Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Gryffindor Common room portrait hole opens and a slender looking woman strides into the room. She was a slender woman with red wispy hair pulled into a loose bun and blue eyes looking through her horn-rimed glasses. She normally had a kind freckled face but now it was very grave, purposeful, almost ill-looking. This expression might have even helped her pass off as a Slytherin if it weren't for her clothing. She wore a black velvet dress lined with lovely yellow silk. Over this dress was cloak of a deeper yellow thick cotton and a very small but very fine badger was embroidered into the left corner of the hood. Mafalda Prewett was not wearing her usual flowing robes and bangles; there was no twinkle in her eye nor was there her usual air of friendliness. Only cold disdain emanated from her. The thing that seemed the most out of place was the walking stick in her right hand; it looked like it must have been made around the same time the very room she was standing in was. It was engraved with images of centaurs and stars, the symbols of the thirteenth and the eighth tarot cards "Death" and "Justice", and at the top there was a brass animal that could only be a thestral with its great leathery wings extended as if in flight. She leaned on this and surveyed the room. She made a deep cough as though she had just gotten over a bad cold and then spoke.

Hello everyone. Despite her entirely Alastor Moody-like air, her voice was very frail and almost wheezy, as if she had, indeed been sick. I hope you all had pleasurable holidays. This is your Deputy Headmistress speaking, and I have an important announcement to make.

Right now, I'd like you all to take your attention to the poll on your common room bulletin board. She indicates the said bulletin and, as though they appeared at her word, there was an antique golden ballot box on the table below the board. On this box is an intricate design with a regal lion that seemed to flick its tail or maybe it was just a trick of the light, but that didn't explain occasional faint purring sound that seemed to omit from it. Next to the box is a pile of scartet ballot slips. I'd like for you all to take a moment to place your vote on who you would like to be your next Head of House. You may keep your current one or decide to pick a new one. If you actually have a nomination in mind for a new Head, please PM it to the Head Master and he will reset the poll to include your nominations. I'd like you all to know that your votes and nominations will be kept completely confidential. Also, no Head of House will be offended if the House decides to appoint a new Head.

Thank you.

She said all this with an air of assertiveness but it did not quite come across as such because of how frail her voice was. She seemed like a broken woman and her frail manner softened many of the Gryffindor's hearts. She turned to leave with what seemed a great deal of effort, took a few steps toward the portrait hole, stopped and said without turning back.

Also, please do not attempt to cast a ballot into any other houses' ballot boxes. They were charmed by the founders themselves and anyone caught casting a vote in any other common room will have 50 points taken from their house when the new term begins. Not to mention the points they will loose for being in another common room in the first place. So, it would be wise to mind your own business in this matter.

She made another deep cough and then left the common room in complete silence, besides the sound of her walking stick clicking as she walked down the stone hallway outside the common room.