Valerie Gray was being HUMBLE?

What was this? Had the world turned upside down and would it end? Was this the end of the world as she knew it? Irene was genuinely surprised. An authentic smile graced her lips when she heard Valerie speak. If this was a new side of Valerie, then they could get along... in small doses. Too much moodiness not only led to bad skin but a very bad aura. Speaking of the brother or was it cousin, Irene couldn't tell based on Valerie's comment. "Me too. I.. I couldn't imagine how you felt throughout it," she said. "That was cruel of them to do."

To young Miss Zoryn, Irene gasped. "Ah, I'm so silly. Sorry," she joked but felt rather bad for speaking out loud about the whole trick. Though it wasn't like it was a particularly new trick. It had been played before. "Will you be commentating at future events?"

What had gotten Professor's Williams wand all in a knot? Snappish was the word. Was something the matter with her? Someone poured sour milk in her tea? "Whats up with her?" asked Irene to Valerie, sort of confused why Professor Williams took such a great offense to what she said. Seriously. Someone needed a vacation. STAT. Maybe something else was wrong? Should she perhaps apologize? No. No, that wouldn't make sense as she had not been at fault.

Before she could hear an answer, Irene smiled at the NICE Professor. The Hogwartian one. Professor Marchand. Perhaps he WAS a better role model than Williams. At least a nicer one at the present moment. "Not too bad. I'm glad to have finished the competition. It was quite an eventful adventure," she admitted. She had been upset that it had finished but it was good that it had ended when it did. Anymore of it and she'd be sick with stress.

Food was always a safe option at these events, correct? Perhaps it would be today, anyway. Lachlan had no intentions of spiking anything. Well, for the time being. That truly depended on others, didn't it?

Spying Valerie, Irene, and the female Williams professor, he casually made his way over to the table adorn with various dishes. Not being one for sweets, his eyes skipped over the pies and cakes, going immediately for a hotdog. Allow him an American moment. He'd been surrounded by strange foods for months now.

Artistically arranging the condiments, he spared another glance for those in the vicinity. Hogwartians, young and older, were so interesting to him. Watching them co-mingle said a lot about the school. Relationships intrigued the southern boy.

Oh, the Librarian. Lachlan grinned widely as he approached the older man. "Mr. Kennedy!" He'd been meaning to speak with him for a while, but hadn't found the time. "I need to discuss your book maze with you." The mechanics, mostly.

Man this girl (Irene Avery) was too perky for her own good and DEFINITELY did not know the first thing about a prank. Oi vey. Zoryn rubbed her forehead, “Mamma mia,” geeeeez. “Nah, I’m gonna BE a future event.” Next time she’d be on the other side of the camera. Or something like that.

Zoryn was somewhat satisfied but somewhat very annoyed. How come Valerie Gray still hadn’t apologized? It didn’t make ANY sense. But she did admit that Zoryn was correct and that made the little Gryffindor stand a bit taller and hold her head a bit higher. And it did a very good job of distracting her from her annoyance.

The second year wasn’t sure what Valerie DIDN’T have a distaste for tbh. But she only shrugged and watched as the older girl took a bite out of the cake (FINALLY). “SOOOOOO?” she watched the girl curiously. “Do you like it?” It was very important for Zoryn to know. The nod was promising, but Zoryn wanted WORDS. “Thanks,” she grinned proudly. It felt like a GREAT compliment, never mind the fact that Valerie Gray had pretty much dissed the entire Hogwarts staff in the process. Zoryn didn’t really catch that though. She was too focused on what the girl was saying about HER.

And she was completely unaware of Dora Umbridge’s presence nearby, though if she noticed the older Gryffindor… Zoryn would’ve pulled her into the conversation she was having. ‘Cause Zoryn LOVED Dora, even though the girl was totally scary sometimes. Zoryn knew it was out of love. MHM. Well, hopefully anyway.

She did, however, notice her Professor (Professor Marchand) and gave him a ‘sup nod as he walked by. He was one of the good ones.

Ugh.

Sincere as her words had been to Irene the Wampus could have done without that pleased expression upon the Pukwudgie's face. Her brief moment of humility by no means was an invitation to braid each other's hair and gab about the latest issue Teen Witch (the likes of which Valerie did not subscribe to to begin with) and she trusted the younger girl understood that. "If I were not in such need for this scholarship..." she began, her voice trailing off and electing not to finish the thought. Her opinion on things had been crystal clear all along and such sentiments (the depths of them) were those reserved for a select few. None of whom were present currently. "...I found myself wishing briefly I had been eliminated in either the first or second round to spare him having to endure the experience."

Looking away from Irene to hide the vulnerability that had overcome her eyes (essentially looking anywhere but at her peer) directed her attention to Lachlan. Who was around food again. Thankfully she already had her selected cake in hand and therefore would continue to keep hush hush and instead merely offer him a curt nod as he occupied himself with the Hogwarts librarian. Composed once more, she turned towards Irene and merely shrugged. Professor Williams was too complex for the likes of Irene.

Ignoring whatever exchange was going on between Irene and Zoryn completely, Valerie instead continued to make a dent in her Victorian Sponge. That was until the small one began speaking to her again. "I do," she confirmed while helping herself to a larger helping on her fork.

At least the cake was moister than their conversation had become.