"'Ello, Dolls," he said cheerfully. "You appear to have caught yourself a Librarian! Oh - and his drink, it seems. Good evening, everyone..."

Dolly looked up at the Astronomy professor with a bright smile, placing a small kiss on his cheek as she momentarily wound one arm around his middle to give it a squeeze, "You look dashing Darling. I have in fact caught myself a very grumpy librarian, and in completely bad form stolen his drink. I thought if I took this one there was less likelihood of it having a nasty potion in it; though one can never be too sure with how crafty he is," she glanced at Landis, sure she was rubbing him exactly the wrong way - but not feeling particularly bad about it, other than the fact it made her look terrible to the people around them.

Ol' Hooch proved to take a disliking so strong that she stood and marched off with a parting shot about how if one didn't love children she had no idea why they would be there in the first place. Obviously she did not like putting on pretty dresses and wearing glittering jewelry. Watching the elder Professor leave she tilted her head to one side, lips slightly upturned at the corners, "You break a dozen or so noses with bludgers and she just never forgives you. Though I do wonder Professor Storm," she paused looking to the Defense instructor, "I know you purely by reputation alone and have to wonder if Madame Hooch has ever even met you". She hadn't heard anything terrible of course but even Tappy had remarked on occasion about just how stern Storm could be.

The whirl of Professors coming and going was a little dizzying as she shared a look with Tappy, wondering what the devil was going on. Obviously the slender blustering accented man was the Headmaster of Salem, and then there was Gale - who had apparently lost all interest in her in favor of the leggy American. She simply quirked an eyebrow as the scene unfolded and the table grew quiet. When she finally spoke her voice was low and touched with a hint of bemused laughter, "I thought the students were the ones who thrived on drama? You know Taps, next time I get stuck on a chapter I may have to have you fill me in on all the scandalously divine drama you lot get up to - apparently right out in public, in plain view of your students," taking a sip from her glass she shifted her eyes back to Ignan, "How many hearts have you broken this term Professor"?

Dietrich had been 'round and seen a lotta weird things in his life but the Headmaster, at this second, was kinda taking the cake. Between keepin' up with the polka (which weren't no dance meant for a fella like him) and glancing back at the table, he had a tough time with the questions.

"Dietr-- grey, uh husk--nothin' against polka dots or stri-- soccer, why d--"

And then, without warning, the elder wizard had a bit've a lapse. It came as a surprise to the both of them, probably, though Dietrich hardly flinched as he easily supported the man's weight on one side. His eyes narrowed for the tiniest of moments. Whatever happened it didn't last none; came to a halt just like their li'l sock hop.

The tattoo artist found himself at the other end of LeBeau's cane, staring with the same gaping look he'd had since being dragged off. “Don’t f--- it up,” that weren't no joke, either. Under another fella's glare and he might've laughed... “I know t’ings.”

Well, fuck. He knew things and none of 'em things Dietrich felt that he wanted t'know either. The Headmaster banged his cane loudly, causing a bunch've dancin' kids to jump, and was on his way away. Gods there went a terror.

He didn't need to do no more than turn his head to notice Bai waiting, her hand reaching out for his- which he took 'course, turnin' away from the floor. Dietrich nodded at Kesali once (cheek caress long forgotten) with a distracted expression.

"Seems like I'm needin' a change of pace," his arm found its away around Bai's waist again, although now with greater delicacy. He smiled uneasily at the chattering adults- group've dull dolts and a dolled up tree. "You'll excuse me stealing yer gem for a proper dance or two."[1]

1.	Exit for both Bai and Dietrich.

"No, just well enough to know I like seeing him like this. He looks happy. Glowing even. But perhaps that's just his facial wash." He smiled at Bai one more time before her date came to take her away, and felt it was his time to get away from them all as well. Just a few more hours and he could go to what made him happy, because this castle wouldn't be the same without the students. He wanted to dance too, but there were so few in the room he would have the nerve to ask.

Gale opted just to make his rounds around the giggling children and just enjoy watching them have fun. Precious little vipers the lot of em'.[1]

1.	Gale is out too.

Ignan's attempts at retorting were lost in the confusion of the comings and goings at the table. This was irritating - there'd been quite a few good comments to drop in. Bah![1]

Hooch's departure was met with a raised eyebrow. He had a feeling she'd held a grudge against him for a while now, or perhaps she really didn't his humour. Not much he could do at that moment, especially when Dolly St James followed it up so swiftly.

"You break a dozen or so noses with bludgers and she just never forgives you. Though I do wonder Professor Storm, I know you purely by reputation alone and have to wonder if Madame Hooch has ever even met you."

"I think she'd like to claim she doesn't know me, correct. Always good to know my reputation does precede me. Tapendra has been embellishing it undoubtedly." He smirked at his friend and then managed a polite hint of a smile to Dolly.

"I thought the students were the ones who thrived on drama? You know Taps, next time I get stuck on a chapter I may have to have you fill me in on all the scandalously divine drama you lot get up to - apparently right out in public, in plain view of your students. How many hearts have you broken this term Professor?"

"Hearts?" Ignan replied quizzically, "Heads you must mean? None that I'm aware of - save a Slytherin by the name of Deus Deres. I'm past the point of breaking hearts, unable to even raise a companion for tonight." He swirled what remained of his drink in the glass and raised his gaze again. "However you strike me as a woman who knows a great deal about breaking hearts. You seem to have passed by the attention, and admiration of many colleagues and relations." The older wizard gestured to Tapendra and vaguely in the direction of Gale's retreating form. Johann was about - but not nearby.

1.	Did someone fart or something?

A student in green robes, twirling with a Beauxbatons girl easily six inches taller than him--the heels, you know--whirled past with a cheerful,  "It's still not too laaaaaate!" before dancing merrily off with the young lady back into the masses.

The table was apparently a very stop-and-go sort of place, an occasion to sit for a few minutes before rising again (under one's own power or not). Hardly had Landis arrived did Kesali, Hooch, LeBeau, and Li Yang all rose and left. He could not say he was entirely broken up about some of the departures, especially considering Hooch's parting shot. His reason for being here was certainly not the children, whom he considered irritating but unavoidable pests. This was only the beginning of the differences between Hooch and he.

Dolly teasing Storm was frankly terrifying, but it was 100% Dolly. Landis looked dour as she flirted with Trishna and cast a sly sideways glance at him, appearing very grumpy indeed for a brief moment before his expression smoothed out. He knew she was teasing him because there wasn't anything he could say about it without appearing extremely rude, an approach he would not take in front of his fellow staff and Headmistress. Dolly wouldn't be Dolly without taking advantage of that. He nodded hullo to Trishna without much cheer. He could put up with it well enough; at least she wasn't being all touchy with him.

Storm responded with a quizzical twist, a sad commentary on his dateless state, and an understatement of the amount of baffling charm Dolly was able to display.

"I really don't think he's too torn up over it," Landis said idly after Deres had whirled past.

Madame Hooch's parting shot - combined with Dolly's reaction - just made Tapendra grin, though he did feel the sting of it. Still...Hooch didn't deal with the children all day. That tended to sour even the best of spirits, with time; one identified patterns and personalities and tended to be tired and frazzled and really not wanting to deal with another duel in the halls or someone putting a pile of Exploding Snaps into the toilets again. Tapendra could understand her displeasure, but...

He smirked at Ignan. "Don't be silly, Ignan," he said. "I always speak highly of you. Your ability to snap fingers and not have your class storm out on you is next to none." He lounged on the table a bit, silently echoing Landis's feeling on the departures. Apparently tonight was a busy one, though the departure of Hooch, Kesali and LeBeau wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Certainly made the table less awkward. He hadn't really met the blond man and Professor Yang, and so couldn't make a call there.

"We-" He'd started, as Deus whirled past. The boy's words - followed by Landis's idle remark - was enough to set the Astronomy professor into a fit of snickering, hand up against his mouth in a failed attempt to hide his grin, his shoulders shaking.

Dolly's blue eyes sparkled with amusement, happy to once again be the center of attention. She could feel Landis practically seething in his skin. It amused her greatly but she refrained from pushing her luck too much further, even Morgans had their snapping points. Besides, if she got too touchy with him she might face another inquisition from Juliette and that was something Dolly wanted to avoid at all costs. It had been terribly awkward the first go around, she didn't actually like to be reminded she and Landis had ever done more than merely tolerate one another's existence sprinkled with the occasional snarky spat. It was just...unseemly, which would mark exactly once in Dolly's life she had even pretended to care about being unseemly.

A point made more obvious by the sly look she gave Professor Storm, "Really now, not even one little da-," her comment was interrupted by the arrival and departure of a boy she vaguely recognized and assumed was the infamous Deres. "Well isn't he absolutely charming," she hid her own laughter behind a glass of champagne that conveniently happened by on a serving tray. The sip afforded her a moment or two to to string together a clever thought - being blithe and charming was not actually as easy as Dolly made it look. In fact it was a very carefully crafted sort of lie, she'd just had years and years of practice. "What an absolute waste of an evening Professor! A Deputy Headmaster ought to have a proper companion for the evening".

Making a soft tsking noise she turned her attention to Trishna, tone playfully scolding, "Why didn't you tell me Tappy? I could have easily brought along one of the girls from Signature," she looked back to Ignan knowingly, "They're terribly fond of professors," she didn't add that it was because most of them had only graduated in the last three years or so. "They simply raved about Tappy the last time I went in for a drink, you made quite an impression the last time you were there darling," she fluttered her lashes at the Astronomy Professor. Wondering if he would turn that delightful shade of red that his skintone masked so well before she continued teasing Storm, "It simply doesn't do for you to be alone in front of so many foreign delegates and the Ministry, it furthers the misconception professors are dour cold fish. Which, quite frankly can't be true, too much devilment in your eyes, the whole lot of you".

"I deny any accusation of devilment, ocular or otherwise,"  Leopold said as he arrived at the table.  He was using his cane, an indication that he was unlikely to dance, although this was not etched in stone, given the spirited demonstration of the Salem headmaster.

He was wearing his usual yellow and black, as was only fitting for the Head of Hufflepuff.  The yellow was far more subdued than his usual eye searing tone.  It was pale, almost a custard colour.  He was also quite noticeably alone.

"I must apologize for my later arrival.  Things to see, places to be, people to do things to.  The usual excuses.  That wouldn't happen to be an eleven year old Copperfield you're drinking, would it, Ignan?  Now I understand where the  young lady's accusations are coming from."

Deus interjected to remind him he wasn't too late.

"I really don't think he's too torn up over it."

Tapendra giggled at it all, and Ignan sighed and sat back, the joke wearing thin with Deres.

"Well isn't he absolutely charming, What an absolute waste of an evening Professor! A Deputy Headmaster ought to have a proper companion for the evening."

Dolly St James continued, and Ignan's eyes slid back to her as levelly as he could manage.

"Why didn't you tell me Tappy? I could have easily brought along one of the girls from Signature, they're terribly fond of professors, they simply raved about Tappy the last time I went in for a drink, you made quite an impression the last time you were there darling,"

That was Ignan's cue to snort with laughter. He was a bit beyond the ladies at Signature, however flattering the suggestion was that they'd be happy to accompany him.

"It simply doesn't do for you to be alone in front of so many foreign delegates and the Ministry, it furthers the misconception professors are dour cold fish. Which, quite frankly can't be true, too much devilment in your eyes, the whole lot of you."

"Perhaps the dour cold fish misconception works in my favour, Ignan responded, raising an eyebrow.

"I deny any accusation of devilment, ocular or otherwise," Sandusky interrupted as he joined them, leaning on his cane. Ignan's gaze shifted from the author to his colleague.

"I must apologize for my later arrival.  Things to see, places to be, people to do things to.  The usual excuses.  That wouldn't happen to be an eleven year old Copperfield you're drinking, would it, Ignan?  Now I understand where the  young lady's accusations are coming from."

"It was." Ignan replied, putting down the empty glass and affording a smirk. "I know where it is, if that helps. Take a pew and I'll retrieve it. Miss St. James was just enlightening us on how we're all dour, cold fish for not having young ladies from Signature on our arms." He gestured to an empty seat and reached inside his dress robe, pulling out a shrunken bottle that enlarged with a tap of his wand, allowing him to pour two glasses.

"You're a gentlemen and a scholar, not that there was any doubt,"  Leopold said, taking a seat.  "In case you're interested, I've just acquired a bottle of Morgenstern brandy, with a layer of dust on it thick enough to make a niffler explode.  You're welcome to come by when I crack it open.  I'm thinking New Year's Eve, unless you have other plans."

He paused, looking around the room.  "There was only one lady I was interested in attending with and she is sadly unavailable.  I mean no offense to the lovely ladies of Signature but I seriously doubt they would find my company that entertaining.  I'm old and a creak in places that aren't supposed to make noises.  As one would expect, the creaking is somewhat lessened through proper lubrication."

"...You're welcome to come by when I crack it open.  I'm thinking New Year's Eve, unless you have other plans."

"Fantastic!" The other older professor seated at the table responded, "That sounds like an offer I am a fool to pass up on - oh..." He realised with disappointment that there might be a hitch to that plan, "Unfortunately I believe I've already committed to the event in aid of St Mungo's Hospital on that evening though. If the offer still stands, another day, but don't let me interrupt your celebrations on the turn of the year."

He chuckled at Dusty's expression creaking is somewhat lessened through proper lubrication. That sounded right.

"Cheers anyhow," He raised his glass to Sandusky, "I'm sure Ms St James will try to convince you otherwise of her young lady acquaintances."

Dolly watched the conversation between the elder Professors with rapt amusement. She didn't know about Sandusky but she'd bet galleons to cupcakes the old man was a riot when he got a bit of the spirit in him. He seemed the type that was just a little to repressed and frosty for the front to be real. It was absolutely fascinating. She was quite pleased to note he'd be at the New Year's Gala, "While I cannot promise a dust encased bottle of Morgenstern; the Gala will have an open bar, and if you're very charming I might even offer you a peek at my own extensive collection after".

She shot Landis a sideways look, wondering how much more listening to her titter he could take before he's skulk off. "Besides, I may need your help keeping Tappy in one place. I've guilt'd the poor darling into auctioning himself off and he keeps trying to find a way out. Word has it you know how to keep him in line," she arched an eyebrow looking between the two men, a tiny smirk tugging on her lips behind her glass.  She wasn't really worried about the Astronomy professor backing out on her but it would be interesting to see what kind of reaction she could stir up.

"Sadly, my New Years plans involve not traveling too far from the school, seeing as how I'm one of the few remaining here as chaperones,"  Leopold replied.  "And I've yet to see an event that is truly improved by an open bar.  Made more tolerable perhaps but never improved.  I must therefore prove my charm in this venue, if I have any hope to winning a peek at your collection, assuming it is a legitimate offer and not some veiled euphemism."

He chuckled.  "If professor Tapendra is determined to escape his fate, I might even be convinced to provide him with a suitably disguised port key.  Since he's been voluntold into being sold, I think shackles might be the most appropriate idea."

"While I cannot promise a dust encased bottle of Morgenstern; the Gala will have an open bar, and if you're very charming I might even offer you a peek at my own extensive collection after."

Ignan raised his eyebrows at that offer.

"Besides, I may need your help keeping Tappy in one place. I've guilt'd the poor darling into auctioning himself off and he keeps trying to find a way out. Word has it you know how to keep him in line,"

"Just his favourite Muggle items in certain peril." Ignan joked quietly.

"Sadly, my New Years plans involve not traveling too far from the school, seeing as how I'm one of the few remaining here as chaperones, and I've yet to see an event that is truly improved by an open bar.  Made more tolerable perhaps but never improved.  I must therefore prove my charm in this venue, if I have any hope to winning a peek at your collection, assuming it is a legitimate offer and not some veiled euphemism." Sandusky replied graciously and Ignan shared a smirk.

"If professor Tapendra is determined to escape his fate, I might even be convinced to provide him with a suitably disguised portkey.  Since he's been voluntold into being sold, I think shackles might be the most appropriate idea."

"Fine idea." Ignan nodded to his colleague and Head of Hufflepuff. "Tapendra, you should take advice from Leopold, he's got his head screwed on." His gaze flickered from the table, expression darkening. "Hrumph, duty calls." He informed, leaving the alcohol in Sandusky's care, he nodded to Dolly and the others, and headed out across the Great Hall, in the direction he'd just been staring.




OOC: sorry, have to step out and reduce my thread numbers, and this one was slowing down