Staff Table: The Sorting Ceremony and Feast

"Certainly," Daniel smiled at the blonde, but as they were far from alone he left it at that and focused on the other woman.
"You can say so," he said. "Holli and I go way back," he laughed and sent Holli a sly smile before he turned to Belle again.
"How about you? How do you know each other?" he asked, honestly curious. He now only turned his head once or twice in the direction of the students, wanting to see what they were doing, and who ended up in the Slytherin house. However, he was far too interested in and distracted by these two women to pay his full attention. He would have to catch up later.

Holli said with a smile as she crossed her legs and drank her wine, "Belle helped me with Herbology. Just as you helped me with Charms, Daniel. And helping me with that tango routine back at England. I need a partner and he helped me once and he helped me twice."

Daniel smiled at the memory, knowing they had also done so much more together, but supported her idea that it may not be wise to share that with the rest of the table. Daniel had always liked to keep his affairs secret, or at least low. There was no need for others to know.
"You're in luck Holli," he smiled before turning to the brunette, keeping her eyecontact.
"I hear miss Mallery is quite skilled in that art," he smiled charmingly, adressing Belle directly now.

Belle nodded. "That's right. We were even in the same House. Can't believe I forgot all about her. Guess it's due to all the work and just being an adult." Belle knew that the older you got, the harder it was to keep hold of memories. Some of her friends back home even said that they had trouble remembering some of their earlier school years.

"You know how to tango, Mr. Willix? You'll have to show me sometime. It's one of my favorites. Next to the waltz, of course." Belle smiled at the idea of another dancer here. Maybe they could open a Ballroom Dancing Club if enough students were interested. That would be kind of fun, and it could help them get more prepared the next time Hogwarts had a ball or something.

Holli said with a smile after she finished her wine, "Without you and Belle, Daniel. I wouldn't be where I am today. I am the new Divination teacher and all because of my unique Divination ability." Holli knew that this year was going to be fun now that Daniel was around and remembering the time they spent together.

"It would bring me great pleasure to call you my partner miss Mallery," he said with a charming smile. Of course he had never danced with her, though he did not particularly care how skillful she was in the art of dance. In Daniel's mind the dance had never been about skill in any case, but rather the free spirit letting itself go and following pure instinct. A sweet perfection as two parts entwined.
"But I must say, you speak as if you know it far too well yourself," he laughed, having doubts she was a pure amateur.

"Well, it's not like I dance all the time," Belle said, noticing the look Daniel was giving her. "My mother insisted that I learn ballroom dancing and not the 'crude way of dancing' as she put it that teenagers did." She laughed a little. "I hated it all at first, but I ended up getting used to it, and eventually came to like it. She wasn't a big fan of the tango, but she said they did play it at fancy parties sometimes, so I ended up learning it. She did try to teach me the polka though and I ended up failing at that one, big time. I always ended up getting dizzy and falling onto the floor." She laughed at the memory.

Holli asked curiously with an innocent smile covering that sexy smirk she would give to him, "Say Daniel could we maybe catch up sometime? I have so much to tell and new dances I've discovered." Holli knew Daniel couldn't resist that silver platter handed to him.

"I must say," he laughed impressed. The dance was one of his, if not his best, skill without charms, and though he did not brag about it, he could not wait to let her see him dance, or rather see her dance for himself. She was sure she was not as bad as she told herself.
"Oh Holli, once again you've read my mind," he laughed, maybe a little too loud, before he calmed himself and once again glanced towards the students. Of course, they interested him less and less with the passing minutes, but he still felt it his duty to pay attention to a certain degree.

Belle giggled. "Careful Mr. Willix, or Holli here may distract you from your teachings," she joked. No doubt those two could tear up a dance floor if they wanted to. They certainly had the charm and the looks.

Holli laughed and said with a smile as she looked at Belle, "Belle you know the old saying work first fun later."

"I don't know miss Mallery," Daniel tuned in, still with a charming smile plastered on his face.
"I am sure you will do a fine job doing that yourself," he laughed, obviously joking. He wanted his share of fun of course, but he would never put it before his work. He had his honor and respect, and by having that he needed to stay professional when needed.
However, that didn't mean he couldn't take his liberties once in a while, when he was free.

Holli asked with a smile as she looked Daniel, "Any student you think will live up to their studies, Daniel?"

Belle nodded. "That is true. Now that I've finished up my first year and learned a thing or two, I can relax a little more this time around, get to know the other professors a little better. Seems like I'm a total stranger to most of them, although that was probably because if I wasn't preparing my lesson plans, I was reading a book or two." She smiled.

Rozeli went and sat next to Daniel one of the few professors she could stand to be in the presence of as she ate silently eyes on the Slytherin table as she watched them eat her eyes sharp for any tomfoolery and nonsense before she gets up to go to her quarters for a drink one she very desperately needed.

Daniel noticed Rozeli's presence, but decided to leave it at that. He had long ago gotten the idea she was not fond of him, and in that case he would not want to upset or annoy her further by making pointless arguments. It was better to stay in silence. Far better.
"Don't you worry," he laughed as Belle spoke. "Between you and me, most aren't much fun in any case," he whispered, keeping his voice low as if telling her a secret no one else should ever know about. Of course Holli could hear them, but that did not concern him at all.

Holli asked with a slight smile to Belle, "See any students who might live up to our teachings?"

Only then did Daniel notice Holli's question, and immidiatly felt bad for overhearing her earlier.
"They all have potential Holli," he smiled at her, he found his words true. Never had he seen a so-called "hopeless case".
"We just need to shape them right," he laughed, but that was truely what he loved about his work. Knowing that so many young people depended on you to push them in the right direction. To know what he teached them now would follow them through their entire life.

Holli lightly laughed and said with a smile as she tapped his hand lightly, "It's okay, Daniel. You were caught up in the subject as always but you are still my friend."

He quickly leaned in close to her, so Belle would be unable to hear the words exchanged as he whispered to her.
"I would have hoped we were so much more than that," he said with a slight grin as he pulled away from her again, not wanting to draw attention to himself as he was exchanging secrets in public. Any further discussion would have to wait until after the ceremony and feast.

Holli smiled and knew that she and Daniel were more than that. But in the schooling world you have to be two people: the librarian and the stripper. (Love the Ugly Truth X3)

"Oh, I'm sure they're not all that bad," Belle said to Daniel. True, she hadn't spoken much to the other teachers like Izabella and Alliss, but she figured they were good people. Although Belle noticed that Daniel was looking at Rozeli, and she did have to agree that he had a point. But Belle had too good of a heart to act as crabby towards Rozeli as the Slytherin teacher did to everybody else. That was just how she was, and it could be considered a fault if the right situation came up. She managed to eat a few bites of mashed potatoes as Holli and Daniel whispered to each other. Belle couldn't hear what they were saying, but she figured it wasn't something terribly important, otherwise they wouldn't have to keep it hush-hush.

Korso cleared his throat as he looked around with his hands behind his back. He was a gamekeeper, not a teacher, but he thought he should be some part of the staff, right? Either way, if he felt uncomfortable he would leave. He then approached the staff table, a bright charming smile revealing itself as he looked to see if there were any open seats, "Hello," he said generally to anyone who wanted to answer, still inspecting everyone curiously.

Belle looked up at the sound of a new voice. It took her a moment to remember the man's name, but it soon came to her. "Oh, hello Mr. Purefoy," she said, giving a friendly smile. "Take a seat. There's still plenty of food to chow down on." She gave a little laugh.

Holli saw Korso and said with a smile, "Hello, I'm Holli Would and you are?" Holli was interested by him and wanted to get to know him.