Kurumi offered Arabella another faint smile as she flicked her wand towards the cookies still in the box. Undetectable Extension Charms. You really had to love them and Kurumi was forever thankful to her Ryunosuke for teaching it to her properly. Returning her wand to her pocket, Kurumi glanced back at her fellow 7th year. "Hey, Arabella, what are your plans now?" Meaning what was happening now that they were graduating.

And WHY was Kurumi asking? It was just going to make her depressed.
Again, Kurumi never knew how best to approach Alexa. The girl never reacted the same way twice and was so unpredictable that Kurumi tended to just remain neutral - unless the girl was trying to damage school property over overreacting to things. Just because one was a Gryffindor didn't mean that EVERYTHING had to be done big and loud.

Alexa's words somewhat surprised and the seventh year gestured for her to sit down. "I'm glad I met you too, Alexa," she said. And she meant it. Really. Despite all that had happened this term. "I don't feel like I was a good enough prefect to you though. I didn't guide you enough and you got yourself, well, you know..." she continued, trailing off and leaving out the word suspended from the sentence. That had been a dark point in Kurumi's year and she had written Treyen about it extensively. How was she supposed to feel proud of the badge she was wearing when she let one lion stray so far from the pride? "I really think you can do great things at Hogwarts, Alexa. You just need to figure out how to channel your energy...and that is something that I should have tried helping you with more. I'm sorry." But hopefully the first year now almost second year understood that that was in her hands. Hogwarts was a place that molded people...but only if you let it.

Kurumi had turned her attention towards the staff table and was fumbling nervously at her pockets, feeling the various envelopes that were tucked safely in there to be handed out to certain professors that had made her years at Hogwarts especially meaningful. Really, she should have written one to all of them - even the Healer - but the Gryffindor also didn't want to hand out somewhat empty words to people who were doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Thoughts wandering to how she would never been in class with these people in the same way ever again, the seventh year was happy when Kat showed up. Oh good, a distraction from -------------

I don't want you to leave...

Okay, NOT a distraction from graduating, but Kurumi really did appreciate the hug. Squeezing the girl back gently, Kurumi smiled slightly and leaned her cheek against the Slytherin's head for a moment. "You are going to do great things," Kurumi replied. It was sort of pointless to remind the girl that she HAD to go and saying something like I NEED to leave wasn't the best thing to say either. "Things that I expect you to write me about, okay?"

She could feel the little snake starting to slither away as it were, so Kurumi released her grip from around the girl and continued to try and smile at her.

Distracted a little by her conversation with Professor Bentley, Kurumi did not notice her stalker Daichi making his way from the Slytherin table over to the Gryffindor one. Not to mention the buzz of all the talking sort of drowned out Daichi's spellcasting...until the last minute.

"Incarcerous?" she murmured to herself, eyes widening slightly. Merlin couldn't this feast be a quiet one where she didn't have to use her badge for something or someone was trying to blow something up or --- "DAICHI?!"

Kurumi's eyes both widened and softened instantly when she saw what the fifth year had done and did so even more when she heard what he had to say. "Daichi..." she half laughed as her eyes sort of began to water. She wasn't even going to bother telling him that she could just use a Severing Charm and then they wouldn't be tied together. That wasn't the point. Instead she just pulled him in for a tight hug and rested her chin on top of his head. Sort of an awkward scene since Daichi was SO much taller than her. "I'm going to miss you....so much Daichi..." she whispered, feeling her words somewhat catch in her throat.
Kurumi jumped slightly when a box suddenly appeared before her. Her head snapped around to see the piercing blue eyes of Vickers looking at her and she blinked in surprise several times. They had hardly spoken all term besides classes and it had been...depressing for the Gryffindor who had always seen him as such a good friend ever since they had met in New York that one summer. "Vickers! Hey!" she chirped, wondering what exactly he meant by old time's sake and her violet eyes drifted towards the box. "I...I don't have anything for you though..." Besides cookies, but those were just routine now. Nothing special.

Slowly, Kurumi opened the box and got a little teary eyed at the bracelet inside. "Thank you," she whispered, not yet slipping it on because she already was wearing one that Beezus had given her. The words on it were what really got to Kurumi. Friendship. She hadn't been a very good one in the past, at least not in certain fields now that she understood things more. "I....I found the poem you wrote me in Astronomy while going through my memory box last night," she mumbled. She knew how awkward that time had been for him because of his body language and she felt AWFUL now for not realizing what it had meant then. "I'm sorry....for not realizing..."
Poor Sir Nicholas. Dealing with Isfret had really done a number on his transparent brain it seemed. "They did," Kurumi nodded. "It's been nice sleeping in my own bed for the past month." Because she was getting worried that she may never get to sleep in her own bed at Hogwarts again.
Kurumi had been able to keep most of her tears in thus far - coming close to losing that battle with Daichi but not yet entirely turning on the waterworks. But then Penelope came along with cookies for her and Gideon and the Gryffindor found herself in yet another battle with her feelings. Everyone said that graduation was supposed to be a happy time because it was celebrating your accomplishments. But moments like this. Seeing how Penelope had gone out of her way like this to bake cookies for her...it was hard to focus on yourself if not downright impossible. It was all about the people that she, Kurumi, would soon be leaving behind as she stepped into her future. It was all about the people that would no longer be a constant in her life.

Kurumi dropped everything - which was really nothing since her hands were free - and hugged Penelope tight. Yes, the cookies were not techincally executed perfectly. Kurumi could tell that from looking at them, but that wasn't the point. Cookies were not just made from ingredients thrown into an oven. Not to her. They were made with feelings and that made these cookies perfect. "Thank you, Penelope. They're brilliant."

Glancing back at Gideon, Kurumi settled a little more into her seat and tried not to think too much about the two empty seats at the staff table. Biting down on her lower lip, Kurumi found herself sort of unsure how to talk to another graduating seventh year for some reason. Well, with a seventh year that she didn't know what came next for them that is and someone that she had worked relatively closely with for several terms. "So....what is up for you next?" she asked somewhat awkwardly.

This whole thing was only made more awkward due to the conversation that her and Selina had had weeks ago about...stuff. At least things had sort of settled into some sort of normalcy.
Yeah, we saw that Selina. The slight shimmer that was there in your eyes but you were putting on the front that they weren't. It surprisingly only made Kurumi smile a bit more. Maybe she was just losing it. There were so many emotions coursing through the Gryffindor right now that it was hard to keep up with any one emotion. Maybe that was a good thing? Meant she was more on her toes and had a hard time focusing which meant it would be too hard to focus on...

Oh, nope.

Selina's word brought all that crashing right back down. Ready? Was she ready for this? All of this? "To be entirely honest....I'm not sure," she replied with a nervous laugh. "I mean...I think it is time. I don't know why I think that because Hogwarts has been everything I have ever known. All I have known really about the wizarding world...and now here I am about to be thrown into it without the safety net of my books and you." Her voice DID catch on that last word and her own eyes began to betray her. Yes, she would have Lewis by her side out there in the real world and Professor Williamson would be there for her in Romania.

But...it wasn't the same. Everyone knew that Kurumi and Lewis shared an incredible connection...but so did her and Selina. Both were irreplaceable and Kurumi found herself wishing now that Selina was a seventh year too. That way they could be going through this together...
Leaning over just a bit when Kurumi caught Jake's attention, she offered him a small smile and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Jake, in case the train stops again next term, can I entrust you again to help carry the wounded?" She was sort of joking, but she was also sort of serious. Since he would be an older student next term, she was also kind of asking him if he would step up and be a leader to the younger lions.

And then there was Melanie singing her way to the Gryffindor table like always and bringing a smile to Kurumi's face again. Maybe there would be noodles at dinner tonight? And Kurumi hadn't really had a proper tea party with the girl yet. The sort of camp out in the Great Hall hadn't really been what she had had in mind. Especially if they were supposed to have a party where they forced Alice into a fancy dress. "Hey Melanie," Kurumi said with a wave towards the girl. "Congratulations on your Quidditch award. I think Professor Vindictus was just jealous you weren't in his house." Since the man had said that she was in Ravenclaw. Silly Vindy. He couldn't have everything and he certainly could not take Melanie away from Gryffindor.
Kurumi was a bit startled by this little lion and his words. Oh yeah...the train climbing incident. What a way to start off her seventh year, right? Kurumi simply smiled and listened intently as the younger lion continued - and MERLIN was she thankful that he hadn't called her Miss Prefect Kurumi or something like that. She really just wanted to be herself tonight. Leave the impression of Kurumi Hollingberry on the school and not just because of some badge that she had worn for four years. "Dylan, thank you," she said softly when he was finished, placing a hand on his arm. "As long as you keep sending me owls I'll respond to them," she said with a small wink.
Kurumi sort of began to idly toy with her goblet and wished that it was filled with pumpkin juice right now when she felt a small body slip into the seat beside her. Glancing up, Kurumi saw that it was Alice...and she looked as though the world were coming to an end. Okay, that was an exaggeration, but the girl did not look happy. Had she not found Frank yet? Kurumi was afraid to ask in cause, you know. Lots of people had lost their pets because of the lockout.

It was odd thinking back on the term now and how it hard started out with her carrying a broken Alice off the platform at Hogsmeade because she had broken a leg. Now here she was. Standing on her own two feet at the end of the term. It was...metaphorical really. At least Kurumi saw it that way. For three full terms now Kurumi had watched Alice grow from a first year to now, in a few hours, a fourth year. Sure, most saw fifth year as the 'official' transition year from underclassman to upperclassman, but sometimes you looked at students and just knew that their transition was earlier.

Not to say that Alice was, erm, mature and adult-like. It was more, in Kurumi's mind, that Alice really could stand on her own two feet and didn't need to lean on Kurumi for support. She was going to take off next term. Kurumi could feel it. Her Uncle Sherman had nothing to worry about.

..................probably.

"You alright?" she asked softly, wrapping one arm around Alice's small shoulders and giving them a small squeeze.

Sniff. Kat can't do this. She didn't want the Gryffindor to leave at all. Even if the two just became friends this term, Kat cherished each memory she had of her. Like the last Defense Against the Dark Arts class where Kurumi 'snagged' her as partner. And the reference section with Beezus, Kat admitted getting smacked by a book was worth the memories. They weren't really that worth-remembering but Kat thought the opposite. They were worth remembering, because they don't happen again once it's over. It seemed best to treasure every moment.

Feeling Kurumi's warmth was very comforting, since Kat wasn't able to do it before. She was a little chicken, after all, but she won't let this opportunity pass away. She won't be seeing Kurumi again... unless in Diagon Alley that is. BUT STILL that was a whole different thing. "Thank you... and I know you will do great things as well." Make us proud, Kurumi. The girl couldn't still get over get fact that Kurumi was still leaving. "Yes, I'll write to you from time to..." Crack. Probably another wave of tears were going to ruin her face. "...time." This was embarrassing the Slytherin, considering that she was in front of the whole Gryffindor House but who cares? You don't get to say good bye to one of your Hogwarts heroes everyday.

When Kurumi released the hug, Kat felt a bit weak. Sure, she managed to stand up with both feet. In return to Kurumi's smile, the Slytherin smiled back and hoped this wouldn't be the last time she'd her.... again. That was all she hoped for tonight.

Oh, and to make Kurumi proud of her too.

It wasn't like Kurumi to be so... vague. It seemed as though her mind was a million miles away. Placing a hand on the girls shoulder, managing a small smile, she said, "I know the feeling... you'll be fine."

She would.

Life went on, and as hard as it was to say goodbye to Hogwarts, there were always opportunities to return.




Seren truly appreciated Daichi's efforts to contain Kurumi. Merlin, a part of her wishes she'd thought of it herself. Have the girl chained to Hogwarts for as possible... it was going to be such a shame to see her go.

The Slytherin's comment took her by surprise, but it manage to bring a genuine smile to her face. "Oh, thank yo Daichi... I figured it might serve to lighten the mood." Considering the events of the past month.



"Ahh, evening Sir Nicholas," replied Bentley, giving the House ghost a polite nod of the head.
"I just wanted to say thank you for all your help this past year... it's been most appreciated."



Aaaaww would you look at that. Brave strong lions had their moments too...
"You'll be fine. Besides, graduation doesn't happen everyday... I'm sure you'll make the most of it."

And the nerves would settle as the night progressed. Seren only hoped there wouldn't be any queasy tummies.... that could end in disaster.



The Gryffindor Captain's repsonse made her laugh out loud, and immediately she felt a little guilty considering the circumstances of the feast and the mourning of two professors.

"That's just brilliant, and I suppose someone had to?"
Organisation hadn't been her forte in school either. Packing was more of a last minute bungle.



Merlin.

The kid was actually going to miss all the .. 'cool' stuff they'd done this term?... and wanted to do it again next term? "Well, I'm sure there will be more cool stuff to come in the future, but don't count on much of the same. After all, there's not much point in learning the same things twice." She winked at her Lion cub. Because really, they'd get new cool stuff to do, or so was the plan.

And... he made a speech?

THATWASSOSWEET... in a strange way.

"Thank you, and I look forward to working with you more next term." So she could keep an eye on him... and his progress of course.

Sir Nicholas beamed at Gideon as he looked over at the prefect with a little wink. "Thank you. It’s good to be back." Remembering that the boy was a graduating seventh year he asked tentatively. "How does it feel to be graduating, are you excited? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to." The last thing he wanted was to make the boy sad.

"Good evening Selina!" Sir Nick greeted with a warm smile. "I er is going to do the usual I guess and maybe try and get Sir Delaney- Podmore to allow me a new chance at joining the hunt." He wanted to play headless hunt bowling. He really did.

Catching the sight of a wave and a smile Sir Nicholas spun around his head not really following and almost got unhinged. To not scare anyone of the kiddies Sir Nick quickly plopped his head back in its place. "Hello, Jake right?" Keller if he remembered. Fourth year. A promising boy. "I’m good…How are you? Glad to be going home tomorrow?"

Hearing Alexa's words Sir Nicholas wanted very much to give the girl a hug since she looked so sad and little. But he couldn’t as it was. If he tried he would just shower the youngster in coldness. He settled with trying to comfort her. "I understand. But they aren't really leaving you. You can meet them all summer and when the school year starts up again you can exchange letters with your friends and maybe even arrange to meet them when Hogsmeade is open." He didn’t know if his words helped but he gave it a try at least.

Shooting Dylan a big beam Sir Nicholas responded. "Evening Dylan! I will probably do what I always do. Keep an eye on the Gryffindor Tower and the castle until you all come back." He had a break all the time really but it was hard to explain that to someone so young.

Back to Kurumi his eyes trailed as the graduating prefect spoke. "Oh they did! That's good." Sir Nick commented with relief. "How does it feel to be graduating? Have you already got your eyes set on dragon keeper school?"

"I um thank you for your kind words. I want to see the lion students prospering and safe just like you do---" Sir Nicholas said his ears suddenly feeling warm. He wasn't used to getting compliments. He just wanted his lion to be safe.

End of term.

Tiffany had never liked this day since she came to this school and had her first end of term feast in this great hall when she was still a first year kid. Even though she had grown a lot already, she had never thought that end of term was a good thing, it just made her dislike it more and more year by year, especially after last year's when Jonathan graduated and left. She had cried over it for thousands of times.

And now it came to Kurumi. Her beloved sister who always took good care of her whenever she encountered difficulties. Her only cookie mama. The lioness didn't really know how life would be when both her brother and Kurumi was gone. She had no one else to rely on anymore.

She made her way through the Gryffindor table alone. She was not willing to come and join the feast actually because she didn't want to see this year's graduates, she didn't want to cry in front of all of them. It was a totally bad experience for her last year when she cried in front of Jonathan, like a three-year-old child but she knew that she would somehow cry. She was not good at holding back tears.

Picking a seat further away from Kurumi, she stared at the plate, trying to distract herself from the huge crowd at the center of the table. So she decided to talk to somebody else so as to make herself forget about the graduation thing. But she just couldn't find any. She looked around and looked down once again.

She would never know how many times she was going to cry over this tonight.

At first, Daichi thought that Kurumi would try and break free from him when he had wrapped the rope around her arm and he now clinged on the Prefect. But when she didn't and even grabbed him in a tight hug Daichi knew he was going to cry.

NO! he was a MAN! Men don't cry! They only cry in their hearts not on the outside! The Slytherin's lower lip wibbled as he tried to keep the tears from falling.

Their hugging position felt awkward concidering how much taller Daichi is than Kurumi and he realized that his hands were clutching on to her clothes. Not wanting to let go. Her words stung him because he knew that this was their last real goodbye and he blinked his eyes rapidly for he still did not want to cry. Remember Daichi, you're a MAN!

"If..." he said with a croaked voice and sighed. "Then if you're going to miss me...stay, please!"

While his arm was still tied to Kurumi's arm, Daichi's other hand went in to his pocket and grabbed out something silver. "I, i asked my big brother to-to buy this..." he said in almost a whisper as his cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. What a questions he had gotten from him? Oooh is it for your girlfriend~? little Dai Dai?! ooooh! Yeah it hadn't been exactly ...fun.

Shaking his head, the Slytherin held up the goodbye present. "If you don't like it you can return it..."

Still standing beside Kurumi, both of their arms tied together since the Gryffindor had not cut free, Daichi turned to face the Professor again and realized that she was odd looking. It was like he was looking at her from underwater and it took a few seconds for Daichi to realize that....he was crying.

Unnoticed, silent tears had formed in his eyes and he quickly used the back of his free arm sleeve to wipe them away. "Y-yeah, lighten the mood" he repeated and smiled a little. Aww man! he had promised himself not to cry! "P-professor Bentley? Can...can you lock Kurumi in the Greenhouses? That way she can't leave!"

The Gryffindor table, two certain people Ness needed to find would hopefully be here and even possibly together. First Nessie needed Selina because she needed to hand something over to her fellow Captain.

Where was this red head though?

With her blue eyes, Ness scanned the lions table untill her eyes landed on Selina. Aha! She was here perfect and right beside her was Kurumi, not surprising at all. This might have made things just a little more complicated, but hey this wouldn't be hard, besides for the emotional bit which was coming sooner than expected.

"Pssst! Selina!" Ness neared the two of them and tried to get only Selina's attention. "Here's the erm..gift" She whispered real quietly now as she handed over a packet that had a card and gift inside it. Good thing the bag disguised it, in case Kurumi looked over. "I think you should give it to her." Because Selina was Kurumi's best friend and all.

Now to try make things unobvious or in this situation do unwillingly the exact opposite. "Heeey, Kurumi!" The fifth year smiled slightly as her hands were now free.

Arabella-Marie smiled at Alexa and said "Yeah i am sure i will as well it is going to be so hard at first with all the training but i think it will get easier as the years go on"

Arabella-Marie smiled at Kurumi and said "Well my plans now are to go into the professional qudditch league i have a spot in the pride of portree team so after i have had a few weeks to relax at home i am moving to skye so i can be closer to my team and well i am going to miss you Kurumi"

He smiled when she said thank you, more like thank his dad for that.. he made him say it now that he was at the end of his first year. He then felt her hand on his arm, umm.. that was new.. he was not used to that.. at least it wasnt a hug or anything that was good. Cause a hug would have made him very uncomfortable and he didnt want to ruin Kurumi's last day here, she was probably as upset as the rest of them that he could see around the hall. He then looked at Kurumi as she winked at him and a smile grew on his face "You will? And.. and if I ask for cookies.. you will send me a whole bunch?" he asked her a little excitedly cause he wouldnt mind some cookies now and then that would be sent to him secretly of course, cause his dad wouldnt want him eating that many cookies. He was kinda sad to see her go.. cause they hadnt hung out that much but she had helped him in classes and that he was grateful for.



He looked up at the professor as she talked about the cool stuff too! "There will?" oh he was so going to enjoy work and classes next term.. he then frowned a bit as she said it would be the same but that went back to a smile as he nodded "So.. there will be new cool stuff to learn?" he asked as he grinned at her wink.. this one was one COOL professor that was for sure! he then looked round to make sure that no-one was listening and he then whispered "What kinda cool stuff are we gonna see?" he asked her not being able to wait to know what was coming next term. Sure she would tell him.. right *cue cute little lion cub eyes just like puppy dog ones* cause she couldnt resist those!! and she would just have to tell him.

He grinned as she thanked him too.. well more like thank his dad for sending him the parchment that said all the stuff he just said "I.. I look forward to it too" he nodded and smiled.. not being able to wait for the new term to start, he just wished that they could start the new term right now.



He grinned as Sir Nicholas responded to him, this made Dylan raise his eyebrows "But dont you get bored of doing the same things all the time?" he just blinked at him "Do.. you not do anything for fun?" he asked him wondering what they all did for fun instead of just going round the tower keeping an eye on something that was empty until they came back.

Great things. Kurumi certainly hoped that she did. It was sort of a fear of her's, not meeting people's expectations. It was something she had especially struggled with at the beginning of the term when...well...when certain things didn't happen. The Gryffindor wasn't one to expect things or assume things about herself, life had taught her that much, but the one time she had...

But now wasn't the time for her to think on that. It was done and in the end titles and all that didn't matter. Everyone was capable of leaving their mark without them and even if you had one it didn't mean you would leave a lasting impression. Everyone was capable of that. Just like the little Slytherin she was speaking to now.

"I will certainly try my best," she smiled in reply. "And I look forward to your letters." She leaned back just a bit more to look at Kat. "Hey now, this isn't good bye forever. I'll be living in London so I'll be around Diagon Alley and I can always pop in and visit Hogsmeade." Kurumi glanced over at the Slytherin table and then back at Kat. She didn't want to keep the girl from her friends and housemates, but Kurumi also didn't want to just send her away either. She was more than welcome to stay here - at least until the Headmistress did her speech.

Kurumi sort of came out of her dazed state when Professor Bentley placed a hand on her shoulder and the smell from the freshly cut flowers in the woman's hair. She probably wouldn't be smelling too many of those next term. Not with dragons and all that. "I think...I think I'm ready...I mean for what comes next," she said with a small nod towards her Head of House. "It's just getting there that is...hard."

Like getting through right now and the train ride tomorrow. She was ready for university. Ready for her first proper part time job. Ready to move in with Lewis. Ready for all the steps that were leading her to the next stage. It was letting go of the now that was hard.

Dragon keeper school? That wasn't exactly where she was going... "I'm really excited for university in Romania," she nodded. "Professor Williamson encouraged me to apply there and I think he is going to help me get an internship at a hatchery as well." MORE DRAGONS! Although her first year would be mostly theory and basic studies about dragons in a mostly non-hands on environment. Perhaps some hands on experience with dragon eggs and tours of the dragon cages to observe, but the real breeding and hatchery studies would start her second year. "Graduating doesn't feel....like it is really happening."

And there was another sad looking face. Tiffany was another one of those students who was always bubbly and smiling around her, so seeing her like this right now was really...hard.

Especially when she sat sort of far away and was just looking at her plate like that.

Small smile forming on her lips, Kurumi removed her wand again and flicked it towards one of the dancing cookies to make it dance towards the girl. Subtle way of getting her attention. "Hey Tiffany....you alright?"

Kurumi was going to have to stop looking at Daichi because doing so was making her want to cry. She had seen him cry before, but the topics had been immensely personal. The death of their mothers. His fear of fire. So, Daichi tears were not something entirely unfamiliar to her. Only these tears were. These tears were ones that were, for a lack of a better word, her fault.

And it only made it harder for herself not to cry when he said things like that.

"Daichi," she half laughed half cried. His logic made sense when you thought about it. "It's time for me to go...and I can't take you with me to university. You'll be fine and we'll still write and see each other." She would even pinky promise with him again if it would make him feel better.

She was slightly amused at how they were still tied together, but Kurumi didn't do anything about it just yet. Especially not when he was reaching into his pocket for something and... "Daichi...thank you," she smiled, biting down on her lower lip to try and stop it from quivering. She wished she had something for him. For all her friends really...but she had been so distracted and preoccupied with her own affairs that the best she could do was write letters.

Speaking of which, she had one for Daichi, but she wanted to give it to him on the train when things felt more...final.

"Help me put it on?"

.....right Nessie. Because that wasn't an obvious way of greeting someone when you were up to something. Her eyes darted between Selina and Nessie for a moment, unsure if she should say or do anything or what.

Between the two of them...it was hard to tell who was the worse liar. Probably Selina. Kurumi just knew Selina better.

"Heeeeeeeeey Nessie," she said, returning the greeting in the same manner as the Hufflepuff captain had done.
Quidditch. Cue an inward shiver from Kurumi at the mention of that. Which reminded her about Selina and a certain decision her best friend was facing... she would have to ask about that later. "Good luck with that," Kurumi said with a small nod. Quidditch. Not her thing. Brooms were meant for sweeping. "I'll miss you too."

So many changes.
Cookies. Of course. Kurumi giggled softly and as if right on cue charmed another one of the dancing cookies towards Dylan until it was spinning right in front of his face. "Sure," she smiled. Baking would always be something that she would do and if people wanted to give her an excuse to do so, well, she wasn't going to complain. "I'll be working at a bakery over the summer part time, so maybe I will learn a new recipe and send it to you to share with the other lions."

Arabella-Marie half smiled and said "Thanks Kurumi and that's good we should write to each other or at least when i have free time meet up and what are your plans for the future" Arabella-Marie was curious cause she knew that Kurumi wasn't a qudditch person so that was why she was asking her friend about her plans and she was hoping that she could stay in touch with Kurumi

Its alright Kurumi… he shrugged and gave her a pensive smile. Truly he wasn’t expecting anything in return, specially his showing up wasn’t exactly expected he figured. But she was his first friend, even before his arrival in Hogwarts, and come what may he cant let their graduating year pass without giving some token of his gratitude; regardless of whatever happened between them or amongst their friends in the past, he always considered her a dear friend without all the other connotations of course

He may have seen her eyes moisten up as she looked into the box. ”Meant every word…” he mumbled back. Has he made her uncomfortable enough? That’s his cue to leave right? THEN she brought up the Astronomy poem. ”Oh….” Now it was his turn to feel uncomfortable ”Well…. still sounds awful doesnt it?” he chuckled awkwardly.”Suffice it to say being a Poet wont be one of my career choices.” he joked. When she started to stammer out an apology he shook his head and leaned just a little closer so only she could hear ”Its water under the bridge Kurumi. As terribly written as it was, I had no regrets writing it, and I have no regrets with the decisions you made afterwards.” he smiled. He meant Lewis. He has come to accept that and has moved on.

”Congratulations on Gobstones by the way.” he added as he stood back up, resuming the casual nature of their conversation. ”Well, I gotta get back.” he motioned wtith his head towards his fellow Eagles. ”We’ll keep in touch yeah?” He wasn’t sure what her plans are after the term, but he figured, he’ll hear from her. Friendships don’t stop just because they’ve gone on towards different paths....

Jake nodded, looking down at the table. It was weird to think that so many people he knew were leaving this year. He really didn't expect to care about people so much that he'd miss them when they graduated. It was... surprising.

Hearing Gideon say potions, Jake looked back at him quickly. "That's brilliant," he said, smiling instantly. "Good luck. Really." Potions was Jake's favorite subject, but he'd never thought about what he could do with it after school. Becoming a Healer, though... that sounded like a good idea. And Jake really hoped that Gideon got to it, if that's what he wanted.

Looking up when a hand was placed on his shoulder, Jake nodded to Kurumi. Could he carry the wounded? He laughed lightly. "Sure you can. I'll do my best." Of course, hopefully the train wouldn't stop again. But... in case of any other emergency or crisis, Jake wouldn't mind helping out again. He kind of liked to know things were okay with everyone... and he wouldn't mind helping to make sure they were.

"Good luck, too, Kurumi," he added, his voice soft.

Seeing Nick's... head... Jake had to work to keep a grimace off his face. It was probably rude to make faces, right? So he smiled and nodded instead. "Jake Keller." He almost held out a hand to shake, but caught himself before he lifted it. Wow. He needed to work on ghost manners. If there were such a thing.

He shrugged. "I have mixed feelings," he answered. "I'll miss... being here." Only for two months though. Then he was coming back. Which was something else he didn't expect to be happy about when he first started here.

He wasn't sure how he managed to get himself up and away from his house table. His feet were moving on their own, as he neared the Gryffindor Table he knew he would be at a loss for words when it came to Kurumi. . Then as he stopped and stood at the table he realized who was standing right by...Vickers! Oh WHY DID HE HAVE TO BE HERE TOO!?!? It was as if life was forcing him to break down and plead them not to leave. So not fair life, SO NOT FAIR. "H-hi Kurumi, Vickers." Oakey said, as quickly as he could before he could choke up.

Daichi pushed away from the hug, but only far enough to look at Kurumi more properly. He blinked his eyes rapidly as he sniffed at her words. "Promise?" he asked when she told him they would write to each other. "Can...can you come to Diagon Alley in the summer?" the Slytherin asked as he looked at the ground.

"You like it?" Daichi's face seemed to light up as he smiled down at the Gryffindor. "Good, cause i thought it suited you since you like making cookies..." he said , letting out a small laugh.

Help her put it on?

Daichi's first instict was to reach for the necklace his brother had bought and click it around her neck. His free hand was in midair and his other went as well when he noticed that he was still tied to the Kurumi. "NOPE~!" he said rather loudly and stuck out his tongue. "I have to use both my hands to do that, so i have to cut the rope. I'm not stupid you know" he stuck his tongue out again and continued to hold on Kurumi's arm as if she had been his long lost sister he finally met for the first time.

Beezus frowned. She had only just managed to pull herself out of their dormitory to join her fellow Hogwartians for the night's celebration and had just stepped inside the Great Hall after closing the large oak doors behind her when she saw the few vacant seats at the Staff Table. It has been common knowledge that some were leaving while others....well, they met unlucky fates. As for the graduating class, Beezus knew that they were far off from being unlucky. In fact, the seventh years were the lucky ones for they were already going to venture into a new odyssey in each of their lives.

Vivi, Max, Louisa, Vickers, Kurumi, Lewis, Gideon, Emmaleigh, Kennedy, Cass --- just some of the lucky ones whom she personally knew. She couldn't say she was friends with all of them but they were definitely acquaintances. Yuup.

By the way, has she mentioned that the lucky ones owned that night? That it WAS their night? Hmm. It seems so since the graduatees had their admirers around them and if there was a contest on who had the most admirers, there was undoubtedly going to be a quick result. Who else? Kurumi, of course.

Grinning more to herself, Beezus took a deep breath before walking towards the Gryffindor Prefect. She couldn't help but notice the crying from all sides. Ugh. "Good evening Kurumi." She said after lightly tapping the Prefect on the shoulder...and smiles for her too, no tears. That wasn't really a surprise considering how she'd already bawled her heart out the night before that there was nothing left to cry anymore. Moreover, she was glad. Glad and happy for her graduating friends because there definitely was so much more to see and experience outside of Hogwarts and they were one step closer to the new adventure.

Tinka had been scurrying around the kitchen for the past hour now. Whiskie get workout today, it did! Tinka proud of whiskie! Even though the kitchen had been bustling and busy all day to prepare for the feast, Tinka had been determined to find time for this, her personal project.

CRACK.

Out of thin air she appeared at the Gryffindor table bearing a small, red box. After a quick check, the elf hurried over to her favorite Prefect. Tapping her on the small of the back, Tinka waited for her to turn around.

The redhead continued to laugh as Keller held onto her pretty tightly. He had grown on her. Honestly, he had. At the beginning of the year, she would have never have foreseen him holding onto her like this all crazed and munchin like. Cute kid, really. When he pulled away she pulled her head back and raised her eyebrows at him with a bemused smirk, "You sure about that, Keller? You kind of attacked me, kid." Not that she minded. She liked her teammates and was always really touched when they liked her too. Everyone who had ever been on her team had a special place in her heart.

Then he let go and she put her hands on her lap to look at him while he spoke. He seemed a little emotional and she wanted to give him her full attention. He had earned that level of respect from her over the course of the year. But when he started to talk her polite smile melted away into a genuine, maternal smile. This was really sweet of him to say. So she ruffled his hair and said sincerely, "Look Jake," That was his first name right? "Thank you for everything you've done this year. You're a good guy." And he went on to say something else but pulled her back into a hug. With a oof, she was back in a hug and she laughed again, "Yes Keller?"



Selina was still pretty much wrapped up in a Jake hug, but she peaked her head over the younger Gryffindor to speak to Gideon. She had a wild smile on her face from the hug that she was currently wrapped in. Her teammates were going to be the early death of her. But that was when she caught Gideon's eyes. Her wild smile twisted into a calmer one and she nodded at him in understanding.

Yeah, it had been quite the year. She had been through so much and changed so much. Now, at seventeen, she was just starting to understand who she was as a person and she was sort of liking the way she was turning out. Sure, there were bumps along the road with it- her break up with Gideon being the biggest bump of the year- but she was looking forward to finding out who she was day by day. She liked the Selina she was right now.

"Uh huh," she smiled at him, "Quite the year."



Selina was in the midst of talking to someone else when her own little firstie Quidditch player with all of his untamed energy ran up to her and hit her with his energy like a wave. Before she could even get in a hello he was spouting off how proud he was to be on the team and all of the things he had learned from her and was thanking her. She covered her mouth that was beaming at him with a bright smile. He was so adorable and she could not help but think that she must have seemed this very way to Simon when she was a first year. So excited and full of fervor. Time had really flown- she was seventeen now. What a different world then the one she had known.

Once he finished speaking, she crossed her arms and smiled down at him, "You done there, kid?" She pulled him into a hug and then pulled away just as quickly, "Thank you so much for playing on my team this term. It was fun and I had a great time teaching you. And WHEN you try out next term, we shall see about the team. You aren't guarenteed anything in life, kid." With that she ruffled his hair.



While Selina sat next to Kurumi, she saw her little Alice flop down in the seat beside her best friend. She felt her heart pang when she saw the younger girl's eyes. They were watering and she looked so forlorn. Arguing with herself internally for a moment, she finally decided that she would lean her head behind Kurumi's back to say something to Alice.

She leaned back in her seat and tapped Alice on the shoulder, "You okay, Biter?" Maybe to blow off some steam they could go and hit stuff with their bats later. Team building exercise and all.



Selina bit down on her bottom lip to keep any type of emotion that was not befitting of a captain from pouring out. She had to keep herself together. There were the younger students to think about and she could not fall apart in front of them. Even if she was losing her best friend to the outside world. Nothing would ever be the same, but that did not stop Selina from carrying around the message that Kurumi had given her in her pocket ever since she had given it to her. It was a written reminder of their friendship. And no, she would never forget her.

Perhaps carrying around that little note was stupid and silly and childish, but when she held it she remembered everything. From the Knight Bus to the nights in the dorm to this moment right now. It all went by so fast. Where had the time gone? She was not sure, but what she did know was that she was going to miss her best friend more than anything. Kurumi was the only friend she had ever known that loved her on her best day and her worst day. And Selina had a lot of worse days.

...she was one half of a whole for Selina.

The redhead pulled her best friend into a hug and whispered in her ear, "You go and do amazing things, you hear me? You show everybody how wonderful you are and you NEVER let anyone tell you that you can't do anything. If anyone can make it out there, you can. The world is yours now... go change it."



Selina beamed when she made Bentley laugh. It was like a slam dunk. Because, well, she thought she was rather funny, so when Bentley laughed she only affirmed her own suspicions. The redhead was a comedic genius. Duh.

But the redhead did nod yes to Bentley's question, "Yeah... I'm rather a mess, I suppose. She sort of keeps me on track, you know?" That much was true. Kurumi DID keep her on track.

She looked sadly at Bentley and said, "I'm gonna miss her, you know?" More than anyone realized.



The redhead bowed her head at Nick when he addressed her. That was common courteousy for ghosts, right? Except he should have been bowing to her. She was one of the student leaders who put her own bum on the line with that whole Isfret thing. NEVER AGAIN. Ugh.

"And did you make the hunt, sir?" Poor bloke had been trying for centuries.



Selina nearly smacked Nessie when the girl came over and handed Selina the things that they had agreed on. Now was NOT the time. The redhead was sitting RIGHT next to the very Gryffindor the presents were for. Did she want to be any more obvious. So she gave Nessie a look and turned her head to smile at Kurumi like NOTHING was wrong. Because Nessie was early and she did not want to spoil the surprise.

Muttering under her breath at her fellow redhead, she said, "Oi, Nessie. Kurumi is RIGHT there." Because she was... Merlin.



Selina was sitting right next to her best friend and talking to her when Beezus came over and said hello. Biting her tongue, she turned her entire body toward the table and let the two girls talk. There was nothing she really wanted to say to the younger girl right now.

Maxwell sighed. "No, i don't think you would have.." He rolled his eyes at her crossed arms. "Well if you had all your wishes we wouldn't even be family so what does that say about that?" He asked and shook his head. "Honestly, Tay don't come back if you don't want to. I'm done fighting to keep you around. I was having fun with my housemates for once until this happened.." Max who never spent much time with his fellow Lions, he wanted to change that next term. "Look run away if you like but it solves nothing, I'm done talking now." He said turning around and facing the rest of his house, ignoring her.

Lex looked down at he seat when it was offered to her. She would have taken the invite and sat but there were too many people around Kurumi and the number just kept growing. Normally this would've been a good thing but not now...not when she felt so miserable and didn't want to be around very any people. Ugh. Hopefully her mood improved before the night was over because she hated feeling this way.

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips when the girl said she was glad she'd met her. Honestly, she figured Kurumi thought of her as nothing but a plague that entered Gryffindor, rottening it from the inside out...a horrid little monster like Amanda did...like most people did but she was actually glad she met her. "Uh....thanks." The small smile left after the next thing she said. Wow. Just wow. Lex had no idea it bothered her that much. She sighed. This was why she shouldn't have started talking to people, now she was feeling even more miserable than before. "I didn't mean for you to feel horrible about it...you're a great prefect, really, you are and everyone loves you...and this probably won't help but, you did good at the whole guidance thing...I just don't like doing what I'm told." She didn't and for as long as she could help it, she wouldn't. "So stop beating yourself up about it. If I were a different kid I would've listened to you in a heartbeat...but I'm not." Great, now she couldn't see where this was going any more. This called for another sigh. "I guess I mean that...well...I don't know..." She'd just stop talking now.

And since she was gonna stop talking she shrugged at the next thing she said. If she tried answering it would come out wrong, she just knew it.

She looked up at the ghost, trying her hardest not to cry. He was trying to cheer her up, the least she could do was not be stubborn about it. "I guess you're right...but...but what if they forget about me or they get too busy and never have time for any of that...?" The negative thoughts seemed to be flowing much more easily than the positive ones today. "Do you think I'm forgettable? Like the kind of forgettable where you get remembered for a while but then the memory fades and you end up waiting by the window everyday for the owl that never comes...?" She'd seen it happen before and she wasn't very happy with the thought that it might happen to her next!

"Oh yeah...once you become a player you'll have to do all that training and stuff..." This, only now, occurred to her. "Well like you said, you'll get used to it then you'll be like one of the best players!" Yeah, she was still trying to keep the girl happy so she wouldn't cry. No tears. None. Tears would have made her walk away...either that or cry too and that was most definitely NOT an option.

Summer was short? Melanie never felt that. After a week or two, Summer always felt so long to her. "If you have more plans and more things to do, I'm sure it'll be really long!" Because long vacations were really nice. Melanie liked long vacations. OWLs... that... was a test thing... right? Or was it really just a bird? Melanie blinked at him a bit blankly. "What are OWLs?"

Christmas? "Wow, that's a long time," Melanie said, mouth agape a little. Just a little. She didn't want to attract flies. "It'll also be dangerous!" Melanie pointed out. She wouldn't want to meet a wild tiger. "So stay safe!" Or it might tear them apart... and... Melanie needed her best friend, Nerdclaw!Elliot.

"They're gonna wanna shake your hand~ Take a picture with your band~"

Melanie continued to sing, not really noticing what was going on around her. Was she on a different cloud from everyone else? Probably. She was just so psyched about summer vacation happening and everything. She really missed home and couldn't wait to curl up in her own bed all the way back in New Jersey and just hang out with everyone.

"Everyone will shut their mouth~ Because they wanna hea-"

OH. Miss Kurumi said hi! Melanie stopped her singing and beamed at the elder graduating Gryffindor. "Miss Kurumi!" Melanie said, immediately getting up and hugging the girl tightly. She had a big, bright smile on her face as she looked up at the girl and laughed at what she had said. After a little moment, Melanie pulled away. "Thank you. It's okay, I don't want to be a Nerdclaw anyways," she said, shaking her head. Because the Nerdclaws didn't have Queen Alice or Miss Kurumi or Pobby. Nope. They had Nerdclaw!Elliot and that was like... it. "Congratulations to you too!" Melanie exclaimed. "For graduating."

Wait.

Graduating.

That meant Miss Kurumi was leaving wasn't it? Melanie hadn't thought about that before but... Kurumi was graduating. That meant next year... she wouldn't be at Hogwarts. And... that would be... weird. Without saying another word, she hugged the elder girl again.

Ronnie snuck into the Great Hall, hoping no one noticed her being late. She made her way very ninja-like to the Gryffindor table and slipped onto the bench. She glanced around, noticing no one had noticed. She beamed. She was quite the ninja.

Although, she was still rather mad about Oliver making her late. She had lost him and searched all over the castle for the little kitten. Why was he running off so much lately?! It was annoying! Ronnie was DONE always running off to look for him. This summer she'd have to work on training him not to run off. Which would probably be hard. She'd never trained an animal before...and she was sure training a cat would be quite hard....

She sighed, glancing up and down the table. Wow, this year had gone by really fast. She couldn't believe that next year she was already going to be a sixth year. Then after that, a seventh year...then...there'd be no more Hogwarts for her. Her eyes widened a little at the thought of that. No more Hogwarts...?! That was just...crazy! It seemed like only yesterday she had had the Sorting Hat placed on top of her head... aye yi yi. This was going by way too fast!

Landon Hughes finally walked into the Great Hall for the end of the term feast where everyone was gathered. He heard his stomach growl and shook his head. He was always hungry. Always. Though recently, his thoughts have been on getting to now his own home and sharing it with his Aunt Stacie and sister, Daphne. Especially with Daphne. She needed to talk to him and he wasn't sure he was quite too keen on talking to her just yet.

The fifteen-year-old walked over to the Gryffindor table and took a seat. He ran a hand through his hair as he looked around the Great Hall, seeing everyone saying goodbyes and what not. He felt lonely and was wondering where his friends were. As he sat there, he took a bag of oreos that he had got earlier from the Kitchens and placed one into his mouth, eating it. Yum.

SPOILER!!: Dylan

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicalWorld

He then continued walking down the table and saw Mr Prefect and he quickly took out his parchment and memorised the points he had to say which werent many, he walked upto him "Umm Mr Prefect Gideon.. I would just like to say that.. I know we havent hung out much but.. it has been cool to meet fellow gryffindors such as yourself and Selina and Kurumi." he said smiling a bit before carrying on "I would also like to say that I hope we do meet sometime so that we.. can.. " oh what was the next part dad wrote.. oh yes! "can talk and I can see what you do once you leave school" he didnt know what the importance of that was really but his dad was really wanting him to learn all that before he finished school apparently but not knowing why. "Umm so yeah.. it was good to meet you and erm.. hope we see each other around" he said also offering his hand to him for a handshake.

Umm Mr Prefect Gideon...

Gideon heard his name coupled with his outgoing title and turned to spot Dylan coming beside him having come from speaking with Selina. The Gryffindor Dylan, the first year far more nice to be around then his older Slytherin counterpart. He listened quietly as the younger boy read of the parchment in his hands having apparently prepared stuff to say to him and the rest of the leaders. "It was nice to meet you too," he returned offering a polite smile. "And perhaps we may see each other again. However even if we may not, I hope ye enjoy the rest of yer time here. " The prefect then took the offered limb and shook the boy's hand.

SPOILER!!: Kurumi

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Glancing back at Gideon, Kurumi settled a little more into her seat and tried not to think too much about the two empty seats at the staff table. Biting down on her lower lip, Kurumi found herself sort of unsure how to talk to another graduating seventh year for some reason. Well, with a seventh year that she didn't know what came next for them that is and someone that she had worked relatively closely with for several terms. "So....what is up for you next?" she asked somewhat awkwardly.

This whole thing was only made more awkward due to the conversation that her and Selina had had weeks ago about...stuff. At least things had sort of settled into some sort of normalcy.

Gideon met his fellow graduate's gaze not quite catching the awkwardness"University...for potions," the curly-haired young man answered, informing her of the plans set in absolute stone. Not everything else was and no point in further jinxing it or making his decision prematurely to start or not to start his healer training. He had only mentioned it in answer to Jake before realizing it was best to leave that part out...for now.

"And ye were going to work with dragons right?" he questions remembering hearing of her plans between her and through Selina. Had enjoyed being reminded of Romania, the home of his father and the current whereabouts of his older brother. He couldn't remember if all things had been finalized though, having been pretty out of the loop lately.

SPOILER!!: Professor Bentley

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

Aaaaww would you look at that. Brave strong lions had their moments too...
"You'll be fine. Besides, graduation doesn't happen everyday... I'm sure you'll make the most of it."

And the nerves would settle as the night progressed. Seren only hoped there wouldn't be any queasy tummies.... that could end in disaster.

Mama Lion came through, offering words of support to her pride and Gideon wasn't left out. He smiled at her words and nodded to show his understanding of what she meant. "Aye...thank goodness," he remarked in half jest. Once in a while was enough for him. "And thanks Professor." For everything...but he couldn't quite get the words out.

SPOILER!!: Sir Nicholas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nearly Headless Nick

Sir Nicholas beamed at Gideon as he looked over at the prefect with a little wink. "Thank you. It’s good to be back." Remembering that the boy was a graduating seventh year he asked tentatively. "How does it feel to be graduating, are you excited? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to." The last thing he wanted was to make the boy sad.

Gideon smiled at the wink. "Yer welcome, Sir Nicholas." Hogwarts just wouldn't be Hogwarts without the house ghosts and at least they hadn't been lost for good, even if the section of the library wasn't so lucky. And how did he feel about graduating? Oh so hard to answer other than the nerves he had already admitted to the Gryffindor head of house. "Excited...weird...a bunch of other things."

Truthful enough?

SPOILER!!: Jake

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syd

Jake nodded, looking down at the table. It was weird to think that so many people he knew were leaving this year. He really didn't expect to care about people so much that he'd miss them when they graduated. It was... surprising.

Hearing Gideon say potions, Jake looked back at him quickly. "That's brilliant," he said, smiling instantly. "Good luck. Really." Potions was Jake's favorite subject, but he'd never thought about what he could do with it after school. Becoming a Healer, though... that sounded like a good idea. And Jake really hoped that Gideon got to it, if that's what he wanted.

Apparently the answer of potions hit the younger boy on a high note, the reaction was rather hard to miss even before Jake spoke again saying it was brilliant. "Aye it it. Nothing like working with what one loves." Which was certainly true. And he was going to enjoy continuing on with his brewing and such. It would just feel weird not learning under Lafay and his father but a new, complete stranger or multiple strangers over the course of his university career. "And thanks again."

SPOILER!!: Selina

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanficfanatict

Selina was still pretty much wrapped up in a Jake hug, but she peaked her head over the younger Gryffindor to speak to Gideon. She had a wild smile on her face from the hug that she was currently wrapped in. Her teammates were going to be the early death of her. But that was when she caught Gideon's eyes. Her wild smile twisted into a calmer one and she nodded at him in understanding.

Yeah, it had been quite the year. She had been through so much and changed so much. Now, at seventeen, she was just starting to understand who she was as a person and she was sort of liking the way she was turning out. Sure, there were bumps along the road with it- her break up with Gideon being the biggest bump of the year- but she was looking forward to finding out who she was day by day. She liked the Selina she was right now.

"Uh huh," she smiled at him, "Quite the year."

Their eyes met over Keller's head as Jake kept hold of Selina for a little while longer. Gideon couldn't exactly begrudge the boy the hug, almost wanting to do it himself but restraining the gesture. They were never one for public affection between them...even as friends so it would be awkward. More than awkward given what had happened. A silent message seemed to pass unspoken between the former couple, a smile and a nod was all that was needed to convey the message of understanding.

"At least its bound to get better or at least interesting from here."

See? This was why Kat likes Kurumi... and has liked her since her first year. She was super thankful that she was able to talk to her after years of being a... chicken. Getting out of her shell paid off. She was finally here, saying good bye. For now.

Like everyone else in the school that was her friend, Kat considered the Gryffindor as another non-biological sister. Because Kurumi cared and she was someone Kat wanted to be. Kat did want to be a role model student and she has a lot of people as inspiration. One of them, again, was Kurumi. There was a reason why she called the girl the Lion Prefection. Yeah.

This isn't good bye forever. Kurumi said. She was right, in fact she was right most of the time. The Slytherin nodded like a good little girl, even if she says she's not one anymore. Everyone was a child at heart anyway. "I'll be looking forward to seeing you in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley," the girl said. 'Cause you know, she won't be able to see her at Hogwarts anymore. Ok, bad idea. "But I'm really going to miss you." SNIFF.