She bit her lip. Um... yes? Where have you been?

Caroline couldn't meet his eyes. It was a little embarrassing. Not to say most of this conversation in retrospect wouldn't be humiliating. He'd have to settle for a nod.

"I know. I'm sorry." Major step. Caroline just about never uttered an apology. They were to be used sparingly for when she had REALLY stepped in it.

She resisted the urge to ask why, if he understood, could he even tolerate her, but it wasn't any of her business. She wanted to know, but then again, she kind of didn't.

"Or not," she decided. There were things she wanted to explain, but it was too much too fast. She settled for a disclaimer, "Just, I'm not perfect, I do make mistakes, and I tend to save them up so I can make them in spectacular fashion."

So you'd think I'd understand when other people make them...

But it's just harder for her to understand, since she had always judged herself so harshly.

Funny how you want people to apologise to you when they have done something wrong and then when they do, it just doesn't seem to matter anymore. Marcus waved his hand slightly as though to brush away her apology. "It's okay Caroline, no harm done really."

He nodded at her, he hadn't really expected her to tell him what had happened. But he also didn't want her to think that he didn't care about what happened or happens in her life.

"I don't think you're the only person who does that Caroline." He should know he had made some whopper's in his time and he was sincerely hoping that he wasn't about to make another one. But right now he was facing a dilemma in regards to some of the women of Hogwarts.

Okay now things felt awkward.

"So...." what do we do now that we've both messed up, apologized and accepted?

This is why Caroline didn't have friends. Or very many. Then she never had to find herself wondering these things. When she made mistakes it was easier to just... not apologize, not accept, and let the friendship die. But she didn't want to just let this one die.

"So maybe I should go check on Tino. And James. They'll both be waking up soon." And I'm a big huge coward. And I don't know what else to say or do so running away seems like a good idea. Back to her hospital. Back to a world where she was in complete control. This world was completely beyond her control and she didn't like it.

"Just because I'm not the only one doesn't mean I have to like it." She'd much rather be perfect. Perfect people make no mistakes, they don't have to clean up after them, much less wonder how. She ignored the niggle of thought that told her her life would be terribly boring if she ever WAS perfect.

This time it was Caroline who pushed open the door. "I guess I hereby retract my order to stay out of the Hospital Wing," she added, blushing at the memory of her temper.