Dylan made his way over to the house table, his robes moving swiftly behind him as he walked quickly. It seemed that a lot of students had already found their seats. He scanned all of the Badgers at the table and spotted an empty seat next to Lux and he happily squeezed next to her. "Hi, Lux!" he said with a cheerful smile, giving her a small wave.

Leaning in a little when Sander whispered to her, Lux couldn't help but feel like she was privy to some top secret information. It made her feel like a spy or something, which was awesome. "That's a good idea, hopefully she won't miss the feast," she whispered back while wondering why she was doing so.

It was good to see that Marigold was doing well, though it was a shame she did not have tons of plans for the summer. Hopefully that would change, because the summer was meant to be lots of fun! "I already have plans to do fashion shows with two of my best friends." It would be totally awesome, and she was excited. She was also excited to go to Sander's house and visit Bay.

Spotting a familiar face take a seat beside her, Lux smiled at Dylan and made a little more room for him since it was a bit of a squeeze. "Hey, how are you? What you got planned for summer?" She hoped that she would be getting to see him then because he was awesome and so was Ginger.

Sophie gave Marigold a weak smile as the girl was all about rabbits being more common at Hogwarts. "Maybe you can bring one next term?" She suggested with a quick shrug. "Hopefully you'll be able to look after yours better than I do mine." The Hufflepuff added truthfully. Though she was sure it wouldn't take much for anyone to look after a pet better than herself. Sophie was really glad her mother was better at it than her.

That thought and the fact Ella decided to un-cling to Alec (yes, best friend, we know you at least partially did it for her) made Sophie's smile widen a bit. Though the weird feeling was still there. And there it was! Ella was thinking the same. "Yeah..." Sophie offered a very helpful and complex answer to her comment. ....Not. At least she knew her bestie and herself would still be together in the same institution for three more years. So that bit wouldn't be as weird. Sophie hoped she would have more to say, but she didn't. Sigh.

Asher surprised Sophie a little when he came over to join them. "Hey..!" Was the badger's whole response. She was full of words that evening, wasn't she?

Alec's answer to her holidays question, though, made Sophie's heart sink and maybejustmaybe she wasn't able to hide that in her eyes. Not that she was crying, she wasn't; but she was definitely far from happy. "I wouldn't know about that..." She mumbled and shrugged at the mention of Mordred. She wasn't sure anymore and she felt like she didn't know anything about her relationship - if there was any relationship still - anymore either. Feeling that obviously didn't help the already weird situation of leaving Hogwarts for good and everything. Merlin. But Alec also said he was going to steal her best friend for a while, which made Sophie give him a forced half-smile. "That's alright. I'll have her the entire year next term still anyway, so..." Again, the thought cheered her up a bit and the half-smile wasn't forced anymore. Ugh, weird and mixed feelings were weird AND mixed. Ugh. Wait, what? "Driving structors? As in, Muggle driving?" Sophie almost didn't catch that last bit because of her inner conflict, so she wondered if she had heard correctly.

"Well if you don't have that many plans, come visit me in Kansas sometime." he offered Lux. "Or maybe we can meet in Diagon Alley sometime." he suggested as well. He wanted to see her sometime this summer. "I can probably convince Emmy to come down one day and we can just chill." he shrugged.

Kace chuckled when Alec was shocked. "Yeah i do have one. It was unexpected to say the least. I didn't plan it, it just happened. I met Emmy at Hogsmeade and our relationship grew since then." Oh. Right. He might not know her. He should clarify. "Emmy Duchannes is gonna be here next term so sadly you won't be able to meet her unless you come to visit." he suggested to his fellow Head Boy.

Kace smiled and replied, "You never take a break from Quidditch do ya?" he teased him a little bit. "Well the team will miss ya mate. I am trying out next term so it will be weird not seeing you." But he hoped Alec's future will be great. "You got any plans outside of Hogwarts? Once you graduate?" he asked him.

"Hey Stranger.." he replied back to his best friend. "You guess that you have been hanging out with people? Psh come on after all those adventures i took you on." he joked with her a little bit. "You have any plans for the summer?" Maybe she could visit him. After all she was still his best friend.

Kace smiled and understood. He was a seventh year so he was graduating. Plus he had Tess as his girlfriend. Must be hard to leave her behind. Oh now onto him? "I have been doing great. My girlfriend is coming here next term. You may know her.." he started. "Her name is Emmy. She is friends with Lux."

It felt like it took Adeline ages to walk from the Hufflepuff common room all the way to the Great Hall. Maybe she just wanted to relive some old memories. No matter what it took the seventh year longer that it normally did to get here. Adeline just had so many feels right now. She really wanted to leave and start a life outside of schooling, maybe see the world but she really wanted to stay at Hogwarts. Adeline knew now that staying at Hogwarts wasn't an option for her. The brunette stood at the entrance to the great hall and just watched everyone. She wanted to remember this, all of this.

Adeline finally walked over to the Hufflepuff table. She stood on her tip toes to look around for a free seat. Adeline grinned when she saw Lux, Alec and Ella. She waved over to them. Was there a free seat? There was one over near Alec. The close Adeline got to the seat that bigger the grin grew on her face. Asher was there. "Excuse me? May I sit here?" Adeline blushed a little and sat down next to Asher away. She knew that he wouldn't say no to her. Adeline turned her head towards Asher and gave him a kiss. "Hey." This was really the end right?

The seventh year was glad that he decided to come over and hang out with the Hufflepuffs. Yeah they seem to all be happy that he had made it over there too. He smiled at Lux and waved back to her. He had already spoken to at the Slytherin table. But he did have a surprise her on the train.

Sophie? Was she okay? Hi was the only words she seem to get out. He undrstood. He did mange to give her a big smile. And "Hi.... What's up?" yeah? He spotted another younger puff girl Marigold that smiled at he. He smiled back and said "Hey." He didn't know her but what the heck maybe he would by the end of the feast.

Asher smiled when Ella asked to him to sit with them. He nodded "Sure! That would be great" As he walked her he gave her a kind of side hug. Yeah it looked like she needed it. He defiantly needed one. Or two.

Apparently.

Because on the other side of her was Alec standing there with his arms opened wide wanting for his hug. Or maybe he just knew that bro!hugs were also needed and welcomed tonight. He Slytherin beamed at the Hufflepuff. "Come here, bro!" Alec Summers was getting the biggest hug of life right now. He acted like he would never see the bro again. But he would. Oh boy he would.

He took a seat next to the head boy. Now all he needed was girlfriend hugs and kisses. Yes. Kisses would be great right now, too. If Adeline was here yet. Almost as soon as he turned to look for her appearance. She was there. Right beside him. He chuckled "You don't have to ask. This is your house table. And me you better want to sit next to me." He returned the kiss and took her hand and held it under the table.

Now all he needed was the speech and food. Although he wasn't too hungry right now.

Adeline slid over closer to Asher, she looked up at him and smiled. "Maybe I wanted to ask." she said with a small laugh. Adeline was nervous, her whole life was going to change once she got off the train, she knew it would probably change for the better but she honestly didn't know what she was going to do with her life. Although Adeline thinking about her future only made her think about being a failure and the past. Bad past stuff. Adeline squeezed Asher hand a little, maybe he would understand what she was feeling or what she was thinking about. She knew that she felt better with him here, even if he didn't know what she was thinking about. Adeline just had a feeling that once she was finished with Hogwarts that her past would come and get her and try to take her away from Asher. Adeline needed to change the subject in her own head or just think about something else. "I'll always want to sit next to you." She smiled. "Unless you want me to sit on the other side of Alec, then I can do that too." She laughed a little. Laughing made her feel better.

She wanted more hugs too, boyfriend. Ella just didn't like the fact that her best friend was sitting there hug-less and thinking about her absentee boyfriend so she was saving all the ones she had for Alec until later. There would be lots so he could rest easy, promise. Plus she wasn't planning on letting go of his hand any time soon. She laced her fingers through his and smiled at their hands before green eyes found his grey-blue ones. "I am, yeah. Summer will be nice. I'm looking forward to hanging out with you guys." You guys because Sophie was included in this too. Actually, there were many people she as hoping to see.

Speaking of the best friend, she seemed off. Ella hated seeing her like this but she understood and so she didn't mention it. Instead she gave her a sad smile and listened as the brunette chatted with Alec about who was going to get her when. "Shared custody," She said quietly. "I like the sound of that." She couldn't think of anything she liked more. Being around them lots would help her get through this whole being an adult thing. Ease the transition and all. "You can learn to drive and teach us, yeah?" Ella nudged Alec gently in the side and then wiggled her eyebrows at Soph half-heartedly. It would be cool, learning to drive.

Kace had grown up quite a bit, did he know? Ella smiled when she saw that it was him that had tapped her on the back. When had he grown up so much? That wasn't allowed, yeah? She still remembered him as the tiny first year who'd been so eager to play Quidditch. Still cute, he was. "Thanks, Kace. That means a lot. Keep an eye on the badgers for me, yeah?"

Oh Merlin, Marigold was crying. Ella had hoped that this wouldn't happen because the younger badger's tears were cause for her own eyes to grow teary and she just couldn't okay? Once she started, she wouldn't be able to stop and so she focused on the drawing she was being given instead, a sad smile playing on her lips. "I'll hang this up in my room, okay?" An elephant, Ella couldn't think of a better going away gift. "Thanks for this, kiddo. It's brilliant. I'll miss you, yeah?" She'd miss them all.

Sander and Lux and Dylan got smiles as her eyes scanned past them, the seventh year getting a quiet. "Congratulations." The Head Girl then turned her head so that she could glance over at the other tables. There were other people she wanted to see but she couldn't bring herself to get up just yet. Maybe...the train. She could see them then, right? It might be easier that way. Maybe.

Looking back at the group that was seated around her, Ella turned her attention to Asher and Adeline. "You guys have any big plans for summer?"

The idea of visiting Kace at his house was very nice, as was seeing him in DA. "I would love to do both with you! We can have lots of fun over the summer." The idea of Emmy coming along would be awesome too. So many summer plans were falling into place and it was going to be one busy and epic holiday!

Asher and Ella got warm smiles. "I am going to miss you both," she told the two Seventh Years. Things would really be different ext term with familiar faces leaving and new people coming in. The scary thing was that at some point she would be Graduating herself. It was not something she wanted to dwell on, so it was nice when Adeline stopped by and joined them.

She had been wondering when her friend would arrive. "Hey, Adeline!" Lux was happy to see her.

Awar took her last seat at the Hufflepuff table. Of course, she'd hope she wouldn't have to think it like that for a couple more years, but it was. She took in the texture of the table, the smiles of her housemates, and the everything that was The Great Hall. Beauxbatons might not feel as homely as Hogwarts did. Her eyes began to get teary, but she blinked them away.

The 16 year-old sent a small wave down the table to her closest friends, "If it isn't my favorite graduate, the ladies' man, and the lady taken by man!"

Marigold was already becoming emotional about next years end of term. Merlin, was she sentimental. Brushing the wetness put of her eyes impatiently, she nodded at Sander. "Me too." She was glad that so many people were excited for summer, even if she wasn't. Two summers in a row of funerals? Should be exhausting. At least she had dinner with Mitch to look forward to. Speaking of Gryffindor peoples, she would head over to that table soon. Coul was a lion, right? She would find out soon enough.

And Dylan! Marigold hadn't seen him in a while. She gave him a hug and a hair ruffle. He was cute, wasn't he? So was Lux. "Fashion shows! That sounds SUPER FUN!" She liked happy people. They made her happy, too.

Sophie. Marigold felt only the slightest bit awkward with this older girl, and only because of their first meeting. Ice cream induced bunny flailing wasn't Marigold's best, and since Sophie was a seventh year, she didn't have much time to show who she really was. "Yeah," she said, about the rabbit, but she was really thinking about Sophie herself. "I hope you know you're awesome," she said finally, not knowing what else to say. Never the best with words, she was.

Giggle. Kace was funny. She missed him, Merlin. She had heard so many rumors about him and never had the chance to ask him about any of them. She doubted they were true, anyway. 'Puffanova,' really? Is that the best the Aparecium could do? Heh. "We have to hang out more." And maybe she could ask about Emmy and talk about Mitch? Maybe? Just maybe.

She smiled at Asher and Adeline. They looked slightly familiar, and she definitely knew the girl was in her house. "Hi. I'm Marigold." Because introductions were good.

Ella was sweet. Marigold gave a shaky smile to the mention of her drawing, then hugged Ella again. "The thing is, I wanted to know you better but never got around to it," she whispered. Ella might not have even heard that, but admitting it made the knot in her throat loosen.

And lastly, Lesta. Marigold gave a strangled mix of a giggle and a sob as she reached for her friend. "Do you really have to go?"

The answer was yes.

Kaiden looked down the table at his housemates, searching out the seventh years. He'd been trying his best to forget about them leaving, putting off saying good bye. But now, well, he was running out of time. Sure, he would be able to talk to them later, but it would be different. Just like it was different talking to the others now.

Shifting his gaze from the hufflepuffs, he looked across the great hall at the other houses. The last few months had been really long, and thing had really been wearing on him. The summer, he really did need it, even if it was bringing unwelcome changes.

Dylan smiled as Lux made a bit more room for him. He shifted where he sat and got comfortable, then turned his attention to his friend as she spoke. "I'm good! And oh, nothing much really. Just going on a few camping trips with the family and that's about it. What about yourself?" he asked, smiling at her again.

He then looked up to say hello to anymore of his friends at the table and he spotted Ella sitting across from him not too far away, and he suddenly realized she was graduating this year. He frowned at the thought of this. He wished he could have gotten to hang out with her more, she was so nice and easy to talk to. When she looked at him and smiled, he gave her a little wave. "Hi, Ella!" he said.

Then, someone was giving him a big hug and a hair ruffle! He grinned when he saw that it was Marigold, and he squeezed her back in return. "Hai, Mari!" he said cheerfully, beaming up at her. "How are you?" he asked.

It took Leah the dramatic girl great effort not to start crying as she entered the great hall for her last meal... in Hogwarts this year. She headed automatically to the Hufflepuff table, where her friends were already seated. She grabbed a seat next to Hazel, who had congratulated Leah on being sorted into Hufflepuff on her first day.

"Hazel! Long time no see~" Leah beamed at her. "It seems like only yesterday when we first met." she added sadly. "Are you doing anything fun during the holidays? I'm hoping to go to Egypt during the summer." she said excitedly.

Then the soon-to-be second-year took a look around the table. Lots of graduating seventh-years could be seen. She smiled sadly at them, but did not go hug them like others because she was not very familiar with them.

More familiar faces came into view. Marigold, Dylan, Kace, and Toby. "Hi guys! How are you all doing?" It was weird that they did not meet much over the school year but could see each other a lot during the feasts.

Lux sent Awar a smile and wave as she joined them at the table. It had been a while since she had last seen her Housemate. "Hey, are you excited for summer?" It seemed that everyone was, besides the Graduates.

Fashion shows did sound fun. Nodding at Marigold, Lux thought about all the amazing clothes that she and her friends would be wearing during their shows. "I should start working on my poses and walk. I am not very good with heels yet," she confessed. But she was still young, and Addi herself had trouble walking in them so it was nothing to be ashamed of!

Camping seemed like a lot of fun, and Lux wanted to spend more time with Dylan because he was very nice and an awesome friend. "Wonderful! We totally should hang out sometime then. I want to see more of you and Ginger." She must never forget Ginger. "I am doing awesome. I have lots of plans to hang out with friends. I'm going to be visiting Sander in Norway for one thing!" It was awesome.

Awar twisted her mouth and nodded, "Unfortunately, I do. But, we still have the summer! Right?" That meant she couldn't stay home this summer, like she usually does...or she could...

She smiled back at the girl who she's only talked to a couple times, but remembers her clearly. "Am I excited? Of course!! It's always sad to see friends go, though." 'Tis be the best time of the year, but also the saddest.

Well why not make it a party at the hufflepuff table. Nigel walked over ot the hufflepuff not sure if Benjy or Mo were even coming. It would be kind of funny to see their reaction when there was no pudding at the table. Since the food was really not out now and all. But still thinking about pudding was dangerous. Since it made you want it and all. But Puffs to meet and all before this feast ended.

So first he looked for Alec and Ella and like it was really that hard. Maybe he should tell Alec the secret to his hair. But all that did was put him in the mood for some pickle cereal. There the Head Couple was.

"Hey Alec, what do you think about one last bowl of pickle cereal. When the food is out and all? Pickles do wonders for the hair also" Really the only other person besides Wade that appreciated it and he just told him his hair secret also."Hey Ella and no crazy road trip for the two of you this summer?"

Those two were not the only graduating puffs this term. Even Sophie was graduating. It seems like he was not talked to her in forever. "Sophie. Crazy huh"

Anna walked down to the the Puff table with a slightly sad smile. The year had gone way to fast for her taste, and now... well, lucky her she was on a trip back to the orphanage for the summer. She really wasn't thrilled to go back to be treated like a freak with how much she felt like she belonged at the school, regardless of the few people she actually talked to...

And speaking of people she talked to, Annaleecia's face instantly fell seeing a certain puff talking to nearly everyone... She sighed slightly, she was still hoping to have avoided seeing Mr. Lecium tonight, like she had since mid-February with how stupid she'd been that night. She glanced at the rest of the table, and then over at the claws. Maybe she should just go sit with Mel for the rest of this. She didn't know any other Ravenclaws, and even if Melek completely blew her off she felt that that would be better than being seen by her crush. She glanced back to her fellow Hufflepuffs and paused, she didn't see Romulus anywhere which was kind of saddening, she barely saw him throughout the year except in class, and they never really got a chance to talk again.

She sighed though, and looked again at the center of the table where everyone seemed to be gathering. Maybe it would be best just to avoid that area yeah? She gave a slight nod to herself thinking that was the best idea and tried to sneak past them all unnoticed and went to the far end of the table. As she sat down she glanced back at everyone else kinda sad. This was her house after all, people who were supposed to be family, but really, she only knew about three of them. One of them she was avoiding, another one wasn't here, and the other was talking to the one she was avoiding so... yeah, she felt kinda alone, maybe she was accepted here unlike at St. Petersburg Shelter for girls, but she still felt like an outcast with everyone else. Like she was the oddball in the Hufflepuff group.

Ella had noticed him straight away, and Toby squeezed her hand right back. It took him a moment to realise that she was joking about saving the seat for someone else, a moment in which he felt pretty guilty... but then he realised and gently nudged Ella's shoulder with his own.

"Guess you're stuck with me," he murmured in reply, finally letting a smile reach his features. See? Ella could make any sad feeling go away. Tobias nodded then, and then leaned in for a super quick hug, before the Head Girl got too caught up in conversations from everyone else.

Hearing a familiar voice, Toby turned to see Kace, his dormmate. He gave him a little wave.

"Hey Kace. Yeah, there's always next year though, right?" Tobias suggested. To be honest, Toby hadn't really hung out with many people at all this term, especially since the end of the year approached and the aging got a little out of hand.

As Toby turned his head again to check the Cutty situation up at the staff table, he caught sight of Alec looking his way. The younger Hufflepuff smiled and waved right back at the Head Boy, but soon realised that what must have been another seventh year, except from Slytherin, had caught his attention. Toby knew he had the whole rest of the feast to talk to Alec, and so didn't butt in. Instead, he continued looking up at the staff table.

There seemed to be a bit of a commotion due to Cutty sitting up there, which was... y'know... understandable. The healer, who happened to be Head of Slytherin house, was kind of scary, though Tobias would never admit it out loud. He watched with a wince as Healer Tilstorm yanked Cutty by his ear and dragged him over to the Slytherin table. Once she'd walked away, Toby was planning to get up and go over to talk to his friend, but there was something that made him freeze where he sat.

There was Cutty, right where Tilstorm had just deposited him, and there, just a little way down the table... was another Cutty.

Toby wasn't stupid, he knew of potions that could make you transform yourself into another person, and given that one of the Cuttys was wearing Airey's suit, that kind of gave away who it was. But........................ why?

Before he could get up to go over and see what was going on, something hit him.

Literally.

"OOFT!" If there was one person you could count on for hugs, it was Marigold. Sometimes she just came out of nowhere. Tobias, caught off guard, flailed a little as he teetered in his seat before realising what was going on, and hugging her back.

"Hey Marigold," he said, giving her a final squeeze and leaning back again so he could actually see her while they spoke. "M'alright. Y'know. Still old." Toby waved a hand like it was nothing. He'd also noticed the wobbliness of Marigold's voice but decided he wouldn't make a fuss of it, because you never really knew whether or not that would be very helpful. So, instead of that, he smiled. "What about you? You doing good?"

Thoughts of moseying over to the Slytherin table were still in Toby's mind, but he was talking to a bunch of people now. And besides, he reasoned that Cutty (both of them) would still be there once the food had appeared, right? Tobias was a fast eater, he'd get over there soon enough.

As he turned back to the table again, Toby caught sight of the first year he'd met at the start of term feast (Leah), though he couldn't place her name at all. Old age had not treated him well. At least he knew her face, right?

"Hi," the boy replied, conveniently avoiding needing to use any names. "I'm alright. How about you? Enjoy your first year?"

Now all they needed was the food.

Fooooooooooooooooooood.

Hazel nodded at Marigold. "Well, summer's always fun, even without any plans," she said. She herself would be going to France for a week like always, but the rest of the summer hadn't been planned yet. "I'm not really sure what I'm doing either."
Hazel smiled at the seventh year. Alex, was it? No, Alec. "Hi, she said shyly. It was strange that you could see someone at school for so long and still not really know them. "Yeh, holidays are always so much fun for me."
Hazel whipped around at the sound of her first year- eek! Soon to be second year!-'s voice. "LEAH! How are you? Did you have a good first year at Hogwarts?" she asked the girl. It was exciting to see a friend she just met this year. "I'm going to France for a week and then staying home for the rest. I know school is fun, but SUMMER IS THE BEST!"

Christmas made her way to the Hufflepuff table not sure why she was here but she was sure that there were some of her hufflepuff friends that she had to say goodbye to

Marigold shifted a bit in her chair, taking her currently asleep leg out from under her. She jiggled it up and down for a bit before pins and needles started. Rubbing it with her fist to try and wake it up faster, she waved to Kaiden. He was the Quidditch captain, right? She thought she remembered him from tryouts. TRYOUTS HAHAHAHA. Pretty much first time on a broom, and trying to play a game she barely knew the rules of. Well, at least she tried.

DYLAN!!! Marigold grinned toothily at the not-so-little-guy. "I'm pretty good, how bout you?" She squished him a bit more. She wanted to hear about his year, but that would come later.

And there was Leah! Jeez, Marigold hadn't seen her in AGES! "Hey! I'm good, how are you? How was your year?" Her first year, yeah? She remembered her first year a little too well. There had been becoming BFFs with Kace, but also ice cream the remedy made her sad...

Aw, Lux was cuuuuute. "I can barely walk in general," she giggled, "Much less in heels." The posing sounded fun though. Marigold struck a silly pose, made a dramatic face, and giggled. "Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" Giggle.

Ohh, muggle books.

Lesta. Marigold flung her arms around her friend's neck again, feeling a tightness in her throat. "I know, I'll just miss you SO MUCH. And of course, summer, you should sleep over some time!" She smiled at the thought, but it still wasn't enough to cover the sadness of Lesta leaving. She squeezed her gently.

She smiled at the older boy she didn't know (Nigel) and Annaleecia. She smiled and nodded along with Hazel. She seemed a little excited for summer, eh?

Toby. "Sorry for squishing you," she said apologetically. "I'm good. Do you have any plans for the summer?" Aw, she liked Toby. He was sweet.

She waved at the older Gryffindor girl (Christmas), who she thought might be graduating.

Laura had just been sat quietly watching everything with interest, she didn't feel up-to talking or anything, she waved back at Sophie when her fellow leaver waved at her and she gave a nod to Lux but that was it, she was focused on the staff table and what was going on up there. She really wished she could go and find out but she was just not bothered and decided that she would find out when the Head made a speech.

Alec liked hugs. Really. Which was why he was very glad that Marigold was staying right here. Still hugging, still rubbing her back gently. And yes, he did wish he had had the chance to gotten to know the girl a little better over the year. Maybe they could have gone flying at some point. Maybe. "Anyone ever tell you that you give nice hugs?"

Then his grey eyes landed on Sander. A small smile flitted across the boy's face as he waved back. Fellow graduate and all. And they had shared a dorm for... what? A year? Then there was that Potions and Ancient Runes lesson. Yeah... Alec mildly remembered those. "Hey! You, erm, you looking forward to the summer?" And life after Hogwarts.

To say that the eighteen year old had expected Sophs to be a little... saddened by the holidays and Mordred mention was false; he had hoped it would help her feel a bit better and maybe talk as excitedly about it as she did about Charms. He hadn't expected this. Eyes wide, he glanced over at Ells before looking back at Sophs again. "You want us to write him a letter? I hear I can be... erm... scary sometimes." Joke, that was. Because it was him. He wasn't scary.

Feeling Ella's hand moving in his own, Alec glanced down at their hands, the smile widening a little. He squeezed her hand in return before looking over at her. "Agreed. It'll be nice to still hang out." And they had plans before she went to University with Sophs. And speaking of... "Make sure to look after each other, yeah?" he said, looking between the two Hufflepuff ladies. He did like the sound of shared custody as well. Just saying. When the talk turned to driving, a sheepish expression spread across Alec's face, especially at the nudge, and he nodded at the two of them. "Muggle driving. And... yeah! I'd like that. Maybe we could all go on a roadtrip sometime." All. Nodnod. And driving lessons should be paid in kisses, Bishop.

So this was why Alec hadn't known about the girlfriend situation with Kace. "I... find that those are better. The unexpected ones." Was he being wise? ... Maybe not. "Emmy Duchannes... no... no, I've never heard of her before," Unfortunately. "But congrats! And yeah! I'll come and you can introduce me to her?"

The comment about Quidditch made Alec snort. Kace was right, he didn't take a break from Quidditch. "What can I say? I love the sport," So much so that at the mention of the team, the lump in his throat seemed to grow. "I'll miss them too. Just... yeah," He cleared his throat before continuing, "But that's a great idea! I mean... Kaid would really like that, I bet." Full approval from the Head Boy. "Quidditch is my plan. I'm, erm... playing professionally." Something he'd been meaning to say for a while now.

Then came another seventh year, distracting him from the third year he had been talking to. Someone who was sitting on the other side of his Slytherbro. Smiling a little, Alec gave Adeline a wave and said, "Hey Adel!" before turning his attention towards...

... Asher. Who was hugging him. Big hugs, too, which Alec approved of. He hugged the Slytherin back, even patting his back as he did so. Bro hug, this was. "You okay, mate?" And yes, the boy was going to see him again. Orientation and practices, remember?

Favourite graduate. That tugged on his heart some more. Smiling sadly, his grey eyes landed on the fifth year who was also leaving and he gave her a wave in return. "Hey Awar!bear! How you feeling?" This... was sad. Yeah. Beauxbatons was just so far away, you know? ... Pause. "You're not too old for bear hugs, are you?"

And then came another Hufflepuff. Alec watched him carefully as the boy looked down the table and then at the rest of the hall. He wanted to hug him but something told him... not to. Instead, he nudged the Captain gently before saying, "I'm glad you made it, General Kaid," Really. "Looking forward to the summer?" How many times had he asked that question today?

Then came hair. And not just any hair, GOOD hair.

The smile was still there but, for the first time in what seemed like days, the boy let out a chuckle. "Looks like Curly Wade's taught you well, mate. He'd be proud, I bet," Pickle cereal, you know. ... Wait. What did he say about the hair?! "Really?!" he asked, glancing over at Prefect Punny's Nigel's hair, "So that's the secret behind your hair. And... yeah! A bowl of pickle cereal to... celebrate the end of the year." And Nigel should join them. Nodnod.

The Head Boy was very distracted and noticing a lot of things today. It was hard not to when the Hall was as crowded as it was. Something he didn't fail to notice was... lady. And man. Both of whom had gone up towards Truebridge, holding something he couldn't see properly from over here. ... Curious. Yeah. Very curious.

Shaking his head, he turned to look over at... Tobias instead. "Hey Badger Boom!" he called, "You, erm... are you okay? Looking forward to the holidays?" Casual. He was trying to be casual. He didn't forget that talk he promised Ells he'd have with this third year. He just needed to be casual about it. And not awkward.

... This was going to be hard.

Alec tilted his head as his attention landed on Hazel. It was nice that the girl had responded but something Lottie had told him not too long ago popped up in his brain. Surely, he wasn't really scary, yeah? He tried to ignore this as he flashed her a small smile and said, "That's great. Summers are always... good, in my opinion. A nice break." Heh. Surname jokes. "Have you got any plans?"

Nodding at Awar, Lux thought about how true what she said was. Friends leaving was the worst part of the feast. "I know. But next term is still going to be awesome!" It would still be possible to visit the leaving students over the holidays and during Hogsmeade visits.

It was funny that Marigold said that she could barely walk in general. She was a funny girl, and Lux thought that she should get to know her better because she seemed really nice too.

OOOH, poses!

Laughing, Lux struck her own pose. "Romeo won't be able to resist us looking like this."

As Anna and Christmas made their way over, a wave was sent in their direction. "Hey, guys!" It was awesome how more and more people were coming to sit here for the feast.

Poor Laura seemed to be doing badly, not paying much attention to anyone. Frowning slightly, Lux wondered if there was anything she could do to cheer the Badger up.