He needed a moment.

Obviously.

This is going to be the last of everything related to Hogwarts, wasn't it? Unless he gets called for a rescue mission? Which of course, he wouldn't want because it could only mean that Hogwarts is threatened yet again, right? But thinking about it, those threats made him a stronger student, and a better wizard. Hogwarts should be proud of this Slytherin. Yes.

Feeling his pocket, he got something out and examined it. A small grin was on his face as he looked at his going away gift. The recipient of said gift is a man that is awesome in so many ways, and he was the first to make him feel at home. He will never ever forget him ever.

Now...to find this man inside the Great Hall...

There was a feast about to happen. Speech making. Loads of people being soppy and emotional and so boring, like this was the end of the world or something, when it was really just the start of freedom for two whole months. No tears required. There were lots of things about to happen, but at the moment, there was a very empty hallway, and a Dottie.

And there was a spinning Dot, turning fouettés like a furious little top, red hair tossing into a cloud with each whip of her extended leg, and then she was up on demi-pointe and around again. What was her father called her? A Fizzing Whizbee.

Cutty had just finished hiding the last of them for the years incoming when he turned to enter the Great Hall. He sharply stopped in the entrance way in time to see the glint of light bouncing off of Wojack-Gusey's red hair. Which was whipping in a controlled manner much like her leg. He felt his hand tighten around he hilt of his wand and was about to cast finite, thinking that someone had casted a dancing spell on Goosey. Then he recalled Agatha doing the very same move years ago.

Ah. That was ballet. And...

Ah. That was intentional.


Cutty let go of the hilt of his wand and what followed in the silence after the soft pittering of footwork was slow polished clapping. "Did Agatha show yew 'er moves?" His favourite frenemy had meant to do a dance class, but he hadn't followed up on it. Although he'd meant to. Cutty would learn ballet. He'd been totally willing and probably still was. "I would offer yer whizzbees ter get a bit of levitation, booht I'm afraid I've sold the business."

Could SHE BE more down in the dumps? Charlotte didn't think so. She was dragging her feet and slumping and trying her best to LOOK as SAD as she felt (did anyone notice?). Except she wasn't sad about people leaving, she was sad because...

...

..... SHE WAS STILL A GRYFFINDOR. Nothing worked! Not even talking to the hat!

She sighed dramatically and looked up at the ceiliing, and did her best to exude SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNESS.

In a surprising turn of events, Zander Adair noticed.

And in yet ANOTHER surprising turn of events, Zander Adair had managed to escape from the Gryffindor table in order to address it because it was one of his. Y'know, he knew from the moment they called her name that the Kettleburn child would be the one giving him trouble. He was right. Which totaled up to THREE surprising turn of events. He was on a roll tonight. Well hopefully.

"Hey," he gave the young wannabe ravenclaw Gryffindor a small smile. She was clearly upset about something. Or she was trying to be clearly upset about something. All that frowning looked like a lot of work.

"I haven't forgotten my promise, y'know?" Which is why he was fiddling with the badge at this very moment, trying to get it off his robes. Zander Adair never backed out of a promise. "Y'still wanna try it on?"

SHINY EYES HAPPENED.

BIG SHINY EYES.

"Yeah!" Oh manners. "Please and thank you yes please --oh and-- hello!" Charlotte ALMOST forgot to be sad because YEAH! BADGE! But she was still sad. For real sad. What happened if Davie found a NEW BEST FRIEND in Ravenclaw because they WEREN'T IN THE SAME HOUSE AND THEIR PLANS HADN'T WORKED? What if her mum and dad HATED HER when they found out because she technically had let them think she got sorted in Ravenclaw ALL YEAR? What if it meant she wasn't smart enough?

But also.... shiny badge! She tried not to be tooo impatient for it.

For a girl who really wanted to be a Ravenclaw, Charlotte Kettleburn was one of the most gryffindor, Gryffindors Zander had ever met. And that's saying something because Zander had met Alexa Cambridge.

Also why did they make these badges so difficult to get off?? "Hey," he laughed again at her delayed greeting. Merlin, all it took was the mention of the badge and her face lit up like a Christmas tree. How come the others weren't so easy to convince? Also, badge was off.

As he lowered himself to pin in onto her robes, he grinned a little. It was a funny sight. A Head BOY badge on little, Charlotte Kettleburn. He took a step back. "Y'know, I don't think it's ever looked better." She wore it better than him. They didn't even need to vote on it. "Gryffindor is a great look for you."

She could see someone watching her as she turned. Kyroh! Dot slowed in her turning, putting both feet on the ground and pulling hair out of her mouth. Not Kyroh. Cutty. Still pretty good, although why was he clapping like that. Like he was making fun of her.

Dot sulked. "I don't need anyone to show me their moves. I have my own moves. And I don't want to float because I was already flying." There may have been some foot stomping for emphasis. Maybe. But she shouldn't be mean to Cutty, since he was leaving and she didn't want him to go on a sour note. "Bet you're so glad to be done here."

No need to find the man inside the Great Hall, because he was coming to Ethan. Well, sort of. He had to use the bathroom, because he was sad for some reason tonight, heh. And he had to wash his face, so he was on his way back when he saw the boy who was one of the people that meant the world to him.

Well...

"Hello, Ethan," he greeted first not to startle the boy as he put a hand on hie shoulder, "how are you?" Because that was always important to know. Especially now.

There was a lot going on in the feast. A lot going on in his head. He needed a break, a breather. Which was what the entrance hall was there for, apparently.

Clasping his hands behind his back, Sabel stretched his arms up over his head, listening to the various pops and cracks in his back. Merlin, he was getting old. What was he going to do when he didn't have all the students around to keep him running about, and on his toes?

Wait.

No. This couldn’t be the last time, right? Right? Merlin, did every seventh year have to go through this...emotion? He wanted to stay really, but it’s not possible. That’s how things work around in the place, and he simply must accept the fact that he’s too old for a student now.

Taking a deep breath, he took his first brave step towards the Great Hall, when all of a sudden, a hand was placed on his shoulder, making him stop. Ethan turned to see the person he wanted to approach at the Staff Table.

A tired grin graced his young face, as he faced the man fully. “I’m not going to say I’m doing fine, because...well, I’m leaving soon...” he said softly, as he hung his head and tried to feel the gift he got for Culloden under his robe’s sleeve. “It’s hard, isn’t it? To leave?” he added as he looked at the man straight in the eye.

Merlin. It had been ages since he got to talk to him in private. He can still remember looking UP at the same person years ago.

Charlotte sniffed and looked down at the badge, then up at Zander all astonished. "Why?" Why was Gryffindor a great look? On her? "I'm supposed to be in Ravenclaw and we went and told the hat and everything and it wouldn't fix it."

So why? Why Zander Adair? WHY?

Dora had seen him trying to escape. SHE SAW IT, SABEL!
And she wasn't having it. Running as fast as her legs would carry her, she made it to him. "UNCLE SABEL STOP!!!" she yelled dramatically as she got to him... and jumped. Like... he was going to catch her, yeas?? Of course he would?

Oh well, uh, the look of surprise wasn't really what he was going for there. But he nodded, trying to be reassuring. "'Cause well... You're brave and curious... And you've got a lot of enthusiasm... And courage... And you're bold... And you've got a big heart, well from how I've seen you when you're around your friends in the corridors.." Actually with how she was with David Truebridge. Zander wasn't that observant, okay?

Was that enough? Was she convinced?

"The hat told you Gryffindor 'cause it sees it in you and I do too," Aaaaaannnnnnnnd smile. Also the second bit was a bit of an understatement. Charlotte Kettleburn oozed Gryffindor from the moment she stepped onto Hogwarts' grounds. "I know you've sorta spent a year trying to get out of it, but if you give it a chance... You'll really love Gryffindor house." Was she still listening? Sometimes with the young ones it was hard to tell.

So.... What did she say? Yeah? Roar, Roar?

Cutty slowed his clapping and then ceased it altogether as Dot made it clear that she didn't need no instructions to know how to rock. "That yer don't, Dottie. That yer don't." Yeah. He enjoyed that little snippet of a performance. Slytherin girls were an artistic lot, apparently. Cutty could dig.


"Glad's not the wehrd, exactly." He sort of felt a bit neutral about leaving. Really, it felt sort of just. He'd taken some things, he'd left some things and really for all the opportunities he might've been losing in leaving the school grounds he'd have that much more to gain outside of them. "Eager, though. That might do." He'd been an adult for a full year and was more or less stuck at a place with as much knowledge as limitation. That tiger wanted to be turned loose. "Wot abow yer? Are yew lookin' forward to be owttoff here fer yer summer holiday?"

He might be patronizing her, but it was always a little hard to tell with Cutty. He tended to wrap compliments and sincerity inside that same dry voice that delivered sarcasm and cutting comments. The delivery was the same, so how could she trust he meant it?

"I think eager and glad are brothers, though. If you're eager to go, you'll be glad not to be here." Not that she was picking a fight over semantics or anything, but wanting to be somewhere else technically meant not wanting to be here as much. Or... logic wasn't her strong suit, so nevermind. "But what are you doing next? Going to rule the world? I'd probably vote for you." Dangerous not to, actually.

As for her summer? Dancing, dancing, dancing. That was her plan at the moment. "I'm going to keep busy. I have to wait on my OWL results and start being all serious and focused about the future, you know?" It was terrible.

Cosgrach let out his breath with a small 'Of course,' smile. Of course Ethan wasn't fine. His brown eyes met his, and he nodded.

"Not gonna lie either, it is," he said, "and I guess it's even harder to leave for the second time." He sighed. "That's what life is, I s'ppose. To leave and enter and leave again. We just gotta... make the most of that time'n... hope the best." He shrugged and smiled again. He was sure the best would become of Ethan. The boy had grown up so much since their... first emotional encounter, and turned out to be a confident, secure young adult.

Speaking of students keeping him on his toes..........

Sabel turned sharply, dropping his arms just in time to recieve a flying firstie. Merlin it was a wonder someone didn't throw her out of the doors of the great hall and into his arms. And given she'd gotten a lot bigger than when she used to do such things, Sabel nearly toppled over.

A bit of laughter escaped him as he steadied them both. "Miss Umbridge. That's...quite an entrance," or exit, "you've got there. What can I do for you?"

Text Cut: Zander and Charlotte

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

Charlotte sniffed and looked down at the badge, then up at Zander all astonished. "Why?" Why was Gryffindor a great look? On her? "I'm supposed to be in Ravenclaw and we went and told the hat and everything and it wouldn't fix it."

So why? Why Zander Adair? WHY?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArianaBlack

Oh well, uh, the look of surprise wasn't really what he was going for there. But he nodded, trying to be reassuring. "'Cause well... You're brave and curious... And you've got a lot of enthusiasm... And courage... And you're bold... And you've got a big heart, well from how I've seen you when you're around your friends in the corridors.." Actually with how she was with David Truebridge. Zander wasn't that observant, okay?

Was that enough? Was she convinced?

"The hat told you Gryffindor 'cause it sees it in you and I do too," Aaaaaannnnnnnnd smile. Also the second bit was a bit of an understatement. Charlotte Kettleburn oozed Gryffindor from the moment she stepped onto Hogwarts' grounds. "I know you've sorta spent a year trying to get out of it, but if you give it a chance... You'll really love Gryffindor house." Was she still listening? Sometimes with the young ones it was hard to tell.

So.... What did she say? Yeah? Roar, Roar?

Returning from a bathroom break - too much pumpkin juice and excitement, plus the fact that he hadn't gone since lunch - Benzi was about to reenter the feast without too much thought to the occupants of the Entrance hall when a certain first year caught his eye. He hadn't had too much time over the year to talk to little Charlotte more and now it appears she was still hung up about the Ravenclaw thing. Merlin's beard. Now he felt bad.

Although it honestly baffled him, this need to be in Ravenclaw. Gryffindors were winners, didn't the little lion-wannabe-eagle like winning? And poor Zander. Benzi wondered how many conversations he'd had to deal with since September. Making up his mind, the seventh year changed course and instead made for the two Gryffindors to his left. Perhaps he could help now. "Hey Zander, hey kid," he clapped a hand on Zander's back in greeting and laughed when he saw the Head Boy pin on Charlotte's uniform.

"Nice badge you got there. Red really suits you."

Charlotte listened to Zander very closely. Not quite convinced yet but....... those all sounded.... like good things. She nudged the badge pinned to her chest with her little finger and chewed on her lip. "Maybe...." MAaAaaaaybe.

And then Benzi appeared and Charlotte looked between the two soon-to-be-graduated big kids.

It made sense for ZANDER to say Gryffindor was good because he'd been stuck in it for a million years already himself. Not that she didn't believe him it was just that lots of people said good things about the thing that they WERE, right? But what about a RAVENCLAW? Benzi's timing was clearly perfect.

"Benzi," Charlotte began in her best adorable voice, "Do youuuu think Gryffindor is good too? Do you think I'm one for real?" She made big hopeful eyes at him and then added ingeniously, "Blue would suit me too. I could wear TWO badges at once maybe?" RIGHT? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight? Wouldn't that be the coolest? That would cheer her up a WHOLE lot. And obviously it would help everything. Obviously.

Ethan tilted his head, as his memory of Cosgrach a few terms ago faded into the present. He could still remember the chill that day, and how he tried his best to discreetly keep his companion warm. The Slytherin nodded to dismiss the remnants of that memory from his mind, and focused on the present.

True. It must be hard to say goodbye the second time around, but, in Cosgrach’s case, shouldn’t it be the opposite? Surely, tonight isn’t as bad as when he was a seventh year, correct? “I suppose it’s harder for you to leave because...your heart belongs to teaching Hogwartians.” It was just a guess, of course. An observation, even. Cosgrach is a good teacher, and he has brought the best in everyone. “Well, we all have to end a chapter somehow, and...yes, most of the time it isn’t easy.” Really, who finds change to be some kind of a walk in the park, eh? “I’m just glad that I made the most out of my time here, and that I made great memories with everyone, including you, sir.” Ethan bit his lower lip as he gave Cosgrach his going-away present.

“This is something to remember me by, Professor.” In his hand were a picture of him and the Slytherin inside the Potions Classroom, and a miniature statue of Gregory the Smarmy. He would have given him the wooden stool he conjured for him when they had a heart to heart talk at the Fifth Floor Corridor, right under the nose of the medieval potioneer’s statue, but, that won’t bear much meaning, will it? Besides, the chair he conjured was so bad, it makes Ethan be in a good mood every time he sees it.

Maybe?

Zander had basically poured out his HEART and SOUL and all he got was a... "Maybe"?

Okay. Maybe it wasn't his heart and soul, but he really was trying very hard for this. Which is why the clap on his back was very well timed. "Benzi," he smiled looking behind his shoulder over at the Ravenclaw Prefect.

Y'know, maybe a second opinion could help the situation. Plus seeing as Benzi was a claw himself, this couldn't have been anymore perfect. ANDDDDD as if right on cue, Kettleburn went ahead and asked Rider all by herself. Wow. This made Zander's job real easy.

So yes, Benzi Rider please tell young Kettleburn that Gryffindor is the best place for her. Thanks. And if Benzi said anything opposite of that, Zander Adair would be very, very disappointed. So, please? This was literally the last thing they needed to get right as Prefects. It was their DUTY.

So yes. All eyes on you, Rider. Get it right.

For the love of Merlin, get it right.

Dora laughed like a crazy person when Sabel caught her. Of COURSE he caught her. Heheheheh. When Sabel laughed... she used that moment of distraction to assault his dimples. BOTH SIDES. SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Man. She was going to miss him. Putting her arms around him she squeezed him tight. "I don't want you to leave Hogwarts, Uncle Sabel. Please stay."

Text Cut: but no pressure right Zander?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

Charlotte listened to Zander very closely. Not quite convinced yet but....... those all sounded.... like good things. She nudged the badge pinned to her chest with her little finger and chewed on her lip. "Maybe...." MAaAaaaaybe.

And then Benzi appeared and Charlotte looked between the two soon-to-be-graduated big kids.

It made sense for ZANDER to say Gryffindor was good because he'd been stuck in it for a million years already himself. Not that she didn't believe him it was just that lots of people said good things about the thing that they WERE, right? But what about a RAVENCLAW? Benzi's timing was clearly perfect.

"Benzi," Charlotte began in her best adorable voice, "Do youuuu think Gryffindor is good too? Do you think I'm one for real?" She made big hopeful eyes at him and then added ingeniously, "Blue would suit me too. I could wear TWO badges at once maybe?" RIGHT? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight? Wouldn't that be the coolest? That would cheer her up a WHOLE lot. And obviously it would help everything. Obviously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArianaBlack

Maybe?

Zander had basically poured out his HEART and SOUL and all he got was a... "Maybe"?

Okay. Maybe it wasn't his heart and soul, but he really was trying very hard for this. Which is why the clap on his back was very well timed. "Benzi," he smiled looking behind his shoulder over at the Ravenclaw Prefect.

Y'know, maybe a second opinion could help the situation. Plus seeing as Benzi was a claw himself, this couldn't have been anymore perfect. ANDDDDD as if right on cue, Kettleburn went ahead and asked Rider all by herself. Wow. This made Zander's job real easy.

So yes, Benzi Rider please tell young Kettleburn that Gryffindor is the best place for her. Thanks. And if Benzi said anything opposite of that, Zander Adair would be very, very disappointed. So, please? This was literally the last thing they needed to get right as Prefects. It was their DUTY.

So yes. All eyes on you, Rider. Get it right.

For the love of Merlin, get it right.

Amused, Benzi lowered himself down to a crouch so he could look directly at little Charlotte's face. He pretended to think about her question for some time. After a few moments, he scratched his chin then sat down on his bottom and thought for some more. "Well Charlotte I won't lie, Ravenclaw would have loved to have you. You're a fantastically creative little thing. You and your.. snails.. How are they by the way?" he asked, then he tapped the Head Boy badge on her chest.

"But I truly think that you are a Gryffindor at heart. You're fearless and courageous. Going to talk to the hat?" yes, he'd overheard that part too, "that takes guts kid! I'm proud of you! The Lions are WORLD FAMOUS for their guts! And, Gryffindors like all the same things that you do, like running around and trying new things, right Zander?" he looked up at the head boy, completely expecting to get a nod and some form of agreement. "They're creative and spunky and JUST as great, if not greater, than your old Ravenclaws, I promise you," he finished off with a knuckle bop to her chin. He really was proud of her, BTW. Not to be a sap here, but Benzi Rider kind of adored all the Kettleburn children. Side effect of having spent so much time with them pre-Hogwarts.