The Professors Party: New Years Eve

"Depends on who you have, really," Belle replied. "Some can be a bit nasty, but others are really sweet, and quite smart too." Leroy was her prime example of a student that was headed down the drain fast. But other ones like Emily and Evaine made the job worthwhile. "Eh, as long as there's a way of getting it, some kid will find it," she said. "It's inevitable. But they only tend to sneak in alcohol during special events, so it's not like they do it all the time." She smiled as Sachika mentioned her old nickname. "Yup, that was me. Although I'm proud to say my habits haven't changed too much. I still have my stack of romance novels, although the library here is quite interesting too."

"Hopefully i'll get more sweet and smart and less nasty ones. Weird to say since I was a Slytherine myself and had a bad habit of causing problems." she shook her head. She found it funny how she used to be a troublesome teen until she grew up and is now kind unless you cross her. "Thinks hasn't changed much here.' she muttered before slightly smiling at Belle "I think I remember you always in the back reading them type of books all the time."

"Ooo, you were a troublemaker too?" Belle asked, laughing. "I was a little stiff when I first came to school. I had to learn to loosen up a bit. Breaking them every once in a while can make for some crazy stories to tell afterwards." She paused. "Not that I'm encouraging students to break the rules," she hastily added. "Just that they can sometimes turn into a nice adventure." She nodded. "Yup, that was me. If I was reading a new book, I brought it with me everywhere, even class." She laughed again. "Got into trouble a few times with the teachers when they asked me a question when I was in the middle of a romantic scene."

"Yeah I was but got married at seventeen, had a few kids." she sighed "That changes a person in many ways. I'm not the wild trouble making girl I used to be." Cheka looked down remembering her husband and kids, wishing they was here so she could hold them. It pained her to remember them, it always had. She felt her eyes watering a bit remembering them before whipping them quickly before Belle saw and started asking questions. Chika shook her head remembering that and how belle got in trouble for reading in class when she should have been studying.

"Seventeen? Wow, that is young. But hey, love is love, whether you're young, old, gay, straight, etc. It's all the same, no matter who you are." That had always been Belle's philosophy, and one she firmly upheld. She saw Sachika's eyes watering though and her brow furrowed in concern. "You alright?" she asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"what can i say I was in love and i knew he was the one." she said, nodded to what ells Belle said. She felt the same way Love was love no matter what you are, it's still love. She felt a hand on her shoulder hearing Belle asked if she was alright. Oh God "Yeah just old memories coming back to bite me." she muttered so only Belle could hear.

"Oh. Well, you're not alone in that one. Everyone here has a past, student and teacher alike." Miranda, Evaine, even Belle herself had some ghosts lurking around in her past. But the big thing was whether they let the past rule them or not, and Belle had reached the point where she didn't let it rule her life. Why dwindle in the past when you had so much of the future to look forward to?

Chika never tried to think of them to much and try moving on but she felt like if she didn;t even try finding their killer she would have failed her family. But that;s how she left some people might think she's crazy and tell her to move on, that they would want her to be happy not sad all the time feeling guilty for their death. "Well glad i'm not the only one dealing with the past coming back to bite them. I would think the other teachers though i gone nuts." she gave a small laugh.

"Trust me, it's alright," Belle assured her. "We all may come from different backgrounds, but we all have something in common: We want to help children learn." Although maybe some teachers were in it for the money, or the prestige, but Belle liked to think that all of them had at least some desire to teach kids. That was a pretty big requirement of the job, after all.

"Well I hope they came here to teach the children and not slack off and just want the money." she said, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. Maybe this was her shot at trying to find her family's killer and help the children at the same time "So what do you teach?" she asked.

"From what I've seen, that is what they do," Belle said. "They teach the skills they need to learn and help them apply them in real-life situations. And once they get older, they refine those talents to whatever career they want." It was kind of exciting, to see what kind of job the kids wanted. Some had pretty ambitious plans, like becoming the next Minister of Magic. Some had humbler ones, like running a shop in Diagon Alley. "Oh, I teach Herbology," she replied. "What about you?"

"Herbology? Well you was better at that than everyone in that class. But I always thought you would become a writer and come up with your own romantic novels." she grinned at her a little "Oh I teach Arithmancy." Chika said very proudly of herself

"Maybe I should try to convince Dumbledore to start a creative writing class," Belle said, laughing. "Herbology was always my favorite academic subject, though. Some people get really comfortable around animals, kids, etc. I happened to get comfortable around plants. I just think they're really interesting. And some of them are really beautiful." Belle had always claimed that she could spend hours at a time in the greenhouses at Hogwarts. They were always full of interesting plant life. "Arithmancy? Wow, that's an interesting one. I'm sure some kids will love the challenge."

"I'm sure some of the students who love reading book would love something like that." she said with a smile again It felt weird yet nice that she was smiling yet again. "So you never got married or had any kids yet?" she asked raising her eye brow at Belle. Huh she thought someone would be inserted in her, belle was pretty cute after all. Yet she guessed with Belle's nose stuck in the books and always in the greenhouse she never had time for dating. "I'm hoping so, I always had a passion for Arithmancy even if i didn't show it all the time."

Belle shook her head. "Nope. I hope to though, someday. Maybe once I settle down more fully at this job. It may be my second year, but I still have a bit to learn." She hoped that one day she could be as professional as some of the older teachers she had grown up with. "It's always good to teach something you're passionate about," she said. "Makes the job more fun."

Alliss had been lingering along the hallways to avoid meeting any familiar faces at the staff party. Craig Rivera, the Minister and Kris in particular. Yet, it wasn't that she didn't want to see the latter, more the fact she wasn't sure she could handle the extra emotion of seeing him again after Riley's disappearance.

Entering the staff room, he was the first face she saw and her heart and body froze. Her eyes stung as she studied his face. He hadn't changed an ounce. He was still the same Kris she had known and loved and it made herself tense with a mixture of joy and a rush of sadness, regret and guilt.

(( I can barely keep up with these group threads. x.x ))

Kris smiled and laughed, "Kind of I guess..." With a shrug he turned to see and greet the new persons with a wave and a beaming smile. is smile almost faltered as he saw Alliss standing in the doorway. His heart pounded a bit louder in his chest as he gave her a bit more of a genuine smile before looking back to Edward. Alliss didn't want to talk to him if the dance was anything to go by.

"I'm sorry, what was that? I was distracted..."

"Seems like the ball went without a hitch," Ed said, smiling. Thank God nothing terrible had happened. He wasn't good in a major crisis. That was when he usually resorted to screaming and yelling like a girl, a fact that had earned him much teasing throughout his life. He noticed Kristopher getting side-tracked though and tried to see what had caught his attention. It seemed like he was looking at Alliss, but Ed couldn't be sure. He didn't know the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher very well. Heck, he hadn't even spoken to her yet. "You alive in there, Kristopher?" he asked, resisting the urge to rap on his head with his knuckles.

Craig strode confidently into the staff room. So many new faces, and a couple of familiar ones. His eyes fell on his little sister. He fought a smirk. Oh Aliss, righteous Aliss. She met his eyes for just a second, but he merely winked and made his way towards two younger women chatting amiably. He stepped up to them and gave an elaborate bow. Straightening, he bore his most charming smile.
"Good evening, ladies," he said in his warmest most charming voice. "I dont believe I've had the pleasure of meeting either of you beautiful young women." He extended a hand. "Craig Rivera."

[this is to Belle and Sachika ]

Belle turned when she heard a voice addressing her and Sachika. Her certainly was polite. Belle was glad for that. It seemed like formal occasions seemed to bring out the best in the adults around here. And he certainly liked to flatter. Her smile at him was genuine and not one merely out of politeness. "It's nice to meet you," she said, shaking his hand. "I'm Belle Mallery and this is Sachika Wamika."

His eyes sparkled with delight as he took her hand and lifted it to his lips. He planted a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, and raised his eyes to hers from his bent position.
"Truly a delight, mademoiselle."
He straightened. "Forgive me, but it is merely my first year teaching and I am not yet acquainted with all the positions. Which subjects do you teach?"
His eyes darted from one to the other, the charming smile still plastered on his face.

"Yeah, haha... sorry I just was distracted. Don't mind me." Kris rubbed the back of his neck while he chuckled awkwardly. He didnt seem that obviously out of it, did he?

"So, the Ball went well? I was only there for a few moments before leaving. I had other things to attend to." Which wasn't an lie per-say. It was more of a fabrication of his awkward leaving because Alliss wouldn't even look at him. Which led to him being awkward and just leaving. It was better she be there than him anyway.

"Yup!" Ed gave an enthusiastic grin and nodded. "Pity I didn't get a chance to shake a leg though. Dancing is pretty fun to do if you manage to get a big group to join you and stuff. And the music was perfect for it. Oh well." He gave a little shrug. "Maybe next year, eh?"

Alliss grimaced towards her brother as he passed her, narrowing her eyes away from Kris, they followed him over to Belle and Sachika who he had decided to flirt with. She frowned and decided to head in the opposite direction. That opposite direction just happened to land her in the middle of Kris' conversation with Ed, she blushed a little. Colour flushed her cheeks but she decided to keep up her usual feisty attitude and stride past it.

"Lovely evening," Alliss nodded in their direction before picking up a shot of firewhiskey and downing it. She needed the alcohol to help calm her system. Before she chanced a glance back at Kris and Edward.

Kris didn't really comment on the dancing. It wasn't his thing to be honest. He was more of a wall flower or just liked to hold his date on his arm while they held a conversation.

"Quite possibly." Kris ended up speaking, out of the corner of his eye he watched Alliss speak and couldn't help but wear a goofy smile. It faded after she took a shot though. Were the destined to be this awkward around each other?

"I tend to not look forward to dances all that much. It's a lot of fuss and drama. Kids these days." The Charms teacher chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.