Staff Table

Staff Table

---

The Staff table is situated at the very back of the room on a platform. Everyone sits side-by-side so they can see the students.

Where had his summer gone? One minute he was soaking up the sun on his front porch, loosely paying attention to the adventures of his two-year-old while his teenage daughter entertained herself; the next, he was levitating and lifting things around the library for Julia while she got the place ready for the new term.

Most of it was a blur now, some of it intentionally. Warm nights, lazy afternoons, the occasional city trips to meet up with friends or for supplies – that was how he wanted to remember the past few months, but it hadn't all been sunshine and salty sea air. For a man who preferred a simple, unbothered life, he'd had a rather...involved summer. Now, it was back to the castle with the summons he'd received from the ministry once again looming over him.

Wasn't it too early to be this tired?

Maddox slumped back in his seat, empty goblet raised. His blue eyes traced every gem and each reflection in the metal as if they held any real interest for him. They lingered an extra moment on a particular reflection, the one of the woman sat next to him. Her summer, all things considered, had managed to turn out even worse than his, and by no small margin. For all the grief he'd found for himself, life had chosen to hand her a double dose.

In the goblet, he could see the way she leaned forward attentively, scanning the tables for the sort of trouble he was looking to avoid this early in the term.

He set the cup down with a low thunk, his head lolling to the side so he could better look at her.

"You're the reason the board thinks we still want our jobs, you know," he quipped, taking in her bright eyes and upbeat posture. "I can barely recognise you."

Looking as ready for work as she did. Granted, Julia always looked that way, but wasn't that the problem?

Rather than scan the Gryffindor table and run into things he had no desire to see, Maddox returned his gaze to his goblet, flicking at the side with his thumb propelling his middle finger.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

"Do you suppose they'd still let me check on the thestrals if I end up in Azkaban? It's kept me up for several nights now. They won't eat just anything."

He sounded almost concerned.

Almost.

Enough.

Sort of.

Ruby had arrived at the feast before anyone else. She couldn’t help but to feel her optimism beginning to wane a bit. The news of the charges the Ministry was leveling on everyone who had witnessed Thayer’s demise in the tower last term had shaken her. At first she felt confident, unworried that she had missed any signs of any sort of uprising under her nose.

Her father, who had never had to worry about her and how she represented the family, had quickly gotten her set up with the best solicitor, and she’d been working diligently on her defense. Still, the dates had randomly changed and the fact that hers got pushed out… well, she often side-eyed her Deputy Headmaster now. She’d always thought of Gideon Blackwood as an upstanding kind of man, and yet she felt uneasy.

She smiled at the students who bothered to wave to her, and looked over at the other professors she had on staff this term. Could they be trusted? Ruby thought they could be, but she had thought the same thing last term. She hadn’t even considered that any of her staff might be secretly trying to further Halloway’s agenda.

With the increased Auror presence on the grounds of Hogwarts, she knew students would be a bit on edge too. Not just her and the others who were going to trial.

Ruby shook her head at Maddox’s comment about Azkaban. None of them had done anything wrong, especially him. They’d be fine. None of them would go to that hell hole.

Did she believe it? She certainly believed it in his case; he’d acted more swiftly than any of the others – herself included. If anything, she would be more to blame. She had been blind to things happening right in front of her eyes. Her focus had been on the wrong thing; clearly the distractions that Thayer had created worked.

The castle - Arundel - had seen the last of her for a good while, and their parting couldn't have come soon enough. The stone walls were usually her refuge; the place where she felt most at home and herself. The portraits that hung on the walls carried the stories of her ancestors that she felt compelled to carry forward, pride surging through her veins knowing the legacy she carried. All within the fortress that kept her safe and cocooned behind gilded windows.

This summer had made her see that same fortress in a new light, and it wasn't one she was ready to reconcile with.

Rather, it was this castle that felt like a refuge from all that had transpired. Her library, full of books and knowledge, smelling of fresh wood and parchment welcomed her home with its warm colors and soft edges.

And while she was dreading the new post - and even more responsibility - she had been saddled with, there was a part of her that was ready to be back to work. She needed to take her mind off things and refocus her energies somewhere more productive. Her daughter. Her son. Her students, and the small corners of Hogwarts that she could call her own.

She would have preferred The British Museum of course, but when the Ministry (and her family) called...

"You're the reason the board thinks we still want our jobs, you know. I can barely recognise you."

Her eyes drifted from the Ravenclaw table, ignoring the little nag in her brain that tried to pull her back to the summer, to the man sat beside her. The summer certainly hadn't changed his outlook on teaching, and it was reassuring to the woman who felt so much of her world had shifted.

"Better not nap in my office then. Wouldn't want you lounging in the lap of a stranger," she quipped a sly smile playing on her lips, as her knee nudged his under the table.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

He was strumming at his goblet, his demeanor seemingly more subdued than it normally was - even for him. Maddox was never one for big shows or making a fuss of anything, even when he was enjoying himself, but he also wasn't melancholy. He was just unbothered, and enjoyed being so, to the extent that most who took the time to know him - at his allowance, not theirs - knew it wasn't personal.

Something must have been on his mind.

"Do you suppose they'd still let me check on the thestrals if I end up in Azkaban? It's kept me up for several nights now. They won't eat just anything."

She straightened in her chair, bristling at the idea of Azkaban or anyone ever putting the likes of her best friend there. He'd done nothing wrong - in fact, what he'd done was heroic. Ruth - and the rest of them - might all be dead if it weren't for his quick actions. "You won't be in Azkaban," she said decisively, as though she were the one to make the call.

The very thought of it made her sick.

"They'll all see," she said quietly, so only he could hear. "Besides," she nudged him gently again to make him look at her, "I have it on good authority that your best friend is not above breaking you out if worse comes to worse. I won't be working here without you, thank you very much."

But, of course, there was a worry. What if the Wizengamot didn't see the truth from the lies? What if they tried to put him away? What about Morgan and Evander?

She wouldn't think of it. Not tonight.

In any case, James had assured her all would work out in their favor. She just needed to focus on her students.

Rose could swear that all she could hear from the house tables was the word “Azkaban”. Her stomach churned, and she looked at Gideon who was still with the new first years, doing his duty as Deputy Headmaster. She looked at her own table – the small but mighty few who were in Hufflepuff. An interesting group, she thought, though she was excited to see how the term panned out. If she didn’t have the damn trials looming over her head, she’d be on cloud nine.

The pink of the diamond in her engagement ring glimmered in the candle light and she couldn’t help but to stare at it momentarily. She could hear Maddox and Julia speaking, somewhat quietly, while the others on the other side of her spoke to each other too.

There was an interesting feeling in the air; one of uncertainty. Rose didn’t like it. She let her eyes wander across the forms of the other new staff members at Hogwarts. Were all of them clean? Honestly, she had no clue. She’d never been good at divination, or reading people. Not unless she was truly focused. But focus was something she was lacking.

At least she knew that Fiona was safe with the house elves. That was one less thing to worry about. In the meantime, Rose just had to get through the sorting ceremony and then Gideon would be by her side again. She glanced over at the Headmistress, watching her momentarily. The woman was tense, she could sense that, but that was about all. Was she confident? She certainly held an air of confidence wherever she was. Despite the fact that she was the head of the school and the one who could have done something had she gotten wind of Thayer and the others.

A grin spread across her face as Rose spotted Gideon make his way to his empty seat. Once he was next to her, he took her hand and she squeezed it a bit, her stomach doing a flip-flop. She was nervous as hell, but was trying to remain calm on the outside for him.

And for Maddox.

But truly, Rose was scared.

“What do you think? Good group of new kids?” she asked quietly and smiled at him despite how unsteady she felt inside.

After Gideon took his seat next to her, Ruby cleared her throat and stood up, smoothing the skirt of her dress down. She smiled warmly. She felt a bit more comfortable here this term, and yet also felt unsure of herself. Mostly because of the looming trials starting at the end of the month.

But that was for then. For now, she had to welcome the students back.

“Hello, everyone. I am so happy to see so many more of you this term!” Despite the ordeal of last term, it seemed the wizarding parents felt more secure sending their students back to Hogwarts. Surely it had to do with the presence of aurors.

“For those of you who are new this term, I am Ruby Haswell, your Headmistress, and Gideon Blackwood is your Deputy Head Master. We have shaken things up a bit this term with your Heads of Houses and professors. For Gryffindor, your Head of House is Maddox Barlowe. He is also teaching Charms this term, and is leading Spellcaster’s Society. Hufflepuff’s new Head of House is Roisin Byrne, who is also teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. Julia Laurence is still the librarian, but also teaching Potions this term and is also the Head of Ravenclaw. And Professor Blackwood is now the Head of Slytherin and will be teaching Applied Magic.”

There were always so many formalities to get out of the way before everyone could dig into the food. She felt bad taking so long, but there was a lot to go over. “We have a new Head Nurse this term, Ms. Josephine Graham (NPC). Astronomy is back, now being taught by Hatiie Finch (NPC).” Ruby continued, listing all of the other new professors for the term.

A clean house, a fresh start. With just the lingering trials hanging over their heads.

“Unfortunately, after the happenings of last term, the powers that be have decided that we once again forgo Quidditch and Duelling. But luckily I have been assured, and seen to it, that we do have real food tonight, once all of the announcements are done.”

Ruby smiled. It’d been hell when the food didn’t work right and everyone had to eat sandwiches for days. “I know that last term was quite… eventful and I wanted to reassure everyone that Hogwarts has been searched from top to bottom by the Ministry, and there should be no other magical mishaps. Also, there will be aurors patrolling throughout the day and night to ensure the safety of everyone here, so don’t be distracted by their presence.”

The Headmistress then shifted on her feet and grinned. “And now, for your Prefects and Head Boy and Head Girl! For Gryffindor, we have Matilda Nordstrom and Tulip Asquith. Hufflepuff is Benji Laurence and Alice Ravenstone. Ravenclaw is Kaitlyn Dwyer and Oilibhéar Ó Coigligh. And Slytherin is Alan McCarthy and Ruth Elliot. Our Head Boy and Head Girl this year is Ethan Rowe and Susan Whitfield! Congratulations, everyone.”

After a pause, she nodded as the food appeared on the tables. “Now, we feast! Welcome to Hogwarts!”