"Mo, Nigel," Benjy greeted more personally, with a nod at both of his fellow sixth years. And a peep around Mo to give a small wave to his bud Sophie. "Hey to you too," he added with a grin.

"Pudding, you say?" Benjy tilted his head thoughtfully. He strained to look over at the Hufflepuff table, only to find his view of the offerings on it was blocked. "Can't quibble at pudding. Nor...er, Seventh years." Though since he wasn't really close to any Hufflepuffs, or at least, he couldn't remember any he was meant to particularly care about, it was mainly about the pudding.

"If there's sticky toffee pudding, I'm totally in." Benjy grinned. "Though I wanna go to the Gryffie table at some point too." For non-pudding and non-Seventh year reasons.

Marigold had finally pushed herself off the Hufflepuff bench and decided to walk around. She definitely would say hello to Mitch and goodbye - sniffle - to Coul at the lion table, along with probably some staring at good ole West with the snakes, but for some reason she found herself standing awkwardly at the Ravenclaw table.

No reason at all to be here.

Sophie should really go and find Adi, seeing as this was the end of term and all. Not to mention the fact that they were both quickly aging, and she had no idea if they'd... No. She refused to think along those lines. They WOULD be back next term.

They WOULD.

Still, Sophie didn't know if she'd get to see him during the break, so here she was traveling across the Great Hall and toward the Hufflepuff table. Sophie was absentmindedly passing the Ravenclaw house table when BAM--she hit somebody head on.

"Ooomph," she mumbled, stepping back.

Okay, Caelen was going over. She wanted to see her "older brother" one last time before they were seperated half of the summer. Okay, that wasn't true, she was mostly going over their for the food. The redhead knew she was going to be seeing Nate half of the summer anyway if everything went accoring to plan, so going over there to see him would be useless. Mind-bendingly useless.

Not that he wasn't cool or anything. Okay, he wasn't cool, --at all-- but he at least knew what she liked and didn't prank her half the time. So the girl with the braid stood up.

And there was a muuuch bigger reason that she was kind of ashamed to admit. The PUDDING. What, the shorter kid liked food. No one could blame her for that. And there was apparently food over there. But there was also Nate over there. Because dealing with him all of the time during the summer and any time he could POSSIBLY be around at Hogwarts apparently wasn't enough. Someone get this girl a straight jacket. The freckled face girl was going to need one with all of her insanity.

BAM.

The collision wasn't as big as it would have been had Marigold moved or walked at all, but even when stationary she was pushed off balance. Managing to not fall over (but accidentally hitting herself in the face in the process), she quickly stood upright again.

"Sorry," she said, rubbing her injured cheekbone. "I wasn't looking where I was... standing." Looking up to see whose shoes she was apologizing to, she was hit with a new wave of guilt. Merlin, of all the people to hit in this school, she had hit an old!student. Hopefully she wasn't injured. Just in case, Marigold took a cautionary step forward.

"Are you alright?"

Hope had given up on potions. She had given up on everything really. Her body ached. Her bouncing blond locks were so thinned and grey now she was almost bald. The only thing that was still the same about her was her eyes. They were still the vivid green of childhood while every inch of her was screaming old lady. She sat down somewhere near Mo and Sophie and everyone else. "Hey guys." She gave a small wrinkled smile to all of them and laid her arms on the table placing head down on top of them. She wanted to...she didn't know what she wanted. Maybe just to go home.

Gwen glanced up as another person joined the table. The poor girl looked like she was 200% done. The twelve year old shot her a sympathetic smile. Gwen had the age-disease too. She knew how it was. "Doing okay, Hope?" the American girl asked her friend. Obviously not, but it was something to say, right? They could all just cross their fingers they didn't die over the summer.

Gwen was very not-excited to see what her father would think of the old thing. He would definitely say it was freaky, because it was. Also, it was unlikely her parents would let her come back if this was the sort of thing that happened at a school they'd been reluctant to send her to in the first place. Looked like this was goodbye to Hogwarts for more than just the seventh years. Also, desserts? Because after all of the talk about pudding, Gwen wanted something full of sugar!

Christmas walked over to the ravenclaw table and she had no idea why she just wanted to say bye to some random ravenclaws or maybe see Alex who she hadn't seen in a good while boy was she going to miss Hogwarts

Wasn't looking where she was...standing. Right. That was pretty much pointing out that it was Sophie, since the Hufflepuff hadn't been walking, who'd caused the whole thing. "Right," Sophie mumbled. Oh, dear, Merlin. Her whole body hurt. She was old and aging, and...oh, were those the Healers up at the staff table?

Hmm...

"I'm sorry, too," she added. Sophie nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." She looked toward the staff table. "Do you know who those adults are? Aren't they Healers?" They'd been around the school before, she knew.

Hope got a grin as she approached, although it faded a little bit when he realized how poorly the little girl was looking. Merlin, Ravenclaw had been a house of little girls at the beginning of the term, and now it was a house of little old ladies.

It was depressing.

"Hey, Hope. Benjy and Ni and I were just going to..." Mo paused in the middle of explaining, again, about the pudding, although he was going to offer to bring something back for Gwen and Hope and their queen Lily, because he was fully distracted by the appearance of strangers dragging a bucket up to the head table.

"What's... going on up there, do you suppose? Bucket brigade? Giant squid ink attack?" And Mo might have looked at Ni then, 'cause GIANT SQUID INK ATTACK? That was brilliant.

Hope sighed and gave Gwen a smile. "I still feel pain in the hip I broke, but I think that it's just a phantom ache really." She looked around the table finally realizing just how many people were old. It was amazing really. She hoped if she made it back for the next year nothing awful would happen. At least not to her. She really just wanted to focus on her school work. "How are you?"

"Hey Mo." Oh, they were going to do something fun. Yay! She tried to force enough energy into her system and sat up straight when her eye caught what the older claw had already seen. People. Healers. Ones she recognized. With buckets. "Giant squid ink attack?" He was definitely thinking WAY outside the box, but the silly thought of it put a smile on her face.

Alex saw Christmas heading toward the Ravenclaw table and waved her over. "Hi Christmas, long time, no see. How have you been? Do you gve plans for the summer?" Christmas was one of the nice people she had met at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten to know her as well as she would have liked. And now school was over, but Alex was determined not to focus on missed opportunities right now.

Christmas smiled at Alex and said "I have been fine thanks Alex and yeah it has been a long time and as for plans for the summer i actually start training with the Appleby Arrows reserves not long after term finishes" Christmas was glad that she got to see Alex again it was just a shame that she didnt get to know Alex as well as she would have liked

"Wow Quidditch, that's really great. You must be excited." It sounded like Christmas was ready to start the next chapter of her life immediately. That was probably a good thing........no time to think about missing Hogwarts. "How long will your training last?", Alex asked.

Alex's stomach began to growl a little louder than she would have liked. "I hope the Headmistress gets going with her speech soon. I'm starving. And truthfully, I want this feast to be over. I'm not really great with goodbyes."

Christmas smiled at Alex and said "I think it will probably last most of the summer and yeah i am the same hungry not great at saying bye to friends that i will see if i get time off of qudditch, do you have any plans for the future Alex?"

Alex listened to Christmas and then thought about her question. She wished she had a more concrete answer to give her. "Well, I've applied to several universities for the fall. I'm trying to make a final decision about which one I'll choose to attend. For the immediate future, I can't wait to get home and see my family. Then I'll be visiting some friends during the summer."

It seemed strange to be thinking about attending a school other than Hogwarts. It had been her home away from home for seven years.

Christmas nodded and said "That sounds good and yeah visiting friends is always good if i have anytime off of training i will try and see some of my friends as well" Even though she was leaving it was always best to try and keep in touch with friends as much as possible

Caelen gave up going over to Hufflepuff table a few minutes ago for various reasons. Most of them being some form of awkwardness. Actually, almost all of them had to do with some form of awkwardness. What could she say? The redhead was an awkward child. Going to your first actual school with people your age did that to you. Yes, the freckled face girl was still blaming homeschooling on her shortcomings in the social department.

She walked back over to the Ravenclaw table and sat down near a bunch of older students she didn't know. Why? Well, the girl with the braid had no idea. She just found an empty seat and took it. Because the table was actually getting full. Haha, Caelen could remember when there was barely any people.

And on a much more whiny note, couldn't this thing go FASTER? The twelve year old was huuuunnngry and wanted food. Couldn't the staff speech happen so they could get it oooover with? At this rate, the old people would be sitting at the house tables until they actually died. okay, so it probably wasn't that long that they were actually waiting, but it felt like FOREVER. This was probably the exact reason why she couldn't be a Hufflepuff. No patience on this one.

Woah, who were the other people in the Great Hall? And what was the bucket for? Did they finally solve the old people issue? Was this like an end of year treat? The redhead bit her chapped lip and smiled, watching as they dragged the bucket up to the table. Was anybody else wondering? Because this was BIG. What if what it was would heal the old people?! This was huge! Unless she was hallucinating? What was her pulse?

The soon to be second year pressed her fingers to her wrist in fright and tried to take her pulse and then rubbed her deep blue eyes furiously for the next test. Well, now she couldn't see well because of the light changing. Fail.

Who were those people?

It was the only thing Nigel could think about right now. They had 'buckets' full of something and it seemed like they were kind of expected. Truebridge was not throwing them out or anything like that. Strange and like it would really be a cure. That was just way to convenient. Nigel had to smile at Mo's suggestions.

Oh Bucket brigade. That was good. But Giant Squid Ink Attack took the cake. Nigel had to laugh at that. Even though he probably was the only one laughing. It was pretty brilliant.

"I'd guess Giant Squid Ink Attack. Just cause that would be awesome"

Marigold smiled apologetically. She could have moved over if she had been paying attention, after all. She wanted to check to make sure her old body wasn't hurt, (because Marigold's didn't hurt at all) but she wasn't sure if it would be awkward or not. ... Actually, most definitely awkward.

She nodded at the girl's apology (it was her fault, though she shouldn't feel bad about it), then followed her gaze. There seemed to be some commotion up at the staff table. "I think Healers? It does look like the professors are reaching for that liquid... Unless they're poisoning them?" Marigold had learned anything and everything could happen at Hogwarts.

Sophie gave a smile in greeting to everyone who joined the group at the table, but she didn't say anything, not even when Mo ruffled her hair or suggested they go visit the Hufflepuff table. She simply turned to peer over at the table - was Tobes there yet? - and when she couldn't find him, she sunk next to Mo once more and gave his arm a hug.

Saaaaaaaaad.

But when the commotion of two adults up at the staff table captured everyone's attention, she squeezed Mo's arm a little tighter, anxious to see the result. And then the Headmistress was drinking something, and began her speech - FOUND A CURE. "A cure, Mo, a cure!" She had released his arm from a death grip and was hitting it repeatedly a few times, wiggling on the bench with excitement. "We're gonna live!" Her big ol' grin didn't leave her face for the duration of the woman's speech, especially at the recognition that Ravenclaw came in second in Gobstones and Quidditch. That felt as good as being winners, since Hufflepuff always took first place in everything anyway. Second place was the part that REALLY mattered. She beamed around at the team, as most of them were in the area - and then she tried to catch the gaze of Culloden, Cat, and Tobes, when she finally found him, to give them looks of utmost relief. Everyone was going to be okay.

Leaving the Slytherin Andrew steered his steps towards the blue robed table sitting under the eagle banner this time. Taking care not to spill his buckets Andrew narrowed in on a familiar girl among all the other students. Wasn't that the blond girl who had broken her hip in a fall?

Walking up to where the girl was sitting he sat down the bucket on the table beside the gril before he gave her a small wink. "We found a cure." Letting his eyes drift over the eagles he raised his voice to be heard all over the length of the table. "Hello everyone! I'm Healer Wombley from St Mungos. We've finally found a cure against your aging disease." Beam.

Gesturing to the steaming bucket he continued. "The bucket holds the steaming cure potion. Everyone should drink a full goblet of it for best effect. I highly advise you all to mix the potion with pumpkin juice or another beverage of your choice. It smells and tastes terribly unfortunately." No remedy that Andy could think of at the top of his head was pleasant.

Grabbing for the girl's goblet (Hope) he said demonstrating. "What you do is that you take the ladle inside the bucket, scoop up a generous amount of the potion and pour it carefully into your goblet, mix it with a beverage and then you drink it up!"

Instructions given Andrew left the table to go back find his boss..

Thank Merlin, they found a cure. Alex was so happy she couldn't contain herself. She wasn't going home an old woman! Listening to the healer's instructions she prepared herself for the curing potion. When it was her turn, Alex took the ladle and dipped into the liquid. She poured it carefully into her goblet and topped it off with pumpkin juice. She could already smell the concoction and it was foul.

Alex decided that it was best to hold her nose, otherwise, she would never be able to force it down. Putting the goblet to her lips, Alex took a big gulp. It was the nastiest thing she had ever tasted, but it was the key to her youth so she swallowed down the remainder of the liquid with considerable difficulty. Was it possible to feel younger immediately? Alex did not know, but she could swear she felt better already. She decided to check on her friends and see how they were faring.

Hope felt a tidal wave of relief crash over her. She was going to be young. She was going to LIVE! She smiled up at the healer whose name still escaped her but he was still remembered. As he picked up her goblet and demonstrated how much to add she nodded. Pumpkin juice, yes? She added some to it and looked back up at the headmistress. She seemed fine. Normal. Normal...

She added the juice and closed her eyes. Please. Please. With one quick chug she choked it down. Even with the pumpkin juice she could still taste the bitter vile liquid, but it could have been worse. So she heard anyway. She felt her skin getting tight and her hands reached up to touch the luscious blonde curls that were expanding over her shoulders and down her back to their original place.

Tears fell. How many times had she cried this year? Far too many really. This time though, this time they were happy tears. "It works!" She exclaimed the words loudly. "I'm...I'm...me again!" Her hip may always have a phantom ache but she had missed this young body. She was ready to play Quidditch. Now! To jump down stairs and roll around in the grass. Ready to be a child.

Caelen watched as her fellow Ravenclaws drank the potion and turned young, leaning over towards them to get a better look. Now nobody had to go home looking older than their parents! And there would be none of that.... well, ya know. No need to think about it now. Because they were all young again. This healer should be made a national hero. No. International. Because that man -who's name she wasn't paying attention to, Josh or something?- had just given the students the best going away treat ever!

But, Merlin, she could smell it from over where she sat. And that smell was nasty. How did the people who actually had to DRINK the drink do it? Some looked to be holding their nose and others looked like they were sucking it up. And the results were amazing. They looked younger already! The twelve year old suspected they would have a bunch of bouncing young ones on the train going back home now. Which was waaay less depressing than a train full of old people that could die at any second.

But, the most selfishly, she was no longer in an annoying majority. She could participate in lessons next year to the fullest because she would know what they would be talking about. There would be people to explore with and skip the last step with when running down the stairs and lay near the black lake and go cloud-watching with! There were actual, non-creepy children at Hogwarts! Not like the creepy old young ones that populated the school this year.

And, if this day couldn't get ANY better, this was the last feast she would spend without Spencer. Because he was coming next year! And since they were in the same year, they could help each other on homework and play chess without the aid of photographs and an owl and run around the pathway and all kinds of cool stuff! Okay, now the blue eyed girl couldn't wait for next year. But first, maybe she should finish with this year.