At some point in the last few minutes, Toby had taken to chewing aggressively on his fingernails in his state of high anxiety, as usual not even realising he was doing it. He'd registered the fact that Moxley was staying behind too, and found some relief in that. Moxley was good people. Toby liked her a whole lot, and even though she was very exuberant, he often found her general positivity sort of soothing. Though honestly Toby wasn't sure how well that would really work today.

But... oh GOOD. The creatures were SAFE. With that worry assuaged, Toby felt another little wash of relief... one that quickly left him as he realised that Professor Thompson had just said he was going OUT THERE??? IN THE ATTACK?? Toby's eyes went wide and he stared after him. "But... but..." His vision started to go a little cloudy again as tears formed, and he wanted to go join that group too... especially when Dakest turned out to be going with them...

But AIREY was talking to him and had a plan and Toby looked up at the man as he spoke, eager for something else to focus on so he could stop thinking about... everything else. Because everything ELSE was bringing on the emotions and that was unacceptable. He swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded along with everything. "Yeah... yeah, okay... I can... yeah." And he had the necklaces from the SNAC club to hand out, like Professor Cassie had said to do.

And then Soph happened.

She WAS there, right in front of him, telling him she was going. He should be going out there, too, not staying in here, kidding himself that he was protecting others but most likely just being protected himself when he didn't need protecting at all.

"I..." Toby finally managed when Soph was already halfway back to the other group. He wanted to join her, but he couldn't. He was staying with Airey and he WOULD help look after the other kids. Toby knew that was where he'd be most helpful, but he didn't want to be separated from anyone either, not Soph or Javy or Dakest, and he could already feel the guilt creeping in for not going out to help. He blinked, and the tears in his eyes finally spilled over, causing Toby to curse himself harshly under his breath as he tried to wipe them away. But they kept coming and there was nowhere to really go where nobody could see him because there were people EVERYWHERE and even the spaces under the tables weren't much of a hiding spot anymore.

It was then that he realised that the comforting hand on his shoulder, courtesy of Flamsteed, had gone, and the Hufflepuff dragged his sleeve across his face to try and wipe all the tears (from his ALLERGIES) away before urgently looking around for the guy.

Where was he where where where where where had he gone?

WAIT. THERE. Toby SAW him, or rather he heard him first, and immediately started towards him, still wiping his face with his sleeve from time to time as he wordlessly made his way through the crowd, finding first years and other young students that were staying behind and shepherding them towards Flamsteed.

At last he reached him, and automatically drew went to stand right up next to Airey, practically sticking to him like GLUE and just about refraining from going all out and clinging to the man's suit. He was staying here, with the professor, hovering around him like some sort of... moon. YEP.

"Def-defensive spells, y-yeah?" Toby said, his voice thick with all the emotions. He sniffed, seemed to realise he was still, uhh... obviously emotional, and quickly turned so that his face was away from the majority of people so he could wipe at his face and eyes and compose himself as much as possible. C'mon, Toby. STOP CRYING. A few more deep breaths with maybe a tiny sob slipping through again to try and calm himself down and no feel quite so sick, and he turned back again. Defensive spells. Help the kids. He was fine. "Sorry. Al-allergies." Ahem. "OKay. Defensive... s-spells. Helping. R-right."