Jake smiled at the... kind gesture, was it? Anyway, Jake liked what he saw, so he smiled. And then his smile faltered. "Llllawson ssstill thinks it's mmmy fault though," and whether Jake liked it or not, everything he did was to try and please that man.

"I gggot alot of wwwork to do over ssssummer," Jake muttered to himself, and was then silent, for he saw Kazi talking to Cela. He had stepped forwards with the man, and now looked up to see him... crying.

For the second time.

Over the same person.

Awwwwwkwarrrrd.

The sudden rush of blood to Raiden's face threw him for a moment and he wobbled slightly; all the blood had drained away, and now it had hurried back, and he felt ridiculously warm.

"Er..." He did not have a mouse. Luckily, he was spared having to answer right away by the fact that Kazimeriz wanted to talk to Cela first. His dark eyes swung from the elderly, fragile-looking old man to Cela, and settled there. Her presence was still... ridiculously comforting, something that had not changed since the fighting. Most of the things he did recall post-injury involved her; his right hand opened and closed automatically as he remembered his fingers grasping almost desperately at hers.

He already knew what he was going to say to Professor Kazimeriz. It was all a matter of... being able to get his words right.

Kazimeriz smiled a little at that and nodded. A return to normal. May we all be so fortunate. he thought as his focus returned to Celandine.

His long fingers, gnarled and weathered as the limbs of an ancient tree, reached into his pocket shakily and withdrew a narrow yet oddly shaped package wrapped neatly in blue silk and tied with a bronze bow. He held it out to her, looking down at it.

"You must... be more careful. With-- with your things." the ghost of a smile played at his lips and he shrugged one hunched shoulder as he met her eyes, those eyes so like Penelope's. His chest tightened as though a phantom hand was squeezing his heart.

Kazimeriz swallowed the lump in his throat-- what fresh hell is this, I am on the verge of leaking at the eyes constantly ever since the battle. It is not appropriate; it will not do. He cleared his throat and continued, his voice wavering only a little.

"I trust you will be more careful in the future. Miss Toussaint." He offered her a little, crooked half-smile as he handed her the package.

Celandine watched Kazimeriz' fingers as he offered her a package and wrapped in Ravenclaw colours too? She wondered at the significance of that for only a fleeting moment, the softness of the silk wrap was a sharp contrast to his knotted and twisted knuckles. His hands would almost be scary if Cela hadn't known without a doubt that they could be more gentle than almost any other pair of hands she'd met, even though she knew some of what they were capable of.

She looked up at him, still anxious as he spoke.

"With my things." She agreed, offering a half shrug in return, one that echoed him almost perfectly. Her look claimed him. He was her favourite, the one that meant the most, the one that had done the most for her.

She took the package, her own young and softly shaped fingers stroking the bow

"Yes professor, I will. For you. Thank you." She struggled to find a smile but there was one still hiding away in the corner of herself. She used it for him. "Thank you for everything, sir."

She looked at the package again and back up at the professor. Open it now?

I will. For you. The words echoed in his head. He smiled, struck mute by that, the lump in his throat making him feel he had swallowed a bezoar the size of a quaffle. He nodded: Go on. Open it.

If Cela didn't rip open the present right then, Jake would probably do it instead.

The suspense was killing him. He missed all the signals they were giving each other, being all nice and *shrugshrug*.

He was jealous of the way that Kazi seemed to favour Cela. SO jealous... but that was how it was.

OPEN IT!

Cela tugged the bow free carefully, juggling Jake's wand and the package until she absentmindedly pushed the Hufflepuff's highly polished wand into Kazimeriz' gnarled and knobbed fingers. Yes now she could open the package.

The edge of the bow went between her teeth and her brow furrowed in concentration as she tugged the sillk open carefully, expression changing to surprise and then glee and then something a little less certain at the sight of her wand and her badge. The wand went straight into her holster, the badge... well she wasn't sure what to do with that. She wasn't sure that she deserved it any more.

And what was... Cela cautiously lifted a tiny gold amulet free from its packaging, the smooth and brilliant blue sapphire set within the gold, was free of all flaws except for an ever changing, faint image or... series of images? Kind of like a blurred reflection? She looked up at Professor Kazimeriz in bewilderment for just a moment and went back to examining the stone again. The gold setting appeared to have some sort of writing on it. Was it runic? Cela squinted, no it looked more like Angelic script but it was hard to tell, it was so tiny.

The gold and silver chain slipped through her fingers, the pendant resting on the palm of her hand as she studied it. Silk wrapping in her other hand with her badge cradled carefully, Cela looked up at Kazimeriz again.

She was at a loss for words. It was lovely but surely, knowing him, there was more to it than what first glance showed? Would he tell her or would he make her figure it out herself?

Hmmm. It was at this point that Raiden's eyes carefully turned away from Cela and Professor Kazimeriz. Obviously, they were having... a moment. And he was not going to intrude upon it, whether by staring or by speaking. Instead, he set his gaze on Jake, who was looking antsy, and then on Tibi.

His mind, however, was slightly farther away, trying to sort out... everything. There was a lot to process today. It almost felt wrong, being here right now. The relative quiet of the hospital was so sharply contrasted with the din of the Great Hall; had he still had the kneazle ears, he probably would've gotten twitchy already.

Kazimeriz took the wand absently and watched her as she opened the package - the returned items, and the present inside. He gave a sheepish shrug as she looked at him.

"It is ancient magic, a protection amulet... handed down through my family. It was to be my Penelope's-- my daughter's-- when she came of age. I... I never got the chance to..." he shook his head, blinking hard again, casting that thought away or he would break down sobbing in front of the whole student body. He took a shaky breath. Better. "I would like you to have it. It is... it will not protect you on its own, of course. You must learn to do that. But... I would like you to have it, to wear it. For--" For me. He shrugged. "--to watch over you." He smiled again, almost shyly, as though he were asking a great favor of her.

*Cough*

Tibi had be watching the package intently, completely oblivious that it was becoming a deeply personal moment. Until Kazimeriz explained the necklace.

Tiberius felt his face flush, as if he'd been caught eavesdropping, though no one had said anything. Taking a few shuffle steps backward, he turned to look...

well, anywhere else.

Now Jake heard the explanation of what was in the package, his face darkened and he stepped back, feeling himself glare slightly at Kazi.

HIS amulet wasn't allowed to be worn.

Unfair.

Breathing heavily, Jake ignored the wand Kazi held, knowing it was his, not wanting it, and turned to the staff dias, heading up there immediately, a stormy look on his face.

Cela marvelled at the amulet, the badge in her other hand temporarily forgotten. "One day, could you tell me about her, Professor?" She looked up at him, her tone full of respect and something else. There was also a slight twinkle of her old inquisitive self returned, almost as if it came with the gift.

"Could you... help me?" She held up the amulet and sort of gestured at her neck. She was allowed to wear it now? The sapphire was full of indistinct images around her right then, like she, or the sapphire was surrounded by something.

She glanced at Jake, the surprise on her face obvious when he went away. Where was he...?

"I would be delighted." The statement answered both questions perfectly. He took the amulet and lifted it over her head, his hands trembling. After a failed attempt, he got a better grip on the tiny clasp -- should have used my wand, why do they make these things so small? securing it around her neck but allowing her to lift her own ponytail -- that would be too personal, inappropriate even, to move her hair. The amulet clasp secured, he stepped back.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Upstead leaving, upset. Kazimeriz understood what that was all about. Someday, perhaps he would understand.

He cleared his throat, blinking hard again. "Well. I hope to see you at tea next term, Miss Toussaint... I should probably see to--ahem. Pryce, do you feel you have learned your lesson, or would another term of detention in my lab suit you? And Kururugi-- that mug was a gift from my wife, as you do not have your ears, I take it you have my mouse?" He said sternly, though he glanced at Miss Materia and tipped her a tiny wink. "Surely Miss Materia helped you find it? She saved your life, after all, and the Chinese blessing says when you save a life you are responsible for it for all time." He spoke gruffly, even sharply, trying to cover up the fact that the lump in his throat was probably the size of TWO quaffles by now.

Cela tugged her ponytail out of the way and looked down at the amulet where it sat against her chest. It was juuuust long enough that she could still see the stone and the strange little flickerings, one of which had practically vanished when Jake Upstead went up to the staff table.

"Thank you, sir." Celandine smiled at him softly and tucked her badge into her pocket. She'd think about that some more first. She really wasn't sure if she should... never mind. Cela glanced up at the staff table and then carefully took Jake's wand back from Professor Kazimeriz, her back straightening as she gave the professor a look. She was going to give Jake Upstead a piece of her mind.

And you know, remind him of things.

"I'll see you at tea, sir." Cela agreed in a whisper, then gestured quickly at Tibi and Raiden. She'd be back shortly. She took a few backward steps then followed Jake up to the Dais.

Raiden felt his face flush again at the sound of his name, and the prefect looked back to Professor Kazimeriz. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head.

"I don't, sir. And if I may... I had nothing to do with the ears and the tail disappearing. I woke up in St. Mungos and they were gone..." Biting the corner of his bottom lip, the prefect took a step away from the bench, and Tibi, towards the Professor. "If you could sir... I think I need them put back."

He could transfigure them himself, but the only spell he knew for that wouldn't really last, and he could reverse it at will, which defeated the purpose. And it was apparent, from the fact that he'd even ended up injured and in the hospital...

"I don't think I've quite fully learned what you were trying to teach."

Tiberius jumped, startled at being addressed so suddenly. Turning to look at the man, Tibi made every attempt to hide that he'd overheard anything.

"I.. well.. sir." Tiberius cleared his throat as he made eye contact with the man. "I learned a lot in lab this year. B-but," he hesitated. He had been thinking of explaining what he thought he'd figured out. That it was like what had happened this term and... well, maybe not his fault. But it didn't feel worth it.

"Well, I don't think I need any more detention." He glanced over to where Jake had gone, perhaps a little glad that he wouldn't over hear this. "If I come back next term, sir, can I still come to the lab that often?"

Lina smiled slightly at Kazimeriz. Responsible for the lives she saved? Had she really saved Raiden's life? And Tibi's, as he had told her? And then... there was Violet. She didn't have much memory of it, but she remembered being harsh with the girl. Probably too harsh. If she wasn't expelled already, she would have to have a talk with her. "We had an idea..." she whispered lightly to Raiden. "We didn't get to check, remember?" Though, surely the professor had another trick up his sleeve.

Kazimeriz nodded at Celandine -- they would meet for tea, indeed. He felt his heart lift a little at that, watching the small girl scurry after Upstead.

Kazimeriz smirked. "Perhaps not, if you have not found my mouse. I suggest you aim higher." He drew his wand and flicked it; the kitty ears returned to Raiden's head. He did, however, decide to spare the boy the embarrasment of the tail. Just in case he didn't find the mouse before the trains. "I am certain Miss Materia can help you to keep your focus, and find what you are seeking. What do you say, Miss Materia?"

Kazimeriz smirked. If? "You may. In fact, I shall expect to see you. You have a lot to learn, Mr. Pryce, but I think it unlikely you shall think it appropriate to pull a prank again any time soon. At least not without fully considering the consequences--" He flicked his wand, conjuring a bulging balloon over the boy's head. "--of your actions."

The balloon popped, spilling the overfull balloon's clear liquid contents all over Tibi's head. He raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit of his old self return as he grinned. "You may wish to check out 10,000 Transfigurational Tinctures and their Antidotes before you the trains arrive. Have a good summer, Mr. Pryce." He smirked, turning from the boy victoriously.

Okay, so it was just water in the balloon. Pryce didn't need to know that, now did he?

Lina nodded and smiled brightly to Raiden. "Of course! I'm sure we can do it together!"

Tiberius bit his tongue and nodded. He didn't think it was appropriate. And wouldn't under normal circumstances. But when was anything at Hogwarts normal. He began to explain. "I don-" But he stopped short. It wasn't worth it. "Nevermi--" Tiberius hadn't noticed the balloon until it popped.

Doused. AGAIN.

With a stricken look on his face, Tiberius stared at Kazimeriz. "Again?" Lip trembling, he cast a look about before gathering his things.

Not enough time. Not enough time.

What in Merlin's name was he going to turn into?!

The ears were very obviously back; even though Raiden hadn't felt them change, the sudden loudness of the hall made him wince. One hand circled around his back, to feel for the now familiar presence of the tail... it wasn't there?

Well. At least there was that. He looked at Lina and smiled half-heartedly.

"I did check the Astronomy Tower, actually... a few times. It wasn't there." One hand pressed down on one of his ears, to cut the din of the room in half (it almost sounded like it had with his normal ears, then), and he shrugged. "I don't know where it could be."

...what had he just dumped on Tibi?! Raiden's mouth hung slightly open as he looked from the younger boy to the Professor; surely that was just crossing a line or two?

Lina giggled a little. "You're all wet, Tibi." She pulled out her wand and grabbed an empty plate, transfiguring it into a mirror and handing it to him. "I think he's trying to lighten the mood a little." She watched him a moment, biting her lip. "You know, a lot went on out there. I don't know if I actually saved your life or not... but I do know I wasn't about to let Professor Lawson manhandle you up there. I'm just glad that I could help a little. Check in with me if you're ever in Diagon Alley. I'm there a lot... most of the time, actually. I mean, even if it's just to say hi." She pat his shoulder a little before turning...

She smiled to Raiden. "Well, dear, we did discuss the Divination tower, didn't we? We weren't able to check there. The other thing may be... maybe we need to look at the top of bookcases? I think we just need to start at the top and work our way down!" She paused a moment, blinking, then just to be safe looked up at the Great Hall. No one ever looked up, did they?