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As you crest the staircase coming up from the sixth floor, you'll notice a statue to your right. Lachlan the Lanky is a great, if not extremely old, landmark for a meeting place, because he has just enough space behind him for a firstie to squeeze in and hide.
Never underestimate the element of surprise when greeting your friends, and even more so when sneaking up on your enemies. This statue of a wizard innocently reading is anything but innocent.
Candice was in the mood to do some exploring. She decided to explore the castle since its kinda cold outside and she's not in the mood to put her heavy cloak so better stayed indoor. She was walking around the Seventh floor because its near her common room and the chance for her to get lost was rather small then she stopped in front of a statue. An old statue.
Who's this guy? Why Hogwarts has his statue here? History was never her strongest subject. The Gryffindor then noticed there's a small space behind the statue. She hide herself behind the statue. And no, she's not playing hide and seek, she just wanted to know whether she's fit in there or not.
__________________
All of the love for tomorrow______________________________________________
I know we're gonna be stronger than you'll ever known
Candice was in the mood to do some exploring. She decided to explore the castle since its kinda cold outside and she's not in the mood to put her heavy cloak so better stayed indoor. She was walking around the Seventh floor because its near her common room and the chance for her to get lost was rather small then she stopped in front of a statue. An old statue.
Who's this guy? Why Hogwarts has his statue here? History was never her strongest subject. The Gryffindor then noticed there's a small space behind the statue. She hide herself behind the statue. And no, she's not playing hide and seek, she just wanted to know whether she's fit in there or not.
Angel had decided that she was going to go and explore places. She walked around for a little bit then decided she would see what was on the seventh floor when she suddenly saw Candice. "Hi Candice." Angel smiled. "I want to apologise for my behaviour at the train station, that wasn't the real me." Angel sighed, she had just been nervous and very scared that day."
Angel had decided that she was going to go and explore places. She walked around for a little bit then decided she would see what was on the seventh floor when she suddenly saw Candice. "Hi Candice." Angel smiled. "I want to apologise for my behaviour at the train station, that wasn't the real me." Angel sighed, she had just been nervous and very scared that day."
Candice was about to hide herself behind the old statue and scared anyone who walked pass her but unfortunately before she could do that someone already saw her. Its Angel. Of course it had to be one of the Valentines triplet. Why she seem always running into Angel and AJ? "Umm. Hi." And the question now who's she running into now? Angel or AJ?
BLINK!
Huh? What apologize? That caught her off guard. Train station? Ohhh. This one was Angel. "I forgive you." Nodnodnod. "Just don't call me young grasshopper again, yeah?" As long as she didn't give her any nicknames they're good. "Not a real you? What do you mean?"
__________________
All of the love for tomorrow______________________________________________
I know we're gonna be stronger than you'll ever known
Candice was about to hide herself behind the old statue and scared anyone who walked pass her but unfortunately before she could do that someone already saw her. Its Angel. Of course it had to be one of the Valentines triplet. Why she seem always running into Angel and AJ? "Umm. Hi." And the question now who's she running into now? Angel or AJ?
BLINK!
Huh? What apologize? That caught her off guard. Train station? Ohhh. This one was Angel. "I forgive you." Nodnodnod. "Just don't call me young grasshopper again, yeah?" As long as she didn't give her any nicknames they're good. "Not a real you? What do you mean?"
Angel smiled at Candice. "Hi Candice." Angel listened to what Candice was saying and blushed. "I'm glad, I don't want to have any room mates as enemies." Angel really hoped that things would get better between them two, "I promise I will never call you that again." Angel held out her hand for Candice to shake. "I was nervous and had lost my sisters and was really scared, so I acted out. Which was wrong"
Angel smiled at Candice. "Hi Candice." Angel listened to what Candice was saying and blushed. "I'm glad, I don't want to have any room mates as enemies." Angel really hoped that things would get better between them two, "I promise I will never call you that again." Angel held out her hand for Candice to shake. "I was nervous and had lost my sisters and was really scared, so I acted out. Which was wrong"
I don't want to have any room mates as enemies. True that's true. They were gonna share the same dorm for the next seven years so it wouldn't be comfortable to have an enemy as your roomies. "Good. Truce then?" She shook Angel's hand. "Lost your sister?" She cocked her head at this. Did she get separated or something?
__________________
All of the love for tomorrow______________________________________________
I know we're gonna be stronger than you'll ever known
Cosgrach certainly wasn't the first year that would fit behind the statue, but he wished he was. He was on a mission, see? A mission to find and make Sophie feel more sheepish than she already was. He took out his wand and thought of enlarging the space. Would it work before Sophie appeared? He looked around suspiciously. It'd better. And she'd better come out once he was INSIDE.
Cosgrach certainly wasn't the first year that would fit behind the statue, but he wished he was. He was on a mission, see? A mission to find and make Sophie feel more sheepish than she already was. He took out his wand and thought of enlarging the space. Would it work before Sophie appeared? He looked around suspiciously. It'd better. And she'd better come out once he was INSIDE.
It was her usual time of day to go track down Cat or Tobes - whoever she found first, really, and since the weather was so poor, it had become much easier to stumble upon one of them in their usual places - so Sophie set off down the corridor with an excited bounce in her step. She thought to check various known crawlspaces that Tobes liked to inhabit on her way down to the kitchens, where she thought Cat might be, but Sophie didn't get that far.
As she rounded the corner toward the staircase to take her downstairs, there was Culloden. Being... his usual bizarre self, really. For a moment, she thought about slipping back around the corner and trying to sneak up on him, but he was looking around like he was up to no good. Best to just charge him head on, then.
But what was he...?
"What are you even doing?" She crossed her arms, approaching with caution. Why would he even be on the seventh floor?
"What are you even doing?" She crossed her arms, approaching with caution. Why would he even be on the seventh floor?
Cosgrach JUMPED, turned and POINTED his wand at the -
Sophie. Oh. He flushed crimson red, holstered his wand and looked indignant. Of all the people, it had to be HER finding him!
"I was just polishing the statue!" he hotheadedly lied and crossed his arms just as sassily as she did (but his ought to be more effective, because he was more dramatic than she could ever be). "What are you doing, creeping up on good ole professors like that?" Hmm?
Cosgrach JUMPED, turned and POINTED his wand at the -
Sophie. Oh. He flushed crimson red, holstered his wand and looked indignant. Of all the people, it had to be HER finding him!
"I was just polishing the statue!" he hotheadedly lied and crossed his arms just as sassily as she did (but his ought to be more effective, because he was more dramatic than she could ever be). "What are you doing, creeping up on good ole professors like that?" Hmm?
When the man turned his wand on her, Sophie snorted at him. "Whatcha gonna do with that?" Snickering softly as he put it away, she shifted her weight to one leg, standing debatably sassier than Culloden.
It was a sass-off.
"Polishing the statue. Is that the best you could come up with?" She grinned a cheeky grin and slowly approached him further, close enough to peek behind the statue and see if he was hiding something back there. "Good ole?" Her eyebrows shot upward and she gave him a questioning sort of look before peering behind the statue again. "Well, y'got the 'old' part right." Shots fired.
When the man turned his wand on her, Sophie snorted at him. "Whatcha gonna do with that?" Snickering softly as he put it away, she shifted her weight to one leg, standing debatably sassier than Culloden.
It was a sass-off.
"Polishing the statue. Is that the best you could come up with?" She grinned a cheeky grin and slowly approached him further, close enough to peek behind the statue and see if he was hiding something back there. "Good ole?" Her eyebrows shot upward and she gave him a questioning sort of look before peering behind the statue again. "Well, y'got the 'old' part right." Shots fired.
Okay, as he had a male's body, his hips would never look that sassy even if he was leaning on one leg, so Cosgrach grumpily let her win this round. She was sassier than him, alright, but only with the posture! The attitude, oh, he would beat anyone in that!
And he was going to.
"Maybe it means you shouldn't stick your nose into things," he answered with a sweet smile. It might sound like a reprimand to someone unfamiliar with their relationship, but he was sure she would understand it was a joke. He didn't object when she looked inside the statue. He didn't have anything in there, after all. Instead, he snorted.
"How about breaking this elderly's heart with harsh words, then?" he asked in his best Scottish accent, and gave her an exaggeratedly hurt look.
Okay, as he had a male's body, his hips would never look that sassy even if he was leaning on one leg, so Cosgrach grumpily let her win this round. She was sassier than him, alright, but only with the posture! The attitude, oh, he would beat anyone in that!
And he was going to.
"Maybe it means you shouldn't stick your nose into things," he answered with a sweet smile. It might sound like a reprimand to someone unfamiliar with their relationship, but he was sure she would understand it was a joke. He didn't object when she looked inside the statue. He didn't have anything in there, after all. Instead, he snorted.
"How about breaking this elderly's heart with harsh words, then?" he asked in his best Scottish accent, and gave her an exaggeratedly hurt look.
"Where's Tobes?" Hehehe.
Snorting again at his good-humored reprimand, Sophie leaned over to give the professor a nudge with her elbow. "I'll stick my nose in where I want, thank you. "
Hehehehe.
There was nothing of interest behind the statue, which was disappointing, so Soph settled back into her sassy stance once more. "Admitting you're elderly. Never thought I'd see the day," she shook her head in mock pity, the cheeky grin staying put. "S'impossible to break you. You're tough as nails."
She knew that wasn't true.
Suddenly feigning deep sadness, Soph gave Culloden heartbroken eyes, resembling a wounded puppy. "Did... didn't you hear? We got into a big fight after we left your office. Things were said we didn't mean -" her head drooped, her expression pained, "and we decided it's best to not be friends anymore." She brushed at an eye as if she was wiping away a tear and stole a glance at Culloden - well? Was he buying it?
Snorting again at his good-humored reprimand, Sophie leaned over to give the professor a nudge with her elbow. "I'll stick my nose in where I want, thank you. "
Hehehehe.
There was nothing of interest behind the statue, which was disappointing, so Soph settled back into her sassy stance once more. "Admitting you're elderly. Never thought I'd see the day," she shook her head in mock pity, the cheeky grin staying put. "S'impossible to break you. You're tough as nails."
She knew that wasn't true.
Suddenly feigning deep sadness, Soph gave Culloden heartbroken eyes, resembling a wounded puppy. "Did... didn't you hear? We got into a big fight after we left your office. Things were said we didn't mean -" her head drooped, her expression pained, "and we decided it's best to not be friends anymore." She brushed at an eye as if she was wiping away a tear and stole a glance at Culloden - well? Was he buying it?
Cosgrach was buying it and more: he'd stopped breathing, his mouth dropped open and he blinked dumbly. He'd wanted to retort and pull her leg back, but he didn't even remember what she'd said previously. He didn't know anything. It didn't even register that if it'd been true, she would have been sad since she saw him, because never once did he question her honesty. Instead - WAS THAT A TEAR?
"B-b-but!" he breathed, "he looked so genuine at the office!" How he was elated because the big words were told at last? "He doesn't even deserve you."
Cosgrach was buying it and more: he'd stopped breathing, his mouth dropped open and he blinked dumbly. He'd wanted to retort and pull her leg back, but he didn't even remember what she'd said previously. He didn't know anything. It didn't even register that if it'd been true, she would have been sad since she saw him, because never once did he question her honesty. Instead - WAS THAT A TEAR?
"B-b-but!" he breathed, "he looked so genuine at the office!" How he was elated because the big words were told at last? "He doesn't even deserve you."
H
M
P
F
!
…………………
Sophie burst into laughter, falling sideways against the wall for support as she giggled at Culloden's expense. "I can't believe you bought that." Didn't he know better by now? "In faaaact... a smirk had appeared on her face, "we've been boyfriend/girlfriend since we left your office. Before the steak incident - the one where you were ridiculous." He knew the one, and that felt like SOOOOO long ago... hehehehehehe.
"Must have slipped my mind to tell you. So sorry." She was so smug.
Sophie burst into laughter, falling sideways against the wall for support as she giggled at Culloden's expense. "I can't believe you bought that." Didn't he know better by now? "In faaaact... a smirk had appeared on her face, "we've been boyfriend/girlfriend since we left your office. Before the steak incident - the one where you were ridiculous." He knew the one, and that felt like SOOOOO long ago... hehehehehehe.
"Must have slipped my mind to tell you. So sorry." She was so smug.
...
HAD TOBY'S STUPIDITY AFFECTED HER SO MUCH THAT SHE WAS LAUGH -
SHE. DIDN'T.
Cosgrach's eyes NARROWED at her. She. Mocked. Him. HIM! MOCKED! HOW dare SHE!
"A HUNDRED POINTS OFF RAVENCLAW!" he shrieked, "term-long detention! Outrageous! How dare you!"
HMPF. HMPF.
He turned and ACTUALLY walked away from her towards the stairs.
HAD TOBY'S STUPIDITY AFFECTED HER SO MUCH THAT SHE WAS LAUGH -
SHE. DIDN'T.
Cosgrach's eyes NARROWED at her. She. Mocked. Him. HIM! MOCKED! HOW dare SHE!
"A HUNDRED POINTS OFF RAVENCLAW!" he shrieked, "term-long detention! Outrageous! How dare you!"
HMPF. HMPF.
He turned and ACTUALLY walked away from her towards the stairs.
Ouch.
Never in all her life did Sophie Brown ever think she could make Culloden actually mad at her. Never ever. She knew he was dramatic and all, but if he was acting at that moment, it never even crossed her mind - the moment he started yelling, she froze on the spot, wide-eyed and unable to breathe.
And then he was walking away from her.
For a long moment, she just stood there, paralyzed not by a potential real loss of house points or detention, but rather the man's disappointment in her. If she had a boggart, she was certain that was it.
"Wait," she barely found her voice, and it came out as sort of a strangled call to him, and she found her footing, too, enough to start running after him. She hurried in front of him, trying to block his path just before he reached the stairs and started talking entirely too fast, "Wait I'm sorry please don't be mad in a normal world I woulda come told you right away and been ecstatic and stuff and wanted you to know first," well second, really, 'cause Cat needed to know but, "please don't be upset I was just teasing I didn't think it'd really make you mad if I did I never woulda waited so long or said any of that y'can take all the points and give me detention forever but please don't be mad at me I'm sorryyyyy."
Were there real tears threatening to pool in her eyes now? You betcha. Not sad or necessarily remorseful ones - fearful tears, and she was involuntarily shaking a little.
He wouldn't disown her after a term and a half of father-daughter-like bonding and fun times, right?
Never in all her life did Sophie Brown ever think she could make Culloden actually mad at her. Never ever. She knew he was dramatic and all, but if he was acting at that moment, it never even crossed her mind - the moment he started yelling, she froze on the spot, wide-eyed and unable to breathe.
And then he was walking away from her.
For a long moment, she just stood there, paralyzed not by a potential real loss of house points or detention, but rather the man's disappointment in her. If she had a boggart, she was certain that was it.
"Wait," she barely found her voice, and it came out as sort of a strangled call to him, and she found her footing, too, enough to start running after him. She hurried in front of him, trying to block his path just before he reached the stairs and started talking entirely too fast, "Wait I'm sorry please don't be mad in a normal world I woulda come told you right away and been ecstatic and stuff and wanted you to know first," well second, really, 'cause Cat needed to know but, "please don't be upset I was just teasing I didn't think it'd really make you mad if I did I never woulda waited so long or said any of that y'can take all the points and give me detention forever but please don't be mad at me I'm sorryyyyy."
Were there real tears threatening to pool in her eyes now? You betcha. Not sad or necessarily remorseful ones - fearful tears, and she was involuntarily shaking a little.
He wouldn't disown her after a term and a half of father-daughter-like bonding and fun times, right?
...
So she was sorry NOW? So she wanted him to know fir - "Hahaha-hehe-haha Soph you're precious." HEHEHE. "I fell for that, you fell for this." Was she crying? For real? He felt bad only THEN, really bad that this joke might have been too harsh, and hugged her like José Mourinho and his daughter to comfort her. "I mean, I won't deny I'm hurt I'm not the third one to know because how you and Tobias are technically the first ones to know it," bad joke hehe oops, "especially because I was the person to make it happen, but you're young yet. You're learning these kind of stuff. It's okay."
So she was sorry NOW? So she wanted him to know fir - "Hahaha-hehe-haha Soph you're precious." HEHEHE. "I fell for that, you fell for this." Was she crying? For real? He felt bad only THEN, really bad that this joke might have been too harsh, and hugged her like José Mourinho and his daughter to comfort her. "I mean, I won't deny I'm hurt I'm not the third one to know because how you and Tobias are technically the first ones to know it," bad joke hehe oops, "especially because I was the person to make it happen, but you're young yet. You're learning these kind of stuff. It's okay."
Okay?
As he started laughing, Sophie turned slightly away from him to let out a long breath of air she didn't realize she'd been holding in and doubled over, holding onto her stomach that felt so uneasy she was fearful she would heave its contents. She stayed like that for a few long moments, focusing on breathing properly again before standing up and letting Culloden see the relief that had washed over her face before she was pulled into a hug.
Okay. So... if he was saying that she "fell for it," that meant he wasn't really serious, right? He wasn't mad at all? She tried to work through all the possibilities of what he meant, but then he clarified and she sighed, finally returning the hug. "M'sorry." She was, and it wasn't always easy to get this Ravenclaw to apologize so genuinely - she couldn't even bring herself to use her usual defense mechanism of cracking a joke to defuse tension. "S'what I'm your protégé for, yeah? So y'can teach me the ways of the world and put me in my place?" She had kind of asked for this kind of harshness from him the day she asked him to be her mentor.
But today's lesson was exhausting.
After a moment, she ended the hug and peered up at him, blinking back the tears that had threatened to fall before. "For the record, though," she started, choosing her words very carefully, "we would've-..." No. That was wrong. She was going to say they would have gotten together without his urging that day in his office - but, going back even further, it did come down to Culloden, his first class, and first homework assignment.
"...I retract my statement." The one she hadn't even said, and she didn't want him to ask, so she blurted something to distract him instead, "Thanks for everything, though." Simple. Easy. Covered all the bases, and certainly he knew all that he had done.
Cosgrach's heart 'melted' for her. She was the best protégé in the world, he was sure. He grinned at her, then. He wasn't smug at all, though. He was just happy that SHE was happy and it worked out with the love of her life in the end.
"The least I can do for my protégé," he said, "a hundred and one points for acknowledging I'm the best." He grinned smugly then. Hehehe.
Cosgrach's heart 'melted' for her. She was the best protégé in the world, he was sure. He grinned at her, then. He wasn't smug at all, though. He was just happy that SHE was happy and it worked out with the love of her life in the end.
"The least I can do for my protégé," he said, "a hundred and one points for acknowledging I'm the best." He grinned smugly then. Hehehe.
Sophie smiled genuinely right back, not a trace of smugness of her own - just a content, relieved grin, and if she wasn't completely positive it would be going overboard, she would've hugged him again.
Snickering at having earned the points back, she crossed her arms, her mood mostly back to normal. "Soooo the points, I've gotten back..." She wasn't going to say it aloud and tempt him, but she wasn't sure that she'd be able to take detention with him seriously, and she wasn't sure that he could either, so she made sure, "But what about detention? Am I free, or is that still a punishment?" Or had today's events made up for all the teasing and the steak incident? Was she in the clear?
What would he even make her do, write Culloden is the best professor in the whole world a thousand times?
Sophie smiled genuinely right back, not a trace of smugness of her own - just a content, relieved grin, and if she wasn't completely positive it would be going overboard, she would've hugged him again.
Snickering at having earned the points back, she crossed her arms, her mood mostly back to normal. "Soooo the points, I've gotten back..." She wasn't going to say it aloud and tempt him, but she wasn't sure that she'd be able to take detention with him seriously, and she wasn't sure that he could either, so she made sure, "But what about detention? Am I free, or is that still a punishment?" Or had today's events made up for all the teasing and the steak incident? Was she in the clear?
What would he even make her do, write Culloden is the best professor in the whole world a thousand times?
Cosgrach thooooouuuuuuught about it, made a loooooong "HMMMmmmmMMM..." sound and even tapped his chin. "I suppose... you should enjoy your life with Toby, because the boy shouldn't be punished at your extent too." So SHE wasn't off the hook, her boyfriend was. Merlin. 'Boyfriend of SOPHIE'. It sounded weird, but Cosgrach was worried for TOBY - the boy was the most innocent on earth.
"Anyways, I was lookin' for ya," he admitted in the end and sighed in a little distress. "I need your opinion again." Good thing she existed, was a 'she' and was his protégé.
Cosgrach thooooouuuuuuught about it, made a loooooong "HMMMmmmmMMM..." sound and even tapped his chin. "I suppose... you should enjoy your life with Toby, because the boy shouldn't be punished at your extent too." So SHE wasn't off the hook, her boyfriend was. Merlin. 'Boyfriend of SOPHIE'. It sounded weird, but Cosgrach was worried for TOBY - the boy was the most innocent on earth.
"Anyways, I was lookin' for ya," he admitted in the end and sighed in a little distress. "I need your opinion again." Good thing she existed, was a 'she' and was his protégé.
As he hummed and seemed to be deciding her fate, Sophie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms tighter, grinning all the while in good humor. Enjoy her life with Tobes? He shouldn't be punished at her extent? Meaning... they were both in the clear? Had his pseudo anger at her really been all the punishment he was going to give her for everything?
That's the way she interpreted it and she positively beamed. "I will, sir. Thanks." Such a gracious man.
Oh? He had been looking for her? "You were... looking for me behind this statue?" She laughed just a little as a last chance effort to ease some tension before uncrossing her arms and shooting a quick glance down both ends of the hallway to make sure no one was listening in, noting the man's distress - certainly he wouldn't have wanted someone overhearing whatever was bothering him, yeah? But they seemed to be alone, so Soph turned back to him with big, worried eyes and a frown, "What's wrong?"
Mweeeeeh. "What if I was?" He'd found her, hadn't he? Without the humiliation of trying to guess those stupid riddles, even! That was a waste of brain energy, if you asked him.
He checked the area to make sure no one was around to listen to them, then he dramatically sighed. "Do you know Elodie Roberster? The Hufflepuff prefect? I think she hates me. She said she doesn't, but that I ought to learn how to speak to girls or something." He made a face. He knew how to do that.
Mweeeeeh. "What if I was?" He'd found her, hadn't he? Without the humiliation of trying to guess those stupid riddles, even! That was a waste of brain energy, if you asked him.
He checked the area to make sure no one was around to listen to them, then he dramatically sighed. "Do you know Elodie Roberster? The Hufflepuff prefect? I think she hates me. She said she doesn't, but that I ought to learn how to speak to girls or something." He made a face. He knew how to do that.
Soph shook her head and giggled at Culloden. So defensive. He was so child-like sometimes, wasn't he? In the best ways. "Then you're... somethin' else, sir." It had worked, she supposed, but probably more by fate than his great Sophie-finding skills.
Elodie? Of course she knew her! Cat's best friend in the whole world! Sophie started to light up at the mere mention of her, but then... what?
She snorted.
"Elodie hates most people, actually. Like... all except... three people, probably." Cat. Sophie. Elodie's pregnant sister. "Or at least that's the kinda front she tries to put up. I've decided she tries to push everyone away 'cause she's been hurt so much and doesn't wanna let anyone get close and hurt her again." Elodie had never said that, but seemed logical and all. All the signs were there. "B'she probably doesn't hate hate you..." Unless... "What did you do?" Why was there a specification of him not knowing how to talk to girls? Had he insulted the gender as a whole?
Soph shook her head and giggled at Culloden. So defensive. He was so child-like sometimes, wasn't he? In the best ways. "Then you're... somethin' else, sir." It had worked, she supposed, but probably more by fate than his great Sophie-finding skills.
Elodie? Of course she knew her! Cat's best friend in the whole world! Sophie started to light up at the mere mention of her, but then... what?
She snorted.
"Elodie hates most people, actually. Like... all except... three people, probably." Cat. Sophie. Elodie's pregnant sister. "Or at least that's the kinda front she tries to put up. I've decided she tries to push everyone away 'cause she's been hurt so much and doesn't wanna let anyone get close and hurt her again." Elodie had never said that, but seemed logical and all. All the signs were there. "B'she probably doesn't hate hate you..." Unless... "What did you do?" Why was there a specification of him not knowing how to talk to girls? Had he insulted the gender as a whole?
Hehehe, that was better. "Sure I am." Had she ever met someone like him? Cosgrach bet not.
But, yeah. Elodie.
...
Ugh. "Typical teenager. Thinking the world hates her, so she hates it in return." Cosgrach ALMOST rolled his eyes, but then he remembered his own fifth year. He had every reason to hate everyone back then, because it was clear everyone hated him, and yet... no, actually, Elodie still was the typical teenager if she hated everyone because she kissed someone else.
"She said -" he halted and narrowed his eyes at Sophie. "It's a secret can't tell ya sorry." And he actually held his head a little bit higher sassily. He had to know how much Sophie knew before he discussed the issue further.