She knew Adi seemed to feel most of her feelings before she did. Two years experience before her? Or perhaps she and Adi were simply that similar in personality? He said it would all work out and she really hoped so. She was debating letting Henric come up while Adi was here, maybe he could sort of.....she didn't know......be a sort of reason maker if needed? She nodded softly and let out a small sigh.

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

Ilia didn't quite know what was going on, until she heard Henric's cry of PUT ME DOWN. Lifting herself into a sitting position to look at her three boys a troublesome sight met her eyes. Adigriff was making Henric McStinkerPuff levitate precariously high as Benny the Lion was advocating his release, while Henric pleaded and attempted to grasp at things............That escalated quickly.

At least Adi set.....no dropped.....he sort of dropped Henric towards the platform and came back to her. She watched it all quietly as she started to let a few tears slip again, still thinking of what Henric was shouting up at her. Damn his pride, damn his fear, damn his lying to her. "Its not fair....." She said barely above a whisper. "Its really not fair......" She curled up tight with her chin to her knees and began to cry a little more noticeably. Yup......there went a sob......

Benny caught that look directed to him by his boyfriend. Yeah...he got the meaning. Funny how awkwardly similar this situation was before them. And now the older pair was here to try and help the younger two. At least he thought so, but the older badger was sending mixed signals.

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

Too focused on Adi and Henric, Benny wasn't aware Ilia had sat up, or even that she had started crying again at first. He did notice the dropped wand however that left the younger Hufflepuff essentially defenseless however, stregthening his resolve to be an ally. A weird turn of events even the boy's part in his and Adi's own nearly-broken friendship last term. And Henric's calling of his name assured the Gryffindor that he was aware Benny was helping him.

He was ready to stare down Adi, meeting his best friend's gaze whenever Adi had turned to him away from Henric. But thankfully he backed down, those two simple words letting him relax and loosening his hold on Adi's wrist as his other half lowered Henric to the platform. Roughly...but still better than dropping the boy. "Thank you." Benny moved to check on him, offering any assistance to recome and join the group. The dragon boys would stick together while Adi sided with Ilia as the couple worked on fixing things.

Well, it turned out there actually was a dead body in the treehouse. Oliver had not actually believed it and now this person was not moving. But before he overreacted, he had to consider that maybe she was just sleeping. But wouldn't that poke have woken up a sleeping person? Maybe. But maybe not.

Oliver had to try a more dramatic way to wake up the person. To make sure if she was dead or not. If she was, he didn't really know what to do. He didn't want to be implicated in her death. So hopefully nobody was dead. That would be the best result all around. Olly took out his wand. He decided that water to the face would definitely wake someone up. So obviously that was the most logical thing to do at the moment.

"Aguamenti." The stream of water shot out of his wand and directly toward the girl's face. Hopefully she would wake up.

Henric was still trying to grab hold onto anything while suspended in mid-air. Fortunately, Adi came back to his senses and moved him up onto the platform where he had a higher chance of surviving. However, he was carelessly dropped as if he was nothing more than a sack of potatoes to Adi. ”Ooph.” His feet planted onto the floorboard first but quickly managed to break his fall using the proper technique he used for his practice in the martial arts. Thank merlin, his parents decided to sign him up for judo or this fall could have ended badly.

Benny was by his side the moment he started to stand up on his feet again.”Thanks Benny,but I’m f-fine.” He didn’t have any bad feelings towards the Gryffindor anymore, after this he would treat him nicely from now on. Honestly saying, he deserved a hero’s medal for practically saving his life. Henric brushed himself off and glared towards Adi. “If you have something to say to me, just say it. I’m here for llia, please don’t make me deal with you too cos’ I do not appreciate you levitating me every bloody time you’re not happy with me,“ his tone darkened slightly. Glancing to the side, he finally saw her. His beautiful bestfriend crying because of him. Yes, it was all his fault for hurting her. Yes, he was a dimwit for lying and rejecting her. Yes, his ego had got the better of him. Yes, he was a git for leaving her but he did it because of his fear of losing the one person he loved and respect.

Those past agonising weeks he had been through, Henric felt incredibly lost in touch with himself because he kept missing her to the point that he couldn’t put up his façade any longer. He realised that now and he wished to salvage whatever left in their broken relationship. “llia…I will do anything...please say that you'll forgive me….please don’t turn away from me, I know…you probably hate me...I know you don't want to see me, but I can’t bare the thought of losing you…” This was it…the final blow to the heart. He had to tell her now before it was too late!

Sabbie listened to what Nells said about her mother and nodded. He didn't know much about how wise mothers were, as he'd never known his own. But he did know how wise Grandmothers were, and he would credit most of his knowledge to her.

When Nells had asked him how he knew so much, it had struck him as a funny question because since coming to Hogwarts, he’d never felt he'd known so little. "I don't know Nells, a lot of the stuff I tell you comes from my abuela's anecdotes and stories. Actually my family has a strong history of storytelling so i guess thats where I've learned most it. I've loved listening to the stories ever since I was little". he explained.

He replied to her question about the big dipper constellation. "We call it 'El Carro' which means 'the wagon'" and you're right, that bright star is a famous star - Its the North star . You can use it to navigate North."

He laughed at her next query, was Astronomy his favourite subject? Well I guess it probably could be, but I should make an effort to at least turn up to more classes. I'll let you know once I do.

Noelle was enjoying her little nightly get away with Sabbie. She was learning more from him than she did in class.... Well, that wasn't exactly true because Professor Flamsteed was amazing and did a brilliant job. But learning something outside of class about stars, was something new.

Noelle snuggled into the pillows and pulled the throw blanket over her more. "Well your abuela is smart. I want to see if she will tel any stories to me when I visit your family." She said glancing back over at Sabbie. "Do you think she will like me?"

Nells wasn't usually one to question if someone would like her or not. She was adorable and Queen of cute. Her mom had blown up her confidence for her. But Sabbies family seemed different than what she was used to and she wanted to make a good impression.

Speaking of impressions....

"Yes! You need to go to classes more! I will grab you by the ear and pull you to classes with me if you don't start going! How else are you going to learn?" Of course Noelle had been sharing her notes with him. They were besties after all and besties had to stick together. "Youre supposed to be the Ravenclaw so I can copy off of you! " Noelle grinned because that was just a funny thought.

Sabbath was also enjoying their treehouse sleepover. Nells was doing a good job of keeping him talking and keeping his mind off his homesickness.

"Well, I have to agree with you. My abuela is very smart. But as for telling you stories, Nells, she doesn't speak any English so that could be a problem. Who knows, perhaps I can translate for you".

"Of course, my grandmother will like you, Nells. You're adorable, who wouldn't" His grandmother was a gregarious but forceful person to say the least, but most people found her warm and charming. Although, he knew she would prefer he spent time with girlfriends who were Gitanas, he knew she would be, in the very least, tolerant of her during her visit.

It was true, what Nells was saying, He did need to turn up to more classes, but it was hard to be everywhere and keep his promises to his family to continue his flamenco arts. It meant hours of guitar and dance practice and for Sabbath, family came first before classes, so this term classes had taken a backseat.

"Look, I'll try to get there more" he said, smiling at the mental image of Noelle dragging him into the classroom by the ear. "And Nells... I really do appreciate all the help you give me," he added more soberly. Although, he wasn't failing, he wasn't doing as well as he could. If she hadn't lent him her notes he would been a lot further behind this term. He scoffed out loud over her comment about him being a Ravenclaw. In fact, he thought he couldn't be more different from his Ravenclaw dorm mates if he tried.

Adi shook his head at Benny. You didn't need to say thank you for that jerk, boyfriend. Really, he was glad Benny was there because look at how much he had helped in calming him down.

The Puff flat out ignored his fellow Badger as he adjusted himself back next to Ilia in her curled up form, taking her hand. He didn't bother to point out that he also levitated Henric for fun for two reasons: One- he was trying to keep his rising temper in check and two- his Veela girl was sobbing. "I know it's not,'' he told her as he stroked her hand. "But it'll all work out, you'll see.''

And would Henric shut up? -___-

Adi could not hold himself back anymore. "Now you've come to your senses?'' he asked, still holding Ilia's hand. He released it now to climb to his feet, turning to face his not- at- the- moment- friend. "You made her cry FOR DAYS, YOU DIMWIT! YOU RAN OFF HOME AND LEFT HER ALONE ALL BECAUSE OF THOSE STUPID THOUGHTS YOU WERE HAVING!"

Yep. Shouting was happening because the seventh year was THAT angry at Henric for hurting Ilia. He had seen her cry loads of times, he had been the one comforting her and trying to help her keep it together, he had been the one hurting just as much as she had been.

"YOUR SKULL IS JUST TOO THICK TO GET ANYTHING THROUGH! IT WAS POINTLESS FOR US TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR BACKGROUND DOESN'T MATTER TO ANY OF US!'' Without further ado, Adi raised his left fist, pulled it back then punched Henric straight on the nose with all the strength he could muster.

It was decided.
Noelle was going to learn Spanish.

If she wanted to be able to speak with Sabbies grandmother, this was a must. She didn't want to have to have Sabbie translate everything they said to each other. And it would make a good impression right? Sabbie had mentioned to her before how his people liked to keep with their people. Nells wanted to be apart of that people if she was going to keep Sabbie as a best friend.

Which, they needed to work on that stuff with her side of the family too. Her mom is weary of Sabbie because he's different and in her eyes, dangerous. Noelle had no idea why. Sabbie was her best friend and would never hurt her.

"Can you teach me how to speak Spanish?" Noele blurted out at him. If not, she would happily decline him using any of her notes anymore from class.

And speaking of class,

"Try a bit harder. I know you're dancing but studies are important too. Your family can't teach you this stuff." She was here to help but she knew as little as he did.

But then she smiled.

"Of course. What are best friends for?"

Justin was just mowing the grass all along. Keeping the grounds nice and trim due to Spring season. The constant rain made the grass need so much more tending, so here he was doing his Groundskeeping job... now what was with that racket?

Justin's brows furrowed as he followed along. Some young puppy loving spat? A sore loser at Wizard's chess? He didn't know and couldn't from down below. So he was going up the ladder, he pushed aside nostalgic moments of the Treehouse to see the scene.

Let's see here. A young Gryffindor, oh, and one of his own house who seems to be quite upset and then two Hufflepuffs.. Justin's head fully appeared in time to see the Prefected one send a punch to the other one. Oh bloody hell. Right away he wordlessly sent a Protego spell to block the two of them from going any further. "WHat are you doing Masters Rehman and Nicolei? You are a Prefect and that just cost your house 50 points each from the both of you for fighting and causing such a racket on school grounds!" This Treehouse was not going to be another fight club under his watch.

Justin turned his attention right back at the Gryffindor and young Slytherin. Witnesses. Now looking at them all. "Explain yourselves. What happened here?" Tick, tock. Time was wasting fast for the Groundskeeper.

Henric had never seen Adi burst out like that in front of him. His eyes widened with shock, rendered him speechless for a second. Adi's loud voice startled him so much, he backed away a step too. Bloody dragons....Adi was screaming at the top of his lungs because of what he did to llia. Adi's piercing words made him even more guilty than he already felt, and so much more mortified. He never meant to leave her or be distant from her...he was torn and confused, it was bloody torturing for him too! Would anyone try to understand him for once? It was his mistake for letting his insecurities got the better of him but he wanted to change that! He wanted to prove how incredibly important llia meant to him.

His chest hurt but no words came out from his mouth as he stood still, listening to Adi venting out his anger and frustration towards him. Henric clenched his fist, angry not at the prefect but at himself. He realised now...how many he had hurt, including Adi and Benny. It was hard to look at him in the eye, he was at a loss.

A blur of flesh suddenly headed towards his face. And the next thing he knew Adi's strong fist connected with his nose, forcing an involuntary yell out from him. Henric staggered back several feet before falling onto his back. The excruciating pain finally registered through his haze of shock as more blood coming out from his nose. He groaned out in pain, still clutching on his now literally bloody, broken nose. Bloody hell man, Adi could really pack a punch!

At the corner of his eyes, he saw the Groundkeeper caught them in the mid of action! Oh no! Wait! WHAAAAT?! 100 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THEIR HOUSE?! Henric scrambled up to his feet again and face the man, he stood right in front of his friends, if he could still call them that... and shook his head profusely. He would take all the blame if he must!

"PWEEESE...ITZ S'ALL MAI FAUULTT..."Henric spoke up through his bloody nose."ZHEY HAZ S'NOTHING S'TO DO IN DISS..." He yelped as more pain shot right up to his nose. His wand was still down on the ground, he had no way to fix his injury as fast as he could.

Adi was obviously unaware of the wordless Shield Charm which had been sent between them but he was aware of his fist making contact with Henric's nose and then the blood spurting everywhere. The moment he saw the red substance, he regretted his actions. Not that he had time to dwell on that because Mr Groundskeeper happened.

A prefect? GREAT HIPPOGRIFFS! He had forgotten he was a student leader when he got all caught up in this. Adi's dark eyes were still fixed on Henric as he took a small step towards the boy. He barely registered the loss of points. "He's right,'' Adi said to McLeod as he put the tiny amount of ego he had and crossed over to his friend. "If he weren't being the world's greatest... never mind.'' Merlin! Henric's nose was really bleeding! Like HEAVILY. "It's really my fault,'' he continued, avoiding everyone's eyes but focusing on Henric's nose. "Episkey!" The Silent Healing Charm was cast as his wand was pointed at Henric. Did the nose mend? "I'm sorry, Henny.'' No, he wasn't going to justify what he had done. This was one of those rare moments when he lost control of his emotions. And yes, he was calling the Hufflepuff by his nickname again.

Adi finally looked at the Groundskeeper. "I lost control of myself. I'm also sorry for causing a ruckus. This is all on me,'' was all he said. He wasn't ashamed to admit when he was wrong. But gosh, what must his Veela girl be thinking of him?!

So at least Henric landed okay. She was mad at him but she didn't want him to die or anything. Henric griped at Adi and then started asking her to forgive him. Why couldn't he have just not been a jerk to her in the first place? He left her to doubt him and yelling at Adi wasn't making her mood any better. Adi had remained loyal. Case and point, Adi was the one sitting with her and being comforting and friend-like.

........and THEN.....the shouting started. Ilia had NEVER seen Adi angry like that. She had seen him annoyed, she had been there, she had seen his fights with Benny and she had seen him argue with Henric......but this....this was ANGRY. Her sobbing had ceased though you could still clearly tell that the girl had been crying. She found her feet and slowly rose to them, as Adi kept yelling. Then her best friends fist....connected with her other best friends face. "NO!" she half sobbed , half shouted.

She heard the blow land, saw the blood spurting and Henric yelping. She was mad at him, he had hurt her badly, but she still didn't want him hurt. She was pretty sure that his nose was broken and it felt like she'd been hit in the gut.

Before she had time to run over to Henric though..... the Groundskeeper, one of her house, was standing among them....yelling at her boys! 50 points each from them!?!?!?!?!? She let her expression go blank as she thought what to do next. She was a ball of emotion and this just made it worse, her very soul felt like it was churning.

Explain themselves? Time was ticking....Her boys were fighting over her, she was emotionally disheveled and now they were in deep dragon dung as the Groundskeeper waited. She was cursing everything mentally and felt like she was going to have a melt down. What now!? Come on brain work!

Henric was trying to take the blame with his now nasally damaged lisp....Adi was encouraging that it was Henric's fault.....then admitting his own......She hadn't heard a peep out of Benny.........this had a muggle 'soapy operatic shows' or whatever those were called type feeling now and.....then an idea hit her like Adi's fist to Henric's nose. Hopefully her snake side would ring true today....

She kept her face clear and walked up to the groundskeeper somewhat excitedly. "Sir, its not what you think!" Well, she wasn't sure what he really thought....but it was wrong! Her boys losing points and getting into trouble over her was wrong! "You see.....we were acting." And all of you boys better act and play along with this! She looked over at Henric's nose again and corrected herself. "Over-acting." She smiled sheepishly.

"You see, my mother is having me get into modeling and theater with her and I was trying to practice and surprise her. The boys were helping me and we all got a little carried away! I'm so sorry for the scene Mr. McLeod, Sir. Its really all my fault and I didn't mean for it to get so loud and disturb you! Please don't be angry with us." She smiled up at him apologetically.....pleadingly.....her big blue eyes practically begging him not to yell at them.

At least she wasn't totally lying.....Her mom did do those things and she DID want Ilia to do so with her and follow in her footsteps.......and she did feel like this was all her fault now....Boys....don't mess this up....just agree with her....please.....

Just as he thought. "I'm asking for what exactly happened here, not whose fault it was or why." The question was why would a Prefect from the house of goodie-goodies (in Justin's head) would ignore their responsibilities so close to the end of term? Seventhyearitis was not going to fly with him.

"What was that Miss Valke? Are you wanting 50 points taken from your house too?" Seriously, Justin asked for what happened not excuses or attempts to cover each other's rumps on whose fault it was. He had patience normally, but not in this case. "Just acting? That'll be 10 points from your house for such a bold face lie." The helping her part, yes, he could see with the Gryffindor staying by her side. But the rest? Madam Murdoch would not be impressed, this snake looked already too shaken up for this to be believable. Now what about from the older Gryffindor? Unfortunately the amount of blood from the other student's nose was not going to wait any longer for an answer, regardless on the Prefect's attempts to straighten his nose. Was Mr. Atreyu just as shaken up? He couldn't tell personally.

The Groundskeeper then made motions with his wand towards the floor where blood had dripped, vanishing it. No need for other students to see that. Since more than enough time to hear an explanation had passed by. "Right. All four you, we're heading to the Headmaster's office. Perhaps with Headmaster Botros and the Head of Houses presence we can get to the bottom of this." Fully out of the entrance, he stepped aside allowed the students to exit first.

"Sure Nells", he paused, grinning "I'll tell you what... How about, I teach you Spanish and, in return, you lend me your class notes" he proposed with a smirk. That arrangement would suit him perfectly.

"Are you telling me what to do Noelle Summers? he said with a smirk. "Look, I'll try to turn up to more classes but I'm not going to make any promises, he said, with a yawn. He snuggled in closer to Nells, they'd been talking for hours and he thought the sun would probably be starting to come up soon.

Sabbath's blinks were getting longer and longer and he thought Nells must be sleepy too as she'd gone quiet. "Buenas noches, Nells" he whispered. He was giving up the urge to fight the sandman and felt himself drifting off to sleep. His eyes felt heavy and his thoughts turned to home again. He pictured his grandmother and his Tio Juan and Tia Ana and his other aunts and uncles. He imagined the faces of some of his cousins, José, Manuel and Paco, little Paola and Blanca and the voices of his friends. Then finally, as his eyes eventually closed, the last thought to run through his mind was of dark perfumed hair and a pretty smile... Rosaura.

Okay that was a deal that Noelle could do.

"Okay deal! Teach me Spanish and I'll give you all my notes." She was already giving him a majority of her notes now, but if he taught her Spanish, she would just fork them all over.

Even exchange.

Noelle looked at Sabbie before yawning. "Im just asking you to try Sabbie. That's all I ask. I know flamenco dancing is very important too." Does. Very much so. Has seen the dedication Sabbie has for it. Also the way he talks about it and his eyes lighten up.

"Good night Sabbath." Noelle whispered as she saw Sabbie close his eyes and start to dream. She smiled as he smiled. Pulling a pillow under her head more, she closed her eyes to get some sleep.

Some sleep in the Treehouse with her best friend.

Adi was mad.

Benny had seen him mad but never this bad. Not with all the raised voice and practically screaming at the younger Hufflepuff. And then before he could get a word in, his boyfriend was taking a swing at Henric! A nice one that connected full on with the other boy's nose causing it to start bleeding. The Gryffindor moved to Adi's side, his arm raised again to stop anymore actions but was stopped by a shield charm.

A shield charm cast by one groundskeeper.

Followed by the loss of 50 points each to the two Hufflepuffs!

He froze unsure of what to say or two, his voice remain silent even as the man asked for explainations as to what was happening. What could he say or do that wasn't going to get them deeper in the trouble they already appeared to be. Especially when neither of the boys' remarks seemed to placate the groundskeeper and Ilia got more lost housepoints for hers. Benny was doing his best not to freak out with everything that was going on and happening oh so quickly.

And then they were heading to the headmaster...and heads of houses.

Could he just wake up now?!

Cosgrach had prepared his luggage to take home, organised his office, locked away the potions supplies for the summer and decided to take a stroll on the grounds one last time before summer. He thought about all the graduating people this year. Adi, Benny, Zander, Sophie, Rea just to name a few. He was going to miss them. Ugh, why had he become a professor here? Why had he become attached?

After visiting the lake and everywhere else that was significant on the grounds, he finally came to the treehouse. He looked at it from afar. As everyone was probably still preparing to leave, it was pretty vacant. Lonely, almost. He sighed, and went over to sit in it.

He didn't like goodbyes.

Soon. She was graduating soon.

It was a weird feeling, graduating from Hogwarts, after seven long, magical years. There had been many quarrels, hearts broken, an abundance of tears shed... but oh, so much laughter, so many adventures, so many memories made. She'd developed so many bonds with so many life-changing people who she knew she wanted to keep in her life for as long as she lived, including many professors, too.

Like the one she was meeting up with now.

She'd already packed away the majority of her things and cherished a quite few "lasts" - a last adventure of discovery through the Room of Requirement, a last journey down memory lane in the astronomy tower, a last leisurely swim in the prefects' bathroom, a last walk through the trophy room to admire the glorious history of Hogwarts that she had become a beautiful part of, a last peek in the ever-famous armor gallery on the third floor and the broom closet on the ground floor, a last farewell to the house elves in the kitchens, a last attempt to make a picture-perfect memory of the potions laboratory and the great strides in potion-making she'd done there...

But, now, it was time for what was likely her last true walk across the grounds. Even though she fully intended to embrace it one last time with her last morning run tomorrow before she departed on the train, she had taken the long way to get to the treehouse - she'd circled all the way out to the Quidditch pitch, near the Forbidden Forest, beside the lake, out to the greenhouses, and given a somber wave to the Whomping Willow before finally heading to meet up with Culloden at their frequent meeting place for the very last time.

Those weren't tears in her eyes already. There was a twig, or maybe a whole branch in both eyes. No big deal.

As she approached the rope ladder, she wiped the tears from her eyes in an attempt to mask her emotions and looked up. "Remember when y'were a dummy 'n y'asked to meet me here when y'knew I was dying of old person syndrome 'n y'had to pull me up this ladder 'cause I was too weak to climb it 'n y'felt super dumb 'cause y'should've realized this was a terrible meeting place 'cause I was DYING and y'made me feel even worse?"

There was the tiniest hint of a smile as she started to climb the ladder up to meet him, but then she stopped just short of the top and stuck her hand up expectantly. "Y'owe me." PULL THE KID UP, CULLODEN.

Ah, here she came.

Cosgrach... didn't know how he felt. He was sad, that was for sure. Nothing would ever be the same again. Nothing was ever the same again, but that was for philosophy students. Anyway, this wasn't the last time they were seeing each other too. But it wouldn't be the same anymore. She would be a 'graduate' soon. Away from Hogwarts. Away from her childhood. She would have so many different responsibilities and worries...

He sighed and smiled at her as she climbed. "Yeah," he muttered when she reminded him of their first ever meeting here. Of course he remembered that...

Sophie pls. He GROANED.

"I owe you nothin'," he said, but still got up to pull her up with a huge grin on his face. He caught her hand and began to pull her up, honestly, but then her hand just... slipped out of his...

Oops.

"Someone needs to lose some weight."

HEHEHE. He was SO funny even at the last moment, wasn't he?

As Sophie reached for his hand, she sniffled and tried to make her eyes bright and clear so he wouldn't see the emotion she was containing. When he humored her and grabbed her hand, she smiled big and let him start to pull her up, letting go of the ladder and giving him her full weight as he tugged her upward--

UNTIL HE LET GO COMPLETELY, making her fall the length of the ladder back down to the ground, falling on her bum - albeit not hard, thanks to the cushioning charm the groundskeeper had placed upon the ground, but it was STILL NOT NICE. Shook her up a bit, actually, and she furrowed her brows up at him and his attempted "playful" words.

"That joke was not funny the first time," she groaned, sprawling out on her back in the grass and closing her eyes, a hand resting over her pounding heart, "and s'not funny this time either." Ugh. "You're a bully." She was just gonna... lay down here. Make him feel bad. Play dead. Ignore him for the rest of her life, probably.

..."I hate you." And now she was really playing dead. Ahem. That was all.

HEHEHEHEHE. CLEARLY Cosgrach didn't agree with her, because he was still laughing, and he waved his hand impatiently. "Still funny," he countered her words. "You'll miss it." Y'know, when... she was gone. Tomorrow.

...the joke didn't go well in the sense that it would make them forget she was leaving...

"Puhlease," he said Julia style and drew his wand to lift her up to the house. She couldn't play DEAD in the air.

"Have you prepared your bags?"

She definitely wanted to protest and say no, she WOULDN'T miss it, but she was too busy playing dead, okay, Culloden? Continuing with that antagonizing was no way to get her to come back to life anyway, if he thought this was gonna help, and--

.........................

He was levitating her up and into the treehouse.

Perhaps she should've been alarmed, but instead of flailing about wildly, Soph simply opened her eyes and gave Culloden a wrinkled-nose expression of displeasure. "You're the worst." Was he aware?

She didn't answer his question until he took her to safety, at which point she stood up properly and shook out her limbs, still a little shaken from the fall she'd just taken while also just being super dramatic in an attempt to make the professor feel guilty for HAVING DROPPED HER FROM THE TREEHOUSE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GROUND. ON PURPOSE. WITH NO REMORSE.

Ugh. Honestly.

"Yeah," she murmured a bit bitterly, "pretty much everything is packed away. Left a few things out 'cause, y'know, I'll still need some of it from now till tomorrow when I leave, but... yeah. Mostly." She'd crossed over to the railing of the treehouse and leaned against it, now looking out over the grounds thoughtfully. "Have you?"

Was HE ready to leave this place?

He was the worst yeah yeah, Cosgrach just laughed at her expression. She was just as dramatic as him, did she know? Especially with that limb shaking thing. Had she been always like this, or was it his influence on her? He didn't know, but it was funny. He would congratulate himself if it was his influence.

He got silent at her words. They were both leaving... he shrugged off the sadness. Or tried to. "Yeah. Though I'll come back to organise the lab, office and storeroom for the next term."

Was she happy that he bonded to students and to this place now?

Lucky him. "Sometime during the summer? You'll be here all by yourself?"

That was an odd concept. Sure, it made sense that professors would have things to do at the school over the summer, lessons to plan and classrooms to organize and things to get settled... but the idea that he would be virtually all by himself in this school without students around was very, very strange to her. He'd only have the house elves and ghosts for company... wouldn't he? Unless a few other professors were around organizing THEIR things at the same time. But. Still. It was a massive castle and even during the school year it was easy to feel alone in the less commonly visited areas of the castle. It was... probably awfully spooky to be there at other times. Very, very bizarre.

"Bet it's weird being here without all the students," she verbalized her thoughts, then added with a smile, "'n without me, 'specially. The light of your lives, you professors. Hogwarts without Sophie Brown." Cue a dramatic sigh. "How will anyone ever go on?" she teased with a nudge of his side with her elbow and a cheeky grin.

She knew her place, though. Hogwarts had survived centuries without her, and it would continue on without her as well. She was just a grain of sand on a massive beach of Hogwarts' extensive history. Largely unimportant in the grand scheme of things.