Ethan gave Elise a few distracted strokes on her back as he turned to look behind him. It was becoming more and more real for him that he was really leaving and not coming back.. well, he'd be back for events open to the public as much as he could attend, but as for being here every day for the better part of a year, this was it. He had tried to fight the sad for so long, but he couldn't help it forcing it's way to his mind.

He tore his eyes away from the castle for a moment as he heard his name. Giving Jory a faint smile, he lifted his fingers in a casual wave before the departing Hufflepuff went to join his girlfriend, then he turned his eyes on Daichi, hearing his soft words. Swallowing hard, he nodded lightly in agreement. "It is somewhat surreal, isn't it? Almost hard to believe that this is it.. we're moving on to something else." But he had to accept the fact that he wouldn't be coming back here in September.. he was done with Hogwarts as far as being a student was concerned. "What are your.. plans?" It was interesting to know what his yearmates planned on doing after school was done.. right? And the small talk seemed to make it less sad somehow.. maybe it had been a good idea not to get in the boat alone.

The Ravenclaw looked back at the castle again as it grew smaller with the boat drifting forward. So many memories filled that moment before he tore his eyes away.. And when he looked back at Daichi, the boy had a plush duck on his lap. Ethan grinned at the toy, chuckling a bit at the explanation. Then he snapped his eyes up to the other boy's. "Oh.. no, I wasn't laughing like making fun of you.. it's just.. I appreciate the nostalgia.. I have an eagle plushy Minerva gave me for my birthday, you know." He mirrored Daichi's smile before looking down at his own lap and petting his cat again, wondering if it would be so much harder for the other boy leaving having been here seven years in contrast to Ethan's three.