Laaa deee dahhh dee dahhh..... dee..... whoa, what was going on over THERE? William turned his head from staring out over the House tables to staring at the empty spaces beside him, because apparently both Althea and Edvard had disappeared?

His head turning toward the sound of a banshee's screeching --- oh no, wait, that was just Thea ---- William forgot whatever he'd been looking at previously and instead took to watching their interaction. How FUNNY! Eddie, the like, NICEST GUY he KNEW, was in some kind of hot water with one of the hottest women he knew.

Shrug. This seemed more like one of Oliver's problems than one of Eddie's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destiny

Waylon was not still trying to find his way to the castle, Oliver, thank you very much.

In fact, he had left his hut a good ten minutes early so that he wouldn't be late! But of course, with said hut being about a gazillion miles away from the castle, maybe he could relocate next term, he found himself a little distracted as he passed the duck pond. What was he going to do with all the ducks while he was away over summer break? Sure, he could just leave them there, they had survived the winter. Meaning they could survive the summer, but to just leave them there? It was probably a good thing he still had a little bit of time to think about what to do with them.. because once William's dragon patronus decided to get a little too up close and personal, the only thing on his mind was getting to the feast.

Which could, quite possibly be the reason why, upon entering the Great Hall, he held under his arm a duck. And how great the hall was! All decked out in Hufflepuff colors, if he wasn't so manly, it would have brought a tear to his eye. Grinning instead, since that was the manly thing to do, Waylon stood at the Hall's entrance, just taking in all the yellow for a moment before finally making his way up to the staff dais, stopping right in front of William. He was the one who sent the patronus after all.

"What's this about swim trunks?" He would ask about Romania and stealing dragons in a minute. Plus, the duck seemed to want to know about the swim trunks as well.

Quack.

"Oh. Hey Waylon," William slowly greeted his friend and his.... duck. "Sup? Swimming trunks? Yeah, I forgot to tell you, but you're coming to Romania with us this summer. Cool? We're gonna play with dragons and suntan on the beach. So, bring your trunks but not your duck."

He grinned hugely. "You should bring Biscuit too. I'm thinking of bringing Jack." And maybe while they were abroad, they could convince Oliver to get a puppy TOO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

"Calm down. I only asked if someone had pranked you since you seemed so lost in thoughts." Inside though he prided himself for actually making another person jump in fright; it was usually he who jumped in fright most of the time. "Is everything all right William?" Edvard repeated.

Willy had been about to reply to Edvard when both he and Althea had left and done their... crazy thing, so he waited until his seatmate was back to pick up their conversation. Filling up his water glass, William took a casual sip and shrugged.

"I think I should be asking you that question, Edvard. Are you okay?" He looked like he was about to cry. LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

William was acting rather odd. Well more odd than usual. "You're going to fall on your butt if you're not careful." Oliver recalled his friend saying the same thing to him, months ago.

Oliver shook his head. "No. You said that YOU would remind him when you two went jogging together." The little jogging club they had going and one must have a puppy to join. Bleh!

Yes he could see that Waylon wasn't at the feast yet. Merlin!! What was wrong with this friend tonight? "I'll make sure to do that." he murmured as he watched the patronus head out of the great hall and it reminded him of their trip. "You do have everything organised, don't you William?" Oliver was not in the mood to spend his summer vacation in a Romanian jail.

William stuck out his tongue and slammed his chair back down to normal. "Well I just reminded him now. No way he'll say no to the offer of a free vacation, right?"

He hummed a bit and pretended not to hear his friend's latest question. Organized? Willy? Why of COURSE NOT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyPatronusIsaMoose

Hello Professor Jenkins, Professor Williamson, and Mr. Murdoch He said making his presence known to the three of them. Hopefully by finally pronouncing Merdog's name correctly it would get the Groundskeepers attention at least. I just wanted to say I had a blast in both of your classes this year and that I have a new appreciation for Runes and Magical Creatures both. Ironically Oakey did most of his studying of Magical Creatures for Professor Williamson outside of class. Having encountered a Hippogriff, Blast-Ended-Skrewt, Chimera, and Acromantula out on the Grounds. Mr.Merdo...Murdoch...DOH! almost messed up there. I didn't know you were a Hufflepuff before. Oakey noticed the yellow banner hanging in his hut they day he traveled through the Arch to his hut. Could I, maybe next year help you some around the Grounds. He enjoyed being around the Groundskeeper. Ever since the Fandango Oakey took a liking to Mr. Merdog.

Oh Merlin, students. Students at the table. What was this. Why. Whyyyy.

"Thanks, Oakey," he responded to the boy, managing to keep a sour expression off his face. "I'm glad you had fun. Hopefully you learned something too." For example, what NOT to do around a Hippogriff.

William eyed the boy and then gave the Hippogriff scratch on his arm a look, then glanced back at the boy. "Enjoy the feast now. Ta ta."

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

"Hey, Billy Boy! I think it's time you get your eyes checked!" joked Max and all of his attention was now on the orb. Before he could take it from Lewis, Tate spoke.

He's speaking in that weird Auror voice that freaks people out. Maybe someone can distract him and I'll stick it in my pocket....

"Billy Boy!" William echoed, glancing back over at Max with a grin. "I'm not the one limping around with a cane, am I?" Old man!

He, too, noticed the Head!Potato voice Tate had adopted, though, so he shushed up and leaned toward that part of the table. Thea wasn't sitting next to him any longer, anyway, so he could hog up her side of the table all he wanted.

As if Dash was the expert in getting people to like him! And she was about to say that out loud... when she remembered he probably was of the same mind she herself was. Neither of them cared if they were liked...

She rolled her eyes, and looking at the girl she motioned her head towards the Slytherin table.

"You will be taking the train Miss Greingoth.[/B]" She said very sternly. The girl had yet to make friends... and now with the headboy leaving she'd be even lonelier... "Someone will pick you up at the station..." Which would probably be herself.

She turned to the professor and said "Oh... Uhmm... Not really, just spending time with my husband and daughter."

Alyssa sat on the floor catching her breath while picking up the broken pieces of the Angel and putting them into the tissue. She realized that she had made a fool of herself in front of everyone, especially the teachers. So she wiped her tears before standing up and facing Professor Hadley. "I apologize for my outburst, Professor Hadley. I have no excuse except to say that I have been exhausted lately and my mouth took control of me this time instead of my brain. I didn't mean no disrespect, and if I come back next term, I will try to do better." Alyssa said not daring to look at her Head of House. She wouldn't blame the Headmaster or even Professor Hadley, if she was told that she need not bother coming back next term.

Really?

Did this girl ALWAYS have to act like such a little drama queen? Cece really wanted to go down there and give her a good thump and tell her to grow the hell up.

O__O

Did she really think it was appropriate to talk to her head of house in that tone? Seriously, someone needed to give this little girl a wake up call. Show her that it was NOT acceptable to talk to adults, or anyone in that manner. And she said she had changed. Yeah right, changed for the worst, not the better that's for sure.

And now she was going to cry?

Shaking her head, Cece was about to stand up and go over to the other end of the table when...

...she caught sight of Tate waving at her. She had been so busy watching what was happening at the other end of the table that she didn't even know what was going on right next to her.

"Good evening Headmaster. Did you need something?" She asked as she moved over to Waylon's seat since he was still at the other end of the table. Now she was sitting right next to the headman himself.

Hmm... Did this make her Deputy Head Mistress? You know, since Vinny was sitting on the other side of Tate and he got the title of Deputy Headmaster.

Made perfect sense to her.

OOC: Please give others like Professor Hadley a chance to respond to your previous post before posting again.

Before Tate even had a chance to respond to her she heard that whining voice again...

Alyssa.

Really, someone please silence that child.

Time ticked away, but Kurumi's body remained stationary while Lewis held her to keep the both of them from falling into a pile right there in front of the entire school. It would have been embarrassing had Kurumi actually been aware of what was going on, but as it was Lewis would be the only one taking the blow.

At least for now.

Thankfully, it didn't come to that as the rigidness in Kurumi's body faded and she suddenly became very aware of how close they were...again. "Uuuuuuum..." she whispered, pulling herself away from Lewis reluctantly. Why had he been holding her though?

Not that it mattered ... only it did because the physical contact caused her hair to take on a pinkish hue in the candlelight of the Great Hall. Now Lewis was talking nonsense. "In the pathways...you, me, Arya, Emrys, and Professor Vindictus had been there," she nodded, eyeing him curiously. "It...it seemed to like your hair." Her eyes flicked towards the Headmaster, who had dismissed her earlier and she probably should have already made her way back to the Gryffindor table, and then towards the Healer who was making her way towards them.

Fudgecicle...Kurumi really should be leaving now, yes?

Laura was really fed up with all the noice coming from the staff table, she wanted to tell them that if they didn't behave they would all be put in detention, well everyone but the headmaster that is but she decided that if she did that the Professor would all kill her and she wanted to live so she decided against it.

Laura looked at the Professor. "I just want to say I hope you all have a lovely summer." She smiled at them before turning and heading of back to the Hufflepuff Table she hoped the Professor didn't mind her speaker.

Kurumi felt...weird in his arms to say the least. And not only because they were pretty much on display up here at the staff table. No it was mainly because she just wasn't moving. At all. Was she...unconscious? Had she fainted?!

Lewis pulled away a little to be able to look at her, trying to make sure she was alright. It was right then however that she finally unfroze and moved back, taking a couple of steps away from him. Without anything. Without even a thank you.

Frowning a little in confusion, he continued to watch her closely as she went on and on about something happening in the pathways. "I wasn't there." Or at least not during the time she was talking about. And who was Emrys?! "I just found this today...between my clothes." He shook his head a little as he took a small step into the Gryffindor's direction, concern plastered across his face.

And his hair?! He stopped to automatically reach up with one hand to pat his hair as if to make sure there wasn't anything in it. Which of course there wasn't. His gaze shifted a little to HER hair though without him really thinking about it.

Hang on, was that just the lights or...was it turning pink again?!

Oh but the Headmaster was talking to him again.

Turning around so he was fully facing the man, Lewis immediately started checking his hands once limbs had been mentioned. No but they seemed to be fine, and the rest of his arms too. And his legs felt fine too. "I-is it poisonous?!" He finally asked with his eyes slighty wider than usual, while he continued to search his body for any sort of anomalies.

His name? His house? "I do, Sir. Yes I think so." Of course he knew his name. And his house. And what...hang on what did he have for breakfast?! Chewing on his lip he started massaging his temples while he tried to figure out what he'd had for breakfast. He always had the same thing but maybe he'd had something different today...

He was too engrossed in his own thoughts to even notice the healer approaching the Headmaster or the fact that he'd beckoned her towards him. Also why would Kurumi claim he'd found this ball in the pathways? And why wasn't Professor Vindictus taking it back, since it was his and all.

"Have a care, Cece. You don't want to terrify the Hufflepuffs too much. They might stop showing up unannounced in my office with the intention of praising strangers," Tate gave the ickle Hufflepuff a brief glance before waving a hand at her. Best scamper back to her friends before the speech... and before Cece ate her whole. Healers had tempers.

His wife being the perfect example. Hadn't Cari terrified a goodly number of students in her time at Hogwarts?

"I was hoping you could give our young man here a brief look over before he returns to his table. He was carrying that." He gestured at the orb. "I'm looking specifically for signs of inclement madness. Other than the normal Hufflepuff traits."

And why... was Hollingberry still here? Blamed Gryffindors. "Shoo, Hollingberry. Your table seems to be wanting supervision, and yet you stay here goggling at me. What use are you without oatmeal cookies or witty repartee?"

Or actually he wasn't sure he trusted her table not to implode without her attentions. Wasn't that the typical belief of prefects (and particularly Gryffindor ones)?

Hmph. The boy seemed fine to HIM, but Tate was a poor judge of normal behavior. He'd let Cece make the determination, but Tate was inclined to believe it had been a false alarm.

"You didn't answer any of my questions. Are you bamboozled by Hollingberry's big brown eyes, or are you trying to be coy?" Or perhaps both. All the more reason for Hollingberry to get herself gone.

Thank you for your time Professor Jenkins. Oakey said. I cannot wait for next years lessons, I'm gonna study up on each type of Rune as much as possible over break.
I'll see you next year then sir. Oakey managed a nice enough grin for the COMC professor, but saw that Williamson directed his attention to scratches still around his arm. Somebody needs to let bygones be bygones, guess sincere apologies weren't enough for him.

Oakey still wanted to speak to Mr. Merdog and have a word with Professor Hadley before he went back to the table. But it looked like Head Master Tate was getting ready for his speach and wanted the students away from their table so that he may give it. He waited just a few more moments

Cece sat there looking from Krummy Kurumi to, what was that 'Puff kid's name... Eh, Puffer!boy, as they seemed to be holding each other. Really, such behavior and at the staff table no less. Is this why Tate called her over here? To witness... this.

Huh?

Don't terrify the 'puffs? Why not? Maybe if they were terrified a little they would stop being so darn annoying all the time. "Right sir, we wouldn't want them to stop showing up at your office." No really, they wouldn't. The more they go to Tate, the less they come to her... right?

Well this night was just getting better and better now wasn't it. Here she thought she was going to be able to enjoy the end of term feast all work free like and yet here she was, being asked to look over a student. A 'puffer no less. She was serioulsy starting to get the feeling she was hired on just to care for the...

Before she could finish that thought though she looked over at what Tate was looking at.

O__O

Leave it to a 'Puff to have that thing. "How did he get that?" Better yet, how long has he had it?

"Inclemaent madness? You mean other than the way he is acting right now with Miss... PinkHead?" she said waving her hand at Kurumi's hair. Yes little prefect, we noticed the change in hair color... again.

Concentrating on Kurumi now Cece narrowed her eyes a bit. "I think I'll have much better luck determining anything with this boy once Miss Hollingberry has found her way back to her seat. I don't think it's those eyes that have him bamboozled at all, it's that bubblegum head of hers." That's right Krummy, you have been dismissed, now go... like the Headman said... SHOO!

Maybe once she was gone, the boy would be able to find his tongue and speak proper sentences.

The Healer seemed to have the situation in hand, although he hoped she applied healing spells and medicinal potions as liberally as she did her sharp tongue. He trusted Hollingberry and Greingoth and Potter would find their seats shortly, although there WAS some joy in toying with the idea of removing house points for NEXT year.

Sigh. Not worth the fight.

Trusting Cece to handle the Hufflepuff boy, Tate rose and stepped to the side so he could be sure the students could see him. He raised his hands briefly until the noise decreased to a low and occasional titter. "Students, staff... I know I have been remiss in giving the speech this evening, but as always seems to be the case at Hogwarts, it seems events have conspired against us." No need to state just which events had delayed them, what with the visitors still at the table, the Healer fussing over students at his side, and professors arguing to his back.

"We've had a busy term, but I would be doing our Badgers a great disservice if we did not take a moment to acknowledge their victory in triplicate. Congratulations, and as always... watch your back next term. You have quite a title to maintain." They'd won soundly and fairly, however, and Tate suspected they weren't too concerned about next term. If only Hadley didn't look so smug about it.

"Thank you to our Head Boy and Girl and to our prefects for their work this term, and thank you to the staff for their persistent efforts to teach in the face of such wildly interesting distractions... such as roaming wild creatures, bonfires, Quidditch matches, interpersonal drama, and excellent weather. I don't know how you all manage to learn in spite of it, but our house points indicate that you are all working hard at this school business. So I must also thank you, I suppose."

If pressed. Only if pressed.

"This is a sad time of year as we say goodbye to our departing seventh years and those staff members who are moving on to new adventures. I hope you'll keep them in your thoughts as we depart on the train tomorrow, but you should also wish them well and know that their vistas are wide and varied and interesting. I don't pity them... I believe I envy them. And now I've prattled on long enough, which is a clear sign that I'm nearly as old as Professor Vindictus and so must be losing my remaining wits. Let's all enjoy our meal, enjoy our summer, and remember... don't die."

Vindictus was amused at the antics happening at the table and all thought of the orb vanished from his mind. When Tate finally stood up to deliver the traditional end-of-term speech, he leaned back in his chair and listened attentively. But when the headmaster finished, Max began knocking his cane on the top of the table in lieu of clapping.

"Bravo, bravo, Tate!" he exclaimed and stopped the annoying banging. For once, he wasn't tearing into the food. He just sat there like a spectator at a sporting event.

Her was frowning, why was he frowning? What had she done? Hadn't HE been the one to suddenly reach out and hold her? She should be the own frowning in confusion.

She still didn't know how she had gotten into his arms in the first place. One minute she was standing, being dismissed by the Headmaster and the next, well, everyone knew what happened next and her cheeks flushed some more.

"Y-You were there, Lewis," she replied in a whisper. "It rolled up your sleeve and everything..." Sure, her memory had been a bit spotty recently...regarding things that involved Lewis, but she certainly had yet to make up a memory. Why was he forgetting things now?

She noticed him looking at her hair and she quickly pushed her bangs down to get a better glance. Merlin...NOT now...

Kurumi found herself distracted from Lewis when the Headmaster addressed her and shoo-ed her?! Kurumi's eyes widened and she half expected him to wave his hand at her like he had probably done when her cat, Walnut, had entered his office and....relieved himself on the man's shoe.

Or attempted to. Kurumi was blissfully unaware of the details there.

Look at that! He remembered her cookies and was disappointed that she didn't have them! Kurumi smiled at this and made a note to be sure to send him some once she was home. It would prove to be a good temporary distraction at least.

"Sorry, Headmaster...about the cookies," she said with a polite bow. She didn't really know what he meant by googling, but she wasn't doing that...at least not towards the Headmaster.

Kurumi's cheeks flushed another shade of pink and there certainly was no doubt in anyone's mind now that her hair was not some trick of the light. She glanced at Lewis out of the corner of her eye, wincing when the Healer spoke again about her going back to her seat...and taking another jab at her hair.

Honestly? First she was called a wannabe Ravenclaw and now bubblegum head? Someone obviously didn't like cookies...or maybe she was upset that there were no cookies? Maybe she should send a really GIANT cookie to the Healer over the summer? Sounded like a plan.

Locking eyes with Lewis once more, and flashing him an apologetic smile for getting him into this mess. Sorry, she mouthed as she took a step away from the staff table, her hand ever so slightly brushing against his, and made her way back towards the Gryffindor one.

Lewis didn't know why she'd lowered her voice to a whisper but felt the need to match her tone nonetheless. "No." As much as he hated to disagree with Kurumi, what she was saying just hadn't happened. He'd remember finding THAT thing after all if he had. This ball thing. It gave him the creeps. So why would he have kept it for days?

So yeah, what Kurumi was saying didn't make a lot of sense.

Again he instinctively touched his sleeve when she mentioned that snitch thing rolling up it. "A-are you sure?" He whispered back, chewing on his lip some more as he tried to make sense of all of this. Maybe she'd dreamed it? But then again why would she dream about him? And about him finding some kind of white snitch too.

HUH?!



Did he just SHOO Kurumi?

Lewis glanced back and forth between the Headmaster and the Gryffindor Prefect a couple of times before allowing his eyes to rest on the white snitch again. Why did it have to have been HIM who found it? Maybe he should have just gone and hid it between somebody else's clothes. It would have saved him a whole deal of trouble.

He hated standing up here at the Staff Table. It made him nervous.

Oh. And he'd been supposed to say the answers out loud? "Oh I...I'm sorry, Sir. N-neither. I just...didn't know you actually wanted me to answer." He blushed furiously at the Headmaster's comment about him being bamboozled by Kurumi's eyes. It was probably not the time to point out that they weren't brown though, right? But onto the questions. "My...limbs feel fine. My name is Lewis Rasting. I'm a Hufflepuff. And...I had oatmeal for breakfast. Porridge." Yes, at least he assumed he'd had that for breakfast. He always had that for breakfast.

Did that mean he was okay?



Oh.

The Healer had also joined them. Lewis hadn't even noticed until now, not until she spoke about...him? Was he supposed to answer the question about where he'd found the orb? But then again she hadn't asked him directly sooo...he had found it easiest to only speak when spoken to. His life was a lot less complicated that way.

He couldn't help but HEAR what the Healer said though. Madness? Who was he? Ophelia? He wasn't mad. Or at least he didn't think he was. But then again, SHE was the Healer so. But mad because of...Miss PinkHead? Oh. So she had noticed the change of Kurumi's hair too.

"I'm not bamboozled." Lewis muttered with a blush, glancing at Kurumi for a second, letting his eyes rest on her hair for a moment. Bubblegum Head. That was kind of a nice nickname, wasn't it? He liked bubblegum. Unless the Healer didn't like bubblegum. Then it wasn't.

Turning his head a little, Lewis watched Kurumi finally make her way back to the Gryffindor Table. Okay, couldn't he just leave too? Go back to his table too. He looked back to the Healer, chewing on his lip as he waited for her to dismiss him too. Or the Headmaster. Anybody.

What did they still want from him?

Finally!

The distraction was going back to her seat. Now maybe Cece would be able to determine if lover boy here was going mad.

Yep...

Just as Cece has suspected. Once Miss I'm gonna bamboozle you had left, the bamboozled one found his voice. Listening to him rattle off who he was and what he ate for breakfast Cece looked over at Tate just in time to see him stand to give his speech.

Well then... apparently the headman was ready for this night to end, as was Cece. She could only take so much of these 'Puffs invading her space. She really needed time away from them... and Tate needed to put that... thing away where no one else could get their hands on it.

Looking back over at Lewis she waved him away. "You seem to be fine." Well as fine as a love sick badger could be that is. "Go on, run along to your table. Can't you see the Headmaster is about to speak." That's right, now you're being shooed away too. "And stay away from Holingberry, she seems to befuddle your brain."

Not bothering to move back to her own seat since Waylon seemed intent on staying at the other end of the table, Cece stayed right where she was as she listened to Tate speak. Oh right. Those puffer kids had somehow won all three cups. Someone really needed to tell her how that was possible when they spent most of the term in the hospital wing.

Sad time of year, new adventures, blah, blah, blah... Train leaving tomorrow, don't die.

Whoa, back the train up. Train leaving tomorrow. YES! Now that's what she wanted to hear. Once that train and all the students were gone she would be too. Heck, she had practically checked out now.

Could she just go home now?

Fina was quiet, at hearing Eddie's comments. She didn't even know he had a sister, lest her name. Was he muggleborn? What was her sister? Squib? Muggle? She didn't know. But she also didn't feel right asking either. "All the best then, for you and your sister," Fina said quietly. "I hope you find what you're looking for and good luck."


Fina beamed around at Isabelle who pointed out the obvious with the large winning margin. She nodded in thanks as the woman strode off then toward her seat.



The next thing she knew/heard was the third year who had seemingly placed the angel before her, and then took it back.... But what was this? Alyssa Potter was ranting and raving at her about eavesdropping. Which wasn't really much a point, considering half the great hall probably heard the outbursts at the Staff Table without even trying.

But gosh, she didn't recall asking about next term. It was Potter who brought it up. Blah, blah, blah. Trying to fit in? "Merlin, Potter, why would you try to fit in? Trying to be like everyone else .... would be like waiting for rain in a drought. It's useless and disappointing and a waste of time." Yup, that was her two cents on THAT matter. But then ... oh no she did NOT!!! She was CRYING?!!

Well that's one way to stand out.

"Don't be ridiculous, Potter. Stand up."

...

But she didn't even really need to say that, considering Alyssa seemed to realize her ridiculousness on her own, as she stood up. "Next term, if you come back, just remember, try to be yourself, nobody else. And please, do get some rest over the Summer." It wouldn't do for one to return to school looking like death wore them over. Twice.


And just in the nick of time, with Alyssa calming down - somewhat - The Headmaster finally decided to give his customary speech. THANK MERLIN!

She couldn't help but smile at the mention of the badgers victory in triplicate, even about them watching their back. And with that she gave a knowing beam of congratulations toward the Hufflepuff House table - she was proud of every single one of them, and she just hoped they knew that. Of course she wasn't naive enough to think that next term would be EASY or to get too complacent. No. Next term would be just as challenging, but hopefully they'd have some drive to hold onto at least one of the cups.

She clapped at the conclusion of his speech, glad even that he chose to add 'don't die'. And mostly, glad that the train was leaving tomorrow.

Good. She needed the break. She was looking forward to it even.