She had forgotten how unreasonable one could be in their pre-teen years. A folly she should have well remembered given how often she had had to endure Ryan’s dramatics. But Valerie could feel a growing agitation eating away at her insides and whatever lingering effects remained of her Calming Draught. She would need to speak with Professor Williams about additional alterations to the brew later. She really should have just cast the spell without warning like the last few she had performed right in front of him. There had not been any fuss then. This was the reward for attempting to play nice and stay in character. No wonder she had never been particularly fond of any aspiring Thespians and a career on the stage never appealing to herself.

It all furthered her suspicions, but the Wampus tried to ignore this for now. Ignore but not forget. The more pressing matter was once again calming Joey down. Again.

“That is all I am trying to do. All that I want to do,” came a swift reply from the sixteen year old as she managed to swallow back her growing temper. Do not blast down a tree, Valerie Gray. Do not. It was hardly the fault of a young boy that things were unraveling as they were. No memory of how he had come to be in this forest or even if he had parents out here among the mangled branches? This task was a cruel mind game. More thoughts not to dwell on as it made the swift and fluid casting of a Blasting Curse towards the nearest tree all the more appealing “Your hiding behind a tree will only prolong your time out here and moving away from my side exposed you to the evil fairies that dwell in the darkness.”

She made no movements towards the boy hidden behind the tree for fear he may run off further into the forest like a.spooked deer. Instead she rattled her brain for another benevolent form of magic she could use as a display of goodwill seeing as the transfigured blanket and patronus had not been enough to earn his trust. Or perhaps she should rely on what storytelling abilities she had absorbed from Jesus over the years instead? The latter seemed the most appealing option given his current state.

“White fairy magic such as my own cannot be used to harm or malice, only for good. Or else I would not have been able to fend off the evil fairy. It also created the very blanket draped around your shoulders now, did it not?,” she continued with gentle reminders while her mind journeyed to the pages of some of her favorite literature for a location. A location ironically inspired by the wraith-like creature that had started this whole mess. “Please. I implore you. Come back to my side, to safety, and I promise I will use my magic to transport you away from this place.”