Afternoon Lunch [Anyone?]

[Horace Slughorn]

The Great Hall was bust with conversation of recent events in the magical world. The escape of the Death Eaters from Azkaban really did put a new spin on things. Pupils everywhere were worrying about their parents, younger brothers and sisters. The list was endless. But never the less, things at Hogwarts had to continue as normal, or at least as normal as things could get around the magical castle.

Afternoon lunch was one of the many times that could be counted as normal. So when I walked in a smile was placed on my face as I watched everyone chat and eat. It seemed to trivial a thing, but it did make me happy to see content students. My robes of black billowed behind me and I did notice a few first years divert their eye's from me, as if scared I would pounce on them like a tiger. Of only they would understand that I was only strict because I wanted them all to do well.

With the staff table set for lunch I sat down, and noticed I was the only staff member there. Getting comfortable I poured myself some fresh orange. Then collected a plate of prawn sandwiches and put them on my plate, along with a few helpings of salad in a special dressing. I watched the pupils mingle and eat, a little in some sort of day dream as I noticed more staff members pile into the hall for lunch before Afternoon classes. Thankfully I did not have any - but had some Head of House duties I needed to tend to (and of course I had to cover Anya's Deputy Head jobs as well). Stepping in as the Acting Deputy Head was something I began to do more and more as Anya reached the end of her pregnancy. Only two months to go and we would have little baby Matthew with us. "Afternoon everyone" I said as some of the staff made their way to the table.

[Professor Carina Erikson]

Once again, term change was just over the horizon and once again, it came closer while bearing bad news. News of Death Eaters reappearing was disconcerting to everyone, Carina even more so. Her father was one of them, and part of her hoped that no one found out. The sins of the father wasn't always placed with the child, but she didn't want to risk it.

While this was weighing on her mind, it had been pushed to the side since she was still tucked away safely at the school. Her mind now was focused on term end. The potions classes were over for the term, but several students had come to her, hoping to still pass. Walking through the Great Hall, she took the time to stop and talk to a few of said students about their projects. Laughing at a joke one of them had told her, Carina made her way to the staff table.

Glancing up, she saw Professor Slughorn was the only one there at the moment. In the beginning, she had tried to be just like him, but in the end, she hadn't been able to stop herself from joking and acting a fool in class, just like the students. He was strict but it was only because he cared, she knew. It still amused and at the same time, embarassed Carina that after seven years as a student in his house, she received her worse dressing down by him as a professor.

Pouring herself some juice after taking her seat, Carina snagged a few sandwiches. Smiling, she then turned to Professor Slughorn. "Good afternoon, Professor. How are you today? And how is your lovely wife doing?" News of Anya's pregnancy had reached Carina a while back , but she hadn't had the chance to ask. Carina, who loved children, was looking forward to another child being born in the castle. It gave her an reason to buy more baby clothes for gifts, as she had done when Michelle was born.

[Horace Slughorn]

I was busy tending to my plate of prawn sandwiches when I heard a familiar voice sit not so far from me. I looked up as I washed it down with some orange juice and smiled. "Carina, you don't need to call me Professor now - we are colleagues" I smiled. She was not the first student who I taught to then move into being a teacher and still calling me Professor or Sir. It amused me slightly. "I'm very well thank you Carina. Anya is doing good too" I said with another drink of orange juice. "She is taking time time off, not long till the baby comes. We have a date as well - December 24th" I said, and winked. Smiling.

The date for Matthews birth was, indeed, due on Christmas Eve. It would be a magical present for both of us which I was looking forward too - the best present you could receive during the Christmas Holiday (in my opinion anyway). "As she is off I'm taking over as Deputy Head until she returns. Lots to do, and so little time" I smiled and took another bite of my sandwich.

"So, how are you doing? Classes running OK? No trouble I hope" I said with deep serenity for the Potions Professor. I could sympathize with her greatly as I once taught Potions. It was a hard subject to teach, and it was a skill to master. Admiration was all I had for Carina as I waited for her to tell me how she was getting on.

[Professor Carina Erikson]

“Sorry, sir…I mean Horace. What can I say? Old habits die hard, as they say.” Taking a small bite of her sandwich and then a sip of juice, she smiled brightly. “That’s wonderful. I’m glad to hear that your both doing so well.” At the news of the due date, Carina smiled widened. “Oh, a Christmas baby, that’s just so…so perfect. You’ll simply have to let me come by and spoil him. Since I don’t have any of my own, of course.”

With a nod of sympathy, Carina then shook her head. “You must be exhausted. I’ve never understood how she did it all. Teaching classes, Head of House duties and then Deputy duties as well. Couldn’t think of anyone else better to do it, though, or anyone better to fill in for her. I won’t be leaving during term break so if there’s anything at all I can do to help either of you, just let me know.”

Finishing off her first sandwich, Carina washed it all down with some juice. “Well, I finished up with my classes for the term yesterday, but they all went every well. Just letting a few students do some make up work at the moment.” With a laugh, she couldn’t help but to think of her experiments. “And I only had to go to classes twice after turning myself green with failed experiments.”