Wade for the most part was happy to see more arrive, never mind some of their expressions. Kaiden, Tobi, Nessie, Ella, and Professor James' arrivals earned them a stubby arm wave from him. Wow, that trophy was shiny. So.. shiny... Insert mindless staring from Wade before a projected voice woke him. Oh? Ella was making a speech? Now this was worth putting down the pickles for, as he folded his arms casually leaning on the back of the couch where Minnie was comforting little Tobi. Wade gave him some gentle pats as well. That was such a great speech, making him clap his hands.

This party was getting damper though, wasn't it? Wade noted as more of his mates appeared sad. He also started to frown as his brows furrowed. What was going on- Oh.. and who exactly invited the dementors? They didn't deserve any 'hellos' after what they've done. Wade glared at them as he squeezed his onesie paws into the back of the couch. Go.. away.. screaming.. He was torn between succumbing to sitting by Kaiden and letting the sadness take over and desperately searching in his head for happy memories. Why was his mind going blank on them? He knew he had loads. He then closed his eyes in effort, reaching into his only pocket for his wand.

Think happy.. thoughts.. happy place.. GO. AWAY. SCREAMING. Those old nightmares of his late mother coming back as an Inferius were becoming as clear as a picture in his head. She was reaching out about to-no.. No.. remember the boggart.. yes.. think of water.. That tempted him to smirk at how he sent the boggart on a floatie ride away. He could now see his time riding the waves, how much fun it was as he aimed his wand at the dementor, "Expecto Patronum!" A shield of vapor shot out covering the couch where some of his mates were sitting at.. and a sliver moose was already gliding past them. Well hello there, Oakey.

The speech hadn't even worked to cheer anyone up and now Ella felt like even more of a failure than before. She looked up at Professor James, giving her a pleading look. See? She wasn't the one who should have said anything. She just made people more sad. Frown. Frown. Frowwwwwwn. She didn't even register the clapping or thumbs up or anything and simply looked down.

...Why was she suddenly so sad?

She's not coming back, Ella

BLINK.

Dementors again? What was it with them? How could this be happening still and why weren't the Professors doing something about it? It'd been quite a while since they'd first appeared and yet they were still here? The blonde shuddered and reached for her wand, setting the trophy down gently on the table with the other hand. Sad thoughts were creeping in again and she stepped as far back as she could from the dementors, vaguely aware of the others casting their own patronuses at the things. This wasn't good.

WIBBLE!

Jory fought off the sad thoughts threatening to over power him. Come on! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts! He forced himself to think of Ronnie. His parents. And sister. He raised his wand, about to cast his Patronus; he saw a Moose shot by. Oakey's. And vapor from Wade's wand.

Turning his thoughts back to a particular memory with Ronnie, the seventh year aimed his wand towards the dementor. "Expecto Patronum!'' Silver vapor, in the form of a tiger charged towards the dementor.

The Quidditch Official gave an encouraging nod, smile, and elbow-nudge to Ella's side as she seemed hesitant, but as the girl began her speech, James may have shed a little bit of a tear. Just a bit. Ella had been a superb role model for the Hufflepuffs and ALL students the whole term and Erin couldn't have been happier with all the truths the captain was speaking. She was SO RIGHT. When she was finished, James applauded loudly right along with Alec, Wade, and Tobias then pulled Ella in for a brief side-hug and whispered, "Beautifully done."

Reaching into her pocket to pull out three medals, James opened her mouth to announce individual awards when the too-familiar chill crept into the room. Ella's speech had been TOO good, apparently, and the dementors had felt it and come to feast. Erin was TIRED of this and SO ANGRY and she glared as they dared to enter the Hufflepuff common room, a haven for peace. Fueled by that anger, James pocketed the medals and pulled out her wand, ready to cast her own patronus when-... whoa, whoa, WHOA! Hey! Cool! Reinforcements! The silver moose and tiger patronuses were already on the prowl, and another student seemed to have tried and sent out a nice silvery mist.

If she hadn't needed to conjure one, too, as it was her job to protect the students, James probably would've cried proud tears all over her Hufflepuffs and hugged 'em all. What bravery.

Alas, with an exclamation of, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Erin's massive bear patronus joined in with the other three, hers leaping right at the group of dementors to protect her Hufflepuff bear cubs ... badger cubs ... y'know.

Oh... Yukky light thing... we don't liiiike...

So the dementors retreated back from where they came from.

All the bright lights from the patronuses were making Toby have to squint and everything to be able to keep his eyes open. The Hufflepuff common room was pretty well lit but this was like wow.

He scrunched up his face and watched them move. Or at least... he hoped they were leaving.

After a moments Tobias spoke quietly.

"I really don't like those things."

Well, it had to be said.

STARE.

So...Dementors had sort of killed the mood in here, yeah? Not that the mood had been that great to begin with. The sixteen year old Captain looked from the retreating forms to Professor James, a mixture of relief and concern on her face. "Do you think they're gone for good, Professor?" She whispered, wondering if they should relocate or if they would be safe in here.

Truth be told, not many places felt safe these days.

Also, was everyone okay? The sixteen year old looked around and took in everyone's expressions, biting her lip as she did.

"I don't like them either, Tobias." Understatement of the year, probably.

Jory watched as the three Patronuses shoot towards the dementors. "Come on,'' he muttered. "Just go away and leave us!'' And that was exactly what seemed to be happening. The creatures began leaving. And hopefully they would never come back.

"Good!'' Jory slumped back onto the chair he had been sitting in. Now he was wide awake. He looked around. The look on everyone's face told everything; how the dementors affected them. But they were gone now. Hopefully.

Though the dementor's left, the chill in the air still had Wade's heart racing. They were okay, they were all okay. Wade then sighed. He really needed to perfect on his patronus, whatever it may be. At least it put up a sheild for some, while the moose, tiger, and big bear did its thing. "Least we're safe.." He looked around to see everyone still shaken. Hm.

Wade then blinked, before turning away from the couch to grab some chocolate that was on the table along with the other sweets. "Here everyone, this should help.." He began passing them to everyone before having one himself. Looking after the others gave Wade something else to think about other than the faint screaming still ringing in his ears from earlier.

Quite relieved that all four patronuses managed to chase away the dementors, James turned, properly teary-eyed now and she managed a smile around at her Hufflepuffs, particularly Oakey, Wade, and Jory. But the others, too, because she was sure that if the young ones COULD have produced patronuses, they would have. Without a doubt. Hufflepuff house was a force to be reckoned with.

"I think so, Miss Bishop. I don't think they'll be back here any time soon. Good work, team." She examined the students' faces, searching their expressions for those who were particularly shaken. Then Wade was passing out chocolates and, if it could've, Erin's heart would've possibly exploded with joy. She could not get over how great these kids were. She would severely miss those leaving.

"Thank you, Wade. And if anyone needs a hug, we can have a big group one right here." To let them know she was serious, she pulled the nearby Bishop into a side-hug and opened the other arm for anyone who wanted to be a part of it. Chocolate and hugs could cure everything, couldn't they?

Hugs? Tobias was all about hugs, even this sad. He'd already tried the chocolate trick though, because he'd discovered before how it made him feel better. Since this perpetual sadness, though, the chocolate had done nothing and the let down and hopeless feeling and realising that nothing was going to make it better had made things worse and... yeah... no chocolate.

But yes to hugs.

Even though he felt like his energy had been completely and utterly drained, Tobias turned and gave Minerva, who still had her arms loosely around him, a teeny smile of thanks. Because she'd protected him. Everyone had. He was super grateful too. And now he wanted in on that big hug.

Ducking out of Minerva's arms, Toby willed for all of his energy and walked the few feet to reach Professor James and Ella, which seemed like it may as well have been a thousand miles with how worn out he felt.

But then he was THERE and he buried himself right in the middle of the hug!opening, between Professor James and Ella.

"Thanks... everyone," came Toby's muffled voice. You know, thanks for the whole soul saving thing.

Tobias was now very glad his face was hidden because his lip was wibbling and his eyes were all watering and his breath hitched a tiny bit but he kept quiet and just stayed in the middle of the hug.

Maybe he would try the chocolate thing again later.

As Toby left her arms, Minerva realized she was kind of just in a daze and probably was on Toby's nerves by now for holding onto him like a small child for so long. Giving him an apologetic look she pulled her legs to her chest to go into her usual ball. she was such a failure these days. She had a patronus and couldn't even use it, it didn't work in the courtyard so it wouldn't do anything here. She was just so worthless.

Sighing she watched the ones around her and took some chocolate from Wade. It didn't even seem that chocolate could help her anymore... nothing could. "Thanks Kitty" She wasn't going to be rude and stuck the chocolate in her mouth. Pulling her legs tighter to her chest she just blinked around, everyone was alright, right? Usually she would be up being one of the leaders, helping, finding out what she could do next, but why bother. She wasn't any help anymore, more of just a waste of space now.

Her blue eyes snapped up in fear when she heard the word hug. Trembling she buried her face and hoped her little ball of protection would keep her from being hugged. No hugs. Hugs were bad... very bad.. hugs equaled burning plants and she was not doing that again.

Ella wiped at her eyes as she listened to Professor James, relieved by her words. She wanted so badly to believe that they weren't going to return and to hear the older woman say so was reassuring, if only a little bit. "I'm glad." Glad and exhausted and emotionally drained and just...yeah.

Chocolate was good. Ella watched as Wade handed it out and waited until everyone else was all set to grab some. "Thank you, Kitty!Wade." She said quietly, managing a weak smile for the older badger. She really did appreciate it.

Hugs. Hugs were good. Ella liked hugs. The blonde numbly allowed herself to be pulled into one, wrapping her arms around Professor James easily. She squeezed a bit too, feeling a little better just being around someone who was so motherly. Not that Ella was used to that feeling. Max was lucky to have someone like her, did he know?

When Tobias wandered over to them, the blonde squished the first year into the hug and patted his back gently, knowing he was upset. "We're family now, yeah? Family looks out for each other."

And the rest of the badger family should really get in on this hugging business. It was doing wonders for the Captain and it'd probably help them too.