.................................. oh.

Tobias sat, stunned. What on earth...

...

Okay.

He blinked after Cutty, eyes still on the door, brow furrowed, one hand absent-mindedly scratching at his temple. He looked like the absolute picture of confusion.

Upon hearing Professor Botros' voice, Toby turned back to him, hesitated, and then nodded. So Botros didn't understand what the heck had just happened either, then? Good to know. Tobias finished the last of his tea and set the cup carefully down on the desk. "I think I will."

To be honest, Toby was pretty sure that Cutty would be long gone. It always seemed like Slytherins were the best at knowing the secret passages in this school, and Cutty was probably one of them. But he'd still go look. And in any case, he'd been in the office for a good while. It was time to leave.

"Thanks for your time, Professor," the Hufflepuff boy smiled gratefully, and doing the manners thing for both himself and Cutty without even consciously thinking it through. "And thanks for letting us have some of your tea. It was really good." He stepped out from his seat and took a step back towards the door, bouncing ever so slightly on his toes when he stopped. "I'll see you around, I expect?"