Cinnamon Roll and smiled. "So you remember your little brother Niall. Should we send it to Tamsin?" He chuckled.

Terry found Lenore ( ) who was speaking to another student and said. "Hello ladies. Great to see you again this term, you think you can ignore me if you see me out in the library at night? You're prefect right? How can they ask us to be in the common room at 9:30 when there is so much to study?! I can't concentrate there, if you can't then I'll move my bed to the library so I can stay there." Terry was speaking very seriously.

[center]

Eurus Burke took her usual seat alone at the far end of the Slytherin table, which thankfully hadn't been taken over by excited first years. Yet. It wasn't that she didn't like meeting new people, they all just thought so loudly, and she was too tired for it all. Being a legilimens was more like a curse than anything. She stared vacantly at the menu, not really feeling like eating. All she could think of was her classes, and how she needed to keep her grades up if she wanted to escape a life trapped in her family's shop.

"Just tea, please." Eurus shoved the menu away and rested her head on the table. Maybe she would sneak to the kitchens later after everyone had gone to bed. It wasn't like she had ever bothered to follow the curfew. Why should this year be any different? They couldn't give a detention to someone they couldn't actually catch misbehaving, after all.

River looked up and smiled. "Aww hank you Merlin," she said giving him a kiss. "We could send one to her, yes. That headboy badge looks so nice on you. I'm so proud of you." She smiled brightly.

((OOC: Everyone up to this point should have their foods if asked for it))

&

"Thanks," said Callista, "you always look great too. I forgot about the midnight walks, you're going to miss that. Maybe it's time to do an independent Astronomy study."

When Merlin came over she grinned at him too. "Wait--we can't even go to the library? I think I missed that. Whoever heard of a school keeping students out of the library. Oh well, at least we're not Ravenclaws. That's really going to get under their skins."

Mallowsweet sighed as Professor Howard was introduced. That hair! She stared blankly at the menu before her, as she imagined herself braiding flowers into that luxurious brown mane. Oh, she was definitely looking forward to Transfigurations class this term.

The concept of breakfast for dinner was new to Sauvage, but she was happy to try it, whispering she asked for the following:

Zoe scanned the great Hall with trepidation. So far she had been unable to locate her best friend Jonah ((.)) She had a pang of fear that maybe he wasn't coming back? There was also Drew (()) and Fade (()) and Paddy (()) all of whom she'd really spent time with at the petshop during the Care of Magical Creature's field trip. She looked at the menu wishing she could order mashed taters with roast beef. Still she placed her order and waited as her elbows rested on the table and her head on her hands. She really wasn't paying attention to the announcements given she knew most of them anyway--having been in the meeting with the other head boys and girls. It was Zoe's last year at Hogwarts as well. The N.E.W.T student still was no clearer on her career choices either. Lost in her thoughts she barely noticed her food arrive. She ate without really even looking.

At the mention of a new curfew, Sauvage had scanned the room for Fade (), knowing he must already be planning something to get around it. Instead, though, she found Zoe () who seemed to be looking through the crowd as well. Sauvage walked over and smiled at the blue-haired girl, figuring she know what Zoe must be thinking. "'ello," she said. "I sink zat Jona is taking Duncan for a walk and zen 'e will be back. Care to seet wiv me until zen?"

Lenore sighed. "Think the teachers would go for it?" she asked Cali (), raising her eyebrows slightly and taking a sip of her coffee.

When Terry () joined them, Lenore looked up and smiled. She may not share much in common with the Ravenclaw girl but they did have one thing that bound them. They had been Triwizard Champions together - darn good ones.

Lenore laughed. "Cali's right. Closing the library that early won't sit well with certain students." She shrugged and took another sip. "Say nothing about what you see and I'll say nothing about what I see." Then noting how serious Terry looked, she added with a crooked smile, "Would you like to seal it with a blood pact? Unbreakable vow?"

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Wayland had finished eating in a flash. He always got hungry when he was excited. But now he took a moment to look around. There were so many students here and by Merlin, what a variety! Starting as a sixth year meant he had some real catching up to do socially. But he thrived on being social so that wouldn't be too hard.

Across the Hall he saw a girl with long flowing hair () who looked to caught in some sort of daze. Following her glance he saw that she was staring at the new teacher. Actually, now that he noticed it, a lot of the girls and a couple of the boys too seemed to be staring at him. Feeling a bit jealous, his lower lip stuck out in a cute sort of pout. Ah well.

He got up and crossed over to the Gryffindor table to see if he could break through that stupor. Fixing his black top and making sure that his hair wasn't hiding his eyebrow jewelry, he stopped in front of her. For a moment he was caught off-guard. He had expected the girl to be sitting on one of the long benches. Instead she was standing on the floor in front of the table, on four feet. He had met centaurs before but only in a forest in Russia. Quickly adjusting to the surprise, he took a seat next to her.

"Ello ello!" He said with a grin.