Welcome to Gaia! ::

Amata's eyebrows shot up when the professors were drawn to a commotion at the Slytherin table. There was a boggart in the Great Hall, going after students! She started to stand, but sat back down in her seat when the other professors noted that the Healer was handling the situation. She glanced around the table, wondering where the Care for Magical Creatures or Defense Against the Dark Arts professors were. From what she knew of boggarts, they didn't tend to like coming into bright, open spaces, particularly not crowded areas. "Isn't it quite unusual to see a Boggart in such a crowd? I thought they preferred to attack small numbers. After all, it must be hard to maintain the fear of a group when there are so many different fears to take advantage of." She tilted her head, watching as the Healer went after the Boggart. It was quite strange, really. What a start to the year! She turned to Regret. "You're the Divinations professor, what kind of an omen is this for the new year?" She was certain that it couldn't mean anything good.

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Gino glanced at Moreau, recognizing the gleam in his fellow professor's eye as the latter continued to observe the boggart. That was the gleam of a scholar's fascination; in fact, Gino would bet that Professor Moreau would like nothing more than to study just how unique this particular boggart was. Chuckling, he replied "Very well, I guess that Professor Brighton will quietly handle this and we will continue with the evening's predictable and predetermined schedule."

Turning to the unknown blonde that had replied first he commented, "You're one of the new professors right? Gino Cattani al vostro servizio. Are you the World Studies professor? Or are you temporary like Professor Moreau is for Flying? Or Galewind, who is substituting for Lupinous." Meeting new teachers was always fun, it provided quite a bit of insight into their personalities and attitudes towards the job. Perhaps, he should make more of an effort to interact with his fellow colleagues.

Hearing the note of concern in Professor Harlowe's voice and Professor's Owens reply, Gino suppressed the urge to sigh. It seemed that Britain as a whole was a little too eager to wrap themselves up in gloom and doom. Directing his attention towards them he called out, "Perhaps it is a merely a sign of interesting things to come? After all a boggart is not in of itself a deadly creature, especially considering 13 year olds are taught how to handle them, at least I believe the curriculum covers it. The proper mental discipline ensures that any boggart is a trivial concern at best. Though I would bet the boggart is rather than a rare offshoot, merely a particularly starved boggart."

Turning back to the blonde he asked "So sorry, did you say something? I get distracted a little too easily at these meals."

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Gino wasn't blind by any means. He had noticed that his new peer was indeed a beautiful woman. And that perhaps, she might just be flirting with him. He couldn't be sure, his boredom might be making him read more deeply into her body language than appropriate. He grinned, "Well then, it's a pleasure to meet a new colleague. Myself, I teach Wandless Magic with a practical focus here at Hogwarts."

He muttered a quick incantation to fill his goblet with a bit of wine; Gino then took a sip before he asked, "As you are the new World Studies, I assume you've traveled extensively? If I may ask, where have you been?"

He then chuckled, "Oh my, I've been terribly rude. I now know you're the new World Studies teacher, but I'm afraid I haven't asked for your name. If you don't mind, might I ask what it is? I'm sure it's as lovely as you are."

Noticing that the boggart had yet to be handled at the Slytherin table, he frowned thinking, "How hard can it honestly be to handle one boggart?"

His train of thought was interrupted by Professor Harlowe's heavy-handed attempt to put Gino in his place; decrying him as an arrogant man who refused to see the signs. Though it irked him, he betrayed nothing with his features and replied with an calm grin schooling his features, "My esteemed colleague, at this table alone I can count fourteen things within arm reach with which I could kill someone. Four of which could be used as a magical alternative to a wand. To be worried about everything that could be construed as a sign or an omen ultimately leads to blinding oneself to the true threats that lurk in the shadows."

He sighed and gave the blonde an apologetic look before continuing, "Clearly, we come from two different schools of thought, I am simply expressing the opinion with which I was taught and that I later confirmed when concerning both boggarts and the fear they manifest. Now, I meant no offense: it was not my intent to trivialize your concerns, nor I do not fault you for your caution. It is after all, the purview of the individual to discern whether something is truly a threat or a happenstance. In this case, we disagree on the boggart's importance. Who knows, perhaps on the next incongruity we shall agree?"

He took another sip of his goblet before returning his attention to the new World Studies professora and her reply. Although he did keep an eye on the boggart, if it wasn't handled soon he would step in; irregardless of Professor Brighton's presence.
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Legilimency teacher/Wearing/Half-blood/ Former Hufflepuff

Anyanka Swan, the Headmistress here at Hogwarts, nodded to Professor Evernight as she finished the Sorting and then rose from her seat. She moved to the podium and the owl spread its wings, ushering the room into silence. She smiled at all of the faces focusing on her. "Hello everyone. For those of you who were newly Sorted, I am Headmistress Swan. And to those of you who already know me, I say welcome back. This year will prove to be an exciting one. I expect all of you to compete for the House Cup and earn your House honor. I would like to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. And remember students what a wise man once said, he said, 'help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who need it.' Now, let us enjoy our Welcoming Feast!" With that, she clapped her hands and the food appeared on the tables.