Apparently it was just warm enough that they wouldn't die the second they stepped outside. How great. But at least it was an improvement. Still, Hayden was not the happiest Hufflepuff as she made her way to the end of term feast. She was not pleased at having to leave the warm common room. The inside of the castle had not warmed up considerably, or really all. Hayden hoped desperately that whatever the problem was would be resolved by the time they all came back to school next year. She refused to put up with another year of that freezing cold weather. Refused.

Hayden made her way over to the Hufflepuff table and sat down, not paying attention to her surroundings much at all. She did notice, however, that there was no food on the table. Great. She stared up at the Staff table and willed the Headmistress to make her speech ASAP. She was starving.

Dylan entered the great hall, glancing around the place as he made his way to the Hufflepuff table. It wasn't too cold in here, but kinda chilly. Then again, the Puffer did tend to get cold really easily. But Merlin's beard, what was with the weather anyhow? It was mad! It would be a freezing trip home, that was for sure.

Once he reached the table, he saw that he was one of the first ones there, along with another girl who he believed to be a first year, sitting all by herself. He made his way over, taking a seat across from her. "Hi," he said, smiling at her. He'd never spoken to her before, but he recognized her from around the school and such.

Hayden heard the greeting but at first it didn't register in her mind that it was for her. At least, not until she didn't hear anybody respond. So she dropped her gaze momentarily from the staff table and glanced around the table, only to find that almost no one else was there. She saw an older boy sitting across from her and obviously talking to her, considering there were no other options. Alright then.

"Hello." She attempted a smile. He'd smiled at her and it would be incredibly rude not to return it. Despite her mood at the moment, Hayden still did not want to be rude. So she did try to return the smile, she just didn't know how well it succeeded. Anyway. "I'm Hayden." She didn't know the boy's name, but she knew she'd seen him before. Around school. Also in the common room. Considering the amount of time she'd spent in the common room this term, Hayden had probably at least seen every single Hufflepuff. Maybe.

Kace was amazed that the term went by so fast. It was already the end of the term feast. As he made his way with his uniform on, he noticed a few people made it there already. He noticed Dylan and said, "Hey mate fancy meeting you here! This term went by fast huh?" Then he took his spot at his table. He wondered where Lux, Bay, Emmy and Cinna were? He didn't seem them yet.

He even looked around for Lux and didn't even see her yet. Ah well she would come eventually. Maybe she was visiting Bay. Speaking of Bay...he should visit him.

End of the term already. Where did the time go? Just imagine he would be a fourth year come next term. Nooo, he wasn't ready for that. He'd just enjoy the remaining time of his third year.

Arriving at the Hufflepuff table he spotted Dylan, Kace and that firstie girl (Hayden). "Hi, guys! How's it going?'' he said by way of greeting, addressin them all.

Look, more people were joining them. She recognized the next boy. Kace, yes? And she'd seen the other hufflepuff boy but didn't know his name either. She also did note that she was surrounded by boys at the moment. Ugh. But she didn't show signs of her displeasure on her face. Instead, Hayden smiled at each new person to join them and give a greeting. "Hey," she said to the new boys. Had they heard her introduction? Hayden wasn't going to repeat it unless one of them asked.

She wasn't opposed to conversing with a group of her housemates but there was no interesting conversation happening yet. So Hayden momentarily turned her gaze back up to the Staff table. Did it look like the headmistress was preparing to give her speech anytime soon? Hayden couldn't tell, but she did notice a few odd things about the staff table. First, there were two empty spots. She understood that the librarian was not there because he was still unconscious or possibly dead, but where was that new Arithmancy professor? Professor Domingo? Second, "Why is Flamsteed wearing that?" Was he really so eager for summer that he couldn't wait another second to don his scuba diving outfit? Or was he just completely insane?

It was probably a good time for Lux to make an appearance at her House table since it wouldn't be right to stay with the Lions for the whole time. She had friends in Hufflepuff too!

Heading over to her table, she was happy to see both Dylan and Kace already sitting down. Joining them, she gave both boys big smiles. "Hey! Am I the only one beyond ready to go home?" It was time for summer already! Hearing Adi, she gave him a friendly smile as well. "I am doing great! What about you?"

Kace knew that voice. He turned around and saw Adi was there. He smiled and nodded towards his fellow puff. "Hey Adi! I am doing well. I am soo excited for summer. I want a break and do some exploring!" He grinned because he knew how much he loved exploring the streets of Diagon Alley. "Got any summer plans?"



As Kace was talking to Adi, he noticed a hufflepuff girl. He smiled towards her and greeted her with a "Hello there..." Then he saw her looking at the head of the table. He chuckled about her question about Airey. "Well Airey is just a unique type of professor. He is trying to get into the spirit." Kace was quite jealous he was wearing that suit. Kace was tempted to wear his hawaiian shirt now.



Kace knew that voice anywhere. He smiled and greeted Lux with a one armed hug. "Heyyy Cucumber..I am soo ready for summer. I hope we have some plans brewed up. I want the gryffinpuff gang to meet up one time this summer.." he told her. He hoped they would. That would be awesome if they can organize it.

Wow, term had gone by so fast! Hazel couldn't believe that the next time she would be stepping through these halls she would be a fourth year! Although, there was quite a chance that she would have to walk back into the Great Hall for breakfast at least. But now was about living in the moment! She walked to the Hufflepuff house table quickly and took a seat. Not many people were there yet, and it seemed to be getting very cold. She hoped the extreme temperatures didn't effect the house elves who made the food. Like usual, it seemed that no food was on the tables yet. She hoped the headmistress' speech was quick so they could get on to the FOOD!

"Summer" was here, the End of Term Feast had arrived, and Tobias was looking forward to returning home for the summer (as it had been kind of touch and go as to whether that would be happening for a while) and having as many summer adventures as possible. He had Disneyworld with Soph, Cat and Mo to look forward to, getting back in the air and playing Quidditch with his U17 team, and (hopefully) the field trip. Should be a pretty packed break from school right? Until, y'know, that super important year...

... ahem. Nope, not thinking about it.

Just as he pushed that thought way way wayyyyyyyyyyyyy from his mind, Toby entered the Great Hall and took in his surroundings. At first, he was tempted to head for the Ravenclaw table to say hi to Soph and Cat and Mo and Kyroh and everyone there, but he'd been fully intending to spend the first part of the feast at his own table today. After the speech, when all the food arrived, he'd go over to that sea of blue.

Or maybe sooner. Tobias was keeping one eye on the Ravenclaw table to look for Soph. He was well aware that Cat and Mo were both very close to Sophie, and that she might be... uh... quite upset. And, well... what kind of best friend (AND boyfriend) would he be if he wasn't there for her at a time like that?

Still, he couldn't see her quite yet, and Toby had totally missed out on the Hufflepuff table during the Opening Feast this term, so it was to the badgers' table he headed (it was easier to deal with now, because he'd sadly gotten used to a lack of Ella over here).

The fifteen year old found the spot where he would have an optimum view of the Ravenclaw table, took a seat and waited, fidgeting all the while. So much fidgeting. So much tapping of his knife and fork on the shiny wooden table.

He always managed to forget how difficult it was to sit still at these things. Or had it gotten worse? All Tobias knew was that he'd been sitting for about five seconds and it already felt like a sort of low key torture.

To distract himself, he kept an eye out for Soph and other assorted friends.

Marigold had honestly never been happier to be at the end of year feast. In the past she had been mostly sad because people were leaving - Ronnie, Ella, Alec, Coul, but this year was different. This year she wwas praying she could FINALLY have a decent summer after, y'know, being stuck inside for so. Long. Ugh.

But also, people WERE graduating. She would have tried to glue Elodie to the castle except for the fact that Elodie really wanted to leave. So she would just be very sad about her. And West. Yeah. She was going to miss seeing his face around and about. As well as the rest of TDK. Gosh, she was going to be a mess next term, wasn't she? And Mo too. She hadn't gotten to know him that well, but still. Now she probably wouldn't. ;_________;

She decided to go to the Hufflepuff table first and try and cheer up a bit. There was parchment burning a hole in her pocket (not literally) waiting for her (and two certain Professors.....), but for now, she just greeted people.Hayden, Dyl, and Adi all got waves and smiles. She hugged Kace and Hazel, then seated herself next to Toby.

"Hi," she said in a smaller voice than she expected.

Hands stuffed in her pockets, the Prefect (could she even call herself that now?) took a seat at her own table further away from the small gathering of rugrats already there. If they wanted her, they'd make the effort to come on over and she had every intention of going to hunt down a couple of her people in a bit to sigh at them until they complimented the smile on her face. Elodie removed one hand from a pocket and rested her chin in it, and left to other to feel the folded colouring to remind herself that that was actually real and this was actually happening.

Home was going to be a thing soon.

At some point in every feast since the day they had started best friending, Cat always ended up wandering off to visit the Hufflepuff table and today was no exception. She placed herself beside her best friend and wrapped both of her arms around the other girl, giving her a big squishy hug.

"Hi best friend." Who wrote the sweetest things about her in memory books.

There was only one person with green about her robes that would come sit right beside her and even though Elodie had only witnessed her out of the corner of her eye she was smiling all the same. Turning as Cat's arms went around her, Els put her own around her bestie and squished her too. "Hiiii, sister bestie." She almost felt bad for never going to Cat's table, but honestly... she wasn't sure she'd be able to sit there and not feel uncomfortable.

First Hufflepuff in a line of Slytherins.

Painful.

End of term feast. Leah did not really think of this happening after the things that have been going on so far. But what had to come eventually did come, right?

She was not particularly hungry, and normally she would have found no reason to be here. She had finally abandoned her blanket that kept her warm for most of the term, but was still wrapped in a cloak as she found herself in the great hall. Leah scanned the tables, the banners above them and her feet directed her in the direction of her house table.

The reason the young badger was here was because of the seventh years. They were leaving. She needed to say goodbye to the few graduates that she knew. Okay maybe she was attracted to the food a bit. A tiny bit. And maybe the announcement that the winter was gone completely? That was what she was hoping for, anyway.

Reaching the table, Leah walked towards Hayden and plopped down next to her, ruffling her hair. "Hey guys!" she said, smiling.

Tap tap tappedy tap tap tap tap tAP TAP TAP TAPPATAPPATAPTA-

Wait.

Toby paused in his fidgeting and staring at the Ravenclaw table, because he suddenly found himself very aware of someone sitting beside him. The Hufflepuff looked around to see Marigold, and gave her a big grin.

"Hey Mari," he said, lowering the usual volume of his voice to match hers as he gave her a gentle elbow nudge. "What's up?" Quiet voices rarely meant quiet minds, after all.

Wow. End of term feast already. Her last one.

Tomorrow they'd all be home. To separate homes. All of them. Olly wasn't sure how to feel about that. She wasn't sure how to feel about graduating. On the one hand she wanted to stay here forever because it was easy and everyone she cared about was here too. But then again, she couldn't wait to get out of here and be done with school. No more classes, no more homework, no more studying. She couldn't wait.

Still, she stopped right after entering the Great Hall to look around as if it was the last time she could do that. She would definitely miss it here. Her eyes lingered on the backs of a few of her friends sitting at the other house tables. She might go over there and say hi - not goodbye yet, there was still time - later. For now she would head over to the Hufflepuff Table.

Not that there were that many Hufflepuffs she cared about.

Noticing Els sitting with Cat (or the other way round, really), Olly took a seat across from them and gave them both a nod in greeting. She would have to go up to the memory book too at some point. Later though. She wanted to sit a little first. Think about what she wanted to write about. Not that she had that much to say. Especially not to those who graduated after her.

Adi had made it in time to hear the first year girl introduce herself. "Hi, Hayden. I'm Adi.'' He had quite given up on saying his full name when everyone just called him by his nickname. It was weird how he went around the whole term not knowing the firstie. Anyway, that was changing now, yes? "Had a good first year?'' Despite the cold and all?

Adi returned Lux's wave. "Cold,'' was all he said with a grin. Would they ever be rid of it? He never thought he'd want the heat as much as he did now. "So, what you going to be doing for the summer? Hanging out at Bay's?'' Bay needed to make it up to Lux for all that worry. Though it wasn't hs fault. Hehe.

Exploring? Adi grinned at Kace. "Where are you planning to explore?'' Was Kace heading to some other country or was he going to be Kace the Explorer here at home? "Nah, I haven't planned anything. I'll just take it one day at a time for now.'' Maybe he'd drop in on Benny. Or Benny could come visit him. Hmmm.

And then there were more Hufflepuffs turning up. Six of them. Not all of them at once of course. "Hey!'' He smiled happily at Tobias, Mari, Hazel, Olly and Leah. The Hufflepuff family. Well, part of it. Some were still missing, yes?

The sixth was Elodie. Just thinking that next term she wouldn't be there made the almost fourth year sad. But he wasn't going to make this a depressing occasion. He headed over to the girl who had saved him from taking a dive in the duck pond a few years ago. "Super Els.'' He smiled widely and gave her a huuuge hug.

Hayden's attention was immediately drawn away from the staff table when she felt a hand not only touch but ruffle her hair. She was momentarily terrified, mostly just because she had not been expecting it, until she fully remembered exactly where she was. Hayden looked toward the direction of the hand and saw who'd come to sit next to her. "Hi Leah," she greeted with a smile. See, there was someone she was actually happy to see sitting by her. Somebody she knew and liked. Yay Leah. "What's up?"

Oh, and that other boy was talking too. "Hi Adi." Nice to meet you, and whatnot. Had she had a good year. "I don't like the cold." That was the only answer he was getting. To be honest, that was the only emotion she was feeling at the moment. No happiness or sadness to be leaving, just a hatred for the cold. She'd have to figure everything else out later. She just wanted to be able to think in the heat of normal summer weather thank you very much. "What year are you?" He obviously wasn't a first year, and she was too curious not to ask.

Anna walked in quietly and sighed, another year gone and all she'd managed to do was basically curl up in her bed. Well, that and now she had lost her best friend... But it wasn't her fault that Melek complained about her life and Annaleecia was just sick of it. At least Melek had parents, at least she had people that loved and cared about her! Anna didn't. Her parents were scared of her, her sister never wanted to see her again! Her supposed 'best friend' said she was too sad all the time and had no reason to be... She sighed as she sat down. Now where were they heading to?

She knew for her housemates it was probably home, for her it was an orphanage... She laid her head down just not in much of a mood to talk as her thoughts swirled about Melek and her family. She sighed again as she just sat there, Still the outcast, clearly. She thought to herself hearing everyone else around her laughing and talking.

Hazel turned to the table, which was filling up quickly. Still no food, but at least there were some distractions from that. She smiled at the firstie (Hayden), Dylan, and Kace. It was weird that she could spend so much time at Hogwarts and still be meeting new people!

And now Adi was here! "Hey, Adi!" she said to him. Her mind went to the time last term when they went ice skating. She'd spent far to much time on the ground. Yup, not going to bring that up.

Hugs from Marigold! That was always good. "Mari!" she said, throwing her arms around her friend. "How are you?"

There was that boy, Toby. "Hi, Toby!" she said to him. This was such a great time to meet new people!

"Hey, Leah. How've you been?" Hazel said to the third year. This was just one big happy family. HUFFLEPUFF RULES!

Marigold gave Toby the slightest of elbow nudges back as she twisted in her chair to look him in the eye. He was probably feeling some of this, too, right? He was friends with loads of graduating people, which made her feel bad that she hadn't really ever spoken with half the seventh years. She made a mental note to try harder next term.

"I'm just thinking, y'know," she said, pauses for a minuscule moment before blurting out most of her feelings. "It's just, I guess, I want people to graduate and leave, right, because that's what they want but I also want to stay in contact with them. And I don't know so many people who are leaving that might have turned out to be my bestest friends if I had met them. And I'll never get to meet them, really, now." She took a deep breath and fidgeted.



Marigold smiled back at Adi. He seemed happy, didn't he?



Marigold hugged Hazel back lightly. "I'm good. How are you?" She had already spilled to Toby, so she was already feeling a lot better. Plus, she had just noticed a member of TDK, and she considered getting autographs from all of them.



Olivia? Something like that, right? Marigold had once had a fiasco with her in the owlery. And now that girl was graduating, right?Oh, dear. Marigold gave her a tentative wave. And a smile.

When he said hello, the girl didn't seem to notice. Or was she ignoring him? Did he look bad? Smell bad? Dylan glanced down at himself and was about to even smell himself when she suddenly said hello back. OH. Phew! He was worried there. Heh. "Nice to meet you, Hayden! I'm Dylan." he said. "Enjoy this year at Hogwarts?" he asked, despite it being a awfully freezing one and all...

Then, another badger joined the table. Dylan looked up to see Kace, and he smiled at the sight of his good friend. They had really bonded this year it seemed, and were much closer friends. He gave his friend a wave and a nod. The term had indeed flew right by. "Hey, Kace! Yeah, it sure did. It's absolutely crazy. Did you enjoy it, though?" he asked with a smile.

And then here came Adi! Dylan had gotten to become better friends with him this year as well, which was great because they hadn't gotten along so well their first year. "Hey, Adi! It's going great!" he said with a cheerful smile. "Can you believe we're going to be fourth years?" he added with a laugh. It was quite crazy, and to be honest Dylan wasn't quite ready... but he was also kind of excited for it at the same time.

Smiling at the sight of Lux, Dylan gave her a wave as well. "Hi Lux!" he said, chuckling at what she said. "I'm with you there." he said with a nod. He was homesick, and being in this not-so-warm castle for so long he was ready to be home. Oh. And speaking of home. "You need to come visit by the way, Lux!" he added.

Now the table was starting to fill up a bit more. Dylan had started to become worried the Puffers got lost on the way here or something....but perhaps him and Hayden had just been really early to the table. Most likely. How could they get lost going to the Great Hall anyway? But oh! Here came Mari! YAY! He smiled when she sat down. "Hey, Mari!" he said when she waved to him. "Ready for summer?" he asked.

Just then, Annaleecia joined them, and she didn't seem herself. Frowning, Dylan quickly got up and took a seat over next to her. "Hey Anna," he said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" the third year looked at his friend with concern.

Noticing Hazel smile towards him, he gave her a wave. "Hey, Hazel." he said with a smile. "Have a good term?" he asked. It was so nice to be surrounded by all these great friends he had made through the years. Hogwarts really did feel like home. And speaking of friends... Dylan took a glance at the other tables. He'd have to go say hello to his other friends soon, yeah?

Ian marveled at the end of the term having arrived so quickly. He went to the table and sat down close to his Huffie housemates and sighed. He enjoyed being here and loved being at home, but it seemed like this term went by entirely too fast.

He looked around at the offerings to see if there was something that interested him.