4pm-ish

Since the arrival of the foreign delegations nearly a month ago, various activities had kept most of the staff busy in preparation for the new school year and the tournament. Little time had been set aside for the adults to really interact and as one of the Head of Houses and also a professor who had spent considerable time teaching at one of the visiting schools, Myrni hated to think that their counterparts might think that they did not know how to relax and be social.

The idealistic Arithmancy professor did expect a good amount of competitiveness among the schools, even the staff. But in her eyes, there was no need to be unwelcoming and she was going to do everything in her power to make sure they felt the hospitality.

Thus, she had spoken to the management at Signature about a large group of the professors and staff coming over to enjoy a happy hour on the 31st, the evening  before classes were to start where there was a free day for everyone.

Myrni wasn't anticipating the lot of them getting drunk, as most of them had to teach the next day, but she was hoping the atmosphere and conversation would get them all to relax a bit so that the school year could get started on a positive note.

She arrived to Signature early enough where she could be the first to greet those who decided to take up her invitation.

Hogsmede was already chilly. Despite it only being at the end of September, the northern village typically got the worse of Britain's winter weather. Hands in a long pocket and a scarf wrapped snug around his neck, Sebastian pushed his way through the cold, eager to find his way inside Signature where Myrni Levartian had decided to hold the teaching mixer. Personally, Sebastian had never been inside Signature before, never having felt the urge. Hopefully they would sell a quality whiskey to warm him.

Fortunately, the building was easy enough to find, and Sebastian wasted no time in pushing the door open and stepping inside, hastily closing the door behind him to keep out the cold. Pulling the scarf from his neck and folding it over his arm alongside his long coat, he turned to look around the room, soon spotting the arithmancy professor and crossing to her. Sebastian was dressed in his usual dark brown suit, though with the addition of the waistcoat he kept for special occasions. "Good afternoon Myrni. I must say, this mixer was an excellent idea of yours."

Yolanda swept through to door to Signature in several layers and high spirits. 'Boy, I'm sure gonna have to brush up on my heating charms!' she announced to no one in particular. Yolanda had never done particularly well in cold climates; she blamed being brought up in Texas. But she took the weather in her stride, as she did with everything, and today was sporting a rather nice set of green woollen robes under a heavy duffle cloak. The cloak she removed as soon as the door was closed, and all thoughts of combatting the Scottish weather and navigating through Hogsmeade went from her mind as she cast around for any of the teachers she had been promised the chance to mingle with.

'Myrni! Sebastian!' Yolanda's southern drawl was gentle, but it had no trouble carrying. She strode over to the pair of them, the delight at seeing them both again evident on her face. 'Oh, it's just perfect that you two are here first! We didn't get enough time at all to catch up at the Feast yesterday.' She swooped down on Myrni and gave the younger woman a loose, one-armed hug, before turned her embrace on Sebastian. Anyone who knew Yolanda at all knew that 'personal space' was one of those concepts she had trouble remembering.

'Lord, just look at the pair of you-- Hogwarts teachers! You must be so proud of your kids here, they seem like a real nice bunch. How've you both been? All those Tournament preparations haven't been driving you too batty, have they?' Finally pausing for breath, she stepped back with all the airs of a grandmother wanting to get a better look at how much her grandchildren had grown.

"Of course I'll come." Ignan Storm had grumbled over his cup of tea in the staff room. He had nothing against Myrni, nor many of his colleagues (though the new ones would show soon enough). He had really preferred a night in to consider his first lessons of the week, but drinking didn't seem quite as bad either.

Still, it wouldn't quite be the same without his oldest friend and former (seemingly temporary) Charms Professor, Georg. The previous post-holder had returned, and what Ignan had heard of him was positive. Given he was now the one who could not only issue the ear bashings to students but also to staff, he needed to get the measure of his colleagues. Who would be worth palming detention duties off to this year when he was bored of them himself?

"Good evening." The Hogwarts Deputy Headmaster greeted, his tone polite, but with a recognisable edge of don't let this be a repeat of the suggestion of carol singing at the Christmas 'gathering' of 2008.

"Oh, apologies, have I interrupted a family reunion?" The sarcasm didn't adequately mask the curiosity this time however.

Ananke quite enjoyed her trip to Egypt with Myrni Levartian, and so when the witch organized another get together, the Divination Professor hardly contemplated the idea of passing it up. So the witch put on some nice casual robes and went off to Signature. She had followed in on the tailcoat of one of the Salem staff, and also Ignan Storm, who did not spare anyone his sense of humor.

Of course, Ananke had hardly conversed with the man, but with a calm face, tame smile, and raised eyebrows, the red headed professor still responded, "I suppose that depends on which relative you are." It appeared as though the witch might have just tasted a fine wine that passed by on some platter, but she was mostly amusing herself.

As she folded her arms over her stomach she gave a short nod and responded to the Salem witch's greeting, which seemed almost embarrassingly motherly, "I think 'nice' can be subjective with teenagers," she rolled her lips together and let her gaze search the corner of her eyes, "I'd say an eclectic mixture of energetic personalities that should be chaperoned more often than not."

She then clasped her palms together and gave another nod, "An obnoxious mouthful to say, though I'm sure this year will be quite colorful."

Nerves over whether the little faculty mixer would be a success evaporated just a touch with the arrival of Cadmon, Cosmos, and Valdaine. She knew that not everyone would be up for the event for various reasons. Among her own Hogwarts colleagues, some were not too social or would want to focus on the seriousness of the start of the new school year. And surely if they felt that way, the foreign instructors felt likewise. Plus, there was the added strategy that came from competition. Keep oneself guarded for the sake of winning.

At least her Salem counterparts were jumping right in, and Myrni was nearly floored when Ignan arrived. She had considered he might skip the event given his added duties that year as Deputy Headmaster. She flashed him and the other early arrivals a grateful, welcoming smile. "Thrilled you all could make it," she enthused sincerely.

Picking up on the significance of Ignan's comment, Myrni was quick to clue him in. "Oh, I'm sorry of our reconnecting seems exclusive. But I'm sure you can appreciate what it means to see old colleagues once again. Professor Cadmon and I both worked at Salem for a time."

Yolanda turned with a wide smile to the two newest arrivals. 'Oh, where are my manners? Sorry! Yolanda Valdaine, in case you don't know.' She extended a hand to each of them in turn as she continued to speak; the gentleman in particular didn't appear to be the 'huggy' type, and Yolanda was just as deft with a good strong handshake. 'Good to see you. Like Myrni says, I know her and Sebastian from Salem. I'll bet Hogwarts poaches all the good ones,' she added with a wink.

Laughingly she added to the red-haired professor, 'And I don't think I can argue with you about the students. Eclectic and energetic is about right; we've brought quite the mix of personalities with us ourselves. But I guess you'll all find that out soon enough. Speaking of,' she glanced with good-natured curiosity between the other assembled as she slipped off her gloves, 'any classes we ought to watch out for? I do like to be prepared where possible.' Yolanda was certainly looking forward to having the chance to teach a whole sea of new faces over the coming year, but facing the unknown was still just a little daunting, now matter how confident one was.