Calum grinned down at Astoria, arching a brow. “Yeah? You think so?” he asked with curiosity, “I think the best thing about being in Hufflepuff would have been being in that House with you.” After all, he knew that just being in Astoria’s presence would have been the best experience, but he was grateful he got to be around her now, anyways. “You matter to me, too.” And, he meant it, he truly did, with everything in him, because he couldn’t imagine what his Hogwarts experience would have been like without her. “I will,” he promised, nodding with her warning, though he grinned, his arm sliding around her waist gently, carefully. “Five brownie points? I’ll gladly take them and give you all the carrot cake.” He winked teasingly before heading inside with her.
Ember lifted her gaze to Luke when she heard his words, her heart swelling, and she wondered if it was even humanly possible to feel as happy as she did in that moment. “Well, I’m right there with you,” she promised quietly, “Especially when it comes to you.” She smiled slightly as she examined him, chewing on her lip, though she laughed and nodded. “Right, a please will get you farther than you can imagine.” She winked teasingly, though she felt her heart race, pounding in her chest when he took her hand and, watching him, she squeezed his hand to assure it was okay before heading inside.
“Oi!” Michael complained in response to Astoria, making a face at her for her comment, though he laughed all the same. His attention was easily recaptured by Euphemia, though, when he felt her arm around him, a grin spreading across his features with her squeeze and he squeezed her to his side in return. “Well, I definitely agree that Ashton’s an idiot,” he decided quietly, though his expression brightened when he heard her admit that she was happy. “I’m glad. Seeing you happy is the best sight in the world.” And, grinning, he kissed the top of her head before he led the way into the Great Hall so they could eat.
Breakfast had passed without any issue and Calum had spent lunch talking to Rowan. He could tell she’d still been upset about that morning’s experience, and he let her talk as much as she needed to, providing her comfort because she was his best friend and the thought of anybody he cared about hurting angered him. After lunch, though, he’d parted from her to go to his Potions class, though his eyes searched for Astoria and, when he spotted her, he grinned as he jogged a bit to catch up to her. “Astoria, hey,” he greeted, “Off to class?” He arched a brow, chewing on his lip with hope. “Any chance we share class together?”
Rowan had been grateful for her conversation with Calum at lunch, allowing her to calm down after everything, though she’d tried not to dwell on it all too much that day in the first place. Ashton had a way of getting under her skin, though, and she hated that about him. Standing from the Ravenclaw table, she headed out of the Great Hall to head to her Potions class, her focus settling on the opportunity to actually attend a class she enjoyed. She hoped beyond hope that she wouldn’t have the class with Ashton, though, because she’d had the class with him for two years in a row - she didn’t think she could handle another year.
Michael had spent the lunch hour talking to Astoria, teasing her about Calum, but his gaze hadn’t left Euphemia most of the time, and he grinned to himself, not even wanting to avert his gaze in the first place. She was ethereal in every way and how a being such as her existed in the first place was beyond his understanding, but he was so, so grateful that she existed, that she was a part of his life, and he only wanted to ensure that he didn’t lose her in his life, ever. When they were dismissed from the Great Hall, he climbed to his feet to quickly go towards the Slytherin table, grinning. “Euphemia,” he greeted, “Who’s your teacher this hour?”
Ember’s lunch hour had been spent much like her breakfast, near Luke, and she couldn’t possibly imagine a better way to spend her meals or any free time she had. When they were eventually dismissed, she stood, gathering her things, and she offered a small grin to Luke. “I guess it’s off to class for us,” she mentioned, though she tilted her head slightly, “Although, I can admit I’m hopeful we share class together, honestly.” Because the thought of sharing a class with Luke, admittedly, put her at ease, and made her feel more confident about her chances of passing her classes in general.