Ari smiled warmly and shrugged, "Well I just wanted to say thanks for teaching me all those cool spells, especially the color changing one. That has helped me rid my wardrobe of pink for all times." she replied cheerfully. She thought of a way to say this and continued, "I was wondering if you'd be willing to take a kitten? I can't take care of them all and I was wondering..." she paused, a hopeful expression on her face.

She turned suddenly as a wave of emotion overcame her and turned to listen to the Headmistress's speech. Her eyes went wide and tears began to glisten in her eyes as she heard the words. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes, pushing the emotion away. She'd definitely have to say good bye to her soon.

Rey was late, as usual. Darn map. "Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?" he asked, not oblivious to the atmosphere at the table but, not wanting to draw attention to the sorrow as that tended to make things worse. Of course, asking what he'd missed probably wasn't the most tactful thin he could have said, either.

Madame Kohan smiled again, knowing that exact feeling. "Yes...interesting how seven years passes by so quickly...though you've learned quite a bit..and you have many memories."

As the Ravenclaw suddenly became shifty and mysterious, Madame Kohan watched curiously just as Ariana opened the bag just a bit. Even over the sounds of the chattering students and professors, Angela could hear the small sound. The kittens! She had nearly forgotten about them!

Now straightening up, she leaned forward slightly. "What colors do you have? Happen to have a black with white paws?" She asked eagerly.

And just as suddenly as her happy mood had come on, it disappeared. She was all smiles at the beginning of the Headmistress's speech, knowing that the students should be proud for their accomplishments.

But once she pulled out the letter and began to read, Angela sank back into her chair, unable to keep the expression of shock and disbelief off of her face. The Headmistress was leaving? And Lainey? Her head spun momentarily with confusion and utter sadness. Of course, they were needed elsewhere, but...what would Hogwarts be like without their familiar faces present day after day?

Glancing towards Alex and a few other professors, Angela smiled slightly as she noticed Constantine's gestures. Though for the moment, she did nothing either, as most of the staff was, like her, frozen with shock. And she had a feeling that Cassandra would not want everyone rushing over to her at one time.

Lainey was the latest she had ever, ever been to a End of Term feast. Maybe because it was in fact - the end of her Term. For a long time. She didn't want to face it, truth be known, so she hadn't shown. But, guilt and the fact that she was being a sissy - got her there. She slipped in and went to sit by Rae like nothing was out of the ordinary. Just another day at Hogwarts.

"I already told them," Rae was a blubbering baby, but she wiped her eyes and tried to pull herself together when Lainey showed up. Anj was being so strong, afterall, and they'd decided this was what had to be done.

Lainey nodded once at Rae to at least acknowledge that she'd heard. She was just working hard not to process it. "Okay. I'm leaving tonight to go spend some time with Alec. If that's okay."

Becca, who had gone into panic mode and was on the verge of tears, was a mess at the Ravenclaw table. She noticed Lainey wasn't present, and worried that she was not going to get to even say goodbye to her best friend, as weird as that sounded.

But then Lainey entered the room - and Becca dashed up to the Staff Table at full speed. Before the woman even made it to her designated seat next to Rae, the little Ravenclaw jumped at her in a massive hug. A tear slid down her cheek, and she just held on, not saying a word nor caring if she was making a scene. Tough kids were allowed to cry, too.

"What you missed," Drago began just loud enough for the other to hear, "was that in addition to myself, Lainey and Headmistress Rae will be leaving their positions at this school."

She couldn't help but chuckle dryly as she heard Kohan ask if she had a black with white paws. at that exact moment a kitten popped its head out, face covered in black fur with its tongue sticking out. She giggled and nodded as she saw the white paws. "I guess I do." she replied, carefully taking the young thing out of the bag and holding it gently towards her.

Turning to look once more over at the headmistress, who was still crying softly, she felt a pang in her chest as she watched this strong woman break down. She knew she loved this school, much more than Ari herself, and knew that it must have been extremely important to leave.

But why Lainey? History of Magic would never be the same without the womans' weird theories and hilarious lessons. Ari hoped she'd be able to see her again soon, though it'll be awhile if that letter was any indication. It was then she noticed the tear on her cheek. Grumbling she wiped it, hoping no one else had notcied, though she knew someone would. Sighing, she looked away from the sadness and took light of the situation. New things were beginning.

"You better have stubbed your toe or have a murdered kitten, Rebecca," Lainey hissed at her. "Dry it up!" she might have been a tad harsh -- but it was hard enough to leave with Rae leaving and going to be impossible with the students upset, too. Just pretend it's another regular end of the term feast. No biggy. "Please?" Lainey was squeezing Becca's little head off.

A different kind of frown appeared on Becca's face and she pulled away from Lainey, looking up at her stern expression. A sort of glare appeared on her face now, tears still slipping out, and she took a step back from the woman. "But..." she began, unsure of what to do now. Obviously Lainey didn't realize how much it took to make her cry - or she just didn't care. Either way, Becca took the harsh order from Lainey personally, and tears still streamed down her flushed face, even more upset than before.

"You can't leave," she managed to get out, trying to gain some composure. "You're the most cool and caring professor here. You... have a sort of bond with many students that other professors don't bother to make. If you go... nothing will be fun anymore."

Rae nodded at the news that Lainey was going home to her own family, but as Rae would spend some time with Doyle. And the girls. And little Marcus Orion, who would spend so much of his toddler years apart from her. That hurt too, but she was strong because Lainey was. That was how they worked.

"I should dismiss the feast so everyone can sleep."

"I will be back, Rebecca Parker," Lainey assured her. "And ... Oh, curse you, come here." Lainey held her arms out. "Come here, but you have got to dry those tears. They kill me!"

Becca nearly grinned with relief and ran back into Lainey's arms, hugging her tightly. "Promise?" she asked in partial disbelief. What if something happened to her while she was off on her adventure with Rae? What if she didn't come back? At this thought, Becca only sobbed harder - but quickly wiped her tears with the sleeve of her robes to at least try to make Lainey feel less guilty. "If you come back we'll have a party, okay? A big one. With lots of happiness. But no flowers," she wrinkled her nose, thinking of the girls' common room last year. Ew.

Constantine nodded silently, considering her carefully. He knew that as Headmistress, she had to be strong for the students...but, honestly, who could be strong about this?

Once Lainey had arrived, he stood up from his seat with one last comforting rub. He didn't want to intrude or feel like extra cargo, so he started to walk away.

Too much was going on, enough to have Caleum sit in his chair in a daze. Lots the think about and things to do. He was always one to worry about others in making sure they were protected, or at least as well protected as the could be.

He finally blinked a few times coming to his senses and realizing that he was still in a room full of people and obviously sitting at a table at the front of the school. A large sigh was heard as he folded his arms to his chest one moment then the next he decided he needed a bit of finger food, or at least something to pass the time until he left Hogwarts for the time being. A part of him wanted to know if they needed help, but he was not about to ask, not at this moment.

"You can write me, you know. Keep me updated with the dramas... I'll write back whenever I can." Lainey patted Becca's head like she was a puppy. "I'll want cake at this party, you know. A big one. Chocolate on chocolate, too."

Becca smiled up at Lainey, her eyes puffy but no tears falling anymore. "Okay, Miss Professor Lainey," she agreed, releasing the woman again, but not out of frustration this time. "Oh, you KNOW that's the only suitable kind of cake for any party! Big and containing as much chocolate as possible." Her grin spread all the way up to her eyes this time, realizing that things would more than likely be okay.

"I promise to write you. Someone will have to keep you updated, in case the school gets blown up or something, you know?" She glanced over at Rae. "You two be safe, okay? And if you need any back-up... you know where I'll be." The funny thing was, Becca was serious. She honestly believed she could take on anything, even though she was only a second year. She would help them in a heartbeat.

"Well, I suppose this is goodbye. For now, I mean. Of course you'll be back," she reassured herself yet again, and gave Lainey one more brief hug. "You're the best," she whispered - and with that, Becca reluctantly headed back to the Ravenclaw table. Hmm, maybe next term might not be so bad.