Ella didn’t mean to look up at the staff table. In fact, she was trying her hardest to avoid looking in that general direction until the speech. Unfortunately, Airey’s outburst was a bit loud and it caught her attention. He wasn’t wearing a suit, Airey, and that’s what Ella noticed first. Strange. Also strange, not seeing Mr. Firth up there. It hurt her heart just thinking about the man. It felt like just yesterday that her and Oakey Worm were talking to him and now…Chin!Wobble. Yeah, she shouldn’t have looked up there.

The blonde quickly turned her attention back to Jory, nodding her head at his question. “Thanks, Jory. I’m really nervous, actually. I guess I’m as prepared as I can be, though. Are you nervous?” She wasn’t the only one who got a knotted tummy thinking about exams, was she?

Ella’s green eyes flicked over to Oakey and Alec as the older badger questioned whether her boyfriend would be visiting. This got her attention for reasons, AHEM, and she raised her eyebrows slightly at the two. She cracked a smile, though, as Oakey saved himself from sour-lemon glaring from her. “I don’t think that’d be a problem, Oak.” Just as long as he did what he said he would. It’d save them all a lot of trouble, yeah? And then neighbor boy was squishing himself between herself and Tobias and she let it slide only because Oakey Worm was good to the first year and Ella figured Tobias was going to miss the head boy just as much as she was. She’d let them bond and stuff, no worries.

So…was the hugging thing not Okay or? Ella just sort of stared back at the younger badger, wondering if she was about to get told off or something. Her and Elodie weren’t exactly the hugging type of friends but she had felt the younger girl needed one. But then she was thanking her and the blonde felt a bit better about the whole thing. “Anytime, Elodie.” Really.

Hugs from Kace were nice and Ella beamed down at the first year, ruffling his hair. “You’re getting strong there, little badger. Your hug nearly squished me.” Joking, obviously. Then she was being led somewhere and the Captain followed obediently, smiling as she was introduced properly to Marigold. “Not formally, no. Hey Marigold, ready for summer?” And did she play Quidditch? It was never too early to start recruiting, y’know.

Wade looked a little less Wade-like today. The blonde smiled faintly at the older boy in the onesie but couldn’t help but notice that he seemed a little less happy today. She couldn’t really blame him though, yeah? “You look really brilliant, y’know.” She said softly, giving her teammate a smile. He really knew how to rock that thing.

The table continued to fill with people as Ella spotted Ronnie, another one of the graduating people that the blonde would miss. “Hi there.” She said, giving the older girl a wave and sad smile. Could she maybe not go? Could that be a thing? The seventh years could just hang in the Room of requirement, yeah?

The interaction between Sonea and Forrest wasn’t lost on Ella and she was vaguely aware of Tobias telling her to save his spot. She nodded her head and watched as he went to join the two younger ones, wondering if everything was okay. She was watching, Sonea. No messing with the baby badgers, okay? Oh and speaking of baby badgers, Annabeth and Asher were here now too. “Hello, you guys.” Ella greeted kindly, giving them both smiles. More young quidditch prospects, yeah? The captain had her eye on them.

Nessie. Wibble. Ella couldn’t even look at the older badger for too long without her eyes getting teary. This just wasn’t okay, alright? Goodbyes were so hard. How were you meant to tell someone how much their kindness has meant to you? It wasn’t something easily put into words and the lump in the blonde’s throat grew just thinking about it. Maybe…she’d wait until the train ride home for this.

Then Ariana arrived and she looked really upset and Ella understood why. Without a word, she slid down to make space, giving the snake a faint smile. She knew she was welcome here, yeah? At least by Ella. The blonde had the raven haired girl’s back now for reasons.