Layla had arrived at the end of term feast just in time to hear Eden propose the giant group hug to which the blonde frowned. To start with she knew practically none of the other people and she wasn't the huggy type. Certain people got hugs if they were lucky and let's face it, it wasn't like she was going to be in a good mood either.

And neither was Clara it seemed.

The Ravenclaw was content to join her equally grumpy dormmate at the table, sitting herself down next to the redhead. "Hello" she offered her a smile. She had to live with these people, they were lucky enough to get smiles off her naturally miserable face. "Here I am with enough friends to count on one hand and she's over there with the entire house." she sighed nodding over at Eden. "And then she tells me not to forget about her or she'll be lonely. Fat chance." It wasn't like Bambi took up all her time either. She was speaking rather nonchalantly in an attempt to distract Clara from whatever was on her mind. "Are you alright?"

As for the rest of the house, they got a half-hearted attempt at a smile. It was all she could muster up. It was Layla that was going to be lonely next term and well.. She was contemplating not coming back.

..again.

Austin walked into the Great hall, feeling rather good about himself. He was about to end his third term, and it had been a good one. Even though he got into a fight at the beginning of the year, and that person ended up dying later, some good things have happened too. Him and Ophelia grew closer, he made a new friend at the masquerade, and even created his own potion. That's right, Austin Moore created a potion that eliminated dreams. That included nightmares. And the only reason he knew it worked was because he had taken the potion himself. He hadn't had nightmares in weeks. Then again, he didn't have any dreams either, but he was fine with that.

Sitting down, Austin looked around, hoping to either find Ophelia, or his masked friend from that dance. He hadn't seen either of them for a while, and he still had sugared quills to give his masked friend. How was he supposed to keep up his promise if she wasn't ever around?

The LAST feast!!!! Oh man it was scary but at the same time exciting! He was looking forward to the future and moving in with Vinnie. So much stuff was going to change but he had Vinnie and that would never change. Speaking of...where was she? He looked around at the Slytherin table and not seeing her he shrugged and walked over to his own house table. He spotted Pal sitting down and sat down beside her with a sigh.

"How are you holding up Pal?" he asked with a small smile. He knew she had been stressing over NEWTs and everything so maybe she was a little better now. Maybe.

Looking around for Eden he smirked as he spotted her with Phoenix and simply waved. Wouldn't want to interrupt THAT.

He turned back to Paloma and nudged her, "Cheer up Pal. It's not over and...even if you do lose track of half of these people over the years you will make new friends. And you will have me!!!" Which of course was the most important part of that sentence. Yup.

Paloma grinned and let a few tears run once Eden hugged her. She made the hug tighter and laughed, "Oh, Eden. Please, don't make me wish I should stay." Because she did want to, but not possible, because plans and just life ahead. And she could not fake to be a 17 year old again. "And I won't leave you. Here...bought it last week. It is small, but you can use it to call me.'' She gave her a small bag with a tiny mirror.

"You'll be fine..." and sure she was, because Phoenix had just arrived and the turtle doves just startedo to be all cute, something she would never interrupt. Pal just waved at Phoenix and smiled.

Just before taking her personal snacks out her purse, Pal saw James and grinned at his question as he sat next to her. "Alright, I guess. Bags under my eyes have disappeared, I am sleeping better. Thanks for asking...." it was half truth, though. Sleep thing was not so pleasant lately. "And you? Ready for Greece?" She knew James was really excited, and had strong reasons, like love.

She inwardly chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, but nothing is the same once you get out of here, once your foot steps out the grounds onto the train. Even when you say that I will have you as a friend, you will be halfway around the world, with Vinnie, and studying to be a History teacher, we will be busy..." Sigh. Life was that clear, she had seen it from Annie's experience.

Eden's wink? Winky wink? Kyroh paused for a second before grinning and winking back at her. He didn't really have anything against her, not any more. And even when he did it hadn't been for long.

It was as if everyone just decided to all come down at once. First Evie and Penelope and Josette and then Toby's Sophie and TOBY! "HI! HI! HULLO!!!" Jumping up, Kyroh waved at ALL of them and he would have said MORE if he wasn't pulled into a hug by his protector.Which he didn't mind at ALL. Squishing him tightly, Kyroh had NO plans of letting him go. ESPECIALLY when there was a group hug called?? Yes? No? Either way he was still hugging Toby.

James leaned over as to inspect her and grinned. "Beautiful as ever I think." Was it food time yet? Because it totally needed to be food time. He was starving. At her question he grinned and nodded, "I'm absolutely ready. We have a flat, still need to move in and get stuff to furnish it though. And..." He looked around and leaned toward her, "At some point within the year I'm going to propose." He grinned and bounced a little unable to stop being so happy. He pulled up the sleeve of his robe slightly, "Look what I got," he said showing her the new tattoo that said 'forever'. "Vinnie has 'and ever' it's our thing." Yup he was freaking ECSTATIC!

"Well no...it's not the same. But I don't think it's meant to stay the same Pal. You make new friends. You move on. Life gets in the way. It's all a matter on if you want to view it as a negative thing or a positive thing. REAL friends, the ones who truly care about you, will always be there for you. Maybe not literally but I can guarantee if you needed me for something I would apparate there in a hurry. That's a real friend and that won't change no matter what I'm doing." He grinned at her and pulled out a bar of chocolate.

Eden was probably the luckiest girl alive. No, she was. She felt like it, RIGHT NOW. She rolled her eyes but closed them so that she wouldn't get glitter in her eyes. "Right, thank you, Pixieboy." She said as she pecked his lips with hers. Lots of PDA tonight, apparently. Eden was usually a bit more choosy about where she did her kissing at....and in the Great Hall was NOT one of those places....

She hoped Clara didn't mind??? Oop? But it was her PHE. "I missed you too...you know...that whole twenty-one-ish hour period without you was just bloody awful-" she said, VERY sarcastically. Heh. She was glittering all over...totally Phe's FAULT.

Her stomach rumbled, but she didn't even care. Because Phoenix was here! Phe! PHE! MR. TOROS.



Eden saw Layla come in IMMEDIATELY and went to greet her--with a hug--a mini one, though, because like Clara, Layla was weird about hugs. Sigh. Eden, one of the most tactile people EVER, was stuck with two hug-grumpy WITCHES for roommates.

The high order of things had a SENSE OF HUMOR, eh? Hehe. She tried not to be too bouncy with Lay though...she must be sad with...Bambi leaving >.<

And now, Eden was sad, because Bambi...and...ugh. UGH. She didn't want Bambi to leaaaave...she loved Bambi...and Bambi made Layla so happy! Maybe she'd try to find those two-way mirror things for Bambi and Layla. It would make things easier for them, since phones didn't work inside Hogwarts.

Sigh. She snuggled Layla more--and then she saw another seventh year friend who was leaving...



She draped an arm around both of them, not unlike what she had done last year with Jus and Jun...and proceeded to POUT at them-"I don't want you two to leaaaaave meeee--" she whiiiiined.

And James without Vinnie? WEIRD. "Where's Vin?" she asked, since you know...she and Vinnie weren't as close as they once were..she still wanted to say goodbye and stuff...Vinnie was a nice person? And Eden DID consider her a friend...somewhat.



Were she and Kyroh playing a WINKING GAME? Eden WINKED BACK TO HIS WINK BACK and smirked. Okay.He was being cool. Kyroh was okay with her. She could breath more freely and not feel weird about being all lovey with Phe right now...

Sigh.

This made her think about next term being her last term saying all the goodbyes and oh gosh was she was going to CRY...

Paloma smiled and shook her head. "You look..." Hungry? Paloma didn't finish her sentence because of all James was saying about his future plans, which obviously went far interesting as he spoke. "Oh wow, showing off now?" She smirked and looked at the tattoo. "That's cute, James. Hope all really goes well." And then she took a pinch of cotton candy out of her bag. Yup, she was a nervous eater now.

Listening to James say those words broke Paloma inside. She knew tears would come out, of course. But she gulped them down, "Thanks. Likewise, I will be there for you too." She whispered, trying to keep herself together, which was easy as she saw James eat chocolate. Typical him. She giggled and took the bar off his hand. "Nananana...." She was a little kid at that moment.

James looked up as he felt an arm around him and chuckled as he saw Eden, "You know whining isn't very attractive on you," he teased. He'd say the same but he really was looking forward to leaving and the plans he had next. "I'm sure you'll be okay without us though by the looks of it." Mmhmm he swore he saw her with a different dude all the time but eh whatever made her happy right?

He frowned slightly and took another glance at the Slytherin table, "You know...I'm not really sure where she is. Figured she would have already been over here and basically sitting on his lap by now but nope. "Maybe she's still getting packed." Or prolonging the packing. That was probably more like it. She had more attachment here than he did.

James laughed and pulled his sleeve down. "I don't know about showing off. Just sharing." Why would she think that was showing off? Hmm. "I like to plan like a true Ravie," he said with a wink. "Thanks. It will." He had no doubt about that.

He grinned and looked at her, "I know you will." Fact. Of course she would be there for him. He was about to open the chocolate when his eyes widened as she took it. "Heeeeeeeeeeeey!!!!!" Rude. That's what that was. "Why'd you do that?" He asked as he reached in his pocket to grab another and found no more. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. "Give it back. Give it back. Give it back," he said trying to reach for it. Yup he was acting like a kid again but he really wanted the chocolate.

It was as if everyone had begun to talk to her at once & she didn't know how to react. Except, smile? She was smiling right? Her first reaction would have been to cover her ears immediately & run, but these were people she was familiar with, they were her house mates & some of them dormmates. So panicking was something that surprisingly didn't happen, which even surprised her.

The best thing for the fourteen year old to do was narrow down the voices who had spoken to her & one of the first voices was, Eden. A smile & wave for her. The next thing heard from Eden was the older girl proposing a group hug between her house mates, which did sound nice, but she wasn't one of the first people who was about to automatically do so. That was until a Sophie Brown was heard, summoning Josie to her side, which she did without even hesitating & was soon hugging the girl very close to her. And that was when she heard the next voice saying hello to her & she turned her to attention to see her dormmate, Tia. She gave another wave, still holding Sophie of course. And last but certainly not least was the last & loudest voice of them all. Josie automatically knew that it was Kyroh.

The younger boy was certainly blessed with such a bright & wonderful personality, it was like he suffered from no problems at all, which did make the fourth year a tad bit envious of such confidence. But perhaps she might be blessed with such a gift...some day?

NEVERTHELESS, GROUP HUGGING HER HOUSEMATES!

In came Sophie on the Toby train and a few others bounded in afterwards. Then Eden came along and made EYES at her that made her giggle wildly. Evie didn't say much to anyone except hellos, but she was still all smiles, simply happy to be with her housemates on the last day of the school year. Everybody seemed so happy except for Clara and UNIFIED. It was quite lovely. And entertaining.

Group huuuuuuuuuug. She was all for that. Evie leaned into Eden's side and tugged Sophie closer, glad to have two of her favorite people nearby. She was missing one though. Her eyes wandered towards the door for Paris, but she didn't see him just yet.

"I'm gonna miss you guys," she said. Leave it to her to get sappy first.

Paloma chuckled at Eden's pout. She was just the sweetest, and the most kind, "Just have fun without us both." She said, moving her sight towards Phoenix not far away from where they were tight in a hug.

When Eden asked about Vinnie, Paloma nodded and looked at James staring at the table and that frown. Sure, Pal and her were not in super terms anymore but she thought everyone deserved this last hour fun at the table, to throw the hat in the air and share it with someone special. "Sure, she'll come down. Being honest, I haven't finished packing myself." It was a hard task.

"I was kidding, Rodemiere. If you're happy, how can I be grumpy grumps?" She said, patting his arm. "And planning is essential, definitely." She nodded, thinking of all that list of plans that many around them were making.

Paloma was not going to give back the chocolate. Nope. "I have not eaten chocolate in a week. Or maybe less, but this...is triumph chocolate. After the NEWTs, just before graduation. Ah." She was teasing, of course.

Pixieboy? "That's a new one." he said, a little grin on his face. "I like it." He liked her. Lookit her with her cute face and her gorgeous eyes. And those kiiiiisses. Hehe. HE LIKED THOSE, believe it or not. Glitter glitter everywhere.

"I'm hungry. When's food?" He wanted food. He'd forgotten to eat lunch today. And breakfast. Oops. He was hungry.

WAIT. WAIT WAIT WAIT.

HE HAD A CHOCOLATE BAR.

Maybe? He vaguely remembered the existence of a snickers bar that he'd got as payment for something... had he eaten that already? Phe searched his pockets... with no luck. Sigh. He must've eaten it.

Well now he was just going to have to STARVE wasn't he. He sighed dramatically and rested his head on Eden's shoulder. "Maybe I'll have to eat you instead." Yep. Phe bit her shoulder gently, just messing around. He really was hungry right now.

Naturally, Bambi was late. Begin late, end late, right? There was a certain symmetry about it that she liked.

After having spent literally half an hour constantly remembering more belongings she'd somehow managed to literally place all around her dorm, bathrooms and common room, Bambi had shoved her trunk shut and all but sprinted down the multitudes of staircases and into the Great Hall. Making a beeline for the achingly familiar Ravenclaw table, she spotted Layla and Eden and all those friendly faces she'd grown used to over the past year and felt a sudden pang of genuine sadness. This felt like last year all over again, only this time was the last. It was her last school year. She was done.

Bambi gulped, and took a moment to steady herself. Going up to Layla, and Eden beside her, Bambi nudged her back with her hip and looked down at her girlfriend fondly, nodding to her and Eden's roommate sitting beside them. "Hey," she said, her voice devoid of it's customary cheerfulness as she waited for one of the girls to budge a little so that she could take a seat.

YOOOOOOOOOOOO KYROH HUG! These were like the BEST hugs too (sorry Soph). Toby had absolutely noooooo intentions of stopping, either, and then when EDEN suggested a GROUP HUG that made the HAPPY!FRIENDS!LOVE part of his brain go haywire. THAT'S RIGHT GUYS (uh... girls), BRING IT IN.

Oh. OHHHHHH. Someone was suggesting a TOAST? Toby thought that was a little weird, 'cause it wasn't breakfast, and toast wasn't usually served at these feasts, but then it CLICKED and the Hufflepuff TOTALLY wanted to get in on that. Except he didn't have a drink. Hmm. TIME TO IMPROVISE.

Kyroh was wearing a cap, Toby knew this because they were currently mid-HUG so he could SEE it. He yoinked it off the younger boy's head (sorry Kyroh, ahem) and thrust it up into the air in the midst of the group hug:

"TO RAVENCLAW!" For the house cup. YES, they deserved to get it.

Toby lowered his hand again and stuck the cap back on Kyroh's head. Hopefully he'd not spent ages getting it perfect, right?

"You should come visit this summer, Ky," Toby said to his not-so-little Ravenclaw friend, stiiiill hugging and talking a mile a minute. "We'll kick Piers out of the house and you can come and visit AND see the cow I'm gonna get." Because that was happening. Toby just needed to work out HOW. HOW NOW BROWN COW. Or black and white cow. COWS. "Or we can meet somewhere, yeah? I reFUSE to wait 'til September to see my little Ravenclaw BROTHER and the best HUGGER I know." See, the 'little' wasn't 'cause HE was little but LITTLE BRO, y'know? "That's YOU by the way."

Hopefully Toby's inevitably, uh, busy summer would allow such plans. And if it didn't? ... They'd make it happen ANYWAY.

Abby waved at her dormmate Penelope and said "You ready for the holidays Penelope" Abby sure was ready for spending as much of her free time in Diagon Alley as she could

Gabriel was a little late in joining the party...or not that late at all, depending on how you looked at it. The food had yet to arrive...and that was surely the official marker for the START of festivities. Speaking of the which, this Ravenclaw was starving. So, hopefully...it would be along shortly.

Nearing his House table, he searched out certain people...and it seemed Coral Bay had yet to arrive. That was fine. He could catch up with her later. And...there appeared to be an uncomfortable amount of hugging going on? Toby and Sophie Brown in the center of it, of course. Not to be offensive, but Gabriel was going to pass, thank you. He might've been doing better with 'people' in general, but he still didn't like to be touched. Certain friends, sure...but Phoenix Toros was in that mix and no. Not even a little bit.

Anyway, first things first...

Tapping Kyroh on the shoulder, Gabe slipped the younger Claw a piece of parchment and a wrapped package. They'd agreed to do a language swap over summer break and because Gabe was going to be so busy, it'd have to be achieved through unconventional means.

That's where a two-way mirror came in.

"Just in case I don't see you on the train." Yep...and he was off, further down the table.

.

.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?"

Head nod. Wave.

Clara had forewarned Eden that she wasn't going to be talking much ... or interacting much. It wasn't that she was in a bad mood as such - grumpy just happened to be her go-to emotion and state of being - she just didn't like feasts, or crowds, and the things that she did have to be happy about weren't part of feasts or crowds.

..... Soon enough, Clara was joined by Layla. Honestly, a welcome surprise at this point. She even got a smile from Clara. "Hey," she replied, turning head to see what she was talking about, though she already knew. "That does sound like our Eden. Rather her than me, though." The thought of group hugging was not a pleasant one. "I'm okay," she said, just as another blonde appeared. This would be the mysterious Bambi? She smiled and was about to respond when another voice cut through to her.

Now this was unexpected ..... sort of ... okay, totally.

Instead of replying with words like most people would, she simply shook her head. No, she didn't mind if Gabe sat with her. She also gestured to the seat beside her, just in case it was unclear that shaking her head was acceptance.

Carefully taking a seat, Gabe glanced over at the redhead. Did she realize she looked particularly morose. He had to wonder...

"How...are you?" Friendly enough conversation.

Yep, side glancing ..... and triple-tapping on the table. Habit.

"I'm..." She paused, searching for a word. Another side glance at him. "Good. And you?"

Good. Just good? After pausing a beat, Gabe decided not to inquire too much. It wouldn't do to appear too curious, would it?

"Better. I feel better." If that was any consolation.

There was another pause.

"Ready for summer, then?"

There was a pause where Gabe was considering what she'd said, or that was what she assumed was the meaning of the pause. It made her think, too. 'Good' was such an overused word and not nearly specific enough, but he didn't need to know specifics. Good wasn't a lie..... just an understatement.

Clara looked at him properly and gave him a small smile, glad that he was better.

Summer. Summer was something that had been on her mind a lot. It meant being away from people ... something she wouldn't usually mind, but this time seemed bitter-sweet. "I suppose. Hogwarts is..." Yeah. Hogwarts. "I'm thinking about looking for a summer job." Just so she could escape her foster parents. "Are you ready?"

"I've been looking at internships. I sent a few things in...some weeks ago." After the Loch Ness trip, Gabriel planned to keep busy. His aim was a reputable newspaper...but he'd covered some other bases, too. Just in case that wasn't doable for certain publications. He thought it was better to be safe than sorry, anyway.

Rubbing his bottom lip, he glanced around the great hall (momentarily distracted) and then settled his gaze back on Clara. "What kind of job?" It seemed like a good enough idea.

....and no, he was never ready to go home for summer breaks. Especially not now, since Ruby was going to have that boy over. Snort.

When Layla had first met her dorm mates she wasn't expecting to get along with them whatsoever. They were too cheerful or clingy or whatever but having spent the last two years with them they had certainly grown on her. She respected them and considered them friends. It was especially comforting that Clara was in an equally as grumpy mood as her usual self. She appreciated that. Someone who didn't care so much about these big events.

She agreed with what she had to say. The seventeen year old wasn't fussed about being popular or in the centre of attention. What she cared about was having people that loved her. Layla was a lonely soul and although she rarely showed it, it hurt her to be so alone. "Me too. I think she needs all the attention, not in a conceited way but emotionally." Eden was one of her closest friends, she knew her pretty well by now. "Good. You just don't seem that happy to be here s'all." Boy troubles? Friend troubles? Who knew.

Layla wasn't expecting Eden to approach her considering the number of others that were currently surrounding her. But she did and the blonde offered a warm smile towards her brunette friend allowing her to hug her without even tensing at the affection. "Don't stay here too long, your fan club might miss you." She attempted a joke although she wasn't sure it was at all amusing.

The hug of the brunette was swiftly replaced with the hug of someone else and the blonde didn't even need to turn around to see whom it was that had joined her. She scooted over on the bench slightly leaving enough room for Bambi to join them. "Hello" she smiled gently, the usual half-attempt, slipping her hand into her fellow blondes.

Where are the sad seventh years? Hugo was looking for one at the Ravenclaw table. Hmm...too much people and he was small, it bothered him. Next term he was going to be taller, you'll see. Anyways...

There was Paloma, seating alone. He had a smirk on his face as he walked towards her. She better not cry because he wouldn't know what to do. Hugo poked her in the back as he had always done, "You never cooked for me and you said you would. I think you should invite me to your house and do a whole meal for me you must never play with someone's stomach. Ever. The second year sat down beside her, "Are you excited? What are you going to do after Hogwarts? very important questions.