Benzi wasn't really sure why he was talking to Reagan about Daxton. She seemed to know him, or at least know a little about him enough to provide insight, but Benzi didn't know her. Hmm. Perhaps he was changing. "I'll try that, thank you," he said sincerely, and looked down at the floor for a second before shaking himself and going back to their current task.

And promptly ignoring her comment on his revelation, mostly because he was going to pretend he hadn't said anything in the first place. Impressions, however, seemed to be a much safer topic so Benzi smiled and watched her curiously until she snapped her fingers and he laughed. "Oh come on that was the least creative impression I've ever seen! You could have at least smiled the way Professor Morgan does!" he shook his head, then cast around for someone he could do.

OH, he had one.

"All right..." Benzi stood, took a deep breath and with a HIGHLY EXCITED GRIN leaped onto the bench. "STELLAR ANSWER, YES YES LUNAR CYCLES!" cue some arm flapping, "SWEET SOLSTICE, the universe is ENORMOUS, Pebbles here can tell you ALL ABOUT IT!" he flapped his arm around some more, jumped off the bench and took a very dramatic bow.

Hehehe. "What's next?"

"You're welcome." To be honest, Reagan was concerned about Daxton, too. She wanted him to thrive and allow people to love on his cute face...but that was probably best left to others, though. She could come on a little strong sometimes.

Man, she felt...ick today.

"Gosh, I'm soooo sorry to disappoint. Hold on, I'll try again." Her tone was teasing as she forced the happiness; appearances, you know? The last thing Reagan wanted was to answer any uncomfortable questions. Anyway, it was best to save it for talks with Sophie Brown. Sophie always understood. Anyway, giving her BEST SMILE and bouncing excitedly in place, she added a bit of OOMP and EXUBERANCE to her SNAPS!...."Better?" It was also hard to go first!

...and that Flamsteed impression was so on point, she nearly fell off the bench laughing. It took several long moments to recover from the giggle fit, as well as catching her breath, but Rea finally wiped at her eyes. "You're completely brilliant."...and this was very much helping her mood. Thank goodness.

"Admit something that worries you, or something you are afraid of." She read carefully off the card, her voice still hitching from left over giggles. Well, this could take a somber turn. "Hmm...I worry that because we can treat animals the way we do, that there aren't any limits to how we can treat one another. Cruelty. Cruelty scared me."

"This is a very serious question."

"Yes, that was much better," Benzi grinned and gave her two thumbs up for her impression. Obviously it wasn't nearly as good as his was but, you know, not everyone could be good at impressions. Then again Flamsteed was just so easy to act out, that man had the personality of a supernova. Heh.

"Thank you thank you, you're not the first person to tell me that, thank you!" he laughed as he sat back down on the bench, feeling very pleased with himself and very much warmed up. No wonder Flamsteed never got cold up in that Astronomy tower of his, with all running around he must get quite the workout.

Aaaaaaaand, there went his happy thoughts. Wasn't this supposed to be fun Botros??? What was up with the depressing questions, Merlin. He nodded at what Reagan shared, able to understand this better than what she'd told with him previously. Humans could be really cruel. It's why he wanted to be an auror and keep the really cruel ones from hurting anyone.

"What worries me... wow, that's, uhm.." he glanced down at the cards and sighed. "If it's okay with you, I'm going to answer the next question instead. In ten years' time I hope to be working as an Auror in the MLE, hopefully with a girlfriend," he smiled, thinking of his current girlfriend and reasoning that if they made it through this term he wouldn't mind it if Evie was that girlfriend in ten years. "And all my family and friends are alive and healthy and I still get to play my drums with my band, even though I hope that they make it big without me.." he said, looking out of the window as he spoke, the smile on his face disappearing as another thought hit him.

"I guess what worries me is what happens if that doesn't come true." There, two birds with one stone.

.

.

Yes, this had taken a somber turn. Reagan peered at Benzi in a very curious fashion, slightly surprised at how candid he'd just been. Even for a class assignment, that was quite a bit to share to someone you didn't know that well. But she valued the honesty in his face (and stance) as he said as much. "I think that's admirable...and what's pretty great about those goals is that they are attainable. I want that for you." No, no...Rea wasn't being flirty or funny, but she would always advocate for people who had dreams. Even those she didn't really know. It was just how she was.

...and the worry made sense. That was actually...Yea. She got it.

"I try not to look too far ahead, honestly. Live for today, not tomorrow...but as I mentioned before, I hope to produce organic, herbal potions to replace those that do use animal parts, whether they are given freely or not. Vegan potions, per say." It wasn't ridiculous, okay? Professor Culloden had been interested in her ideas. So, it was doable. Reagan Penrose would hear no different. "...So, in ten years, I hope to be doing that and writing a column for an international news brief. I hope to be happy and healthy. I hope to have children." Nod, nod. Family was important! "That probably seems boring, but I wouldn't mind a quiet, peaceful life."

Cheeks slightly pink, the Ravenclaw glanced back down at her card. "Are you comfortable with telling me a secret?" This final question could be tough...

"Thank you. I try to keep it simple, you never know what might happen," and that was all he was going to say about that, because he really didn't want to jinx this. Not now not ever. Moving on to what she wanted to do in ten years.

"That's very impressive, I hope you get to do all that. You'll make a difference, Rea. And yes, I don't know if I'd want them in ten years, but children... yeah," he said, smiling as kindly as he could. Those seemed like big dreams, but from the little he knew of the girl she didn't seem to easily back down, and she's obviously passionate about it all so he figured she'd make it. No reason she wouldn't. Also children... yes.

A secret? "Man Botros went all out with these didn't he?" Benzi chuckled, then took a moment to think about something he could say. His first answer had been a secret actually, and there was only so much he was willing to share, no offense to Rea. He contemplated not saying anything, but then was struck with inspiration and he chuckled. "Okay, here's a secret. I always get my mum to buy the same brand of socks so I never have to sort through and pair them up, because they're all the same. Scandalous, I know," there. A secret that didn't have him spilling his deepest thoughts.

"You don't have to tell me a secret if you don't want to," he pointed out with a nod, "secrets are secrets for a reason."

"Wow, that secret was so juicy." Accompanied with a scandalized tone that was completely exaggerated, Rea hoped to lighten the mood. Not so much from his shared secret...but the previous questions. Benzi had been right. Headmaster Botros had really dug deep for these...

"I'm an open book, as I mentioned before." Laughing, she lounged back against the bench back once more, trying to dig for something that would do. They wanted to complete the assignment, you know? So, that meant making all the questions disappear on the cards...and THAT was only accomplished by answering them. Hmm. "I snuck my sun parakeets into school by placing bubblehead charms on their faces and making them comfy in my trunk." Charms, man. Reagan was so good with charms. "Their names are Veruca and Violet...and my heart ached at the thought of leaving them at home for an entire term without me."

Did that count? Umm, Rea thought so. She'd not really shared it with anyone that didn't live in her dorm. Evie and Sophie knew, but...yea. That was about it.

"Not as exciting as socks, but..." She smiled. "I think we're finished. Did all of the questions disappear on your card?" Hers had.

Ilia was so .....hurt. How could it hurt this much? Her life was falling apart at fifteen, how was that even possible? She was heartbroken and felt like she would be alone forever. Her parents were in official separation talks and couldn't stand in the same room without arguing.....she finally worked up the nerve to tell her best friend what she felt and got spurned......so now she would be parentless and friendless.

She really thought that he felt something for her as she did for him. Adi had even told her that he thought Henric would be happy to hear of her affections for him. Their lips touched and she felt complete but....he said that it wasn't meant to be. Rebuffed the only happiness she had anymore......Maybe he started dating Leah and never told her. Maybe he just had no love for her.....It was all in her mind.....and how much she cared for the boy meant nothing but to herself.

He was in her head, in her heart........she couldn't stop thinking of him. What could she do now? By Merlin's great white beard.......had she destroyed the friendship she cared so much about? Lost and helpless, like she couldn't even breathe , that is what she felt like.

Walking aimlessly in the corridors, she intentionally skipped Divination class. The last thing that she wanted was to hear her destiny in someone's flatulence or tell someone that they were headed for certain doom by looking at the weird wrinkle on their pinky finger. She decided to stop for a moment and looked around. There was a big, flamboyant tapestry beside her that she turned to see more clearly.

Beautiful colors that could mesmerize her a bit as she took it in. Slumping down onto her knees, she sat before it and hugged herself. Wearing all black and her dragon hoodie sweater (complete with ears and a tail), she was a black spot against a view of brilliant colors.

Adi had been out to see Mr Kitridge and to help him re-stack the shelves of the library. After an hour of doing just that, the Hufflepuff took off for wherever his feet decided to take him. Or rather, he was letting Gus lead the way. The toad was hopping along and its owner was following. Soon, they found themselves at the tapestry. And wasn't that Ilia?

She looked great in that sweater. A dragon sweater... uh oh. Was this coincidence or not? Was she wearing the dragon sweater because she missed Henric? Adi hadn't gotten much time to talk to Ilia with the Christmas stuff that had been going on and he hadn't wanted to bring up the sensitive topic during that festive time.

Adi approached her, uncertain if she wanted to be bothered. Coming closer, he could see the sweater she wore for a Toothless one. He smiled. Toothless was kind of famous at Hogwarts, wasn't he? At least among those who knew the Muggle movie and series. "Ilia?'' The Puff moved in view so that he could take a good look at her face. Oh, no! He could see hurt and sadness written all over.

Without a word, Adi reached out to wrap his arms around his friend. "My Toothless, Veela girl doesn't look so good when she's sad.''

Ilia held herself tighter as she sat in thought ignoring the world. She heard the footsteps, but she didn't pay any mind to them. She was lost in her own thoughts until she heard her name spoken by a very familiar voice. Before she could fully register Adi's presence, she felt his arms around her. The older Puff boy had become somewhat of a brotherly figure to her and being held felt very comforting right now. Her hands reached up to rest on him and she leaned her head against him.

No one looked good when they were sad, especially if they were....Wait.....toothless???? Parentless, friendless, AND toothless!!!???? Was that to be her destiny!? What sort of cruel insinuation was the badger prefect making!?

"Why am I toothless?" It came out with a little sob as she tapped her teeth, making certain that they were , in fact, there.

She noticed the toad that was with Adi too.....little Gus. And to think she had managed to stop crying a few minutes ago...here came a fresh bout of sniffle crying. He was adorable and lovely and reminded her entirely too much of Princess. She had still not gotten over losing their toady baby and had just been internalizing the pain , rather than truly dealing with it.

Poor Ilia.

Adi knew exactly why 'his Veela girl' was crying. As he sat there with her head leaning against him, he silently cursed Henric for being so stupid and rejecting Ilia. He totally failed to realise that in his third year he too had rejected AJ because he was too busy wanting to punch Henric. Wait until that dude got back to Hogwarts after the holidays. Adi's fist was going to meet his face for hurting Ilia like this.

Wait... whut?

Ilia literally thought she was toothless? Despite the situation, Adi couldn't help but feel amused. He had momentarily forgotten that his friend grew up in the Wizarding world completely. "Toothless is a dragon from a muggle movie... this sweater you're wearing has Toothless's face, ears and tail.'' That being said, Adi squished Ilia in an attempt to comfort her.

A fat lot that did though because she seemed to have had spotted Guster and started crying again. "Awh, Ilia. Gus is just trying to cheer you up. Look at how he's looking at you all concerned.'' Indeed the toad was pretty close to her and looking at her with those big toady eyes.

Adi supposed he had better get around to actually talking to Ilia about her plight but he also knew she needed to cry as much as she could. It would help her feel better. Mhmm. So he sat silently for now, letting himself be used as a shoulder to cry on. Literally.

Ohhhhhhh......Adi meant her hood sweatshirt. The dragon's name was toothless???? That...didn't sound like something very nice to call someone. "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know. Ullr gave it to me as a present." Her boy cousins knew a little bit more about muggle things than she did. Freyr had a fascination with their music, Ullr liked things from their 'television'. Their parents were not quite as strict as her mother either.....the boys didn't have to act like ladies or be prim and proper as long as they were polite and 'classy'.

Adi's squishy squish hug made her feel better, but she couldn't seem to stop herself from crying. Gus was staring up at her with those big, deep, beautiful, orb like eyes he had, sitting their in front of her. Her heart hurt as she gently scooped the toad into her lap, sobbing all the while. "Gus is sweet and I l-love toads......it......j-just...makes me....m-miss Princess more." She managed to sob out her sentence while gently petting Gus's warty head. She missed her toady baby terribly and would forever despise spiders.

She took a moment of leaning on Adi, petting little Gus, and sobbing before she started to compose herself a little. "Adi.....I'm really glad that we're friends. Even if everything else here hurts, having you as a friend is worth it." Having a non-family brother like him, was priceless in the fifteen year olds eyes and she leaned into squishing him more.

Once she started to calm down......a small arachnid (in comparison to an acromantula) made the unfortunate mistake of sliding down the corner of the tapestry. It had likely seen some sort of flying insect, or was sizing up web making places....but regardless of the creatures intent...it made a bad move. It slide down, right beside the pair of students and toad, stopping mid-thread on the bottom corner of the tapestry.

Ilia had seen motion out of the corner of her eye, then made a small shriek. She had seen , the icky creepy crawly eight legged freak, also known as a spider. Flipping her wand out instinctually, she aimed a quick "Incendio" at the monster. Not thinking about the consequences though...as it was on the tapestry which was more than likely quite flammable......

Ah, yes. Ullr, of course, one of Ilia's family members that was a tad obsessed with muggle things. Adi shook his head. "Even if you're literally toothless, we can always get you a set of dentures." His joke was lame but maybe it would get even a chuckle or an inch of a smile out of her. Please? It broke his Hufflepuff heart to see her cry like this.

The Hufflepuff smiled slightly as Gus allowed himself to be lifted and placed on his friend's lap. "I'm sure Gus loves you, too, Ilia. And I'm betting that like me, he hates seeing you in this state.'' He nodded at the mention of Princess. Yep, even Henric had expressed how much he had missed the other toad when he had visited Adi's dorm. "You can hang onto Guster for a while, if you want. I'm sure he wouldn't mind.'' And there was the amphibian croaking up. "That means he approves,'' its owner translated.

Aww! That was so sweet of her to say. Adi felt loved. "I'm glad you think so. I'm always here for you, you know.'' He kept his hand around her, thinking that indeed his presence was helping her cope. "Henny...'' He hesitated, not sure if Ilia would want to talk about Henric. "He'll come around.''

The shriek nearly had him jumping out of his skin. WHUT was going on? Adi's eyes followed Ilia's gaze. AHHH! It was a spider! A mini one but who cared? It still had eight legs! Stupid creepy, crawley thing. But before he could so much as react futher, Ilia had come through... by Incendioing the creature. WAAAAAH! GO, ILIA! But...

OH, NO!

FIYAAAAAH!

The tapestry was on fire!

"Aguamenti!'' Adi jumped to his feet, had his wand out in a flash and was casting the incantation a split second later. Mercifully he had gotten to take things into control early and the small blaze was outed.

A set of dentures? He was joking right? She didn't think she'd ever be able to tolerate having dentures even if she'd needed them. "No I can't have dentures." She spoke with a pouty voice and shook her head a little.

When Gus croaked up in her lap she gave a faint smile and hugged the little warty guy closer. While petting him, she tried to find anywhere that he might be itchy and give it a good scratch. She hadn't petted a toad since the loss of her baby and had cried on sight at toads previously, so Gus was a good distraction. "I...don't know if I'll have a pet toad again." She didn't know if she could even handle toad sitting. It was still a strongly emotional thing for her right now.

When Adi said that he was always here for her, she squished him closer. He was probably the person that she trusted most in the world right now.

After set into spider panic mode, she was back standing up with Gus clutched against her. No way was a spider going ANYWHERE near him or Adi. She didn't care if it was little , it had to go. Once she calmed a moment though.....she realized that her flame may have also graced the tapestry....and that it started on fire. Oh....by Merlin's big white beard.....here came detention probably.....Before she could utter her next spell though, Adi had put the fire out. Phew....well at least there was that.......

She didn't know what to said about the fire and instant freak out reaction and pulled her hood closer over her head. "He said he couldn't be with me. I don't think he feels like I do Adi." To answer his words before the *coughspiderfreakoutcough* little incident that they were not going to talk about...... "I-I...think I....wrecked our friendship." She felt like there was a lump in her throat that she couldn't swallow. A painful thought, she'd destroyed the three amigos because she couldn't just be happy with their friendship. No, she'd needed more and wrecked it all because Henric didn't love her back. "I-I'm sorry."

Well, that was a total bust. Adi shook his head, smiling slightly. "Okay, no dentures for my Veela girl.'' Her poutiness though... it was that poutiness that made him cave with the dentures business. As for having another pet toad, Henric had said the same thing to him before. "One step at a time, right? Maybe you could get another pet for starters.'' Merlin knew Ilia could use a good distraction. Adi couldn't help but admire the way she held and petted Gus.

''Croooooak!''

He laughed. "I think he loves it when you pet and scratch him.'' As if to agree with its owner, the amphibian croaked again. "CROAAAAKAY. CROAAAAAKBEEEE. CROAAAAKSEE.'' The Hufflepuff did a double take at his precious toady. Had... had he just heard Guster croak the first three letters of the alphabet? "Ilia, did it just sound like Guster started to croak the alphabet?'' EEEEP! It had finally happened! His toad had actually done what Adi thought it hadn't the ability to do!
....................

Adi examined the tapestry. "Just some minor singeing,'' he muttered. But he didn't care about that right now. Clearly Ilia was distraught over the combination of what happened between her and Henric and the acormantula episode last term. Let's face it... who could blame her?

He watched her pull the Toothless hood over her head. He wished he had his camera with him. Adi thought she looked pretty still despite her mood. He simply put his arms around her, embracing her in a friendly hug as he listened to her speak. Annnd once again he wanted his fist to connect to Henric's pretty boy face. "He's being stupid. Just wait until he misses being away from you.'' Ehem... speaking from experience here. Adi shook his head. "It only feels that way but once you get over this rough patch, your friendship will be as good as new.'' He tilted his head. "What are you sorry about? You can't help how you feel.''

No, no dentures. She would see a healer about regrowing her teeth before she would wear dentures. His Veela girl, there was something comforting in being called that but, no one else could call her that. It was a name just between them. Another pet? She didn't know if she had the heart for it......the owl had kept her some company...."I don't know.....I have Beltaine, our former family owl with me. I have George..." She pointed to the pet rock in her hoodie pocket. "My father kept my pup because my mother didn't want him in the apartment...." She said rather sadly. She missed her furry buddy, he'd grown even bigger over her first year at Hogwarts.

Thinking about how much she was missing her pup and her father , she just pet Gus all the more intently. Gus started croaking more and differently with her affections......wait.....did he just croak what? She thought about it as she listened intently. [b]"Umm....actually.....I..I think he did. A, B, and C.

----------------

Just minor singeing? She lit the castle on fire...okay well a small corner of the tapestry...not quite a roaring blaze.....but still.......she felt bad, but at least she didn't burn it down. If Adi wasn't going to tell a professor or yell at her she wasn't going to say anything. Why get herself in trouble if Adi didn't seem to care?

The little snakette in the dragon hood felt her Pufftastic buddy wrap his arms around her again and she leaned against him. Normally her and Henric hugged almost every day, but after he left she'd been broken hearted and hugless. "I don't know if he misses me...or even thinks about me. I haven't gotten a letter from him or anything." She hadn't heard from him since she kissed him and got her affections rebuffed. Rough patch....she didn't know how accurate of a description that was and the fifteen year old seriously felt that she had done some grave ill. Oh teenage angst and hormones......

"I'm sorry......because.....maybe our friendship won't go back the way it was. Maybe I broke it......for all of us." She didn't want Adi to have to deal with being in the middle of her and Henric. It wasn't very fair to him. "I...care about him....too much to deny...but........." Couldn't help how she felt? No....she really couldn't. "I-I...don't think I can be.....just....his friend." She started to have a few tears forming in her bright blue eyes again. "I don't like seeing other girls hug him..." If another girl kissed him she'd probably freak out.

So...many... pets! Ilia had the most pets than anyone he knew. And yes, he DID count all the creatures at the Reserve. The Dragons, the Hippogriffs... EVERYTHING! "You have Guster too, Ilia. You can keep him with you for as long as you like.'' Gus would love all the pampering and love his friend would give.

He felt sorry for her and the pup, though. "You'll get to see him the next time you go home. But I've got Pride with me too.'' The small pet rock was retrieved from his pocket and showed to Ilia. Maybe George would like a play pal?

YEEEAH! Adi knew he had not misheard. The words were hardly out of the Sakette's mouth when... "Crooooakdeeee, Croaaakefffff!'' So cool! "The guy whom I adopted Gus from said he could croak the alphabet but this is the first time I've heard him.'' And it was pretty darn exciting!
...................

The smell of burnt tapestry lingered in the air as Adi held his friend. Hopefully no one came around to notice it. Whoever burnt the tapestry would always remain a secret between him and Ilia and in any case, if anyone did come around right now, all he would say was that Ilia was defending herself against a meanie spider. Who would blame her? Everyone knew about the trauma she went through last term at their crazy, eight legs.

"Of course he misses you. Take it from me since I've been through the same thing. He really wants to talk to you but he isn't sure how to or what to say. He's dealing with his own feelings too however silly they may be.'' Really... it was all silly reasoning that had caused all of this. Adi needed to talk some sense into that dude.

Pffft. "I have no idea what you're talking about. At least nothing will change on my part. I'll still give Henric a difficult time, you'll always be my Veela girl and I'll keep trying to make you two talk to each other again.'' Best friends should never, ever drift apart. Nope. "I know how you feel but, Ilia... Henny's like me. We have lots of friends and a lot of them happen to be girls but YOU'RE his bestie. Not them.'' In other words, she was his favourite only.

She could keep Gus with her.....she didn't know if she could do that. What if something happened like with Princess? She'd never forgive herself. "I....don't think I can do that. I love seeing him and I love Gus...I just...." She wasn't sure, what happened with Princess hurt so much.

She'll get to see him back at home....she wasn't really home anymore. She missed her dad and Garm. "Adi....can you have dogs in Hogwarts?" Her mother told her that she couldn't and that it couldn't stay at the apartment, but....perhaps her mother hadn't told her the whole truth about her being able to take him with her? It was possible....She set George beside Adi so that him and Pride could sit together. It was probably silly, but why not?

-----------------------
She kept petting the toad as he kept croaking the alphabet and she giggled a little. She really did love Gus, this is why she suspected that Princess had a crush on him. "Really? This is the first time?" She was very surprised and just kept loving on Gus, wondering if maybe he'd sing the whole alphabet for him.
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He had been through it before? "You've had this problem before?" She looked at him incredulously. Who in their right mind would turn down a date with Adi? He was amazing. If she didn't love Henric so much .....and Adi didn't have a girlfriend..... she'd date him herself. Fact of the matter was though, that Adi had a relationship with a pretty girl and she cared for Henric deeply even though he'd hurt her.

"Its just....so confusing Adi. I don't know if it can ever be right again." She wiped back the tears that had fallen again. "I....I kissed him.......and....he kissed me back. It was like a movie.....like everything in the world was okay again....it felt like the stars were dancing and the sun was a spotlight.....my heart soared more than if I had my own wings." She blushed a little and pulled her hood a bit tighter. "But then he pulled away and left me.........he couldn't be with me and he had to go and be with his muggle family......I don't think....he wants me in his world. I don't know how to be a muggle Adi.....I'm....I'm not even all human if we get down to it." She had so much doubt now and it made her terribly sad.

She was different from all of the other girls he was friends with. Was that really true? Henric liked lots of people, he used to hang out with Leah all of the time too. She saw girls around him all the time, pairing with him in class, just hanging out with him. Why was that any different than when they sat at the lake together? Her heart told her that Adi was right, but her emotions and head were getting in its way. "I want to talk to him, but I don't know what to say either. I don't how to not feel like I do......and if he just wants to be my friend....if he still does...I don't know what to do." It was all a horrible mess and it was all her fault.

Adi nodded understandingly. It hadn't crossed his mind that Ilia may be afraid that she would let some kind of harm come to Gus (pfffft. As if she would) but he was thinking more along the lines of his toad being some comfort to her. Maybe having the amphibian around would be too much of a reminder of Princess.

He looked happily at the two rocks sitting together. ''I think they'll be great friends. Like us.'' Yes, indeed. But then he was shaking his head. "I don't think so. I know Zander's allowed to have his crup stay at the barnyard.'' The Hufflepuff suddenly had an idea. He tilted his head at Ilia. "Do you want me to take care of him? It's my last year here and I'll have an apartment with Benny when we go to university. There will be lots of room.'' Yeah! This sounded like a good idea to him. It was the least he could do for her. "You could always visit him when you have time.''
....................

Come on, Guster! Croak the rest of the alphabet! You were doing what Adi had failed to do... make Ilia laugh. "Yep, this is the first time. He must really be concerned about you so he tried to amuse you.'' Just look at the toad watching Ilia. "Well done, Gus! For both the alphabet and making Ilia laugh.''
....................

Ugh. Yeah. He had been through the same thing but he remained silent as Ilia spoke. Adi kept holding her close, hoping to offer her as much comfort as he could. And wasn't his little Snakette a romantic one? "I know exactly how you feel.'' Mhmm. He didn't even have to try to put himself in Ilia's position.

It pained him that he could not tell her that Henric DID like her more than a friend but Henric's troubled past and Ilia's family status was holding him back. Adi definitely needed to have a chat with his fellow Hufflepuff. He didn't even have much words to comfort her. "He'll come around. He just needs time to figure things out and I promise I'll talk to him.'' Yes, he would.

Ilia smiled when Adi said that George and Pride would be great friends. The rocks did look pretty content with each other, though perhaps that was just the way their faces were painted. Well.....George had eyes....did that count as a face? Close enough right? Yeah close enough.

The barnyard? No....Garm was used to having more room than a barnyard. It would be selfish of her to do that to him. Adi wanted to take him? That was right....it was Adi's last year. That thought alone was enough to make her want to cry. But, if he had Garm, she could visit him any time she wasn't in school. Should she? Would her father be sad? "Thank you. I will think about it. I trust you, I will just have to ask my father." She didn't want to take him, if it was comfort for her father. "I guess, I want him here and I want you to take him so that I can see him......but I don't want my father to be all alone. So, I will have to see, but.....I can't tell you how excited I am at the thought." She really missed him horribly.
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Gus was.....the cutest thing ever. "Thank you so much for singing the alphabet to me Sir Guster, no nobler an amphibian ever lived." She laughed a little and gently scratched his favorite spot. He definitely made her feel better , he felt she was special enough to sing to when he hadn't even for Adi before. She hugged the toad warmly and whispered that he was wonderful and how much she appreciated him.
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Ilia just buried herself in Adi's big squishy hug, listening as he said that he would talk to Henric. She still felt things were broken , but she was glad that Adi was here. She really loved the older puff boy and the thought that he would be leaving soon made her even sadder. "Adi, why do you have to be older than me?" She whispered as she squished him tighter. "I don't want you to graduate and leave me." She was being a selfish child right now, but Henric didn't want her around anymore and Adi left with Benny, she would be all alone again. She could be alone, she just....didn't want to be.

Adi nodded. He understood fully the comfort a pet could bring. His little Guster always kept him company when he was studying alone. Just to see the toady hopping around on his bed and hearing his croaks helped deal with the stress studying brought. "I really do hope your dad wouldn't mind.'' Anything that made his Veela girl sad made him sad in turn. Also, it pleased him that she trusted him.
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Awwwh! The Hufflepuff was certain that his amphibian was enjoying all that attention. "It sounded like you were knighting him.'' He was grinning. Ilia certainly had a way with words. Gus in response croaked at the scratch, flicking out his tongue to give the Slytherin a lick on her cheek before he was hugged.
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Wheee! His squishy hug was returned. But it made him feel a little down after he realised where Ilia was going with her question of why he was older. "Why do you have to be younger?'' he asked absently as he did not really have an answer. Oh, no. He was NEVER leaving her. "I'm not going to ever leave you, Ilia. I know it wouldn't be the same but I'll write to you ever so often. You can come visit me whenever you can and I'll come see you during Hogsmeade weekends.'' Ahh, now he was having the feels about leaving the Castle. Breatheeeee, Adi. Just breathe.

She hoped that her dad would say that it was okay to take Garm to Adi's too. She didn't want him to be alone or sad, but he still had Garm's mom Vera. Chances were, that he would get more of them as well but still. She could ask, and that way he could visit her every time that Adi did and when she finally graduated....she could take him with her. "I will ask him when we speak again." She missed the little talks that they used to have when they were alone. She had even asked him to send her howlers, just so she could hear her papa bear's rumbly voice.

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Like she was knighting him? Why not? She smiled softly at both Adi and Guster. "Isn't that what damsels in distress do for their rescuers? Be they tall dark and handsome..." She winked at Adi, yes she meant you stud. "Or but knee-high, warted, and adorable." Yes, that was you Gus Gus. She giggled when he gave her a toady kiss as she motioned to embrace him. Yup Gus got a squish hug, just not toooooo squish. He was still sort of a little guy compared to his human companion.

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"I guess we were just born that way." She sighed against him as a reply. She couldn't go running through the corridors to find him after this term, but she supposed still being able to see him on Hogsmeade weekends softened the blow. Sending him letters....probably presents...."Every summer and maybe holidays then....and Hogsmeade weekends. We will have to have different kinds of adventures." She smiled a little tearfully , still not happy at the thought of Adi not being there.

Tall, dark and handsome? Adi looked around playfully at the fourth floor as though searching for someone else. "Me?'' he asked Ilia. "Why, thank you!'' Cue him squishing her some more. Oh, sweet Veela girl. You've swollen his head a tad now. Hehe. But Guster seemed to be enjoying the attention even more! As he was embraced, he let out a series of croaks.
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She was giving him the feels now If Ilia kept this up, Adi was sure he would end up crying with her. Excuse him for being sensitive. "I'll write to you so often you'll get fed up of me. I'll tell you about University and about classes and everything else. You'll probably be bored of me in no time.'' His voice cracked a little. Great Hippogriffs and Dragons! He was getting emotional! Not that he cared because he didn't mind showing his emotions in front of Ilia. She was, after all, one of his closest friends. No, he just wanted to be strong and not a sad sap for her right now.

"Of course you, silly sweet Adipuff. You know that you're very handsome." As Adi squish hugged her and Gus croaked, Ilia felt happy for the first time since before Christmas and she giggled a little in the boy/girl/toad hug sandwich. Adi really was so very dear to her, her first friend in this school and her closest besides a certain other stinkerpuff that was being a jerk.

"I would never get fed up or bored of you Adi. I love you too much." She was telling him the truth, deep down in her heart even at first meeting when she wasn't sure....she knew she liked the boy. Leaning up, she gave him a small kiss on the cheek despite her intense desire to continue sobbing. "We're close as blood Adi, best friends are family that you pick.....right?" She had two best friends.....as long as one of them repaired his friendship with her like Adi felt he would. Hopefully after all of this was over, after Hogwarts even, she'd still have her boys. She settled against his squish hug, calm enough to face the rest of their afternoon now.

Adi grinned. Man, he loved that name! Adipuff! Yep, it was so him. "So I've been told,'' he told Ilia cheerfully. Haha The Puff knew he was handsome. The mirror told him this everyday but it was even better when someone he loved told him.

Awh! "I love you too, Ilia. Always will.' Especially if Henric was going to continue being the world's greatest prat. He smiled at the kiss, his cheek feeling warm where the show of affection had been planted. ''Yes, and I'd choose you as a best friend over and over again.'' He continued to hold his Veela girl close, determined to keep her comforted.