With the applause having faded away, Professor Dumbledore steadily continues with the introductions, "Professor Manzil Snipe, our permanent staff member and replacing Professor Flitwick as the Professor for Gobbledegook."
The students stare at the short wizard, who was sitting next to Professor Flitwick. The wizard with sleeked back hair, sly eyes, and a sharp hooked nose bowed to them. The students politely clap as well, though there are looks on dismay on the faces of some of the Gobbledegook students. They would miss Professor Flitwick as their goblin language professor, and there was no telling if the new teacher would be any good. The clapping fades away as Professor Snipe sits back down.
"Master Strauss will be replacing Professor Bines as the Professor for History of Magic, and possess a dual mastery in History of Magic, and Care of Magical Creatures. We are honored to have him with us."
There is a burst of cheers from the Ravenclaws at long last having an actual professor for History of Magic and not a ghost! While the students clap, they all study the tanned, scholarly looking man that flashes them a good-natured smile.
"In addition, there will be some fairly new changes with the following Professors," Dumbledore solemnly explained. "Please do not be frightened, but I do wish for all of you to be aware of the new situation." More than a few students stare warily up at the Headmaster as they wait.
"Allow me to introduce, Professor Benjamin Buchanan," Dumbledore said as whispers suddenly feel the room as students recognize the name. They all crane their necks to glance at the possible descendant of Angus Buchanan, the famous Scottish rugby player.
"Professor Buchanan is indeed related to who you are all thinking about, but please withhold your whispered conversations," Dumbledore pointedly said with a twinkle in his eye, before continuing, "Professor Buchanan is indeed a squib, and I expect all of you to respect him. He will be teaching the new and required course for all first and second years, Wizarding Etiquette and culture for all muggleborn students."
There are blank expressions from new muggleborn students, while the wizarding first years and second years look on with smug expressions. However, Dumbledore's next words wipe those expressions off their faces, "At which juncture allow me to introduce, Professor Elias Murphy, muquib. And the newest Professor of Muggle Studies, who will be teaching muggle etiquette and culture to all wizarding children first and second years."
The smug expressions disappear from the first and second years' faces as the students stare with open curiosity at the muquib. Professor Murphy is a ginger with a good smarting of freckles and round glasses. However, he remained calm at the student's expressions and sits down upon the clapping fading away.
"The following four Professors that will be introduced will teach the first through fourth years from now on said subjects," Dumbledore explained as the older students wisely nodded their heads in understanding as to why. With so many students, who were the Head of Houses to fulfill their duties and teach?
"Professor Norman Hopkins is the lower years Transfiguration Professor."
Much like Professor McGonagall, he appeared to be a meticulous looking with a strict demeanor. However, Professor Hopkins had a rather large cleft chin and heavily gelled hair.
"Professor Eponine Mortimer is the lower years Potions Professor."
Terry instantly brightens up at spotting the shallow skinned woman, with stiff straight hair cut short, nearly flat-chested, but an angelic face. Leaning over, he whispers, "She's a former Slytherin and second-generation Greengrass via one of my aunts. She's my cousin."
Severus, Rowan, and the three other girl's faces can only scream one thing, "Do all of you of Greengrass's possess angelic faces, but devil hearts?!"
"Professor Morticia Disick is the lower years Professor of Charms."
The witch in question had Springy hair that was escaping its coil and a rather crooked nose. The Gryffindor instantly liked her, they felt that she was one of them.
"Last but not least, Professor Douglas Winfrey teaching Herbology for the lower years."
There are loud lovestruck sighs from the girls at seeing the ruggedly attractive man with spiky hair flash a crooked grin at them. At least, Hagrid would not be the only one receiving love letters this year, which could only be a good thing for Hagrid as things were getting rather serious between him and his paramour.
Professor Dumbledore loudly clears his throat to return the attention back to him from Professor Douglas. "There is also one more change that I would like to make the students aware of. After much consideration, and discussion with the Hogwarts Governing Board, Professor McGonagall has graciously stepped down from her post as the Head of Gryffindor, and Professor Babbling will be the new Head of Gryffindor being a former Gryffindor herself."
There are looks of surprise on everyone's faces including Rowan but especially the Gryffindors. The Gryffindor's especially turn to eye the petite witch in blue robes, a crooked hat with a matching slightly crooked button nose. However, Professor Babbling stared right back with her blue and brown eyes causing some of them to turn away. But the more entrepreneur Gryffindors are scheming to see just how far they could push the new Head of House.
"Now please do not forget that our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you all to not use magic between classes in the corridors," Dumbledore carefully added. "Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And no matter, the age of the student only second years and up are permitted to try out for Quidditch." This causes a spring of excited whispers to fill the Great Hall as everyone remembered that the Quidditch cup was back again this year!
"That being said, I urge you to not try sneaking around this year," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Please welcome Trevor and Gary Peterson. They are both former squibs now turned muquibs and will are the new assistant caretakers aiding Caretaker Filch."
There is a long silence as some of the students gulp at seeing the identical, rather tall, muscled dark-skinned men standing before them. They were not quite as tall as Hagrid, but they certainly were tall enough to give him a run for his money. The two men had sharp hawk-like gazes, and had their hair carefully woven into intricate braids. Somehow the students got the feeling that these two men were no pushovers and were not strangers to violence in the past.
Clearing his throat to grab the student's attention again, Dumbledore happily adds, "And now, before we head for bed, let us sing the school's song!" Some of the Professors sigh, while some other professor's faces turned into blank poker faces. With a wave of his wand, the school begins to sing but it was obvious that Georgine Prince is not singing. She firmly stared ahead as if daring anyone on the staff table force her to sing. And no one did, because they had the terrible feeling that they would end up in a sack being shipped off to some deserted island in the middle of the ocean.
I would like to say, that if Dumbledore had subtly had the pureblood's educated to at least accept some of the muggleborn's such as making it a requirement for first and second years, there would not be such a bias once they grew older! Plus, the same can be said that the pureblood's would not have been so against the muggleborn's as they would have been educated to accept and appreciate the wizarding world's traditions upon entering Hogwarts. It was a win-win solution.....